by Ruth Langan
He carried the bowl and spoon out to the big wooden deck that looked out over Lake Michigan, and settled down on the top step with his back against the rail. Fog and mist rolled over him in damp waves, leaving his skin chilled.
The morning was as bleak as his mood. He’d come to Michigan to get as far away from the past as possible. But now he realized that the real lure of this place had been its proximity to water. If he had to leave everything that was comfortable and familiar, at least he would have some of it in his new surroundings. Of course, the fact that Devil’s Cove was small and secluded was an important factor, as well. He wanted, needed desperately, to find a safe haven for his sons.
He’d known the minute he saw this placeas exactly what he’d been hoping for. Though his yard ran right down to the water’s edge, a sandbar just offshore formed a natural barrier, making it impossible for a boat to get close enough to come ashore. The fact that this was a private, gated community, restricting all but those whose names were posted with a guard, made it all the better. He’d permitted his real estate agent to post the names of workers who needed access to it. All others would require his express approval before being allowed on the premises.
The sweeping grounds, with over an acre of aged trees hiding a tall iron fence, made it appear to be just another millionaire’s retreat, though Ethan considered it more of a fortress.
A fortress. The thought added to his gloom. He hated having to lock his sons away from the world, but for now it seemed the only solution.
At the sound of tires crunching on the gravel drive, he looked up to see a truck roll to a stop. Seconds later the truck’s door opened and a figure in torn jeans walked to the tailgate and began tugging on a heavy tarp.
Curious, Ethan set aside his empty bowl and strolled over. “Need a hand?”
“Thanks.”
At the decidedly feminine voice, he found himself stepping back to stare.
“You work for the contractor?” She kept her back to him as she began retrieving shovels and rakes and tossing them to him.
“Afraid not.” He couldn’t help admiring her long, long legs and trim backside as he set each tool aside in the grass.
“Oh.” She glanced over her shoulder, and he had a quick impression of pale blond hair beneath the baseball cap and eyes the color of honey, before she turned back to her work. “Did Martin hire you?”
“Martin?”
“My crew boss.” She retrieved the last of the equipment and brushed her hands down her pants before turning to him. Her smile was absolutely captivating. “Are you a new hire?”
“Sorry. No.”
She looked him up and down, considering. “Then what are you doing here at this time of the morning?”
“I live here.”
“You live…” She stopped, and her smile turned impish. “Oops. You must be the new owner. I thought you weren’t moving in until next week.”
“I decided to get an early start. And you’d be…”
“Hannah Brennan.” She stuck out her hand. “Hannah’s Gardening and Landscape. I was hired to do your yard.”
“Ah. Ethan Harrison.” He latched on to the only thing that his brain could manage in the presence of that dazzling smile and firm handshake. “Brennan. Are you related to Charlotte, my real estate agent?”
“My mother. But nobody calls her Charlotte. Around here, she’s Charley.”
“Charley. I’ll remember that.” His smile widened. “She came highly recommended by an old college friend. I don’t know what I’d have without her.”
Hannah nodded. “She’s the best.”
“I’ll say. After only a few questions over the phone, she seemed to know exactly what I had in mind. It only took her a few days to get back to me with a list of several places she wanted me to see. When I flew out here, I expected to spend weeks making a decision. But the minute I saw this place, I knew it was the one.”
Hannah looked beyond him to study the house, one of several million-dollar mansions that had recently been built on waterfront acreage that was part of an old orchard. “It’s a great place. And this view…” She didn’t bother to finish the sentence, allowing the sight of sunlight breaking through the mist over the water to speak for itself.
Ethan nodded. “It was the view that sold me.” He didn’t bother to mention the security.
He glanced back at the truck. “So you’re going to turn this weed patch into lawn and gardens, are you?”
“That’s what I do best.” She smiled. “I don’t have to get started today, though. I didn’t realize you’d moved in. You probably have a million things to see to. If you’d like me to schedule another time…”
“No. You certainly won’t be in my way. I think it’ll be fun to watch the lawn and gardens take shape and…”
At the peals of laughter, Hannah turned toward the deck in time to see two little boys dressed in pajamas barreling down the steps and launching themselves into their father’s arms.
Ethan caught the two in a bear hug and swung them around before setting them on their bare feet in the grass. “T.J., Danny. This is Hannah Brennan.”
Hannah knelt down and offered her handshake. The older of the two stuck out his hand.
“Are you T.J. or Danny?”
“Danny.”
“Hi, Danny. How old are you?”
“I’m four.” He held up four fingers.
“So old? And what about your little brother?”
He grinned and pointed to the toddler holding tightly to his father’s ankle. “T.J.’s two.”
“Two,” the little boy echoed.
“What does T.J. stand for?”
“Thaddeus Joseph,” Danny said proudly, causing his little brother to grin widely.
“That’s quite a mouthful for such a little guy. No wonder you call him T.J.”
“Uh-huh. Daddy says I’m a big boy.”
“It’s nice to be a big brother.”
“Do you have one?”
Hannah shook her head. “Just sisters. I have a big sister and two little sisters.”
“Do you have to watch out for them when they’re
“I did when they were younger. Now they’re big enough to look out for themselves.”
He eyed her truck. “Is that yours?”
“Yeah.” She got to her feet. “Do you like it?”
He nodded. “It’s bigger’n Daddy’s car.”
“Is it?” She glanced over at Ethan and winked. “Well, he only has to haul two little boys around, but I have to haul a crew of workers, as well as a lot of tools.”
“Wow.” The little boy eyed her with respect. “You work with tools?”
“Shovels. Rakes. Trenchers. Tractors.”
“Tractors?” Danny turned to his father with a shriek of delight. “Can I watch the tractors?”
Ethan got down on one knee. “You can. As long as you and T.J. stay on the deck, where you’ll be safe. Tractors can be fun to watch, but they can be deadly if the driver can’t see you.” He glanced over his son’s head. “Danny has been in love with trucks and tractors since he was a baby. In fact, he has an entire construction yard ready to be set up in his bedroom. If we can find which box it’s in.”
Hannah looked impressed. “I’d like to see that sometime, Danny.”
“Can I show her, Daddy?”
Ethan nodded. “I don’t see why not. Another time. Right now I think we’d better get inside and I’ll fix the two of you some breakfast.”
His little son turned to look at Hannah. “Are you going to drive a tractor here today?”
“Not for a couple of days.” She slipped off her baseball cap and ran a hand through her hair. “Today I’m just going to do a walk-around and decide where everything will go. Then, after your daddy approves my design sketches, I’ll get my crew started.”
“One day will you come inside and see my trucks?”
“I’d like that.” She grinned at the younger boy, who clung to his father’s leg.
As the two little boys scampered toward the house, Ethan turned back. “I think I’d better warn you. Now that Danny has found someone who drives a truck and a tractor, he may become something of a pest. Whenever he gets in the way, just let me know.”
Hannah gave a shake of her head, sending blond wisps dancing. “I wouldn’t worry about it. It’s sort of flattering to find a guy who isn’t put off by the fact that I drive a truck.”
She turned away and busied herself folding the tarp. Minutes later she heard the door slam and the peals of laughter from the kitchen, which told her that father and sons were enjoying their breakfast.
While Hannah and her crew chief completed their inspection of the yard, Hannah made crude sketches on a clipboard.
“Ground cover in that shady area.” She pointed with her pencil. “And I’m thinking maybe a perennial garden over there.”
Martin Cross nodded his agreement. “What about those old forsythia and lilac?”
Hannah shrugged. “I don’t want to tear out anything more than necessary. Part of the charm of this property are the mature plants left over from its former life. But if they prove to be more deadwood than blooms, we’ll have to yank them.”
“I’ll take some cuttings and see what I find.”
“Thanks, Martin.” Hannah paused beneath an ancient oak. The gnarled, twisted limbs lent a dignified beauty to the yard, despite the fact that the ground beneath was too densely shaded to allow any grass to grow.
She walked around the spot, mulling over ways to improve the lawn while sparing the tree.
Martin held his silence while she added to her sketches. When she stuck the pencil behind her ear, he dug the keys from his pocket. “If we’re through here, I’ll join the crew on the Anderson job.”
Hannah nodded absently. “I’ll run my ideas past my client and get over there as soon as I can.”
“No hurry.” Martin sauntered toward his truck. “I told the sod farm we wouldn’t be ready for delivery until noon. I got the crew started on leveling the dirt before I left.”
Hannah glanced at the sun, which had already burned away the fog. “I’d feel a lot better if we could get that sod down before dark. The sooner it’s down, the sooner I can get the sprinklers started.”
“Will do. If I have to, I’ll pull the crew from the Richardson job to lend a hand.”
Hannah waved as he drove away, then climbed the steps and knocked. From inside she could hear the wail of sirens and the high-pitched sound of children’s voices.
After a few minutes she knocked again, louder, and peered through the screen.
Seeing no one, she opened the door and called, “Hello.”
When she received no answer, she stepped inside and cupped her hands to her mouth. “Hello. Anybody here?”
The silly question had her chuckling. It was obvious to anyone within a mile of here that somebody was home. The voices and the sirens were much louder now and coming from upstairs.
She followed the sound and paused at the foot of the stairs to shout, “Hello up there. Can anybody hear me?”
A minute later, two little faces were peering down at her.
Danny gave a squeal of delight. “We’re playing firemen.” He waved a fireman’s hat and pointed to the fire truck that was wailing. “Want to come up and play?”
“Sorry, I can’t. But I’d like to check some things with your father. Is he around?”
“He’s up here.”
“Would you tell him…” She heard the patter of feet as the two boys disappeared from view.
While she was still wondering what to do, Ethan appeared at the top of the stairs. “I apologize. I didn’t hear you over all the noise up here.” He started down the steps, his two sons trailing behind.
Hannah couldn’t help smiling at the sight of the two little boys, hair slicked from their showers, wearing shorts and matching shirts with an image of a bulldozer on front. Each one carried identical hard hats with a fire-engine logo.
“I’ve made some preliminary sketches of your yard, but I hate bothering you with this now. Why don’t I leave them with you, and you can call me after you’ve settled in.”
Ethan was already shaking his head. “Thanks to your mother, the settling in part was easy. At my request, she arranged for beds and bedding, dishes in the cupboards, hangers in the closets. In fact, she even put food in the refrigerator. The only thing we had to do was show up.”
“Even with all that, I doubt it could be an easy move with two little boys.”
He shrugged. “We’re doing fine. Now, why don’t you tell me what you’re thinking of doing with the yard?”
“All right.” She led the way outside, with Ethan and his sons following behind.
Half an hour later, when they had circled the property, Hannah removed her sketches from the clipboard and handed them to Ethan. “I’m sure you’ll want to take your time looking these over. When you’re ready, you can call me and we’ll discuss any changes you might want me to make.”
He accepted them and studied the drawings. “Did you study art?”
She shook her head. “That’s my sister Sidney’s department.”
“She’s an artist?”
“Wildlife, mainly. She has a place in the woods so she can be close to nature. You’ll see her posters of waterfowl in shops and galleries all over town.”
“I’ll look for them. I think I’d like some for the boys’ room. T.J. is crazy about ducks.” He glanced at her sketches. “But these aren’t too shabby, either. You have a good eye.”
“For flower beds,” she laughed. “That’s the extent of my artistic talent.”
“It looks good to me.” He looked up. “Ever think about doing this on a laptop instead of paper and pen?”
She shrugged. “Too complicated. I just carry my clipboard everywhere.”
Ethan considered for a moment, then said, “Okay. Whenever you and your crew are ready, you can get started.”
“Just like that? You don’t want to take some time to think about it?”
“I don’t need time.” He looked up and met her eyes. “I know when I see something I like.”
The look in his eyes sent tiny pinpricks of electricity along her spine. Despite the heat, she actually shivered.
“Well, then.” She turned away, feeling heat stain her cheeks. “I guess we can start in a couple of .”
She was startled when a small hand tugged on hers. “When you come back, will you be bringing your tractor?”
“Yes. And if your daddy says it’s all right, I’ll even let you and your brother sit on it.” She squeezed his hand. “Goodbye, Danny. Goodbye, T.J.”
As Hannah drove away, the sight of Ethan and his sons had the smile returning to her lips. While the youngest boy watched from behind his father’s legs, his four-year-old brother was dancing around them like a tiny wind-up toy. The look on his face was one of pure joy.
Chapter 2
Hannah stepped from the shower and wrapped her hair in a towel before sinking gratefully into the whirlpool tub. With a sigh she leaned back, eyes closed, as the jets pulsed warm, fragrant water over her protesting muscles. After hours of working alongside her crew laying sod, this felt like pure bliss.
The first thing she’d done after buying this property from old Mr. Goddard—a local cherry farmer eager to retire to Florida—was to remodel the loft above the barn for an apartment. The former dark, dreary storage room was now a bright, cheery space, thanks to whitewashed wood and the addition of several skylights. The bathroom was decidedly feminine with pale, unglazed tile on the floor and walls, and bright touches of color in the pots of flowers that bloomed everywhere. Her sister, Sidney, had painted vines and flowers around the skylights, and added whimsical fairies flitting here and there across clouds painted on the ceiling.
The barn hadn’t been her only consideration. Before investing in this location, she’d carefully tested the soil to be sure that it would support the growth of the var
ious seedlings that now paraded in neat rows across the hillside. And though she’d already built half a dozen greenhouses, abloom with flowers she’d grown from seed, she planned on doubling that number in the next couple of years.
Hannah stepped out of the tub and toweled herself off before walking to the adjoining bedroom. A headboard of bent twigs and a matching chaise were covered in pale-ivory linen. The room-size rug resembled a garden, holding more flowers. Pots and vases of them were everywhere. And a scattering of Sidney’s vines and fairies painted along the arched door that led to a balcony, where flowers seemed to fill every available space outdoors, spilling out of giant urns and tumbling over the railing, cascading all the way to a stone patio below.
Hannah’s cats, a lop-eared old gray-and-white named Tiger and a pretty orange-and-white tabby named Marmalade, were stalking butterflies across the balcony. Their antics made her stop and laugh before she slipped into a pair of gauzy slacks and a matching top the color of raspberry sherbet.
“Someday you’re going to catch one of those beautiful butterflies, and you won’t know what to do with it.”
The two cats paused long enough to slant her a look before returning to their game.
She slid her feet into sandals, then ran a brush through her damp hair. Except for a touch of color on her lashes and lips, she had no need for makeup. Though she wore sunblock and never worked outdoors without a cap, she couldn’t entirely avoid the sun. Her skin seemed perpetually bronzed by it.
“Good night, you two.” She gave each of her pets a gentle scratch behind their ears before grabbing the keys to her Mercedes convertible.
Though she was comfortable driving a truck with her crew, she’d bought the little car to indulge her love of speed and freedom. There was just something about feeling the wind in her hair that made these gentle summer nights so special to her.
Of course, she thought as she danced down the stairs, got into the car and started it, summer was special for another reason. She loved her work. So much so, she was almost embarrassed to be making so much money doing something that gave her such pleasure.