by Jacie Floyd
“That’s why I’m here.”
She was just so used to doing everything for herself. “You’re right. Hang on. I’ll get it.”
By the time she collected her bag and turned to go back down the stairs, she heard Kate in the kitchen fussing at Zach. And probably eating one or two of the pastries. Harper hoped she hadn’t snagged the jelly-filled one. She had her eye on that one for lunch.
Admitting only the lowest of the low would eavesdrop on a private conversation, Harper hovered at the top of the stairs and listened anyway.
“Did you spend the night here and go out for pastries this morning? Or leave last night and return this morning?”
“Really?” Zach sounded incredulous. “You’re asking me that? Don’t you think if I’d spent the night here about ten people would’ve called and let you know about it before sunup?”
“Probably, but you’re not acting like yourself and you have been spending a lot of time with this—”
“Watch yourself,” The warning tone in Zach’s voice gave Harper a little thrill.
“—woman.“ Kate loaded the word with derision.
“I’m behaving exactly like myself. Helping out where needed, attending meetings, seeing patients, and arranging for volunteers at the library.” From her vantage point, Harper thought Zach sounded a little bit fed up with all his duties. “If I’ve spent time with Harper, it’s because I was asked to welcome the newcomer at the house and take her to see the library, neither of which turned out to go as smoothly as expected. I’ve been helping her with both while dealing with the results of the worst traffic accident that’s occurred in this town since I’ve been a doctor. None of this is unusual for me.”
“But you seem like you’re enjoying it.”
“The accident?”
“Spending time with Ms. Tits-Too-Big-And-Legs-Too-Long-to-Be-A-Librarian Simmons.”
“Really? You think her tits are too big?”
Harper cringed. She tilted her head down to look at her chest and tried to see it the way they did. Just one of the many reasons she hadn’t been cover-model material.
“Because if they’re not causing her backaches, headaches, or any other health problems,” Zach continued, “they’re not too big. And you’re definitely wrong about her legs. They’re exactly the right length to draw the attention of every heterosexual guy in town.”
“So you have noticed!” Kate charged.
“Sure, and I guess you have, too.”
Kate drew in a sharp breath. “That was uncalled for. You know I’m not interested in getting up-close and personal with that Hoochie-mama.”
“Neither am I,” Zach said, and Harper wished she could see his face. “But she’s an attractive woman and neither one of us is blind. And despite what the town thinks about whatever fictitious relationship you and I might have, it’s been awhile since I’ve stood between the legs of a naked woman who wasn’t sprawled across my exam table waiting for a vaginal exam.”
“That’s not funny, Zach.” Kate’s comment contained a shade less accusation.
“Don’t I know it? It’s pretty damn pathetic.”
“But you can wait a little longer, can’t you? You know you shouldn’t get involved with the librarian. She’s too pretty and too fancy and too big-city for Sunnyside. And if you start paying her a lot of attention, everyone will like her even less.”
Harper couldn’t see him, but she heard Zach’s sigh. “I wouldn’t do anything to sabotage her chances here, that’s for sure. And I wouldn’t sell her short if I were you. I think she’ll manage to win everyone over, and I plan to do whatever I can to help her.”
“But why, Zach? She doesn’t fit in, and we don’t need her here.”
“I think we do, and I like her. I’ll admit I didn’t expect to, but she’s growing on me. I think she’ll be good for the town.” Harper held her breath until he continued. “It’s good to have an outsider come in and mix things up every once in a while.”
“I don’t see why,” Kate muttered.
“A kind of xenophobia sets in when you see the same people over and over. And Harper’s smart and interesting and pretty accommodating considering the way things have gone against her so far.”
“You’ll never get the town to believe it.”
“She’s moving into my uncle’s house today after she works at the library this morning. I’ve been helping her with both since no one else has stepped up. You’re welcome to at any time.”
“I’ll pass,” Kate muttered, “but you know people will think you’re interested in her.”
“I’ll make sure they know that I’m not,” he said. “As much as they like to stick their noses in my business, I don’t think they can imagine me being with anyone who isn’t a Sunnyside fixture.”
“That’s true.”
Harper had heard enough, maybe too much. She tucked away the conversation to think about later. She stepped around the corner and started down the stairs.
“Morning, Kate,” she sang out, summoning up the excellent mood she’d been in after eating a fresh peach, taking a dip in Zach’s pheromone pool, and indulging in a couple of pastries. “You just get here?”
Zach carried Harper’s suitcase and the leftover pastries as they cut through the backyard. She loved the view of her house from the back. The tidy garage. The darling screened porch. The profusion of flowers.
Hers. All hers.
As she headed toward the rear entrance, Zach stopped her. “This is the grand opening of your house. Don’t you want to enter through the front door?”
“Absolutely.” She made a beeline in that direction. The front view was pretty adorable, too. She twisted the knob on the handle, but it didn’t open. She jiggled it to see if it was stuck. “It’s locked?”
“After what happened to the library, I’ve been locking the house up when I leave it. No reason to take any chances now that the work here is complete. The key’s in my front pocket.”
What? Did he expect her to go diving in after it? No way, Jose.
Besides, he wasn’t attracted to her. What was it he’d said? “Smart and competent and accommodating”? Just the impression every woman wanted to make on the first attractive guy she’d met since she’d had her teeth kicked in by love.
“Take the pastries so I can get to it, will you?”
She took the box from him. Of course she blushed but hoped he couldn’t tell in the shadows of the porch.
After unlocking the door, he pushed it open and stood back for her to go first.
“You’re sure it’s okay for me to walk on the floors now?” Now that the time had come, she felt a little overwhelmed.
“Unless you’re waiting for someone to carry you over the threshold.”
“I can manage on my own.” She set her hand against the barrage of butterflies in her stomach.
Almost too much for her to take in at once. The hardwood was more gorgeous than she’d imagined. Blue and white porcelain tile surrounded the fireplace. Authentic stained glass was framed in square stationary windows.
Before she started mentally arranging her furniture, Zach grasped her hand and steered her through the dining room. He led her past the small powder room under the stairs to the kitchen that had a butler’s pantry, dark wood cabinets with brushed nickel pulls, and all new stainless appliances. After pointing out the laundry room, he showed her the master bedroom and bath that contained a fabulous claw-foot tub and separate shower. She caught her breath over each room, on the verge of tears at the perfection of it all.
Upstairs there were two more bedrooms and a standard bath. Even though he was trying to show her all the practical details she’d need to know, Harper couldn’t concentrate on any of that, exclaiming about every architectural and aesthetic detail that caught her eye.
“Look at the trim! Is this the original molding! What year was the house built? These paint colors are fantastic! I’ve never seen a light fixture like this! The tile work is amazing!”
> She soon had Zach laughing at her enthusiasm.
“It’s just a house, Chicago. An ordinary house without enough closet space. Not an architectural marvel or a work of art.”
“It is to me.” She caught herself before spinning in a circle like a kindergartener.
“Right, well, do you understand how all this works?”
“All what works? You mean, like, plumbing and electricity and all that? I have had those before, you know.”
He chuckled. “Not the technical aspects. The legal ones about how the loan of the house will work in accordance with the grant.”
“Oh. Yes, I do.”
“Just so there’s no misunderstanding, let me explain the town’s position. This house used to be my uncle’s and is now owned by my father. Even if he wanted to, he can’t sell it in the current real estate market, but it might be just the thing for Josh and Susannah if they get married in a couple of years, so he’d like to hang on to it until then.”
“Understandable.”
“Meanwhile, the taxes and insurance are eating him up. The terms of Berkman’s grant provide a budget for housing the librarian. Dad suggested to the town council that they use part of your living expenses to split renovation costs with him and then the grant will pay his taxes and insurance for the next two years. So that’s what they agreed to do. It’s turned out to be a good deal for everyone, provided you’re agreeable.”
“I’m more than agreeable,” she answered promptly. “I’m thrilled.”
“If anything breaks or needs work, the council will need to approve the repair expense. If you want to change something for cosmetic purposes, that will be out of your pocket. Anything beyond paint will need to be approved. The council has arranged for lawn service and snow removal for the duration of your contract, which will probably end up being me or Dad or Josh coming over as needed, but maybe not. If you want to take care of anything like that on your own, knock yourself out, but it’s not necessary. Any questions?”
Her head was swimming again. “Not at the moment.”
He smiled. “It’s a lot to take in at once, especially if you’ve been living in a small apartment. If you think of anything you want to ask, like where the fuse box is or how to unstop the garbage disposal, call me or my dad. We’re likely to be familiar with the issue, and we live on the block behind you.”
“Convenient.”
“Dad grew up on a farm and he’s an electrician, so he can fix almost anything. A trait he’s passed down to me. If we can’t fix it, we’ll know who to call to get the job done, since we’re familiar with everyone in Sunnyside.”
The house and the setup all seemed too good to be true. “It’s so much more than I ever imagined. In Chicago, I couldn’t have afforded a place like this even as a fixer-upper. I can’t believe it’s already fixed up to perfection.”
“Not to perfection! There are still projects to complete before winter,” Zach objected, but Harper disagreed.
It was perfect for her.
Chapter Twelve
At eight, Zach and Harper moved on to the library, but she couldn’t stop chattering about the house. He went with her just to make sure the workers showed up again today. He had to go straight to the hospital after that.
A motley crew waited for her on the library steps. “Good morning!” she sang out cheerily, brimming with joy and excitement.
Liam and a few other men grunted or murmured a greeting in return. Before Zach unlocked the door, Harper turned to face the men, nodding at the ones she recognized from yesterday.
“I know it will be a hot one today. It’s the day before the Fireworks Festival and everybody wants to be off doing their own thing. But I want to thank you for coming here to help. We accomplished a lot yesterday, and hopefully, will again today, but I’ll be leaving around noon. The rest of you will be excused then, too.”
Most of the men just looked at her blankly as if wondering why she was blathering on. All right, then. She should have led with the good news. Not that she intended to bribe them, but maybe this would make them look on her and the renovation project more favorably.
“It’ll be back to work on Thursday and Friday, if any of you are willing to return. I spoke with Andrew Berkman last night, and he’s willing to pay an hourly wage to anyone who will commit twenty or more hours for both this week and next week.”
The announcement brought forth appreciative murmurings and a few smiles. “I’ll start a sign-up sheet when we get inside.”
“Just for us,” one of the carpenters asked, “or anyone who wants to work?”
“Anyone who wants to work,” she confirmed. “Up to fifty people if you want to spread the word.”
Pushing the door open, she stepped inside with Zach at her back. Liam fell in behind them. The other men tried to push forward, but Harper pulled herself up short. “Oh, no,” she gasped, and Zach bit off a word she didn’t normally use.
She took a few tentative steps forward, and the men behind her moved inside with audible grumbles and curses.
“What happened here?” one of the carpenters in overalls demanded. “Damn kids.”
“This looks like more than just mischief by kids.” Liam checked the broken remains of the railing he’d repaired yesterday.
Much of the hard work from the day before had been reversed. The card catalog drawers were once again strewn about. Fresh graffiti adorned the walls. Mud and dirt splattered everywhere. More water sloshed about, despite the lack of rain.
“Why would anyone do this?” Such wanton destruction left Harper dismayed and mystified. She appreciated the strength of Zach’s arm around her shoulders. “Was the door locked all night?”
“It was.” Zach nodded. “We’ll post a guard tonight. See about getting some security cameras in place. Meanwhile, we’ll take pictures and call the sheriff again. The insurance company will cover a lot of this.”
Harper could only shake her head. “I just can’t believe we have to redo all that hard work.” Heading back to the circulation desk, she set up her computer and pulled up the lists she’d made. “Let’s get started.”
Harper tried to keep it together while she was at the library, but it was hard not to think someone was purposely sabotaging the library. But there was little support for that theory from anyone. Not from the sheriff who came to take another report—like that would do any good. He spent more time bragging about his new baby girl than he did on any kind of investigation.
“I don’t understand how or why this would happen, Jimbo,” she said. “But it kind of feels like revenge, doesn’t it?”
“I’ll look into it and see what we can find out.”
“Don’t you find this kind of activity suspicious?”
He studied the toes of his boots before answering. “I sure do, but don’t you be too worried. We’ll make sure there are plenty of officers around during the day when you’re here.”
“I’m not worried about my safety. I’m more worried about what happens to the library when I’m not here, Sheriff. That’s when the mischief occurs.”
“Yes, ma’am. We’ll keep a sharp eye out then, too.”
The malicious-vandalism theory didn’t gain any support from Zach or any of the council members who stopped by to see the destruction. Nor from the workers on hand to help.
She got as much done as she could for the day, made more lists and plans, and was relieved when her movers called to say they were on the edge of town. If she could be at her house in half an hour, they’d be there to unload.
She could definitely be there.
After the frustration of working on the library, unloading the truck and moving her possessions into the house was a breeze. She didn’t have a vast amount of furniture, and the room designated for each piece was easy to determine. The boxes were clearly marked, and anything that didn’t have its own spot went into the dining room on the first floor or the smallest bedroom upstairs.
She’d sort it all out later. Too bad she wa
sn’t as confident about the mess at the library.
Five hours and thirty trips up and down the stairs later—in the boiling afternoon heat—Harper collapsed on her living room sofa directly in the path of a floor fan turned on at full blast. Propping her feet on a packing box that contained God-only-knew-what, she swigged a bottle of cold water. Would she ever be cool again? And not stink to high heaven? She’d passed pig farms on the way to Sunnyside that smelled better than she did.
Where had she gotten all this stuff? Surely it hadn’t all come out of that minuscule apartment in Chicago. If it had, she couldn’t imagine what had prevented the walls from bursting at the seams.
One of the movers stuck his head inside the front door. With his tousled blond hair and freckles combined with He-Man muscles, he reminded her of Dennis the Menace on steroids. “We’re all finished, Harper. Anything else we can do for you before we take-off?”
“I don’t think so, Clem.” She hoped the guys’ departure would require only a minimum of movement for her aching body. “Thanks. You guys were great. Tireless in your efforts. My energy gave out long before yours did.”
“We’re more used to heavy lifting than you are.”
“That must be it. Do you have some paperwork for me to sign?”
He brought her a sheaf of papers. She signed where indicated, thanked him profusely again, and handed over a substantial cash tip.
“Thanks a lot.” Clem beamed. “You’ve got our card. Call and ask for us when you’re ready to move back to Chicago. Or anywhere else in the Midwest.”
“I’ll keep you in mind, but it won’t be for a couple of years.” She felt a little pang just thinking about having to relocate again.
“Good luck.” He picked up the extra packing materials and headed for the door.
“Safe travels back to Chicago. Close the door behind you, will you?”