by Liz Talley
For a moment in time they were isolated from kids who spilled things, dogs that peed on rugs and the truth of the world in which they lived. Addy didn’t think about her past or her future…just the sensuous, enjoyable present in Lucas’s arms.
And she loved every precious second of lying beside him, discussing favorite TV shows, the best New Orleans restaurants and the places he’d traveled and photographed. She’d never had a better first date but then again, she’d never spent an entire first date naked, either.
But eventually they rose and tugged on clothes.
Lucas tossed Surrender to Me onto the bed. “No more Sophie, Sheriff Cade McGarrity and hot Texas sex.”
“That had nothing to do with a book,” she teased, running a brush through her hair.
“So why do you read this stuff? It’s almost silly. No man says that when he’s coming,” Lucas said, tapping the book as he reached for his shirt.
“It’s not silly. It’s about two people falling in love. And you may not yell what Cade yells when you come, but you did say some pretty sweet things in my ear.” She smiled, pulling her hair into a low ponytail.
“You believe love like that is real?” His question was a crack of the gun. Heavy. Serious.
She jerked her head. “Don’t you?”
“What’s written between those pages is a woman’s fantasy. The whole concept of romantic love is flawed and overrated. Those feelings Sophie and Cade have is a lust thing. Sex. Not love.”
She snapped the elastic in place on her shoulders. “Is that what this is between us? Two people acting on lust?”
Lucas stilled and she could see on his face he didn’t know what to say. A cornered dog didn’t look as scared as Lucas did at the moment. “Uh, I’m sure whatever my answer is it won’t be right.”
“No, I want to know. I can’t imagine someone not believing in love.”
Lucas glanced away. “I believe in love, but the whole ‘true love, one person for one person, meant to be’ kind of crap doesn’t exist in my book. Maybe at one time I thought so, but I forced that feeling.”
“So your parents aren’t in love? Ben and Courtney? Millions around the world? They’re all duped?”
He glanced away. “I don’t know. I’m not them.”
She studied him in the fading light. He looked spooked.
He tugged on the cowboy boots he’d kicked into the corner. “Honestly, I haven’t thought about this much. I haven’t had to.”
“I’ve thought about it.” She tossed her brush on the dresser. “I’ve always believed one day love would find me…and I would just know. I’ve never pushed it, and if I never found it, I suppose I would be okay, but I thought one day love would walk in.”
His eyes met hers and something moved between them. Addy didn’t know exactly what it was, but it was something. And it worried her because she’d never thought that once love found her, the feeling wouldn’t be returned.
“We better get downstairs. I think I heard a car in the drive.” He scooped up his hat and shot out her bedroom like a scalded cat.
“Chicken,” she called, trying to find the lightness that had briefly fled. She shouldn’t have pressed him. Wasn’t any of her business what he believed.
“You know it.” His boots thumped down the stairs.
He didn’t believe in love. Or did he?
Cryptic answer from a forthright man. But should it matter to her?
No.
But it did because she’d started falling toward love with a man who said he’d never go there. Sure, he’d murmured he’d never felt the way he felt about her…but how did he feel? If it wasn’t love and wasn’t lust…then what the hell was it?
Addy picked up the dishes and followed Lucas down the stairs. She found him in the kitchen rinsing out the wineglasses. Silent, thoughtful and not so charming anymore. The sound of children laughing and doors slamming met her ears.
“They’re home,” he said.
“Yeah,” she said, setting the tray on the counter.
Reality wasn’t nearly as fun as hiding away with Lucas and making love beneath her percale sheets.
But reality was part of life.
And it had just knocked on an ending she hadn’t wanted for the afternoon. Addy opened the door to the sound of Chris jabbering about Charlotte making faces at the sea lions.
“Yeah, and you should have seen Chris’s face when that elephant took a dump,” Michael said, hauling Charlotte on his hip. “That was right before Miss Flora got lost.”
“Lost?” Addy cast a glance at her aunt who looked thoroughly bushed after a day spent with the children. A flash of guilt hit Addy. She hadn’t actually thought about the wear and tear on Flora…she’d been more concerned with playing sheriff and the buttoned-up schoolmarm with Lucas.
Aunt Flora waved Addy’s concern away. “Not lost. I just forgot where the entrance was. No big deal.”
“But she cried,” Chris said, wiggling a rubber snake toward Charlotte who screamed as expected.
“I didn’t cry. I just got mad at myself.” Flora crossed her arms and gave Chris the look. Her aunt must have worked out a story with the kids, but Michael had squealed. “Nothing to worry about.”
Addy wasn’t so sure, but she was glad to see the kids home in one piece. “Where’s your friend?”
“She dropped us off. Had to get her grandson home because they had a dinner to attend or something like that. We all had fun.”
“And I was good,” Charlotte said, looking up at Lucas. “I didn’t call that kid weird or nothing.”
“Good girl,” Lucas said, giving her a high five before looking at the boys. “Well, what do you say to Mrs. Demarco?”
“Thank you!” came the chorus as the kids turned toward the door and clambered back outside.
Lucas turned to her. “Well, I’m off to fix dinner. Thanks for lunch. Best fried chicken I’ve ever had.”
Addy tried not to blush but didn’t quite succeed. “You’re welcome. It was a nice afternoon.”
“Just nice?” he mouthed where Flora couldn’t see.
Addy’s face grew warmer. “Very nice.”
Lucas poked his head back inside. “Thanks for taking the kids, Flora. Very decent of you to give me and Addy some time to hang out. I know the kids were probably glad to get away from me, too.”
Aunt Flora fawned like a schoolgirl under Lucas’s compliment. “Oh, heck, I enjoyed it, and you’d be surprised how much they talked about you. You’ve won over some kids.”
“Hmm, I’ll try to remember that when Chris is arguing with me about what to have for dinner.”
Turning to Addy, he asked, “A kiss before I go?”
She brushed a soft kiss against his lips, feeling conflicted about his love and lust comments, even as she was crystal clear on being glad about what had occurred between them. No take backs. “’Night.”
“’Night, Addy girl.”
As she closed the door, something inside her sank as the click of the lock finalized her return to the same Addy she’d been for the past fifteen years. Or sort of the same Addy.
“I didn’t get lost,” Flora said, petulance shading her voice. She crossed her arms and assumed a defensive face that would scare the New Orleans Saints offense. Addy could see Flora craved the expected battle over her fading memory. Usually Addy would comply, but not tonight. Not after saying goodbye to what she’d had with Lucas…something she may never get again.
“You know, everything went fine, Auntie dearest. Let’s not overanalyze.”
“You aren’t going to start a fuss and try to talk me into going to the doctor and trying new medicine?”
“Nope. Not tonight. Maybe tomorrow.”
“What the heck did that man do to you? I may need to hire him for a weekly session for you.” Aunt Flora sank onto a chair.
Addy ignored her aunt because she didn’t want to acknowledge how much Lucas could change her. Today was an anomaly…making love with Lucas wouldn’t ha
ppen again. And if it did, it couldn’t change her because she and Lucas were temporary. Turning on the hot water, she filled the sink and started the dishes.
But Aunt Flora didn’t get the memo about her wanting to be left alone with her thoughts.
“You’re seriously not going to talk about my lapse today?”
“No, because I realize I can’t control your world any more than I can control mine. I’ve talked to you about seeing your doctor again, and I’ve talked to Mom. I’m not hog-tying you. Ball is in your court.”
“Your mother made an appointment for me next week.”
Addy swiped the counter with a red towel. “Really?”
“Yeah, Phylis and I had a nice long talk yesterday while you were out. She’s after me to move in with her and Don, and now I’m thinking she has a point.”
“What do you mean move in with them?”
“I’m getting older…and so are you. For a while, you’ve been focusing on building your career. Sure, you’ve dated and have a few friends in that victim’s group you go to, but this isn’t a good life for you.”
“Says who?”
“Says your mother. Says me.”
“I like living with you. I don’t have rent, we split utilities and we both have someone to depend on, to keep us company. How has that changed?”
“But you’re stalled out, honey.”
“I’m not stalled out. I just had a man upstairs imprisoned in my bed for five hours. How is my living here with you holding me back?”
“Woot! Way to take charge, girlfriend.” Her aunt gave a fist pump.
“Jeez.” Addy rolled her eyes and tried not to turn the color of the dish towel. “I got laid. Big deal.”
“But that’s my point. You’re young, you should be living with a girlfriend…or a boyfriend. Not an old lady who can’t remember her name some days.”
“I’m pretty sure you haven’t forgotten your name. And I don’t want to live with anyone else. This works, and I don’t want Mom guilting you into thinking it doesn’t.”
“She’s not, but this is not about just you. It’s about me, too. Maybe I want to move—not with Phylis and Don, but into Crescent Gardens. Maybe I want to move out of this big drafty house that’s more work than it is pleasure. I’m in my seventies, honey. All my friends live in that community. It’s safe and has great activities…and some hot older dudes. I’ve been thinking about this for a while now.”
Addy looked down to see if the rug was still beneath her feet. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you weren’t ready to hear it.” Flora gave a wry smile. “You have a sweet, mellow vibe, but underneath the Zen beats the heart of Attila the Hun.”
“Aunt Flora.” Addy tossed the red dish towel onto the counter. “I’m not inflexible. You could have talked to me about wanting to move to Crescent Gardens.”
“Well, you’re not flexible either despite all the yoga.” Flora cracked a smile and her blue eyes softened. “Honey, you’ve built this tidy world—work, gym, eat, sleep—without much give.”
“You make me sound like a robot.”
“That’s not what I meant. Today is a good example of what taking a leap of faith brings you. When you allow someone in—” Flora waved a hand at Addy “—you wear something pretty with your hair loose and your face flushed from having a good time.”
“I’m not unopposed to breaking my habits or letting go of my ordered world a little bit. You’re argument is backfiring.”
“I’m part of your ordered world. A safety net you can always use to pull yourself back from something that makes you uncomfortable. And not only am I a crutch, but I’m also the pothole you step in. You shouldn’t be taking care of an old woman.”
“That’s not true.” Addy grabbed Aunt Flora’s hand. Her skin was dry, spotted with age spots, and so thin her veins showed. When had Flora’s hands aged so? “You’re so much more to me than an aunt. You know that. We’ve always been soul mates.”
Aunt Flora patted her hand. “Sure, we are, pumpkin. But I can feel change in the air, and I know it’s time for me to move along. It’s time for you, too.”
“I don’t want to. I can take care of you, and Dad is putting in an alarm system. The guy is coming tomorrow. Look around. This is our home.”
“What are you going to do, Addy? Become me?”
“No. But what’s wrong with being you?”
“I’m lonely. I should have fought for Millard. I shouldn’t have let him walk away.”
Addy pulled her hand from her aunt’s. “This is about your regret. Not mine.”
“So you’re going to give up on love? On having a family? On—”
“Wait.” Addy scooted her chair back as anger flooded her. “Who says having kids makes you happy? Or getting married for that matter? There are plenty of strong, successful single women living their lives on their own terms.”
“Sure.” Aunt Flora shrugged. “I’m one of them, but don’t you think for one minute that if I could go back in time, I wouldn’t throw Millard O’Boyle onto that worktable and make him mine. And I wouldn’t have slunk away and allowed him to leave me. I didn’t fight for the life I wanted, Addy. Don’t be me.”
“I’m not. I’m me. I don’t need a man to make me happy.”
“No, you don’t, but I want you to think about who you are and what you want. Don’t settle for what’s easy…for what’s safe.”
Addy wanted to argue, but didn’t want the sharp probe digging around in her psyche anymore. Why couldn’t Flora have forgotten to be smart…instead of forgetting where she hid the Christmas gifts they still couldn’t find?
“Well, love, I’m off to have a bath and put on my jammies. Those kids are fun, but, woo, they’re a handful, especially that Chris. I think that kid has ADHD.” Flora rose and cracked her back.
Addy tucked her hands into her lap. “Hey, I do appreciate your taking them and giving me and Lucas some time together.”
“I hope it was worth my aching bunion.”
Making a face, Addy also rose. “I’m not kissing and telling.”
“I hope to hell it was more than kissing. I’ve got corns, too.” Flora swooshed out of the kitchen leaving Addy to tidy up. She pushed the chairs in, double-checked the dead bolt on the back door and turned off the kitchen light—all the while mulling over Flora’s words. Maybe she had a point. Then again maybe it wasn’t a worthwhile one. Flora hadn’t held her back from taking the life she wanted. Addy had held herself back.
As she walked to check the door, her eyes landed on the small box that had been delivered earlier.
Who made deliveries on Sunday?
Maybe it was a second order of floral wire that had been mistakenly delivered even though she’d called them and double-checked the correct address of her shop. Definitely wasn’t from Amazon.
Sliding a nail beneath the clear tape, she ripped the box open. Inside was bubble wrap. A creepy feeling slithered up her spine as she lifted the plastic.
Lying on the bottom of the box were several photographs. Addy swallowed panic, scrabbling with the ideas rolling in, and lifted the color prints into the light of the foyer sconces.
The first one was a picture of her climbing from her car, taken in broad daylight outside her shop. She wore the gray jumper she’d worn last week.
The second had been taken from inside her car. Whoever had taken it had slid behind the wheel and taken a picture of the shop rear door. But that was impossible—she always locked her car. Always.
Except one day last week it had been open when she had left work. She’d thought she’d left it unlocked. But she hadn’t. Someone had jimmied the door…and she’d sat in the same spot he’d occupied.
The last picture chilled her to the bone. It had been taken last Monday night. She stood in her nightgown, arms crossed, framed against the darkness of the camellia bushes. Her face had been highlighted by the security lights outside the Finlay house and she could just make out the side of Michae
l and the basketball.
Addy’s hands shook so hard she dropped one of the pictures. Then she dropped the other two.
Her legs gave out and she sank onto the floor, shaking so hard. The only sound in the house was Aunt Flora’s television and the sound of her teeth chattering as she wrapped her arms around herself and squeezed her eyes shut.
She’d failed herself…she’d thought she could sense danger, but she hadn’t. Terror overwhelmed her and she curled into a ball, tight as she could make herself. The photographs worked exactly as intended.
Robbie Guidry wasn’t out of prison yet, but he could still get to her and the message was clear.
He would come.
*
ANOTHER MONDAY MORNING, but somehow this one didn’t seem as bad. After surviving the stomach flu with his nephews and niece and spending a very nice weekend flirting, laughing and making love, Lucas felt as if the world was his oyster.
No, even better than an oyster.
And he wasn’t going to let that weird conversation he’d had with Addy right before the kids and Flora came home ruin it for him.
After he’d successfully dropped off the kids, managing to navigate the carpool like a seasoned pro, he stopped off for coffee and headed to the Bywater District armed with his cameras. The light was perfect for some morning shots. Would have been better as the sun rose, but he’d take what he could get.
Humming a ZZ Top classic, he found a parking place and had just started surveying decent vantage points when his phone rang. Courtney.
“Hey, the kids are alive and well,” he said, not without a good deal of cheer.
“That’s the least of your problems,” the voice said.
“Ben?”
“Who the hell do you think it is?” His brother’s voice was guarded…and angry.
“Actually since this is Courtney’s number, I thought it was her.”
“I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but it stops now. Mom and Dad are headed back and we don’t need you.” More than anger. Suspicion.
Lucas slung a camera over his shoulder and walked to his truck. Several people sitting on their porches had turned to stare at him and he didn’t want to have the delicate conversation with an audience.