by Marie Force
“Oh, honey, you can’t have panty lines with that dress,” Tiffany said.
“I suppose you’re right. I’ll take it all.”
“Great!” Tiffany started for the register but caught a glimpse of Kara’s expression out of the corner of her eye. “What is it?”
“I, um… I have a date. First one since a bad breakup a couple of years ago. You think he’ll like this?”
“Any man with a pulse would like that dress and the way it looks on you.”
Kara laughed. “You sure know how to fill a girl with confidence.”
“That’s my job.” Instilling confidence in other women was a highly satisfying part of her new job.
Kara went into the dressing room and emerged a few minutes later with the dress on a hanger.
Tiffany rang up the sale. “Going out with anyone I know?”
“Maybe… Dan Torrington?”
“Oh, I love Dan! He did a great job with my divorce, and I have so much admiration for his career.”
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t know about him?”
“Not too much beyond the fact that he’s an LA lawyer with a healthy ego and a handsome face.”
“He is rather handsome, isn’t he?”
“Rather.”
“Girlfriend, you need to spend some time with Google.” Tiffany spun her computer monitor around and pushed the keyboard across the counter. “Have a look.”
Kara seemed uncertain for a moment, before she took the bait and typed Dan’s name into the browser. Watching her reaction as she read through the results that highlighted Dan’s successful career in freeing unjustly incarcerated people made Tiffany smile.
“He never said anything,” Kara stammered. “He never said.”
“Ought to make for one heck of a book, huh?”
“Yes, I’d imagine so. Wow. I thought I had him all figured out, you know?”
“That’s a man for you—just when you think you know him,” Tiffany said with a grin as she handed Kara the bag containing her purchases. “I’ll see you at the opening.”
“Thanks so much for your help.”
“My pleasure.”
“That ought to be an interesting conversation,” Tiffany said to Patty after Kara left.
“I can’t believe she’d never heard of him,” Patty said. “Even I know who he is.”
“I’d like to be a fly on the wall for that date.”
“No kidding!” Patty smiled wistfully. “She’s so pretty and so lucky to have a date with such a hot guy.”
“You’ll get your turn. I have no doubt.”
“I sure hope you’re right.”
On the way out of the gym after a rigorous workout, Blaine stopped to talk to the owner, Billy Simpson, for a few minutes.
“Heard you arrested Truck Henry last night,” Billy said. “Some people never learn.”
Not wanting to say too much, Blaine nodded in agreement. The arrest was public record, so there was no sense denying it. A reporter from the Gansett Gazette had stopped into the station with questions first thing that morning. Blaine had managed to keep Daisy’s name out of the report, but everyone knew who Truck had been shacked up with for a while now.
“Is Daisy okay?”
“She will be.”
“If you see her, tell her I was asking for her. She’s a sweet girl who deserves better than the likes of Truck.”
“On that we agree.”
“I heard he’s retained Jim Sturgil to represent him.”
Didn’t that figure? “Is that so?”
Billy nodded. “People were talking about it earlier. They were saying how Sturgil would represent the guy who beat up his own mother if there was money in it for him.”
Blaine choked back a laugh at that accurate assessment. “Probably so. Gotta run. Take it easy, Billy.”
“You, too.”
Even though he was off duty, Blaine took the long way home, making a check on “his” island. Anything that happened here was his responsibility, and he never forgot that. He’d arranged for the state police to come over to escort Truck to the mainland for arraignment. Assuming the judge denied bail, Truck would be held at the state prison until his trial. At least he’d be off the island for the time being, and Daisy would have a prayer of putting her life back together.
On the way to his house on the island’s north end, Blaine noticed a sign for an estate sale at the former home of Mrs. Ridgeway, one of the island’s longest standing and wealthiest citizens who had died the year before. Since he’d always wondered what the inside of the place looked like, he decided to check it out.
He took the long, winding driveway that led to the enormous home, which overlooked the ocean. What a spot, he thought, as he got out of the SUV and walked toward the house. A man in a suit greeted him in the portico and handed him a brochure outlining the offerings. “Feel free to wander through the house, and let me know if anything strikes your fancy.”
“Will do,” Blaine said, though he didn’t expect anything in the ostentatious house to necessarily “strike his fancy.” He ventured into the marble-laid foyer and through one elaborately furnished room after another, each with an exquisite view of the ocean. The place had “rich people” stamped all over it, but it was interesting to see how the other half lived.
Upstairs, Blaine discovered a humbler living area with modest furnishings. This was probably where the family spent most of their time. He turned to find the man in the suit had followed him upstairs. “Is this furniture part of the sale?” he asked, pointing to a tan chenille sofa and love seat in a family room that boasted a television and entertainment center. The comfortable-looking pieces appeared to be in excellent condition.
“Everything is for sale.”
“How much for these sofas with the tables and lamps?”
“I could give it all to you for seven hundred.”
“That sounds reasonable.” Blaine knew he shouldn’t do this, and he’d had no intention of doing it until he came into the house and saw exactly what she needed. They didn’t have this kind of relationship, and he had no way to gauge how a gift of this kind might be received. But he couldn’t bear to think of her and her child rattling around in that unfurnished home if he could do something about it. Project alert!
Except, Tiffany wasn’t anything like the women who’d used him and taken advantage of his good nature in the past. If anything, she’d be angry with him for doing something like this for her. He figured they could have a nice big fight over it, and then maybe he’d get some awesome make-up sex out of it. The thought made him burn for her.
“I’ll take it,” Blaine said, forcing images of her naked and willing out of his mind. “The area rug, too.”
“Very good,” the man said, beaming.
“Any chance you can deliver it to an address on the island?”
“That can certainly be arranged.”
“Great. Now, what do you have in the way of kitchen tables?”
“Right this way, sir.”
Chapter 11
With Patty minding the store for the afternoon, Tiffany picked up Ashleigh and Thomas from camp and took them to the beach for a couple of hours. After the months of endless work to get the store open, it was nice to take a break and spend some time with the kids.
Maddie came to pick up Thomas after dinner.
“He should be good and tired,” Tiffany said. “They played hard at the beach.” Both toddlers were droopy-eyed after their favorite dinner of spaghetti and meatballs and a bath.
Maddie scooped her son up off the floor. “Hey, buddy.” She planted a noisy kiss on his neck that made him giggle. “Did you have fun with Auntie Tiff and Ashleigh?”
“Uh-huh,” he said. “We made sandcastles and got ice cream and went swimming.”
Maddie let her mouth fall open in playful shock. “You had ice cream before dinner?”
“Shhh,” he said, putting a finger over her lips. “Don’t tell Daddy.
It’s a secret.”
Tiffany shared a smile with her sister. She was never happier than when she was with her sister and their kids. Well, lately she’d had some other rather happy times, too, but she couldn’t think about that now when she was in mom mode. She was sorry she’d told Blaine she couldn’t see him tonight. After the busy day she’d had, Ashleigh would be fast asleep in no time, and the night would stretch out long and lonely.
A knock on the door sent Tiffany scurrying across the empty living room, filled with hope that maybe he’d decided to come over anyway. She instantly hated herself for the thought. Since when did she get so excited to see a man she was only having sex with? That would be something to chew over during that long, lonely night when she could remind herself that theirs was nothing more than a fling. The last thing she needed was more heartbreak, so she’d do well to remember the boundaries of their affair and stay well within them.
She threw open the door to find two burly men outside. “May I help you?”
“Tiffany Sturgil?”
“That’s me.”
“I have a delivery for you. If you could sign here.”
“What kind of delivery?”
“I’m not at liberty to say, ma’am. If you sign here, I can get it for you.”
“It’s not alive, is it?”
“No, ma’am,” he said with a laugh. “Nothing that requires care or feeding.”
Filled with trepidation—and curiosity—she signed on the dotted line.
“What’s up?” Maddie asked from behind her.
“Not sure.”
Ashleigh toddled over to see what all the excitement was about.
Tiffany scooped her up and waited to see what the men had for her. She nearly fell over in shock when they carried in a sofa. “Where… What… Where did that come from?”
“We picked it up from the old Ridgeway place,” one of the men said.
Tiffany glanced at Maddie, who watched the proceedings with bug eyes.
“Who sent it?” Tiffany asked.
“Not sure exactly, but we have a note for you in the truck. We’ll get it on the next run.”
“Wait. There’s more?”
“Heck, yeah. A lot more.”
“Who could’ve done this?” Tiffany asked her sister after the men went back outside.
“I figured you might know.”
“I have no idea.”
“It sure is nice,” Maddie said, running a hand over the soft fabric.
“Yes.” Anything was nicer than nothing, but the sofa was one she would’ve chosen herself.
Over the next fifteen minutes, the men brought in a gorgeous area rug, end tables, lamps and a kitchen table and chairs that fit perfectly in her empty breakfast nook. By the time they handed over the note that accompanied the gift, Tiffany had tears rolling down her face.
Maddie put down Thomas and took Ashleigh from her, entertaining them while Tiffany wiped away the tears and opened the card.
“Now don’t kill me,” it said in a masculine scrawl, “but I happened to be going by the Ridgeway place and noticed a sign for the estate sale. I went in to check it out and saw exactly what you needed for dirt cheap. The temptation was too great to pass up. I hope you’ll accept this gift in the spirit in which it was given and not kill me or hold it against me or punish me in any way, except for ways that I’ll leave to your fertile imagination… I find myself thinking about you pretty much all the time. Blaine.”
“Who’s it from?” Maddie asked as she stretched out on the sofa.
“Blaine.”
“Are you shitting me?”
“Shit,” Thomas said, making both women laugh.
“Don’t say that word, Thomas,” Maddie said sternly. “Mommy shouldn’t have said it.”
Tiffany plopped down next to her. “I can’t believe he did this.”
“Can I see the note?”
Tiffany handed it to her.
“Oh, wow, Tiff. How sweet is that?”
“It’s very sweet.” Tiffany contended with a new flood of tears. “I can’t believe he did this.”
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s possible your sex-only fling just became a bona fide relationship.”
“What does that mean?”
“He really likes you, honey.”
“I’m not ready for that. I just got divorced.”
“Your marriage has been over for a long time. It only officially ended. If you like him as much as he seems to like you, why can’t you take a chance and see what happens?”
“I’m afraid to,” Tiffany said softly. “I’m so afraid of how I already feel about him, and then he goes and does something like this.”
Maddie reached for her hand. “Do you remember when you sat in my kitchen and told me you wanted what I have with Mac?”
Tiffany nodded.
“This,” Maddie said, gesturing to the furniture, “is right out of Mac McCarthy’s playbook. Blaine is a good guy, a decent guy. He’s nothing like Jim. Not to mention he’s hotter than sin.”
“Yes, he is,” Tiffany said, laughing through her tears. “You don’t know the half of it.”
“Oh no?” Maddie raised an eyebrow. “Do tell.”
“No way.”
Thomas crawled into his mother’s lap and popped his thumb into his mouth.
“As much as I’d love to stick around for the dirty details, that’s my signal to get this tired boy home to bed,” Maddie said, lifting her son as she stood. “Think about what I said, okay?”
Tiffany walked them to the door. “How will I think about anything else?”
“I gotta say one more thing.”
“You always have to get the last word in.”
Maddie laughed. “Mac accuses me of the same thing.”
“What’s your last word on this matter?”
“Blaine has good taste. Not just in furniture but in women, too.” She kissed Tiffany’s cheek. “Talk to you in the morning.”
After her sister left, Tiffany went through the motions of getting Ashleigh into bed as her head spun over the implications of Blaine’s grand gesture. Thankfully, it took only one story, rather than the usual three, to send her baby girl off to sleep. For a long time after Ashleigh fell asleep, Tiffany stayed in bed with her, snuggled up to the child who’d brought her so much joy and comfort during the last three difficult years of her marriage.
Ashleigh smelled of baby shampoo and sweet little girl. Tiffany couldn’t wait until she was older and they could go shopping together. She’d be starting ballet class at the studio in the fall, and Tiffany was excited to share her love of dance with her daughter. So much to look forward to all of a sudden, Tiffany thought, at peace, finally, with the changes her life had undergone recently.
Her daughter was healthy and thriving, the store was holding its own, she was free of Jim and the terrible strain of their failing marriage, her mother and sister were happily in love with men who cherished them, and she had a sweet, wonderful new man in her life who couldn’t stop thinking of her. It had been a very long time since the inventory of her life had looked as perfect as it did right now.
She was on her way to sleep when the doorbell rang. Shaking off the slumber, she went downstairs, wondering if Maddie had forgotten something that Thomas couldn’t live without until the morning. She opened the door, and her mind went blank when she found Blaine looking sinfully sexy in a white button-down shirt and plaid shorts.
He held out a pizza box to her. “A peace offering.”
“Why do you need a peace offering?”
“I figured you’d be mad at me for changing the rules on you.”
She took his hand and led him inside, placing the pizza box on the coffee table. Turning to him, she put her arms around him and rested her face on his chest. “Thank you.”
His arms came around her, holding her snugly and perfectly. “Wow, I got off way easier than expected.”
“It’s the nicest thing anyone has ever do
ne for me.”
“That can’t possibly be true.”
“It is.” She let her hands wander under his shirt and reveled in the tremble that traveled through him when her hands found his back. “I want to pay you back, but I can’t right now.”
“It was a present, and doing it made me happy, so no more talk of paying me back, okay?”
“Do you really think about me all the time?”
“All the time.” This was said against her neck, where the brush of soft lips and rough whiskers made her shiver.
As they stood there wrapped up in each other for several minutes, Tiffany realized her sister was right. This was no longer the uncomplicated, sex-only relationship she’d planned to have with him.
“Where’s Ashleigh?” he asked.
“Asleep.”
“Could I see her?”
“You’ve seen her before.”
“I know, but I bet she’s awfully cute when she’s asleep.”
“She is.”
“That’s what I want to see.”
His words went straight to her heart, making it flip-flop precariously. She took his hand and led him up the stairs. Outside Ashleigh’s room, she turned on the hall light and opened the door. Her little girl’s dark hair formed a swirl on the white pillowcase, and her lips were pursed into an adorable, kissable bow.
“So pretty,” Blaine whispered. “She looks just like her mama.”
“I’ve heard that a time or two.” Tiffany rearranged the covers that Ashleigh had already kicked off, kissed her daughter’s cheek and followed Blaine from the room.
“Thank you for that,” he said.
“You’re welcome.”
“I’d like to get to know her. If that’s okay with you.”
“That depends.”
“On?”
“What exactly this is that we’re doing here.”
“What do you think we’re doing?” As he spoke, he stepped closer to her and kept coming until he had her backed up against the wall. With his body—and his erection—pressed tight against her, he raised his arms over her head.
Tiffany swallowed hard, overwhelmed as always when close to him. “Until today, I thought we were hanging out, having sex, having fun.”
“What changed today?”