His Honour, Her Family
Tara Randel
She could be The OneIf he’ll let her in.The rustic mountain town is the ideal place for crime scene investigator Deke Matthews to heal after a tragedy left him questioning everything. But there’s another reason he’s here, and moonlighting as an adventure guide provides the perfect cover. It doesn’t include falling for his boss. Attorney Grace Harper’s back in Golden, Georgia, only long enough to save her family business. Just when Deke has found the woman to share his life…Meet Me at the Altar
She could be The One
If he’ll let her in.
The rustic mountain town of Golden, Georgia, is the ideal place for crime scene investigator Deke Matthews to heal after a tragedy left him questioning everything. But there’s another reason he’s here, and moonlighting as an adventure guide provides the perfect cover. It doesn’t include falling for his boss. Attorney Grace Harper is back in Golden only long enough to save her family business. Just when Deke has found the woman to share his life with...
TARA RANDEL is an award-winning, USA TODAY bestselling author of fifteen novels. Family values, a bit of mystery and, of course, love and romance are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Tara lives on the west coast of Florida, where gorgeous sunsets and beautiful weather inspire the creation of heartwarming stories. This is her eighth book for Harlequin Heartwarming. Visit Tara at tararandel.com (http://www.tararandel.com) and like her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pg/TaraRandelBooks/about/) at Tara Randel Books.
Also By Tara Randel (#u814b1cb9-63d4-557d-b6b7-6bf353ac817e)
Meet Me at the Altar
The Lawman’s Secret Vow
The Business of Weddings
His One and Only Bride
The Wedding March
The Bridal Bouquet
Honeysuckle Bride
Magnolia Bride
Orange Blossom Brides
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk).
His Honour, Her Family
Tara Randel
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ISBN: 978-1-474-09472-6
HIS HONOUR, HER FAMILY
© 2019 Tara Spicer
Published in Great Britain 2018
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
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Version Date: 2018-11-23
She pulled away. “I think we should head back.”
“Grace, I’m sorry if I stepped over the line.”
“It’s...” She waved her hand as if to brush the kiss away, and the gesture hit him like a punch to the gut.
“You work for me, Deke. And without my brother’s extra pair of hands, I can’t risk messing up and having you leave me shorthanded.”
Her words sobered him. Work. She was all about work.
Sliding from the boulder, he held out his hand to help her down. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t disappointed by her decision, but he understood. She’d been looking out for her family for years before he came into her life. Wasn’t he here because of that same loyalty to family? Grace wasn’t the type to throw caution to the wind and start something with him that might affect the family business in a negative way. Made him admire her all the more for her stand, while at the same time, his heart wavered with a funny ache.
Dear Reader (#u814b1cb9-63d4-557d-b6b7-6bf353ac817e),
Welcome back to the Meet Me at the Altar series. In His Honor, Her Family, we continue spending time with the Matthews brothers. This book features Deke Matthews and a woman who is more than his match.
When a work tragedy has Deke rethinking his life, he takes a leave of absence and escapes to the mountains of North Georgia for much-needed solace. He wants silence and a chance to reflect on his future, including the law enforcement job that has been his entire focus. What he gets is Grace Harper.
Grace has always put her family first, despite her personal goal of escaping Golden, Georgia. Deke’s arrival makes her question things, and soon the undeniable attraction Deke and Grace share brings about some great moments and difficult decisions.
Then there’s the ongoing Matthews family quest to find out who, exactly, their widowed mother is dating. And the enchanting town of Golden. Nestled in the mountains, the colorful spot is full of rich characters and picturesque locations. If you love stories set in small towns, you’ll fall for Golden.
There are so many twists and turns in life, but the secret is how we handle each upheaval thrown our way. Join me for Deke and Grace’s journey as they discover the meanings of commitment, family and, most important, love.
Happy reading!
Tara
To my wonderful editor, Kathryn Lye.
Thanks so much for your insight and support.
It is a pleasure working with you.
Contents
Cover (#udfb5b226-89f3-5f42-ac6b-33452ab41289)
Back Cover Text (#u12534dc6-587d-58b2-896b-9ce7b414f0e1)
About the Author (#ud17c78dd-7d9f-5f57-9a2c-098cd4572c7e)
Booklist (#u370512c4-ecc0-5871-b536-7233ad8081a4)
Title Page (#u37201e4f-82c5-5f20-b639-469077ef9678)
Copyright (#u76ddc189-5159-50d0-984b-f40001d22868)
Introduction (#udf5d72d8-10f4-5949-adde-99ac45dd9839)
Dear Reader (#ub467868d-5e49-59ca-b52f-411273592899)
Dedication (#u220f2429-b843-5151-9f93-a3eda4d435a2)
CHAPTER ONE (#ubbe64c25-4634-5858-836b-de70e628df65)
CHAPTER TWO (#u41f3e0a1-2771-5a69-bf0c-dc52d7289688)
CHAPTER THREE (#udd112935-0c9e-53b1-a1a3-fd3f4a25fded)
CHAPTER FOUR (#uf383a2a6-c885-5f43-b3a6-d53bab7faf06)
CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIXTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
Excerpt (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#u814b1cb9-63d4-557d-b6b7-6bf353ac817e)
GRACE HARPER LOOKED up from the paper-strewn desk as the office door opened, bringing with it a warm breeze blowing in leaves that had yet to be swept away from the outside entrance. A tall man strode to the counter with purpose. He removed his polarized sunglasses, his dark gaze meeting hers as he brushed a stray leaf from his short brown hair.
“I’m here about the job,” he said, his deep voice succinct and to the point.
Thank goodness. She’d been back at the Put Your Feet Up vacation and rental business office for only two days. It was Wednesday and already she wanted to pull her hair out. As much as she desperately needed a new outdoor guide—thanks for bailing, Nathan—the idea of holding a job interview on top of straightening up the mess Mama had left behind was enough to give her a pounding headache. Which, she believed, was already knocking at her temples.
She sent him a pleasant smile. “What would you like to know?”
He nodded toward the door. “From the help-wanted sign out front advertising for a tour guide, and the fact that you offer outdoor vacations, I’m guessing you’re shorthanded. So what would the job entail?”
“First, yes, we’re shorthanded. My mother normally handles the office, but she was injured, so I’m filling in temporarily.” She stuck out her hand. “Grace Harper.”
Strong fingers enveloped hers. “Deke Matthews.”
“Well, Mr. Matthews, I need someone who can hike, fish, canoe, kayak and zip-line, to start with.” She handed him a brochure. “Our packages are listed here. I also need you to be able to manage a group of people and have first-aid knowledge.”
He scanned the glossy paper in his hands. “Isn’t it rather late to be hiring a guide with the summer season so close? It’s already the end of May.”
Biting the inside of her cheek, she wanted to scream, “Yes.” Instead, she answered, “I’m afraid my mother’s accident set us behind and our only other guide has been out of touch.”
“I suppose you’ll want someone to start right away?”
“That would be ideal.”
He folded the brochure and met her gaze with his serious expression. “Then I’d like to apply.”
“That would be fine, but I’d like to ask you a few questions first. Get an idea if you’re a good match for the job.”
“Go ahead.”
“Do you have any experience in specific outdoor activities?”
“I was a senior counselor at summer camp when I was a teenager.”
She swallowed in disappointment. “Anything more recent?”
“I’ve been hiking the Appalachian Trail for the past two weeks.”
Okay, that was pretty hard-core outdoorsy stuff.
“Any experience leading tour groups?”
“No, but I like the outdoors. I think this will be a good fit for me.”
She didn’t need an employee who thought he was a good fit, she needed someone who knew what he was doing. And who would keep her from traipsing through the woods or venturing out on the lake. She was an attorney, for Pete’s sake. Not a tour guide. Not anymore.
“Boating experience?”
“I can row.”
“CPR?”
“Card-carrying.”
She was about to roll her eyes at his direct answers when she saw the very tiniest twinkle of humor in his dark eyes.
“Did I pass?”
Honestly, he was the only person to have inquired about the job since she posted the listing, so yeah, he passed. As long as his references checked out.
“If I think of any other qualifications,” he said, “I’ll add it to the work experience portion of the application.”
“Right. The application. I’m sure I have one around here somewhere.” Embarrassed by the fact that she had no idea where Mama kept the forms, she crossed the office area on her side of the counter that separated the open room, hoping it looked like she knew exactly what she was searching for. Odds were Mama hadn’t touched the system Grace had put into place before leaving for her law career, so she moved to the filing cabinet and rifled through the folders, finding the correct form. Whispering a quiet thank-you under her breath, she removed the paper and carried it to the patiently waiting gentleman.
His eyes, a startling blue-gray she realized now, captured hers and for a moment she froze. Until one arched brow rose in a silent question.
“Yes?”
“Do you have a pen?”
“A—a pen,” she stammered, annoyed at herself for losing her composure. Good grief. Yes, he was good-looking, but certainly not enough to crumble her iron control. She scurried back to the desk and snatched the one she’d been using. “Here you go.”
A slight tug curved his lips as he took the pen.
Smoothing her pale pink, lightweight jacket, she asked, “Are you new to the area?”
“I’m going to be in Golden for a while.”
Vague. But then again he didn’t seem very chatty.
As her aspiring hire studied the form, Grace stretched her neck. She needed to get busy. The sooner she had Mama’s life back on track, the sooner she could return to hers. “There are some outdoor tables on the sidewalk in front of Sit a Spell Coffee Shop if you’d care to fill out the application there. It’s a lovely day and the air is always so fresh here in the mountains.”
He glanced around the room. On his side of the counter, two ancient chairs were angled in the corner, a scratched table between them with outdoor magazines scattered on top. Oh, no, was that a cobweb on the ceiling? As he shifted, the wood floor creaked. She gazed at the walls, realizing for the first time that they needed fresh paint. Did the place look as run-down to him as it did to her?
She momentarily closed her eyes, picturing the office in its heyday. Clients coming and going, tour guides checking in, her parents managing the business together. There had been lots of good moments: doing homework after school with Faith right here at Mama’s desk, Nathan underfoot as he played with his toy trucks. The times they piled into the bed of Daddy’s pickup when he went out to the warehouse to check on a canoe or piece of camping equipment. Or her favorite, hiking trips up a trail in the north Georgia mountains on a sunny Sunday afternoon, just the five of them. It seemed like a dream now. Life had been fairly normal, until fate stepped in and her father couldn’t resist an opportunity that landed him in jail.
Her lids flew open when he cleared his throat.
“I’ll fill it out here at the counter.”
“Then I’ll leave you to it.”
Turning on a very spiky heel, she faced the desk. The sight of the paperwork nearly had her groaning out loud. If her mother, Wanda Sue Harper, hadn’t sprained her ankle after a fall, Grace would be in her downtown Atlanta office, planning court strategies and writing briefs. One frantic call and she’d put her life on hold for four weeks. Scrambling to line up family leave was tricky, but since she’d been with the firm for nearly a year, she was able to cover her open cases and come home.
It was like she’d never left.
She concentrated on the task at hand, but she was also a bit distracted by the lingering woodsy scent of the stranger. As she peeked at his broad shoulders, tanned skin and muscular frame, she decided he looked physically suited for the job. More than capable in a non-suit-and-tie sort of way. When he looked over and caught her gaze, she dropped her head to focus on the piles of paper in front of her.
Why was she even noticing anyway? Maybe because he’d come to a job interview wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt and worn jeans. Jeans. To a job interview! Despite his clothing choice, she found him extremely attractive. Odd, because she didn’t go for the rugged type and never dated men who didn’t dress with a bit of polish. Show her a man in a well-tailored suit and she was a goner. Better yet, put her in a professional office setting and she was one happy camper.
This time she did groan, eliciting another brief glance from the man before he returned his attention to answering questions and supplying data. Okay, back to his being athletic. He seemed competent for the demands of the job, but the other requirements? She’d have to wait and see. She took a sip from her diet cola and then gathered up the vacation request forms she’d printed out when she’d arrived at the office. As soon as Mr. Matthews left, she’d read them over, along with returning calls and checking the website, as well as touching base with her uncle Roy, who oversaw the rental cabins. It was only ten in the morning and already she saw no end to her to-do list.
As she reached out to grab hold of the overdue bill folder she’d compiled, the front door flew open. She glanced up to find her worst nightmare perched on the threshold.
“Grace Marie Harper. When I heard you were back in town I had to come and see for myself.”
The shrill voice of Lissy Ann Tremaine sent shivers over her spine, in a horror-movie, run-for-your-life kind of way. And why did everyone in town insist on using two first names?
“Hello, Lissy Ann.”
The slim woman, her dark hair pulled back in a stylish updo, was dressed in a trendy blouse, slacks and peep-toe pumps and dripping in gold jewelry. She crossed the room, pushed her way to the counter, elbowing Mr. Matthews aside, and rested her designer purse on top.
“I heard your mama took a fall.”
“You know those front steps. Real killers.”
“So you’ve actually graced Golden with your presence.” She stopped. Giggled. “Graced. Did you get that?”
Grace held back an eye roll but smiled. Why? she silently moaned. It was bad enough Lissy Ann and her insufferable husband had made her life miserable in high school. Did Grace have to deal with this woman as well as juggle her mother’s doctor appointments and singlehandedly run the family business?
“I’ll be here until Mama can get back on her feet.” Which Grace refused to do, remaining seated at the desk as she talked to her childhood...well, not friend.
Lissy Ann glanced around. Wrinkled her pert nose. “I suppose that’s a good idea. You always did make this place work.”
Which is exactly why she’d gone to law school and taken a job elsewhere, hoping her mother would finally accept the fact that this was her business, not Grace’s.
“I hope you get things under control. We’re having a huge, and I do mean huge, Summer Gold Celebration coming up. An entire week dedicated to merchant specials, making sure all the local lodging is booked solid, holding mini-events.” She waved a hand with a huge honking diamond on it. “You know the drill. Your mama promised to get involved. The tourist numbers should be phenomenal so we need everyone in town working overtime to make Golden the hot vacation spot.”
After dropping her conversation bomb, Lissy Ann looped her purse strap over her arm. “We can count on you, right, Grace?”
“Sure.”
“I’ll send the promotional materials right over.”
“Oh, yay.”
Lissy Ann huffed and left. The glass door panel rattled in the wake of her departure.
The silence felt good after having that unwelcome voice echoing off the rafters. Until a different voice said, “Friend?”
She’d almost forgotten Mr. Matthews was still in the room. “More like mortal enemy.”
“I didn’t know people really had those.”
“If you had one, you’d know it...”
He tilted his head. “Sounds like big goings-on this summer.”
“Lissy Ann is married to the head of the chamber of commerce. They have plans to put Golden on the map.”
“You don’t sound excited about it.”
She shrugged. “I haven’t been engaged in town functions for a while.” With luck she’d be gone before the huge celebration. One could hope.
“I’m finished,” he said, pushing the paper across the counter.
Grace rose, smoothing her skirt. Why she’d worn a work suit to the office today was anyone’s guess. Folks weren’t keen on formal clothing here in the mountain towns, going instead for a more laid-back look, except for Lissy Ann. By dressing professionally, Grace wouldn’t let anyone forget for one minute the thriving law practice waiting for her seventy minutes south.
“Let’s see,” she said, lifting the completed paper. She noted his home address. “You live in Atlanta?”
“Decatur, but like I said, I’ll be spending the summer in Golden.”
She continued reading. He was thirty-one, three years older than her. She stopped short at his employment history, specifically when special agent popped out at her. “You work for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation?”
He nodded.
“Why on earth would you apply as an outdoor guide?” she blurted.
“Due to circumstances, I’ve taken a leave of absence from the bureau.”
Should she ask what kind of circumstances? Like was he forced to take time off? Was he in some kind of trouble? She’d certainly find out when she checked his references, but in the meantime... Her eyes went wide when she continued reading. “You’re a crime scene specialist?”
“You’re familiar with GBI?”
“I’m an attorney. I work in Atlanta.”
“An attorney?”
Why did it sound like Mr. Matthews spoke around something nasty tasting in his mouth?
“Yes, I’m surprised we didn’t run into each other in court when I worked for the public defender’s office.”
“You don’t work there now?”
“No. A private firm handling criminal cases.”
His eyes became hooded. Uh-oh. Her suspicion meter went haywire.
“So,” he asked, “do I get the job?”
Obviously his career was not a topic for conversation. She bit her lower lip. Did she hire him? He was qualified in a completely different line of work, but as he said, he’d taken a leave of absence. He needed a job. She needed an employee. Her brother, Nathan, had flaked out on her and her sister, Faith, was less than reliable these days, so to be honest, Grace was desperate. She couldn’t do this alone and the tour schedule was quickly filling up. The cool, refreshing mountain air lured families and outdoor enthusiasts who wanted time away from the rush and summer heat of the big city. Spending time in a smaller town like Golden, which operated on mountain time, thereby alleviating stress, had become big business. She needed to help Mama by getting the season started and running smoothly.
“As I said, my mother is indisposed. I should run your application by her and see what she thinks. It’ll also give me time to check your references.”
He regarded her with an expression she couldn’t decipher.
“I can promise you, I live a boring life. No past indiscretions to keep me from employment.”
Maybe, but she wasn’t willing to take any chances.
“So if your mother can’t work and you have no one else to run the tours, do you have an idea of when you might come to your decision? If it’s going to take a while, I’ll need to apply elsewhere.”
Logical question. Why was she suddenly stalling? “Technically I’m just taking care of the company until she can come back full-time. She’s still the principal owner.”
“But she transferred her authority to you?”
“For the time being.”
“Unless you find me unqualified or you just don’t like me, I don’t see the holdup.”
He didn’t see the holdup? Who did he think he was?
“I don’t mean to give you an ultimatum, but there are other businesses looking for help,” he pointed out.
“Then perhaps you should apply at those other places, where, I might add, the owners will also want references.”
“You’d send me away, even though you need me?”
“I never said I needed you.”
His eyes gleamed. “But you do.”
“I have other interviews lined up.” Liar.
He rested his elbows on the scuffed countertop. “Until then do you plan on running the office and hiking up the mountain at the same time? Handling the town celebration by yourself?”
Why was she even arguing with him? She’d thought he might be the answer to her problem until he started questioning her methods. She hesitated until a voice in the back of her mind taunted, Hirehim so you can get back to Atlanta sooner than later.
She couldn’t allow herself to be sucked into family drama again. Her mother would try everything in her power to keep Grace in Golden. Hadn’t it been an ongoing battle just to attend college and law school? If Mama could find a way to milk her injuries—very possible for Wanda Sue—Grace might end up back where she started, stuck in a town she’d dreamed of leaving since she was a teen. Everyone knew her here, knew the family’s worst history and her part in it, a time when she’d been unable to manage events that had spun out of control. The sooner she was at her real job, assuming the firm didn’t fire her if her mother didn’t get back on track soon, the quicker she’d gain control of her life.
Still, telling Mr. Matthews to take his high-handedness and hit the road was on the tip of her tongue. Before she could utter the words, the phone rang. She held up a finger and snatched the wireless from the cradle. “Put Your Feet Up.”
“Gracie, tell me you hired someone today.”
“Mama, this isn’t a good time.”
“Buck Watkins down at the Jerky Shack said he saw a healthy man walk into the office. Did you talk to him?”
“I’m conducting an interview now.”
“Can he take the job?”
“Yes, but—”
“Gracie, you always make everything so difficult.”
Grace ignored a twinge at the not-so-subtle dig.
“I can’t get ahold of Nathan and the first tour is in three days. How on earth will I deal with my injuries and not worry about the business if you don’t get help soon.”
Pile on the guilt trip, Mama.
“Let’s discuss this later.”
“Why? We’ll still come to the same conclusion.”
“I need to check his references first.”
“Hire him now, check them later. If they don’t pan out, you can fire him then, but for goodness’ sake, don’t let him slip through your fingers. We need him.”
This was exactly why Grace had left Golden and the family company.
Turning from Mr. Matthews’s curious expression, Grace closed her eyes and counted to ten. “I’ll see you later,” she said, ending the conversation.
Straightening her shoulders, she faced the man she was going to have to work with in the near future. “You’re hired.”
A smile broke the serious expression on his face. At the sight of his dimples, her breath stalled in her chest.
“That wasn’t so hard.”
Of all the... One, two, three...
“When do I start?”
“How about tomorrow? Nine in the morning.”
“Works for me.”
“Make sure you’re on time,” she said, rounding the desk as the phone started to ring again. As she reached for it, the front door closed behind her. Thankfully, she’d be heading back to her old life in a month. Then the family business, and all it entailed, was someone else’s problem.
* * *
TAKING A SIP of hot coffee as he exited Sit a Spell Coffee Shop, Deke Matthews struggled to hold back a satisfied grin. Step number one taken care of. He’d landed a job and now had a cover story to justify hanging around Golden. Pleased with his progress, he pulled his cell phone from the back pocket of his jeans and hit speed dial.
“Deke, any success?” his brother Dylan promptly asked when he picked up.
“I got a job.”
“That was fast.”
“You know I always take care of matters in a timely manner.”
“A trait I appreciate. Especially now.”
Deke heard a rustling on the other end, then, “So what’s your new profession?”
“Outdoor tour guide. Leading tourists up mountain trails, boating on the lake, that sort of thing.”
“Sounds more like fun than work.”
“Someone has to do it.” Deke took another sip of the tasty almond-flavored coffee, swallowed, then asked, “Is Mom still in the dark?”
“Yes. And I plan on keeping it that way.”
“Agreed.”
“Derrick and Dante are on the same page, too.”
“Still, this is Mom we’re talking about. She has no clue?”
“No. James Tate has totally duped her.”
Deke frowned. He hadn’t met his mother’s boyfriend yet. In fact, none of her boys had had the pleasure. That made him very wary of the guy. Along with the fact that his mother and Dylan lived in Florida, it made a quick pop-in to scope out the situation almost impossible. But their mother’s recent behavior had set all the brothers into a tailspin.
First of all, this was their mother. She didn’t date. Or at least hadn’t, not since their father had died. In the years after Daryl Matthews’s passing, she’d never once gone out with a man. Friend, romantic interest or otherwise. This Tate guy must have sold her an attractive story for her to finally move on from their father’s cherished memory and try to hide it from her sons.
“Is she still giving you the runaround?”
“Every day.”
At the frustrated tone of his brother’s voice, Deke grinned. It took a lot to throw his brother Dylan off task, but Jasmine Matthews was good. Very good.
So were her sons. They’d learned from the best.
“I thought you had plans to run into them while they were on a date?” Deke reminded his brother.
“She caught wind of it and moved the location.”
“Classic Mom.”
Dylan let out a short laugh.
If there was one thing their mother was good at, it was bending her sons’ wills to do her bidding. Not in an evil-queen kind of way. More like she’d mastered the art of manipulation after raising four boys. He guessed it was a survival tactic. But the Matthews boys loved their mother and would do anything to keep her safe. Even if it meant Deke detouring to Golden to follow a lead they’d uncovered about their mother’s boyfriend.
At least that’s what he told himself. Escaping from Atlanta had been the primary goal because the truth was much more complicated.
“Did you find the store yet?”
“I’ll be passing it any minute.”
At the intersection, Deke looked both ways before striding to the opposite side of the downtown street. A mix of busy storefronts and specialty boutiques lined each side of the avenue. As casually as possible, he stopped at the front window of a store named Blue Ridge Cottage. Shoppers milled about inside, but he couldn’t see the store owner.
“It’s just like the intel promised,” Deke conveyed.
“Do you have a visual on the target?”
“No.” As two older women exited the store, he nodded and moved on. “Give me time and I’ll see what I can dig up.”
“Are you sure you’re up to this?”
Here it comes. “Why would you ask me that?”
“Because you escaped to the mountains.”
“And that’s a crime?”
Dylan’s voice went tight. “That’s what you do, Deke. Withdraw when you should be with people.”
“I don’t want to discuss this.”
“You never do. Hiding away instead of confronting your past isn’t good for you. You can’t keep closing yourself off.”
“Why not? It works for me.” Deke shut his eyes and counted to ten. “Look, I told you I’d find something out about this mystery woman and I will.”
“And then you’ll deal?”
“Don’t push me.”
Deke went silent, pinching the bridge of his nose. Tired of the same refrain. He hated when his brothers pushed him to be social when he was better off with his own company.
“Listen, Deke. We’re counting on you.”
“No pressure, huh?”
“Never, brother. Gotta run.”
Dylan ended the call and Deke replaced his phone in his back pocket. He walked over to a bench and lowered his lanky frame to the wooden seat.
Once Dylan had discovered their mother was dating, the brothers had decided to stick their noses in where they didn’t belong. It was only fair play. Their mother would certainly do the same to them. Had done the same at one time or another in their relationships. She’d made it clear she wanted daughters and in order for that to happen, her sons needed to marry. They’d all disappointed her, she’d complained. Hadn’t she set up impromptu meetings with single women or invited the “perfect” woman to dinner if one of his brothers planned to stop by her condo? It was a little trickier since he and Derrick lived in different states. Dylan and Dante had finally met their matches, but was his mother so lonely herself that she’d fallen for a guy no one knew anything about?
Deke loved his mother. Had felt helpless over the grief she’d tried to hide after their father’s death. He wouldn’t let some guy swoop in and take advantage of her. They also wouldn’t violate any protocols and use their law enforcement jobs to do an extensive background check on the man just because they didn’t trust him. When asked, Deke had gladly stepped in to try to find some easy answers.
The first break had come when James offered to do some work around their mother’s condo. Curious, Dylan called the company James claimed he worked for. Turned out the place had never heard of him. After a little digging, Dylan suspected James Tate was not who he claimed to be, sending up huge red flags. Dylan laid it out for their mother, but she refused to heed his warning. She trusted James, she’d argued. He would never hurt her. There were things Dylan didn’t know. And with that, she shut down further conversation on the subject.
More determined than ever to find out who this man really was, their younger brother, Dante, had pulled his new girlfriend into the loop. Eloise called in a favor and unearthed information they could actually use. They’d learned James regularly called a number here in Golden, which they traced to Blue Ridge Cottage. A young woman owned the shop. So who was she, exactly? And why did James call her? Since Deke was already up this way to hike the Appalachian Trail, once he was in range signal, Dylan had called and asked him to conduct the second part of their investigation. He was on leave of absence from his job, giving him the time to follow through on this lead.
Arriving in Golden, Deke wasn’t sure what kind of job he’d find here. It wasn’t a matter of being picky, but he did want something that would immerse him in the town so when he met the target it would seem natural. To her anyway. Working in a restaurant wasn’t at the top of his list, so when he happened upon the help-wanted sign in the front window of Put Your Feet Up, his gut urged him to go in and inquire about the job.
Not only would being a guide be the perfect cover, he also enjoyed working outdoors. In many ways, he hoped this job would distract him from the recent events that had changed his life.
Across the street he could just see into the window of the Put Your Feet Up office. Miss Harper walked past the window, the sun lighting on her chin-length, blunt-cut blond hair. Clearly she’d hired him because she was desperate, not because of his witty repartee. The tourist season was upon them, which worked to his advantage, and since she couldn’t be the guide and run the office at the same time, she was stuck with him. He took another sip of his coffee and savored the rich taste. Yeah, she hadn’t been charmed by him—not that charm was his strong suit, he’d been told more than once—but he had to admit, when she’d mentioned she was a criminal lawyer, it was all he could do not to walk out the door. Probably would have, if this entire mission didn’t focus on his mother.
A ding sounded from his pocket. He extracted his phone to find a text from his oldest brother, Derrick. Heard you got a job. Fast work.
What, had Dylan sent out a memo right away?
Another ding. Let me know if this is too much.
Deke clenched his jaw. He loved his brothers, but their concern smothered him. He liked being alone. What was the big deal?
He typed, I can handle it.
While he waited for a response—because Derrick was not the kind to leave well enough alone—he pulled up his photo gallery. Scrolled through until he found a recent picture of his friend Brittany, with her husband and two young sons.
His hand trembled as her sunny smile tore at his heart.
It wasn’t your fault, his inner voice asserted.
His chest squeezed tight and he could barely breathe.
A ding jarred his guilty memories. Call me if you need me, Derrick texted.
Deke didn’t need his brother’s, or anyone else’s, help. He was dealing with the tragedy and he’d be fine. In time.
The idea of swallowing another mouthful of coffee made his stomach sour. He tossed the cup at the nearby trash can. It hit the edge, then tottered inside. Not a slam dunk, but then Deke wasn’t exactly proficient in sports, even if he did excel in competition with his brothers. He’d do fine leading outdoor tours for the time being before deciding what to do with the next stage of his life, because going back to analyzing crime scenes when his investigation had put a good friend in a deadly situation wasn’t an option right now. Sighing, he stretched his arms along the back of the hard bench, the warm sunshine beating down on him as he watched the happenings of Golden, Georgia.
He’d done his research before arriving in town. His brothers always razzed him about his geeky tendencies, but who did they come to first when they needed information about one thing or another in their lives? That’s right. Him.
The town had been established around 1835 after a gold vein was discovered in the surrounding mountains about five years earlier. Folks had trekked to this beautiful spot of land, hoping to make a fortune. Gold mines popped up, much like the historical structure Deke had passed when he first drove into town. The US Mint built a branch in a neighboring town and produced gold coins. Eventually the rush slowed and those with gold fever moved on to California. From the signs posted on the curvy roads in the mountainous area, gold panning was a popular tourist attraction. He supposed he’d have to check it out before he left.
Golden’s greater downtown consisted of six blocks of tree-lined sidewalks built on an increasing incline. There were gift shops, restaurants, lodging and a few professional offices. The buildings were painted in vivid colors. Old-fashioned, ornate cast-iron lampposts lined the main street, supporting large planters overflowing with bright marigolds.
Once off the main street, there were further blocks of housing in all directions, but then the lots grew larger and farther apart as the thick woods and the slopes of the mountains took over the surrounding areas. Golden Lake was situated north of town, a popular tourist destination.
The pace was slow, the town folk friendly. Cars moved down the street in a leisurely fashion, unlike the massive traffic tangles he dealt with daily in Atlanta. He didn’t miss the job, the place or the memories one little bit, but he couldn’t stay away forever. At some point he’d have to return to the job. He’d need to give his superiors an answer on whether he wanted to continue working for the bureau or not, and as of right now, he couldn’t truthfully say.
He wasn’t posturing when he told Miss Harper working outdoors would be a good fit for him. He needed space from the events that had caused him to question not only his line of work, but life in general. Thinking about the tragedy left him with lots of questions and zero answers. Being outside in the fresh air and sunshine might help him discover what step to take next. If not...well, he’d deal with that later.
Miss Harper moved before the window again, this time stopping to gaze outside. He couldn’t see her well from here, but he’d cataloged her details right after meeting her. Sparkling green eyes. Milky complexion. Probably only five and a half feet to his nearly six. Spunk, and plenty of it.
An attorney. What were the odds?
He’d freely admit he was biased when it came to his current personal struggle. She might be a criminal attorney, but that didn’t mean she found ways to let killers go free. He knew he needed to work on the anger and yes, deep down, the guilt.
His new boss must have noticed him. She waved, then disappeared.
Yes, he’d make himself work with Miss Harper because this entire mission was about getting the truth for his mother. There was no way he’d let a criminal, if James Tate was indeed one, destroy another person he loved.
CHAPTER TWO (#u814b1cb9-63d4-557d-b6b7-6bf353ac817e)
“MAMA, HOW MANY times do I have to tell you to stay put? Bagsy will be fine.”
“Not if I don’t feed him,” her mother argued, hobbling with her wrapped ankle and cane across the scuffed linoleum flooring to the pantry. There was no stopping the woman when she worried about her fluffy, white feline companion. “He’s all I’ve got.”
How many times had Grace heard this refrain? She really thought she’d gotten past Mama’s guilt trip, but apparently not. Her heart squeezed at the sight of the woman, face drawn and skin sallow, looking smaller than the last time Grace had seen her, if that was possible. Her mother was on the petite side, but in the last week she’d lost weight, concerning Grace even more.
“Mama, have you been eating?” she asked as she marched to the refrigerator and opened the door. Sure enough, the perishables Grace had brought over yesterday sat on the shelves, untouched.
Her mother waved her hand at Grace. “Don’t worry over me.”
“Right, like the way you don’t fuss over Bagsy?”
“That’s different. If I don’t feed him, who will?”
“None of us will let him starve.”
“If any of my children were around,” she muttered under her breath.
“Really? Am I just a figment of your imagination?” Grace blew out a sigh. Call it oldest-child syndrome or the fact that Grace had managed her mother’s life since their father had...left, it was the same song and dance.
The cat came running when her mother poured the dry food in a bowl, a grimace lining her face. After a quick pet on Bagsy’s head, she sank down into a chair at the kitchen table and lifted her bruised and swollen foot to rest on another. “Sorry, Gracie. I know you came when I called. And Faith did stop by with a few prepared meals. I’ve been eating those.”
“Glad to hear.”
“Your sister has a lot going on, what with the babies being sick and Lyle out of a job again. I can’t bother her.”
No, but you can impose on my life.
Which wasn’t a fair thought. Mama had been on her own for a few years now and had actually been doing well. She’d been running the company and taking care of her finances and seemed to be at peace with the past. Until Grace moved to Atlanta for good, Faith had to focus on her family and Nathan was...well, no one knew what Nathan was up to so that wasn’t a good sign. Grace envisioned a visit from the police in the near future and held back a frown.
“So Faith has family issues. What about Nathan? Have you heard from him?”
“About a week before my fall. He called and said he’d be back for the first tour, but now I’m not so sure.”
Grace pulled out a chair, slid it beside her mother’s and sat. “Mama, I know you don’t enjoy this conversation, but I’m going to ask you again. Why don’t you consider selling the company?”
Her mother pressed her lips together and narrowed her eyes.
“This has been an ongoing discussion for some time. You can’t avoid the truth forever.”
“And what would that truth be, Gracie? That this family can’t stick together long enough to make this business work? When your daddy gets back—”
“He’s not coming back.” He was never going to set foot in Golden again and it was Grace’s fault.
“—things will be different.” Tears clouded her mother’s pretty green eyes. “Don’t go sayin’ things like that. He promised he’d come back to us.”
Yeah, well, he’d lied.
He’d never even made the trip to Golden to say goodbye once his prison sentence was up two years ago, leaving her mother in limbo. They weren’t divorced, and no matter how many times Grace assured her mother she could take care of the matter, her mother refused to file. Earl Harper had outright abandoned his wife. The coward walked away after his release from jail and never looked back. Grace was still picking up the pieces.
Knowing she would get nowhere with this tactic, she tried another. “Mama, Faith is always looking for some extra cash. Let her work a few hours a day at the office. She can bring the kids with her, just like you did when we were little.”
“I don’t know. She doesn’t want to fight with Lyle about it.”
Grace had a few choice words for Lyle, but voicing them was useless. The family business was less family and mostly Grace, no matter that she’d put steps in place before she left town to make running the company easier for all involved.
“Then let me talk to Nathan when he gets back. Impress upon him once again his importance in the business.”
“You know your brother. He’s a free spirit.”
An excuse for getting into hot water if ever there was one.
Her mother reached over and took Grace’s hand. “You’re the glue that holds this family together, Gracie. We can’t do it without you.”
Grace swallowed a groan. Fought back the frustrated tears stinging her eyes.
“I can’t, Mama.”
Sadness crossed her mother’s face and she deflated right in front of Grace.
“But I promised I would stay until you’re feeling better, and I will.”
Her mother nodded and rose, shuffling into the living room.
Muttering the words she’d reserved for Lyle under her breath, Grace stood and walked to the kitchen window. The trees had finally sprouted tender green leaves. The mulberry bush on the side of the yard showed signs of bright purple berries, while orange butterfly weed and wild blue indigo bloomed haphazardly in the scraggly backyard. The small three-bedroom house sat on the top of a hill, the backyard sloping down to a creek that ran through the property.
When Grace had pulled up earlier, she’d sat in her sedan, blinking away moisture as she viewed her childhood home. It appeared as run-down as the Put Your Feet Up office. The house needed a fresh coat of paint and the concrete steps—which had crumbled, causing her mother’s tumble and injury—needed replacing. After graduating law school, Grace had offered to have her mother move to Atlanta and live with her, especially when she landed a good-paying job. Her mother had balked, waiting for Daddy and all, so Grace moved out of the house and started a new life. Or at least she’d hoped to start a new life. Sometimes her family didn’t make it easy.
The phone rang and Grace heard her mother say, “Faith, how are the babies?”
While her mother chatted, Grace strolled down the hallway to the bedrooms. Poking her head into her mother’s room, she realized it hadn’t changed in nearly thirty years. Same furnishings, although the quilt on the bed was different. The same comforting scent of Shalimar lingered in the room. Daddy had given a bottle to Mama one year for Christmas and she’d worn only that perfume ever since. Just one more indication of her mother’s refusal to face the truth.
Backing out, she crossed the hall to her bedroom. Twin beds she and her sister had shared were now filled with Faith’s children’s toys. Grace stepped through the doorway, nearly tripping over a wooden block. With a smile, she bent to retrieve it, then tossed it in the toy chest that had been hers when they were all growing up. The waxy scent of crayons, reminding her how much she had enjoyed drawing, greeted her like an old friend. Not much had changed here either, except that the Harper children were grown adults with lives of their own.
Her mother’s soothing voice carried down the hallway. Grace lowered herself to her twin bed, running her fingers over the worn coverlet designed with large pink-and-purple geometric shapes over a white background. A bittersweet sigh escaped her. She’d thought it was so cool when she’d picked it out at fifteen, shortly before Daddy left. It had been a big deal, the first grown-up decision she’d ever made. Little did she know it wouldn’t be the last.
Spying a framed photo on the dresser, Grace rose and walked over to pick it up. The three of them, mugging for the camera. Grace with a tight smile, Faith all glammed up and Nathan grinning, an upper tooth missing.
“What happened to us?” she whispered.
They’d gotten along until the years after their father was incarcerated. Everyone blamed Grace but didn’t balk when she’d taken over as the adult of the family. Faith had acted out and Nathan, well, it took time, but he finally decided to follow in their father’s footsteps by engaging in questionable endeavors—not exactly illegal but definitely straddling the fence—hoping for a payout that never materialized. Lately, she dreaded coming home, always anxious about how her siblings would greet her. With a pang, Grace realized this was probably why Faith stayed away when Grace was in town.
“Gracie, come on in here,” her mother called.
Replacing the picture, Grace squared her shoulders. Her heels echoed on the wood floor as she joined her mother.
“Faith said hello,” her mother informed her as soon as she entered the room.
“I hope I get to see her while I’m here,” Grace said, truly meaning it. The sisterly bond had been strong until they were in their teens. Faith, willful even then, accused Grace of trying to mother her. Grace had heard “You’re not the boss of me” too many times to count.
It all came to a head one night when the girls were in high school. Grace had warned Faith about a party her sister wanted to attend. It was all over school that there would be alcohol. Their mother, in bed with the covers over her head, didn’t have any opinion one way or the other if Faith went, so Grace stepped in, and, after an argument, forbade Faith from leaving the house. Which went over like a lead balloon. They yelled at each other, Faith calling Grace bossy and uptight, saying that no one wanted to be her friend. Grace tried to explain she didn’t want Faith to get hurt. She recognized that the kids Faith had been hanging out with were nothing but trouble, but she couldn’t convince Faith.
Faith sneaked out anyway and proceeded to get drunk. The cops busted the party and hauled the kids to the police department, mostly to scare them straight. Grace came to get her sister, thankful no charges were filed, and even though she never said I told you so, things were never the same between them. The sad truth was, Grace wanted to be Faith’s sister, not her handler, but it hadn’t worked out that way.
“She said she’s—”
Grace held up a hand. “I know, busy.”
Her mother averted her eyes.
“So if you’re okay, I’m going to take off.” Grace swallowed the thickness in her throat, picking up her purse from the sofa cushion. “I need to stop by the grocery store before heading to the cabin.”
“I don’t know why you won’t stay here,” her mother fussed. “I have a perfectly good spare room.”
That was never going to happen. She’d stayed here last night and once was enough. After she had come in late from a long day of trying to figure out what was going on at Put Your Feet Up, her mother had filled her in on the local gossip before switching topics to cover what Grace could do while she was home. Eventually, she’d fallen asleep on the couch, waking the following morning with a crick in her neck and the guilt from the past weighing her down. If she had to stay in Golden, she needed her space or she’d go crazy, so the family cabin would be her refuge.
“Faith’s kids use the bedroom when they come over. And Nathan will be back, eventually. Besides, I don’t plan on being in town forever. Once you’re feeling better, you can take over at the office.”
“I don’t know. These painkillers make me woozy.”
“You’ll be off them soon enough.”
Her mother picked at a snagged piece of yarn hanging from her sweater sleeve.
Bending over, Grace placed a kiss on her mother’s cheek. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“I’ll be here,” came the terse reply.
Grace had just made it to the front door when her mother stopped her. “Wait. I forgot to ask. Did you hire the man who came to the office today?”
Turning, she said, “Yes, despite not running his references first.”
“Myrna down at the coffee shop said he stopped in and is just the most polite young man.”
“You’re going by her word?”
“I’ve known Myrna and Delroy for twenty-five years. They wouldn’t steer me wrong.”
“Maybe not, but I still put in a request to speak to HR at his job.”
“Last job, you mean?”
“No, current. Sort of. He’s on a leave of absence.”
Her mother frowned. “Odd.”
“He works for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.”
Wide-eyed, her mother gasped. Yeah, cops weren’t a favorite in this house since Daddy’s arrest. “Tell him never mind.”
“I will do no such thing. I hired him on your say-so. We need help and he looks more than capable for the job.”
Capable was an understatement. More than once this afternoon she’d pictured him, broad shoulders, blue-gray eyes that captivated and drew her in, wondering who he was and what had happened in his life to bring him to her door. Or why her heart sped up when he smiled. Those dimples. Yikes. Then, just as quickly, she chastised herself for thinking about him. She wasn’t in the market for a romance, no matter how handsome he was. Besides, she worked with lots of handsome men, she reasoned, even as an inner voice said, Yeah, but they’ve never affected you this way.
“But Gracie...”
“No buts, Mama. Unless he’s done something heinous, he stays.”
Her mother crossed her arms over her chest and pouted. It was all Grace could do not to laugh. “If you don’t like my decisions you can return to the office and take over.”
Wanda Sue dropped her arms. “Fine. He’ll do.”
“That’s what I thought.” She softened her voice. “Keep your phone nearby, okay? I love you, Mama.”
“I love you, too, Gracie.”
As she stepped outside, a breeze chilled her skin. She tugged her lightweight jacket closer. The month of May could still be cool in Golden, especially as the late-afternoon sun lowered in the sky, although it was beginning to stay lighter longer in the day now. She glanced at her watch and hustled to her car. She had enough time to hit the store and make it up to the cabin before dusk.
After power walking the small local grocery, she drove the five miles north of town to Golden Cabins. Her uncle Roy still owned and maintained the fifteen structures while the Put Your Feet Up office booked the rentals. This afternoon Grace had reserved the last available unit—the family cabin—just in time. By the end of the upcoming three-day holiday weekend, the vacation season would officially be under way.
She pulled off the main drag to the entrance. A wooden sign with bright gold letters welcomed guests. Gradually, the pavement receded to gravel and dirt. At the fork she turned left, leading her to the two cabins the family owned and used personally. Uncle Roy lived in one, and Grace’s family used the other, renting it when it wasn’t occupied. The rest of the rental units were to the right of the fork, away from the family. Spread out across ten acres, all the cabins had access to Golden Lake, which was within walking distance. Worn paths lined the property from years of tourists meandering through the majestic woods. At the very center of the property, where the river emptied into the lake, nature lovers could find a small waterfall. Even though Grace wasn’t much for the outdoors after an ill-fated camping trip in high school, the falls were her most favorite spot on the entire planet.
With the window down and cool air rustling her hair, the ground crunched under the car tires until she pulled up to the dark cabin and parked. Removing her groceries, she noticed Uncle Roy’s place was dark, too. He’d mentioned something about fishing until the guests arrived, so he still had a few days away.
Juggling her keys and groceries, she moved through the screened porch and unlocked the front door, then swiped the wall until her hand connected with the light switch. A bright overhead fixture illuminated the living room. Kicking the door closed with her foot, Grace carried the bags to the small kitchen and dropped them on the counter, then switched on another light before tossing her purse on the table and putting away the food that needed refrigeration. Once done, she opened the window to usher in the clean air. Her uncle had been gone when she’d called so the cabin hadn’t been aired out. It still retained that closed-up smell.
She’d just opened the living room window and kicked off her shoes when the sound of shattering glass jolted her. Curious, she hurried to the window and peered outside. Only the hazy twilight greeted her. Shaking her head, she turned to go into the bedroom to change when she heard a loud thump. This time she went to the door and opened it.
The waning sun disappeared behind the mountains, causing shadows to linger over the densely wooded area surrounding the cabins. Just enough light flittered through the tree branches for her to catch sight of a particular shadow on the far side of her uncle’s cabin.
She watched for a beat. Just as she was about to go back inside, she noticed a flicker of movement. Could it be a raccoon getting into mischief? Highly likely. She held her breath. Waited. Sure enough, the elusive movement caught her eye again. She blinked just to be sure, but something had stirred out there. She was certain of it.
Enough was enough.
She rushed straight to the utility closet in the kitchen and grabbed the best weapon she could wield, a broom. Yes, she was going next door to give those critters a piece of her mind. She’d sneak over and scare the party animals back into the woods where they belonged.
Holding the broom handle in a firm grasp, Grace detoured to her bedroom for a pair of flat shoes, then stormed through the screen door, down the steps and...stopped. What was she missing? Oh, yeah, a flashlight. She retraced her steps to find one, then came back outside. After the day she’d had, she was ready to do battle.
The air had cooled even more since she’d been inside. Shivering, she gulped in several deep breaths of pine-scented air, debating the wisdom of her actions as the night grew darker. She rounded the corner of the cabin, heard a thud and a deep groan.
Okay, that was no animal. A burglar?
Quickly turning, she began running back to her cabin to call for help, something she should have done from the start, when she collided with a solid human body.
* * *
DEKE GRUNTED AT exactly the same time the woman who’d barreled into him screamed.
“Hold it,” he yelled, hands outstretched as he saw an object moving toward his head. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
The woman took a step back, brandishing her weapon in defensive mode before her.
“How do I know that?”
He recognized that voice. “Miss Harper?”
The broom lowered. A click, then a sudden flash of bright light blinded him.
“Mr. Matthews?” she asked as she aimed the flashlight directly at his face. “What are you doing here?”
“Trying to get into this cabin.” He squinted against the harsh light. “Mind lowering that thing?”
“Oh, right.” She moved the beam to the ground. “I didn’t see a car when I pulled up.”
“I parked around back.”
“I’m confused. My uncle lives here.”
“He rented the cabin to me. I’ve been trying to find the key but it’s not where he said he left it.” Deke cradled his left hand. First he’d dropped a heavy planter on it while hunting for the key, then he’d knocked into a patio table. His fingers throbbed. He felt moisture and suspected he was bleeding.
“It’s usually under the plant,” his soon-to-be boss said.
“There’s more than one in the back.”
“No. It should be here in the front.”
“I just looked.”
She turned the light to the front porch, skipping over the large decorative planters to a small potted plant situated beside the steps.
“He said planter.”
“Probably he just said plant.”
She walked over, tipped the pot and sure enough, the light hit on a shiny silver key. She grabbed it and held it up. “See.”
“I could have sworn he said planter.”
“He’s out fishing and when he’s off by himself he usually chews tobacco. Maybe you misunderstood him.” She held out the key. When he reached for it, she angled the light on his hand and gasped. “You’re bleeding.”
“Yeah,” he said as the aftereffect of his inept search grew increasingly painful.
She took hold of his arm. “C’mon.”
“Where are we going?”
“To my place. I have bandages.”
“I’m okay, really. Now that I have the key I’ll go inside and clean up.”
Tugging on his arm, she said, “No way. I couldn’t in good conscience let my newest employee bleed out.”
“I’m hardly in danger of bleeding out.”
“But we don’t know that since it’s dark and we can’t properly see the damage.”
Ignoring his protest, she dragged him across the property to a matching cabin. She had him inside in seconds flat, pointing left. “This way to the kitchen.”
“Are you always this bossy?”
“Mostly.”
In the bright light he could now see a gash across his palm. Two of his fingers were turning a faint purple.
“Goodness, what did you do?”
“I lost my balance when the planter fell on my hand and I bumped into the patio table. It toppled over and I cut myself on the edge of the glass top.”
She took his hand, studied it for a second, then nudged him to the sink. “Rinse that off,” she commanded, then disappeared. Moments later she reappeared with boxes of bandages, hydrogen peroxide, a small tube of what he guessed was some sort of salve and whatever else an injured man needed.
“Is it deep?” she asked as she dumped the supplies on the counter. “Should we go to the emergency room?”
He winced as the warm water trickled over the cut. “I don’t think so.”
“Any glass in it?”
“Not that I can see.”
She took hold of his hand again. “Sure you don’t need stitches?”
He tried not to be insulted. Stitches? For a medium-sized cut? “A butterfly will do.”
She glanced up at him. “You’re trying to act all manly, aren’t you?”
“I am manly. And like I told you at the office earlier, I know first aid. A butterfly should be fine.”
She fished through the box to find the bandage. “If you say so.”
“Mind getting me a towel?” he asked when a thin line of red still ran off his hand.
She opened a drawer and pulled out a towel. He took it and covered his palm.
“That’s going to hurt tomorrow,” she informed him.
“It hurts right now.”
She grinned. “Not so manly after all?”
He ignored the teasing.
Once his hand was dry, he lifted the towel to find the blood welling over the cut, but not gushing. He applied pressure again while she opened the bottle of peroxide. “This is going to sting,” she warned.
“I know, but the cut needs to be cleaned.” He removed the towel and braced himself. “Anytime you’re ready.”
Grace lowered his hand over the sink and poured. The muscle in his jaw jumped, but that was all the satisfaction he’d give her after she’d insulted his manliness. Yes, it hurt like crazy but he sucked in a deep breath.
“Sorry,” she said.
“Uh-huh,” he grunted.
Finished, she grabbed another towel and placed it over the cut. “Give that a few seconds to work and I’ll place the bandage.”
While she tidied up, Deke blew out a breath and rested his hip against the counter. With the worst part over, he now noticed his boss’s blond hair glow under the harsh kitchen lighting. Her fair skin attested to her not personally leading the outdoor tours. He was intrigued by the softness that was in direct contrast to her very take-control attitude.
“So,” he said, “you’re a nurse, too?”
“No, but after years of working with vacation clients, I know first aid.”
“Makes sense.” He lifted the towel, glad to see the bleeding was minimal. “Let’s get the bandage on now.”
Grace unwrapped the butterfly and within seconds had it secure. Blood seeped around it.
“Still needs pressure.”
Grabbing a box of gauze, she unrolled a long length and wrapped it around his palm with enough pressure to stanch any more blood flow. She tied it off, then looked up at him, a smile of victory curving her lips.
Their gazes met and held. A ripple of awareness took him by surprise. Yeah, he’d noticed how pretty his new boss was when he’d applied for the job, but this? This was a feeling he hadn’t felt in far too long. He blinked as he tried to get his wayward thoughts under control. Her smile faded and she slowly backed away.
“Um, that should do for now,” she said in a crisp tone as she packed away the supplies. “I suggest you see a doctor tomorrow.”
“Thanks,” he said, striving to get his voice under control. “For everything.”
She nodded and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. He inhaled a decidedly floral scent. Cherry blossom? Even her perfume suited her.
“I should get going,” he finally said.
“Right.” Grace led him to the door. “Sorry about nearly clobbering you in the head. I thought you were a raccoon. Or worse, a burglar.”
“Serves me right for making a racket.”
She tilted her head. “You’re not very good at breaking and entering.”
He grinned and silence hovered between them again.
“I should probably go get settled,” he said again.
“Look, you don’t have to come in tomorrow,” she said, glancing down at his bandaged hand.
“It’s okay. I’d like to learn about the company and find out what kinds of tours you have scheduled.”
She nodded. “Then I’ll bring the coffee. It’s the least I can do.”
“Thanks, Miss Harper.”
“I think after tonight’s events, you can call me Grace.”
“Deke.”
“I remember.”
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow, Grace.”
She opened the door. “If you don’t feel well during the night, don’t hesitate to come over and wake me up.”
“I can handle this.”
“Then have a good night.”
He nodded again and stepped outside to make his way to the cabin. As he walked across the loose gravel, then the damp grass, his eyes lit on a firepit between the two cabins, visible in the moonlight. The cool night air felt good on his heated face.
Dipping his good hand into his jeans pocket to remove the key he’d slid there after Grace had found it, he unlocked the door. He turned on the light switch and made his way around, familiarizing himself with his temporary home. When he’d finished, he went outside to bring in his duffel from the back of the Jeep Wrangler. By now, his head ached along with his hand. He found pain reliever in the bathroom, popped two and finally sank down on the couch in the living room.
Blowing out a breath, he muttered, “Great first impression, Matthews.”
Getting cut might temporarily throw a snag in his plans, but thankfully Miss Harper—Grace—hadn’t told him he was fired before he started.
Grace. Even the name suited her. She was tough and caring, a surprising combination that he’d do well not to let get the better of him. He was here to lose himself in work, not notice his new boss.
CHAPTER THREE (#u814b1cb9-63d4-557d-b6b7-6bf353ac817e)
THE NEXT MORNING, the rich scent of freshly brewed coffee greeted Deke as he walked into the office. Just what he needed after a miserable night of tossing and turning. His palm had throbbed, despite the pain relievers. After staring at the ceiling for hours, he’d gotten up at dawn to take a much-needed run through the woods. No sleep meant his mind was too busy obsessing over things he didn’t have the power to change, mainly Britt’s senseless death.
When he’d made his way along the path that skirted his side of the lake before veering off to the woods, he’d gotten his heart rate high enough that all he concentrated on was breathing. He’d returned to the cabin, soaking wet and winded, then cleaned up the mess he’d made on the back patio. He couldn’t deny that the incredible scenery, tall pines and the water lapping the dank soil beside the lake, calmed his spirit. More so than Atlanta or even his childhood home in Florida. He needed to get his head in the game, not keep dwelling on the past. His brothers were depending on him to find information on James Tate and he was determined to carry through.
Grace was on the phone but pointed to the cup waiting for him on the counter. As he removed the lid, a burst of steam escaped before he took his first slug of the morning. Inwardly sighing, he hoped the caffeine would soon do its magic.
“Yes, sir, we have available openings for that date.” A frown pinched her pretty face. “I can’t promise that Nathan will be leading the group, but I will certainly put him as your first choice. Thanks so much for booking with Put Your Feet Up vacations.”
She jotted a few notes before looking up. “We’re getting busy.”
“Good to hear.”
She took her soda can and rose from the desk. Again, she’d dressed in a power suit. Yeah, he recognized one when he saw it. Today she wore a navy waist-length jacket and pants, with a white blouse. High-heeled pumps completed the look. Since he didn’t have to dress professionally for this job, he’d chosen a T-shirt, jeans and boots for comfort over presentation.
“How’s the hand this morning?” she asked, nodding in that direction.
“Better.” He’d tended to it when he got back from the run, happy the cut wasn’t going to give him problems and that the bruised fingers were no worse than last night. “Not as deep as you would have thought.” He held up his palm. “Just a large bandage today.”
“Good. I felt really bad about what happened.”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“No, but it is my uncle’s place.”
“Serves me right for fumbling around in the dark.”
She sized him up. “Why don’t I think that’s the case?”
“What do you mean?”
“I doubt you’re the type that fumbles around. You came in here yesterday knowing exactly what you wanted and didn’t back down.” She took a sip of her drink, then said, “Somehow you made arrangements with my uncle to rent his place, which rarely happens. What are you, some kind of wizard?”
He chuckled at the suggestion. “More like a fact finder. I research, then apply the knowledge. In this case, Golden jobs and rentals.”
“Hmm. A very cerebral approach to things.”
“Guilty as charged.” He took another bracing gulp of his coffee. “So, care to fill me in on the inner workings of the vacation business?”
“For your research?”
“If you want me to do a good job.”
She lifted the hinged section of the counter and waved him into the office area. “I made some notes,” she said as he passed by.
There was that cherry scent again. It seemed to have taken hold of his senses. Shaking off the notion that Grace was the one to conjure some sort of sorcery, he took a seat beside the desk and waited for her to get started.
She set her can aside and with nimble fingers took a printed paper from the top of the desk. “I pulled together a schedule. Memorial Day weekend is usually swamped with guests at the cabins, but most families do their own thing. I have two hikes scheduled for Saturday, a canoeing session on Sunday and a group zip-lining on Monday.” She pulled a map from the folder, circling an area in red. “The hikes will be relatively easy. They’re both at the same park, Crystalline Falls. It’s a gradually inclining path from the footbridge up to the falls. Beautiful scenery. About a mile up and back.”
“I passed the entrance to the park when I was driving around town the other day. I’ll head out there later and check it out.”
“Since it’s Thursday, you have time to familiarize yourself with the terrain.”
“Got it. Sunday’s excursion?”
“Canoeing on Golden Lake. It’s a bit tricky. Boaters will be out in full force because of the long holiday weekend, but most of the locals know to watch out for tourists. The canoes are stored at our warehouse just south of town. I’ll take you over there so you can see the inventory.”
“The canoes aren’t in the water?”
“Not yet. Uncle Roy will tow them over when he gets back to town. There’s a ramp and dock about a hundred feet to the north of our cabins, along with parking. We usually launch from there.”
“I’ll have a look later today.” He read the next activity on the list and looked up. “I have to admit, I’ve never been zip-lining before.”
“Don’t worry too much. All you do is escort the group to Deep North Adventures. We have an agreement worked out with them, along with the company that offers river tubing packages and another offering horseback riding, to book our guests at a discount. They have trained staff to safely handle their equipment during the entire experience.”
“I see. So your guides don’t actually participate in all the activities?”
“You can if you want to, but it’s not mandatory for the outsourced trips. A few years ago I realized it was easier to team up with other outdoor adventure companies in the area than try to do it all ourselves. It’s really helped to pick up business for everyone involved.”
“Smart.”
“I thought so.”
He grinned. Pretty and confident. A dangerous combination, if his lingering interest in her was any indication.
“You know, it just occurred to me,” he said. “Put Your Feet Up is a misnomer. If anything, your tours keep people on the go, not relaxing.”
She laughed. “True. The cabin you’re staying in? My grandparents developed the land and built the cabins in the eighties. Uncle Roy took over and when my folks got married, my dad offered to assist by opening a booking office. Soon they expanded the business by offering local activities and the company grew from there.”
“You mentioned your mother, but is your dad still involved?”
She hesitated, her eyes taking on a hooded look. Clearly he’d stumbled into something here.
“No. My father left for parts unknown years ago. That’s why my mom runs the business.”
“And you?”
“I help, as you can see. Mostly I worked here when I was growing up, then part-time while I was in college.”
“But you came up with the business model?”
She blinked, surprised he mentioned it. “Yes. It wasn’t really difficult to figure out ways to outsource some of the tours and still make a profit. For the most part people want someone else to arrange a tour, not make all the calls to different venues or worry about the costs or times. I do all that for a set fee.”
“You?”
“I mean Mama.”
At the heat in her voice, he backed off.
“What else should I know?”
Grace spent the next hour explaining the tour options and his responsibilities, answering questions and effortlessly fielding phone calls. She engaged with those on the other end of the line, laughing or reminiscing with prior clients. By the end of the conversation, he had to wonder why Golden didn’t appeal to her anymore. She ran the office seamlessly.
After her last call, when she’d mentioned someone named Nathan again, he had to ask. “So, Nathan? Is he the reason you need a new guide?”
“Yes. And full disclosure, he’s my brother. Unfortunately he took off a few weeks ago and my mother has only heard from him once. I have no idea when he’ll be back.”
“Noted. Anyone else in the family working here I should know about?”
“I have a sister, but she’s not involved.” She closed the thick folder and handed it to him. “I’ve enclosed employment forms you need to fill out and return to me. Any health issues I should be aware of?”
“For the most part, no. Allergies are about it.” What his family thought was childhood asthma had sidelined him when he was a kid. While his brothers had been outside running around, he’d stayed indoors, reading as a way to make the hours pass. Turned out he retained everything he read, which gave him extensive knowledge on quite a few topics. Didn’t hurt that he tended to be a geek. And he’d developed exceptional patience during that time.
Thankfully as he got older, the doctors realized it wasn’t asthma but severe allergies. Since they’d worked out the right medication, he rarely experienced any problems. “During allergy season I fill a prescription and I’m good to go.”
“Okay. I think that’s it.” She rose, grabbing a set of car keys from the desk. “Let’s go visit the warehouse. We can leave through the back door once I lock up.”
She smoothed her slacks, then headed to the front door, which nearly hit her as it opened. A preppy-looking man with shiny blond hair styled in an expensive cut, a slick smile, a tan polo shirt and blue Dockers walked in. If Deke wasn’t mistaken, he heard a muffled groan carry across the room.
“Grace Harper, it is you? Lissy Ann told me you were in town but I had to come by and see for myself.”
“Why, Carter Tremaine, you’ve just made my day.”
Was it his imagination or did her drawl suddenly grow more pronounced? Deke grinned at the fake enthusiasm of Grace’s voice. He could see why when he glimpsed the outward disdain on the face of the other half of the well-dressed Tremaine couple. It perfectly mirrored his wife’s expression yesterday.
“When you left Golden for the bright lights of Atlanta, we didn’t think we’d ever see you again.”
“As I’m sure you know, family matters brought me home.”
“Shame about your mama’s fall. Someone should really take care of that house of hers.”
Grace’s face turned red and her voice turned sharp. “What do you want, Carter?”
He handed her a large yellow envelope. “Lissy Ann compiled the information for the Summer Gold Celebration. I’m sure you can pass it on to your mama and Nathan.”
Grace hesitantly reached out to take the proffered envelope. “How neighborly of you both.”
“We’ve invested in extensive publicity with the hopes of putting Golden on the go-to vacation map, and this celebration should seal the deal.”
Grace stood before him not saying a word. If Deke didn’t already dislike the visitor, he might almost feel sorry for him. Grace’s stony silence threw the other man off.
“So, ah, can we depend on your commitment to the town and help during the celebration?”
“You’ll have to discuss it with Mama when she gets back.”
Carter looked skeptical. “But she’s always on board with civic projects.”
“Then there you go.” She opened the door. “Thanks for stopping by.”
Carter hesitated. “You both have a nice day.” He shot a final glance at Deke and exited out the door.
Grace closed it behind him with more force than was necessary and quickly locked the door. She then stomped back to the desk with a decidedly ferocious frown. Tossed the envelope as she went.
“I take it you’re not a fan of the husband either?”
She ran a hand through her hair. “Do you have people in your life whose mission it is to make you miserable?”
“Sometimes I feel like my brothers were put on this earth for the sole purpose of tormenting me.”
Her eyes lit up over their common bond. “The Tremaines have been pains in my behind since high school.”
“I’m guessing that’s part of the reason you live in Atlanta?”
“Yes.” In the overhead light, her green eyes sparkled. He liked her hair a bit ruffled, her cheeks bright with outrage. Made him want to kiss the stress away until she couldn’t think of anything but him.
Whoa! Hold it. Yes, she intrigued him, but where had that thought come from? Thrown, he clutched the folder tighter.
“Let’s get going before another town resident decides to stop in to confirm the rumors that I’m back in town.”
She led him out the rear door to a narrow lane running behind the buildings in this block. They crossed over gravel to a small patch of grass, which then led to a public parking lot.
“Mind if I drive?” he asked. “I do better with directions if I navigate myself.”
“Sure.” She stopped short when she eyed the white vehicle he pointed to. “It doesn’t have any doors.”
“Yeah. It’s a Wrangler.”
He could almost see her brain calculating the distance from the ground to the seat. It was a bit of a climb to get in, but he had every faith she could manage it. Especially as she stared at the wide, silver side step, face etched with grim determination. Did she always approach life with such a take-all attitude? He and his brothers had been overly competitive growing up—still were today, truth be told—and he found himself wondering if she subscribed to the same philosophy. If so, this would make for a very interesting summer.
“Take hold of the grab handle and pull yourself up.”
She shot him an incredulous glance. “Just like that?”
He chuckled. “Just like that.” He couldn’t wait to see this.
Blowing out a breath, she reached up for the handle, hefted her weight, tottered in her spiky shoes for a scary moment, then slung herself into the seat. She shot him a cocky smile. “What are you waiting for?”
Admiring her pluck, he jumped inside and started the ignition, and they were on their way.
As he pulled onto Main, she shouted directions over the loud engine. He drove through town, enjoying the cool temperatures and cloudless sky. With a sideward glance, he saw Grace’s hair blowing in the wind while she uselessly tried to control it. Her tight, white knuckles grasped the handle for dear life as he took the turns. What a trouper. The idea of this woman, who had no use for nature, running her mother’s outdoor adventure business struck him as a bit absurd, but he enjoyed the juxtaposition. Finally, a few miles outside town, she pointed down a winding road leading to a large warehouse nestled between tall pines and scraggly scrubs.
“Just pull up in front.”
He did as she said, parked and followed her to the front door beside the large roll-up door beside it. Once inside she flipped on a light and led him to the center of the vast structure.
“Canoes and kayaks on this side.” She pointed out the location. “Camping gear on the other.”
The inventory was clearly laid out for easy access.
“There’s a trailer on the other side of the building that’s used to transport everything when needed. I didn’t notice. Do you have a hitch on the Jeep?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” Her gaze encompassed the room. “Any questions?”
“Nope. You’ve covered everything.”
Except why she didn’t like being back in Golden, what was up with her family issues and why the Tremaines pushed her buttons. It wasn’t his place to ask, even though he wanted to. He was here for one thing only, to get the dirt on James Tate and report back to his brothers. The Harper family dynamics were none of his concern.
Grace headed for the door. “Let’s get back to the office.”
As they started to leave, Deke noticed a few posters hanging on the wall, one featuring people water rafting and another of a campground at dusk, a fire flaring in a circle pit. He tried to picture Grace in either setting but had to admit he couldn’t, not with her buttoned-up look.
“So what are the odds I can get you up the mountain or out on the lake?”
She snorted. “Zero to none.”
He chuckled. “Good to know.”
They walked back to the Jeep, Grace’s expression resigned as she climbed in. “Let’s get this over with,” she said.
* * *
WHY ON EARTH anyone would enjoy traveling around in this hunk of metal was a mystery, Grace decided as Deke drove her back to the office. Every dip and bump jostled her and jarred her teeth. Thank goodness for the seat belt preventing her from sliding off the leather seat every time he took a turn. Her heels were not the best shoes to keep a good purchase on the floor and she just knew when they got back, her clothes would carry the odor of gas all day. She swore she’d gotten a bug in her teeth. A bug! Someone save her from the great outdoors.
Before long they pulled into the parking lot. As soon as Deke cut the engine, she swung down from his death machine. She shook her shoulders, smoothed her hair and faced him head-on. “Next time we take my car.”
“Whatever you say, boss.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Please, call me Grace. I don’t plan on being here long enough to really be your boss.”
He shrugged. “Grace it is.”
They walked back to the office. His long stride made her pick up the pace to keep up. When she’d noticed his arm muscles flex as he’d steered the Wrangler, she’d had to force herself to look away. Yes, he was in good shape, and yes, he was good-looking. But he was an employee and she didn’t mix business with pleasure. Even though his dark blue-gray eyes, which held a hint of sadness, made her curious. She chastised herself. She was in no position to ask about his secrets.
“Any other questions?” she asked.
“I think you covered everything.”
“Once we’re inside, I’ll give you a key to the warehouse so you can get in whenever you need to.” She unlocked the front door to the office and fished through the top drawer of the desk to hand him the key.
“Thanks. I think I’ll go check out the path to Crystalline Falls.”
“It’s not taxing, but some of our clients misjudge how much of an incline they can handle.”
She took a seat, hoping he’d leave so she could get some work done. Too much of his woodsy scent and masculinity for one morning. She needed to focus and with Deke around that was next to impossible.
“Quick question,” he said. “Where’s a good place for lunch?”
She rose, went to the counter and pulled a paper brochure from a clear plastic holder. “This lists all the stores and eateries in town. Depending on what you’re hungry for, you can find it here.”
“This helps a lot. I was going to walk back and forth along Main Street to familiarize myself with the area, but this gives me a heads-up.” He opened the brochure to find a detailed map and scanned the information. “Golden seems to be quite a tourist destination.”
“When I was a kid, there were only a few places for tourists to visit, but when Mr. Tremaine Sr., Carter’s father, began promoting the town, it gradually grew to what you see today. We still have a long way to go to compete with some of the more established vacation spots.”
“The son is following in the footsteps of the father?”
“Looks like that. The Tremaines are all about publicity, and the other important family in town, the Mastersons, are big into real estate.” She might not like Carter and Lissy Ann, but she had to admit, they were committed to making Golden a premier tourist stop, which in turn kept her mother’s finances in the black.
His head jerked up. “Masterson?”
“Yes.” Her suspicion meter started clanging again. “Do you know them?”
“Maybe. I have a friend, Logan, in Atlanta with the same last name.”
“He would be from the same family.” She paused. “The wayward son.”
“Huh,” he said, then went back to the map. “Small world.”
“I suppose.” She tilted her head. “He never mentioned Golden? I mean, since you decided to head up here to hike?”
“To be honest, I haven’t seen Logan in about six months.”
Made sense. She had to remind herself not everyone had ulterior motives.
“I see there are lots of shops listed up and down Main Street.” He paused. “Jerky?”
“You’d be surprised what’s been popular through the years. The buildings all remain the same. It’s the type of businesses in each one that vary depending on current trends. Right now jerky and specialty sauces seem to be big sellers.”
His perceptive gaze caught hers. “You have your finger on the beat of the business community, too?”
“From time to time.” She would never admit it to her family, but yes, she kept up with the merchants in town. If only to help her mother, she’d convinced herself.
He continued reading. “Blue Ridge Cottage. What’s that?”
“Handmade greeting and post cards, specialty stationery.”
“Interesting.” A moment later he looked up. “Tammy’s Tiny World?”
“Miniature dollhouses and stuff like that.” She frowned. “Why all the questions? Are you interested in a part-time job on top of your new full-time job to overlap with your leave-of-absence job?”
He chuckled. “Like I said, familiarizing myself with Golden.”
He folded the brochure and stuffed it in his back pocket, not meeting her gaze. Was there something he wasn’t telling her?
“Okay, I’m off,” he announced. “I’ll let myself out the back door.”
“If you have any questions, call me. I’ll be here all day.”
He saluted her. “Later.”
Settling in to work, she took some calls, but the office soon became too quiet. Normally she liked to work alone, but today, she was a bit antsy. Because of Deke? Didn’t make sense, really. She’d worked with all kinds of well-built guys who were guides over the years. What was it about him that made her heart pick up speed whenever he was around? She pushed her thoughts from Deke, dressed in a T-shirt that molded to his muscles, to the attorneys she now worked with on a regular basis. Suits were the norm, and if they went for casual, it entailed losing the jacket but keeping the buttoned-up shirt and tie.
As she thought about that, her mind wandered to how fortunate she’d been to land a job at a popular firm and she hoped her leave of absence wouldn’t jeopardize her future there. The timing was not ideal, but thankfully she’d already put in lots of overtime. She’d been taking care of her mother for so long that when she called, it was only natural that Grace came running.
Looking around the office, she realized how much of her heart and soul she’d poured into Put Your Feet Up. Not the physical space, which needed refreshing, but the spirit of the company. While the reminder was still fresh, she grabbed a piece of paper and made a quick list of the work to be done here at the office, as well as her mother’s house. Once finished, she dropped her chin onto her upraised hand, pondering her attachment to the business.
If it hadn’t been for her, her father’s actions might never have come to light. And she wouldn’t have had to grow up so quickly.
She’d overheard her father’s conversation about deliveries and inadvertently mentioned it to her uncle. Soon after, the dirt hit the proverbial fan. Their father had been arrested when it was discovered that he and a buddy in town had decided to start a lucrative side business selling illegal recreational drugs. She learned later that Daddy was always looking for the next big moneymaker. Apparently her father wasn’t that discerning. And he’d always been impatient. Not a great mix.
Then, after what seemed like a lengthy trial, he was sent away to prison. She often wondered if that was why she’d decided to focus on criminal law. Even though their lives had been upended by her father’s bad decisions, the experience had left an indelible mark on her soul. She hadn’t meant to cause problems, but she had gotten her father in hot water anyway. Maybe she could help others now.
But when her mother couldn’t come to terms with the reality of her husband leaving, that left sixteen-year-old Grace, with the help of Uncle Roy, to step in. She’d be forever grateful to her bear of an uncle for guiding her in the early years. But Mama? Grace still didn’t understand why the woman would let a teenager take over the family business instead of encouraging her to have a life. Her own life.
Yeah, it still smarted. She’d been involved in this company one way or another for most of her life. Was she destined to stay here forever? Shuddering at the thought, she realized she needed to get back to Atlanta as soon as possible.
Grace glanced at the phone. Reached over, hesitated, then tapped the numbers to the law firm, asking for her coworker Stacy when the receptionist answered.
“Hey, Stace. What’s going on?”
“Swamped, as usual.”
Guilt pressed on her shoulders. They’d been hired around the same time and now Stacy had to handle Grace’s work as well as her own. “I’m sorry you had to take my cases.”
“Don’t even worry. Someday I’ll need a favor and you’ll owe me.”
“You bet.” Should she ask if there was any scuttlebutt that she was in danger of losing her position? “So it seems like it’s still okay that I’m gone?”
“Yes. Things are running smoothly, don’t worry.” Grace heard voices in the background. “Look, I have to run.”
“Thanks, Stacy,” she said, but her friend had already ended the call. Grace stared at the receiver, then replaced it, a shiver of dread drifting over her skin. She shouldn’t have called. Shouldn’t have given in to her doubts. The partner who had interviewed her had been thrilled with her work at the public defender’s office. Had given her the okay to take time off. Had assured her that family came first. She wanted to believe that...
The phone rang and she was soon caught up with vacation business. By three, she needed a change of scenery and decided to close up early. Maybe a walk by the lake would calm her nerves. Or the opposite, make her worry about what she was missing in Atlanta. Either way, she desperately wanted to head home.
She called her mother to see if she needed anything, but Wanda Sue informed her that some of her friends were going to bring dinner by the house. With her mother taken care of, Grace drove up the mountain. When she’d pulled up to the cabin, her mind had already created ten worst-case scenarios about her job, which quickly faded away when she spied a dusty, silver minivan that had seen better days parked in front. She eased to a stop. Only one person drove that make and color car with a deep dent in the back quarter panel.
She grabbed her purse from the passenger seat, opened the door and walked to the porch. She’d just stepped inside the screened enclosure when her sister appeared at the door, a baby on one hip, a toddler with his arms wrapped around her legs.
“Hey, sis. Mind some company?” Faith asked.
Just then the baby yelped out a loud wail followed by the little boy bursting into serious crying.
After the few days she’d had, Grace could relate.
CHAPTER FOUR (#u814b1cb9-63d4-557d-b6b7-6bf353ac817e)
GRACE TRIED TO school her expression as she studied her sister. It had been almost a year since they’d crossed paths, but the changes in Faith were startling. Dark circles ringed her hazel eyes, tawny hair tangled around her wan face and her drool-stained, stretched T-shirt hung haphazardly over baggy shorts. What on earth had happened? Fatigue seemed to have washed the life out of her and Grace couldn’t ignore the warning bells ringing in her head.
“Faith?”
Annoyance flashed in Faith’s eyes at Grace’s soft tone, a look Grace recognized from her sister’s rebellious days, and she silently cringed.
“Don’t mind me. I don’t have the energy to dress up after mothering a six-month-and four-year-old all day.”
“I didn’t mean...” She could never get it right with Faith. “I just... You look beat.”
Faith sent her a really? look.
Okay. Time to try another angle. “What are you doing here?”
“I don’t mean to impose on you while you’re in town, but Lyle has been beyond difficult lately, knocking down every idea I’ve come up with to solve our financial problems. I took off to find some space.” Faith shot her a knowing look. “Apparently you had the same idea.”
Grace closed the door behind her. “This has always been our go-to place.”
Faith bounced her daughter. “If I’d known you were staying here, I’d have gone to Mama’s.”
“No, stay,” Grace rushed to assure her. “Please.” Hearing sniffles, she looked down at her nephew, clinging to his mother’s leg for dear life. She knelt down. “Hey, John. What’s with the tears?”
John tightened his grip on Faith’s leg.
“Separation anxiety,” Faith informed her. “This phase of child-rearing is wearing me out.” She shifted Lacey again, bouncing up and down to get her daughter to calm down. Seemed both her children were on the same wavelength.
Grace rose. “What can I do?”
Faith nodded over her shoulder. “John’s favorite truck is on the couch.”
Grace tossed her purse on the sagging chair and fetched the toy. Once again on John’s level, she held it out to him. “Here you go, buddy. Want to play cars?”
John sniffled, looked up at Faith, then eased his death grip. After a few tentative steps, he walked to Grace. Once the truck had his full attention, Grace rose, questions on the tip of her tongue.
“Let me get Lacey a bottle,” Faith said. “Then we can talk.”
“That’ll give me a few minutes to change.”
Grace disappeared into one of the two bedrooms and quickly shucked her work clothes for a hot pink T-shirt, denim shorts and pink sneakers, then quickly joined her sister in the kitchen.
Faith was preparing a bottle as Grace walked in and she handed Lacey to her while she finished the job. Inhaling the scent of powder and just plain baby, Grace tried to settle down her fussy niece.
“When Mama told me you were coming home, I should have known you’d escape here,” Faith said loudly over Lacey’s crying. “As soon as I stepped foot inside the cabin earlier today, I knew someone had aired out the place. Figured it was you after nosing around. Nice outfits, by the way.”
“Thank you?”
Faith chuckled. “My first instinct was to leave, but I didn’t want to go home to Lyle or explain to Mama that we aren’t seeing eye to eye. Again.”
“How long has this been going on?”
After testing the formula to make sure it was the correct temperature, Faith rubbed the nipple over Lacey’s lips until the baby opened up and started drinking. Silence reigned. “Let’s sit so I can keep an eye on John.”
Heading back into the living room, Faith collected Lacey from Grace and took a seat in an armchair to feed her daughter, while Grace sat on the nearby couch, tucking one leg under the other.
“Uncle Roy didn’t tell me you were staying here.”
Grace grimaced. “Probably on purpose.” Obviously their uncle thought the way to get the sisters speaking to each other again was to stick them in the same cabin. Talk about tough love.
“I can call him. See about moving over to his place.”
“He rented his cabin.”
Faith did a double take. “This is news. Since when?”
“A day ago.”
“That doesn’t sound like Uncle Roy.”
“It might have something to do with a woman he met on his trip.”
“A woman?”
“Long story, but when I thought someone was breaking into his cabin last night, I discovered a new tenant. When I called to confirm, Uncle Roy mentioned that he’d extended the trip.” She grinned. “I heard a female voice in the background so I had to ask.”
“Wow. I don’t know whether to be pleased or confused. Since when did he start dating?”
Grace shrugged. “Beats me.”
“I wonder if Mama knows.”
“Are you kidding? If she did, we’d have gotten an earful by now.” Grace picked at a thread in the couch fabric. “Besides, this is Golden. He probably wants to keep any potential romance private for now.”
“I can sympathize. Privacy is hard-earned in Golden.” Faith shifted in the chair. “I hate to admit this to you, but you’re going to hear about it anyway.” She took a deep breath, then blew it out in a hearty gust. “My bad decisions have finally come back to bite me. Big-time.”
Shocked that Faith would admit her failings to her, Grace said, “You know I’d help you if you’d let me.”
“Right.” Sarcasm twisted her tone. “Like always. Grace to the rescue.”
Grace opened her mouth to defend herself, then pursed her lips together, before saying, “Look, I don’t want to fight. Since we’re both staying here, can we agree on some kind of truce?”
More than anything Grace wanted to end the impasse they’d been perpetuating since they were teens. With Daddy long gone, Mama needing help and Grace once again dropping everything to save the day—as they’d see it—her siblings would resent her for it.
Faith’s tone was begrudging when she said, “I suppose we can handle a truce.”
She’d been expecting an uphill battle. Faith’s words came as a surprise. “I know things haven’t been—”
“Pleasant?”
“—in a long time. I hate that we can’t sit in the same room and carry on a conversation.”
“Don’t put that on me.”
Dejection swamped Grace. “Are you ever going to let it go about Daddy?”
Faith could fix it right here, right now, by working with Grace instead of fighting her, but Grace worried old habits died hard.
“We were kids, Faith. Stuff happened. You have to know I never meant to get Daddy in trouble.”
“Yeah, but he did and it changed everything.”
“So I’m guilty forever?” Grace brushed her hair behind her ear. “Mama still expects Daddy to come waltzing through the door like nothing happened. You still hold a grudge for my part in that, and all the other things we fought about when we were kids. And Nathan...where is he by the way?”
“I have no clue.”
“Great.”
An uncomfortable silence blanketed the room. John filled it with his sunny chatter about cars and trucks while Lacey dozed off as her belly filled. Maybe it was time to leave the past where it belonged, in the past, and make strides toward becoming closer.
“We’re family,” Grace continued. “I know I’ll mostly be working while I’m here, but I’d really like to catch up.”
A strange look flitted over Faith’s face. She opened her mouth and Grace waited on pins and needles to find out what was going on in her sister’s mind when John carried his truck over to Grace. Frustration mounted as the moment passed and whatever Faith was going to say slipped away.
“Don’t mind him,” Faith said instead. “He’s obsessed with anything on wheels, sleeping with his favorite truck and demanding to watch programs on television about heavy machinery.”
Lacey had fallen asleep, snuggled against her mother. A rush of love for her niece consumed Grace. Reaching over, she ran a finger over the baby’s soft skin. Lacey shifted and Faith rose to carry her to the crib she’d set up in the second bedroom. Grace was on the floor with John when she returned, racing his little cars around.
“Dirt,” John said, holding up his truck.
“Code word for take me outside,” Faith said. “Not now, John. Your sister is sleeping.”
Not sure how Faith would react to Grace’s suggestion, she said, “I can take him outside if it’s okay with you. You look like you could use a breather.”
Relief softened Faith’s features. “Are you sure? My sister, the big-time attorney, actually asking to play with a four-year-old?”
She tried not to let the sarcasm in her sister’s voice pinch her heart, but it did. “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to do this.”
“Sure. But watch him closely. He takes off like a flash.”
Grace rose, held out her hand and took John’s smaller one in hers. “I may not be a runner, but I promise to keep an eye on him.”
As Grace passed by Faith to get to the door, she stopped. “What were you going to say before John interrupted us?”
Tears clouded her sister’s eyes. Instead of answering, she glanced away.
Grace touched her arm. “This is a safe place.”
Faith blinked, straightened her shoulders and met Grace’s gaze. “I’m a mother now. Time to own up to all the choices I’ve made.”
“You don’t have to do it alone.”
“This is hard.” She barked out a sharp laugh. “You always tried to look out for me, but I thought I knew better. Look how well that’s worked out for me.”
If Grace wanted to push for changes, now was her chance. “Faith, we’re going to be in close quarters for a while. If there’s something you want to say, just say it.”
Faith ran a hand through her hair, her voice shaky when she said, “Give me a little time to sort it all out, okay, sis?”
“All the time you need.”
With those words, Grace took John out to the path that led to the dirt lane, then headed toward the lake. She should be thankful that her sister wanted to talk, something they hadn’t done in ages. Maybe living together was a blessing in disguise. As she listened to John’s ongoing chatter, she hoped so.
* * *
GOOD GRIEF, WHAT was Faith feeding her son? And where could she buy whatever it was? The four-year-old had enough energy for a full platoon of men, with no signs of letting up soon.
They’d walked to the lake, then circled around to the play area. The sun was half-mast in the sky, which meant they’d be ready for dinner soon. Her stomach growled at the reminder.
“Okay, buddy. What do you say we head home?”
“No. I want to play truck.”
“We have been.”
He stomped his little foot, squeezed his face tight. “More.”
Grace laughed. She couldn’t help it. John was the spitting image of his mother when she was a child. “Good luck with that,” she muttered under her breath, remembering how hard it was to corral Faith when her mind was made up. Seemed like karma was having a belly laugh about now.
“How about we get something to eat and come back later.”
“No. Want to play.”
“After dinner.”
His brown eyes flashed. “No.”
John had no sooner said the word than he streaked right past her. She turned in panic, ready to give chase, when she saw him dash right into a pair of long legs. Which belonged to her new employee.
“Slow down there, champ.”
Her heart took a dizzy twirl when Deke waylaid her nephew. He smiled at the boy, revealing those dimples, which in turn made her chest squeeze tight. The sun caught the hidden highlights in his dark brown hair, and that woodsy scent of his tickled her nose. When his gaze met hers, well, she was nothing short of a goner.
This could be a problem.
“Hey,” he said in greeting, his voice scratchy like he hadn’t used it in hours. It definitely rubbed her the right way.
“Hi.”
Their gaze held for a long moment before she felt John wrap his arm around her leg.
A glimmer of something—what, she couldn’t say—crossed Deke’s eyes before he covered his reaction. “I didn’t know you have a son.”
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