“He won’t find out. How could he? You and I are the only ones who know.”
“Know what?” Tanner’s voice came from the doorway into the hall.
Charity froze. Uh-oh! She plastered a smile on her face and turned to Tanner. Why hadn’t she heard him drive up? The path! Darn.
“I saw Puck out front and he told me to come in,” Tanner explained. He turned from Mama to Charity. “Hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
“No, no,” Charity said in too much of a rush. “I mean, we, Mama and I, were just talking girl talk. It’s early. Why are you here? Don’t you need more sleep?”
Mama gave her a scolding look. “Don’t be rude, dear. I’m sure Tanner would like some coffee and I just opened a fresh jar of grape marmalade.”
Tanner pulled a chair up to the table and sat. “Thanks. That sounds delicious.” He glanced at Charity. “Food is always good, especially around here. Is Savannah awake?”
“Why?” Charity blurted out.
“Charity!” Mama looked at Tanner and wagged her head. “I have no idea who raised this girl.” She handed Charity the marmalade. “Now if you’ll both excuse me, I have a luncheon to attend.”
Tanner seemed even more handsome today…was that possible? Clean-shaven, no roadmap eyes and he’d shed his jacket. It wasn’t glued to his skin, after all. But then she knew that because she’d seen his skin up close and personal. Fine muscles, a sprinkle of hair, broad shoulders and six-pack abs. Hormonal meltdown threatened.
“I have a plan.”
“To break up the engagement, no doubt.”
His expression turned hard. “You don’t sound happy about the idea.”
“Hey, I’m happy.” She flashed a grin she hoped didn’t look as phony as it felt. “Thrilled.”
“I’ll take Savannah flying. She loves to fly. It’ll remind her that she wants to see the world. Great idea, isn’t it?”
Yeah, blooming stupendous. “Don’t you miss Alaska? Think of it. Bears, eagles, frostbite? What about your business? Who’s flying all those bushes when you’re not around?”
“I have a partner. He’s flying bushes just fine without me—thank you for being so concerned—and I will go back as soon as I convince Savannah that the last thing she wants is to be married to my brother. You’re not acting very supportive. Having second thoughts on breaking up the engagement?”
“No, of course not. I’m just not sure flying’s the answer. Besides, Savannah’s at work. She’s a receptionist at Doc Waverley’s and gets off at five. You can see her later.” About twelve days later, after she’s married to Nathan.
“Maybe I’ll go into town and see her at Doc’s.”
“You can’t.” Charity took a deep breath and tried not to panic. “What I mean is, Mondays are really busy at the office and…and you have other things to do today.”
“I don’t even live here. What could I possibly have to do?”
This was getting very complicated. What could she come up with to keep him away from Savannah? Something. Anything. “You have…the talks…at the school. On Alaska. And the talk this evening at the library.” Not too bad considering the short notice.
“Me?”
“Know anyone else around here who lives in Alaska?” He didn’t have to do those talks yet, but he would as soon as she made some calls to the school and the library. They’d be thrilled to have someone give a first-hand account of what it was like to live in Alaska. “Didn’t anyone from the school or library get hold of you?”
Suspicion lit his eyes. “Tell me, Kentucky Girl, how do you know all this when I don’t?”
She tipped her head, assuming an air of confidence while racking her brain for an answer and hoping she didn’t get struck dead for telling so many lies. “At the Pick and Pack, of course. Ground Zero for gossip. When I went for groceries. Yesterday. Guess you missed the messages. But you’ll have to do the talks, can’t disappoint all those people and the kids. Can’t disappoint the kids. Good thing I brought it up, huh?”
He studied her for a moment and she did the same to him. Would she ever tire of looking at him? Dark eyes, firm lips, determined chin.
“Breakfast,” he said, bringing her back to the moment. “You wouldn’t happen to have any extra, would you? Ham? Eggs? Biscuits? An omelet or two lying around? I really miss Kentucky food.” He studied her for another moment. “I need to think about food more while I’m here. It’s a great distraction.”
“Distraction from what?”
He sighed and looked out the window. “Stuff. All kinds of stuff.” He turned back to her. “You’d be amazed at what stuff. I sure as hell am.”
“I think you’ve flipped your lid.” She nodded at the fridge. “There’s all kinds of food in there. Help yourself. I should go into town with you. To the library and the schools.”
“No, no.” He held up his hands as if warding off a herd of wild horses that threatened to trample him. “You don’t have to do that. I’m fine. You stay here. I’ll go alone. I know my way around.”
“Now what kind of neighbor would I be if I abandoned you? I’ll introduce you to the new principal and the librarian.”
“Maybe I’ll run into Savannah?”
Not if I have to break both your legs. “You know, you and your father have a lot in common, like a one-tracked mind.”
His jaw suddenly clenched. “I’m nothing like my father.”
She rolled her eyes so far back in her head she saw where her ears attached. “Yeah, right. Look, I need to make a few phone calls. Business. I’ll shower and change and come back in a few minutes. We’ll get a car at Thistledown and be on our way.”
“A few minutes?”
“You’d be surprised what I can do when motivated.” She sighed out a breath. “And lately I’ve been motivated like crazy.”
She darted from the kitchen and headed for the main hall and the stairs, calling over her shoulder, “Don’t move a muscle.” And heaven knows he had more than his share to move.
She stopped on the fifth step and looked back toward the kitchen. Muscles? Why did she keep thinking about Tanner’s muscles…and his incredible eyes and lips and how handsome he was?
She plunked her head against the wall. Was there a twelve-step program for idiots? This obsession with Tanner Davenport made no sense at all. He was three years younger, Savannah’s friend, and they had nothing in common, proven by the fact that he’d left a horse farm she’d give her eyeteeth for and had gone to Alaska to fly airplanes. Who would do such a thing?
But he was a hunk. No twelve-step or one-hundred-and-twelve-step program could change that.
Chapter Three
Tanner followed Charity out the main doors of Bluegrass Ridge Elementary, then down the steps. “That was great. I had a terrific time.”
For the millionth time he glanced at Charity. Gray skirt, bulky white sweater that hinted at soft curves beneath, long shapely legs and red hair that swayed as she walked.
He swallowed a groan. All morning while he and Charity went from one classroom to another he’d tried to keep his eyes off her and to concentrate on Alaska. But now he had nothing to focus on but… “We need food.”
They walked down the street toward the heart of town as she asked, “Is that story about a moose chasing you true or did you make it up?”
She smiled at him and for a second he forgot where he was. She could do that to him. Make him forget everything but her. “If that guy could have climbed trees, I’d be an ornament on his antlers right now. One of the joys of living in Moose Crossing. Moose are mean critters, and they have terrible breath.”
“The scary thing is that you know firsthand they have terrible breath.”
They shared a laugh and Tanner wanted nothing more than to put his arm around her and to bring her close as they walked along. It felt as if it would be the natural thing to do. But it wasn’t. It would be a dumb thing to do because it would suggest there was something between them when there never could be
. “Let’s have a big lunch.”
“Do you think of anything besides eating?”
He watched sunshine play in her hair. “Unfortunately, yes.”
They crossed Center Street and headed for the Sizzling Skillet. “Look.” He pointed up the street. “Isn’t that Savannah coming out of Elegant Essentials? Bet she has time for lunch, after all.”
He snatched Charity’s hand. “This is great. I can ask her about flying. Maybe she can make it tomorrow after work.”
“But…but…”
He tugged her toward the boutique, calling for Savannah to wait up.
She beamed when she spied him. “What are you doing here, Tanner Davenport? And with my big sister. How did you ever get her out of the barns?”
“It was her idea.”
Savannah’s eyes brightened and her mouth gaped. “Well, if that don’t beat all. The age of miracles is not dead.”
Tanner hooked his other arm through Savannah’s. “Now I’m taking you two to lunch.”
Savannah shook her head. “Forget food. I’ve got a better idea.”
Tanner glanced at Charity. “There isn’t a better idea than food. Least, that’s what I keep telling myself.”
Savannah guided him and Charity toward the boutique. “I need a man’s advice on perfume. I want something new, something daring, something passionate and exciting for my wedding.” She giggled. “Make that wedding night.” She let go of Tanner and spread her hands wide. “Help me, you guys?”
“You can do that later, you don’t need us,” Tanner replied. “Besides, I want to talk to you about going fly—”
“If Savannah wants our help,” Charity said, ushering Tanner up the steps of the boutique, “we’ll help her. What kind of perfume did you have in mind?” she asked Savannah, then whispered to Tanner, “Part of being discreet. We have to be discreet or Savannah will suspect we’re up to something and get suspicious.”
He whispered in return, “What about the flying idea? I was just going to tell her about that. And what does perfume have to do with discretion?”
“You’d be surprised.”
The shop was full of lace and silk flowers, with lotions and perfumes and bath things on counters. Oh, yeah, he fit in here all right. He greeted the salesladies then leaned against the doorjamb, close to the exit, taking it all in. Well, if nothing else, this was a new experience.
Savannah picked up a jade-green glass bottle and removed the stopper. She put a dot on the inside of her wrist and held it up to Tanner.
His eyes watered. “A little heavy.”
Savannah wiggled her brows. “It’s called Bondage.”
Tanner’s mouth dropped wide open and he righted himself from the jamb. “For Nathan?”
Savannah sprayed her other wrist and smiled wickedly. “This one’s Orgy.”
Tanner coughed. “Don’t they have something like Profit And Loss or Winner’s Circle? That’s more Nathan.”
Savannah giggled again. “You have no imagination, Tanner Davenport. And you don’t know your brother half as well as you think you do.”
She snatched Charity’s arm. “I’m all out of wrists. We’ll use yours.”
Charity took a little strip of white paper from the counter. “Just dab some on this. I don’t think I’m up to Bondage or Orgy.”
Savannah tisked and waved her hands. “Charity, Charity, Charity. You may know gobs and gobs about horses, but you know nothing about perfume. It must have the heat of your skin to react.”
Savannah picked up a ruby-colored bottle, took out the stopper and dabbed Charity. She dragged Charity’s wrist to Tanner and brought it to his face. “What about this? It’s called Ravish. What do you think?”
Charity and Ravish together right in front of him? How’d he get roped into this? He swallowed, his eyes fogged. Did the room just move? Where was lunch when he needed it? Ravish!
Savannah explained, “Perfume reacts differently depending on where it’s placed on the body. A drop behind the knee gives off a different fragrance than one between a woman’s breasts. Did you know that, Tanner?”
Charity didn’t move, but Savannah took her other wrist and offered it to Tanner. “This one’s called Vamp.”
The heat from Charity’s body seeped into his. His mouth went as dry as a pond in summer. Charity took a step back and, plopping down onto a purple-cushioned stool, put her head between her knees. “I think I’m allergic.”
“I know I am.” Tanner ran his hand through his hair and swallowed. “Food. I need to think about food.”
Charity glanced his way as she sipped the water one of the salesladies brought to her. “Why don’t you weigh five-hundred pounds?”
“We should go. I should go.”
Savannah put her hands to her hips. “But which perfume? That was the whole point of us coming here. Remember?”
“Not Ravish or Vamp,” Charity and Tanner said at the same time. Tanner’s gaze collided with hers. For a second, breathing seemed impossible.
Savannah looked from Charity to Tanner and back. She wagged her head, a slow grin on her lips. “Well, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle.” There was a twinkle in her eye. “Who would have thought that you two were mutually…allergic.”
Tanner said, “You’d be a monkey’s aunt and I’ll wait outside because I can’t think at all in here.”
He hobbled down the steps of the boutique in hormone-induced agony and stood behind a bench on the sidewalk to hide his condition. He’d been hiding his condition one hell of a lot lately. Savannah came out first and asked him, “Want to know which fragrance I chose? Bondage.” She grinned like a teenager and sashayed like a stripper.
Charity came up behind her and laughed. “I have the feeling Nathan Davenport is in for one heck of a wedding night.”
Savannah looked at her sister. “Wait till we go lingerie shopping. But right now I must get back to work, and you two should spend some time together.”
“Why would you say that?” Charity asked.
“For an older sister, you sure don’t have all the answers.” She laughed, patted Tanner’s cheek as if he were a little boy, and turned for her office.
“What’s with Savannah?” Charity wondered.
“Beats me.” Whiffs of Ravish and Vamp floated his way. “But I think we should eat now.”
CHARITY CLOSED the front door behind her as the hall clock bonged out 9:00 p.m. and Mama Kay came around the corner, cradling a cup in her hands. “Would you like some cinnamon tea, dear? I find it so comforting this time of night when…”
She eyed Charity’s clothes and stopped dead. “Where have you been?” Her eyes shot wide open. “Oh, merciful heaven. Did I miss a funeral? Mrs. Wakefield? I knew she was poorly. Can’t believe someone at the garden club didn’t mention—”
“It wasn’t a funeral, Mama. I was out with Tanner.” Never in all her born days did she think she’d utter those words.
Her mother’s eyes widened more. “Tanner? You and Tanner?”
“Not out like that. Out like keeping him away from Savannah so he doesn’t interfere with the wedding.”
She hopped on one foot, pulling off a shoe, then did the same on the other foot while bouncing her way toward the stairs. “I now know more about the great state of Alaska than anyone in Kentucky ever wanted to.”
“Did you have a good time?”
Charity stopped mid-hop. “Tanner’s rescued tourists from glaciers, mountaintops and boats. There are no roads into the capital city and that means he flies a lot of people there in all kinds of weather. You can actually see whales from the western shores, and he says the aurora borealis is incredible.”
She started up the stairs as Mama replied, “That is interesting, dear. Very interesting, indeed.”
“Mama, do not read anything into this. Tanner is handsome, I’ll give you that. And I realize you and Savannah and Puck have always liked him. But trouble was his middle name since the day he was born and now he’s a poster boy for Adventures-
R-Me. I have enough adventure taking care of this place and I do not need trouble. I’ve had my quota. If there are two people on earth with less in common than Charity MacKay and Mr. Alaska, I can’t guess who they’d be. The reason I was with him involved…business, strictly business.”
Mama tipped her chin. “You sure do have an awful lot to say about a man you don’t care two hoots about.”
Charity spread her arms wide, a shoe dangling from each hand. “I’m trying to make myself clear, that’s all. Now I’ve got to get out of these clothes and into some jeans and check on the horses.”
Charity continued up the stairs as Mama said, “Puck and I checked the horses earlier. They seem fine enough, though Silver Bell hadn’t eaten much. Probably from the change in season. It’ll do that to a horse now and then. In the morning, try adding a dash of ground malt to coax her along.”
Charity stopped, then retraced her path down the stairs. She leaned against the old mahogany newel worn smooth from so many hands and behinds sliding over the top. She studied her mother. “You went to the barns and checked the horses? You haven’t been out there in…I don’t know how long.”
“Puck asked me to.” A smile touched her soft lips and her blue eyes twinkled. “Don’t look so surprised. At one time I nearly lived in those stables, same as you do now. It was my granddaddy who built this farm, if you remember.” She sighed, but her eyes stayed bright. Something Charity hadn’t seen in a very long while.
“Actually, I didn’t remember much myself until Puck and I started talking about it in the car today on the way to Thistledown,” Mama added. “Made me remember what it was like around here before…before…”
“Forget before, Mama. We all have.”
Mama’s eyes misted. “But you and your sisters didn’t have an easy time of it growing up, all because I married the wrong man. After your father died I felt so confused. I know horses but not the horse business. I thought marriage would take care of that.” She gave Charity a wary smile. “Big mistake.”
The Wedding Rescue Page 4