“Tastes change. People wanted espresso and flavored coffee in large containers. When the Square Cup coffee shop opened downtown, business here dried up.”
He walked to a large shelving unit against the far wall where dozens of teacups were displayed. “That’s a lot of teacups.”
“They came with the house. I left them there as a reminder. I don’t know what I’ll do with them. Maybe display them in the main hall with a picture of the old tearoom.”
“Or sell them. People might like to take a piece of Camellia Hall history home after their stay here.” He scanned the room. “In fact, this would make a great gift shop. You could sell teacups and your fancy jewelry.”
“Oh, no, I don’t think—”
He watched her eyes soften, then start to sparkle as she thought through the idea. “It wouldn’t even take much work, just a good cleaning, more shelving and you’d be good to go.”
She wandered around the room, stopping in front of the china shelves. “You know, when I was at the crafters guild the other day, some of the artists were pushing the councilman to build a craft center so the locals could display their goods. What if the gift shop featured local craftsmen?”
“That might generate more income than a tearoom.” Her smiled broadened and her energy level started to rise. She was like a beautiful candle coming to life and burning brighter and brighter.
“Yes, and the guests could see firsthand what we have to offer. We’d do everything on consignment.” She faced him, and her blue eyes filled with anticipation. “Reid, you have a head for business.”
He frowned. “News to me. Undercover work and business aren’t on the same planet.” Did he have a good business sense? He’d never considered going into business. He’d been too obsessed with justice. There had been a time when he’d thought he’d follow in his dad’s footsteps and take over the pharmacy. But now he had no idea what his future would be. He still had a mission to complete for Eddie. Then he’d take some time to sort out the rest of his life.
Right now he was perfectly content to be here working on the old house and helping Tori and Lily.
Content. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d experienced that feeling. Maybe it was an indication he was finally distancing himself from his former job? It was a layer of himself he’d gladly shed. This new existence fit him better than he’d expected. Working with his hands was satisfying. Or was working with Tori the reason for the change in his mood?
He needed to get a handle on things because he couldn’t afford to get any more entrenched with Tori and his niece. Nothing good could come of it.
* * *
Reid made the turn onto Chandler Street late Monday afternoon, admiring the row of mature trees that created a shady canopy over the street. It only added more charm to Tori’s already picturesque neighborhood. He’d spent his Saturday working in the yard, trimming shrubs and doing general cleanup. The extra work was welcomed since he still had a rock tumbler of issues rolling around in his head. Sunday he’d spent with Eddie as usual and returned to Dover early this morning to tackle the repair list, which had grown by five items, many of which needed specific supplies. This was his fourth trip to the hardware store. Only this time he came home with something extra.
Reid pulled his truck to a stop at the end of the drive and turned off the engine, his gaze sliding to the passenger seat. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He doubted his new friend would be welcomed at Camellia Hall. The scruffy dog looked over at him with a canine smile. The mutt was probably grateful for the rescue and looking forward to his new home, but it would depend on whether Tori allowed him to keep the mangy critter or not.
“Come on, Buster. Let’s get this over with.”
Grabbing hold of the new leash he’d hurriedly purchased, he led the dog out of the truck, bracing himself as the neared the back gate. Buster didn’t make the best first impression, but once he was cleaned up he’d be quite presentable. He hoped.
Squeals of delight floated across the lawn as he entered the yard. Lily, dark hair flying, raced toward him, her face bright with joy.
“A dog! You got me a dog!”
Reid stopped in his tracks. Not good. Would Tori think he’d deliberately brought home this critter for Lily? The little girl had mentioned several times how she hoped to have a dog when the inn opened. Before Reid could stop her, Lily stooped down and fiercely hugged the dog’s neck. Thankfully, Buster was a perfect gentleman and accepted the affection patiently.
Tori came out onto the back porch, took one look at the situation and crossed her arms over her chest. “What is that?”
“It’s my dog.” Lily grinned and patted his head.
“Oh, no, it’s not.”
“Aunt Tori, I want to keep him. Please?”
“Out of the question. We’ll get you a nice little dog but not this—” she waved her hand as if searching for words “—thing.”
Reid tugged Buster along with him as he approached his angry employer. “I didn’t plan this. It just happened. The dog was wandering around the parking lot of the hardware store. The owner said he’d been hanging around for several days. He was hungry and lost so I picked him up.”
“If you plan on keeping him, you can’t do it here. A dog like that wouldn’t be good for my business.”
“Well, I guess I could take him to the pound.” He saw her conviction waver. She knew the implications. Buster whined and lay down, looking pitiful. Good job, fella.
“Aunt Tori, I love him. Please let him stay.”
He spoke before she could respond. “You know, by the time you open the B and B I’ll be moving on, so Buster won’t be an issue for your guests. Not to mention he’ll be a great watchdog.” Tori’s glare didn’t fade. “Maybe he could stay with me in the meantime, and Lily could enjoy him until she gets a dog of her own.”
He saw the resignation flit across her face and tried not to grin.
“Fine. But you keep him out of the main house and clean him up. He probably has fleas. And for the record, I don’t appreciate being manipulated.” She spun on her heel and went back inside.
Her parting shot hit him like a laser. He’d been manipulating this situation from the start. It had to stop. Buster glanced up at him. First thing to do was clean up the mutt. “Want to help me give Buster a bath?”
Lily nodded happily. At least one of the women in this house appreciated his new friend.
* * *
Tori marched back into the kitchen, added another item to the repair list, then slammed the pen down.
A dog. Reid had brought a dog to the house. A mangy, dirty, flea-ridden critter, and of course Lily had fallen in love with it instantly. Technically, it was Reid’s dog, but it was Lily’s heart that was involved.
She glanced out the window to see Reid and Lily in the driveway. They’d placed the dog in a galvanized tub and were wetting him down. Surprisingly, the dog didn’t seem to mind. Lily was bouncing on her toes happily. She smiled up at Reid and Tori’s pulse kicked. Lily liked the handyman, and Tori was becoming concerned. He was a temporary guest, someone passing through their lives for a few weeks. What would happen when Reid moved on? How would it affect Lily?
She moved from the window. He was also her uncle. A blood relative. How would Lily react if she knew? He’d probably be elevated to superhero status, the same honor she’d bestowed on Tori’s brothers and brother-in-law.
What would Judy do about the growing attachment to the handyman? Tori rubbed her neck. Probably put an end to it instantly. From here on she’d keep the child away from Reid as much as possible to prevent a strong attachment. She wouldn’t show him any special attention, so Lily wouldn’t think he was important to her. Even if he was—as a worker, of course. She couldn’t forget Reid had an agenda. Letting Lily get too close to Reid was dangerous for both of them. He’d lied once, and he could be lying still for
all she knew.
Yet, as much as she hated to admit it, Reid filled her with a sense of hope. She knew he’d do all he could to ensure the repairs were done in time for the opening. Then he’d be moving on, and she could focus on making her new business a success. Her funds would be more than enough to get the bed-and-breakfast off to a good start. Provided she could keep the rooms full and the guests happy.
She glanced out the window again. The doggy bath was over. Buster was shaking off excess water and making Lily giggle. Life was so simple when you were five.
Why was Tori’s life so complicated? All she wanted to do was open her business and raise Lily. Instead, she had a shrinking bank account, a house that needed constant attention and now a handyman who was stirring up emotions neither she nor her daughter needed.
She looked up from the kitchen counter when Reid walked in. His T-shirt was damp from bathing the dog. “He’s all clean?”
“Pretty much. Lily is going to try to get Buster up onto the glider. She said the swinging would help him dry.”
Tori squared her shoulders. She needed to get control right now. And that started with keeping a safe distance between her and Reid. “I know what you’re trying to do and I don’t appreciate it.” His congenial mood faded, and his brows drew together.
“I’m not trying to do anything.”
“Oh? You bring this dog here, knowing how much Lily wants a puppy, and you think you can win her over and then I’ll be so grateful that I’ll change my mind. Don’t think for one moment that appealing to Lily’s desire for a dog will cause me to change my mind about your brother.”
Reid’s dark eyes narrowed. “Not true. I’m not trying to steal her affections. This isn’t a contest, so don’t make it one. For her sake. I’m not going to kidnap her.”
“No, you’re not.” Tori strode from the room and into her private quarters. She had paperwork to do. She wasn’t going to waste another moment on Reid and his not-so-subtle ploys to get her to change her mind.
She didn’t speak to him for the rest of the day. To her dismay, the dog followed Lily around and she’d started asking for the critter to be allowed inside. Tori hated to put her foot down since it was obvious her daughter loved the mutt, but she needed to maintain boundaries. She had to admit the dog did look better after a bath, which eased her concern only slightly.
She felt bad about the things she’d said to Reid. She had no real reason to worry he’d take Lily. A man who would rescue a stray dog probably wouldn’t kidnap a child. However, the scars Will had left behind were still sensitive. Getting over Reid’s subterfuge was going to be hard.
Chapter Seven
Reid stood at the back of the sanctuary Sunday morning, scanning the congregation for Jimmy Ray. He’d invited him to services, and Reid had been eager to accept. Thanks to Eddie, Reid was finding his way back to his faith. In many ways it felt good, but it also cast a glaring light on all his shortcomings. His list of things for which to seek forgiveness was longer than he’d realized.
Spotting the contractor near the front of the church, he started forward. A woman stood and started up the aisle. Tori. He stopped in his tracks. She looked as surprised to see him as he was her. She looked different today in a navy blue dress that ended below her knees. Her hair was hanging around her shoulders in long, soft waves. Normally she wore the golden fawn tresses in a ponytail or clamped together at the back with a big clip. Not today. “Hello,” he said when she reached him.
She nodded, her blue eyes puzzled. “Hi. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“It’s Sunday. Where else would I be?” He hadn’t meant to sound flippant, but this new image of her had him distracted.
“I didn’t mean—” She paused. “I didn’t know you would be attending my church.”
“I’ve been coming here for the last few weeks. Guess we go to different services. Would you feel better if I went someplace else?” He had no idea why he was baiting her, other than that he enjoyed watching her emotions dance across her face.
She pressed her lips together and tilted her chin upward. “No. You can attend whatever church you please. I was simply surprised. That’s all.”
He stifled a grin. He really shouldn’t be so hard on her. But he knew she’d lumped him into a category that didn’t include being a believer.
“Reid, buddy. Good to see you here.” Jimmy Ray clapped him on the shoulder, then nodded to Tori. “Morning.”
“Hello, Jimmy Ray.”
“We have a seat for you up front.” He glanced between him and Tori. “Unless you had plans to sit with Miss Tori.”
“No.”
She’d spoken so loudly that the people nearby turned to look in her direction. She blushed and rested a hand at her throat. “We were only saying hello. There’s no reason to sit together at church. We see each other every day. He lives at my house after all.” The woman in the next pew jerked her head up, furrowing her brow at the comment.
“Yes. I do.” He was taking delight in her confusion. Her cheeks were a bright shade of pink, and yet she still kept digging.
“In the apartment. Not the house.” Finally realizing she’d made things worse, she turned and sat down in the pew. Ignoring him.
Reid grinned inwardly. She was adorable when she was flustered. He was enjoying discovering her various moods. She was endlessly fascinating.
Following his new friend down the aisle, he regretted he couldn’t sit with Tori. He’d like to hear her sing the hymns and share prayer time. He puzzled at the unusual desire. He’d never wanted anything so domestic before. Since coming to Dover and working with Tori at the old house, he found himself longing for the ordinary life he’d always scoffed at before. But he found a certain comfort in eating his meals with Tori and Lily each day.
Still, Eddie had tried that life and failed, and Reid wasn’t sure he could set aside his old life for a normal one, either. Would he miss the adrenaline rush when he took down a dealer? Or the palpable tension in his veins when he walked the fine edge of undercover work—allowing himself to be absorbed into the dealer’s world, yet keeping a firm hold on his true mission and his dedication to justice?
Could Sundays at church and an eight-to-five job offer anything close?
He glanced over his shoulder at Tori. Maybe. If he had the right person at his side.
* * *
The house was quiet when Reid returned with the materials he would need to secure the spindles on the porch and replace the grout in one of the guest bathrooms. The last few days had been filled with a string of repairs that all should have been simple and had, instead, grown more complicated as he worked on them. As a result he’d become a habitual customer at Durrant’s Hardware, and he cringed when he thought about the tab he was running up. He felt certain Tori had no idea what he’d been spending on materials and tools.
A scraping sound and a grunt came from the front of the house. He went to investigate. Tori was attempting to pull a large buffet cabinet across the carpet in the front parlor. “You need some help?”
“Oh, hey. Yes.” She brushed loose strands of hair from her face. “I want to move this out into the front hall. It’ll make the perfect registration desk. It has plenty of storage, and it’s a good height.” She grinned and shrugged. “I didn’t expect it to be so heavy.”
“Let’s lift it off the carpet first.” Together, they moved the cumbersome piece out into the hallway, positioning it inside the curve of the elegant main staircase.
Tori stepped back and smiled. “Perfect. Thank you. There’s one more thing if you don’t mind.” She led him to the large round table in the corner. “This will fit nicely beside this old settee.”
Reid retrieved the item, placing it where Tori indicated. “What will you put in the empty space now?”
“Probably nothing. I’m trying to streamline the furnishings. The rooms ar
e overcrowded and there are too many antiques.”
Reid raised his eyebrows. “You buy a historic home to open a bed-and-breakfast and you don’t like antiques?”
“Oh, I like them fine, but I want this house to be like a comfortable home. I don’t want my guests to feel they can’t sit on the furniture or put their feet up. If they want to have a snack in the back parlor, I want them to feel okay doing so. If people are looking for the high-end antique decor, they can stay at the Lady Banks Inn.”
Reid noticed a small cabinet and moved to it. Stroking the top unleashed a rush of long-forgotten memories. “My mom had one like this.”
Tori glanced over her shoulder. “Do you still have it?”
“No. I suppose my grandpa sold it. After my parents died there wasn’t anyone who wanted the furniture.”
“I’m sorry. What happened?”
“They were murdered.” Tori’s soft gasp settled like a barb in his chest. “My dad was a pharmacist and he owned a store in Slidell, Louisiana. My mom worked there, too. One night as they were closing, a man with a gun broke in looking for drugs. He shot them. Dad died instantly. Mom lived a few days.”
“Reid, how horrible. I’m so sorry.” She touched his arm. “I can’t imagine what you went through.”
The sincerity in her tone and the warmth in her touch opened a door deep inside that he’d sealed shut long ago. “Eddie and I went to live with our grandfather after that.”
“Did they ever catch the man?”
“Yes. But it didn’t change anything.”
“No, of course not.”
He stepped away. The pity in her eyes soured his stomach. He wasn’t sure why he’d confided in her. He never spoke of his parents’ deaths. Even he and Eddie never brought it up, as if there was a mutual understanding to leave it buried.
What a stupid move, revealing his past. He didn’t want her thinking he was trying to play on her sympathies to get her to agree to take Lily to see her dad. He’d have to be more careful in the future. “So anything else you need moved?”
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