by Alanna Lucas
That’s exactly what Rex intended to do.
Tessa had been lingering at the bookshop for hours, kept company by Beethoven. She didn’t want to risk seeing Bernie’s grandson again. She didn’t like the feelings he stirred, or to be more accurate, she did not want the feelings he stirred. Besides, there was still much to be done. Better to devote all her energy to making the bookshop perfect than thinking about an arrogant handsome man.
The slight buzzing sound of Tessa’s cellphone vibrating across the table caught her attention. She glanced down at the caller ID before energetically answering the phone.
“Hey, Jillian!” Tessa greeted her best friend with excitement.
“Hey you! I only have a minute, but I wanted to hear how the bookstore is coming along?”
“Downstairs is done. The black and white tile turned out perfect in the kitchen. Most of the upstairs is done. Mrs. Smith finished the curtains for the front window. I can’t wait to hang them and…” Laughter broke through her babble. “What’s so funny, Jillian?”
“It’s nice to hear you ramble with excitement again.” There was a long pause. “I think it might be time.”
“No.” Tessa did not want to have this conversation again. Not that she was against love. She just didn’t think it could happen a second time. “No, I’m not—”
“Okay, I won’t push. Just promise me not to be too stubborn about it.”
Tessa closed her eyes and tilted her head back. “Oh, all right. Perhaps I’ll consider dating if…”
“If…?” She could almost see Jillian’s hopeful gaze.
“If a zombie pirate knocks on my door,” Tessa giggled.
Jillian laughed. “I miss you.”
“I miss you, too. Promise you’ll come up for Thanksgiving?”
“Only if you let me cook.”
“Like I’d have it any other way. Love you, Jillian.”
“Love you more. Ciao.”
“Ciao,” she whispered back before the phone went silent. Jillian was the only thing she missed about Los Angeles. Tessa put her phone on the table and got back to work.
“Time to hang the curtains.” Her hands trembled with excitement as she opened the package Mrs. Smith had delivered earlier that day. It was like Christmas morning.
As promised, Mrs. Smith had matched the style of curtain Tessa had found in a magazine. Thankfully, the hardware had already been installed and, within a short amount of time, the curtains were in place. Tessa stood back and admired the white and silver fleur-de-lis side panels that framed the wide front window perfectly. The embroidered infinity pattern on white sheer fabric filled the space between the panels and added just the right touch.
Tessa glanced about the bookstore. It was everything she had dreamed of. The old carriage house, once dusty from disuse, was now an elegant romance bookstore. White bookshelves lined one large expanse of wall. The other wall had a decorative scrolled white marble fireplace flanked by white cabinets displaying first editions, including one by Kathleen Woodiwiss. Comfortable oversized grey and white damask chairs, and the Rococo revival style tête-à-tête, invited patrons to sit and linger.
She took in the recently installed crown molding with Acanthus leaf medallions finished in brushed silver leaf. It was the perfect choice to accentuate the white and silver stenciled tray ceilings. The only splashes of color would be the candles Tessa had yet to unwrap, and the decorative floral vases she’d purchased from an estate sale, that still needed to be washed. That was a task for another day.
The white Mora grandfather clock chimed eight times. Where had the time gone? She glanced through the side window up toward the main house. Light from the kitchen window shone bright. Tessa supposed it was safe to go home. She stretched her arms up and wide, relieving the pain in her back.
For a brief moment, she thought about staying another hour or two. She still hadn’t tackled two of the rooms upstairs. However, that intention was interrupted by a cool wind whipping through the space as the back door opened. Bernie was probably coming to tell her it was past time for dinner.
Tessa turned around, expecting to find Bernie, but instead came face to face with the one man she’d been trying to avoid.
“Mr. Kingston, I didn’t expect to find you still here.” It was better to keep things formal.
“I don’t suppose you did.” His tone was sharp, almost accusatory.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Why are you here?”
Seemed like a redundant question, but she was willing to humor him for a moment. “The grand opening is less than a week away. There’s still much to be done and—”
“That’s not what I meant. Why did you move to Devlin? Why did you move in with my grandmother?”
Tessa’s blood began to boil as warmth crept up her neck, settling into her cheeks. Who did he think he was? Well, besides Bernie’s grandson, but he hadn’t been around before.
For Bernie’s sake, she stamped down the anger that was brewing and tried to remain calm despite her churning insides. “I moved here because it sounded peaceful and I needed… a change.” She wasn’t about to tell him the real reason. Not that the man had any sense of compassion, but she didn’t want it, regardless. “A mutual friend thought Bernie and I could be of use to one another and since she doesn’t have any family—”
“She has family.” He crossed his firm arms across his muscular chest.
She supposed his tone was meant to sound intimidating.
“Not living in Devlin.” She stood her ground, and it felt wonderful.
“She does now.”
Oh crap. “You’re moving here?”
Another gust of wind sent a torrent of leaves rustling into the kitchen.
“I thought I asked you to send Tessa up to the house. What are the two of you doing?”
“Nothing, Grams. Just getting to know each other better.” His condescending tone and watchful blue gaze did not sit well with Tessa. “I need to go.” He kissed his grandmother on the cheek and left silently.
Tessa exhaled the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
“Don’t mind him. He gets moody at times. Too much of his father in him.”
“Bernie, you won’t tell...” Tessa trailed off, unsure how to bring up the delicate subject.
Bernie took Tessa’s hands in hers. “Dearest, you have nothing to worry about. I promised I wouldn’t say anything to anyone about what brought you here to Devlin, and I keep my promises.”
A nervous laugh escaped Tessa’s lips. “I know you do. I just don’t want people to see me as the poor young widow who lost everything. I’ve had enough of people’s pity to last me two lifetimes. I just want to open my bookstore.” And avoid one Mr. Rex Kingston. He was a distraction her heart did not need.
Bernie’s eyes filled with the same warmth she’d shown her grandson only hours ago. “I know, dearest. Your secret is safe with me.”
Tessa offered a smile in thanks. If she tried to say anything, she would probably break down and cry again, and she was tired of crying.
“Now, let’s see how those curtains look.” Bernie turned on the string of accent lights highlighting the front of the bookshop window. “Oh, Tessa, it’s lovely.”
Tessa stood beside her friend, admiring their hard work. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“The bookstore will be a great success. I just know it.”
I hope so….I truly hope so.
Chapter 2
White clouds drifted in, creating a hazy halo around the afternoon sun. Rex had forgotten how much he enjoyed the seaside town and its ever-changing weather as he strolled up the path to the main house. Shadows crept across the kitchen walls as he entered the dim space. He flicked on the switch. Nothing.
“Is the power out?” he called to Grams.
“No,” she responded from somewhere at the front of the house. A moment later, Grams strolled into the kitchen carrying her teacup and saucer. “Noth
ing like a nice cup of rose tea in the afternoon.”
Rex waited patiently for his grandmother to explain about the power. When she didn’t, he prompted her. “The power?”
“Oh yes, one of the outlets at the bookshop wasn’t working. Tessa’s fixing it.” Grams said it like it was the most natural thing in the world for a beautiful, dainty woman to be fixing minor electrical issues. “Shouldn’t be too much longer. Don’t worry, dinner will still be ready on time.”
Since arriving in Devlin, Grams had spoiled Rex with a home-cooked dinner every work night before his shift began at the hospital. Although he enjoyed his grandmother’s cooking, the reason for his visits had been two-fold. He still hadn’t figured out what Tessa was up to. Not only had she yet to join them for even one meal, claiming to be too busy with the bookstore, she also avoided any contact whenever they were in the same room. He wouldn’t be able to rest until he knew what she was up to.
“I’ll go check on her,” he said as he walked out the door. He didn’t know whether to be impressed or concerned. Not even Grams would attempt such repairs. Any number of things could go wrong.
“Rex!” Grams called, but he ignored her. “Be nice.” The words were drowned out by the squawk of a seagull overhead.
He briskly walked across the path heading to the rear of the carriage house. The soft tapping of the basement door against the rock reminded him he needed to follow up on when the custom door would be delivered and installed.
Entering through the kitchen, he spotted Tessa near the front of the store sitting on the wide-planked dark hardwood floor by the bay window. Her brows crinkled together as she inspected the old outlet she was trying to fix. Filtered sunlight streamed across her golden-brown hair and creamy skin. Damn, she was beautiful. He stamped down that dangerous thought and ignored the tingling in the pit of his stomach.
Rex strolled across the room and knelt beside her. The scent of warm lavender drifted up from her hair. Control yourself.
“Here, let me help,” his tone was laced with misdirected frustration. He reached for the new electrical box, expecting Tessa to accept his offer of assistance.
Instead, she pulled away from him, keeping the receptacle firmly within her grasp. “I’m fully capable of fixing the outlet. I’m not an imbecile.”
“I didn’t say you were,” he argued in return.
She shrugged her shoulder and put her full attention into changing the outlet. To prove her point, she swiftly attached the wires, pushed the new outlet back into the electrical box, and screwed it in place. Less than a minute later, the ornate white outlet cover was also in place.
“Done.” Tessa stood and began to walk, more like run, away from Rex.
“Where are you going?”
Tessa coolly replied over her shoulder as she headed out the back door, “To turn the power back on?”
Rex followed her, practically chasing after her.
Halfway across the yard, Tessa stopped and turned on him. “I know you don’t like me, but perhaps you could fake it for Bernie’s sake. I’ll stay out of your way if you stay out of mine. Deal?”
“That’s not…” He let out a long sigh. “Messing with electricity can be dangerous.” He’d seen far too many burns from electrical shocks.
“Is everything okay, Tessa?” Bernie called from the veranda.
Tessa glanced up at Rex. His world tipped on its side the moment those green eyes met his. It wasn’t that he didn’t like her. The problem was, despite his suspicions, he liked her far too much. He’d never met a woman like her and that was more dangerous than all the electrical outlets in the world combined.
“Yes, Bernie.” She raised a delicate brow, waiting for Rex to challenge her.
“Fine, Grams.”
Tessa let out a soft huff and went around to the back of the house, presumably to turn on the power.
“Rex, can I have a word with you.” He disliked the tone his grandmother used. It meant he was in trouble. “Now.”
After a couple of long days of trying to avoid Rex, followed by even longer restless nights of trying to get images of him out of her mind, Tessa was exhausted. Didn’t that man have a job? He always seemed to be around. Tessa thought about casually asking Bernie about him, but she didn’t want her friend to think she was interested in her grandson. Which she absolutely was not.
Tessa rubbed her aching eyes as she inhaled deeply, trying to garner the strength to get out of bed. Better to focus on the bookstore. The grand opening was only two days away and there was still so much to do.
A strange silence swept through her bedroom. She held her breath.
There was no off-key singing winding its way up the staircase, no clanging of the skillet, no teakettle whistling. There was no sound except for the pounding of Tessa’s heart, banging against her chest.
Alarm streaked through her body. She flung back the warm covers, jumped out of bed, ran to the bedroom door, and pulled it open.
Silence.
Still in her nightshirt, Tessa rushed to Bernie’s bedroom across the hall.
Empty.
She searched the guest suite that also served as Bernie’s quilting room.
Nothing.
Except for the soft tick tock of the grandfather clock drifting up from the first floor, the house was dead quiet. Panic rose from within, cutting off her airway, suffocating her. No… no… this couldn’t be happening! Bernie had to be here somewhere. She had to be okay.
Tessa hurried across the thick-cushioned rug, almost slipping in her socks. She grabbed the oak handrail as she scurried down the stairs, straight to the kitchen.
Empty.
There was a hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach that had nothing to do with the growl rumbling across her midsection.
Tessa looked for any sign of what might have happened to Bernie. She even checked the downstairs bedroom that was now being used as a storage room, but there was no sign she’d been there either. The only evidence that Bernie had even been in the house was the half-empty cup of tea on the kitchen table.
A loud whack rumbled in from somewhere outside. Her heart slammed against her chest before it began beating rapidly out of control.
“Bernie,” she whispered.
Without a thought about her attire or choice of footwear, Tessa rushed outside. A fierce wind whipped through the yard, travelling up her thin nightshirt. “Damn, it’s cold.”
Whack.
The exterior door leading to the basement flapped in the wind, colliding with the side of the wall. Tessa rushed down the back steps to investigate. She almost tripped on a good-sized rock as she neared the basement door. Opening the door wide, she called into the dimly lit space. “Bernie?”
“Down here, Tessa dear.” Relief coursed through her body, bringing with it a torrent of tears. She sniffled and wiped the tears from her eyes. She did not want Bernie to see how upset she’d been.
Carefully, she descended the steps into the cold basement. A single light in the far corner cast eerie shadows across the wall, but Bernie looked okay.
Tessa tried to make her voice sound calm, casual, and not reveal the frantic mess she’d been just a few moments ago. “What are you doing down here?”
Bernie placed a jar in her basket. “Getting jam.”
“Jam?”
“Oh yes, I keep all sorts of foodstuff down here. I thought I would make apricot crepes this morning, but there were no more jars in the pantry.” Bernie glanced up at Tessa. Her eyes softened with a faraway look. “My darling Algernon converted this space into a large larder for me, oh, more than thirty years ago.”
Tessa looked about the neat, orderly space. “It’s nice.” She rubbed her hands on her arms. “And very chi…”
Whack. The basement door slammed shut.
“Oh, damn,” she swore as she ran up the stairs. Tessa tugged on the knob. “It’s stuck,” she called over her shoulder as she continued to tug.
“Oh, dear.” Bernie’s breathless echo
drifted from the bottom of the stairs. “That door’s been temperamental lately. Rex ordered a new one, but it hasn’t come in yet.”
Tessa’s shoulders slumped as the chill of the room seeped through her thin nightshirt straight to her bones. Temperamental indeed. She retreated down the steps.
“There doesn’t happen to be a phone down here?” Another shiver rippled across her shoulders. “Or a blanket.”
At least Bernie was wearing a long-sleeved shirt and pants, and had enough common sense to wrap herself in a shawl before going outside.
“No, I’m afraid not, but...” Bernie started to unwrap the red crocheted shawl. “Here, take this.”
“I am not going to take your shawl.”
“Tessa, you’re half naked,” Bernie scolded. “Your shirt doesn’t even reach halfway down your thigh, and you’re in your socks. Don’t argue with me. Take the shawl.”
“Let’s share it then,” Tessa offered in a compromise.
Bernie wrapped one end of the shawl about Tessa as they huddled together.
“Better?” Bernie asked as she pulled more of the shawl across Tessa.
Tessa nodded her head. “H…how long do you thi…think it will be before someone n…notices we’re m…missing?” The words rattled against her teeth.
“At least a couple of hours,” Bernie sighed, the worry in her voice was thick as fog.
A couple of hours? Tessa would be frozen by then. Still, it could be worse.
“Rex is not due here till ten.”
And there it was… worse.
First, he gets a damn text from his ex saying she wants to talk, which he chose to ignore, now this. Rex had tried calling his grandmother all morning, but there was no answer, not even at the carriage house. Thankfully, it was slow at the hospital. The second he was able to find someone to cover for him, he jumped in his truck and headed across town.
Damn. Another red light.
He’d hit every single one since leaving the hospital. Tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, he urged the light to turn green. “Come on.” Tap, tap, tap. “Turn green,” he growled. “Yes,” he hissed as he hit the gas, only to come to a screeching halt at the next intersection. To make matters worse, the sky had darkened, and rain had begun to ripple down in heavy sheets.
