Every Vow She Breaks

by Jannine Gallant

  “I don’t mind.”

  Little lines radiated from his eyes, and the smile curving his lips seemed strained.

  “Look, you don’t have to help me paint if you don’t want to. This is your vacation, after all. You should spend it having fun.”

  He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’ll survive a few days of painting.”

  She took another step then hesitated. “I’m not trying to domesticate you. I’m fully aware it would be a colossal waste of time.”

  “So, you’re not even going to make an attempt?”

  Her brows pinched. “Do you want me to?”

  “No.” He let out a breath. “Don’t mind me. I’m in a mood. Kane called a while ago to tell me he was shot.”

  “What?” Turning, she rushed back to lay a hand on his arm. “Oh, my God, is he okay?”

  “Just a flesh wound. Still, it cemented my long held belief that life’s short. We should do our best to enjoy the time we have.”

  Dread filled her, and her stomach clenched. Something in his eyes…she swallowed and forced herself to speak. “What are you trying to say?”

  “I don’t know. Nothing.” He clasped her cheeks between his palms then bent to kiss her. A quick brush of the lips. “I’m no philosopher. Get me that shampoo, and I’ll go wash the dog.”

  The breath left her in a whoosh. Maybe she was imagining problems where none existed. Maybe Jed wasn’t regretting that they were still together, or thinking about ending it. One thing was certain, she would ignore Theresa’s well-intentioned advice. Now wasn’t the time to tell him how she was really feeling because she was pretty certain a declaration of love—or a strong leaning toward that overrated emotion—would push him right over the edge and out of her life.

  “Claire?”

  “Huh? Oh, right, dog shampoo. I’m going.”

  She practically ran to the motor home. Anything to escape a possible confession that would surely break her heart.

  Chapter 14

  “I have to drive down to San Francisco.” Claire set her phone on the table next to her half-eaten breakfast and frowned. “My editor wants to discuss the proposal I e-mailed her.”

  Jed swallowed the toast he’d just bitten into. “Seems like she did plenty of talking while your eggs got cold.”

  “We discussed the fact that my last piece was about redwoods instead of Bigfoot. Louise is bummed I didn’t get the photo of a lifetime.” She picked up her fork. “Not half as bummed as I am. Still, we haven’t had a face-to-face conversation in months, and she has some concerns about the scope of the new story. I don’t mind a quick trip to the city.”

  “What exactly is this new project?”

  “Creatures from the sea.” She pointed out the motor home window toward the gray expanse of ocean. “The view from here inspired me.”

  “Are we talking seals or mermaids?” Jed took another bite, his eyes bright with curiosity. Leaning back, he wiped his mouth with a napkin.

  She tore her gaze away from mobile lips—damn the man was kissable—and cleared her throat. “Uh, sea lions, walruses, sea otters…normal sea animals.”

  “Mermaids would be more interesting.”

  “Not to mention harder to photograph. I’ve been down that road once already, and I’m not going back.”

  “You’re no fun.”

  “That’s not what you said last night.”

  The blue of his eyes deepened. “Those types of comments will get you nothing but trouble.”

  Heat crept up her neck. “We don’t have time for any more trouble. I have to hit the road.”

  “Can I come with you?”

  “You’d rather drive than paint?”

  He snorted. “No contest. Anyway, the trip doesn’t have to be all about work. We can have an evening out after your meeting. I could go for something a little more glamorous than Ralph’s Diner for a change.”

  She glanced up from poking at rubbery eggs. “You mean I get to dress up?”

  “Sure. I may have packed something other than jeans and T-shirts.”

  Standing, she dumped her plate into the sink. “A real date. Imagine that. Go do whatever it is you need to do so I can get ready. Now I’m excited.”

  He rose to his feet and paused beside the door. “Let’s take my car and spend the night in a hotel. It’ll be a nice break from the motor home.”

  Turning, she grabbed him by the shoulders and stretched up to place a smacking kiss on his lips. “Better watch out or I’ll start thinking you’re civilized.”

  When barking erupted in the yard, he glanced out the window. “Your dog must have treed another squirrel.”

  She slapped her forehead. “Well, damn. What’re we going to do with Scoop? Hotels don’t usually want dogs his size.”

  “Would your friend take him overnight?”

  “Maybe. I’ll call her. Go. I need to dress and pack.”

  His expression turned serious as he ran a thumb across her cheek. “You deserve to be treated like a queen. It’s about time I stepped up.” Backing away, he opened the door. “I’ll go take the mutt for a run. See you in a few.”

  When Theresa didn’t answer her cell, Claire called her home phone and spoke to her teenage daughter who assured her she would love to watch Scoop. Hoping her friend would be half as enthusiastic about the arrangement, she promised to drop him off on the way out of town. After cleaning up the breakfast dishes, she packed, then dressed in a pair of slim-fitting pants and a lilac blouse, added a dash of makeup and smiled at her reflection in the mirror on the back of the closet door. Cool and professional for the meeting with her editor who’d agreed to come in on the weekend, but still comfortable for the drive.

  The smile faded. As much as she appreciated Jed’s efforts to plan an evening out, something felt a little off. Almost as if he were creating a few special memories to soften the blow when he walked away. She gave herself a mental shake, determined not to second guess his every move. She’d simply enjoy the day and the company.

  The door squeaked open as the man she couldn’t get out of her thoughts poked his head inside. After a slow perusal, he smiled. “You look really nice. Ready to go?”

  Nice? With an eye roll, she turned back to the mirror. “Just about.”

  “I unloaded all the camping equipment and put it in the house. What about the dog?”

  “We’ll leave him with Theresa.”

  “Great. I locked up after dumping my gear. I’m ready whenever you are.”

  Knowing Jed’s penchant for driving with the windows down, she took another moment to secure her hair in a gold clip then grabbed her purse, computer case and overnight bag before locking the door behind her. She tossed the luggage in the back of the SUV beside Scoop and moaned. “Damn, I forgot his food and bowl.”

  “I got them while you were messing with your face. The leash, too.”

  She hitched herself up onto the seat and slammed the door. “You really are handy to have around. Thanks.”

  “I do have my uses.” He started the engine, lowered the gear shift, and they bumped down the driveway.

  “One more expense. Filling in the pot holes. Turn left at the highway. Theresa lives on Elm Street just this side of town.” They rode for several minutes in companionable silence. When Scoop pushed his head between the seats, Claire reached up to stroke his ears. “Shelby promised to take him for a walk after she gets home from volleyball practice. I hope he won’t miss us too much.”

  “I think the dog will survive. Is that the right street?”

  “Yep, it’s the fifth house on the left, the green one with the fenced yard.”

  Jed pulled into the driveway. While she let Scoop out of the car and opened the gate, he retrieved the food and bowl. “Where should I put this stuff?”

  “I guess by the door. Theresa must be working since her car isn’t here.” Claire gave the dog a hug and was rewarded with a slobbery lick. “Be a good boy.
I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  When the latch clicked into place, Scoop barked and lunged against the fence.

  She bit her lip. “Maybe—”

  “He’ll be fine. Let’s go.”

  With a final backward glance, she climbed into the vehicle. “He’d better stop barking, or the neighbors are going to complain.”

  “They’ll get over it.” Reaching across the center console, he squeezed the hand clenched on top of her thigh. “Sit back and relax. Today is about enjoying ourselves.”

  “Yeah, I guess it is.” She smiled. “I promise not to stress over my dog.”

  Once they were back on the highway, he turned the radio on low and picked up speed. “Classic rock okay with you?”

  “That’s what I usually listen to.”

  “Good thing. If you’d asked for country, I might have had to kick you out of the car.”

  Claire grinned. “It’s nice to know where your breaking point is.”

  “I don’t live with a lot of rules, but a man has to draw the line about music.” He gave her a quick glance before returning his attention to the road. “Let’s hear all about your story proposal.”

  “Mostly it’s about making my life easier. With the whole remodel project certain to occupy the majority of my waking hours, I thought I’d try to stick close to home.” She waved a hand toward the west. “I can get a lot of photos of the marine animals I’ll need right in my backyard, so to speak. For a fresh angle, I plan to incorporate photos of lighthouses into the piece with quirky facts about each. That’ll require some travel, but there are several cool ones within a day’s drive.”

  “Sounds interesting. What’re your editor’s concerns?”

  “She wants to discuss a more in-depth story focusing on a single lighthouse. I think my idea would be more visually stimulating. Less writing required, too, and that’s always a plus for me.” When he rolled the window down a couple of inches, she tucked a blowing strand of hair behind her ear. “Including photos of sea mammals is a no-brainer. Our readers love animals of every shape and size. Louise was ecstatic about the bear cub photo I took. It almost made up for not getting a picture of a Bigfoot—preferably autographed by the creature and certified as authentic.”

  Jed snorted. “Bet if you’d asked Bart nicely he would have put on a costume and then sworn out an affidavit declaring it the real deal.”

  She put her head back and laughed. “Now why didn’t I think of that?”

  “You don’t have a devious mind. I do. I imagine the idea of a fake is looking pretty good to your buddy, Preston, about now. His boss must be getting pissed he doesn’t have a story yet.”

  Claire frowned. “Poor Preston. Nothing ever seems to work out for him.”

  “The whole Bigfoot retreat was a bust for everyone involved.” He patted her knee then left his hand on her thigh. “Except for you. You were smart enough to change the focus of your article and make the most of the situation. I admire the hell out of you for that.”

  A jolt of heat shot straight up her leg to her core then spread outward like molten fire. The breeze coming through the window couldn’t begin to cool her hot cheeks. With an effort, she focused on his words.

  “Thanks. I may be an optimist, but I’m not stupid. I know when it’s time to cut my losses.”

  The fingers on her thigh tightened. “I’m sure you do.” With a final squeeze, he released her. “Do you think you can talk your editor into seeing your point of view about the lighthouses?”

  “I always have in the past. I’m not too worried about it.”

  He let the subject drop, and they rode in silence, music filling the car’s interior as the miles rolled away. Something seemed to be on Jed’s mind, but he wasn’t talking about it. Every subtle attempt on her part to draw him out was met with a pleasant change of subject.

  Her lips firmed. Maybe sledgehammer tactics would produce better results. Not that she was at all certain she wanted to know what he was thinking. Still, she’d never been one to hide from reality. “What’s bugging you? Spill it.”

  “Huh?”

  “You’ve been like a dog with a bone since yesterday. Well, not my dog. He chomps them down in no time. More like one of those fluffy little toy dogs, nibbling around the edges of a giant femur.”

  He turned and stared.

  “Jed!”

  A horn blared.

  With a jerk, he swerved back into his own lane. “Sorry. I wasn’t trying to kill us. I was trying to wrap my mind around your analogy.” His brows nearly met above his nose. “Are you calling me a poodle?”

  “If the rhinestone collar fits…”

  “Aren’t you the funny one. Do you want to explain what the hell you’re talking about?”

  “Ever since you returned with the masking tape and smelly dog yesterday, you’ve been lapsing into sullen fits. Whatever’s on your mind obviously isn’t pleasant. Are you sick of hanging out with me?”

  “What? No. Why would you think that?”

  “What should I think? You sure aren’t talking. Have I done something you don’t like—other than ask you to paint?”

  “Of course not.” Pressing down on the accelerator, he blew by a semi on a straight stretch of highway. “It’s not you. It’s me.”

  “Oh, my God! Are you kidding? Do people really say that?”

  He pulled back into the right-hand lane before turning with a frown. “Say what?”

  “What do you think? It’s not you. It’s me.” She rolled her eyes.

  “It is me. Kane made some comments about my lack of gainful employment and easy come, easy go lifestyle. Hell, he did everything but tell me it was time to grow up.” His fist smacked against the steering wheel. “What my brother said—or didn’t say—has been bugging me.”

  “Oh.” She hunched down in the seat. “I feel like an idiot.”

  “Why would you feel like an idiot? You have a real job. Well, sort of.” He grinned. “Actually, taking pictures for a living isn’t your average nine-to-five, nose-to-the-grindstone employment either.”

  “I’m a fool for making your mood all about me. A little self-obsessed, don’t you think? As for my career, I spent years paying my dues to get to this point. Who says work has to be nine-to-five to be real?”

  “You know what I mean. You’ve made a few comments about my penchant for having fun.”

  “True, but I wasn’t implying anything negative about how you make your living. Work should be fun.” She shrugged. “If I had to describe you in five words, settled or stable wouldn’t make the list. Fun would. So would interesting, charming and helpful.”

  “That’s only four words. What’s the fifth?”

  “Hot. Definitely hot.”

  His gaze met hers and held. By the time he looked away, heat had crept up her neck to bloom in her cheeks. She rolled down her window.

  “Stable is overrated. Unless you need a place to put a horse.” Jed tapped the steering wheel.

  Claire let out a breath. “I’m beginning to think you’re right.”

  “Kane has my best interests at heart, but he should mind his own business. That’s what I’m going to tell him the next time I see him.” He sat up a little straighter and jetted around a slow moving camper, sliding back into his lane just ahead of a string of oncoming traffic.

  She pried her fingers off the door handle. “Speaking of horses, I should wear blinders like they do when I travel with you.”

  His brows shot up. “Why?”

  “You drive the way you live your life—on the edge.”

  “You’re perfectly safe. My judgment and reflexes are excellent.” His voice softened. “I’d never do anything to hurt you.”

  She pressed one hand to her chest. “I hope not.”

  * * * *

  Jed strolled down the beach with his hands stuffed in his pockets, missing…Scoop. God, something must be wrong with him. Still, almost everyone on this stretch of sa
nd had a dog tugging at the end of a leash except him, making him the odd man out. He’d never had a problem with his own company in the past. Why now? Maybe it was the thick fog putting a damper on his mood since he had no other conceivable reason for feeling lonely. He’d only dropped Claire off a half-hour ago, for Christ’s sake.

  When an ugly mongrel raced toward him, barking enthusiastically, leash trailing behind him, he stopped and crouched down to pet it. Something about the droopy ears and long snout struck a chord…

  “Wylie?”

  The dog sniffed his hand. Glancing up, he scanned the scattering of afternoon strollers. A woman in running shorts and a T-shirt with a wind breaker tied around her waist jogged toward him, a smile lighting her bright green eyes.

  He stood and held out his arms. “Grace!”

  “Fancy meeting you here.” Kane’s sister-in-law hugged him back before stepping away. “If you were going to be in town, why didn’t you call?”

  “Last minute decision. Anyway, I never know if you’re here or in Seattle, but I’m glad we ran into each other. Or rather, Wylie ran into me.” He grinned. “I swear that dog gets uglier every time I see him.”

  She scowled before a wide smile slipped out. “Yet for some reason he still likes you. What’re you doing on the beach all by yourself?”

  “Killing time before I pick up a friend. We’re going out to dinner later. You and Travis should join us. You’ll like Claire.”

  Grace rubbed her arms and shivered. “Has hell frozen over? You’re offering to introduce family—okay, extended, almost family—to a woman? I thought you were as bad as I used to be about mixing relatives with pleasure.”

  “Your sister marrying my brother doesn’t make us related.”

  “If we see each other on holidays, it’s close enough. Sure, let’s do it. I’d love to meet this woman. Travis and I don’t have plans, and I could use a night off from wedding preparation.” She pressed both hands to her head and moaned. “Tell me my mother won’t disown me if we elope. If I have to listen to one more conversation about centerpieces and veils and china patterns, I may shoot someone. Namely, myself.”