One Step Away (Hazel Green Book 2)

by Cindy Kirk

“I had down you wouldn’t be with us this evening.” Anthony’s cultured tone held no judgment.

  “My plans changed.” Nell stepped into the elevator. “Have a nice evening.”

  “You, too, ma’am.”

  The door slid silently shut before she could respond. Ma’am? Nell shuddered at the polite address. When had she made the leap from miss to ma’am?

  Discarding the disturbing thought, she got out on the third floor. Leo had appeared disturbed by the text he’d received. She wondered about the family emergency. Though his parents lived in DC most of the year, and the boys were all in Hazel Green, the family remained tight-knit.

  The text had come at precisely the right moment. Right before his phone buzzed, she’d had the feeling Leo was about to issue an ultimatum. Actually, in a way, wasn’t that what he’d already done?

  The panic she’d kept under wraps when with him rose to claw at her throat. Leo had brought up the possibility of going public with their relationship before, but had always backed down when she’d said no. This time felt different. She shoved the worries from her mind and changed out of her dress, pulling on silk lounging pajamas in a blue-gray shade.

  After pouring herself a glass of wine, Nell took a seat on the sectional. To settle herself, she took out the journal written by Hazel Green that she’d purchased at auction recently and began to read.

  Chautauqua, New York, 1900

  My bosom friend Minnie Charles is betrothed. I am happy for her, truly I am, but sad because once she is married she will move with her husband to Philadelphia. Although we will correspond, she will be busy with her new life and I am certainly busy with mine. Still, the ache in my heart over losing her friendship tells me it is best not to form close attachments.

  I have decided that I will be an independent woman like Miss Susan B. Anthony. I will go where I want and do as I please. I will fight for causes I believe in and inspire other women. I do not have to have a husband to be happy. I am content with my life.

  H.

  The ding of her cell phone had Nell’s heart leaping as she put down the book. Perhaps Leo’s family emergency had been a false alarm. As she read the text, that hope died. She frowned. How had Dixon gotten her phone number?

  The minute the thought surfaced, she realized getting her phone number would be child’s play to someone with his skills.

  Reconsider joining us?

  For one brief moment, Nell considered not replying. But Dixon would only text again. He knew the repeated text would irritate her, and tenacity was part of his nature.

  Leo had a family thing. I’m staying home with a bottle of Merlot.

  For a second, Nell almost added, thanks for thinking of me. But she wasn’t glad he’d thought of her. Hadn’t she made it clear she wanted him to leave her alone?

  After hitting send, she tossed the phone on the end table and picked up her wineglass.

  Less than fifteen minutes later, she jumped at the sound of a knock on her door.

  Anthony hadn’t alerted her she had a visitor, and the only way to the upper floors was through him.

  Heart thudding, Nell crossed the room to peer through the peephole. Flipping the deadbolt, she jerked the door open. “What are you doing here?”

  Dixon lifted a bottle of wine and smiled. “You deserve better than Merlot.”

  The ding of the elevator at the end of the hall had her hustling him inside.

  “I thought you might be in the mood for company.”

  “I was enjoying the solitude.”

  She wondered if he heard her as he was already moving deeper into the room. He rocked back on his heels, his head turning as he assessed the luxurious, yet comfortable, interior.

  “You always had a talent for making a place feel like home.” His eyes went dark with memories. He laughed softly. “Except for the house in Vegas.”

  “Even I couldn’t save that place from ostentatious ugliness.” Nell’s lips curved despite her efforts. “Especially when our mother embraced the over-the-top decadence.”

  For a second, his eyes locked with hers. This was the first time she’d mentioned their familial connection.

  Dixon inclined his head. “I don’t understand why you’re so determined to keep a wall between us.”

  Guilt.

  The word rose unbidden and was immediately shoved aside.

  Nell realized two things. One, her brother wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. And two, he was right. It was time they talked.

  She lifted the bottle from his hand and studied the label, then gestured to the sofa. “Thanks for this, but I have a bottle of Merlot already open. There’s enough left for a couple of glasses.”

  Dixon waved away the suggestion. “Open the Joseph Phelps.”

  While Nell uncorked the Insignia 2012, a very fine vintage indeed, Dixon prowled the room, moving to the window to gaze out over Hazel Green. The lights of Chicago twinkled in the far distance.

  Nell crossed the shiny hardwood and handed him a glass.

  “You’ve got a nice place here, Suze. Good security.”

  “Nell,” she reminded him. “I haven’t been Susannah Lamphere for nearly fifteen years. It doesn’t even feel like my name anymore.”

  She took a sip of the very excellent Bordeaux blend and felt some of her tension ease. It was just her and him. There was no harm, and plenty of benefit, to clearing the air. But first she had to ask. “Speaking of security, how did you get past Anthony? Not to mention the alarms?”

  Dixon shot her a mocking glance. “I said the place has good security, not excellent. The guy at the desk doesn’t even know I’m here. The hall security cameras, well, they’re currently frozen.”

  By him.

  “That’s reassuring,” Nell said dryly.

  Dixon took a sip of wine. “Your security will keep out 99% of the riffraff.”

  “It didn’t keep you out.”

  As if accepting a compliment, he dipped his head.

  Nell glanced down into the inky dark hue in her glass. “Even when you were younger, you were the best.”

  “And you could charm your way in and out of any situation.” Dixon swirled the wine in his glass. “We made a stellar team.”

  Nell remained silent for a long moment, sipping her wine as memories flooded back. Some pleasant. Others painful.

  “What brought you to Hazel Green, Ky?”

  The childhood nickname slipped out before she could stop it. A mocking smile lifted his lips. “Dixon,” he reminded her. “Dixon Carlyle.”

  “Of course.” Steadying herself, she asked again, “What brought you to Hazel Green, Dixon?”

  “Took you long enough to ask.”

  “I kept hoping you’d go away.”

  “You know me better than that.” He turned abruptly from the window and strode across the room. Setting down his glass of wine, he took a seat at the baby grand piano and began to play.

  “I came here because I wanted to be near my sister.” His long, artistic fingers caressed the keys. “I missed you.”

  While Nell had missed him, too, surely he realized having a relationship was impossible. The haunting melody of “Clair de Lune” only added to her melancholy. “Leo plays, you know. Better than you.”

  Dixon didn’t look up, appearing lost in the beauty of the piece. “You like him.”

  “Leo?”

  He nodded, his fingers drawing emotion from the keys.

  She shrugged. “I hardly know him.”

  Her brother smirked. “Remember who you’re speaking with.”

  “How could I forget?” Nell spoke almost to herself, but knew he’d heard.

  “It’s difficult not telling anyone who you really are or being able to talk about your past.”

  The honesty underlying his words touched Nell. When he stopped playing and looked at her, she found herself nodding.

  “Us being in the same town is dangerous.” For years, Nell had longed to see her brother, but the risk of having him close had
never been worth the threat.

  “I need family, Nell.” His tone turned matter-of-fact as he rose. “Tonight was nice. It was…normal. Having dinner together and laughing with friends.”

  “Before I left, we talked about the need to keep our distance. Otherwise, if she tracks one of us down, she’ll snare us both.”

  “You left home at seventeen.”

  “Remember Carmine? He crossed her when I was in kindergarten. It took her ten years to exact her revenge. But she waited until the time was right.” Simply thinking of her mother’s brutality against the former lover who’d betrayed her had Nell’s heart rate increasing. “Crazy people operate on their own timetable. That’s why we need to be smart.”

  Dixon sipped his wine and raised a brow. “You think sleeping with the mayor is smart?”

  Nell stiffened. “How do you know about that?”

  Dixon took a seat on the sofa, his tone conversational. “I assume you think you’re protecting him—and yourself—by all this undercover stuff.”

  “Leo is a mayor. His father is a senator.” Though Nell’s voice gave nothing away, she couldn’t stop her fingers from tightening around the wineglass. “If Gloria should ever catch up to me, I don’t want my past sins to touch him or his family.”

  “Well, if that’s your goal, you’re going about it all wrong.”

  Usually, Nell had no difficulty following her brother’s logic. This time, he’d lost her. “What are you talking about?”

  “Have you given a single thought to how it’s going to look when it comes out that you and Leo have a sex-only relationship?”

  “It won’t come out,” she sputtered, wishing she felt more certain. “Besides, it’s no one’s business.”

  “Since when do people ever mind their own?” Dixon held up a hand when she started to respond. “Listen. Secret relationships always appear scandalous, even those between single, consenting adults. The smart thing is to have a relationship that’s out in the open.”

  In the open.

  Such lovely words.

  Nell’s lips curved, recalling how nice it had been to walk with Leo down the streets of Hazel Green. Would it really hurt to open the door just a crack? When Liz threw her next backyard barbecue, she and Leo could go together. She could even invite him up to her place for dinner without worrying someone might see him with her.

  “We could date, but the relationship wouldn’t be exclusive.” Nell couldn’t keep the excitement from her voice as her mind raced with possibilities. “I’d simply be one of the many women he dates. He’d just be one of the men I date.”

  “That’s the spirit.” Dixon gave her a sardonic smile. “There’s the scam artist I know and love.”

  Nell shot him a look that had him lifting his hands, palms out. He chuckled. “No offense intended.”

  Could this really be the solution to her problem? Leo had said he wanted to date. While she knew dating around wouldn’t give him exactly what he’d asked for, it would be a concession.

  “Leo is pressing me to take our relationship to the next level.” Nell tapped a finger against her lips. “This could work.”

  “No.” Dixon shook his head. “It won’t.”

  “How can you say that?” Her voice rose a full octave. “It was your suggestion.”

  “Actually, it was yours.” Dixon drained his glass. “That pretend stuff might work in Chicago, but not in Hazel Green. Everyone knows everyone else in this town.”

  Her hopes plummeted, and the panic she’d felt earlier when Leo had issued his ultimatum returned.

  “Besides,” Dixon continued, “do you really think that if Leo is already telling you that he wants something serious, he’ll tolerate you seeing other guys?”

  “I get it.” Nell barely stopped from snapping at her brother. She began to pace. It wasn’t Dixon’s fault she was against the wall and fresh out of options. “I need to think, to figure out what to do.”

  “What do you want to do?”

  She whirled. “What do you mean?”

  “If you knew for certain that our dear mother wouldn’t come calling, would you date Leo?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I am the bearer of excellent news.” He grinned. “Gloria is behind bars in California.”

  Despite her skepticism, Nell’s heart gave an excited leap. “You’re making that up.”

  Dixon’s eyes never left hers. “I wouldn’t kid about something this important.”

  It didn’t surprise Nell that her mother had been caught. Crime was the woman’s life. Still, Nell could count on one hand the number of nights Gloria had spent behind bars. “Is she really in jail? Or charged and out on bond?”

  “She’s in jail awaiting trial.”

  “How did you find this out?”

  Dixon splashed more wine into his glass. “I like to check in every so often on Gloria.”

  “And?”

  “I discovered that our beloved mama had been busy enjoying the high life in Palm Springs…as Ria Lamp.”

  One of her mother’s many aliases. “Who was footing the bill this time?”

  “A man by the name of Larry Whitestone.” Dixon made a dismissive gesture with one hand. “The schmuck owns several high-end car dealerships. Apparently, she packed her bags, took some pricey objet d’art from his home and was on her way out of town with his Bentley when police stopped her.”

  “I’m surprised Mr. Car Dealer decided to prosecute.” Seeing her mother being bailed out of whatever jam she’d gotten into had happened frequently during Nell’s childhood. Gloria had a talent for sweet-talking boyfriends into forgiving almost any indiscretions. Even when the crime perpetrated had been against them. “They’ve always ridden to her rescue. Remember San Antonio?”

  “How could I forget that yahoo?” Dixon chuckled. “She claimed verbal abuse and insisted she was only getting away for a few days—with his car—to clear her head. He ended up apologizing and dropping the theft charge.”

  “He even signed the Cadillac over to her.” Nell rolled her eyes. “What went wrong this time?”

  “Technology. Her real identity popped up before he had a chance to bail her out.” Something in Dixon’s eyes had Nell going on high alert. “The authorities saw she was wanted on an incident in Bakersfield.”

  “Bakersfield, California?”

  He nodded.

  “Who did she swindle there?”

  “It was a couple of years before I left for good.” Dixon abruptly pushed to his feet. “She’d cozied up to a city manager whose responsibilities included overseeing city funds.”

  “What did she do?”

  “She embezzled money from one of the accounts he oversaw and framed him for it.” Dixon moved to the window and stared out into the darkness. “I told her not to go for the frame, but she was pissed at the guy. It was a sloppy frame-up and didn’t stick. When the police finally realized she was the culprit, we’d already left town.”

  “There is no statute of limitations in California on embezzlement of public funds.” Nell briefly closed her eyes. What had Gloria been thinking? She focused on her brother. “What part did you play?”

  He arched a brow. “Who said I played a part?”

  Nell didn’t press. The less she knew about his role, the better.

  “Gloria was growing increasingly reckless. She was determined to prove we didn’t need you.” Dixon turned and rested his back against the sill. “She’s canny and has a way of finding and exploiting weaknesses, but she relied on your insight more than I realized.”

  Nell only shook her head. Thinking about the cons she’d helped Gloria pull off made her sick inside.

  “The detectives in Palm Springs are taking a hard look at previous crimes where she was a suspect.”

  “Standard procedure.” Nell forced a reassuring tone. “Even if Gloria has gotten careless, she’s still smart enough not to admit to anything.”

  “Which leaves you in the clear, in terms of the authorities.” Di
xon’s lips twisted in a humorless smile. “I’m still in the hot seat. If they get too close to proving a case against her, she’ll find a way to shift the blame onto me.”

  Nell knew that was exactly what would happen. The only loyalty their mother had was to herself.

  “First, they’d have to find you,” Nell pointed out. “That won’t happen. Your skills are exceptional.”

  “True.” Dixon agreed without a hint of modesty. “Which means, with Gloria now behind bars, we can finally live our lives without looking over our shoulders. And you can date Leo.”

  Nell couldn’t sit. Not with her thoughts and emotions in such a tangled mess. She pushed to her feet. “Maybe. I don’t know.”

  She’d always thought her mother would one day track her down and make her life, and the lives of anyone who mattered to her, a living hell. After all, that’s what her mother had promised if she ever left.

  But her mother was in jail and likely to stay there until the trial. Gloria’s entire focus would be on her mounting legal troubles.

  “There’s nothing stopping you now.” Her brother moved to her, and his tone turned persuasive. “You can finally have a normal life. The kind we dreamed about when we were kids. After everything you’ve been through, you deserve to be happy.”

  “Do I?”

  “Of course you do.”

  “I did some bad things.” Nell met his gaze. “And I wasn’t there for you. I left you alone to deal with her when you were just a child.”

  “You had to go. We agreed.”

  “I should never have left you.” A lump formed in Nell’s throat, and she cleared it, conscious of his penetrating gaze on her. “Or I should have taken you with me.”

  He studied her for a long moment, then his eyes softened. “She’d have caught up to us in a week, and there would have been hell to pay.”

  “I left you with a monster.”

  “You had to get out.” His tone was matter-of-fact. “Gloria was furious with you over the botched Britten job.”

  “She’s the one who screwed up.” Nell surged to her feet, and her voice rose. “She didn’t need to torch the house. It was just lucky no one but Daisy was inside.”

  The entire Britten family had adored the sweet Maltese. Nell had loved the white fluff-ball, too. Each time Nell was at their house, Daisy would prance into the room and drop her red mini-tennis ball at Nell’s feet.