"Yes, not that anything will come of it." Jayce acknowledged.
"And you know I'd like our friendship taken to the next level. Are you protecting the local law from a broken heart, Jayce?"
Jayce chuckled at Alison's directness, always threaded with warmth and humor. "How's it possible that you've stayed single this long?" She thought she caught a flash of pain cross Alison's face. Once Tiara left, she'd have to spend more time with Alison. Jayce didn't like the idea of her friends concealing heartache when friends were supposed to support each other at these times.
Scowling, Alison said, "If you spout some nonsense about different circumstances, I'll arrest you, Ms. Mansfield."
"Okay," Jayce said, chuckling. More serious, she added, "I couldn't bear it, Ali, if I hurt you because I wasn't honest from the get-go. I've got to get my head on straight."
The music had changed to a fast dance, and Alison led Jayce from the writhing mass. "I understand, Jayce, really. I do." Alison leaned down and kissed her cheek. She smiled, and batted her eyelashes. "You could ease my breaking heart, Jayce."
"What do you have in mind?" Jayce asked with a roll of her eyes.
"Could you get me an autographed picture of Juanita?"
A burst of laughter escaped at the request. "Have I been replaced so quickly? Oh, woe is me."
"Actually, I have a niece, Jennie, visiting next month. She's recently come out, and my sister thought I'd best understand how to cope with her."
"And Sarah's picture will help how?"
"Instead of being cop aunt, I'm the cool aunt who personally knows a famous TV star."
Jayce nodded. "Then it's yours. Did you want to get something to eat?"
"Do you think Edna would mind putting a plate together for me to pick up later? I'm going to drive that old back road and take a look around."
"Sure, I'll take care of it myself, Ali. It'll be in the fridge waiting for you."
"Thanks. I'll come back when things quiet down and check on you." Alison chucked her under the chin. "Hang in there, Jayce. Just because things seem messed up right now, doesn't mean it will always be this way." With that, Alison walked away.
She didn't know how much time had passed while she stood there watching Alison drive off. "Damn." Jayce wondered why she had to go and fall in love with Tiara, when someone as wonderful as Alison was alone.
THE DAY CONTINUED to be wonderful fun. Sarah wished the parties in Hollywood were as enjoyable, rather than the emotionally draining exhibits of people flaunting too much wealth, bad manners passing as eccentricities, and conversations so boring she wondered how she'd never fallen asleep standing up. The most remarkable point being no one expected Juanita to show up. Of course, anyone in the community who knew or remembered Sarah never expected her television persona to make an appearance in the first place. Surprising her most, Craig seemed perfectly happy to spend time with her, plain old Sarah.
Sarah grudgingly admitted she was probably looking on the bright side where Craig was concerned. But she was frightened, expecting his kindness to be a ploy to ingratiate himself to the people who would notice, and share with her later. Was Craig making nice with the hope of using her later?
"Wow, what a scowl you've got going on there." Sarah turned to Jayce. "You okay, sweetie?" Jayce asked, handing her one of the two plates she held.
"Yeah, I'm--" Sarah didn't get to finish.
Craig was suddenly beside her, too. "Damn it," Craig whispered the curse loudly. "I'd hoped to beat all your other admirers."
Noticing he also held two plates, she teased, "Are you hungry, or is the food just that good?"
"Well, when I noticed Jayce making an extra plate, I expected it might be for Tiara. I thought I'd take my chances, as I haven't seen you eat yet, and bring some food to you."
Sarah smiled teasingly. "Are you watching me or stalking me?" she asked. From his expression, she doubted Craig had caught her joking tone. "I'm kidding."
"Okay," Jayce said. "Three's a crowd. Guess I'll take my plate back, and find someone who appreciates my efforts."
"Tiara hasn't eaten," Craig said seriously. "She went into her dad's old barn about ten minutes ago, alone and unfed."
"How many women are you stalking?" Sarah asked. Sputtering something incomprehensible, Craig turned beet-red. "Teasing you, again, Craig." She looked at Jayce. "I think he's right. You should take her the plate."
Jayce rolled her eyes. "Haven't you heard? They're leaving tomorrow?"
"Not all of us," Craig said, when she stared questioningly at him.
Sarah shook her head. "Here's your chance to say good-bye. Tiara could probably use a friend right now."
"Then maybe I should tell Darla," Jayce said, accepting the return of the plate of food. "She seems to have all the right words to soothe Tiara."
"Well, if you're too chicken, we understand," Sarah said. It pained her to bait, Jayce, knowing how deeply she hurt, but a confrontation might be just what Jayce needed to be able to move on.
"Fine," Jayce snapped. "I don't know why no one takes my side." With a glare, Jayce stomped off in the direction of the barn.
"Much as I like having you to myself," Craig said, "Do you think Jayce is safe? Tiara has quite a temper. And Jayce is currently walking wounded."
Sarah realized his concern was genuine. "So does Jayce, Craig. Her temper's just better concealed than most, hidden behind an authentic zest and blessedness for life." The observation seemed to bring him some relief. "Should we eat before the hot food gets cold and the cold food gets warm?"
Sarah now had Craig's undivided attention. "I saw a tree free of squatters, if you'd like go sit for a while."
Craig beamed a smile. "I'd be honored. I even have soda in my pockets."
Once comfortably seated, a few bites taken, Sarah asked, "So what do you honestly think of our neck of the woods, so to speak?" She didn't know why it would be important, but she hoped his impressions were positive. She wanted to ask about why he wasn't departing tomorrow, but couldn't find the strength to bring up a topic that might prove painful to her.
After retrieving the soda bottles from the side pockets of his shorts and handing her one, Craig stared off into the distance. Sarah had just about given up receiving a reply, when Craig finally spoke. "Had you asked me about a week ago, I'd have told you I couldn't wait to get back to the city. Those first couple of nights without street sounds just about had me losing my mind."
"So you miss the noise?"
"Not just that, it felt so isolated out here."
"And now?" Sarah asked, not certain she wanted his response, and not sure why it was important to her that he like Silver Waters.
"I could seriously get used to it," he said. "Your house was an impressive motivator. And, after today, meeting some of the people and being treated and feeling welcomed like I'm part of big family, I don't know why more people don't moving to the country."
"Well, actually, we country folk don't want them. Too many people, and you've only got another city growing too fast for its own good." She sighed, her gaze taking in Jayce's property. "Most people can't appreciate the simpler things in life, the simple beauty that surrounds them. Here we work with nature to preserve the beauty." Sarah turned back to Craig. "That's not to say that even small towns don't have folks wanting to muck it all up. We do. But most folks here are farmers or ranchers, they work the land and the land works with them to keep them alive, an even give and take."
Craig frowned. "Then why do you work in the biggest city of them all?"
"Not everybody can work the land," she explained, smiling. "I thought I needed to get away from small town mentality, but quickly learned how much I missed it. Now, I need to make enough of a nest egg to retire young enough to enjoy it. I'll need to do like Tiara is doing to the Acres, fix my parents' place up, modernize a few things, as you noted."
"Your parents left you a remarkable place." Sarah felt the tears build in her eyes, and Craig noticed them. "Hey, I didn't mean
to upset you. We can change the subject."
Sarah still missed her parents very much. They'd been in their forties when she came along had been a surprise for them; and, probably to most the town. She had wanted for nothing, as long as she was willing to work for it. Her parents had instilled a proper work ethic into her. One thing she had most of all was the love and affection so many other children don't ever get--like Tiara probably had to do without. Sarah had listened when Jayce and Edna spoke of Tiara over the years. Now that she'd actually spent time with the woman, Sarah better understood Tiara's actions, or lack thereof. "My father passed away soon after I graduated high school and my mother a couple years ago. I've been thinking lately that it's about time to settle down and enjoy it all while I still can. This last visit has reminded me just how much I've missed all this, the people and camaraderie."
Now that Sarah had said it aloud, the prospect of retiring from her career seemed more than just an idle wish. She only had another two years on her contract for the Deadly Aimes series. Hollywood only offered more of the same--people taking what they wanted from her and not giving anything but grief back. More guys like Johnny were out there in the world, wanting to use her for their personal social climbing, not caring how their actions hurt her emotionally.
"Well, not that you're old enough to retire," Craig said with raised eyebrows, "but life has a way of sneaking up on us with the unexpected. Who wants to live with regrets?" He leaned back against the tree trunk and crossed his arms over his chest. "And, I gotta tell ya, I'm not getting any younger."
Sarah asked, "You think you'd be one of my regrets?"
Craig gave her a cocky smile. "If you insist on including me, who am I to stop you? I knew you couldn't resist my adorable charms."
"You have quite the opinion of yourself."
"I intrigue you, admit it." Sarah rolled her eyes. He laughed. "You need to renovate your place, I know a wonderful contracting company with this remarkable employee. You need to hire my services before I'm too old to swing a hammer in a way that will impress you."
Sarah couldn't help herself. She stiffened at what his remark implied. "Why would you want to impress me, exactly?"
Craig seemed surprised by her question. "You're hot, lady, why wouldn't I?"
"Is it so I fall for your charms, and you can brag to your friends you know Juanita Juarez or her stunt double?"
The blank stare Craig gave made her nervous, not knowing what he could be thinking. "Not that you'd believe me, but I haven't thought once about Ms. Juarez since seeing you in those coveralls." With surprising speed, Craig pulled her onto his lap, and Sarah didn't resist. His hands cupped the sides of her face, forcing her to look directly into his eyes. "Know this, Sarah Marsh, I will prove it's you and only you that I want, not some vapid television star. I'm offering my labor services when I'm free to make adjustments and renovations to your home."
Craig then attacked Sarah's lips in a kiss so incredible, her toes actually curled.
Chapter Twenty-five
JAYCE FELT THE nervous tightening in her stomach, fearing another confrontation, as she carried the plates of food to the barn, where Craig had told her she'd find Tiara. Every cell in her body wanted her to give up this useless venture; however, she consoled herself somewhat by remembering Tiara would be leaving tomorrow. She vacillated on whether Tiara going was good or bad. Good would come in Jayce's little piece of Silver Waters going back to normal, no more hammering and sawing as renovations were made. Good, with no distractions from a chance meeting of Tiara, with her slightly freckled face and grey eyes, the cute compact body as she stood on a ladder teasing with her adorable behind. Good because Jayce wouldn't feel compelled to entertain Tiara with Danish and coffee, sharing kisses at the sink. Bad would be...well, bad would be almost the same. There would be no glimpses of Tiara, no teasing over breakfast, no supper gettogethers with friends, and no proof of life at Acres without the steady rhythm of construction. How could one tiny woman leave such a marked impression and not even know it?
She took a deep breath, hoping to steady her nerves and pasted a false smile on her lips. Jayce walked through the open barn door, and lost her breath all over again.
Tiara's back--derrière, actually--was pointed toward Jayce as she furiously sanded the leg of a table that stood in the middle of the open room. From the doorway, Jayce figured Tiara was covered in sawdust, if the front matched the back. Tiara wasn't holding power tools, but Jayce still didn't want to startle her unnecessarily. "Tiara."
She jumped anyway, and Jayce wondered what topic held her concentration so strongly. "Jayce?" she asked as though perplexed.
Eyes wide feigning fear, Jayce quickly looked over one shoulder and then the next before nodding to Tiara. "Did I sprout horns? Is that why you're unsure it's me?"
Blushing, Tiara shook her head. "No. I didn't expect to see you is all."
Jayce blew out a loud breath. "Whew, had me worried." She held up both plates in her hands. "I brought you something to eat, suspected you hadn't eaten yet. The food's probably congealed into goop or ready for scientific donation, just a warning. It took a while to get in here."
Tiara raised an eyebrow in question. "Really, why's that?"
"I was outside this door, wrestling with myself on whether I should come in. Since we were an even match, I had to agree to call it a draw before a decision could be made."
With a quick lift of one corner of her mouth, Tiara asked, "Who wanted to come in, you or you?" She had tossed the sandpaper on top of the table, and pulled off the safety goggles, leaving an area around her eyes as the only part of her free of the wood dust. Even her hair was coated with it. Jayce tried not to notice Tiara's beauty, tried to stay put while at the same time wanting to rush to Tiara and brush the dust from her strawberry locks.
Instead, Jayce lightly kicked at the dirt floor, dropping her gaze. "Shucks, ma'am. Since it was a draw, can't we both get points?"
Tiara laughed openly, and nodded. "Yes, points awarded to both. Besides, if we keep this up I'm going to get lost in who is who, or which is which, whatever." Tiara walked to Jayce and took one of the plates. "This all looks good. Thank you, Jayce. It was nice of you to think of me."
"Aw, it weren't nuthin'," Jayce said. She had to bite her lip, then. The easy teasing tone of the conversation had her nearly asking for a kiss as payment. Luckily she stopped herself in time. Jayce wondered if she'd ever figure out--let alone get over--how Tiara brought out the merriment and tomfoolery gene in her. The one thing she liked most about herself was being able to laugh, and Jayce wanted to share all those moments with Tiara. She realized, though, that Tiara wouldn't, or couldn't, feel the same about her. Jayce also needed to remember that tomorrow Tiara would be gone. She needed to reconcile her emotions to that fact.
"Uh-oh," Tiara said, taking a step back. "That introspection couldn't have been good."
Jayce realized her thoughts must've been reflected on her face. She shrugged. "It doesn't matter Red, it's something I have to work out for myself. I won't let it ruin our lunch, and you shouldn't either. I don't want you leaving tomorrow without our achieving some kind of peace." She nodded toward the table Tiara had been working on. "Show me what you're working on?"
"Okay, but let's eat first." Tiara picked up a chicken leg and took a bite, rolling her eyes. "Gosh, I'm hungrier than I thought." Nodding to one of the open stalls on the side, Tiara made her way over and sat down on the floor.
Jayce followed her, removing plastic forks and napkins from her back jeans pocket, which she handed over, before sitting and facing Tiara. "The one thing a body can count on, in Silver Waters, is folks know how to barbeque." For a while, they both ate in silence, Jayce not wanting to jinx the moment.
"So, is this the table Aunt Edna wanted us to make for our challenge?"
Tiara nodded. "I didn't want to--to--"
"Leave. You can say the word. We both know it's inevitable."
"I'm sorry, Jayce."
"N
ah, we both know that's not entirely true. If you were regretful, you wouldn't go." Jayce smiled wryly. "This is something you need to do, what's right for you. Just because it doesn't suit my wants, doesn't make it wrong." Jayce noted the tears building in Tiara's eyes, but not yet falling.
With the food completely consumed and needing a change of subject, Jayce leaned back and her hand was promptly swallowed by the barn floor. A stinging pain bit into her palm. She jerked her hand free seeing wood splinters imbedded in her flesh.
Dropping her plate, Tiara got to her knees and yanked Jayce's injured hand onto her lap. "Bet this smarts," Tiara said, pulling a Swiss army knife from her pocket and freeing the mini-tweezers. With deliberate care, Tiara removed the splinters lodged in the skin. "I'm sorry if this hurts," Tiara said without making eye contact. Most of the wood pieces were large enough to be removed easily and quickly; the rest took only a couple minutes. "Okay, stay right there," Tiara ordered. She jumped up and went to a gym bag tossed near the door, rifled around and came back with a small first aid kit. Tiara removed an aerosol container and sprayed Jayce's torn flesh.
"Yeow," Jayce squealed. "I didn't take you for a sadist, but I'm being swayed in my opinion."
Laughing, Tiara said, "Quit being a big baby, and butch up." She applied an ointment and released her hand. "There, now it shouldn't get infected, and will start feeling better soon."
"Thanks, Doc," Jayce said, turning to see what she'd fallen into. Pushing away the straw with her undamaged hand, and careful not to incur any more splinters, Jayce found a small hidey-hole with something wrapped in rawhide. She pulled it free and held it between them. Tiara paled. "You know what this is?"
"Yeah, I think so." Tiara sucked in a breath. "I think you should just leave it where you found it."
Jayce stared at the myriad emotions flicking across Tiara's face. She considered replacing the bundle, almost. Despite the discomfort, Jayce figured Tiara needed to face whatever it represented. "Maybe it's best we don't leave it. Does this contain something to bring you heartache or closure?"
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