Most of the boats were at their mooring. Only a few lingered behind at the dock as they went about cleaning up and preparing for the next day.
Still, there was no sign of her brother.
“Damn it, Josh. Why do you have to be so stupid? Why do you always have to take risks?” But the only answer was the shrill whistle of the teakettle sounding its readiness.
Jamie guided his bike back along the narrow road running along the shoreline.
Things settled early in Chandler. Only a few hardy souls were out walking, raising a hand in greeting to him as he roared past. But most of them just stopped and stared.
Following the directions scrawled in coarse handwriting on the clip of paper in his hand, he turned south at the head of the cove. The road winded along the cliffs until it turned to gravel.
Jamie turned his bike into the driveway in front of a rather unimposing two-and-a-half story, shingled house. The weathered shingles and painted trim were so typically New England. The house wasn’t any one particular style, more a jumble of the additions and afterthoughts it had been subjected to over the years. The rooftop stuck out at odd angles with a dormer here, a shed roof there.
He looked closer. The trim paint was raised and rippling and some of the shingles were cracked and warped. The house needed some work. It wasn’t fancy by any stretch of the imagination, but with a little luck, it would be a place to rest his head while he was here.
He parked his bike under the shelter of a large oak tree, where a hedge of wild rose bushes ran a boundary line of the property.
Swinging off his bike, he muffled a curse. He held onto the bike, steadying himself as he put his weight on his leg. Maybe he was pushing it to expect his leg to perform without a hitch after such a short time. The trip had taken its toll on him and now he was paying for it.
He unwrapped the cords that held his gear in place. It was a small pack, only the essentials. He didn’t plan on staying long enough to need much, just long enough to wrap up the case.
Behind him an ancient screen door creaked and slammed shut. Jamie straightened, turning away from the pack he was busy untying. But his fingers stilled on the binding cords.
Shelby Teague stood barefoot in the grass, watching him, and, for the second time that day, Jamie found he was incapable of forming an intelligent greeting.
“Come to insult me some more?”
High green blades of grass covered her feet. Her hair hung down, curling softly against her shoulders. She took a few steps, stopping just a few feet in front of him.
Jamie held tight to his bag, not daring to move a muscle for fear he’d say or do something to scare her off and prove to her that he really was a complete idiot.
“John Case sent me. He told me you had a room for rent.”
“And I’m supposed to rent to a total stranger?” She brushed at a wisp of hair that fell forward into her eyes.
“Look, I know we didn’t hit it off well at our last meeting, but I’d appreciate the chance to change your opinion of me.”
She nodded. “Mr. Rivard, you have no idea what my opinion of you truly is. Granted, you were on the receiving end of my little tirade, but I can assure you that I rarely hold a grudge.”
“Point taken, still, I’d hate to anger the landlord.” And run the risk or her asking him to leave.
“I wouldn’t worry, Mr. Rivard. My uncle wouldn’t have told you to come here if he didn’t think you were safe.”
Fading sunlight cast a halo of light on her hair. Her face was free of make-up, a ring of freckles lacing her high cheekbones. Gone were the faded jeans and loose shirt that hid her body. Instead, she wore shorts that clung like second skin and showed off her long legs. Her oversized shirt had been replaced with a blue tank top that left her shoulders bare. She had great shoulders.
Jamie stood motionless, his brain frozen, as she closed the remaining steps between them. She reached for the bag, pulling it from his fingers, and clutching it in her own. She held it in front of her, the dark leather contrasting with her pale skin. She could have walked up and taken his gun from him and he wasn’t sure if he’d have been able to stop her.
She reached a hand out in greeting. “We haven’t formally met. I’m Shelby Teague.”
Jamie willed himself to raise his hand and place it in hers. Her touch was smooth and warm against his skin. “Please, call me Jamie.”
She frowned. “Is Jamie short for something?”
Jamie shook his head, “Only to my mother, she calls me Jamie Paul, but she usually reserves it for when I’m in trouble. Most of my friends call me Rivard.”
“I think I’ll stick to Jamie.”
She looked down between them and his gaze followed hers. He had yet to release her hand. He dropped his grip, pulling it away with a quick motion. The imprint of her touch burned against his palm, making his fingers itch.
He was acting like some hormone-induced idiot without a brain to rely on and all of his training was flying out the window.
He was so used to knowing the right words to say to a woman. But then, Shelby Teague wasn’t like any woman he’d ever met before.
“You must have impressed my uncle.” Her soft words and implied tone made him raise an eyebrow at her. A ghost of a smile traced her lips.
“Why would you say that?”
Her gaze traveled from his boots to his jeans and upward to his tee shirt. He was standing inspection here and the last thing he wanted to risk was having her think he wasn’t a good bet.
“Because he’s very protective of my brother and I. Did he give you the job?”
“I start Monday bright and early.”
“You work very fast, Mr. Rivard.”
“I’ve never been known for taking it slow.” He flashed her a smile and motioned toward the house. “Shall we?”
She nodded. “I’ll show you to your room. Room and board is eighty dollars a week with dinner included. You get the run of the kitchen. But you have to fix your own breakfast and lunch since I’m usually down at the store. I don’t do the laundry for the boarders, but there is a washer and dryer in the basement if you want to do them yourself. I only ask that you keep quiet and if you want to have night visitors you don’t do it here.”
“Night visitors?” He gave her his best innocent look.
Shelby’s cheeks stained a pale pink and she raised her chin to look him in the eye. He had to give her credit. She had a lot of nerve.
“You know…company…at night?” She shifted in front of him and he stifled a grin. It was a rather old fashioned rule, but then, he wasn’t here to have visitors, nightly or otherwise.
“You mean female visitors? At night?”
He felt bad for making her uncomfortable, but there was something about her that made him want to tease her, if even just a little.
“Exactly. Now if you agree to the terms I’ll show you around.”
“Lead the way.” He took his bag back from her. It was best that he hold on to his own gear. He didn’t want to risk making her suspicious when he hadn’t even gotten through the door. But he couldn’t risk it, if she were to see just what was in his pack.
“I could’ve carried that for you.” Her smile disappeared.
“I’m sure you could, but my mother taught me that a lady should never be allowed to carry packages themselves. She’d have my hide if she thought I let you carry my things. Call it my southern hospitality training coming through.”
She faltered for a moment, motioning at his bag. “Is that all you have?”
“I travel on the light side. There isn’t much you can pack on a motorcycle.” He always traveled light. It made it easy when he needed to leave in a hurry. He’d been in enough shaky situations to know you never carry something with you that you can’t afford to leave behind.
“If you want, you can store your bike in the garage out back. It isn’t much. My brother, Josh, keeps his tools and nets out there, but I don’t think he’ll mind if you store your bike ther
e.”
“I appreciate the offer. Thank you.” He followed her toward the steps.
“It’s no problem. When my brother gets in I’ll have him get the key for you. He should be in any time now.” She glanced toward the shoreline. Even the harbor was quiet now.
“Besides, when he sees that bike of yours, you won’t be able to keep him away from it.” Jamie stored this away in his memory for later. It was perfect. When Josh did show up, he’d be in a perfect position to observe him without bringing too much attention to himself.
He’d be waiting.
“Is something wrong?”
She let out a sigh, glancing at the shoreline once again. “No. It’s just that my brother’s been out diving this afternoon and I haven’t been able to raise him on either the phone, or the radio. I’ll rest easier when he makes it back to shore and I know he’s safe.”
She walked toward the house ahead of him. Her hips swayed back and forth as she picked her way across the yard. He liked watching her. There was something oddly satisfying in the subtle sensuality of her movements or the way she tilted her head to the side when she spoke. Both were unconscious and graceful in their simplicity.
Jamie hoisted the narrow strap of his pack over his shoulder and followed her up the narrow wooden steps. The screen door screeched as it slammed behind them.
The small kitchen had a fifties look. Black and white tiles covered the floors and the counters were an interesting shade of green Formica with a gray speckled tinge. Cookie cutter trim edged the wooden cabinets and the wallpaper had a dancing teapot motif. It was outdated and small, but clean.
“Well, this is the kitchen.” She pulled open the heavy refrigerator door. The light cast a pattern on the linoleum floor. “You can keep whatever you want on the bottom shelf, but I’d suggest you mark it because my brother isn’t too selective. He’ll eat anything that gets in his way.” She let the door swing shut and then turned back giving him a smile. He found himself smiling back.
“I suppose growing boys do have a way of eating a lot.”
“Growing? My brother is twenty-five years old. I was hoping that someday he’d grow out of it. But now, I just hope he will find a wife who will feed him so I won’t have to anymore.”
He laughed and she laughed with him and he found himself watching her face, watching to see her expressions. He liked the way she dipped her head down when she laughed and the way she raised an eyebrow at him when she was trying not to look at him.
She ushered him on, through the cozy dining room with a round oak table and several mismatched chairs scattered around it. Papers filled the top of the table.
“Sorry about the mess. I like to bring home the paperwork from the store and spread it out on the table to work on it.” She gave a shrug as she moved on. “We eat in the kitchen now, so there isn’t much need for the big table.”
She led him through the dining room to the front of the house. The living room was furnished simply with a couple of overstuffed chairs, and a large brown couch that didn’t go with anything else in the room.
“Come on, follow me and I’ll show you the bathroom and your room.”
She led him down a narrow hallway lined with doors, pointing out a bathroom, decorated in pink and black tiles and a large, claw foot tub that filled up one corner of the room. A shower stall occupied the other with a shower curtain that was decorated with tropical fish floating on a blue-tinted sea. It was very homey and very comfortable.
“You’re welcome to use this bathroom or the one upstairs, but I think you’ll find this one a little more private. The only other person you’ll have to share it with is my uncle.” She opened the door opposite the bathroom, facing the front of the house.
His room was small, comfortable and quiet. The single size wooden bed was covered with a soft quilt of colorful patterns and the rug on the floor was a braided design of honeyed hues that matched the wide plank flooring.
“It isn’t fancy, but it’s a good room. I put you here on the first floor so you could have privacy. My uncle’s room is just down the hall. So if you hear any creaking floorboards at night, it’s probably him. He likes to take late night walks.”
Jamie set his bag on the end of the bed. Over the bed was a large window looked out over the front lawn to where it sloped toward the water. It was a million-dollar view.
“If you need anything, my room is at the head of the stairs and to the left. You can store your stuff in here for now.” She motioned toward the upright dresser in the corner. “But if you need anything else, just let me know.”
The dresser would be more than enough to suit his simple needs.
“I’ll leave you to your things. I’m sure you’ll want to get yourself settled. There’s some lemonade in the refrigerator if you get thirsty later.”
Jamie shook his head. He needed to get his bearings and the sooner he did that the faster he could accomplish what he was sent to do.
“I think I’ll just get some shut-eye for the night. It was a long ride here and I’m tired to the bone.”
“Oh.” Her mouth formed a circle and his gaze was drawn to her lips. They were sensual lips that didn’t need the aid of lipstick to look soft and sexy.
She was looking back at him. Her eyes mirrored the round shape of her lips, surprise dawning in her gaze. Whatever it was between them, chemistry or simple awareness, she was feeling something, too.
Shelby backed up, putting one step and then another between them. Her gaze dropped to her hand, as she fidgeted with the doorknob of the door.
“Well then, goodnight.” She closed the door behind her, leaving him on his own in the quiet.
Shelby was breathless as she backed away from the closed door. What had happened in there for those few brief moments?
She walked to the kitchen and took down a glass down from the cupboard by the sink. Taking the pitcher from the refrigerator, she poured herself some of the lemonade without looking at what she was doing.
Darkness was falling heavier and heavier. In just a few short minutes, the new boarder had managed to make her forget a lot of things. She’d even forgotten that she was sad.
The slam of the back door broke her reverie as her uncle walked in. His face was dark, his skin a grayish mask and his shoulders hunched forward.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” A familiar panic rose within her.
“I’ve been searching for your foolish brother.”
“Did you find him? Is he okay?”
Her uncle face softened at her words. His concern for her and her brother was something she’d come to cherish since her father’s death. He had become invaluable to her in her dealings with the store and the wharf, but there was still sometimes when even his company wasn’t enough.
“He was down at the bar having a few with those friends of his. He said he’d be along in a while.”
Shelby let out the breath she’d been holding tight. The tension of the last few hours faded as he stepped into the light of the kitchen. He gave her a reassuring smile. His usually light brogue became heavier with emotion and fatigue from a night of searching.
Shelby pulled out a kitchen chair and sunk into it, thankful for the convenience.
“I know you worry about him, Shelby, but you can’t protect him for the rest of his life. He’s making foolish choices and he has no one to blame, save himself.” He put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
“Maybe, but I can’t lose him. I can’t lose another person in my life.” She’d already lost her parents and her husband. To lose Josh, too…
“I understand, but this is something Josh will have to find out for himself. He took it hard when your father died and he thinks he has to prove himself by making enough money to build himself a fancy boat. He just doesn’t realize that he’s going about it the wrong way.”
“I know. I just wish there were something I could do for him. I want to help him, but you know yourself that the finances for the wharf and the store are shaky at best.
I’m still paying off the loans. Maybe if we have another good summer next year then things will look better. But right now, I’m having a hard time competing with the other wharves for the dwindling business. There are just too many regulations. Too many of the locals are having a hard time just making a living.”
He shook his head. “Right now, I’m more concerned about Josh’s diving. Promise me you’ll talk to him again about giving it up? I think he’ll listen to you. He shouldn’t be out there by himself. Diving is dangerous enough, but the risk could be more then he expects.” A shadow crossed his face as his words settled within her. He was right. Josh was in over his head and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it.
“I’ll try talking to him again, but I don’t have too much effect on him.”
“Yes, well trying is better than doing nothing.”
He let out a tired yawn as he pulled off his boots and set them next to the back door. He straightened, stretching his back.
“I’d best be getting some sleep. It’s been a long night and morning comes early.” He started to pass by her in the cramped kitchen before he stopped. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
He put his large hand upon her shoulder, giving her a reassuring squeeze. “Try not to worry about Josh. I’ll make sure he’ll be okay.” He leaned over, kissing her forehead before turning to disappear down the darkened hallway.
It wasn’t until she heard the soft click of his door shutting that she realized she’d forgotten to talk to him about the latest addition to their household.
Jamie Rivard, with his teasing grin and mysterious scar was sure to shake things up in Chandler.
She let out a yawn and reached over to switch off the light above the sink. Quietness settled around her as she moved through the house, shutting off the remaining lights. She was just setting out her own shoes for the morning when the screech of the door startled her.
Her brother flipped on the kitchen light as he shrugged out of his jacket and went about hanging it by the door. She could smell the faint stench of cigarettes, beer and bait on him. His hair was tousled and deep, tired lines rimming his eyes.
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