“I want to be with Daddy.”
“Doesn’t matter, Myah. You’re not going to be. Get your fill now. I only brought you so you’d shut up about seeing him.”
Wow. Bitchtastic.
It got quiet in the room, except for the sounds of Myah crying, and Sage couldn’t take it anymore. She stepped into the doorway as Orion’s ex-wife was saying, “Who the fuck does this purse belong to?”
“That would be mine,” Sage said as she walked into the room.
A dainty little girl with tons of black curls was draped over Orion, her pale white arms looped around his neck as she clung to him. She blinked tears out of blue eyes exactly like Orion’s, and Sage nearly stumbled over the child’s beauty and resemblance to him.
“And who are you?” Witchy Ex-wife asked.
“A friend.” Sage took in the woman’s short, sleek red hair, cut to frame an angular face. Her blue eyes shot lasers at Sage, but there was no denying the woman was beautiful. She wore a fitted, black pencil skirt and a white ruffly blouse that screamed style and power. Clearly a chick of high breeding, she should have intimidated Sage.
“Orion only has two friends. Adam and his mousy sister,” she said. “He doesn’t have friends like you.”
Hiss and scratch.
“And what exactly does ‘friends like you’ mean?” Sage shot back. This lady had no idea who she was messing with.
Orion and Myah watched the volley of words in silence, but Sage caught the grin Orion tried to hide behind Myah’s hair as he hugged her.
“Slutty friends.” Witchy Ex-wife crossed her arms and straightened so she stood at her full height. She was about six inches taller than Sage. Regardless, no one called Sage Stannard a slut.
Sage took a few steps closer to Witchy and heard Orion take in a breath. “Look here, I am not, nor have I ever been, a slut.”
“Daddy, what’s a slut?” Myah asked.
“He’ll explain it when you’re older,” Sage said. “Right now, you need to leave.” She pointed at Witchy. “Orion’s been through enough yesterday and today and you’re going to let him have some time with his daughter. Go get yourself some coffee or whatever it is beasts like you drink, and give him at least an hour with her. You can spare him that much courtesy at least.”
Witchy opened her mouth to protest, but Sage gave her the Joy Stannard Stare-Down Special. Her mother had been using the power of her stare to keep Rick, Hope, and her in line for as long as Sage could remember. The skill had been passed on to Sage alone. Rick’s blue eyes were too kind and Hope’s brown ones were too puppy dog, but Sage’s green eyes could cut like a lawnmower blade. She enjoyed using them on Witchy right now.
“Fine.” Orion’s ex-wife hiked her purse up onto her shoulder. “One hour. Then she’s mine again.” She stomped out of the hospital room and Orion and Myah looked at Sage with identical expressions of shock on their faces.
“How did you do that?” Orion finally asked.
“That was awesome!” Myah giggled, her tears now dry. “Are you magical?”
Orion laughed, and Sage absolutely loved the deep, husky sound of it. His entirely too gorgeous face transformed into something even more breathtaking when he laughed.
“I don’t think so,” she said. “I’m just a caterer.”
“So you can make more than cookies?” Orion’s pupils grew as if the mere thought of food being prepared was a turn-on to him.
Men and their stomachs.
“Yes, I’m multi-talented.”
Again, his pupils grew, but Sage was pretty sure cooking wasn’t the cause anymore.
“Mommy can’t cook at all.” Myah scrunched up her nose as if she were remembering a meal gone horribly wrong because of Witchy Ex-wife. “Can’t she help us, Daddy?”
“Help us with what, baby?” Orion asked.
Myah slid off the bed and stood in front of Sage. She was so petite she reached just under Sage’s waist. Her delicate, doll-like frame looked as if it could barely support all that hair spilling black curls everywhere. She took Sage’s hand.
“Can’t she help us win against Mommy?” A fat tear rolled down one perfect cheek as she looked up at Sage. “I just want to be with Daddy and Gramps.”
Sage kneeled and brushed the tear away. “I’m not a lawyer, sweetie, but I’ll see what I can do.”
Myah shot forward and wrapped her arms around Sage’s neck as she had done to Orion. Without thinking, Sage’s arms came around Myah, and she squeezed the child against her chest.
In that moment, Sage discovered two important things. One, she truly was going to see what she could do for Orion and Myah. She had no idea how she could help. She just knew she had to.
The second thing she learned was that once you got hugged by a little girl like Myah, you’ll never be the same.
****
“Where’s Lily?” Sage marched into Rick’s cabin and dropped her purse on the kitchen table.
Rick came out from his living room. “Why, hello, Rick. So nice to see you.”
Sage stuck her tongue out at her cousin then said, “Sorry. Hello. You’re the best cousin in the whole wide world, Ricky.”
“Don’t call me Ricky.”
“Don’t bark at me for not saying hello then.” Sage wandered deeper into the cabin. “Seriously, where is Lily?”
“She’s at her grandmother’s place.” Rick pointed out his kitchen window, not that Lily’s grandmother’s place could be seen through all the woods that separated Rick’s property from hers. “She’s making plans for turning Gail’s estate into a bed and breakfast inn.”
“You’re definitely going to let me put my catering skills to use on that, right?” Sage’s mind was jumping from one possible menu item to another. Though things were less than exciting around these parts most of the time, she did love baking confections for the storefront portion of Rick’s maple syrup company. During the non-sugaring seasons, she filled in the gaps with catering jobs here and there. A steady job providing breakfast to an inn would be awesome.
“It’s up to Lily, but I’ll put in a good word for you.”
“You’d better.” Sage punched him in the shoulder. “Lily will hire me in a minute. She’s smart.”
“Smart, gorgeous, amazing… all mine,” Rick said, putting a big hand on his heart.
“Okay, don’t get mushy and annoying with all your happiness.” Sage pretended to barf.
“Sorry, but I never thought I’d be this happy, Sage.”
“I never thought you’d be this happy either. Hermit grouches are usually hermit grouches for life, but look at you, all smiles and romance.” After looking at him for a moment, she stepped closer and caught him in a hug. “Happiness looks good on you.” She released him then stared at her sneakers. “Okay, on to why I’m here.”
“It’s not to irritate me?” Rick dodged the slap she tossed at him.
“Not today, wise ass,” she said. “What do you know about Orion Finley?”
“The chainsaw guy?” Rick furrowed his brows.
“Yes. You built him a barn workshop.”
“I remember. It was one of my favorites.” He motioned for Sage to follow him into the living room where he extracted an album from one of his floor-to-ceiling bookcases. He flipped through the album. “Here it is.”
Sage took the album from Rick and sat on a rocking chair to study the picture. A traditional A-frame barn with dark red siding and white trim, the building screamed New England. It was a long rectangular structure with a ton of windows and two huge sliding doors on the front.
“He wanted the opening to be big so he could get large tree trunks in there for carving,” Rick said from over Sage’s shoulder. “And lots of natural light, hence all the windows.”
Sage flipped the page and loved the post and beam look inside the barn. The rafters were all exposed and the planks lining the ceiling were full of gorgeous knots.
“This is beautiful, Rick.” She ran her fingers over the photos as she ad
mired them.
“Hey, I just build what the customer wants, and this guy had an incredibly artistic eye. He knew exactly what he wanted.”
What he wants now is his daughter.
“Why do you want to know about this guy?”
Sage gave Rick a short summary of Orion’s situation, her heart simply breaking for the way Myah had clung to him at the hospital.
“Maybe there’s a good reason Myah shouldn’t be with him,” Rick said when Sage was done.
“No. I witnessed Witchy Ex-wife with my own two eyes. She’s pure evil. From what I’ve seen of Orion so far, Myah belongs with him.”
“A man who broke into a house for sale and bled all over it.”
“That was an extreme situation. He was trying to get help. He wouldn’t have broken into that house for any other reason.” She was sure of this.
“Be careful, Sage. Your track record is—”
“Pathetic.” She puffed out a breath. “I know, but this is… different. I just want to help him get his daughter back. For him. For the little girl. Because I hated the way Witchy Ex-wife spoke to both of them—and to me.”
“How did she speak to you?”
“She called me a slut.”
Rick backed up as if he’d been slapped. “Nobody calls you names, except me.” He grinned and dug in his pocket. He pulled out his cell phone and tapped the screen a few times. “Babe, can you come home? Sage is looking for you.” He listened for a moment, his cheeks getting a little red in the process. “Okay, see you in few.” He shoved the phone back into his pocket. “She’ll be right over.”
“And after I leave, she’s going to get naughty with you, isn’t she?”
Rick sputtered and snatched the album from Sage’s hands. With his back to her as he put the album back on the shelf, he asked, “What makes you say that?”
“Oh, Ricky, Ricky, Ricky.” She wagged a finger at him. “Your cheeks say it all, Cuz.” She cupped his face. His skin was even hot. “Newlyweds.” She slapped him lightly then tossed herself on the couch.
“I’ll get us some drinks,” Rick said.
“Get yourself some ice, Hot Stuff.”
“Shut up.”
While Rick banged around in his kitchen, Sage wondered if he was right. What if there was some dark and creepy reason Myah shouldn’t be with Orion? What if Witchy Ex-wife wasn’t always such a witch? What if Orion caused her to become that monster of a woman Sage had met today?
“Fuck.” She hated having doubts. Especially about such a sexy guy. She wanted him to be the innocent victim in what she had witnessed. She wanted him to be the loving, gentle father he appeared to be, the kind of guy who would raise his daughter with all the kindness and wisdom he had. She wanted him to be the hero.
Is that making me blind here?
She still felt compelled to help him so she’d proceed with caution as Rick had suggested. She’d stay aware. Lead with her head, not her heart. Her heart had no business nosing around anyway. Clearly, Orion had enough to deal with. His father required care, a small girl would take up another big chunk of time, and he did have a job too. He probably didn’t have time to start a relationship with a woman. He had plenty to juggle already.
“Just help him and move on.” If she said it out loud, it made it an official plan.
Right?
The front door of the cabin opened and closed. Giggling sounded from the kitchen and Sage rolled her eyes. Her burly, mountain man cousin now giggled. A true sign of the end of times.
Lily came into the living room wearing faded jeans and a T-shirt that said I’m in Love with a Sap. Hope had made Lily and Rick matching T-shirts for one of their wedding gifts, playing on the fact that Rick made maple syrup. Sage had yet to see Rick wear his.
“What can I help you with, Sage?” She plopped down on the couch beside Sage and propped her feet up on the chest Rick used as a coffee table. Hard to believe, just a short time ago, Lily was Miss California with stylish clothes and a big business attitude. Vermont—and loving Rick—had completely transformed her.
Sage wanted to be completely transformed too. Was Orion the man for that job?
Head! Head! Lead with the head!
“Do you know any hot-shot California lawyers who owe you a favor?” Sage asked.
“I know several who owe me favors.” Lily raised an eyebrow. “Why? Are you in trouble?” She whipped her feet off the chest and got the edge of the couch cushion. “What’s happened, Sage? Did somebody do something to you?” Her gaze combed over Sage as if looking for signs of bodily harm.
“No. I’m fine. Calm down. Jeez.”
Lily’s shoulders sagged. “Sorry. I’m not used to having cousins-in-law—well, sisters, really—to worry about.”
Sage planted a sloppy kiss on Lily’s cheek. “I love you, Lily.”
The two embraced as Rick came in with drinks.
“You picked a good one here, Rick.” Sage slung her arm around Lily’s shoulders.
“I know.” Grinning, he sat across from them in the rocking chair, his blue eyes never leaving Lily’s face.
“So, a lawyer?” Lily asked after blowing Rick a kiss. She pulled out her cell phone and scrolled through some screens. “What kind do you need?”
“A divorce and custody type, I guess.” Sage quickly got Lily up to speed on recent events.
“Okay, my friend Jack Benson would be perfect for this. I’ll give him a call. He owes me for the time I came to his rescue when he forgot his ten-year wedding anniversary. I bailed him out big time with an all-star package at Gems Utopia Resort. His wife still brings it up to this day.”
“Super. Thanks, Lily.” Sage gave her a squeeze.
“Maybe he can be our first customer at the inn,” Rick said.
“Oh, good thinking,” Lily said, beaming a smile from ear to ear.
“You can give him my number, Lily,” Sage said as she stood. “But right now, I’ve got to get out of here before all your newlywed bliss makes me break out in hives.”
She gave Rick a wave and scooped up her purse from the kitchen table. Two minutes later she was in the Pumpkinmobile heading for Danielle’s office. Time to finalize the sale of Cressen’s place. Time to make that place her own.
Time to officially become Orion’s neighbor.
Chapter Six
It was good to be home and in the workshop again. After four long days in the hospital, Orion had been ready to climb the walls. Nervous phone calls from his father, Adam stopping in to say don’t worry but hurry the hell out of there, and the memory of Myah crying in his arms had fried his patience. He’d needed to get back to his life even if that life was currently a total mess.
“Can I watch, Orion?” his father asked from behind him.
“Of course. But you have to sit right here.” Orion limped to a stool and dragged it to a spot away from his workspace. “And put these in your ears.” He handed Ian a pair of bright yellow ear plugs.
His father dutifully followed the directions, and Orion was relieved that, aside from the few things that truly upset Ian, most of the time he was low key and agreeable. If he ever became belligerent, things would be… difficult.
Seeing that his father was settled on the stool, Orion taped around his work boots at his ankles so woodchips wouldn’t collect there as he worked. Next, he shuffled to one of the tall stumps Adam had set up in the workshop. His right thigh still ached, but the wound—with five staples to keep it closed—was healing, and he didn’t want to get any farther behind on his bear project deadline than he already was. If he didn’t get it done, he wouldn’t get paid. If he didn’t get paid, he’d have no hope of getting Myah back. He needed a steady income to show he could provide for her. To prove he could be a good father. It pissed him off that he had to prove that to anyone.
Myah knew. Hell, even Ian knew, but that wasn’t enough for the Vermont judicial system—a system Adriana knew how to work far better than he did.
And he needed a goddamn lawyer.
Someone fantastic. Adriana was a lioness and though she wasn’t representing herself in the custody case, she had hired another lioness to do so. Orion couldn’t compete with that. Not unless a fucking miracle occurred.
Grumbling to himself, he hauled his largest chainsaw off its shelf. He stumbled back a little under its weight and the shooting pain it caused in his leg.
Dammit. He wasn’t used to being this weak.
“Are you okay?” Ian hollered, not realizing how loud he was because of the ear plugs.
Orion set the chainsaw down and gave him a thumbs up. He was okay. He had to be okay. Not being okay wasn’t an option.
After plugging his own ears and pulling down the safety glasses from the top of his head, he filled the chainsaw with gas and yanked the cord. The machine roared to life.
Oh, how I’ve missed this sound.
The purr of the chainsaw, the vibration it sent up his arms, the woodchips flying as he hacked into the sides of the mammoth stump made him feel alive again. He inhaled the rich pine scent, filled his lungs with it, and in a short time the basic shape of one bear appeared.
He shut off the chainsaw to switch it out for a smaller one when movement behind Ian caught his attention. A woman—who looked very much like Sage—was walking toward the workshop.
Orion had convinced himself either Sage Stannard had been a medicine-induced hallucination in the hospital or once she’d seen he was going to heal, she’d cut herself off from feeling responsible for him. Hell, she’d done more than enough by getting him to the hospital and visiting him. Twice. She had even stood up to Adriana, which gave credence to the notion she was a hallucination after all.
But this woman walking toward him now in a flowing, but short, pink-and-purple skirt and a pink tank top with lace gracing the tops of some impressive breasts sure looked real to him. When Ian saw her and jumped off his stool to run to her, Orion knew she wasn’t any figment of his imagination. His imagination wasn’t nearly that good.
“SAGE,” Ian’s voice boomed.
Sage set down a basket she’d been carrying and plucked the ear plugs from Ian’s ears. Orion did the same with his own ear plugs and set them and his safety glasses down on his work bench. He leaned against the bench as he watched Sage interact with Ian.
More Than Cookies (The Maple Leaf Series) Page 5