Читать онлайн книгу «Random Acts Of Fashion» автора Nikki Rivers
Random Acts Of Fashion
Nikki Rivers
When life hands you lemonshand them back!An "accident" sent Gillian Caine reeling when Lukas McCoy ran into herand left her with a broken arm. Luckily, a helpful judge assigned him to help finish getting her new shop ready. Bringing silk, satin and high fashion to Timber Bay, Michiganhome of flannel, wool and practical granny pantieswasn't going to be easy, but Gillian was up for the challenge.Or was she? Because the warm, caring people of Timber Bay had no trouble resisting her fashion ideas. Didn't they realize the power in a makeover? Suddenly desperate, Gillian knew she needed their attentionand no broad-shouldered, heterosexual man with no fashion sense would stand in her way!Until she found herself in his arms.
Dear Reader,
Ive always loved the craziness of fashion, where the absurd often hangs right next to the sublime. Hmmmkind of sounds like romantic comedy, doesnt it? Well, how could I resist? I just had to create Gillian Caine, a fashion designer from New York City who has just been dumped and swindled by a definite Mr. Wrong. Gillian was a delight to write. Shes strong-willed, creative, independent. Shes a girl who intends to stand on her own two feeteven when theyre stuffed into a pair of pumps with five-inch heels. To add to the fun, I transplanted Gillian to Timber Bay, Michiganthe small town I first introduced in my June, 2004, Flipside, Finding Mr. Perfect. Timber Bay is the kind of place where buying a new flannel shirt every winter is considered keeping up with the latest trendsuntil Gillian hits town, that is!
Gillian Caine is one of my favorite creations. A real Flipside kind of girl! I hope you have fun getting to know her as she commits Random Acts of Fashion on the eccentric citizens of Timber Bay.
May the fashion be with you,
Nikki Rivers
I want you to decorate the tree with these, Gillian ordered
Lukas nudged the box beside him, then looked at the suspended branches in the shop window. Opening the carton, he sputtered, These areum
Lingerie, McCoy. Now get to work!
Yes, warden, he grumbled, picking up a violet camisole. He continued arranging the garments as Gillian came over to inspect his work. Not used to her closeness, Lukas tripped over the stool, lunging toward her, crashing through the tree. Bras and panties took flight like a colorful flock of frightened birds.
Lukas? Gillian tossed underwear aside until she found a nose sticking out of the leg of a French-cut panty.
Are you all right? she asked as she lifted the lingerie. Not exactly the way its worn, McCoy, she said, grinning down at him.
Maybe youd like to demonstrate the right way to wear it then, warden, he replied, his mouth holding back a wicked grin.
Random Acts of Fashion
Nikki Rivers
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nikki Rivers loves writing romantic comedy because she believes that laughter is just as necessary to life as love is. She also gets a kick out of creating quirky characters, having come from a long line of them, herself. Nikki lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her very own Mr. Right. She loves to hear from readers. E-mail her at RiversWrites@aol.com (mailto:RiversWrites@aol.com).
Books by Nikki Rivers
HARLEQUIN FLIPSIDE
17FINDING MR. PERFECT
HARLEQUIN DUETS
66A SNOWBALLS CHANCE
HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE
550SEDUCING SPENCER
592DADDYS LITTLE MATCHMAKER
664ROMANCING ANNIE
723HER PRINCE CHARMING
764FOR BETTER, FOR BACHELOR
To my sisters, Bobbi, Pat, and Judy. Thanks for the laughter, the strength, and the loveand for all those bizarre weekends at the bazaar. Yes! An ant can move a rubber tree plant!
Contents
Chapter 1 (#uc311c26c-f6bc-5cc0-a124-11745a9c86c7)
Chapter 2 (#u1dcbf9ad-f627-5569-a8f5-ad9a8e65cef3)
Chapter 3 (#ua2ba681a-038b-5a98-b77e-a15d934e9a2e)
Chapter 4 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 5 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 6 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 7 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 8 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 9 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 10 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 11 (#litres_trial_promo)
1
THE BLACK PICKUP TRUCK with Timber Bay Building and Restoration painted on its side in old-fashioned gold script pulled up to the curb in front of the Sheridan Hotel. Lukas McCoy got out of the drivers seat and slammed the door behind him.
I should have known, he grumbled, scowling at the workmen installing a sign on one of the storefronts across the street. Tigers never change their stripes.
His partner and best friend, Danny Walker, got out the passenger side. Lukas, pal, I never noticed how fond you are of non sequiturs.
Lukas gave Danny a look. Hannah teach you a new word this morning over toast and coffee?
Danny grinned. We skipped breakfast, pal. Were still on our honeymoon.
Danny had married Hannah Ross at the end of the summer. Everyone said it was the most beautiful wedding that Timber Bay had ever seen. And they were thrilled that Hannah, a research sociologist whod come to Timber Bay on a misguided mission to find the perfect American family for an ad campaign, had stayed to become one of them. But it was still a little weird for Lukas to think of Danny as being married. Hed always figured that Danny would be a lifetime Lothario. Lukas had been the one most likely of the two to settle down with a wife. Danny had been his best friend since grade school and Lukas begrudged him nothing. But damned if he wasnt just a little jealous of Dannys happiness. Facing that satisfied grin of his partners every morning was starting to get mighty old.
And now this, Lukas thought sourly as he watched the neon sign being put into place in the window of the long-empty shop that used to be known as Clemintines Frocks.
The big-city princess should have known to hire a local company, at least. Havent they ever heard of such a thing as goodwill in New York City? Dont they know that its important to do business with somebody local? And just look at that. Neon. Lukas spat out the word in disgust. There isnt one other neon sign on Sheridan Road.
It wasnt as if Timber Bay, Michigan, didnt have its share of neon. Ludington Avenue was dotted with it. But the Avenue had always been faster than the Road. Always. The merchants on Sheridan Road tended to keep things just as they always had been. Simple redbrick storefronts marched alongside an old-fashioned theater marquee, a Greek Revival town library and an old wooden band shell that was perched in the park along the bay.
And then there was the Sheridan Hotel. Reclusive town matriarch Agnes Sheridan had hired Danny and Lukas to renovate it. The old lady wanted it restored as closely as possible to its original glory, right down to the intricate wood carvings that Lukas was duplicating to replace sections that had rotted.
Danny slapped him on the back. A little neon isnt exactly going to ruin the town, pal. Why get all worked up about it?
It was true that Lukas rarely got all worked up about anything. But this was riling him to no end. The big-city princess finally claims her inheritance and the first thing she does is plaster neon all over Sheridan Roadand brings in outsiders to do it, besides!
Theyre from Green Bay, Wisconsin, Lukas, not Pluto, Danny said as he went around to the back of the truck and let down the gate. Its sixty miles away.
Still, whats wrong with hiring somebody local? Shes gotta mar the landscape and insult the citizens all in one day? And how come you arent upset, Danny? Youre so all-fired excited about preserving stuff. Clemintines Frocks is nearly as much a fixture on Sheridan Road as the hotel is. We dont need some spoiled city girl coming into town and changing everything around.
Women have a way of doing that, pal. And its usually for the better.
Lukas watched the neon being fitted into place and shook his head. Nothing good is going to come from Gillian Caine coming back to Timber Bay.
GILLIAN SUCKED IN HER TUMMY and eased the side zipper up on her latest creationa pair of ultraslim cosmic gray satin pants. She sighed with satisfaction. Living on liquid diet shakes for the past week had paid off. Shed lost five of the ten break-up and go broke pounds shed gained back in New York. She lifted the filmy ruffled shirt laid out on the bed and slithered into it. Looking in the full-length mirror in the tiny bedroom of her tiny apartment above Clemintines Frocks, she was almost satisfied with what she saw.
Of course, it wasnt Clemintines Frocks any longer, Gillian reminded herself. Along with the five pounds, shed also shed the wooden sign that had hung over the door for the forty years her Aunt Clemintine had been sole proprietor of the dress shop on Sheridan Road. Glad Rags. Thats what Gillians shop was going to be called. In bright, bold pink neon. There were two workmen out front right at that very moment hanging the sign. Which was why Gillian just had to look her very best today. Her most chic. She intended to be as bright an advertisement for Glad Rags as the neon was.
Shed purposely kept a low profile since shed arrived in Timber Bay less than two weeks ago. Behind the yellowing newspapers that covered the display window, shed toiled day and night, wallpapering, painting and staining until even the rubber gloves she wore couldnt protect her neglected fingernails. She looked at her hands in disgust.
Hold on, babies, she cooed to her chipped and ragged nails. Once weve made our debut, we will find the best manicurist in town and make you all shiny and new again. Nothing wrong that a good nail wrap couldnt cure. But at least the rest of her was looking good.
When shed arrived in Timber Bay she had still been a mess from the crisis in New York. A girls world tumbling to pieces around her tended to make for dull hair and muddy-looking skin. So while shed subsisted on diet shakes, shed moisturized, exfoliated, mud-packed and conditioned. She leaned in closer to the mirror, scanning her complexion with a critical eye. Progress, she pronounced with a smile. There were still five pounds to lose but she was looking a whole lot better than when shed slunk out of NYC on a one-way ticket on Amtrak.
Gillian slipped an ankle-length duster that matched the pants off its hanger and put it on, drawing the deeply ruffled cuffs of the pink georgette shirt out to flounce over her hands. She struggled into the pink crocodile boots filched from what was until only recently her very ownokay, her co-ownedboutique in lower Manhattan. They were expensive enough to give Ryan, ex-partner, ex-boyfriend, and ex-decent human being, acid reflux when he realized they were missing. But Gillian had no qualms. In fact, she hoped hed just downed a double espresso when he discovered the boots were gone and that there wasnt an ant-acid to be had in all of Manhattan. After what that pseudo-designer and society wannabe had done to her, he was lucky she hadnt taken him to court.
Enough about him, she said, turning to check out her completed look in the mirror. She smiled hugely at what she saw. There wasnt a woman in Timber Bay under thirty-five who wouldnt be drooling to get inside Glad Rags by the time the grand opening rolled around.
Suddenly her smile faltered, then fell into an outright frown. She had been wrong about Timber Bay in the past. What if?
Gillian determinedly shook off the thought and the frown. Frowns turned into wrinkles. Besides, she wasnt going to be wrong this time. This time the town was going to want what she had to offer.
They had to. Didnt they? she silently asked her reflection. Shed win them over this time. Wouldnt she?
Oh, why are you starting with this old insecurity stuff now? she impatiently asked her reflection. It is time to exude confidence, Gillian! You are no longer a little girl needing acceptance but a businesswoman who will be fulfilling a need in the community. And boy, if they were anything like they used to be, the women of Timber Bay had a really big need for what she had to offer. How could she miss?
Her reflection seemed to be listening to her self-inflicted pep talk. Her shoulders straightened, her chin lifted, and her mouth curved into a smile. Thats more like it. She tucked the large silver clutch bag shed designed to go with the outfit under her arm and headed down the stairs and out the door.
LUKAS AND DANNY WERE getting ready to unload stacks of lumber for the hotel from the back of the pickup when Danny paused. Well, look at that, he said under his breath. A princess from outer space. And I thought Halloween was almost a month away, yet.
Lukass gaze followed Dannys across the street.
The woman who had just come out the door of the dress shop was wearing something silver. As sleek and shiny as a brand-new saw blade. And she was walking on pink boots with heels as thin and long as a railroad spike. It was some walk she had, too. Lukas knew for sure that there wasnt a woman in town who walked quite that way. She wasnt tall, maybe five foot four, but she had a confident stride for such a shrimp of a girl. And she moved from her hips, causing the fabric of the coat she was wearing to swish back and forth when she walked. Watching her stride over to the workmen was like a compulsion. She said something to them and one of them laughed. For some reason, the sound made Lukass scowl deepen.
She still looks like a spoiled big city-princess to me, he muttered.
Danny shrugged. I guess that must be how they dress in New York City.
Yeah, but this isnt New York City, Lukas muttered. No one around here is going to buy that kind of stuff. Now lets get this truck unloaded.
ACROSS THE STREET, Gillian tipped the workmen generously, trying not to calculate how much closer she was going to be to broke because of it. One of the lessons shed learned from Ryanbesides the need to watch her backwas that you had to look successful to be successful. Money attracted money like lint to black cashmere. Nobody liked to associate with failure. Ryan had always said that looking needy was worse than looking nerdy.
She waved as the workmen drove off, feeling suddenly and absurdly alone. As the truck turned the corner at the Town Square and disappeared down Ludington Avenue, it felt like her last contact with the outside world had been broken. In a way, she supposed, she was like the pioneer women who helped settle the west. Instead of trails forged over mountains or through deserts, she was going to be forging a trail through the closets of Timber Bay, bringing style instead of civilization.
Yes! That was it! A pioneer woman of fashion. She suddenly felt a whole lot better. She also felt hungryfor some real food for a change.
Time for this pioneer woman to go on a little scouting trip, she murmured to herself as she scanned the street for a sign of someplace to eat. Maybe a nice juicy
Mmm, yum, she said under her breath when she looked across the street. Two very juicy guys with a truck. Not exactly what she had in mind, but
Oh, swell, she groaned when she got a better look at them.
She hadnt seen either one since they were boys, but she recognized them all the same. Maybe because they were together, just like theyd always been all those summers so long ago. That was Lukas McCoy squatting in the back of the pickup truck. And the other one, the one grinning at her, was Danny Walker. Walker used to tease her mercilessly about wearing the same outfit as the doll shed always carried around with her. McCoy, whod been a big, quiet kid, would just sort of scowl at her. Just like he was scowling at her right now.
There had been plenty of kids in Timber Bay who hadnt liked her. But of all of them, McCoy had been the worst. Not that hed ever said anything. In all the years shed come to Timber Bay as a child to visit Aunt Clemintine, shed probably only heard his voice once or twice. But it seemed to her back then that he smiled at everybody else almost all the time. He had these big dimples and they flashed all over the place like the lights in Times Square. Unless, that is, he was looking at her. She seemed to be in some weird no-smile zone as far as he was concerned.
Apparently, from the look on his face, she still dwelled in it.
As a shy little girl her defense had been to stick up her nose and pretend he wasnt there, but she wasnt that girl anymore. Recent events had toughened her up even more. This time, she decided to meet his disapproval head-on. She decided to cross the street.
When she was halfway across, McCoy started to stand up. And up. Gillians step faltered and slowed as he unfolded and jumped down off the back of the truck.
He was nearly as tall as the dress shop and almost as wide. The scowl hovered on his still boyish face but there was no mistaking the shadow of the dimples on either side of his mouth. With that huge, grown-up body, those blond cherub curls falling over his forehead and that smooth boyish face, a smile would have been enough to make her trip and fall flat on her face. Gillian decided for once that maybe she was glad to be in the no-smile zone.
It occurred to her that she still had time to sort of swerve in her crossing and avoid his orbit altogether, but what the heck. If she could take on Manhattan, she could take on this block of disapproval, as well.
Briefly the thought intruded that shed lost miserably at taking on Manhattan, but she squashed it down again with the ring of her spiked heel on the cracked pavement of Sheridan Road. She hadnt lost anythingshed been robbed. Manhattan had been stolen from her, along with her share of the boutique, by her conniving ex and a boney-bottomed lingerie model turned scanty-panty designer. But this small-town giant didnt know thatand neither did anyone else in Timber Bay. And as long as she dripped confidence, style and flare, they never would.
As she neared the other side of the street, Gillian decided it wouldnt hurt to take advantage of the three extra inches the curb offered by stepping onto it. She might as well have dug herself a hole to stand in for all the good those three inches did her. Not to worry, she was used to making up for her shortcomings with bravado.
I see youve still got your sidekick with you, huh, McCoy? she asked, with a cocky New-York-City-girl tilt of the head as she looked up at him.
The giant just scowled down at her.
I dont get kicked that often anymore, though, the other one, Danny Walker, said as he held out his hand. Welcome back to Timber Bay.
Well, its nice to know that one of you has learned some manners, at least, she said, taking his hand.
Some of us grew up okay, Danny said.
And some of you just grew, I see.
Lukas knew he was coming across as an oaf. He knew he should be smiling at the lady and making nice. After all, hadnt he just been going on to Danny about goodwill? But the big-city princess had always managed to tie his tongue just by looking at him when he was a kid and it looked like nothing much had changed in that department.
As a boy, he used to think she looked like she belonged on top of a fancy birthday cake. She was always dressed in something as light, fluffy and sweet as frosting. Shed been so small with a mass of ash-colored hair hanging down her back and a pair of eyes that looked like they were seeing the world a whole lot differently than anybody else saw it. She still had those eyes. Big. Pale gray irises with dark rings around them. Like the eyes on greeting-card kittens. Hed gone tongue-tied the first time shed fastened them on him. All he could do was stare. She turned out to be no kitten, though, that little girl from the city. The cat had turned out to be a brat. A snooty, spoiled little girl who didnt like to get dirty and never went anywhere without her doll.
A sudden breeze off the bay lifted her hair and blew it across her face. It was the same ash color he remembered but cut just above her shoulders now, straight and slick as the skeins of silk yarn his mom embroidered with. She whipped it out of her face with a toss of her head and asked, Can either of you boys point me in the direction of a decent sandwich?
This was it, thought Lukas. An opening. Sweet Buns, his sisters coffee shop, was right next to the Sheridan Hotel. Who better to give her the scoop on the place? He opened his mouth, but it felt like hed walked through a dust storm without a bandanna and nothing came out. As the seconds ticked by, Danny kind of cleared his throat as if to nudge Lukas on. When Lukas tried to lick the dryness from his lips he discovered that his tongue had gone missing.
Finally, Danny started to tell Gillian about Sweet Buns himself. And he was doing it entertainingly enough to get a little giggle out of the girl from New York City. Danny never had any trouble being clever with the ladies. Lukas wished he could think of something clever to say but the longer he stood there, stoically silent, the harder it was to say anything at allnever mind clever.
Ill move these boards, was all he could finally come up with. He cringed at the lameness of it. And maybe that was why, when he grabbed the small stack of one-by-fours, his grip didnt quite close around them and they went clattering to the sidewalk, grazing the toe of one of Gillian Caines pink, spike-heeled boots in the process.
She squealed and jumped back, then fixed him with those gray eyes while she stuck her nose into the air. Is that how you welcome all the new girls to town, McCoy, by nearly crippling them and skinning their shoe leather?
When he said nothingand how could he with his mouth full of a brand-new load of sandDanny swooped in to soothe her and make sure she was okay. Lukas knew he should apologize, but if he couldnt get a word out before he had almost buried her feet in lumber, he sure couldnt spit out any words now.
You sure youre okay? he heard Danny ask once again. Im fine, thanks. Youve been sweet. But your friend here could obviously use some help in that area. Do the town a favor and dont let him volunteer for the welcoming committee, she said before turning in a swirl of glittering silver and heading down Sheridan Road toward Sweet Buns.
The compulsion still with him, Lukas watched her walk away.
GILLIAN MARCHED INTO Sweet Buns and stopped dead.
I think Ive just found civilization. She closed her eyes and took a deep, long breath in through her nostrils. The aroma nearly made her swoon.
The young woman behind the counter laughed. Sounds like we have a new coffee addict in town.
If it tastes as good as it smells, youve got yourself a customer for life.
Regular or decaf?
Im from New York City. Gillian slid onto a stool at the counter. What do you think?
The woman laughed again and poured her a cup of regular. Gillian lifted it to her mouth and took a sip. Mmm. This is heaven. I never dreamed Id find a cup of coffee this fantastic so far from Manhattan. She took another swallow, then held out her hand. Im Gillian Caine, by the way.
Yes, I know, the woman behind the counter said as she shook Gillians hand. You used to visit your aunt. Im Molly. Molly Jones.
Gillian shook her head. Im sorry, but I dont think I remember you.
Oh, we werent friends, Molly quickly added.
Gillian rolled her eyes. Big surprise. I wasnt exactly the most popular girl to come to town. Hopefully, she added with a nervous little laugh, that will change, considering Im reopening my aunts dress shop.
Is what youre wearing an example of what youll be selling?
Yes, it is. I designed it myself. Gillian stood up and gave a little twirl. What do you think?
Its incredible. But
Ma-ma!
Oops. Sorry. My little girl is paging me. Be right back.
Molly disappeared into the kitchen and Gillian picked up her coffee cup and strolled around the restaurant. The place was kind of cute with its green gingham curtains and tiny oak tables. Quaint. And the coffee was excellent. When she saw that the beans were sold by the pound, she resolved to buy some to take back to the shop. She was going to be up half the night again, working. On nights like this one was going to be, coffee was a girls best friend.
In fact, she could use another cup right now. After a few minutes of waiting for a refill, Gillian followed the sounds through the kitchen, out the open back door and into a small fenced-in yard. Molly was bending over a little girl with blond curls and the face of a little angel.
Shes gorgeous! Gillian exclaimed. Whats her name?
This is Chloe. Chloe, say hi to Gillian.
Chloe babbled something incoherently adorable. Oh, shes so sweet! said Gillian. How old is she?
Fifteen months. Be careful where you walk, its a little muddy out here from the rain yesterday.
Oh, I hope you dont mind that I came out here. I could hear the two of you just babbling away and I thought that since Im going to be practically a neighbor itd be okay for me to join in on the girl talk.
Molly lifted Chloe out of the playpen. No, of course I dont mind. I apologize for abandoning you like that. This is a slow time of day for Sweet Buns. Ive got a few high school girls who help out when its busy. Now that Chloe is walking, she gets a little restless penned up sometimes.
She put her down on the grass. Chloe immediately went toddling off toward the fence at the back of the yard. The child had excellent taste, Gillian thought. Beyond the fence and across a small sand beach, the bay glittered in the late September sun like the two-carat tanzanite Gillian had seen in the window at Tiffanys.
Its beautiful out here, Gillian said. You should offer al fresco dining.
Someday, maybe, Molly said. When Chloes older and I have more time to devote to the business.
Gillian had a million questions to ask about how business was and what the peak hours were at the department store down the street, but the sound of Chloe squealing in delight grabbed her attention. The little girl was toddling with rather alarming speed toward her, gurgling happily about something and waving her little fists up and down.
Shes absolutely, seriously adorable, Gillian gushed, truthfully. Not that Gillian wasnt capable of gushing untruthfully if it might be good for business. But she really did think Chloe was cute.
As Chloe tottered closer, Gillian squatted down and held out her arms to welcome the little cherub. Come on, Chloe, she cooed. Come to
Chloe squealed, drew back her fisted hands, and let them fly. It turned out that Chloes little fists hadnt been empty.
Splat!
Gillians mouth dropped open as mud spattered all over her trousers.
Chloe! Molly yelled. Oh, my gosh! I cant believe she did that! Im so sorry!
Chloe giggled and ran back for more mud.
Before she could reach the puddle again, Molly scooped her up and deposited her back into the playpen.
Gosh! I cant tell you how sorry I am, Gillian. Is it washable?
Gillian looked at Molly like shed just spoken a foreign language. Washable? Of course its not washable!
Oh. Well, then, Ill pay for the dry cleaning. Im just so sorry.
Gillian could see that Molly really was upset, and besides, Chloe was seriously adorable. And it wasnt like Molly had actually invited her into the backyard. Gillian was really sort of trespassing. Dont worry about it, Molly, she finally said. Its not your fault. Im like a walking disaster area today. This is my second accident. See that scuff on my boot? This big blond giant working at the hotel dropped a load of lumber on me.
Umblond giant? Molly asked.
Something about the way Molly sounded made Gillian look at her. Thats when she noticed the resemblance. Molly was tall and large-boned with blond hair and warm brown eyes.
Dont tell meLukas McCoy is your brother.
Molly nodded. Jones is my married name. Gosh, now I feel even worse. The McCoy family hasnt exactly given you a warm welcome, have they?
Dont be silly. Youve been great. Your brother, however. Wellhe was a bit churlish.
Lukas? Wow, thats not like him.
Gillian already knew that but she saw no point in trying to explain the no-smile zone to Molly.
Now that I know Lukas ruined your boot, you really have to let me pay for the suit.
Dont be silly. When the mud dries, itll probably brush right off.
Molly bit her bottom lip. You really think so?
Gillian grimaced. Uhno. Probably not. But I dont want you to feel bad about it, okay? Really.
Well, lets get you something to eat on the house, at least.
She followed Molly inside and sat on a stool at the counter while Molly made her the most delicious chicken salad sandwich shed ever tasted.
Why is this so fabulous? she asked as she took another bite.
Its the apricot chutney, Molly answered.
This sandwich almost makes it worth the mud pie appetizer.
Molly laughed. Im glad you think so. But wait until you have a sweet bun.
Ohno. I couldnt.
Sure you can! Ill get you another cup of coffee, too.
Despite her protests, when Molly set the frosted cinnamon bun in front of her, Gillian just had to taste it.
As soon as she took the first bite, she knew that a scuffed boot and a mud-spattered suit werent her only problems. Losing the next five pounds was going to be next to impossibleunless she stayed away from Sweet Buns.
IM TELLING YOU, Mother, its like the McCoy clan has set out to destroy me. This morning that big lug Lukas McCoy nearly dropped a truckload of lumber on my feet. He absolutely ruined those crocodile boots. Then his niece, who is seriously adorable I might add, threw mud all over one of my best designs. And then his sister, Molly, introduces me to the most incredible cinnamon buns I have ever tasted. Gillian paused to swipe her finger over the frosting on the bun Molly had insisted on sending home with her along with a pound of coffee. With the best intentions, she was planning on saving the bun for breakfast. The temptation was killing her.
On the other end of the phone line, her mother laughed. Dont be so dramatic, Gilly. That last one doesnt exactly sound like an act of destruction.
Gillian finished licking the frosting off her finger before answering, That last one could prove very destructive to my waistline.
You worry too much about your weight, Gilly.
Gillian sighed and swirled her finger into the frosting again. She had long resigned herself to the fact that her girl-hood dream of being a model would never come true. She was too shortby model standards, anyway. Five foot four. And both her bottom and her top were far too curvy to ever strut her stuff on the runway. But she had certain standards to maintain. When youre a housewife in New Jersey, Mother, a couple of pounds isnt going to make a difference. Like the PTA is going to care? But in the fashion industry
In the fashion industry there should be someone who designs for women with fannies and breasts, Gilly. I bet there are a lot of women with fannies and breasts in Timber Bay who would be willing to buy
Mother, if you say cute little housedresses or caftans I swear I will scream.
Bonnie Caine laughed. I doubt even the women in Timber Bay still wear housedresses, Gilly. I just think that instead of starving yourself so you can wear what you design, you should design stuff for women who eat more than fruit and carrot sticks.
Gillian looked longingly at the cinnamon bun as her finger hovered above what was left of its thick white frosting. If this kept up, the poor thing was going to be naked come morning.
Mother, my mission is to influence the fashion sense of women who think Chanel is something you get on your television set. How can I possibly do that if I become one of them?
My darling daughter, her mother said in a dryly amused tone, I dont think there is any danger of that ever happening.
Gillian decided not to rise to the bait of her mothers teasing. Hows Binky? she asked instead.
Her mother filled her in on the health and welfare of Binky, the familys twelve-year-old golden retriever, and then on her brothersall four of them. Then her father butted in on the basement extension and told her, yet again, how he was glad that Ryan was finally out of her life but how he still wished she would have dragged that SOB into court and taken him for everything he had. After he filled her in on the latest skirmish at the boilermakers union, everyone said goodbye.
As soon as Gillian hung up the phone she felt a stab of homesickness. Yet when shed gone back to the little blue-collar New Jersey town where shed grown up after being jilted and swindled, shed felt less like she belonged there than ever before. She no longer belonged in Manhattan, either. But Timber Bay?
She wandered over to the window in Aunt Clemintines living room and looked down onto Sheridan Road. It was late afternoon and the setting sun had streaked the clouds with pink and gold. The Road was bustling with people heading home for the day. Across the street at Sweet Buns, Molly was turning the sign hanging in the door around to read Closedprobably getting ready to go upstairs with little Chloe for the evening.
Chloe, Gillian groaned out loud. Mud pies! Served all over the outfit that was supposed to be the centerpiece of her Pastel-Metallic collection. The duster was salvageable. But the pants were a mess. Which meant that Gillian had better get back to work.
As soon as she ran down the stairs and through the door that led to the workroom behind the shop, she felt at home. As much of a misfit as shed been as a kid, shed always felt completely comfortable in the back room of her aunts dress shop. Aunt Clemintine had taught her all she knew about garment construction. Theyd spent wonderful, happy hours together, making clothes for Gillian and her doll. Her family was blue collar and money hadnt exactly been growing on trees, but Gillian, thanks to Aunt Clemintine, had dressed like a million bucks.
But it wasnt only the clothes, it was the attention that made her love to visit Aunt Clemintine so much. Back at home, she was the middle child, crowded on both sides by two younger and two older brothers. So around their house it was jock central. Her parents were loving and wonderful, but a little girl who didnt like sports pretty much got overlooked and out-voiced. Aunt Clemintine, a childless spinster, gave Gillian a place to be safe while she discovered who she was and what she wanted to be. And what she wanted to be was as different as she could possibly be from anything like home.
Unfortunately, as Gillian grew older, Aunt Clemintine and the dress shop got lumped in with everything that Gillian wanted to leave behind. When Aunt Clemintine had died a few years ago and left Gillian the shop, Gillian was touched. But she could just never see herself claiming her inheritance and taking up residence in Timber Bay.
Now she didnt know how she could have stayed away as long as she had.
The workroom welcomed her warmly, just as it always did. The little puffy calico pincushions scattered about the workspaces. The smell of new cloth, not yet handled or wrinkled. She ran her hand over a bolt of ivory silk and closed her eyes at the feel of it. By the time she opened them, she was smiling again.
The workroom was exactly where she needed to be right now. And not just because she still had clothing to finish before the opening, but because hitting the streets of Timber Bay for the first time hadnt turned out as shed hoped and talking to her mother and father had left her a little lonely.
Come here, you gorgeous piece of goods, you, she purred to the bolt of silk as she picked it up. I think tonight is your night to become Cinderella.
Several hours later, the ivory silk was sliding over her head and floating down her body. Gillian ran out to the dark shop, switched on the light, then closed her eyes as she made her way to the triple mirror near the dressing room, her arms out straight, palms extended. Shed played this scene over and over again as a little girl. She used to be able to find that mirror walking blind. Her outstretched palms hit the cool glass and she smiled. Shed gone right to it.
When she opened her eyes, she was still smiling. The dress looked spectacular. The front neckline draped low enough to show just a hint of dcolletage. The back dipped even lowernearly to her waistand ended in a flirty bow. The bodice was fitted and the calf-length skirt was full and fluttery. Grace Kelly meets the twenty-first century. Exactly the effect she had been going for.
Gillian stood on tiptoes to try to envision how the skirt would fall if she was wearing high heels, then remembered that shed brought down a pair of silver strappy sandals the night before. She scampered around the shop till she found them in a corner, then went back to the mirror.
Perfect.
You are going to look so terrific in the window, she told the dress. With that vintage faux pearl jewelry. And maybe a soft pink wool stole to go with the neon sign. Or a cloak. Pink cashmere.
She pursed her lips wryly and shook her head at her reflection. Talk about dreaming big.
Well, pink something, she told herself, refusing to let the price of cashmere ruin the moment. Pink like the Glad Rags logo and sign.
And that reminded her. She hadnt yet seen the new sign after dark. Gillian threaded her way through unpacked cartons, naked mannequins and hatless hat stands, to the front door. She unlocked it and went outside.
There it was, glowing across the display window in lovely pink neon. Glad Rags. The sight of it put a huge grin on her face and made her twirl around in delight. Quickly, she looked around to make sure there were no witnesses to her less-than-sophisticated display of girlish goofiness.
Not a soul in sight. Different from Manhattan as silk from corduroy. Yet she felt hopeful for the first time in months. Gillian was nearly giddy as she ran across the street to see what the sign looked like from farther away. Maybe it was the air. It was crisp and pure with a tang of water in the wind. The hotel blocked the bay from sight, but she could still hear the waves faintly. Still feel the presence of it on her skin. She started back across the street but paused midway to look up at the sky. So many stars. Even when she was a kid in New Jersey, there hadnt been so many stars in the sky. She picked out the brightest one and closed her eyes.
I wish, she whispered.
Thats when she heard the noisequickly followed by the feel of the ground beneath her feet shifting jerkily.
And the next thing she knew, she was flying through the air.
She put out her arm to break her fall and felt the jar of the impact all the way up to her shoulder. She grimaced as her palm scraped against the concrete. For a minute, everything went out of focus and then her sight cleared and she saw the dark bulk of a man emerging from the concrete.
I promised to make you a Cinderella, she murmured to the silk that seemed to have turned into a cloud around her. But that doesnt look at all like Prince Charming.
He looked more like some sort of beast who made his home in the bowels of the earth. He kept rising and rising and rising, and it was making Gillian dizzy as hell to have to look up so high. Or was it the pain that suddenly shot through her arm when she tried to move? Either way, Gillian did something shed never done before.
She fainted.
2
ABOVE THE NOISE of the manhole cover clattering to the street, Lukas heard another sound. High-pitched. Like a womans squeal.
Did you hear that? he asked the big orange tabby cat that was tucked under his arm. The cat flattened its ears and growled. Lukas let go of it and it shot off into the darkness. He hoisted himself out of the manhole and looked around.
The night was clear and crisp, the sky thick with stars. He turned slowly around, trying to remember what hed learned as a kid about astronomy. All he remembered was that nothing looked like it was supposed to. The names made no sense to him at all. Except maybe the Big Dipper. He could always find that. Tonight it seemed full of stardust.
Youre getting fanciful, Lukas. You better watch that, he muttered to himself as he dragged the manhole cover back into place. He straightened up and thats when he saw it. Something lying in the street. Something as bright and shimmery as a heap of stardust fallen from the sky.
When the heap of stardust moaned and shifted slightly Lukas went closer and found himself looking down at the body of Gillian Caine.
He sucked in his breath, then hunkered down next to her. Gillian, he said softly, touching her on the shoulder. She didnt move. He found the pulse in her neck with his fingers. Oh man, was she soft. And her heart felt like it was beating pretty good, too. She moaned again and he snatched his fingers back. Her eyes stayed closed so he touched her hair for no good reason at all except that, there, just outside of the circle of light from a street lamp, it looked like it was shot with silver. She moaned again and her lashes fluttered.
Gillian? he repeated.
She smiled a little this time. A small, sweet smile. In fact, the princess looked altogether sweeter when she was passed out cold than she had when hed seen her that afternoon.
She was wearing a pale dress made of something silky. It floated around her, settling in the swells and hollows of her body, and fluttered out around the curves of her calves. Her shoes were worthy of a princess, too. Glittery silver with tiny straps and skinny heels that were made out of something as transparent as glass.
Gillian? Still no response. He frowned. Shouldnt she be coming to by now? He looked around the street. All the buildings were dark. Even the windows above Sweet Buns where his sister lived were dark. Molly must have already gone to bed. Timber Bay Memorial was only a mile or so down Ludington Avenue. Lukas figured he could get Gillian to the hospital himself in less time than it would take him to rouse Molly, use her phone, then wait for an ambulance to come.
Carefully he started to gather Gillian up in his arms. She felt so small. A wounded helpless creature. As he started to lift her, his nose brushed her neck. The scent of her shot through him like a craving. The urge was strong to bury his face in the soft crook of her neck. Just for a moment, he told himself.
Who are you and why are you sniffing my neck?
Lukas pulled his head back quick enough to give himself whiplash. He knew his face must be flaming.
Lukas McCoy, Gillian mumbled fuzzily. I should have known. She looked around, still obviously in a daze. What am I doing in the middle of the road?
Before he could answer, she started to get up and moaned loudly.
Ohhmy arm. What happened?
Near as I can tell, you must have been standing on that manhole cover over there when I
Gillian gasped. Now I remember! You were that beast who came up out of the concrete and sent me sailing into the air, arent you? What is it with you McCoys, anyway?
What does that mean?
She shook her head. Oh, never mind. Just help me up.
Lukas helped her struggle to her feet.
What were you doing, anyway? she asked. Lying in wait, hoping to get a second chance after your earlier attempt at crippling me failed?
Heythat was an accident, Lukas said a little bluntlymore bluntly than he should have. The bright idea of Gillian Caine being wounded and helpless was definitely losing its shine.
Tell that to the thousand-dollar pair of boots you ruined. And I suppose this was an accident, too. Just you crawling out of the sewer after a day of Dungeons and Dragons?
I was down in the tunnel of love to
Gillian shot him a sharp look with those huge gray eyes. The tunnel of what? she asked him, scrunching up her nose. Did you say the tunnel of love?
Lukas hadnt meant to say that. He felt foolish enough for knocking her flying and the knowledge that hed wrecked a thousand bucks worth of leather wasnt sitting too well, either. He didnt relish the idea of trying to explain the legend of Timber Bays tunnel of love to the princess when she was acting more like the wicked queen. Look, maybe we better see about getting you to a doctor, he said as he took her gently by the other arm.
I dont need a doctor, she said, pulling away from him and jostling her wounded arm in the process. Ow! She grimaced. Okay, maybe I do need a doctor.
My truck is right across the street. Ill take you. Lukas didnt know much about body language, but Gillian made it clear she didnt want his help getting across the street. It was kind of amazing, really, he thought as he followed her to the truck, that she could walk like she did on a pair of heels like that after shed just been out cold. She made it look as if balancing on three inches of acrylic was the most natural thing in the world.
He opened the door for her and tried to help her in, bumping her shoulder in the process.
Ow! she said again, as she shot an angry wounded look at him with those big gray eyes.
Sorry, he said as he dipped his head. I guess I can be kind of a bull in a drugstore.
China shop, she said.
Huh?
Bull in a china shop. You said drugstore.
Ohthats because when I was twelve I was kind of big for my age and there was this sort of pyramid of perfume bottles stacked up on the counter at Ludington Drugs and one day I went charging right into them, breaking every last one. The whole town square smelled like lavender water for a week. Ever since then He gulped, wishing hed stayed tongue-tied. She was looking at him like hed gone around the bend. Which he must have because here he was standing in front of the most beautiful woman hed ever seen and rattling on about his damn clumsiness after hed just given her a demonstration of it by busting up her arm.
Look, she said. Im sure this folksy charm works on all the local girls, but Ive got the disadvantage here of being in pain. Lets save your life story for after Im medicated, okay?
Lukas clamped his mouth shut and managed to help her up into the truck and shut the door without jostling her again. When he went around to the other side and got in, the cab was already full of the scent of her skin. It tied his tongue up all over again. Good thing, too. Otherwise, the big-city princess might have managed to bite it the rest of the way off.
GILLIAN FUMED as the truck turned onto Ludington Avenue. Her arm was killing her and the big lug wasnt even going to bother saying he was sorry. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. Make that big adorable lug. That tousled hair the color of pale honey that fell over his fore-head in loose curls. That snub nose and small, sensual mouth. On another man it all might have looked wimpy. But on top of that big body, it just made him look like a small-town Tarzan. Nomake that lumberjack. He worked with wood. She knew that much. She could smell it on him and there was sawdust on the plaid shirt he wore tucked into jeans that hugged his massive thighs and made his
Gillian blinked. What in the name of Vogue magazine was she thinking? Well, she was thinking about what big, hard-looking thighs he had and about what they might feel like if she just reached out and
This time she blinked and bit her lip at the same time. She deliberately jarred her arm just so she could feel the pain and remember that she had no business whatsoever ogling Paul Bunyans thighs.
Are you all right? he asked when she gasped in pain.
No, I am not all right. Thanks to you, she added testily, reminding herself that he still hadnt said he was sorry for what hed done. I just hope youve got your checkbook with you.
He glanced her way. My checkbook?
This, she indicated her arm, is all your fault and youre paying for the emergency room.
Of course Ill pay. And Ill give you the money for those overpriced boots, too. But no way am I taking the complete blame this time.
Umreality check. You are completely to blame.
You were the one standing out in the middle of the street. They teach you to do that out there in New York City? Cause we dont teach kids in Timber Bay to stand out in the street much.
Its the middle of the night. Who knew it wouldnt be safe to cross the street?
You werent crossing, you were standing.
I mean she went on as if he hadnt spoken who knew that a giant prowled under the streets of Timber Bay at night and that there was always the danger of him just breaking through the damn concrete whenever he felt like itno matter who was standing there?
As far as Lukas was concerned, she was being totally unreasonable. You were standing on a manhole. Im a man. You gotta expect these things sometimes.
That is totally insane. I was safer in the streets of New York than I am here. First you throw a pile of wood at me
That was an accident!
Then your niece ruins a few hundred dollars worth of cosmic gray metallic satin
Chloe? Chloe ruined that silver thing you were wearing?
Cosmic gray, she repeated through clenched jaws. And yes. She ruined it when she decided to serve me mud pies.
Hey, Chloe is a sweet kid but shes not even a year-and-a-half old yet.
So whats your excuse?
Listen, princess, I said I was sorry
What did you call me?
Princess.
Dont call me that.
Ha. Did I strike a nerve, princess?
I told you not to call me that. And no, you did not.
No, I did not what?
You did not say you were sorry. Not even once.
Hadnt he? Lukas ran over the past minutes in his mind. He must have said he was sorry. But as he pulled into the hospital parking lot and drove around back to the emergency entrance, he honestly could not remember apologizing.
He parked, got out of the truck, and went around to the passenger side to open the door for Gillian. He helped her out as carefully as possible. He could see it cost her some to let him. He had the feeling that at this point shed rather kick him in the shins with her silver slipper than take his arm.
As soon as the electronic doors swooshed open and let them inside the hospital, Gillian was swept away. He paced while he waited for her to fill out forms and answer questions. He thought hed get to talk to her when she was sent to the waiting area, but shed no sooner sat down than a nurse came out and got her. Slow night, apparently, in the E.R. Lukas had never wished for other people to have bad fortune in order that he might get something he wanted, but he sure could have used a little laceration, or a broken toe maybe, so hed have enough time to apologize to Gillian. Because shed been right about that, at least. He hadnt apologized.
What was the matter with him? Lukas never, ever argued with women. Oh, he and his sister Molly tussled like all brothers and sisters, but as far as other women went, Lukas was pretty easygoing. So what had gotten into him tonight? Gillian could have a broken arm and it was all because of him. He remembered how her face had grimaced in pain, and felt ashamed for arguing with her when she was hurt. His mom would skin him alive if she knew.
As he always did when he was bothered by something, Lukas pulled out the piece of wood he kept in one pocket and the knife he kept in the other and sat down in the waiting room to whittle. He knew from the night Chloe was born that the hospital staff wasnt crazy about having shavings all over the waiting-room floor so he mostly just worked on smoothing out the lines of the chess piece he was carving. When he heard the click of high heels on tile, he looked up to see Gillian coming down the short corridor between the treatment cubicles and the waiting room. Her left arm was in a sling. Oh, man. His heart swelled when he saw it. It must be serious. And it was his fault. And he hadnt even said he was sorry.
He got up and started toward her. I he began.
You, she said, sticking out her good arm, palm up like a traffic cop, dont come one step closer.
She sailed past him and was nearly to the exit doors before he got his wits about him.
Wait! What did the doctor say?
She turned around. Its sprained, McCoy, thats what he says. My arm is sprained. I have to keep it in thisthis sling. And he says itll be a couple of weeks before I can fully use it again. A couple of weeks, McCoy. I dont have a couple of weeks. Ive got a boutique to get ready to open. Now how do you suppose Im going to be able to do that with only one arm?
She started for the door again. He couldnt let her get away without apologizing.
Butwait! Ill drive you home. I want to
I called a cab. There is no way Im getting that close to youor any other member of your familyever again, she called over her shoulder just as the doors slid closed.
Lukas ran to catch up to her, but by the time the doors opened again and he hurried outside, the cab was already pulling away.
OW! Gillian exclaimed when she stuck herself in the hand with a seam ripper for the fourth time. This is impossible, she grumbled, throwing down the cosmic gray satin pants. Shed been hoping that she could salvage the pants because there was just enough of the fabric left to replace the front where Chloe had served her the mud pies, but with one arm in a sling, the seams had ended up looking like the sewing machine needle was going for Olympic gold in the slalom race. Shed assumed that it would be easier to rip out a seam than sew one. But despite the fact that she was right-handed and it was her left arm in the sling, it was still remarkably hard to do anything one-handed.
Gillian finally gave up on the pants and started to unpack the ready-to-wear lingerie shed ordered. Some of the items needed steaming. She was able to do this pretty well with one hand, but it did nothing to lighten her mood. The silky slips, the gossamer gowns and robes, the lacy bra and panty sets, just made her more aware of the fact that there was going to be more lingerie in the shop than there was going to be Glad Rags by Gillian. She could have wept with frustration. Glad Rags was supposed to showcase her own designs, not those of already established lingerie designers who didnt even need the measly sales theyd get in Timber Bay, anyway.
After what Ryan had done to her, Gillian had only been able to put one foot in front of the other by chanting living well is the best revenge like a mantra every time the blues threatened. For weeks shed sustained herself on the image of women flocking to the door of Glad Rags as soon as she unlocked it on the opening day of the Harvest Festival and Sale. She had even done the heretofore unheard-of and toned down her styles for Midwestern tastes. But that hadnt been sacrifice enough to appease the gods of failure because now her dreams of successher meager dreams of revengewere disappearing faster than tickets to a hit Broadway musical. And all because of Lukas McCoy.
A stream of too-hot mist hissed out of the steamer, nearly hot enough to melt the fine lace edging on the camisole she was working on. Easy, Gilly, she said, its Lukas McCoy you want to melt, not this exquisite lace.
Abruptly, she stopped moving the steamer up and down. Had she said melt? Nonsense. Gillian started steaming again. Stopped again. Had she? Well, if she had, she told herself, what shed meant to say was fry. No, that was the electric chair. Burn? Hmm. Well, certainly not melt. Melting implied all sorts of gooey feelings. And she wasnt feeling gooey at all towards McCoy. She had no intention of getting all gooey over any man ever again.
Nor did she have any intention of steaming one more garment that she hadnt designed herself.
Not today, anyway.
Gillian went upstairs to Aunt Clemintines apartment to make a pot of coffee. As soon as the aroma drifted up from the coffeemaker, she wished she had one of Mollys cinnamon buns. Sweet Buns was just across the street. She could hop over there, get a bun, and come back before the coffee was even done brewing. But Molly was a McCoy. And it wasnt safe for her to go near a McCoy.
She took a cup of coffee into the living room and prepared to chill out by doing some channel surfing. Aunt Clemintines taste had run to overstuffed chintz, Italian porcelain flower arrangements, and numerous other girly bric-a-brac that Gillian had loved when she was a little girl. It was so feminine compared to her parents house which had been overrun with boy stuff and decorated chiefly with anything that wouldnt break easily or show dirt.
Gillian opened the doors to the antique armoire that contained a little television set, then got comfortable on the overstuffed sofa. But when she reached for the remote control, it wasnt on the coffee table. Or the end table. It wasnt anywhere. It took her five minutes of searching before she realized that the only innovation Aunt Clemintine had embraced after 1952 had been polyester fabric. Her TV didnt have a remote. It didnt even have color. Gillian ended up sitting crossed-legged on the floor close enough to the set to reach out and change the channels manually.
The soaps were no fun in black-and-white because you couldnt really enjoy the clothes. She stopped at a courtroom showone of those half-hour things where a smart-aleck judge badgered and humiliated the stuffing out of either the defendant or the plaintiffor sometimes both. Not Gillians idea of happy viewing. She reached out to change the channel when something the female plaintiff said caught her attention.
Its his fault, Your Honor, how was I supposed to deliver pizzas after he wrecked my car? I got no earningshe should be made to pay.
The judge, a feisty-looking middle-aged woman, asked some questions, listened to the answers, and then lashed into the male defendant like her tongue was a cat-o-nine-tails. The defendant tried to defend himself. The judge shut him up. By the time she threw the book at him and made him pay damages and lost wages, Gillian was up on her feet cheering.
Damn, that felt good, she said, nearly out of breath with sisters unite blood lust. And then it hit her.
Maybe she should sue Lukas McCoy.
She started to pace the small living room.
Could she?
Should she?
Would she?
Gillian could feel her adrenaline pumping at the thought of having her day in court. Oh, she really wasnt out for blood. She didnt want to ruin McCoy or anything. She just wanted enough money to be able to afford to hire someone to be her left arm until it healed. Shed been too big a wimp to do anything about what Ryan had done to her. But that didnt mean she had to go on being a wimp, did it? She didnt want to continue allowing men to screw up her life and livelihood, did she?
Absolutely not!
She marched over to Aunt Clemintines little phone stand and picked up the Timber Bay phone book. Ive got more numbers than this in my Rolodex, she muttered as she flipped through the slim volume until she found the yellow pages. All eight of them. She located the listing for lawyers and picked up the phone.
LUKAS WAS SITTING on the railing that surrounded the marble terrace at the back of the Sheridan Hotel. It was one of those perfect late September days when the leaves on the trees had started to turn but hadnt yet started to fall. They rustled in the wind off the baya last gasp of energy before the colder winds of October put them to rest on the ground. Climbing roses that had been allowed to go wild were still blooming and there were clusters of deep-gold mums, some of them almost as big as shrubs, bordering the low wall that ran down to the water. He could hear the rhythmic lap of the waves against the ramshackle pier.
If things went the way Agnes Sheridan wanted them to, by next summer the small pier would be restored and thered be boats docked there. The roses would be tamed and there would be people sitting on the terrace. Wealthy, worldly people.
People like Gillian Caine.
If only Id said I was sorry, he mumbled.
Whats that, pal?
Lukas started at the sound of Dannys voice, then quickly collected himself. About time you got back with my lunch, Lukas said, figuring a little grousing would make Danny forget that Lukas hadnt answered him.
Here ya go. Danny tossed Lukas a bag from the lunch counter at Ludington Drugs. Tuna salad on white bread and an order of fried chicken. Interesting combination.
Lukas easily caught the bag. He rummaged inside and came out with the sandwich. Did you tell Clara to put cheese on the tuna?
Yup.
Lukas unwrapped the sandwich and started to tear it into little pieces.
Danny groaned. Dont tell me you found another stray?
Lukas set the wrapper down at the top of the steps and called, Here, Tiger, Tiger.
A huge clump of mums started to rustle. A moment later a cat emergedthe same one hed rescued from the tunnel. The big, lazy-moving orange tabby had a scar on his nose and half his tail was missing. He prowled over to sniff the sandwich, gave Lukas a look of appreciation, then delicately started to eat.
Danny laughed. Cat knows a good thing. Clara uses only albacore down at Ludingtons. By the time you get around to buying cat food, that cat is gonna turn up his nose at it.
You can tell just by looking at him that hes been through a lot. Hes got a little luxury coming, Lukas said as he bit into a chicken leg.
Next thing you know, youll be going over to Sweet Buns and getting him a slice of cheesecake.
Lukas laughed. What Danny said wasnt so far-fetched. Lukas had been rescuing things all his life. As recently as last month hed coaxed a wounded squirrel with macadamia nuts filched from the larder at Sweet Buns that, Molly never stopped reminding him, werent exactly cheap. He regularly climbed trees to fetch cats and helped old ladies cross the street. Heck, hed even rescued Danny from a bunch of bullies back in grade school. Theyd been best buddies ever since. Lukas had a reputation of being an all-around good guy. So how come hed acted the way he had with Gillian Caine?
You know, buddy, I did a really stupid thing the other night, Lukas said to Danny.
Stupider than feeding a stray cat a three-dollar sandwich?
Afraid so. I was down in the hotels wine cellar measuring for the new fittings, when I thought I heard a cat yowling in the tunnel. I checked it out and, sure enough, Tiger here was trapped down there. He was kind of spookedclawing the hell out of meand I remembered how when you and Hannah were trapped down there you got out through a manhole onto Sheridan Road. So Tiger and I took the same shortcut.
Danny shrugged. Whats so stupid about that? Dont tell me you had trouble pushing that cover aside. If Hannah could do it
Oh, I could push it out of the way all right, no problem. Trouble is, I sort of pushed more than the manhole cover out of the way.
Danny wrinkled his brow. What else did you push?
Gillian Caine. She was standing on the cover and she sort of went airborne.
Danny started to laugh.
Its not funny, Danny. She sprained her arm. I had to take her to the E.R. and shes got to wear a sling and I didnt even say I was sorry.
Well, thats not like you, pal. Youre the polite type. You even manage to be nice to Dragon Lady Sheridan.
Danny, I gotta tell you, I feel really lousy about this. She looked so little and helpless laying there in the street
Gillian Caine helpless?
Maybe I should send her some flowers or something. What do you think? Lukas asked earnestly.
Before Danny could answer, Tiger gave a growl worthy of a canine and both Danny and Lukas turned to see what he was tracking with his yellow stare. A man in a suit was standing in the open French doors.
Which one of you is Lukas McCoy?
Tiger bolted back into the mums as Lukas wiped his fingers on a paper napkin and stood up. Im McCoy, he said.
Then this is for you. The man handed Lukas some papers and rapidly retreated.
Hey, wait! Lukas called to his back, but the guy just kept going.
Whats with the papers? Danny asked.
Lukas looked down at them. It took him a few moments to comprehend what he was reading. Unbelieeeeevable! He thrust a hand into his hair and started to pace the terrace while he read it again just to be sure. Un-damn-believable.
What is it? Danny asked.
Lukas looked up. Gillian Caine is suing me.
Danny whistled, long and low. I guess its a good thing you didnt order those flowers yet, huh, pal?
I do hope, said a familiar voice from just inside the French doors, that this doesnt mean that my grandson was right about the two of you.
Mrs. Sheridan, Lukas said with surprise. Did we have an appointment? How long have youum
Been standing here? the old lady finished for him. Long enough to know that someone is suing you. Long enough to make me wonder if Ive made a mistake.
Danny hopped to his feet. You know nothing about whats going on, so if I were you
Lukas stepped in front of Danny, cutting him off both literally and figuratively. What you just heard, Mrs. Sheridan, had nothing to do with Timber Bay Building and Restoration. Its me getting sued. Not the company.
Danny poked his head around Lukas. Not that itd be any of Gavins business either way.
Thats where youre wrong, Agnes Sheridan said with a haughty thrust of her head. Gavin is coming back to Timber Bay.
Behind him, Danny swore and Lukas tried to cover it up with a cough. Thatsumswell, Mrs. Sheridan, he said after hed cleared the imaginary frog in his throat.
The old ladys black eyes glittered and her thin, usually stubbornly set mouth, actually smiled. Its what I had hoped. That once work started on the hotel, Gavin would take an interest and reclaim his life in Timber Bay.
Dont tell me hes coming home for good? Danny asked. One can hope, Mr. Walker.
Yes, Danny agreed. One can.
Lukas was pretty sure that Danny and Agnes Sheridan werent hoping the same thing. Hed feel safer if he separated the two of them.
Mrs. Sheridan, why dont you let me show you the progress Im making in the lobby. I think youll be pleased with the way the staircase looks.
Lead on, young man, she said. But before she went through the French doors she turned and gave Danny a poke in the leg with her cane. I suggest you get on with your lunch, Walker. I assure you that Gavin wont take this sitting about on the job any better than I do.
Danny opened his mouth but before anything could come out, Lukas took the Dragon Lady by the arm and ushered her into the ballroom, closing the French doors behind them.
Danny and the Dragon Lady had been enemies for years. Things had gotten better since Hannah, who Agnes Sheridan totally approved of, had hit town. But now that Gavin was coming back, Lukas was going to have his hands full as a peacemaker. The last thing he needed right now was to have some big-city brat take him to court.
Hed been right. Nothing good was coming from Gillian Caine being back in Timber Bay.
THE HEARING IS TOMORROW, Mom, Gillian said into the phone receiver.
Justice moves swiftly in the Midwest.
Theyve got this judge who takes care of several counties and hes only in town once a month. How primitive is that? My lawyerwho, by the way, I had to go to the next town to getsaid that if we didnt get on the docket this time, wed have to wait a whole month.
Are you sure youre doing the right thing, Gilly?
Gillian sighed. What are you trying to say, Mom?
Well, as I remember it, the McCoys were well liked in Timber Bay. The town might not take too kindly to an outsider taking one of their own to court. Have you thought of what it might do to business?
Mom, Im not planning on taking him to the cleaners. I just want enough to hire someone to help me for the next couple of weeks.
But, honey, I already offered to come out and
Forget it, Mom. Weve been through all this already. I need to do this on my own. I need to be totally independent.
You dont have to prove anything to anyone, Gilly.
Her mother was wrong. Gillian had to prove something to herself. She had to prove that she could be her own person and not have to count on anyone coming through for her ever again. If she failed, shed have no one to blame but herself. And if she succeeded, no one could ever take it away from her.
Cant you just be supportive, Mom? I mean, Dad keeps saying that he wishes I hadnt let Ryan off the hook. You should be jumping up and down with joy. I finally think Dad was right about something. I shouldnt have let Ryan get away with it. Im not making that mistake again.
But, Gilly, its not the same thing at all. In fact
Gillian was picking at a fingernail and mostly tuning her mother out when she heard a knock on the door downstairs.
Mom, someones at the door, she said, sending silent gratitude to whoever it was for getting her out of this conversation. She loved her mother, but she had heard it all before. Ill call you after court tomorrow. Kisses to everyone, she added as brightly as possible. Bye!
She hurried downstairs and through the workroom to the back door. But when she opened it, no one was there. Sitting on the cement stoop was a wicker basket covered with a green-and-white gingham napkin. She recognized the napkin, but even if she hadnt, she would have known that Molly had left the basket. Gillian could smell the cinnamon buns that were lurking beneath the gingham.
A bribe.
She snatched the basket up, shut the door and locked it behind her.
The smart thing would be to leave the basket downstairs in the workroom. Or better yet, out in the shop. Less temptation that way.
On the other hand, it was an old building. It wouldnt do to encourage any rodents that might have designs on the placemake them think they were going to be able to stop in for a midnight snack.
She decided that she better take the basket upstairs with her, after all. That didnt mean she was accepting the bribe, though, she told herself, climbing the stairs. She was a big girl. She could certainly resist a couple of cinnamon buns.
When she put the basket on the small drop-leaf table in the kitchen, she noticed the note tucked inside. With two fingers she carefully pulled it out, trying not to disturb the napkin and have to actually look the bribe in the eye. Or in this case, in the frosting.
I thought you might feel funny about coming into Sweet Buns so sweet buns are coming to you. Sorry again for the mud pies. Molly.
Mud pies. Huhyeah, right, Gillian muttered. The basket was an obvious attempt to sweeten her up and make her drop the suit. She wondered how many cinnamon buns Molly thought it would take to buy her.
Well, she could just keep wondering because there was no way she was lifting that napkin and looking underneath.
Stoically, she marched into the bedroom. There were several outfits laid out on the canopy bed Aunt Clemintine had gotten for her the summer shed turned six. Gillian was still trying to decide what to wear to court the next day.
Something feminine, yet strong, she murmured.
That left out the pink polka-dot suit with the ruffled hems.
Something strong, yet sympathetic.
That left out the black shantung tuxedo with the sheer tailored shirt and her witty take on a mens club tie (diagonal rows of pink poodles against an aqua background).
Something Well, above all something that would go with her sling. Which, she supposed, would be the black sleeveless sheath with the little turquoise capelet. The only problem was that it was very, very formfitting. But she had just lost five pounds.
When she tried it on, it fit beautifully. She didnt even have to hold her tummy inmuch. And it barely hurt her arm to put it on.
Perfect, she pronounced as she looked in the mirror. Whoever invented those diet shakes should get the Nobel or something. She had missed chewing, though. The sensual feel of food actually in her mouth. Hmm. And that reminded her. She hadnt had any dinner yet. Shed picked up a salad at the supermarket and it was waiting in the fridge. She peeled out of the dress, hung it up and headed for the kitchen.
Was it her imagination or had the basket from Sweet Buns gotten bigger? Gillian ignored it and went to the fridge. She grabbed the salad, wrestled off the plastic cover and dug in.
Oh, yum, she muttered with her mouth full. Iceberg lettuce and hothouse tomatoes.
She kept forking into the salad but her stomach kept right on growling. Or was it the siren song of the cinnamon buns she kept hearing over the crunch of a woody radish?
Gillian eyed the basket. It would be such a shame to waste those buns. And didnt carbohydrates help induce sleep? She started to reach for the basket, then drew her hand back. But, if the buns really were a bribe, did that mean that if she ate one shed be accepting the bribe?
She picked up the note and read it again.
There really was no mention of Lukas, or the court case, at all. And she was, after all, owed some sort of payment for the pants that adorable Chloe ruined. Just a little carbohydrate to soothe the nerves. Itd be the healthy thing to do, wouldnt it?
She pulled back the napkin. Six large buns, slathered with thick frosting, were nestled oh-so-beautifully in another gingham napkin. It was more than Gillian could stand.
Just one, she thought. One wouldnt hurt.
3
IT WAS NEARLY TIME to leave for court and Gillian was still struggling with the side zipper on the black sheath. It turned out that the cinnamon buns hadnt been a bribe at all. Sabotage. Thats what they were. Sabotage to make her gain back those five pounds.
Of course, no one had made her eat all six of them.
But Molly should have known I couldnt resist! she wailed at her bloated reflection. Following a half-dozen sweet buns from Sweet Buns, the dress had ceased being a sheath and had turned, overnight, into a sausage.
Gillian gave up on the zipper and started to rip the dress off.
Ow!
Drat her sprained arm. It made dressing, something Gillian ordinarily loved to do, nearly impossible and painful as the dentist.
Okay, maybe it wasnt as bad as a root canal. But it was so frustrating to have to do everything not only one-handed but gingerly, as well. She couldnt wait to face Lukas McCoy in court. If the judge didnt throw the book at him, Gillian just might have to throw something at him herself.
One-handed, of course.
She yanked a sleeveless red shirtwaist with a retro full skirt out of the closet and struggled into it, managing to howl in pain only twice. It had a wide belt that was, thankfully, adjustable, and even though it was a little snug in the bodice the full skirt definitely hid any evidence of her carbo pig-out session the night before. She took a white cardigan sweater that shed picked up in a vintage clothing shop in the Village out of Aunt Clemintines bureau. It had a darling little Peter Pan collar that was edged with tiny seed pearls. Perfect for throwing over her shoulders. She slipped red pumps on her bare feetpanty hose had proven impossible to maneuver with only one handtransferred the necessary junk to a vintage red clutch purse, then checked herself in the mirror.
Hmm, not bad, she murmured. Maybe even better than the outfit she was going to wear in the first place. Feminine yet strong. Original, yet not too funky. The sling, however, nearly ruined the look. Gillian rummaged through a few hat boxes of accessories and came up with a long white scarf scattered with tiny red dots. Using her teeth and her good arm, she managed to tie it. She slipped it over her shoulder then ducked her head to get it around her neck.
Better, Gillian said to her reflection in the mirror. She was making some minor adjustments to the scarf when out on the street a horn honked. She ran to the window and looked out. An enormous old hulk of a car, the color of lemons, waited at the curb. Gillian smiled. Yes, Philo Hernshaw would own such a car.
She ran down the stairs, went out the front door and got into her lawyers car.
Youre so sweet to pick me up, she said. Its such a nuisance not being able to drive.
My pleasure, Miss Plane.
Umthats Caine, Mr. Hernshaw.
What? Oh, no. I dont use a cane. Although I think they can sometimes add a touch of distinction to a gentleman.
No, Mr. Hernshaw. My name is
There was the blare of a horn and the squeal of tires as Philo Hernshaw edged the car into traffic and Gillian decided it was best not to bother him while he was driving.
Philo Hernshaw was a sweet man, very courtly, with crisp white hair, a short little beak of a nose and pale blue eyes. He dressed impeccably in suits that could have come from the kind of vintage clothing shops Gillian loved to rummage inthough, in Philo Hernshaws case, Gillian was fairly certain that the suits were strictly one-owner. In all the social graces, her lawyer was quite acceptable. But Gillian was a little dubious of his mental powers. Oh, he didnt seem senileexactly. He was just a bit vague. Most of the time he had a secret little smile on his faded lipslike he was experiencing a pleasant memorybut every once in a while hed sort of get this look on his face like he wasnt sure how hed gotten where he was at that particular moment. Very unsettling.
There was another blare of car horns as Philo made a turn onto Ludington Avenue without using his blinker. His driving wasnt exactly instilling any more confidence. Unfortunately, he was the only lawyer within one hundred miles of Timber Bay willing to take her case. Gillian suspected his appointment book wasnt exactly jammed.
Tires squealed as Philo changed lanes and Gillian decided to spend the rest of the trip with her eyes closed. Luckily, the courthouse was only about a mile down Ludington Avenueright across the street from the hospital Lukas had taken her toand they managed to arrive alive and unscathed.
Ever the gentleman, Philo came around and opened the door for her, offered his arm, and escorted her up the long walk that led to the courthouse.
Quite a day, isnt it, Miss Spain?
Gillian opened her mouth to correct him, but decided to merely agree. Yes, Mr. Hernshaw. Its a beautiful day.
The morning was sunny with a gentle breeze that stirred the gold-and-red leaves on the trees that dotted the grounds of the lovely little redbrick courthouse. The building was done in the federalist style, complete with an American flag flying from the top of its petite white rotunda.
It was all so bucolic. So undisturbed looking. Gillian felt a twinge in her belly that had nothing to do with those half-dozen sweet buns and everything to do with the fact that she was about to disturb this bucolic scenebig-time.
Philo held the door for her and she walked into the cool, dim marble foyer. There was a small group of people at the other end. Despite the fact that her eyes hadnt fully adjusted to the dimness, Gillian immediately recognized Lukas by height and breadth alone. He was grinning at a short middle-aged woman with a pretty face and neat dark hair who was reaching up and trying to push back those loose curls that fell over his forehead. His mother, no doubt. The man standing next to her, a graying, slightly shorter version of Lukas, had to be his father. Molly was there, too, smiling and teasing her brother about their mothers ministrations.
Gillian felt an unexpected pang of loneliness at the sight of McCoys family gathered around him. They all looked so nice. They reminded her of her own family. Well, minus the four brothers she had and plus the sister shed always wanted.
As they approached, something made Lukas look up and the smile on his face, the one that deepened his dimples enough for a girl to get lost in them, totally disappeared.
Gillian sighed. You are now entering the no-smile zone, she said under her breath.
Did you say something, Miss Flame? Philo asked.
Gillian winced. She was about to go up against one of the towns favorite sons and she had a lawyer who couldnt even get her name straight. Despite the fact that Gillian firmly believed she was right in what she was doing, she didnt feel real terrific about it at the moment.
Luckily, just as Gillians heart was warming to the McCoysjust as she started to wonder if she should just call the whole thing offshe heard the muffled sound of fabric rending as the back seam on the fitted bodice of her dress gave. And that made her remember the sweet-bun sabotage. Which made her remember the ruined pants and the damaged boot and her sprained arm. So when Molly came forward and started to introduce her parents, Gillian held up her good arm and yelled, Stop!
Stop? Molly inquired with a puzzled frown on her face.
Pleasejust dont come any closer. Every encounter Ive had with a McCoy since I came back to town has turned out badly. So pleasejust stay right where you are until Im safely inside the courtro
Gillian didnt get to finish. There was a commotion behind the courtroom doors and then they burst open and an elderly man in a black robe came running out.
Bees! he yelled.
What? squawked Gillian.
Bees! the court reporter, hot on the heels of the judge and gripping her little machine in her hands, yelled.
Close the doors! someone shouted, but it was too late. The foyer was already buzzing.
Oh, myIm allergic, Philo said quite calmly just as a huge bumblebee landed on his nose. Oh, my, he merely said again as he went cross-eyed looking at it. Im allergic, you know, he repeated politely.
The bee sat there quivering slightly as if it was trying to choose a pore to plunge its stinger into and Philo just stood there looking cross-eyed, so Gillian did the only thing she could think of. She swatted at the bee on Philos nose.
As it turned out, swatted might have been too mild a term because Philo went down like a felled tree with the squished remains of the bee hanging off of his nose.
Lukas rushed over and crouched next to Philos inert form. Did the bee get him?
I dont know! Im not sure! Gillian cried, feeling perfectly awful as she peered at her lawyer over McCoys hulking shoulder.
Lukas shook him but Philo remained stubbornly inert.
Do you think hes in shock from bee venom? Lukass mother asked.
I think its more likely the princess punched his lights out, Lukas answered. But just in case, we better get him to the hospital.
Somebody call 911! Gillian shouted, but Lukas was already picking the lawyer up off the floor.
The hospital is right across the street. Ill take him.
Ill come along, Molly said.
Gillian stood there with her mouth hanging open as Lukas carried her lawyer out the door, cradling him in his arms like he was no more than a child.
Swell, Gillian said. There goes my lawyer and the defendant. Talk about odd couples.
Doesnt matter, the judge said. No courtroom, anyway. There was a whole damn nest of bees under the bench.
Gillian panicked. The hearing couldnt be postponed! Because if it was, it would mean that she was going to fail in business once again.
She grabbed ahold of the judges robe. But Judge, you dont understand! We have to have this hearing today! I could lose my business if we dont.
The judge sized her up, his lined face scrunching and his eyes squinting. You prepared to act as your own lawyer?
Lukas is acting as his own lawyer, Mr. McCoy said. Mrs. McCoy nodded in agreement.
Gillian, whod gotten hooked on the courtroom show that gave her the idea to sue McCoy in the first place, figured if Lukas McCoy could be his own lawyer, so could she. Yes! she answered, bobbing her head up and down enthusiastically.
Then find me a courtroom, girlie, and were in business.
Gillian was ecstatic and didnt wonder until much later at the wisdom of wanting to go before a judge who called her girlie.
She was pacing, trying to come up with an idea for an alternative courtroom when the doors to the main entrance burst open and a group of women came bustling in, each of them carrying a weird-looking plant in their hands.
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, (https://www.litres.ru/nikki-rivers/random-acts-of-fashion/) .
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Nikki Rivers
When life hands you lemonshand them back!An "accident" sent Gillian Caine reeling when Lukas McCoy ran into herand left her with a broken arm. Luckily, a helpful judge assigned him to help finish getting her new shop ready. Bringing silk, satin and high fashion to Timber Bay, Michiganhome of flannel, wool and practical granny pantieswasn't going to be easy, but Gillian was up for the challenge.Or was she? Because the warm, caring people of Timber Bay had no trouble resisting her fashion ideas. Didn't they realize the power in a makeover? Suddenly desperate, Gillian knew she needed their attentionand no broad-shouldered, heterosexual man with no fashion sense would stand in her way!Until she found herself in his arms.
Dear Reader,
Ive always loved the craziness of fashion, where the absurd often hangs right next to the sublime. Hmmmkind of sounds like romantic comedy, doesnt it? Well, how could I resist? I just had to create Gillian Caine, a fashion designer from New York City who has just been dumped and swindled by a definite Mr. Wrong. Gillian was a delight to write. Shes strong-willed, creative, independent. Shes a girl who intends to stand on her own two feeteven when theyre stuffed into a pair of pumps with five-inch heels. To add to the fun, I transplanted Gillian to Timber Bay, Michiganthe small town I first introduced in my June, 2004, Flipside, Finding Mr. Perfect. Timber Bay is the kind of place where buying a new flannel shirt every winter is considered keeping up with the latest trendsuntil Gillian hits town, that is!
Gillian Caine is one of my favorite creations. A real Flipside kind of girl! I hope you have fun getting to know her as she commits Random Acts of Fashion on the eccentric citizens of Timber Bay.
May the fashion be with you,
Nikki Rivers
I want you to decorate the tree with these, Gillian ordered
Lukas nudged the box beside him, then looked at the suspended branches in the shop window. Opening the carton, he sputtered, These areum
Lingerie, McCoy. Now get to work!
Yes, warden, he grumbled, picking up a violet camisole. He continued arranging the garments as Gillian came over to inspect his work. Not used to her closeness, Lukas tripped over the stool, lunging toward her, crashing through the tree. Bras and panties took flight like a colorful flock of frightened birds.
Lukas? Gillian tossed underwear aside until she found a nose sticking out of the leg of a French-cut panty.
Are you all right? she asked as she lifted the lingerie. Not exactly the way its worn, McCoy, she said, grinning down at him.
Maybe youd like to demonstrate the right way to wear it then, warden, he replied, his mouth holding back a wicked grin.
Random Acts of Fashion
Nikki Rivers
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nikki Rivers loves writing romantic comedy because she believes that laughter is just as necessary to life as love is. She also gets a kick out of creating quirky characters, having come from a long line of them, herself. Nikki lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her very own Mr. Right. She loves to hear from readers. E-mail her at RiversWrites@aol.com (mailto:RiversWrites@aol.com).
Books by Nikki Rivers
HARLEQUIN FLIPSIDE
17FINDING MR. PERFECT
HARLEQUIN DUETS
66A SNOWBALLS CHANCE
HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE
550SEDUCING SPENCER
592DADDYS LITTLE MATCHMAKER
664ROMANCING ANNIE
723HER PRINCE CHARMING
764FOR BETTER, FOR BACHELOR
To my sisters, Bobbi, Pat, and Judy. Thanks for the laughter, the strength, and the loveand for all those bizarre weekends at the bazaar. Yes! An ant can move a rubber tree plant!
Contents
Chapter 1 (#uc311c26c-f6bc-5cc0-a124-11745a9c86c7)
Chapter 2 (#u1dcbf9ad-f627-5569-a8f5-ad9a8e65cef3)
Chapter 3 (#ua2ba681a-038b-5a98-b77e-a15d934e9a2e)
Chapter 4 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 5 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 6 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 7 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 8 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 9 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 10 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 11 (#litres_trial_promo)
1
THE BLACK PICKUP TRUCK with Timber Bay Building and Restoration painted on its side in old-fashioned gold script pulled up to the curb in front of the Sheridan Hotel. Lukas McCoy got out of the drivers seat and slammed the door behind him.
I should have known, he grumbled, scowling at the workmen installing a sign on one of the storefronts across the street. Tigers never change their stripes.
His partner and best friend, Danny Walker, got out the passenger side. Lukas, pal, I never noticed how fond you are of non sequiturs.
Lukas gave Danny a look. Hannah teach you a new word this morning over toast and coffee?
Danny grinned. We skipped breakfast, pal. Were still on our honeymoon.
Danny had married Hannah Ross at the end of the summer. Everyone said it was the most beautiful wedding that Timber Bay had ever seen. And they were thrilled that Hannah, a research sociologist whod come to Timber Bay on a misguided mission to find the perfect American family for an ad campaign, had stayed to become one of them. But it was still a little weird for Lukas to think of Danny as being married. Hed always figured that Danny would be a lifetime Lothario. Lukas had been the one most likely of the two to settle down with a wife. Danny had been his best friend since grade school and Lukas begrudged him nothing. But damned if he wasnt just a little jealous of Dannys happiness. Facing that satisfied grin of his partners every morning was starting to get mighty old.
And now this, Lukas thought sourly as he watched the neon sign being put into place in the window of the long-empty shop that used to be known as Clemintines Frocks.
The big-city princess should have known to hire a local company, at least. Havent they ever heard of such a thing as goodwill in New York City? Dont they know that its important to do business with somebody local? And just look at that. Neon. Lukas spat out the word in disgust. There isnt one other neon sign on Sheridan Road.
It wasnt as if Timber Bay, Michigan, didnt have its share of neon. Ludington Avenue was dotted with it. But the Avenue had always been faster than the Road. Always. The merchants on Sheridan Road tended to keep things just as they always had been. Simple redbrick storefronts marched alongside an old-fashioned theater marquee, a Greek Revival town library and an old wooden band shell that was perched in the park along the bay.
And then there was the Sheridan Hotel. Reclusive town matriarch Agnes Sheridan had hired Danny and Lukas to renovate it. The old lady wanted it restored as closely as possible to its original glory, right down to the intricate wood carvings that Lukas was duplicating to replace sections that had rotted.
Danny slapped him on the back. A little neon isnt exactly going to ruin the town, pal. Why get all worked up about it?
It was true that Lukas rarely got all worked up about anything. But this was riling him to no end. The big-city princess finally claims her inheritance and the first thing she does is plaster neon all over Sheridan Roadand brings in outsiders to do it, besides!
Theyre from Green Bay, Wisconsin, Lukas, not Pluto, Danny said as he went around to the back of the truck and let down the gate. Its sixty miles away.
Still, whats wrong with hiring somebody local? Shes gotta mar the landscape and insult the citizens all in one day? And how come you arent upset, Danny? Youre so all-fired excited about preserving stuff. Clemintines Frocks is nearly as much a fixture on Sheridan Road as the hotel is. We dont need some spoiled city girl coming into town and changing everything around.
Women have a way of doing that, pal. And its usually for the better.
Lukas watched the neon being fitted into place and shook his head. Nothing good is going to come from Gillian Caine coming back to Timber Bay.
GILLIAN SUCKED IN HER TUMMY and eased the side zipper up on her latest creationa pair of ultraslim cosmic gray satin pants. She sighed with satisfaction. Living on liquid diet shakes for the past week had paid off. Shed lost five of the ten break-up and go broke pounds shed gained back in New York. She lifted the filmy ruffled shirt laid out on the bed and slithered into it. Looking in the full-length mirror in the tiny bedroom of her tiny apartment above Clemintines Frocks, she was almost satisfied with what she saw.
Of course, it wasnt Clemintines Frocks any longer, Gillian reminded herself. Along with the five pounds, shed also shed the wooden sign that had hung over the door for the forty years her Aunt Clemintine had been sole proprietor of the dress shop on Sheridan Road. Glad Rags. Thats what Gillians shop was going to be called. In bright, bold pink neon. There were two workmen out front right at that very moment hanging the sign. Which was why Gillian just had to look her very best today. Her most chic. She intended to be as bright an advertisement for Glad Rags as the neon was.
Shed purposely kept a low profile since shed arrived in Timber Bay less than two weeks ago. Behind the yellowing newspapers that covered the display window, shed toiled day and night, wallpapering, painting and staining until even the rubber gloves she wore couldnt protect her neglected fingernails. She looked at her hands in disgust.
Hold on, babies, she cooed to her chipped and ragged nails. Once weve made our debut, we will find the best manicurist in town and make you all shiny and new again. Nothing wrong that a good nail wrap couldnt cure. But at least the rest of her was looking good.
When shed arrived in Timber Bay she had still been a mess from the crisis in New York. A girls world tumbling to pieces around her tended to make for dull hair and muddy-looking skin. So while shed subsisted on diet shakes, shed moisturized, exfoliated, mud-packed and conditioned. She leaned in closer to the mirror, scanning her complexion with a critical eye. Progress, she pronounced with a smile. There were still five pounds to lose but she was looking a whole lot better than when shed slunk out of NYC on a one-way ticket on Amtrak.
Gillian slipped an ankle-length duster that matched the pants off its hanger and put it on, drawing the deeply ruffled cuffs of the pink georgette shirt out to flounce over her hands. She struggled into the pink crocodile boots filched from what was until only recently her very ownokay, her co-ownedboutique in lower Manhattan. They were expensive enough to give Ryan, ex-partner, ex-boyfriend, and ex-decent human being, acid reflux when he realized they were missing. But Gillian had no qualms. In fact, she hoped hed just downed a double espresso when he discovered the boots were gone and that there wasnt an ant-acid to be had in all of Manhattan. After what that pseudo-designer and society wannabe had done to her, he was lucky she hadnt taken him to court.
Enough about him, she said, turning to check out her completed look in the mirror. She smiled hugely at what she saw. There wasnt a woman in Timber Bay under thirty-five who wouldnt be drooling to get inside Glad Rags by the time the grand opening rolled around.
Suddenly her smile faltered, then fell into an outright frown. She had been wrong about Timber Bay in the past. What if?
Gillian determinedly shook off the thought and the frown. Frowns turned into wrinkles. Besides, she wasnt going to be wrong this time. This time the town was going to want what she had to offer.
They had to. Didnt they? she silently asked her reflection. Shed win them over this time. Wouldnt she?
Oh, why are you starting with this old insecurity stuff now? she impatiently asked her reflection. It is time to exude confidence, Gillian! You are no longer a little girl needing acceptance but a businesswoman who will be fulfilling a need in the community. And boy, if they were anything like they used to be, the women of Timber Bay had a really big need for what she had to offer. How could she miss?
Her reflection seemed to be listening to her self-inflicted pep talk. Her shoulders straightened, her chin lifted, and her mouth curved into a smile. Thats more like it. She tucked the large silver clutch bag shed designed to go with the outfit under her arm and headed down the stairs and out the door.
LUKAS AND DANNY WERE getting ready to unload stacks of lumber for the hotel from the back of the pickup when Danny paused. Well, look at that, he said under his breath. A princess from outer space. And I thought Halloween was almost a month away, yet.
Lukass gaze followed Dannys across the street.
The woman who had just come out the door of the dress shop was wearing something silver. As sleek and shiny as a brand-new saw blade. And she was walking on pink boots with heels as thin and long as a railroad spike. It was some walk she had, too. Lukas knew for sure that there wasnt a woman in town who walked quite that way. She wasnt tall, maybe five foot four, but she had a confident stride for such a shrimp of a girl. And she moved from her hips, causing the fabric of the coat she was wearing to swish back and forth when she walked. Watching her stride over to the workmen was like a compulsion. She said something to them and one of them laughed. For some reason, the sound made Lukass scowl deepen.
She still looks like a spoiled big city-princess to me, he muttered.
Danny shrugged. I guess that must be how they dress in New York City.
Yeah, but this isnt New York City, Lukas muttered. No one around here is going to buy that kind of stuff. Now lets get this truck unloaded.
ACROSS THE STREET, Gillian tipped the workmen generously, trying not to calculate how much closer she was going to be to broke because of it. One of the lessons shed learned from Ryanbesides the need to watch her backwas that you had to look successful to be successful. Money attracted money like lint to black cashmere. Nobody liked to associate with failure. Ryan had always said that looking needy was worse than looking nerdy.
She waved as the workmen drove off, feeling suddenly and absurdly alone. As the truck turned the corner at the Town Square and disappeared down Ludington Avenue, it felt like her last contact with the outside world had been broken. In a way, she supposed, she was like the pioneer women who helped settle the west. Instead of trails forged over mountains or through deserts, she was going to be forging a trail through the closets of Timber Bay, bringing style instead of civilization.
Yes! That was it! A pioneer woman of fashion. She suddenly felt a whole lot better. She also felt hungryfor some real food for a change.
Time for this pioneer woman to go on a little scouting trip, she murmured to herself as she scanned the street for a sign of someplace to eat. Maybe a nice juicy
Mmm, yum, she said under her breath when she looked across the street. Two very juicy guys with a truck. Not exactly what she had in mind, but
Oh, swell, she groaned when she got a better look at them.
She hadnt seen either one since they were boys, but she recognized them all the same. Maybe because they were together, just like theyd always been all those summers so long ago. That was Lukas McCoy squatting in the back of the pickup truck. And the other one, the one grinning at her, was Danny Walker. Walker used to tease her mercilessly about wearing the same outfit as the doll shed always carried around with her. McCoy, whod been a big, quiet kid, would just sort of scowl at her. Just like he was scowling at her right now.
There had been plenty of kids in Timber Bay who hadnt liked her. But of all of them, McCoy had been the worst. Not that hed ever said anything. In all the years shed come to Timber Bay as a child to visit Aunt Clemintine, shed probably only heard his voice once or twice. But it seemed to her back then that he smiled at everybody else almost all the time. He had these big dimples and they flashed all over the place like the lights in Times Square. Unless, that is, he was looking at her. She seemed to be in some weird no-smile zone as far as he was concerned.
Apparently, from the look on his face, she still dwelled in it.
As a shy little girl her defense had been to stick up her nose and pretend he wasnt there, but she wasnt that girl anymore. Recent events had toughened her up even more. This time, she decided to meet his disapproval head-on. She decided to cross the street.
When she was halfway across, McCoy started to stand up. And up. Gillians step faltered and slowed as he unfolded and jumped down off the back of the truck.
He was nearly as tall as the dress shop and almost as wide. The scowl hovered on his still boyish face but there was no mistaking the shadow of the dimples on either side of his mouth. With that huge, grown-up body, those blond cherub curls falling over his forehead and that smooth boyish face, a smile would have been enough to make her trip and fall flat on her face. Gillian decided for once that maybe she was glad to be in the no-smile zone.
It occurred to her that she still had time to sort of swerve in her crossing and avoid his orbit altogether, but what the heck. If she could take on Manhattan, she could take on this block of disapproval, as well.
Briefly the thought intruded that shed lost miserably at taking on Manhattan, but she squashed it down again with the ring of her spiked heel on the cracked pavement of Sheridan Road. She hadnt lost anythingshed been robbed. Manhattan had been stolen from her, along with her share of the boutique, by her conniving ex and a boney-bottomed lingerie model turned scanty-panty designer. But this small-town giant didnt know thatand neither did anyone else in Timber Bay. And as long as she dripped confidence, style and flare, they never would.
As she neared the other side of the street, Gillian decided it wouldnt hurt to take advantage of the three extra inches the curb offered by stepping onto it. She might as well have dug herself a hole to stand in for all the good those three inches did her. Not to worry, she was used to making up for her shortcomings with bravado.
I see youve still got your sidekick with you, huh, McCoy? she asked, with a cocky New-York-City-girl tilt of the head as she looked up at him.
The giant just scowled down at her.
I dont get kicked that often anymore, though, the other one, Danny Walker, said as he held out his hand. Welcome back to Timber Bay.
Well, its nice to know that one of you has learned some manners, at least, she said, taking his hand.
Some of us grew up okay, Danny said.
And some of you just grew, I see.
Lukas knew he was coming across as an oaf. He knew he should be smiling at the lady and making nice. After all, hadnt he just been going on to Danny about goodwill? But the big-city princess had always managed to tie his tongue just by looking at him when he was a kid and it looked like nothing much had changed in that department.
As a boy, he used to think she looked like she belonged on top of a fancy birthday cake. She was always dressed in something as light, fluffy and sweet as frosting. Shed been so small with a mass of ash-colored hair hanging down her back and a pair of eyes that looked like they were seeing the world a whole lot differently than anybody else saw it. She still had those eyes. Big. Pale gray irises with dark rings around them. Like the eyes on greeting-card kittens. Hed gone tongue-tied the first time shed fastened them on him. All he could do was stare. She turned out to be no kitten, though, that little girl from the city. The cat had turned out to be a brat. A snooty, spoiled little girl who didnt like to get dirty and never went anywhere without her doll.
A sudden breeze off the bay lifted her hair and blew it across her face. It was the same ash color he remembered but cut just above her shoulders now, straight and slick as the skeins of silk yarn his mom embroidered with. She whipped it out of her face with a toss of her head and asked, Can either of you boys point me in the direction of a decent sandwich?
This was it, thought Lukas. An opening. Sweet Buns, his sisters coffee shop, was right next to the Sheridan Hotel. Who better to give her the scoop on the place? He opened his mouth, but it felt like hed walked through a dust storm without a bandanna and nothing came out. As the seconds ticked by, Danny kind of cleared his throat as if to nudge Lukas on. When Lukas tried to lick the dryness from his lips he discovered that his tongue had gone missing.
Finally, Danny started to tell Gillian about Sweet Buns himself. And he was doing it entertainingly enough to get a little giggle out of the girl from New York City. Danny never had any trouble being clever with the ladies. Lukas wished he could think of something clever to say but the longer he stood there, stoically silent, the harder it was to say anything at allnever mind clever.
Ill move these boards, was all he could finally come up with. He cringed at the lameness of it. And maybe that was why, when he grabbed the small stack of one-by-fours, his grip didnt quite close around them and they went clattering to the sidewalk, grazing the toe of one of Gillian Caines pink, spike-heeled boots in the process.
She squealed and jumped back, then fixed him with those gray eyes while she stuck her nose into the air. Is that how you welcome all the new girls to town, McCoy, by nearly crippling them and skinning their shoe leather?
When he said nothingand how could he with his mouth full of a brand-new load of sandDanny swooped in to soothe her and make sure she was okay. Lukas knew he should apologize, but if he couldnt get a word out before he had almost buried her feet in lumber, he sure couldnt spit out any words now.
You sure youre okay? he heard Danny ask once again. Im fine, thanks. Youve been sweet. But your friend here could obviously use some help in that area. Do the town a favor and dont let him volunteer for the welcoming committee, she said before turning in a swirl of glittering silver and heading down Sheridan Road toward Sweet Buns.
The compulsion still with him, Lukas watched her walk away.
GILLIAN MARCHED INTO Sweet Buns and stopped dead.
I think Ive just found civilization. She closed her eyes and took a deep, long breath in through her nostrils. The aroma nearly made her swoon.
The young woman behind the counter laughed. Sounds like we have a new coffee addict in town.
If it tastes as good as it smells, youve got yourself a customer for life.
Regular or decaf?
Im from New York City. Gillian slid onto a stool at the counter. What do you think?
The woman laughed again and poured her a cup of regular. Gillian lifted it to her mouth and took a sip. Mmm. This is heaven. I never dreamed Id find a cup of coffee this fantastic so far from Manhattan. She took another swallow, then held out her hand. Im Gillian Caine, by the way.
Yes, I know, the woman behind the counter said as she shook Gillians hand. You used to visit your aunt. Im Molly. Molly Jones.
Gillian shook her head. Im sorry, but I dont think I remember you.
Oh, we werent friends, Molly quickly added.
Gillian rolled her eyes. Big surprise. I wasnt exactly the most popular girl to come to town. Hopefully, she added with a nervous little laugh, that will change, considering Im reopening my aunts dress shop.
Is what youre wearing an example of what youll be selling?
Yes, it is. I designed it myself. Gillian stood up and gave a little twirl. What do you think?
Its incredible. But
Ma-ma!
Oops. Sorry. My little girl is paging me. Be right back.
Molly disappeared into the kitchen and Gillian picked up her coffee cup and strolled around the restaurant. The place was kind of cute with its green gingham curtains and tiny oak tables. Quaint. And the coffee was excellent. When she saw that the beans were sold by the pound, she resolved to buy some to take back to the shop. She was going to be up half the night again, working. On nights like this one was going to be, coffee was a girls best friend.
In fact, she could use another cup right now. After a few minutes of waiting for a refill, Gillian followed the sounds through the kitchen, out the open back door and into a small fenced-in yard. Molly was bending over a little girl with blond curls and the face of a little angel.
Shes gorgeous! Gillian exclaimed. Whats her name?
This is Chloe. Chloe, say hi to Gillian.
Chloe babbled something incoherently adorable. Oh, shes so sweet! said Gillian. How old is she?
Fifteen months. Be careful where you walk, its a little muddy out here from the rain yesterday.
Oh, I hope you dont mind that I came out here. I could hear the two of you just babbling away and I thought that since Im going to be practically a neighbor itd be okay for me to join in on the girl talk.
Molly lifted Chloe out of the playpen. No, of course I dont mind. I apologize for abandoning you like that. This is a slow time of day for Sweet Buns. Ive got a few high school girls who help out when its busy. Now that Chloe is walking, she gets a little restless penned up sometimes.
She put her down on the grass. Chloe immediately went toddling off toward the fence at the back of the yard. The child had excellent taste, Gillian thought. Beyond the fence and across a small sand beach, the bay glittered in the late September sun like the two-carat tanzanite Gillian had seen in the window at Tiffanys.
Its beautiful out here, Gillian said. You should offer al fresco dining.
Someday, maybe, Molly said. When Chloes older and I have more time to devote to the business.
Gillian had a million questions to ask about how business was and what the peak hours were at the department store down the street, but the sound of Chloe squealing in delight grabbed her attention. The little girl was toddling with rather alarming speed toward her, gurgling happily about something and waving her little fists up and down.
Shes absolutely, seriously adorable, Gillian gushed, truthfully. Not that Gillian wasnt capable of gushing untruthfully if it might be good for business. But she really did think Chloe was cute.
As Chloe tottered closer, Gillian squatted down and held out her arms to welcome the little cherub. Come on, Chloe, she cooed. Come to
Chloe squealed, drew back her fisted hands, and let them fly. It turned out that Chloes little fists hadnt been empty.
Splat!
Gillians mouth dropped open as mud spattered all over her trousers.
Chloe! Molly yelled. Oh, my gosh! I cant believe she did that! Im so sorry!
Chloe giggled and ran back for more mud.
Before she could reach the puddle again, Molly scooped her up and deposited her back into the playpen.
Gosh! I cant tell you how sorry I am, Gillian. Is it washable?
Gillian looked at Molly like shed just spoken a foreign language. Washable? Of course its not washable!
Oh. Well, then, Ill pay for the dry cleaning. Im just so sorry.
Gillian could see that Molly really was upset, and besides, Chloe was seriously adorable. And it wasnt like Molly had actually invited her into the backyard. Gillian was really sort of trespassing. Dont worry about it, Molly, she finally said. Its not your fault. Im like a walking disaster area today. This is my second accident. See that scuff on my boot? This big blond giant working at the hotel dropped a load of lumber on me.
Umblond giant? Molly asked.
Something about the way Molly sounded made Gillian look at her. Thats when she noticed the resemblance. Molly was tall and large-boned with blond hair and warm brown eyes.
Dont tell meLukas McCoy is your brother.
Molly nodded. Jones is my married name. Gosh, now I feel even worse. The McCoy family hasnt exactly given you a warm welcome, have they?
Dont be silly. Youve been great. Your brother, however. Wellhe was a bit churlish.
Lukas? Wow, thats not like him.
Gillian already knew that but she saw no point in trying to explain the no-smile zone to Molly.
Now that I know Lukas ruined your boot, you really have to let me pay for the suit.
Dont be silly. When the mud dries, itll probably brush right off.
Molly bit her bottom lip. You really think so?
Gillian grimaced. Uhno. Probably not. But I dont want you to feel bad about it, okay? Really.
Well, lets get you something to eat on the house, at least.
She followed Molly inside and sat on a stool at the counter while Molly made her the most delicious chicken salad sandwich shed ever tasted.
Why is this so fabulous? she asked as she took another bite.
Its the apricot chutney, Molly answered.
This sandwich almost makes it worth the mud pie appetizer.
Molly laughed. Im glad you think so. But wait until you have a sweet bun.
Ohno. I couldnt.
Sure you can! Ill get you another cup of coffee, too.
Despite her protests, when Molly set the frosted cinnamon bun in front of her, Gillian just had to taste it.
As soon as she took the first bite, she knew that a scuffed boot and a mud-spattered suit werent her only problems. Losing the next five pounds was going to be next to impossibleunless she stayed away from Sweet Buns.
IM TELLING YOU, Mother, its like the McCoy clan has set out to destroy me. This morning that big lug Lukas McCoy nearly dropped a truckload of lumber on my feet. He absolutely ruined those crocodile boots. Then his niece, who is seriously adorable I might add, threw mud all over one of my best designs. And then his sister, Molly, introduces me to the most incredible cinnamon buns I have ever tasted. Gillian paused to swipe her finger over the frosting on the bun Molly had insisted on sending home with her along with a pound of coffee. With the best intentions, she was planning on saving the bun for breakfast. The temptation was killing her.
On the other end of the phone line, her mother laughed. Dont be so dramatic, Gilly. That last one doesnt exactly sound like an act of destruction.
Gillian finished licking the frosting off her finger before answering, That last one could prove very destructive to my waistline.
You worry too much about your weight, Gilly.
Gillian sighed and swirled her finger into the frosting again. She had long resigned herself to the fact that her girl-hood dream of being a model would never come true. She was too shortby model standards, anyway. Five foot four. And both her bottom and her top were far too curvy to ever strut her stuff on the runway. But she had certain standards to maintain. When youre a housewife in New Jersey, Mother, a couple of pounds isnt going to make a difference. Like the PTA is going to care? But in the fashion industry
In the fashion industry there should be someone who designs for women with fannies and breasts, Gilly. I bet there are a lot of women with fannies and breasts in Timber Bay who would be willing to buy
Mother, if you say cute little housedresses or caftans I swear I will scream.
Bonnie Caine laughed. I doubt even the women in Timber Bay still wear housedresses, Gilly. I just think that instead of starving yourself so you can wear what you design, you should design stuff for women who eat more than fruit and carrot sticks.
Gillian looked longingly at the cinnamon bun as her finger hovered above what was left of its thick white frosting. If this kept up, the poor thing was going to be naked come morning.
Mother, my mission is to influence the fashion sense of women who think Chanel is something you get on your television set. How can I possibly do that if I become one of them?
My darling daughter, her mother said in a dryly amused tone, I dont think there is any danger of that ever happening.
Gillian decided not to rise to the bait of her mothers teasing. Hows Binky? she asked instead.
Her mother filled her in on the health and welfare of Binky, the familys twelve-year-old golden retriever, and then on her brothersall four of them. Then her father butted in on the basement extension and told her, yet again, how he was glad that Ryan was finally out of her life but how he still wished she would have dragged that SOB into court and taken him for everything he had. After he filled her in on the latest skirmish at the boilermakers union, everyone said goodbye.
As soon as Gillian hung up the phone she felt a stab of homesickness. Yet when shed gone back to the little blue-collar New Jersey town where shed grown up after being jilted and swindled, shed felt less like she belonged there than ever before. She no longer belonged in Manhattan, either. But Timber Bay?
She wandered over to the window in Aunt Clemintines living room and looked down onto Sheridan Road. It was late afternoon and the setting sun had streaked the clouds with pink and gold. The Road was bustling with people heading home for the day. Across the street at Sweet Buns, Molly was turning the sign hanging in the door around to read Closedprobably getting ready to go upstairs with little Chloe for the evening.
Chloe, Gillian groaned out loud. Mud pies! Served all over the outfit that was supposed to be the centerpiece of her Pastel-Metallic collection. The duster was salvageable. But the pants were a mess. Which meant that Gillian had better get back to work.
As soon as she ran down the stairs and through the door that led to the workroom behind the shop, she felt at home. As much of a misfit as shed been as a kid, shed always felt completely comfortable in the back room of her aunts dress shop. Aunt Clemintine had taught her all she knew about garment construction. Theyd spent wonderful, happy hours together, making clothes for Gillian and her doll. Her family was blue collar and money hadnt exactly been growing on trees, but Gillian, thanks to Aunt Clemintine, had dressed like a million bucks.
But it wasnt only the clothes, it was the attention that made her love to visit Aunt Clemintine so much. Back at home, she was the middle child, crowded on both sides by two younger and two older brothers. So around their house it was jock central. Her parents were loving and wonderful, but a little girl who didnt like sports pretty much got overlooked and out-voiced. Aunt Clemintine, a childless spinster, gave Gillian a place to be safe while she discovered who she was and what she wanted to be. And what she wanted to be was as different as she could possibly be from anything like home.
Unfortunately, as Gillian grew older, Aunt Clemintine and the dress shop got lumped in with everything that Gillian wanted to leave behind. When Aunt Clemintine had died a few years ago and left Gillian the shop, Gillian was touched. But she could just never see herself claiming her inheritance and taking up residence in Timber Bay.
Now she didnt know how she could have stayed away as long as she had.
The workroom welcomed her warmly, just as it always did. The little puffy calico pincushions scattered about the workspaces. The smell of new cloth, not yet handled or wrinkled. She ran her hand over a bolt of ivory silk and closed her eyes at the feel of it. By the time she opened them, she was smiling again.
The workroom was exactly where she needed to be right now. And not just because she still had clothing to finish before the opening, but because hitting the streets of Timber Bay for the first time hadnt turned out as shed hoped and talking to her mother and father had left her a little lonely.
Come here, you gorgeous piece of goods, you, she purred to the bolt of silk as she picked it up. I think tonight is your night to become Cinderella.
Several hours later, the ivory silk was sliding over her head and floating down her body. Gillian ran out to the dark shop, switched on the light, then closed her eyes as she made her way to the triple mirror near the dressing room, her arms out straight, palms extended. Shed played this scene over and over again as a little girl. She used to be able to find that mirror walking blind. Her outstretched palms hit the cool glass and she smiled. Shed gone right to it.
When she opened her eyes, she was still smiling. The dress looked spectacular. The front neckline draped low enough to show just a hint of dcolletage. The back dipped even lowernearly to her waistand ended in a flirty bow. The bodice was fitted and the calf-length skirt was full and fluttery. Grace Kelly meets the twenty-first century. Exactly the effect she had been going for.
Gillian stood on tiptoes to try to envision how the skirt would fall if she was wearing high heels, then remembered that shed brought down a pair of silver strappy sandals the night before. She scampered around the shop till she found them in a corner, then went back to the mirror.
Perfect.
You are going to look so terrific in the window, she told the dress. With that vintage faux pearl jewelry. And maybe a soft pink wool stole to go with the neon sign. Or a cloak. Pink cashmere.
She pursed her lips wryly and shook her head at her reflection. Talk about dreaming big.
Well, pink something, she told herself, refusing to let the price of cashmere ruin the moment. Pink like the Glad Rags logo and sign.
And that reminded her. She hadnt yet seen the new sign after dark. Gillian threaded her way through unpacked cartons, naked mannequins and hatless hat stands, to the front door. She unlocked it and went outside.
There it was, glowing across the display window in lovely pink neon. Glad Rags. The sight of it put a huge grin on her face and made her twirl around in delight. Quickly, she looked around to make sure there were no witnesses to her less-than-sophisticated display of girlish goofiness.
Not a soul in sight. Different from Manhattan as silk from corduroy. Yet she felt hopeful for the first time in months. Gillian was nearly giddy as she ran across the street to see what the sign looked like from farther away. Maybe it was the air. It was crisp and pure with a tang of water in the wind. The hotel blocked the bay from sight, but she could still hear the waves faintly. Still feel the presence of it on her skin. She started back across the street but paused midway to look up at the sky. So many stars. Even when she was a kid in New Jersey, there hadnt been so many stars in the sky. She picked out the brightest one and closed her eyes.
I wish, she whispered.
Thats when she heard the noisequickly followed by the feel of the ground beneath her feet shifting jerkily.
And the next thing she knew, she was flying through the air.
She put out her arm to break her fall and felt the jar of the impact all the way up to her shoulder. She grimaced as her palm scraped against the concrete. For a minute, everything went out of focus and then her sight cleared and she saw the dark bulk of a man emerging from the concrete.
I promised to make you a Cinderella, she murmured to the silk that seemed to have turned into a cloud around her. But that doesnt look at all like Prince Charming.
He looked more like some sort of beast who made his home in the bowels of the earth. He kept rising and rising and rising, and it was making Gillian dizzy as hell to have to look up so high. Or was it the pain that suddenly shot through her arm when she tried to move? Either way, Gillian did something shed never done before.
She fainted.
2
ABOVE THE NOISE of the manhole cover clattering to the street, Lukas heard another sound. High-pitched. Like a womans squeal.
Did you hear that? he asked the big orange tabby cat that was tucked under his arm. The cat flattened its ears and growled. Lukas let go of it and it shot off into the darkness. He hoisted himself out of the manhole and looked around.
The night was clear and crisp, the sky thick with stars. He turned slowly around, trying to remember what hed learned as a kid about astronomy. All he remembered was that nothing looked like it was supposed to. The names made no sense to him at all. Except maybe the Big Dipper. He could always find that. Tonight it seemed full of stardust.
Youre getting fanciful, Lukas. You better watch that, he muttered to himself as he dragged the manhole cover back into place. He straightened up and thats when he saw it. Something lying in the street. Something as bright and shimmery as a heap of stardust fallen from the sky.
When the heap of stardust moaned and shifted slightly Lukas went closer and found himself looking down at the body of Gillian Caine.
He sucked in his breath, then hunkered down next to her. Gillian, he said softly, touching her on the shoulder. She didnt move. He found the pulse in her neck with his fingers. Oh man, was she soft. And her heart felt like it was beating pretty good, too. She moaned again and he snatched his fingers back. Her eyes stayed closed so he touched her hair for no good reason at all except that, there, just outside of the circle of light from a street lamp, it looked like it was shot with silver. She moaned again and her lashes fluttered.
Gillian? he repeated.
She smiled a little this time. A small, sweet smile. In fact, the princess looked altogether sweeter when she was passed out cold than she had when hed seen her that afternoon.
She was wearing a pale dress made of something silky. It floated around her, settling in the swells and hollows of her body, and fluttered out around the curves of her calves. Her shoes were worthy of a princess, too. Glittery silver with tiny straps and skinny heels that were made out of something as transparent as glass.
Gillian? Still no response. He frowned. Shouldnt she be coming to by now? He looked around the street. All the buildings were dark. Even the windows above Sweet Buns where his sister lived were dark. Molly must have already gone to bed. Timber Bay Memorial was only a mile or so down Ludington Avenue. Lukas figured he could get Gillian to the hospital himself in less time than it would take him to rouse Molly, use her phone, then wait for an ambulance to come.
Carefully he started to gather Gillian up in his arms. She felt so small. A wounded helpless creature. As he started to lift her, his nose brushed her neck. The scent of her shot through him like a craving. The urge was strong to bury his face in the soft crook of her neck. Just for a moment, he told himself.
Who are you and why are you sniffing my neck?
Lukas pulled his head back quick enough to give himself whiplash. He knew his face must be flaming.
Lukas McCoy, Gillian mumbled fuzzily. I should have known. She looked around, still obviously in a daze. What am I doing in the middle of the road?
Before he could answer, she started to get up and moaned loudly.
Ohhmy arm. What happened?
Near as I can tell, you must have been standing on that manhole cover over there when I
Gillian gasped. Now I remember! You were that beast who came up out of the concrete and sent me sailing into the air, arent you? What is it with you McCoys, anyway?
What does that mean?
She shook her head. Oh, never mind. Just help me up.
Lukas helped her struggle to her feet.
What were you doing, anyway? she asked. Lying in wait, hoping to get a second chance after your earlier attempt at crippling me failed?
Heythat was an accident, Lukas said a little bluntlymore bluntly than he should have. The bright idea of Gillian Caine being wounded and helpless was definitely losing its shine.
Tell that to the thousand-dollar pair of boots you ruined. And I suppose this was an accident, too. Just you crawling out of the sewer after a day of Dungeons and Dragons?
I was down in the tunnel of love to
Gillian shot him a sharp look with those huge gray eyes. The tunnel of what? she asked him, scrunching up her nose. Did you say the tunnel of love?
Lukas hadnt meant to say that. He felt foolish enough for knocking her flying and the knowledge that hed wrecked a thousand bucks worth of leather wasnt sitting too well, either. He didnt relish the idea of trying to explain the legend of Timber Bays tunnel of love to the princess when she was acting more like the wicked queen. Look, maybe we better see about getting you to a doctor, he said as he took her gently by the other arm.
I dont need a doctor, she said, pulling away from him and jostling her wounded arm in the process. Ow! She grimaced. Okay, maybe I do need a doctor.
My truck is right across the street. Ill take you. Lukas didnt know much about body language, but Gillian made it clear she didnt want his help getting across the street. It was kind of amazing, really, he thought as he followed her to the truck, that she could walk like she did on a pair of heels like that after shed just been out cold. She made it look as if balancing on three inches of acrylic was the most natural thing in the world.
He opened the door for her and tried to help her in, bumping her shoulder in the process.
Ow! she said again, as she shot an angry wounded look at him with those big gray eyes.
Sorry, he said as he dipped his head. I guess I can be kind of a bull in a drugstore.
China shop, she said.
Huh?
Bull in a china shop. You said drugstore.
Ohthats because when I was twelve I was kind of big for my age and there was this sort of pyramid of perfume bottles stacked up on the counter at Ludington Drugs and one day I went charging right into them, breaking every last one. The whole town square smelled like lavender water for a week. Ever since then He gulped, wishing hed stayed tongue-tied. She was looking at him like hed gone around the bend. Which he must have because here he was standing in front of the most beautiful woman hed ever seen and rattling on about his damn clumsiness after hed just given her a demonstration of it by busting up her arm.
Look, she said. Im sure this folksy charm works on all the local girls, but Ive got the disadvantage here of being in pain. Lets save your life story for after Im medicated, okay?
Lukas clamped his mouth shut and managed to help her up into the truck and shut the door without jostling her again. When he went around to the other side and got in, the cab was already full of the scent of her skin. It tied his tongue up all over again. Good thing, too. Otherwise, the big-city princess might have managed to bite it the rest of the way off.
GILLIAN FUMED as the truck turned onto Ludington Avenue. Her arm was killing her and the big lug wasnt even going to bother saying he was sorry. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. Make that big adorable lug. That tousled hair the color of pale honey that fell over his fore-head in loose curls. That snub nose and small, sensual mouth. On another man it all might have looked wimpy. But on top of that big body, it just made him look like a small-town Tarzan. Nomake that lumberjack. He worked with wood. She knew that much. She could smell it on him and there was sawdust on the plaid shirt he wore tucked into jeans that hugged his massive thighs and made his
Gillian blinked. What in the name of Vogue magazine was she thinking? Well, she was thinking about what big, hard-looking thighs he had and about what they might feel like if she just reached out and
This time she blinked and bit her lip at the same time. She deliberately jarred her arm just so she could feel the pain and remember that she had no business whatsoever ogling Paul Bunyans thighs.
Are you all right? he asked when she gasped in pain.
No, I am not all right. Thanks to you, she added testily, reminding herself that he still hadnt said he was sorry for what hed done. I just hope youve got your checkbook with you.
He glanced her way. My checkbook?
This, she indicated her arm, is all your fault and youre paying for the emergency room.
Of course Ill pay. And Ill give you the money for those overpriced boots, too. But no way am I taking the complete blame this time.
Umreality check. You are completely to blame.
You were the one standing out in the middle of the street. They teach you to do that out there in New York City? Cause we dont teach kids in Timber Bay to stand out in the street much.
Its the middle of the night. Who knew it wouldnt be safe to cross the street?
You werent crossing, you were standing.
I mean she went on as if he hadnt spoken who knew that a giant prowled under the streets of Timber Bay at night and that there was always the danger of him just breaking through the damn concrete whenever he felt like itno matter who was standing there?
As far as Lukas was concerned, she was being totally unreasonable. You were standing on a manhole. Im a man. You gotta expect these things sometimes.
That is totally insane. I was safer in the streets of New York than I am here. First you throw a pile of wood at me
That was an accident!
Then your niece ruins a few hundred dollars worth of cosmic gray metallic satin
Chloe? Chloe ruined that silver thing you were wearing?
Cosmic gray, she repeated through clenched jaws. And yes. She ruined it when she decided to serve me mud pies.
Hey, Chloe is a sweet kid but shes not even a year-and-a-half old yet.
So whats your excuse?
Listen, princess, I said I was sorry
What did you call me?
Princess.
Dont call me that.
Ha. Did I strike a nerve, princess?
I told you not to call me that. And no, you did not.
No, I did not what?
You did not say you were sorry. Not even once.
Hadnt he? Lukas ran over the past minutes in his mind. He must have said he was sorry. But as he pulled into the hospital parking lot and drove around back to the emergency entrance, he honestly could not remember apologizing.
He parked, got out of the truck, and went around to the passenger side to open the door for Gillian. He helped her out as carefully as possible. He could see it cost her some to let him. He had the feeling that at this point shed rather kick him in the shins with her silver slipper than take his arm.
As soon as the electronic doors swooshed open and let them inside the hospital, Gillian was swept away. He paced while he waited for her to fill out forms and answer questions. He thought hed get to talk to her when she was sent to the waiting area, but shed no sooner sat down than a nurse came out and got her. Slow night, apparently, in the E.R. Lukas had never wished for other people to have bad fortune in order that he might get something he wanted, but he sure could have used a little laceration, or a broken toe maybe, so hed have enough time to apologize to Gillian. Because shed been right about that, at least. He hadnt apologized.
What was the matter with him? Lukas never, ever argued with women. Oh, he and his sister Molly tussled like all brothers and sisters, but as far as other women went, Lukas was pretty easygoing. So what had gotten into him tonight? Gillian could have a broken arm and it was all because of him. He remembered how her face had grimaced in pain, and felt ashamed for arguing with her when she was hurt. His mom would skin him alive if she knew.
As he always did when he was bothered by something, Lukas pulled out the piece of wood he kept in one pocket and the knife he kept in the other and sat down in the waiting room to whittle. He knew from the night Chloe was born that the hospital staff wasnt crazy about having shavings all over the waiting-room floor so he mostly just worked on smoothing out the lines of the chess piece he was carving. When he heard the click of high heels on tile, he looked up to see Gillian coming down the short corridor between the treatment cubicles and the waiting room. Her left arm was in a sling. Oh, man. His heart swelled when he saw it. It must be serious. And it was his fault. And he hadnt even said he was sorry.
He got up and started toward her. I he began.
You, she said, sticking out her good arm, palm up like a traffic cop, dont come one step closer.
She sailed past him and was nearly to the exit doors before he got his wits about him.
Wait! What did the doctor say?
She turned around. Its sprained, McCoy, thats what he says. My arm is sprained. I have to keep it in thisthis sling. And he says itll be a couple of weeks before I can fully use it again. A couple of weeks, McCoy. I dont have a couple of weeks. Ive got a boutique to get ready to open. Now how do you suppose Im going to be able to do that with only one arm?
She started for the door again. He couldnt let her get away without apologizing.
Butwait! Ill drive you home. I want to
I called a cab. There is no way Im getting that close to youor any other member of your familyever again, she called over her shoulder just as the doors slid closed.
Lukas ran to catch up to her, but by the time the doors opened again and he hurried outside, the cab was already pulling away.
OW! Gillian exclaimed when she stuck herself in the hand with a seam ripper for the fourth time. This is impossible, she grumbled, throwing down the cosmic gray satin pants. Shed been hoping that she could salvage the pants because there was just enough of the fabric left to replace the front where Chloe had served her the mud pies, but with one arm in a sling, the seams had ended up looking like the sewing machine needle was going for Olympic gold in the slalom race. Shed assumed that it would be easier to rip out a seam than sew one. But despite the fact that she was right-handed and it was her left arm in the sling, it was still remarkably hard to do anything one-handed.
Gillian finally gave up on the pants and started to unpack the ready-to-wear lingerie shed ordered. Some of the items needed steaming. She was able to do this pretty well with one hand, but it did nothing to lighten her mood. The silky slips, the gossamer gowns and robes, the lacy bra and panty sets, just made her more aware of the fact that there was going to be more lingerie in the shop than there was going to be Glad Rags by Gillian. She could have wept with frustration. Glad Rags was supposed to showcase her own designs, not those of already established lingerie designers who didnt even need the measly sales theyd get in Timber Bay, anyway.
After what Ryan had done to her, Gillian had only been able to put one foot in front of the other by chanting living well is the best revenge like a mantra every time the blues threatened. For weeks shed sustained herself on the image of women flocking to the door of Glad Rags as soon as she unlocked it on the opening day of the Harvest Festival and Sale. She had even done the heretofore unheard-of and toned down her styles for Midwestern tastes. But that hadnt been sacrifice enough to appease the gods of failure because now her dreams of successher meager dreams of revengewere disappearing faster than tickets to a hit Broadway musical. And all because of Lukas McCoy.
A stream of too-hot mist hissed out of the steamer, nearly hot enough to melt the fine lace edging on the camisole she was working on. Easy, Gilly, she said, its Lukas McCoy you want to melt, not this exquisite lace.
Abruptly, she stopped moving the steamer up and down. Had she said melt? Nonsense. Gillian started steaming again. Stopped again. Had she? Well, if she had, she told herself, what shed meant to say was fry. No, that was the electric chair. Burn? Hmm. Well, certainly not melt. Melting implied all sorts of gooey feelings. And she wasnt feeling gooey at all towards McCoy. She had no intention of getting all gooey over any man ever again.
Nor did she have any intention of steaming one more garment that she hadnt designed herself.
Not today, anyway.
Gillian went upstairs to Aunt Clemintines apartment to make a pot of coffee. As soon as the aroma drifted up from the coffeemaker, she wished she had one of Mollys cinnamon buns. Sweet Buns was just across the street. She could hop over there, get a bun, and come back before the coffee was even done brewing. But Molly was a McCoy. And it wasnt safe for her to go near a McCoy.
She took a cup of coffee into the living room and prepared to chill out by doing some channel surfing. Aunt Clemintines taste had run to overstuffed chintz, Italian porcelain flower arrangements, and numerous other girly bric-a-brac that Gillian had loved when she was a little girl. It was so feminine compared to her parents house which had been overrun with boy stuff and decorated chiefly with anything that wouldnt break easily or show dirt.
Gillian opened the doors to the antique armoire that contained a little television set, then got comfortable on the overstuffed sofa. But when she reached for the remote control, it wasnt on the coffee table. Or the end table. It wasnt anywhere. It took her five minutes of searching before she realized that the only innovation Aunt Clemintine had embraced after 1952 had been polyester fabric. Her TV didnt have a remote. It didnt even have color. Gillian ended up sitting crossed-legged on the floor close enough to the set to reach out and change the channels manually.
The soaps were no fun in black-and-white because you couldnt really enjoy the clothes. She stopped at a courtroom showone of those half-hour things where a smart-aleck judge badgered and humiliated the stuffing out of either the defendant or the plaintiffor sometimes both. Not Gillians idea of happy viewing. She reached out to change the channel when something the female plaintiff said caught her attention.
Its his fault, Your Honor, how was I supposed to deliver pizzas after he wrecked my car? I got no earningshe should be made to pay.
The judge, a feisty-looking middle-aged woman, asked some questions, listened to the answers, and then lashed into the male defendant like her tongue was a cat-o-nine-tails. The defendant tried to defend himself. The judge shut him up. By the time she threw the book at him and made him pay damages and lost wages, Gillian was up on her feet cheering.
Damn, that felt good, she said, nearly out of breath with sisters unite blood lust. And then it hit her.
Maybe she should sue Lukas McCoy.
She started to pace the small living room.
Could she?
Should she?
Would she?
Gillian could feel her adrenaline pumping at the thought of having her day in court. Oh, she really wasnt out for blood. She didnt want to ruin McCoy or anything. She just wanted enough money to be able to afford to hire someone to be her left arm until it healed. Shed been too big a wimp to do anything about what Ryan had done to her. But that didnt mean she had to go on being a wimp, did it? She didnt want to continue allowing men to screw up her life and livelihood, did she?
Absolutely not!
She marched over to Aunt Clemintines little phone stand and picked up the Timber Bay phone book. Ive got more numbers than this in my Rolodex, she muttered as she flipped through the slim volume until she found the yellow pages. All eight of them. She located the listing for lawyers and picked up the phone.
LUKAS WAS SITTING on the railing that surrounded the marble terrace at the back of the Sheridan Hotel. It was one of those perfect late September days when the leaves on the trees had started to turn but hadnt yet started to fall. They rustled in the wind off the baya last gasp of energy before the colder winds of October put them to rest on the ground. Climbing roses that had been allowed to go wild were still blooming and there were clusters of deep-gold mums, some of them almost as big as shrubs, bordering the low wall that ran down to the water. He could hear the rhythmic lap of the waves against the ramshackle pier.
If things went the way Agnes Sheridan wanted them to, by next summer the small pier would be restored and thered be boats docked there. The roses would be tamed and there would be people sitting on the terrace. Wealthy, worldly people.
People like Gillian Caine.
If only Id said I was sorry, he mumbled.
Whats that, pal?
Lukas started at the sound of Dannys voice, then quickly collected himself. About time you got back with my lunch, Lukas said, figuring a little grousing would make Danny forget that Lukas hadnt answered him.
Here ya go. Danny tossed Lukas a bag from the lunch counter at Ludington Drugs. Tuna salad on white bread and an order of fried chicken. Interesting combination.
Lukas easily caught the bag. He rummaged inside and came out with the sandwich. Did you tell Clara to put cheese on the tuna?
Yup.
Lukas unwrapped the sandwich and started to tear it into little pieces.
Danny groaned. Dont tell me you found another stray?
Lukas set the wrapper down at the top of the steps and called, Here, Tiger, Tiger.
A huge clump of mums started to rustle. A moment later a cat emergedthe same one hed rescued from the tunnel. The big, lazy-moving orange tabby had a scar on his nose and half his tail was missing. He prowled over to sniff the sandwich, gave Lukas a look of appreciation, then delicately started to eat.
Danny laughed. Cat knows a good thing. Clara uses only albacore down at Ludingtons. By the time you get around to buying cat food, that cat is gonna turn up his nose at it.
You can tell just by looking at him that hes been through a lot. Hes got a little luxury coming, Lukas said as he bit into a chicken leg.
Next thing you know, youll be going over to Sweet Buns and getting him a slice of cheesecake.
Lukas laughed. What Danny said wasnt so far-fetched. Lukas had been rescuing things all his life. As recently as last month hed coaxed a wounded squirrel with macadamia nuts filched from the larder at Sweet Buns that, Molly never stopped reminding him, werent exactly cheap. He regularly climbed trees to fetch cats and helped old ladies cross the street. Heck, hed even rescued Danny from a bunch of bullies back in grade school. Theyd been best buddies ever since. Lukas had a reputation of being an all-around good guy. So how come hed acted the way he had with Gillian Caine?
You know, buddy, I did a really stupid thing the other night, Lukas said to Danny.
Stupider than feeding a stray cat a three-dollar sandwich?
Afraid so. I was down in the hotels wine cellar measuring for the new fittings, when I thought I heard a cat yowling in the tunnel. I checked it out and, sure enough, Tiger here was trapped down there. He was kind of spookedclawing the hell out of meand I remembered how when you and Hannah were trapped down there you got out through a manhole onto Sheridan Road. So Tiger and I took the same shortcut.
Danny shrugged. Whats so stupid about that? Dont tell me you had trouble pushing that cover aside. If Hannah could do it
Oh, I could push it out of the way all right, no problem. Trouble is, I sort of pushed more than the manhole cover out of the way.
Danny wrinkled his brow. What else did you push?
Gillian Caine. She was standing on the cover and she sort of went airborne.
Danny started to laugh.
Its not funny, Danny. She sprained her arm. I had to take her to the E.R. and shes got to wear a sling and I didnt even say I was sorry.
Well, thats not like you, pal. Youre the polite type. You even manage to be nice to Dragon Lady Sheridan.
Danny, I gotta tell you, I feel really lousy about this. She looked so little and helpless laying there in the street
Gillian Caine helpless?
Maybe I should send her some flowers or something. What do you think? Lukas asked earnestly.
Before Danny could answer, Tiger gave a growl worthy of a canine and both Danny and Lukas turned to see what he was tracking with his yellow stare. A man in a suit was standing in the open French doors.
Which one of you is Lukas McCoy?
Tiger bolted back into the mums as Lukas wiped his fingers on a paper napkin and stood up. Im McCoy, he said.
Then this is for you. The man handed Lukas some papers and rapidly retreated.
Hey, wait! Lukas called to his back, but the guy just kept going.
Whats with the papers? Danny asked.
Lukas looked down at them. It took him a few moments to comprehend what he was reading. Unbelieeeeevable! He thrust a hand into his hair and started to pace the terrace while he read it again just to be sure. Un-damn-believable.
What is it? Danny asked.
Lukas looked up. Gillian Caine is suing me.
Danny whistled, long and low. I guess its a good thing you didnt order those flowers yet, huh, pal?
I do hope, said a familiar voice from just inside the French doors, that this doesnt mean that my grandson was right about the two of you.
Mrs. Sheridan, Lukas said with surprise. Did we have an appointment? How long have youum
Been standing here? the old lady finished for him. Long enough to know that someone is suing you. Long enough to make me wonder if Ive made a mistake.
Danny hopped to his feet. You know nothing about whats going on, so if I were you
Lukas stepped in front of Danny, cutting him off both literally and figuratively. What you just heard, Mrs. Sheridan, had nothing to do with Timber Bay Building and Restoration. Its me getting sued. Not the company.
Danny poked his head around Lukas. Not that itd be any of Gavins business either way.
Thats where youre wrong, Agnes Sheridan said with a haughty thrust of her head. Gavin is coming back to Timber Bay.
Behind him, Danny swore and Lukas tried to cover it up with a cough. Thatsumswell, Mrs. Sheridan, he said after hed cleared the imaginary frog in his throat.
The old ladys black eyes glittered and her thin, usually stubbornly set mouth, actually smiled. Its what I had hoped. That once work started on the hotel, Gavin would take an interest and reclaim his life in Timber Bay.
Dont tell me hes coming home for good? Danny asked. One can hope, Mr. Walker.
Yes, Danny agreed. One can.
Lukas was pretty sure that Danny and Agnes Sheridan werent hoping the same thing. Hed feel safer if he separated the two of them.
Mrs. Sheridan, why dont you let me show you the progress Im making in the lobby. I think youll be pleased with the way the staircase looks.
Lead on, young man, she said. But before she went through the French doors she turned and gave Danny a poke in the leg with her cane. I suggest you get on with your lunch, Walker. I assure you that Gavin wont take this sitting about on the job any better than I do.
Danny opened his mouth but before anything could come out, Lukas took the Dragon Lady by the arm and ushered her into the ballroom, closing the French doors behind them.
Danny and the Dragon Lady had been enemies for years. Things had gotten better since Hannah, who Agnes Sheridan totally approved of, had hit town. But now that Gavin was coming back, Lukas was going to have his hands full as a peacemaker. The last thing he needed right now was to have some big-city brat take him to court.
Hed been right. Nothing good was coming from Gillian Caine being back in Timber Bay.
THE HEARING IS TOMORROW, Mom, Gillian said into the phone receiver.
Justice moves swiftly in the Midwest.
Theyve got this judge who takes care of several counties and hes only in town once a month. How primitive is that? My lawyerwho, by the way, I had to go to the next town to getsaid that if we didnt get on the docket this time, wed have to wait a whole month.
Are you sure youre doing the right thing, Gilly?
Gillian sighed. What are you trying to say, Mom?
Well, as I remember it, the McCoys were well liked in Timber Bay. The town might not take too kindly to an outsider taking one of their own to court. Have you thought of what it might do to business?
Mom, Im not planning on taking him to the cleaners. I just want enough to hire someone to help me for the next couple of weeks.
But, honey, I already offered to come out and
Forget it, Mom. Weve been through all this already. I need to do this on my own. I need to be totally independent.
You dont have to prove anything to anyone, Gilly.
Her mother was wrong. Gillian had to prove something to herself. She had to prove that she could be her own person and not have to count on anyone coming through for her ever again. If she failed, shed have no one to blame but herself. And if she succeeded, no one could ever take it away from her.
Cant you just be supportive, Mom? I mean, Dad keeps saying that he wishes I hadnt let Ryan off the hook. You should be jumping up and down with joy. I finally think Dad was right about something. I shouldnt have let Ryan get away with it. Im not making that mistake again.
But, Gilly, its not the same thing at all. In fact
Gillian was picking at a fingernail and mostly tuning her mother out when she heard a knock on the door downstairs.
Mom, someones at the door, she said, sending silent gratitude to whoever it was for getting her out of this conversation. She loved her mother, but she had heard it all before. Ill call you after court tomorrow. Kisses to everyone, she added as brightly as possible. Bye!
She hurried downstairs and through the workroom to the back door. But when she opened it, no one was there. Sitting on the cement stoop was a wicker basket covered with a green-and-white gingham napkin. She recognized the napkin, but even if she hadnt, she would have known that Molly had left the basket. Gillian could smell the cinnamon buns that were lurking beneath the gingham.
A bribe.
She snatched the basket up, shut the door and locked it behind her.
The smart thing would be to leave the basket downstairs in the workroom. Or better yet, out in the shop. Less temptation that way.
On the other hand, it was an old building. It wouldnt do to encourage any rodents that might have designs on the placemake them think they were going to be able to stop in for a midnight snack.
She decided that she better take the basket upstairs with her, after all. That didnt mean she was accepting the bribe, though, she told herself, climbing the stairs. She was a big girl. She could certainly resist a couple of cinnamon buns.
When she put the basket on the small drop-leaf table in the kitchen, she noticed the note tucked inside. With two fingers she carefully pulled it out, trying not to disturb the napkin and have to actually look the bribe in the eye. Or in this case, in the frosting.
I thought you might feel funny about coming into Sweet Buns so sweet buns are coming to you. Sorry again for the mud pies. Molly.
Mud pies. Huhyeah, right, Gillian muttered. The basket was an obvious attempt to sweeten her up and make her drop the suit. She wondered how many cinnamon buns Molly thought it would take to buy her.
Well, she could just keep wondering because there was no way she was lifting that napkin and looking underneath.
Stoically, she marched into the bedroom. There were several outfits laid out on the canopy bed Aunt Clemintine had gotten for her the summer shed turned six. Gillian was still trying to decide what to wear to court the next day.
Something feminine, yet strong, she murmured.
That left out the pink polka-dot suit with the ruffled hems.
Something strong, yet sympathetic.
That left out the black shantung tuxedo with the sheer tailored shirt and her witty take on a mens club tie (diagonal rows of pink poodles against an aqua background).
Something Well, above all something that would go with her sling. Which, she supposed, would be the black sleeveless sheath with the little turquoise capelet. The only problem was that it was very, very formfitting. But she had just lost five pounds.
When she tried it on, it fit beautifully. She didnt even have to hold her tummy inmuch. And it barely hurt her arm to put it on.
Perfect, she pronounced as she looked in the mirror. Whoever invented those diet shakes should get the Nobel or something. She had missed chewing, though. The sensual feel of food actually in her mouth. Hmm. And that reminded her. She hadnt had any dinner yet. Shed picked up a salad at the supermarket and it was waiting in the fridge. She peeled out of the dress, hung it up and headed for the kitchen.
Was it her imagination or had the basket from Sweet Buns gotten bigger? Gillian ignored it and went to the fridge. She grabbed the salad, wrestled off the plastic cover and dug in.
Oh, yum, she muttered with her mouth full. Iceberg lettuce and hothouse tomatoes.
She kept forking into the salad but her stomach kept right on growling. Or was it the siren song of the cinnamon buns she kept hearing over the crunch of a woody radish?
Gillian eyed the basket. It would be such a shame to waste those buns. And didnt carbohydrates help induce sleep? She started to reach for the basket, then drew her hand back. But, if the buns really were a bribe, did that mean that if she ate one shed be accepting the bribe?
She picked up the note and read it again.
There really was no mention of Lukas, or the court case, at all. And she was, after all, owed some sort of payment for the pants that adorable Chloe ruined. Just a little carbohydrate to soothe the nerves. Itd be the healthy thing to do, wouldnt it?
She pulled back the napkin. Six large buns, slathered with thick frosting, were nestled oh-so-beautifully in another gingham napkin. It was more than Gillian could stand.
Just one, she thought. One wouldnt hurt.
3
IT WAS NEARLY TIME to leave for court and Gillian was still struggling with the side zipper on the black sheath. It turned out that the cinnamon buns hadnt been a bribe at all. Sabotage. Thats what they were. Sabotage to make her gain back those five pounds.
Of course, no one had made her eat all six of them.
But Molly should have known I couldnt resist! she wailed at her bloated reflection. Following a half-dozen sweet buns from Sweet Buns, the dress had ceased being a sheath and had turned, overnight, into a sausage.
Gillian gave up on the zipper and started to rip the dress off.
Ow!
Drat her sprained arm. It made dressing, something Gillian ordinarily loved to do, nearly impossible and painful as the dentist.
Okay, maybe it wasnt as bad as a root canal. But it was so frustrating to have to do everything not only one-handed but gingerly, as well. She couldnt wait to face Lukas McCoy in court. If the judge didnt throw the book at him, Gillian just might have to throw something at him herself.
One-handed, of course.
She yanked a sleeveless red shirtwaist with a retro full skirt out of the closet and struggled into it, managing to howl in pain only twice. It had a wide belt that was, thankfully, adjustable, and even though it was a little snug in the bodice the full skirt definitely hid any evidence of her carbo pig-out session the night before. She took a white cardigan sweater that shed picked up in a vintage clothing shop in the Village out of Aunt Clemintines bureau. It had a darling little Peter Pan collar that was edged with tiny seed pearls. Perfect for throwing over her shoulders. She slipped red pumps on her bare feetpanty hose had proven impossible to maneuver with only one handtransferred the necessary junk to a vintage red clutch purse, then checked herself in the mirror.
Hmm, not bad, she murmured. Maybe even better than the outfit she was going to wear in the first place. Feminine yet strong. Original, yet not too funky. The sling, however, nearly ruined the look. Gillian rummaged through a few hat boxes of accessories and came up with a long white scarf scattered with tiny red dots. Using her teeth and her good arm, she managed to tie it. She slipped it over her shoulder then ducked her head to get it around her neck.
Better, Gillian said to her reflection in the mirror. She was making some minor adjustments to the scarf when out on the street a horn honked. She ran to the window and looked out. An enormous old hulk of a car, the color of lemons, waited at the curb. Gillian smiled. Yes, Philo Hernshaw would own such a car.
She ran down the stairs, went out the front door and got into her lawyers car.
Youre so sweet to pick me up, she said. Its such a nuisance not being able to drive.
My pleasure, Miss Plane.
Umthats Caine, Mr. Hernshaw.
What? Oh, no. I dont use a cane. Although I think they can sometimes add a touch of distinction to a gentleman.
No, Mr. Hernshaw. My name is
There was the blare of a horn and the squeal of tires as Philo Hernshaw edged the car into traffic and Gillian decided it was best not to bother him while he was driving.
Philo Hernshaw was a sweet man, very courtly, with crisp white hair, a short little beak of a nose and pale blue eyes. He dressed impeccably in suits that could have come from the kind of vintage clothing shops Gillian loved to rummage inthough, in Philo Hernshaws case, Gillian was fairly certain that the suits were strictly one-owner. In all the social graces, her lawyer was quite acceptable. But Gillian was a little dubious of his mental powers. Oh, he didnt seem senileexactly. He was just a bit vague. Most of the time he had a secret little smile on his faded lipslike he was experiencing a pleasant memorybut every once in a while hed sort of get this look on his face like he wasnt sure how hed gotten where he was at that particular moment. Very unsettling.
There was another blare of car horns as Philo made a turn onto Ludington Avenue without using his blinker. His driving wasnt exactly instilling any more confidence. Unfortunately, he was the only lawyer within one hundred miles of Timber Bay willing to take her case. Gillian suspected his appointment book wasnt exactly jammed.
Tires squealed as Philo changed lanes and Gillian decided to spend the rest of the trip with her eyes closed. Luckily, the courthouse was only about a mile down Ludington Avenueright across the street from the hospital Lukas had taken her toand they managed to arrive alive and unscathed.
Ever the gentleman, Philo came around and opened the door for her, offered his arm, and escorted her up the long walk that led to the courthouse.
Quite a day, isnt it, Miss Spain?
Gillian opened her mouth to correct him, but decided to merely agree. Yes, Mr. Hernshaw. Its a beautiful day.
The morning was sunny with a gentle breeze that stirred the gold-and-red leaves on the trees that dotted the grounds of the lovely little redbrick courthouse. The building was done in the federalist style, complete with an American flag flying from the top of its petite white rotunda.
It was all so bucolic. So undisturbed looking. Gillian felt a twinge in her belly that had nothing to do with those half-dozen sweet buns and everything to do with the fact that she was about to disturb this bucolic scenebig-time.
Philo held the door for her and she walked into the cool, dim marble foyer. There was a small group of people at the other end. Despite the fact that her eyes hadnt fully adjusted to the dimness, Gillian immediately recognized Lukas by height and breadth alone. He was grinning at a short middle-aged woman with a pretty face and neat dark hair who was reaching up and trying to push back those loose curls that fell over his forehead. His mother, no doubt. The man standing next to her, a graying, slightly shorter version of Lukas, had to be his father. Molly was there, too, smiling and teasing her brother about their mothers ministrations.
Gillian felt an unexpected pang of loneliness at the sight of McCoys family gathered around him. They all looked so nice. They reminded her of her own family. Well, minus the four brothers she had and plus the sister shed always wanted.
As they approached, something made Lukas look up and the smile on his face, the one that deepened his dimples enough for a girl to get lost in them, totally disappeared.
Gillian sighed. You are now entering the no-smile zone, she said under her breath.
Did you say something, Miss Flame? Philo asked.
Gillian winced. She was about to go up against one of the towns favorite sons and she had a lawyer who couldnt even get her name straight. Despite the fact that Gillian firmly believed she was right in what she was doing, she didnt feel real terrific about it at the moment.
Luckily, just as Gillians heart was warming to the McCoysjust as she started to wonder if she should just call the whole thing offshe heard the muffled sound of fabric rending as the back seam on the fitted bodice of her dress gave. And that made her remember the sweet-bun sabotage. Which made her remember the ruined pants and the damaged boot and her sprained arm. So when Molly came forward and started to introduce her parents, Gillian held up her good arm and yelled, Stop!
Stop? Molly inquired with a puzzled frown on her face.
Pleasejust dont come any closer. Every encounter Ive had with a McCoy since I came back to town has turned out badly. So pleasejust stay right where you are until Im safely inside the courtro
Gillian didnt get to finish. There was a commotion behind the courtroom doors and then they burst open and an elderly man in a black robe came running out.
Bees! he yelled.
What? squawked Gillian.
Bees! the court reporter, hot on the heels of the judge and gripping her little machine in her hands, yelled.
Close the doors! someone shouted, but it was too late. The foyer was already buzzing.
Oh, myIm allergic, Philo said quite calmly just as a huge bumblebee landed on his nose. Oh, my, he merely said again as he went cross-eyed looking at it. Im allergic, you know, he repeated politely.
The bee sat there quivering slightly as if it was trying to choose a pore to plunge its stinger into and Philo just stood there looking cross-eyed, so Gillian did the only thing she could think of. She swatted at the bee on Philos nose.
As it turned out, swatted might have been too mild a term because Philo went down like a felled tree with the squished remains of the bee hanging off of his nose.
Lukas rushed over and crouched next to Philos inert form. Did the bee get him?
I dont know! Im not sure! Gillian cried, feeling perfectly awful as she peered at her lawyer over McCoys hulking shoulder.
Lukas shook him but Philo remained stubbornly inert.
Do you think hes in shock from bee venom? Lukass mother asked.
I think its more likely the princess punched his lights out, Lukas answered. But just in case, we better get him to the hospital.
Somebody call 911! Gillian shouted, but Lukas was already picking the lawyer up off the floor.
The hospital is right across the street. Ill take him.
Ill come along, Molly said.
Gillian stood there with her mouth hanging open as Lukas carried her lawyer out the door, cradling him in his arms like he was no more than a child.
Swell, Gillian said. There goes my lawyer and the defendant. Talk about odd couples.
Doesnt matter, the judge said. No courtroom, anyway. There was a whole damn nest of bees under the bench.
Gillian panicked. The hearing couldnt be postponed! Because if it was, it would mean that she was going to fail in business once again.
She grabbed ahold of the judges robe. But Judge, you dont understand! We have to have this hearing today! I could lose my business if we dont.
The judge sized her up, his lined face scrunching and his eyes squinting. You prepared to act as your own lawyer?
Lukas is acting as his own lawyer, Mr. McCoy said. Mrs. McCoy nodded in agreement.
Gillian, whod gotten hooked on the courtroom show that gave her the idea to sue McCoy in the first place, figured if Lukas McCoy could be his own lawyer, so could she. Yes! she answered, bobbing her head up and down enthusiastically.
Then find me a courtroom, girlie, and were in business.
Gillian was ecstatic and didnt wonder until much later at the wisdom of wanting to go before a judge who called her girlie.
She was pacing, trying to come up with an idea for an alternative courtroom when the doors to the main entrance burst open and a group of women came bustling in, each of them carrying a weird-looking plant in their hands.
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