“Um. Not exactly.” Jessa glanced at Naomi. “It was Dev Jenkins. Lance and his brothers are down at the station.”
Naomi choked on a sip of wine. “Station as in police station?”
“That’d be the one.” Jessa rose from her chair. “There was some kind of fight at the Tumble Inn. He didn’t say much, just that I could come and pick them up.”
“Hot damn!” Darla popped out of her chair. “What’re we waiting for? Field trip! Not that discussing historical thrillers isn’t interesting,” she quickly added. “But I do love the sight of a man in uniform.” And she also loved teasing poor Dev about how much she loved the sight of a man in uniform.
Cassidy stood, too, gathering her purse.
“We’re all going?” Jessa asked, as though that might not be the best idea.
“Hell yeah.” Cass led the way down the hall. “I wouldn’t miss a chance to see Levi Cortez behind bars.”
Naomi followed behind them all, swallowing against the nausea that was brewing. How had this happened? “Is Lucas okay?” she asked, shoving her shoes onto her feet.
“I don’t know.” Jessa opened the front door in a hurry. “I assume they’re okay or we’d be picking them up at the hospital.”
“I’m sure they’re fine. Just men being boys.” Darla sped past them. “Cass and I’ll meet you there,” she called happily.
“You okay?” Jessa asked Naomi as they made their way down the porch steps.
No. She wasn’t okay. Lucas would hate this. Instead of following Jessa to her car, she headed in the opposite direction. “I’ll be right behind you. I have to ask Luis if he can sit with Gracie.”
Without mentioning to the man why.
* * *
Naomi made it to the station just as Jessa led a silent sulking parade out the doors.
“Hey.” She hurried over to Lucas, taking both of his hands in hers, not caring that they had an audience.
“Hey.” His face was stone, but everything looked intact, minus a slight red swelling in his bottom lip.
“Everything okay?” she asked cautiously while the others spread out, farther down the sidewalk.
“Gil decided not to press charges.” His flat response didn’t answer the question.
Darla and Cassidy broke away from the group. “Well, folks, it’s been fun, but we have to say good night.”
“Thanks for the entertainment,” Cass said sweetly to Levi.
“I’ll provide you entertainment anytime.” A lift of his eyebrows added an innuendo, but Cassidy had already turned her back on him, likely pretending she hadn’t heard.
“You boys.” Jessa shook her head like a disappointed mother, but she still held Lance’s hand. “I’ll take you back to your car,” she muttered to Levi, likely blaming the whole thing on him. She turned to Naomi. “I’m guessing you’ll bring Lucas home?”
“Of course.”
Lucas stayed quiet as they all parted ways.
Though she walked more slowly than normal, he followed her to the car at a distance. She unlocked the doors and they both climbed in.
When he still said nothing, she turned to face him, holding the keys tightly in her fist. “So what happened?”
He stared out the windshield. “Got into it with Marshal Dobbins.”
“Why?” she asked, shoving the keys into the ignition. The engine started up, but she didn’t pull away from the curb. “Why did you let him get to you?” Lucas was always so steady. So mellow. He didn’t go after someone for no reason.
“He knew what to say.”
She carefully studied his face. “He said something about me.” She didn’t have to ask. Of course he had. He knew that was the only way to get a reaction out of Lucas.
“Did you hurt him bad?” she asked, hoping the answer was no. Not that the man didn’t deserve it, but she didn’t want Lucas to get in trouble on her account. Dobbins wasn’t worth that.
“Nah. He’s not hurt. Dev’s making him spend the night to sober up, though.” His jaw seemed to loosen. “At least the witnesses vouched for us.”
“I’m sorry.” She covered his hand with hers, entranced by the feel of his skin. “It doesn’t matter what he says about me, you know. I don’t care.”
“He was looking for a fight and he got one.” Lucas pulled his hand away. “And it won’t be the last time, either.” He gazed down at her, worried and angry. “He’s only gonna make it harder for me. And for you, too.”
“I’m not worried about it.” She didn’t need him to protect her or defend her honor. She only needed him to love her.
“The last thing I want is for him to mess up your life.” Lucas’s voice had softened the way it always did when he talked to her.
“He can’t.” She placed her hands on his cheeks and tugged his face closer to hers. “No one will mess this up for us. Not this time,” she whispered, her breath on his lips. “We won’t let them.” She kissed him, light and sweet, to remind him what they were fighting for, and immediately lost herself in the rhythm of their lips moving together. He pulled her closer against him, deepening the kiss, brushing his tongue over hers in that electrifying heat. God, she’d always been so afraid to let herself think about him, about this…It was so new and exhilarating but familiar and comfortable at the same time.
His body seemed to thaw against her, that rigid tension from earlier falling away. “Your car is so small,” he complained, sneaking his hands up her shirt.
“So small,” she echoed, slumping over as his fingers moved over her bra. “We could always go to a hotel.”
His head tilted as he looked her over. “Who’s watching Gracie?”
“Your dad.” And she’d told him she’d be right back.
“We’ll do it another time,” he promised. “Another time when no one’s expecting us and we can just be together for hours.” He kissed her. “Or days.” Another kiss. “Or weeks.”
Pulling back, he withdrew his hands and searched her eyes. “You’re sure? About all of this? About us? Because it’s not gonna be easy in this town.”
Who wanted easy anyway? “I love you, Lucas.” She’d told him that in high school more than once, but she hadn’t known then what it meant. Not really. She hadn’t known until she’d lived so many years without him. Years of learning about life and heartbreak, and depths of joy and pain she hadn’t known existed. Now she could say it and mean it and know it was true.
“I love you, too,” Lucas uttered, resting his forehead against hers. “I’ve always loved you.” Concern still lingered in the soft tenderness of his eyes. “I just hope that’s enough.”
Chapter Twenty-one
Naomi traipsed across the porch, smiling as she admired the beautiful sign hanging above the arched entry. Hidden Gem Inn. It still baffled her that Lucas knew her so well. That he’d picked out the perfect piece of art to welcome people, to reflect the character and details of the old house.
Once again, her heart melted through the interior walls of her chest at the thought of him. In less than fifteen minutes, he’d be here to pick her up so they could go antique shopping to search for a few authentic pieces for the inn. She’d called him this morning after she’d dropped off Gracie and told him she needed some brawn to help her lug furniture home. I’ve got brawn, he’d told her with an insinuation in his voice. The memory made her warm all over.
Humming to herself, she scooted through the brand-new door that Emilia, her contractor, must’ve just installed. It, too, happened to be a work of art. The restored antique inset-glass door, all painted and new and shiny, gave the whole porch a charming Old World feel.
Inside the house, the whir of the saw drew her into the kitchen. Much of the main level had already been gutted, leaving the studs exposed. It resembled a blank slate—a canvas of possibility…kind of like her future.
She stepped into the kitchen and Emilia shut off the saw, greeting her with that effortlessly exotic smile. Her long, silky black hair, perfect olive skin, and graceful m
anner made her look more like she belonged on the runway instead of standing in front of a table saw. Emilia even managed to make work clothes look elegant. Today, she wore ripped jeans rolled halfway up her calves, an oversized blue T-shirt with the straps of the camisole beneath it visible, and a brightly colored scarf tied around her head like a headband. It wasn’t fair. The woman didn’t even have to try. But it was impossible to dislike her. She was brassy and funny and also kind.
“I can’t believe how much progress you’ve made,” Naomi said, taking in the new farmhouse gray kitchen cabinets already mounted on the wall. “You’re amazing.” She could hardly even hammer in a nail, let alone gut and install an entire kitchen.
Emilia grinned. “She’s coming along, that’s for sure.” The woman patted the wall fondly. “I have to say, this has been my favorite project lately. Don’t usually get to work on an antique.”
“Well, you’re doing a beautiful job.” Naomi knew using Emilia would mean a slower process than if she’d hired a whole construction company, but Emilia was an artisan. She’d only been in town a couple of months, but had already earned a reputation as a skilled woodworker. Around Topaz Falls, Emilia mainly did maintenance for homes in the exclusive neighborhoods up near the ski resort, but when Naomi had met her at Darla’s place a few months ago, she’d jumped at the possibility of working on a Victorian. As soon as she’d closed on the house, Naomi had called her, and now, what she saw around her was exactly why. “I brought the checkbook,” she said, holding it up. “So I can pay you for the materials and hours you’ve worked up until now.” She still marveled at the thought of having her own business account.
“Speaking of…” Emilia walked to her messenger bag, which was slung over the stuffed chair Naomi had brought from the ranch. It was still the only piece of furniture in the room. “I’ve been looking at ways to save you money. I think you could easily tear out the wood paneling in the den yourself.”
“Me?” She laughed. “I’m not sure you want me to do that.” How would she even do that?
“It’s nothing,” the woman insisted, waving her off. “Just use a crowbar to rip it off the wall. Think of it as therapy.” A mischievous glow lit her eyes. “And I’m sure a certain Cortez brother would be happy to assist if you asked him nicely.”
“Wow, word gets around fast.” It seemed the whole town knew about her and Lucas before things were even official. But she likely had that scene on the street with Mark to thank for that.
“Is it true he’s planning to stick around?” Emilia asked with a probing grin.
The question brought out Naomi’s sappiest smile. “It sounds like it.”
“Good. Then he can help you knock out this list.” Emilia handed over a paper. “Next couple of days I’ll be finishing up a job for the Bartletts, but I’ll get back on yours next week.” She gave Naomi a sturdy pat on the shoulder. “That should give you two plenty of time to get this done.”
“Sounds great.” Manuel labor had never been her thing but something told her it would be a whole lot more fun with Lucas. She snuck a quick glance at her watch. Eight minutes. Her heart did a little flip.
“Here’s where we’re at so far.” Emilia handed her another paper with the total for hours and materials.
“Not bad.” Naomi scrawled out a quick check and happily handed it over. She still couldn’t believe this was happening, that she was actually—
Her phone rang. “Thanks so much,” she told Emilia as she dug it out. “You’re doing such a great job.”
“I’m enjoying it,” Emilia assured her. “Trust me.”
Naomi glanced at the phone’s glowing screen, instantly recognizing the school’s number. That usually wasn’t good news. “I’ll see you later,” she murmured to Emilia as she made her way to the porch. “Hello?” She stepped outside where the reception was better.
“Naomi? This is Eleanor Bradley.” In addition to being the school principal, Eleanor ran the school’s summer camps, too.
“Hi, Eleanor. Everything okay?” she asked nervously.
Lucas’s truck had pulled up in front of the house, but she didn’t want to move and risk losing reception.
“There’s been an incident and I need you to come to the school right away.”
She steeled herself against an outburst of mom panic. Remain calm…“An incident?”
“Gracie got into a fight,” the woman said in a clipped tone. “Everyone is fine, but I’m sure you’ll understand the need to discuss this as soon as possible.”
“A fight?” She didn’t mean to keep repeating the woman, but she couldn’t be serious. “Gracie has never been in a fight…”
Lucas bounded up the steps, but stopped quickly when he saw her face. Everything okay? he mouthed.
She shook her head.
“Well, I can assure you she got into a fight today. And she started it. We’ll discuss the details when you get here.” The line went dead as though Mrs. Bradley didn’t want to leave her more room to repeat anything.
“Oh my God.” She stuffed the phone back in her purse.
“What happened?” Lucas asked, taking her into his arms.
“That was the principal. She said Gracie got into a fight.” She couldn’t even picture it. Her sweet daughter—who’d never once gotten in trouble for hitting or kicking or biting, even when she was a toddler—had gotten into a physical altercation with someone?
“Maybe it’s a misunderstanding,” Lucas suggested. “Want me to drive you over there?”
“Please.” He was right. It had to be a misunderstanding. But her heart hammered her ribs and she held his hand all the way to the truck.
Thankfully, it only took five minutes to get to the school. That was the benefit of being in town instead of out at the ranch.
“I’ll wait here,” Lucas said, helping her out of the truck. She didn’t want him to, but given Eleanor’s reaction the last time she’d seen him, it was probably best. “Hopefully we’ll be quick.” Leaving him standing near the truck, she hurried to the doors and used her keycard to buzz herself in. Surely it would be quick. She could talk to Gracie and get the whole story of what happened and clear up this craziness.
She marched down the hall and turned the corner to go to the office. Gracie sat on a bench just outside Mrs. Bradley’s door.
Her daughter looked up with a sullen, tear-stained face. “Gracie.” Naomi rushed over and sat next to her. “Honey, what happened?”
Before her daughter could answer, Mrs. Bradley poked her head out into the hall. “Why don’t you both come in and sit down?” It was more of a command than an invitation.
Gracie’s scowl tightened, but she followed Naomi into the office. They both sat on hard chairs facing Mrs. Bradley’s desk.
“Gracie, tell your mom what happened,” Eleanor said without greeting Naomi.
Her daughter stared at her scabbed knees. “I pushed Timothy. And then I punched him in the face.”
Naomi almost burst out laughing it was so absurd. “Was it an accident?” Maybe she’d tripped and lost her balance…
“No,” her daughter snapped. “I did it on purpose.”
“On purpose?” She blinked at her. She had no idea what else to say. This was new territory. Fighting at school?
“Timothy had a bloody nose,” Mrs. Bradley added. “His mother has already taken him home.”
“Oh my God. Gracie…” She turned to her daughter. “Why would you do something like that?” How could her sweet, innocent girl have punched a boy in the face hard enough to make him bleed?
“He said my mom was gonna marry a bad guy,” she huffed. “So I told him, my mom’s not getting married, you big fat stupid head. And then he said everyone’s talking about it. He said you’re going on dates with the bad guy who started the fire.” Her daughter’s face had flushed with embarrassment. “So I pushed him and hit him and I’m not sorry.”
Naomi’s eyes stung so badly, she had to close them. “Oh, honey,” she murmured, fo
rcing herself to look at Gracie. She should’ve told her before now. She should’ve let Lucas tell her last night.
“Is he a bad guy?” Gracie asked, her voice wobbling as though she was trying not to cry. “Is Lucas a bad guy?”
“No,” Naomi said firmly. “No.”
Eleanor shifted in her chair. “Gracie, why don’t you go sit on the bench and give your mom and me a chance to discuss things?”
Gracie did what she was told, just like always. That was her girl. Obedient and respectful.
“I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how serious this is,” Mrs. Bradley said as soon as the door closed. “I have to suspend her from camp this week. We have to set an example here.”
An example? She thought of her daughter standing there while that boy had humiliated her in front of everyone. She would’ve wanted to punch him, too. Her throat burned. “What about Timothy? What’ll happen to him?”
“He’s already been reprimanded appropriately.” Mrs. Bradley pushed over a written apology.
Gracie, Sorry for making fun of you or whatever.—Timothy
“How heartfelt,” Naomi said drily.
Eleanor seemed to ignore her sarcasm. “Poking fun at someone is vastly different from physically attacking them.”
Naomi rolled her eyes so the woman could see what she thought of that statement. “It was hardly an attack. She pushed him and hit him. And she’s never done anything like that before. You know her. She’s gotten eight citizenship awards, for crying out loud.”
“That’s what concerns me.” The woman glanced at the door and lowered her voice. “I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how much children are influenced by the adults they spend time with.”
The burning sensation in her throat reached for her stomach. Surely Mrs. Bradley wasn’t alluding to Lucas. “I’m sorry, what?” The words were as clipped as her heart rate.
“From the sound of things, you and Gracie have been spending a lot of time with Lucas Cortez.” Eleanor said his name like a curse word. “Obviously, it’s having a negative impact on your daughter.”
“No.” Naomi lurched to her feet, the fiery anger now consuming all of her. “I will talk to her about the fight. And there will be a consequence.” She paused to regain her composure. “But who we spend time with is none of your business.” She ripped open the door and escaped into the hallway. “Come on, Gracie,” she said, taking her daughter by the hand. “Let’s go home.”
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