She was right and he knew it, but that didn't mean he had to like it. “Okay.” He cupped her face and tilted her chin back until she was looking at him. The unshed tears made her eyes appear even larger than normal. “How about this? No matter what happens, I'll be beside you all the way."
"Oh, Shamus. I don't want to complicate your life any more than it already is. Your family is never going to change their minds about me."
"Don't be too sure about that.” He'd seen a different look in Patrick's eye just before he'd left the office. “Come on. Let's take some of that coffee back in there before they tear each other apart."
Cyndi looked appalled before giving a shaky laugh. “My money is on Alicia."
Shamus got down mugs, while Cyndi dug through the cupboard for a tray, a sugar bowl, and a milk jug. When everything was ready, she poured the coffee. Shamus picked up the tray. “After you."
Chapter Nineteen
Cyndi was enjoying a cup of herbal tea just after ten o'clock Monday morning when the doorbell rang. In spite of her fears to the contrary, she slept well last night. Shamus left before she'd awakened, but he left her a note. He had some errands to run and would be back later today.
Laying her cup aside, she made her way to the front door, sneakers squeaking lightly against the hardwood floor. It couldn't be Shamus. She'd given him his own key this weekend. A jolt of pleasure shot through her as she remembered just how he'd thanked her for it.
Cautiously, she peeked out the small side window next to the door. When she saw who was there, she groaned. She'd known this confrontation was inevitable if she wanted to put her past behind her, but she'd hoped for a little more time before having to face it. If only she'd ignored the bell. As if on cue, it chimed again.
Giving into the inevitable, she unlocked the door and pulled it open, coming face to face with her past—Burke Black.
Age hadn't diminished the sheer power of the man. His hair was graying at the temples, but other than that, he appeared as formidable as ever.
They stared at each other for a long time before he finally spoke. “May I come in?"
"I don't suppose you'll just go away if I say no?” Already knowing the answer, she held the door open. “We might as well get this over with."
It was strange, but with all she'd been through the past fourteen years and since she'd been back in Jamesville, she was no longer in awe of Burke. Maybe it was because she was no longer a frightened, young woman searching for a way out of a living nightmare.
"I'm having tea in the kitchen, but I can make some coffee if you want."
"I won't be here that long.” He followed her down the hallway and into the kitchen.
"Suit yourself.” Cyndi settled herself on one of the kitchen stools and picked up her cup of tea. “So talk."
He cocked an eyebrow at her. “You've certainly changed."
"It's been a long time. I'm sure we've both changed.” She was unsettled, but determined not to show it. “What can I do for you this morning?"
"I want you to stay away from Shamus."
Well, that was certainly blunt and to the point. She took a sip and carefully set her cup back on the granite countertop. “Shamus is man, not a boy. It's his decision who he sees or doesn't see."
Burke planted his hands on the top of the counter and leaned toward her, crowding her. “He's no match for someone like you."
"Someone like me,” she pondered aloud. “What exactly does that mean? You make me sound like some kind of femme fatale."
"Just devious and manipulative."
"And you're not?” she shot back. She'd had enough of his unfounded accusations. “You all want Shamus to do exactly what you tell him to do and the minute he won't, you turn on him. From where I'm sitting, his family is being manipulative and devious, not me.” Before Burke could speak, she held up her hand. “I've had enough of your insinuations and finger-pointing. Look in the mirror before you start casting blame.” She slid from the stool, putting some distance between herself and the large, angry man glowering at her.
"I tried to send Shamus away at first, but he wouldn't go. And you know what?” She crossed her arms, glaring at Burke. “I like Shamus. A lot.” Now that was an understatement. “Our relationship is none of your concern."
"It's coming between him and his family,” Burke growled.
"That's as much your fault as it is mine. I never demanded he stop seeing any of you. Can you say the same? The past is over and done with. I apologized to Dani at the time, and I'll apologize to you if that's what you need, but I'm done with paying for it.” This was her home and she'd had enough. “It's time for you to leave."
Not waiting to see if he was following, Cyndi marched to the front door and yanked it open. Burke followed a few steps behind her. “This isn't over,” he promised.
"Yes, it is.” She'd said her piece. It was over as far as she was concerned.
"I heard you planned to start a B & B here.” Burke's face gave nothing away, but she could sense the emotions bubbling just below the surface. “You'll need permits, and they might be hard to get."
Cyndi laughed, but there was nothing pleasant about the sound. “Is that a threat?"
"No. Just a fact.” He stepped out onto the front porch and turned to face her.
"My, how like my father you've become Mr. Black.” She could see that her last comment startled him. “But I have documents going back to the founding of this town that allow me to do whatever I want on this piece of land. My ancestors might have been greedy bastards, but they weren't stupid. Good day.” She slammed the door and shot the lock home.
Her heart was pounding, her head spinning, and she thought she might be sick. She sucked in a deep breath, then another, as her pulse gradually slowed and her stomach settled. When she heard Burke's vehicle pulling away, she opened the front door and stared out after him.
The morning, so sunny and crisp, now felt much colder. She was about to close the door when something made her give her car a second glance. She stepped out onto the porch and stared. What was different about it? Then it struck her. Her tires seemed deflated.
Frowning, she hurried down the stairs and over to her car. What in the earth could have happened? She walked all the way around the vehicle. All her tires were flat.
Feeling exposed, she glanced around. There was no one to be seen, but she couldn't shake the sense that someone was watching her. Rubbing her hands up and down her arms, she examined one of the tires. She could quickly see what the problem was. The rubber had been slashed open. It was the same with all four tires.
Sighing, Cyndi hurried back to the house, closing and locking the door behind her. She didn't really want to, but she had to call the authorities. Someone had cut her tires. She wondered if it was the same person who'd shot out the windows, or was this a new enemy?
As she dialed the sheriff's office, it occurred to her that Burke Black was the only other person who'd been in her driveway this morning.
Shamus climbed out of his truck and stared at the back door of his sister's home. He'd spent many hours in that house and considered it a second home. Now he wondered if he'd still be welcome here. His gut tightened, so he took a deep, calming breath.
He'd barely talked to his sister the past few days, and even then the conversations were short and strained, neither of them voicing the true reasons for their estrangement. Shamus was used to seeing his family every single day. Not doing so had left a huge void in his life.
The back door opened, and Dani stood there, her expression filled with sadness. He hated the fact that he was partially responsible for putting it there. He wouldn't take all the credit though. Each member of his family had a part to play in this, too.
"Any chance I might get a cup of coffee?” The fact that he asked showed their relationship was not what it had been. A little more than a week ago, he would have walked into the kitchen and poured a cup for himself.
"Oh, Shamus.” Dani's face crumpled and she began
to cry.
He hurried up the path, taking the steps in one leap, and tugged her into his arms. She locked her arms around his waist and sobbed against his shirt. “It's okay,” he promised her.
"It's not,” she wailed. “Everything is all mixed up. I want things to be the way they were."
"I know you do.” He eased her back into the kitchen, letting the door shut behind them. “Where are Burke and Shane?” He didn't want his brother-in-law or nephew interrupting them.
"Burke left just after breakfast. I think he was looking for you.” Dani swiped at her eyes. “Shane is at school. He keeps asking about you."
Shamus hated that his nephew was suffering because of this. He loved Shane and spent a lot of time with him. “I'll call him tonight."
"Thank you."
"Jesus, Dani. You don't have to thank me for something like that. He's my family. You all are.” Seating her in her usual chair, he strode to the counter, took down mugs, and filled them with fresh coffee. Carrying them back to the table, he handed his sister one of them.
Shamus hauled out a chair and flipped it around. Sitting, he leaned his arms on the chair back as he studied his sister. She looked pale and drawn, as if she hadn't been sleeping well.
"I guess Burke told you what happened at Jessie's."
She nodded, a lone tear slipping down her cheek. “Oh, Shamus, I don't want this family to split apart.” She swiped at her face with the back of her hand.
"I don't want that either"
"It's all her fault,” Dani wailed.
"No,” he said calmly, even though he felt anything but calm at the moment. “It's not. What it comes down to is that none of you trust my judgment and now it's extended beyond the personal and into my professional life as well. I've been running the construction side of the business by myself for more than eight years, Dani. How do you think I felt when Burke told me I couldn't take a job I wanted to do? That he wouldn't let the company do work for Cyndi."
"He said that?"
"Yeah.” And a bit more besides, but there was no need to get into it. “Dani, I'm a grown man who has been a big part of a successful business for years. No one tells me who I can and can't work for."
He could tell his sister was torn between supporting her husband and him, and he didn't want to put her in that kind of untenable position. “Hey.” He reached out and cupped her face. “Don't worry about it. We'll work it out. And besides, I was raised right. I know how to take care of myself."
She gave a weak chuckle as she reached up and grasped his hand in hers, squeezing it tight. “I just don't know what to do. What to say."
This was the first sense of softening he'd felt on Dani's part and he took advantage of it. “Why don't you trust my judgment?” Shamus struggled to find the right words to help Dani understand what he was feeling. “Cyndi isn't the same person she was fourteen years ago. There are circumstances in her life that people here just don't know about. But regardless, the past is the past. I know it's asking a lot, but why don't you try to get to know her for who she is, not who she was?” He hated the fact that he was hurting his family, but they were hurting him too.
"You have Burke and Patrick has Shannon.” He toyed with the handle of his coffee mug and sighed. His heart ached. He'd always been very close with his family and this temporary separation had been as hard on him as it was on them. He knew it was of his own making, but that didn't make it any easier. “I want that too, and I think I can have it with Cyndi. I know I've never met another woman who makes me feel this way. I'm not making problems for this family just for kicks. This is important to me."
She released his hand and reached for her coffee, taking a sip. “It's hard, Shamus. Cyrus James wasn't a nice man, but beyond that, he couldn't be trusted. He wouldn't even look at my proposal all those years ago when I was trying to start my cleaning business, and I know that Burke has had more than one run-in with the man over the years. And Cyndi...” She shrugged. “You know what happened there. I'm worried about you. There are a lot of people who still hold a grudge against her family. I don't want you getting hurt."
"I know all about Cyrus James and Cyndi's past. I wasn't totally oblivious back then.” Dani looked at him sharply, her eyes widening. “Just because I didn't say anything didn't mean I wasn't aware of what was happening. But I trusted you to work it out.” He paused, putting his thoughts in order. “What if I'd come to you back then and asked you not to see Burke again because of how much he'd hurt this family? He did as much damage as Cyndi did, maybe even more because you were in love with him. Would you have done it? Would you have turned your back on him and walked away?"
He knew his brother-in-law was standing just inside the back door. He'd heard his vehicle pull up moments ago as well as the soft sound of the door opening. Shamus turned to face Burke. The look on his face was priceless. “You see it's all in the perspective. I could have made a lot of trouble for you both all those years ago if I'd wanted to, but I trusted my sister to know what the hell she was getting herself into. She didn't disappoint me. Neither of you did."
Pushing out of his chair, he stood. He wasn't sure if his welcome was about to be rescinded. “Burke.” He gazed at the man who'd been part mentor, part friend for the past fourteen years of his life. Burke looked as tired and worn as the rest of them. God, he hated the toll this was taking on his family and on him. He wasn't sleeping much these days and he felt stretched to the breaking point.
"Shamus.” He nodded as he walked to his wife. Dani leaned into her husband, obviously drawing strength from his nearness.
"I guess I'll be going.” He hated to leave things like this, but there was nothing more he could do, at least not now.
"No. Stay. Please,” Burke added.
Shamus slowly lowered himself back onto the chair.
Burke sighed and took a moment to gather himself and his thoughts. “I'm sorry."
It took Shamus a moment to realize what his brother-in-law had said, but Burke wasn't finished.
"I was way out of line at Jessie's.” He shoved his fingers through his hair and began to pace restlessly. “It was a gut reaction."
"I understand.” And he did. He might not like it, but he did understand.
"I wanted to protect Dani and you and the rest of the family."
"I get that, Burke, but I don't need protecting."
His brother-in-law paused and searched Shamus’ face. “No, you don't, do you?” Burke strode over to the table, pulled out a chair and sat. “I'm still not one hundred percent convinced about Cynthia James."
"Cyndi Marks,” Shamus corrected.
Burke gave him a wry grin. “Cyndi, then.” He rolled his shoulders as if trying to release tension. “But it's been brought to my attention that I might not have been acting any better than I was accusing her of being."
Shamus froze in place. “Who pointed that out to you?” His fears were confirmed as Burke continued.
"I went to see her this morning. Actually, I was hoping to find you there, but she and I had a chat."
Shamus could feel the tension building inside him. “What exactly did you say to her?"
"That's for her to tell you if she chooses. Needless to say, she pointed out that we were the ones who were actually being manipulative. She told me that unlike us, she'd never asked you not to see your family. While we've demanded you stay away from her, or else."
Feeling slightly uncomfortable by Burke's unexpected confession, Shamus nodded. He had felt as if his family had pushed him away, but he'd never quite thought about it in those terms.
"Cynthia...I mean, Cyndi, had a few more things to say. Even her way of speaking is different than it used to be."
"It's been fourteen years, Burke,” Shamus pointed out. “We've all changed.” He wanted this conversation over so he could go and talk with Cyndi.
"That's what she said too. She also reminded me that she'd apologized all those years ago for what had happened and she was through paying for those mist
akes."
"Look.” Shamus stood, unable to sit still any longer. “I don't expect you to like her. I realize that may be asking too much. But I do expect you not to disrespect her.” He looked from Dani to Burke and back to Dani again. “She's very important to me and if I have my way, this relationship will last."
"But she's so much older than you,” Dani said.
Shamus laughed. “Less of an age difference than there is between you and Burke."
Dani had the good grace to look slightly ashamed. “I never quite thought about that."
"What about B & O Construction? You're coming back to work, right?” Burke's face was sober as he faced Shamus.
Shamus sighed and nodded. “I'll be back, but right now, I feel like I need this vacation. I plan on doing the renovations at Cyndi's. They're not big, and a lot of it is purely cosmetic stuff, like paint and maybe some new doors."
"Whatever you want to do. God knows you haven't had a holiday in a couple of years. As long as we're okay, that's all that matters.” Burke stood and extended his hand. “In the meantime, could you please stop by the job site? Joe Banks is calling me a dozen times a day with questions and quite frankly, I'm not sure what to tell him. I hadn't realized how far away from this kind of work I'd gotten while I've been concentrating on the investment end."
"I'll stop by after lunch.” He shook Burke's hand and released it. “I've got a few errands to run first.” It felt good not to be at odds with his family. The tension was still there, but at least they were all willing to try.
"Good enough."
Dani came to stand beside both of them, wrapping her arms around them and hugging them tight. “I just want us to be a family again."
"Me too.” Shamus’ throat tightened. He wanted that too, only he wanted Cyndi to be a part of it as well. Only time would tell.
His cell phone rang and he stepped back from his sister. Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled it out. “O'Rourke."
"You need to get to Cyndi's.” His brother's words sent chills down his spine.
He strode toward the door, barely aware of Dani and Burke on his heels. “What's wrong?"
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