Wanted

by Ruth Langan

  “All right. These are directions to my place.” She handed Ethan a piece of paper with a map. “You can’t miss it. It’s the first big barn just outside of town.” She stepped out the door, running her fingers through her matted hair. “You’d better give me an hour.”

  “That’s all the time you need?” Ethan tucked the paper into his pocket.

  “Yeah.” She gave a short laugh. “That ought to give me time for a quick shower, followed by a long soak in the whirlpool.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  At the smile on Ethan’s face she felt her heart give a sudden bounce. Feeling completely flustered, she turned and nearly stumbled down the steps, calling over her shoulder, “I’ll see you at six o’clock. Oh, and it was nice meeting you, Selena.”

  As she climbed into her truck and headed home, she wondered at the sudden burst of adrenaline. After the day she’d put in, she ought to feel exhausted. But the truth was, the thought of spending the evening with Ethan and his sons energized her. She thought he would want to cancel after seeing his business partner with him. She hadn’t liked the feeling of dread that had started in the pit of her stomach. But she’d been wrong. That knowledge had her breathing long and deep.

  She cranked up the air-conditioning as high as it would go and turned on her favorite oldies station to sing along with Paul McCartney’s Wings about silly love songs. For some strange reason the words seemed to take on a whole new meaning.

  “What was that all about?” Selena busied herself at the table, gathering up the signed documents and stuffing them into her briefcase.

  “Hannah gave the boys a ride on her tractor this morning, and we’re thanking her by taking her to a drive-in restaurant for dinner.”

  “A drive-in. Do they actually have such places anymore?”

  Ethan laughed. “I’m about to find out.”

  Selena gave him a long, probing look. “This sounds suspiciously like a date.”

  “Don’t be silly. I’m merely repaying a good deed.”

  “You seem awfully happy about this. Is this the same grief-stricken man who told me his life was over?”

  Ethan’s smile faded as he walkto take the attaché case from her hand, then led the way to her car. “I did say that, didn’t I?”

  “That and a lot of other things. And if you recall, I was the one who told you that things would seem different if you’d give yourself some time.” She opened the car door and turned to him, placing a hand on his arm. “Oh, Ethan. If only you’d listened to me. You didn’t need to leave everything behind and start over in a new place. It wasn’t a new place you needed. It was time.”

  “Maybe. But I’ve got to sort all this out in my own way, Selena.”

  “Away from the only home you’ve ever known?”

  “If that’s what it takes.”

  “And if the business suffers in the process?”

  He settled her into the car and closed the door. Through the open window, he patted her hand. “I’m sorry to be putting you through all this. I know I’ve dumped a lot of stuff on you.”

  She closed a hand over his. “I’m a patient woman. You and I have been through a lot since our college days. We’ll weather this, too.”

  “Yes, we will. Thanks, Selena.” He stepped back. “Safe trip.”

  She turned the key in the ignition, then gave him a cool smile. “Next time we talk, you’ll have to give me all the lovely details about the date at the…drive-in.”

  Hannah heard the sound of a car and walked to the balcony to watch as Danny climbed from the back seat of his father’s car. Ethan was busy unbuckling his younger son from his car seat.

  “Hi.” Hannah cupped her hands to her mouth and shouted, “I’ll be right down.”

  By the time she’d hurried down the stairs, Ethan and his boys were standing beside the huge barn door, staring around with matching looks of curiosity.

  “Wow.” Danny’s eyes were as big as saucers. “You live in a barn?”

  “Yeah. Upstairs. I use this level for storage.” She pointed to several tractors parked in a row, as well as her red convertible. One wall had been fitted with shelves from floor to ceiling, with a forklift to retrieve supplies. “Out there—” she pointed to an A-frame building that resembled an Alpine chalet with gingerbread trim, where several college coeds were busy with customers buying flats of flowers “—we handle retail to the public.”

  “Pretty neat.” Ethan looked around with a nod of appreciation.

  “Want to see where I live?” She led the way up the stairs, aware of the way Ethan followed close behind. Though she couldn’t see his eyes, she sensed them focusing on her. It was a most unsettling feeling, and yet she couldn’t deny the little thrill that raced along her spine.

  Once upstairs she stood just inside the doorway while Ethan and the boys stepped inside and stared around.

  “Wow. It’s like a tree house, isn’t it, Daddy?

  Ethan nodded, all the while staring at the woman who looked as fresh as one of her flowers in a denim miniskirt that displayed those long tanned legs to their best advantage.

  Danny raced across the room and touched a hand to the twig headboard. “Did you make this, Hannah?”

  She shook her head. “It was made by a man and his son who live in the woods a few miles from here. They make all kinds of twig furniture by hand. My sister, Courtney, sells some of it in her gift shop.”

  The two little boys ran to the bathroom to gape at the painted ceiling and sunlight spilling through the skylights, while their father followed more slowly.

  Ethan motioned toward the fairies overhead. “Did you paint these?”

  “My sister, Sidney. She’s the artist I told you about.”

  Ethan’s voice was low with pleasure. “This is great. Like some wonderful, mystical garden.”

  “Thanks. I’ll be sure to tell her.”

  “She ought to paint you.” He flicked a glance over her, pausing to admire her embroidered midriff blouse in some sort of gauzy white fabric that showed a tiny strip of tanned flesh. Without thinking he touched a hand to her arm. “I don’t know how you do it.”

  At once she absorbed the sizzle that caught her by surprise. It took all her willpower to keep from stepping back. “Do what?”

  His eyes met hers, and the sizzle became a series of sparks that had her sweating. “Look as cool and relaxed as though you’d done nothing more all day than be pampered in a spa.”

  Was it possible for her bones to melt at a single touch? She found herself clutching the edge of the door for support. “Now you’ve seen my spa.”

  “Yeah.” Though he hadn’t meant to, he ran his hand along her arm, savoring the warm, firm flesh he’d been admiring from a distance. Up close she smelled of citrus. As cool and fresh as she looked. “And I’ve seen what you do all day. That’s hardly my idea of nothing.”

  “Keeps me in shape.”

  “I’ll say.” His voice roughened. “I hope you don’t mind the way I stare. It’s hard not to.” He drew her fractionally closer, loving the fact that she was tall enough that their eyes were nearly level. He leaned in, pressing his mouth to a tangle of curls at her temple. “You’re the most fascinating woman I’ve ever—”

  “Kitties!”

  They turned at the sound of the excited squeals to see Danny and T.J. racing toward the balcony, where the two cats were dozing in the sunlight.

  Danny skidded to a halt beside them and called to Hannah, “Will they bite?”

  “Those two spoiled babies?” She wondered if her voice sounded as husky to Ethan as it did to her own ears. She’d been achingly aware of the fact that he was about to kiss her. What’s more, she’d wanted him to. Desperately.

  Now that she’ to her senses, she was almost relieved at this distraction.

  She moved away, putting distance between them. “The only things those two cats would ever consider biting are their wind-up toys.”

  While the two boys tentatively reached out their
hands, the two cats arched their backs in pleasure.

  Danny was smiling from ear to ear. “He’s got a motor, Hannah.”

  “Quite a loud one, in fact.” She laughed. “Those two like nothing better than someone who’ll pet them.”

  “Do they have names?”

  “They do. The gray-and-white one with the funny ear is Tiger. The other is Marmalade.”

  “Those are silly names.”

  “Not to Tiger and Marmalade. Just call them by name and you’ll see what I mean.”

  The minute Danny called their names, the two cats got to their feet and began making figure eights between the two boys’ feet.

  “They think you have a treat for them.” Hannah reached into a ceramic biscuit barrel and removed two cat treats, which she handed to the little boys. “If you want to see two very happy kitties, just give them these.”

  Danny and T.J. knelt down and offered each cat a treat, which they accepted from their hands. While the boys sat on the floor, running their hands over the soft fur, the two cats lay munching their treats and purring as loudly as motorboats.

  Ethan remained where he was, unable to take his eyes off Hannah. Everything about her fascinated him. The look of her, slender as a willow and yet so strong. The sheer joy she seemed to take in the simplest of pleasures. A joy that radiated from her, touching everyone around her. It was impossible not to share that sense of happiness in her presence.

  He’d come so close to tasting those lips. The thought of it had him sweating.

  He crossed the room and stepped out onto the balcony, admiring the view. “This is pretty amazing. Is it all yours?”

  Hannah walked out to join him. “Yeah. Mine and the bank’s. As soon as my business started showing a profit, I paid back Poppie what he’d loaned me to get started and took out a mortgage to build the first greenhouse. Every time I pay off one debt, I seem to find something new that I really need. Right now it’s those blue spruces you see growing on that hill.”

  He studied the even rows of hundreds of seedlings that dotted the hillside.

  “They put me in debt for a hundred thousand. But if the weather cooperates, and I can keep them growing for enough years, I’ll more than triple my investment.”

  “Those are some pretty big ifs.”

  Hannah laughed. “Yeah. Especially the weather. A drought in their first year could stunt them.”

  “Couldn’t you install sprinklers?”

  She shook her head. “Not over so much distance. It just isn’t cost-effective. So I pray for rain. But come winter, I’ll pray for snow before the heavy-duty freeze sets in. Without the snow as insulation, a particularly hard winter kill could devastate them.”

  “Sounds like quite a risk.”

  “Oh, yeah.” She laughed again. “Poppie says my career choice is a bit like gambling. If everything lines up in my favor, I’ll hit the jackpot. If not, I’ll find myself in debt to my eyebrows. But at least I’m doing what I always dreamed of.”

  “Then it’s worth the gamble.”

  Hannah nodded. “Tell me what you do.”

  “Design specialty software programs. If a company wants to send a rocket to the moon or build a better mousetrap, I design the software to make it happen.”

  “A computer geek?”

  “That’s what they call me.”

  She studied him with interest. “So that’s why you asked me if I ever did my designs on a laptop? Have you already designed the software for landscape architects?”

  “Not yet. But I’m thinking there may be a market for it. If I made it easier than carrying a clipboard, would you be interested?”

  She shrugged. “Of course. But wouldn’t you have to learn all about the subject before you could consider such a project?”

  “Yeah.” He gave her a heart-stopping grin. “Since I’m in the company of an expert, I figure I’ll just hang around you and pick your brain.” When she arched a brow he chuckled. “Don’t worry. It’ll be painless. Besides, I’m a quick study.”

  Her look was as much assessing as admiring. “You make it sound like a walk in the park. But I’m betting that brain of yours is already mulling over the possibilities.”

  His tone lowered. “You’d be amazed what this brain of mine is mulling over at the moment, Hannah.”

  Before she could respond he put a hand at her back. “Come on. After the day you put in, I think it’s time we fed you.”

  When they were able to coax the boys to part with their furry new friends, they headed down the stairs to Ethan’s car.

  As he fastened T.J. into his car seat, Ethan glanced over to see Hannah helping Danny into his seat on the other side. When they were all settled in, Ethan turned the key in the ignition. “Now where are these incredible hot dogs?”

  “It’s called the Dairy Devil. Take a right out of my driveway and follow the main highway until we’re up in the hills.”

  While Ethan followed her directions, Hannah turned to the two little boys, who were staring out the side windows with matching looks of eagerness.

  Danny pointed to the rolling hills dotted with outbuildings. “Are those yours, Hannah?”

  “Most of them. My property ends right about…here.” She nodded toward a low wooden fence lined with silver poplars that snaked across a flat stretch of land and disappeared over a ridge.

  “Can you drive your tractor over all those hills?”

  Hearing the wistful note in Danny’s voice, she couldn’t help laughing. “I could if I wanted. But I haven’t had time to drive over all of it yet. Maybe when you and T.J. get a little bigger, you’ll come and help me drive it. Would you like that?”

  The two little boys clapped their hands and gave shrieks of excitement. “Oh boy, Daddy, can we help Hannah drive out here? Can we?”

  Ethan shot her a sideways glance. “You realize they’ll never let you forget that. One careless word and they’ll hold you to it forever.”

  She couldn’t help laughing. “I think it might be fun. I’ve always wanted to drive a tractor over my land. Who knows? Maybe when I reach the highest hill I’ll just stand up on the seat and do my imitation of Titanic.” She held her hands over her head and shouted, “I’m the king of the world.”

  “You can’t be king,” Danny corrected.

  “Why can’t I?”

  “Because you’re a girl. Isn’t that right, Daddy?”

  Ethan could hardly talk over the roar of laughter that welled up. “Oh, Hannah, you should see the look on your face.” When he could find his voice he called, “I think, Danny, you may have just met the one woman in the world capable of being king if she wants to.”

  Hannah gave a playful slap at his arm. “You just said the right thing, Mr. Harrison. Anything else and you’d have found yourself lost and hungry, while I was busy hiking home. Alone.”

  Though the little boys in the back seat didn’t understand the joke, they found themselves laughing along with their father and this woman who had given him back his sense of humor.

  As they came up over a hill, Hannah pointed to the neon lights in the distance. “There’s the Dairy Devil. Prepare to enjoy the best hot dogs and the thickest shakes in the world.”

  Chapter 8

  “You were right, Hannah. This is the best.” Danny patted his middle. “But my tummy can’t take another bite.”

  “Ah, that’s too bad, Danny.” Hannah winked at him. “’Cause it’s such a cute little tummy, and I was just about to bite it.”

  At her silly joke, both boys burst into laughter.

  The four of them were outside the Dairy Devil, seated at a scarred picnic table.

  Hannah seemed to be carefully studying the words and initials carved into the aged wood.

  Danny asked, “What’re you looking at, Hannah?”

  “I’m looking for…this.” She pointed. “I knew it would still be here.” As the two little boys gathered on either side of her, she explained, “See that HB? That stands for me. Hannah Brennan. And the
DF stands for Daryl Forestman. He drove me here the night he turned sixteen and got his driver’s license.”

  The little boy glanced at his father. “Did he get in trouble for writing on the table?”

  Hannah shook her head. “Everybody did it. In fact, the owner encouraged it. It was part of the teenage ritual here in Devil’s Cove. Boys and girls would carve their initials in the wood and then everybody else would know they’d been here together.”

  “Why?” Danny ran his fingertip over and over the spot. As soon as he stopped, T.J. did the same.

  “We were letting everyone know we were boyfriend and girlfriend.”

  Danny looked horrified. “Is he still your boyfriend?”

  Hannah laughed. “He’d better not be. Daryl and his wife and three kids live in New York now. He’s the producer of a daytime talk show on TV.”

  “Why didn’t he marry you?”

  “Because we were just friends, Danny. Daryl went away to college and we grew apart. It happens a lot, and people get on with their lives.”

  “If you were my girlfriend,” the little boy said solemnly, “I’d never go away.”

  Hannah drew him close and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “That’s just the sweetest thing, Danny. Thank you.”

  “Me, too,” T.J. said, tugging on her sleeve.

  With a laugh she drew him close and felt his chubby little arms circle her neck. “Yes. You, too. You’re both my sweetest, dearest boyfriends. Now…” She caught her breath and took hold of both their hands. “Come on over here. I have something else to show you.”

  Ethan trailed behind, listening to the sound of her voice washing over him. Somehow, without even trying, she had completely mesmerized all of them with that boundless good humor.

  “This place is called Dairy Devil because it’s built right at the top of a hill known as Devil’s Leap.” Holding hands, she led the boys to a chained-off area of concrete, where a barrier had been built to keep curious people from getting too close to the edge. “From here you can look down and see the entire town. A couple of hundred years ago pirates used to come up here and watch for ships rounding the cape. Then they would race down the hill, swords between their teeth, and swim out to that sandbar, hoping the ship’s captain wasn’t aware of the danger of getting too close to it. Many a ship went aground there, and when that happened, the pirates would steal all the treasure in the ship’s hold.”