“I got talking, sorry.” She moved closer and Hamish ambled over to her. “So why are you here inside the shop?”
“I had to check that you were okay. I know you said you never lock your door so I checked just to make sure you hadn’t hurt yourself again and were lying somewhere. It was rude, I know, but I was concerned. I know what you’re like.”
That was sweet. “Thanks. But as you can see, I’m fine. I went out for a coffee break.”
David stood up. “That’s fine then. Sorry to be so intrusive. I should mind my own business.”
“I don’t mind or I wouldn’t have told you I leave my doors unlocked but tell me why you’re really here.” She looked up into his eyes.
He sighed, a deep heaving sigh that seemed to shake him to his very boots. “I don’t know what you’ve done to me. I thought I had my life planned out. Work and personal life sorted, a confirmed bachelor living with my inherited dog. I was happy planning my move back to Seattle.” He gazed down at her, a quick grin lighting his eyes. “At least I thought I was until you came along and upset my quiet, sedate life.”
“Sorry. I tend to whip in like a whirlwind where ever I go. Can’t help it.” But it was nice to know she’d made an impression, especially if it made him think.
“I know. And as much as I have trouble accepting that we could get along, I can’t seem to stop thinking about you.”
April took a step closer. “And is that a bad thing?” His chin had a small spot of blood where the razor had nicked the skin this morning. Another sign of inner torment, and frustration, and some serious thinking.
“I thought it would be but now I’m not sure. The thing is, would you be patient enough to try and let me work this out? I’ll understand if you aren’t.” The frown lines between his eyes made her doubt that. “My life is so different to yours. You’re a burst of color on a cloudy day and I’m, well, that winter’s day with all my clouds lined up just the way I like them. I don’t do spontaneous or bright colors but I’m willing to see if we can find equal ground if you have the patience, because you’re going to need it.”
“Hmm, I see why you’d be frustrated. Are you sure this is what you want?”
David reached for her. “To be honest, I don’t know if it will work but in your own words, isn’t it worth a try?” He slid his hand behind her neck and brought her in for a lingering kiss. His lips were soft and she could taste the mint on his breath. A prickle of whisker hair rubbed against her top lip from the spot he’d missed this morning. He really was out of sorts.
A cough from the doorway and the sound of Hamish’s claws on the floor broke them apart. April turned to see Pierce standing there looking uncomfortable.
David stiffened and pulled her back against him. April leaned into his chest and slid her arms around his waist which brought a smile to David’s face. He really believed she had a suitor in Pierce. Silly man but she wasn’t about to disillusion him yet. Nothing wrong with a small dose of jealousy to help along her cause.
“Hi, Pierce.”
“April, David.”
“What can I do for you today?”
He pulled a parcel from behind his back and held it out to her. “I thought you might like this to hang in your shop as well. It’s an early piece, one I didn’t want to part with for sentimental reasons but I’m quite happy to let you display it if you like. I hear you’ve had quite a good reaction to the other piece.” He handed over the parcel, having trouble meeting the death stare he was getting from David.
April took it, moved away from David and walked over to her desk cradling the offering close to her chest. The bubble of excitement was almost too much. An original piece to show off her talents at decorating rooms and now another offering for the shop. How lucky could a girl get?
April carefully put the parcel down and started to peel away the paper.
“I made it for my wife. It was one of her favorite pieces, which I’ve had locked away for far too long. When I saw the colors you’ve painted the shop I thought it was time to bring it out of hiding.” He shuffled his feet as though uncomfortable. “If you don’t want to have it here, I’ll understand but I think it will look perfectly at home above your cash register here.”
April held her breath as she peeled away the final layer of paper and then gasped. An old garden trowel bright pink in color lay before her. But it was the strands of glass beads that hung from it that drew her interest. It looked as though each bead had been hand made. All in varying sized heart shapes, they were all the colors of the rainbow.
April lifted the trowel up by the chain attached to it. The beads chimed and tinkled as they pinged against each other. Tears filled her eyes. “Oh, Pierce, it’s beautiful. So very beautiful.” She turned to David. “Isn’t this just sublime?”
“I called it ‘searching for love.’ It feels appropriate right now.” Pierce’s voice trembled.
The thunderous look in David’s eyes reminded her of what he’d just said about his dark clouds. This really wasn’t the right time for Pierce to mention the “L” word in front of David.
“I have to go.” David turned and walked quickly out the door before she could stop him.
“Sorry, he has a lot on his mind today.” April hoped he would be okay.
It wasn’t her place to tell him the reason Pierce was here. She wouldn’t break that confidence yet, not even to save her own fragile relationship with him. Oh, the pain of holding someone else’s secrets.
She held the heart chimes up and stared at them. She’d give David some space and worry about him later if she didn’t hear from him. Right now she had something else to do. “Are you sure you want me to use this, Pierce? It’s awfully kind of you and I can see the love that went into this piece. You could sell it easy enough.”
He shook his head, his eyes bright behind his round wire framed spectacles. “No, I’ll never sell this piece but I’d be more than happy to give it to you on a permanent loan after what you’ve done for me.”
Chapter Seventeen
Mari, Bella, Dakota, and April sat up on the front upstairs balcony of the Lake Hotel.
April sipped her wine, sighed in pleasure. “This is one of the things I’m enjoying living here, having you all in the same place.”
“It is rather nice to have each other to call on for a change. It was so hard when we were all spread out.” Mari picked up her glass. “I propose a toast. To the Moore Sisters of Cherry Lake, Montana.”
“To the Moore Sisters.” They all clinked glasses.
“We didn’t come here just to drink. What’s going on, April?”
She glanced at her sisters, one after the other. They all had small grins and knowing looks on their faces. A shiver of tension tickled down her spine. It was impossible to keep a secret from these women. “What are you talking about?”
Dakota leaned forward. “You and Pierce Linton. I heard from Jake when he called in to get Adam for drinks that David thinks you and him are having a fling of sorts. Isn’t he a little bit old for you?”
How much fun would it be to tease them along and get their reactions? They’d murder her afterwards though. April tucked her feet under her flowing skirt and laughed. “You’re only as old as you feel. Age is a number.”
“Please tell me you’re not serious.” Mari frowned into her glass. “I know you like his art but isn’t that taking things a bit too far?”
“You guys are killing me. No, I’m not having a fling with him. Yes, I like his art and I like him, too, as a person. He’s an absolute sweetie. And, no, it’s not any of your business.”
Bella piped up. “Everything each of us does is our business and don’t you forget it.” She accepted high five’s from the other girls. “Our significant others are downstairs in the bar consoling David because he’s in love with you and thinks you and Pierce are an item.”
“Can I help it if he jumps to conclusions? I offered to have a relationship with him and even take it slow so he can ‘get back into
dating,’ as he so nicely put it. He was hurt before, I get that. But that doesn’t mean he can jump to a stupid diagnosis, especially when someone is just being nice to me. Even the cleverest men can be stupid when it comes to matters of the heart.”
“No, that’s true.” Mari said thoughtfully. “But do you think it might be wise to tell him the truth so you two can get on with a relationship? Nothing good will happen if he thinks you’re with Pierce. Jealousy is a terribly destructive thing.”
Her sister made sense but how was April going to explain what Pierce meant by his comment about love. “Yes, it is and I agree. But, in my defense, he jumped the gun. I never once indicated that I was interested in Pierce in anything other than on a platonic basis because I admire his art so much.”
“Maybe the guy is so blinded by love he can’t see the wood for the trees.”
April leaned forward and gestured with her glass, glad someone had the same thoughts as she did. “That’s what I said and I want him to see me, not the stupid woman who dumped him. I want him to see me for me, not stick me in the same category as her.”
“The way he’s acting, he’s seen you alright and wants you. I think if you’re not going to stuff up this emerging relationship, you need to take the next step.” Mari sat back in her chair.
“I’ve been thinking the same thing but I’m afraid I’m going to scare him off. I don’t want it to be my decision that he stays here.”
“Who cares? There’s nothing wrong with being bossy, April, if you have the best of intentions. The thing is to counteract your bossiness with something that will appeal to David. Do you seriously think the men are downstairs talking about fishing or hunting?” Dakota tapped her finger to her nose. “No. They’ll be talking about how much hard work we are and trying to find a way to soothe the poor man’s ego. I can almost guarantee it.”
“You might be surprised.” Bella sipped her wine. “Jake was saying he and Rick were trying to nudge David in your direction. They’ve all decided that it’s high time he found someone and stopped playing the wounded victim. Not that he’ll see himself like that of course.” She leaned back in her chair. “You, dear sister, need to come up with a plan for total seduction. He’s a goner and we all know it. The only one still in the dark is David.”
*
“It’s not going to work. She’s got Pierce fawning all over her.” David couldn’t help the sinking feeling in his stomach. “You should see what he brought her the other day. It’s not right. He’s too old for her.”
“But didn’t you say she wanted a relationship with you?” Jake put his beer on the table, crossed his arms. “Why on earth would you think she’s even remotely interested in him?”
“Because he’s there, in her face all the time. Giving her his artwork with hearts and whatever.”
“You know what, you’re already committed. Even if you don’t think you are, you’re toast, David.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
He wondered if he was better off leaving as he’d planned, if he ever sold the practice. Then he walked into his office and the display April had made stared him in the face. What was wrong with a bit of change?
His thoughts were all jumbled and he hated it. For so long he’d known what he wanted, what direction his life was taking. Now it felt as if someone had pulled the wheels off his train. There were more hurdles on the track than he thought possible and the biggest decision he had to make was whether or not he could change his way of thinking. Embrace the bright world that April lived in. Or should he give up and risk never finding love?
“We’re here if you want to talk.” Jake slapped him on the back. “It’s what friends do, right?”
David looked at his friends. “I really have no idea what to do. Honestly, I thought I had my life planned out before she came whirling into my life.”
“Welcome to our world.” Jake laughed. “Bella was the same. The Moore girls are different to anyone else I’ve met. But,” he lifted a finger, pointing at David. “They’re worth fighting for. That much I can tell you.”
Adam nodded. “I’ll second that. I can’t wait to marry Dakota.”
“I know they’re all lovely girls but, Adam, you changed your life for her. Was it really worth it? I mean, was it a hard decision to make?”
Adam leaned his elbows on the table, stared David in the eye. “Not in the slightest. I was at the end of my career anyway. I just had to find something to make me realize that and she was it.” He laughed. “Once I made the decision, everything fell into place. I’ve still got a job doing what I love even though it means a bit of travelling. But the most important thing is, I have Dakota by my side.”
“I’m not even sure what I want anymore.”
“Bull. You know exactly what you want, David. If you didn’t, why the long face?”
“It’s more than just deciding what to do about April. Sure, I think I love her but I have other things to deal with.”
Jake tipped his chin. “Such as?”
“A massive dose of guilt.” It even hurt to say the word, even to his best friends.
“You’re not still feeling like a dick because you took that year off and went travelling with… what’s her name again?”
“Elise. Yeah, I am. Can’t help it.”
Jake pushed his beer aside and leaned on the table. “Man, I’m going to tell you what I told Adam when he was chewing over his relationship with Dakota. Life is short, live it. Stop beating yourself up over everything you can’t change.” He picked up a coaster and tapped it on the table choosing his words. “When my wife was ill, we spent far too much time trying to find someone who would give us a scrap of hope for a cure. I even called you, remember? We knew it wasn’t possible and all it did was make us stress out over something we couldn’t change.”
“Understandable. But what does that have to do with me and now?”
“Because your mom and dad spoke to me, that’s what. They knew what I’d been through because, as you know, your dad was Lisa’s doctor.”
David stared, not sure he liked where this was going.
“What they asked me was this, if I could go back and start again to the day I got the diagnosis, what would I do different? You know what I said?”
David shook his head.
“I’d make the most of every damned day. No more scratching around for something I couldn’t have. No wasting a single moment and no making anyone feel they had to put their lives on hold for us while we dealt with the illness.”
David’s vision blurred.
“You know what I’m talking about. You need to let go of the guilt you feel living your own life. It was your father’s choice to not say anything while you were away. He wanted you to live, to do the things that made you happy. It made him feel better knowing he’d raised you right.”
“But I could have helped if I’d known. I never would have gone travelling if they’d told me. I’d have come home sooner.” A hand landed on his back and soothed him.
“He didn’t want that. What he wanted, and I think you know this, was for you to finish your training so you could take over the practice if that was what you wanted. Whether you keep it or not is irrelevant. What matters here is you letting go of the guilt. Then you can move on and make a decision about what you want.”
“The time we didn’t have though…”
“It’s not the amount of time you have, it’s the quality. Remember that.” Jake wiped his hand over his chin. “And the thing you might find the hardest to deal with, you couldn’t have done a thing, David. He knew that and so did your mom. Nothing anyone did would have made any difference.”
David thought about what Jake said. “You said if. He told me he wanted me to take over the business. I made him a promise.”
Jake picked up his beer and peered into the glass. “I doubt you’d remember clearly anything that was said that day. Are you sure you didn’t promise without him prompting you? Heart on your sleeve kinda thing?”
> Had he? It was hard to recall what he said that day. There’d been tears and denial for sure but as to promises, David couldn’t recall. “I just don’t know.”
Chapter Eighteen
April smoothed down her plain white dress and did up her rainbow sandals, the only ode to her normal colorful wardrobe and spoke to her dog. “Sorry, buddy. You have to stay home this time.” She ignored the pleading look and picked up the bag containing the premade dinner she was taking with her. With a final pat to Hamish, she hurried out the door and down the back stairs to her VW van.
On the drive over to David’s house, she gave herself a talking to. Let him talk, even if it’s to get her out of his system. Don’t push your ideas on him. Respect his home as he respects yours. And most of all, give him space to be himself and don’t try and change him to suit you. You fell for him as he was, remember?
She pulled up at the address she’d found in the phone book and wondered if she’d got it wrong. A bright red sports car sat parked in the driveway, suitcases piled in the back seat. She knew for a fact David drove a black town car so she either had the wrong house or he was already entertaining. The thought gave her the shivers. Nothing like being impulsive and getting caught out.
April got out, picked up her carry bag with the evenings meal and the tub of ice cream she’d managed to talk Bella into parting with and headed up the driveway. The lawn was mowed to within an inch of its life and the pathways were swept clean with not a leaf in sight. The two flower pots of color beside the porch were the only spot of cheerfulness on the property.
April knocked on the door and waited, deep breathing doing little to settle her nerves.
The door opened and a waft of expensive perfume flooded out onto the porch. A tall, trim brunette stared out at her. “Yes?”
“I’m here to see David. I do have the right house, don’t I?”
The brunette tipped her head and took stock of April, a smile similar to a sneer on her ruby lips. “Perhaps.”
The Moore Sisters of Montana: The Complete Series Box Set: Books 1-4 Page 45