by Kara Kelley
“Someone?” His hand fell from the belt and he strode toward her swiftly, his eyes wide and worried. He grabbed her upper arms firmly and looked her up and down. His jingling buckle no longer thrilled her with concern plastered on his face. “Babe, are you hurt?”
“It was Layla, and she didn’t see me. I followed her for a bit before I came back here though.” His brows rose in question and he scratched at his beard. She could see he was deep in thought. “She called someone named Rebecca, eager to tell her what she’d found. Do you think it was the reporter?”
He looked away and swore.
“I have questions too,” she said softly. “About what I found.” She gestured to the paintings of her. “And about things between us.”
“And I’ll answer them all, Addi, but first I gotta get rid of these paintings.”
She didn’t understand any of it. Why would he hide his talent and why would Uncle Ray take credit? “Why? Why can’t anyone know you’re the artist?”
“Babe, I need you to trust me. Can you do that?”
“Yes.”
He gathered a breath and looked around again. “This problem isn’t going anywhere.” Rubbing the back of his neck, he bit his lip. “The damage is done. She probably took pictures.” He reached for Addi, pulling her close enough to hear his heartbeat pound steadily in her ear.
“She did. She sent them to Rebecca.”
“Dammit. I should have just given her some fluff, but Ray was private and as you now know, we had shit to hide.”
“But why?”
“Babe, I warned you I’m not a good guy.”
“I don’t believe that for a second, Drew.”
He kissed the top of her head and she traced one of the pained figure tattoos on his bicep. “I know you don’t, baby girl, and that’s the biggest problem of all.”
“Uncle Ray didn’t either.” She pulled back and glared at him—steady, sure, and determined. “He wouldn’t have asked you to take care of me if he didn’t trust you. And he wouldn’t trust you if you weren’t good.” She ran her palms from his arms to take his hands.
His head hung a moment and even with his hair falling in his face, she saw both pain and hope twisting his features.
“I promise I’ll tell you everything, Addi. You deserve the truth. I just need to digest and settle some shit first. Can you give me time for that?”
“Of course.”
He pulled her against his warm chest and she wished they could stay like that for at least a few more days. She knew things were about to get complicated and with Uncle Ray’s funeral tomorrow, she didn’t think either of them deserved complicated.
“I’m going to town to get some new locks, and ask a friend to watch over the place while we’re gone tomorrow. How about you relax and I’ll bring back some pizza for lunch.” His mouth quirked to the side as he pulled her back from his embrace to look at her face. “That’s an order, baby girl.”
“That sounds unbelievably good, especially that it’s an order.”
He leaned down to her ear and whispered, “You know we still have the old projector and white screen in the mess hall. We can pull the blinds down and put on one of the old movies like Ray did during rainy days at camp. Throw some gym mats, sleeping bags, and pillows down. I just put a brand-new air conditioner in last year.” His brows wiggled and his raspy voice took on a sexy lilt. “We can cuddle up and watch Homeward Bound or Free Willy.”
“You are so turning me on right now,” she said sarcastically, knowing the only options for movies would be the kid-friendly kind. “But you had me at air conditioner.” She laughed and he joined in with his deep chuckle. He kissed her head and then tipped her chin so he could do the same to her lips.
“Do you want to stay here or go back to your cabin?”
“Well, it feels a little weird staring at myself and all my adolescent angst in these paintings, so yeah, I think I’ll go back.”
“I like them.” He looked around at the paintings. “They remind me you were always a determined little brat.”
“It was all the time I spent with bossy, overbearing boys.”
“That so?” He swatted her ass. “Well, now you have a bossy, overbearing Daddy.” He took her hand and they walked in silence back to the main camp.
Concern was hidden in his expression and her own churned in her gut, but for now they’d let sleeping beasts lie.
Chapter Thirteen
Addi
Fell County and the town of Fell near Tonalonka Camp weren’t big, but when the residents all gathered in the small funeral home, they certainly filled it.
Addi couldn’t believe how many people came to what she’d thought would be a small service of close friends and family. She’d figured it’d be done in an hour. That’s what she’d wanted. The true tribute would come from the memorial weekend she’d planned for October. Where all the people Ray had shaped would come to tell stories and enjoy the camp once more.
With all the mourners chatting and milling about, she felt overwhelmed. Who were they all?
“Babe?”
Startled, she blinked at Drew. “Who are all these people?”
“He was loved, Addi. He was always there when someone needed a hand. Hell, more mamas came to discuss their wayward boys than men called him for fishing—and he was called to fish a lot. He had a way with kids and adults alike. This community adored him.”
Tears pooled in her eyes. “My God. I just didn’t realize.” He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I feel like I’ve talked to a million people today.”
“Oh, here you are!” A woman with short dark hair wearing a floral-patterned dress came rushing to her as soon as she was in sight. “Finally I get to meet Ray’s little girl. He was always talking about you, honey.” She grabbed Addi’s hands, pulling the one from Drew’s. “I’m Nora. I run the diner in town. Your uncle ordered eggs up, ham, and home fries with a side of steak every Sunday at the diner. He was a small man but he could pack it away.” Her laugh was infectious and Addi found herself smiling at the woman.
She went on to tell Addi all about her three boys and how they were always up to no good until they started going to Ray’s camp. “He changed my hooligans into proper young men.”
“That sounds like him.” She looked around. “I didn’t expect this kind of turnout.” She nervously wondered about the sandwich and light lunch offerings she’d had the funeral home order in. “I don’t think I ordered enough food.” She sounded spacey even to her own ears, but if Nora cared, she didn’t show it.
“Hon, my place was doing the catering. Don’t you worry. I’d been asking around and knew there would be more people here. I adjusted the order myself on the house. You’ll be fine. You just go around and meet everyone and hear stories about your uncle. They’ll go a long way in the days to come.”
“Thank you, Nora.” Her nose tingled with emotion, but she was quickly swept away under Nora’s arm and met more people, heard many stories, and was hugged so much she felt as if she’d collapse if one more person dragged her off.
The service had been beautiful and several of Ray’s fishing buddies got up to speak, but she was sort of numb to it all until Drew stood.
“I met Ray when I was a teenager. I’d been sent to work at the camp after getting out of juvie. His good fishing buddy Judge Darren Mackie had asked him if he’d take me on as a favor.” He pointed to a tall thin man sitting in the first row behind the pew reserved for family—well, for her. He turned and waved a big hand at the congregation behind him and then nodded at Addi and smoothed his gray goatee.
“I was ready and willing to learn, earn my keep, and prove to the world I wasn’t worthless, but I didn’t expect to be treated very well. I was wrong.” He glanced around.
“Ray treated me like a son and never once doubted me or my potential—even when I hurt him. And I did hurt him. I had my reasons, and he understood them, but he didn’t have to take me back with open arms and he did, without hesitat
ion.” Addi sniffed and Judge Mackie passed a tissue forward.
“I don’t know what he saw in me, but there was never a doubt that he loved me. He changed a lot of lives.” He smiled as he looked at Addi. “He even changed the life of the giant pike he finally proved lived in the lake. We campers and leaders tried not to believe it, but we still swam like hell when no one was looking just in case.” There were chuckles from the crowd. “A few weeks before he died, he rescued that pike and nursed it back to health. His niece and I released it a few days ago and I’m sure Ray was smiling down on us and probably yelling at us to do it his way.” More laughter filled the room and Drew continued weaving a picture of Ray that made everyone smile and wipe tears from their eyes.
It was evident to everyone that Drew loved Uncle Ray, and when he continued to speak of Ray’s love for his only niece her cheeks were wet with tears. By the time he finished, she was sobbing along with everyone else. Even he had red glassy eyes.
As the man from the funeral home rose to end the service, Drew whisked Addi to the private family room off to the side where they could still see and hear but also have some privacy. The only thing she saw as he pulled her away, besides the sniffling teary crowd, was the redhead sitting at the back.
“You okay, babe?” he asked, after sitting Addi down and crouching in front of her. She nodded, wiping her eyes and he scrutinized her in that weird way as if reading her mind for what she wasn’t vocalizing.
“That was beautiful, Drew. I’m so glad you had each other all these years.”
“You and me both, honey. I don’t know where either of us would have been.” He stood, shoveling a hand through his hair. “Well, no, I’m pretty sure I know where’d I be.”
There was a gentle knock on the door and they both looked to see Carter.
“What the hell do you want?” Drew growled in a low, but threatening way.
“I’m just checking on Addi. I stopped by the camp yesterday but no one was around. She looked pretty shaken up just now, so I thought I’d see if she needed anything.”
“It’s okay, Drew,” Addi said and he looked at her in disbelief. She took his hand, squeezing it like he had hers moments earlier. “I’m good.”
His mouth hitched slightly on the side and he nodded before shooting Carter a threatening look. “I’ll get us some coffee.”
“Thanks.” When he was gone, Carter spoke.
“Those speeches were hard to hear, sweetheart.” He sat next to her on the sofa. His genuine smile made her wonder how much people could change over the years.
“Thanks for checking on me, but I’m fine.”
“Let me take you home after?”
“I came with Fitz.”
“On his bike?” He stood, slamming his fists on his hips. “God, Addi. You have no idea who that guy is. He’s dangerous.”
“I know he was in some kind of trouble as a teenager but has he done anything recently for you to believe that?” She crossed her arms and watched Carter press his lip and look away. “Can people change, Carter?”
He turned back to look at her. He smiled at her but it didn’t reach his eyes and felt more like it was mocking her than anything else.
“I believe some people can. I know I have.” He relaxed his arms and shook his head. “Stay safe, Addi.”
“I will.”
He walked out, leaving her with a rolling stomach and a headache brewing.
“Did he upset you? What did he say?” Drew handed her a coffee and sat down.
“I’m fine, but I’m ready for this to be over.” She looked at the coffee in her hands, resting it in her lap. “I want you to tell me everything.” She looked at him and grinned. “And then I want you to make me forget my name.”
* * *
As Addi went through the motions of socializing with her uncle’s friends, she saw Daniel and Steven walk in.
“I’m so sorry we’re late.” Daniel’s eyes shot to Steven. “Someone forgot to grab the plane tickets and we missed our flight.”
“I see you eye-pointing at me, Daniel,” Steven groaned and leaned in to grab Addi up in a big hug. “How are you? How was the service? God, I am so sorry!”
“She’s shitty, Steven, shitty. Can’t you see? And we weren’t here for her.” Daniel hugged her then, too.
“I’m so glad you guys made it.” She took their hands and dragged them toward the food. “You must be starving!”
They pulled her back and a look passed between them. “You’re kidding, right? Look at you! Have you eaten at all since you’ve been here? You look like you’ve lost ten pounds!”
“I’ve been trying to feed her.” Drew’s deep voice sent tingles down her spine as he sidled up next to her. Another look passed between her two best friends. Addi wanted to roll her eyes and laugh at the same time.
“Guys, this is Fitz. He’s the caretaker at the camp, and was my uncle’s closest friend.” Drew stuck out his big hand, which swallowed Daniel’s but only dwarfed Steven’s slightly. His arm quickly settled around her waist and he winked as she looked at him sharply.
They had never discussed their relationship and when she had even brushed up against the idea of having feelings for him he practically ran away screaming. Was this his jealous boyfriend act again? Why was it he felt the need to metaphorically pee on her leg every time people were around?
“These two are more likely to be eyeing you than me and besides they’re married, Fitz. No need to get all caveman.”
“Oh, I think the caveman suits him, Addi. Don’t discourage. Do. Not. Discourage.” Steven fanned himself.
“Steven,” Daniel warned. “Your filter is broken again.”
“You gonna eat?” Drew said, pointing to the food table. “I highly recommend the…” Addi tuned them out as they headed for the food, choosing to find an empty table instead of being further mortified by Drew’s possessiveness.
The noise of the chattering crowd, the heat of too many bodies all pressed into the room, and the dull ache behind her eyes had her feeling nauseated and lightheaded.
She wanted to get home so badly. Home? Her cabin, and the camp with Drew really did feel like home. Unlike the house she still shared with her father.
Looking around, she wondered if anyone would notice if she slipped away. They were occupied. She turned, eyeing the door, her brow cocked as she wondered what Drew would do later when he found her.
“Hi, Addi.” She spun, startled by the small voice. Brent stood smiling at her. “My mom said I could come.” He pointed. “She’s over there with Trevor.” His mother, wearing an inappropriately short dress, was standing at the coffee station next to the bartender from Last Resort. He looked annoyed, but so did she.
Addi crouched down and wrapped her arms around Brent. “I’m so glad you came.” She saw some frosting on his nose and she wiped it off, showing him. “I see you found Nora’s strawberry cupcakes.”
He bobbed his head. “They’re even better than the bakery’s, Addi.”
“They are pretty darn delicious.” She saw Nora watching them with a smile and waved. “I bet Nora would give us the recipe and when you come by to paint with Fitz, we can make them.”
The boy’s head dropped and he kicked the tip of his dress shoes against the floor. “My mom says I’m not allowed to talk to Fitz anymore.”
“Brent!” His name was called sharply and both Addi’s and Brent’s heads snapped toward Layla.
“Let’s go!” Layla spat and grabbed his hand roughly.
Brent looked at Addi as he was dragged away, his eyes owlish and sad. She mouthed she was sorry and he just turned away.
“And what was that all about?” Steven asked, joining her with a plateful of goodies.
“I don’t know.”
“Well, if you ask me, good riddance. That woman has been upsetting everyone.”
Addi looked around and saw the mourners were no longer milling about chatting with each other. They were gathered in small pockets, staring at Drew, wh
ispering.
Had Layla told everyone Drew was the artist?
“I’ll be right back,” she said, leaving the table.
As she headed for Drew, still standing with Daniel, several people stopped her, asking her if she knew.
Knew what? What the hell was going on?
The word murderer was spoken in a hushed whisper behind her, making her spin. Nora and a few others were standing in a group, pale-faced.
“Oh, honey, I’m sorry.” Nora reached for her, but Addi just turned to look at Drew.
His eyes locked on hers, concern immediately crossing his features and then his brows furrowed and he looked around. Daniel stood frozen with a tea sandwich poised in front of his open mouth. Steven, who’d followed her, put a hand on Addi’s shoulder.
Addi heard her blood rushing through her veins.
Drew, looking determined, started toward her in big strides, cutting through groups of people as if they were fall leaves in the park. His pace was shrinking the space between them, but not fast enough. Her heart, beating a hummingbird’s pace, called to him. He would explain. Her uncle knew Drew, trusted and loved him and Drew had promised to tell her everything. He warned her it was big.
She started for him, first in a walk and then in a run, but before they reached each other, Trevor stepped between them.
He was a wall of bald, goateed, rock-hard muscle, which under normal circumstances would have her breaking out in a nervous sweat, but she was Drew’s. She wasn’t afraid of Trevor.
“Get out of the way,” she said before Drew could speak.
“Hey, little lady, I think we should have a talk before you go anywhere.”
“No, we shouldn’t.” She sidestepped the big man as he tried to take hold of her wrist and she grabbed Drew’s palm. “The only person I need to talk to is Fitz.”