Her Hometown Redemption

by Rachel Brimble

  “So what are you going to do about it?”

  “I have no bloody idea...yet.”

  “Well, when you do, make sure it’s something that isn’t going to get you arrested, or risk Davidson slipping under the radar.” Jay turned to the TV, lifting his soda to his mouth. “Cat’s told me to butt out. I’d say the same words are coming your way sooner rather than later.”

  Liam glared at his friend’s profile. What Jay said was nothing Liam hadn’t already said to himself. “How the hell am I supposed not to ask Tanya or Cat what their plans are?”

  “God knows, but you’re going to have to try. Cat will handle Davidson.” He looked at Jay and lifted an eyebrow. “And Tanya.”

  Liam held Jay’s gaze before defeat lowered his shoulders. Cat and Tanya were two women who knew their own minds and didn’t take kindly to anyone telling them how to live their lives. Not even by the men who loved them...

  He stared at the TV, not really seeing the game at all. “At least Tanya went to see Cat. I thought she’d ignore my advice, pretty much like she always does.”

  “Well, she didn’t, so be thankful for small mercies. Whenever Cat takes my advice, I treat myself to something special because Lord only knows when it will happen again.”

  Liam grinned. “And what constitutes something special when you’ve got a couple of million in the bank?”

  Jay waggled his eyebrows. “We’re back in my and Cat’s private-life arena, my friend.”

  Liam shook his head. “Right. Enough said.”

  They stared at the game for a few minutes before Jay cleared his throat. “So, you sleeping with her now?”

  Liam stiffened. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “So you are. Does this mean you two are back together?”

  Liam shifted in his seat. Talking with Jay about Tanya and sex had not been on the agenda. His friend looked at him with clear skepticism etched on his face, and Liam’s defenses rose. “No. It was a one-off. It won’t be happening again.”

  “Why?”

  “Because she’s no good for me. She hasn’t changed enough.”

  Jay raised his eyebrows. “She hasn’t changed enough?”

  Liam shrugged. “I was beaten up enough after round one, I don’t need to go in for round two.”

  “Well, for the record, I think she might have changed more than you’re giving her credit for. Cat might not have told me how she feels about Davidson hurting Sasha, or what she’s going to do about it, but she certainly had a lot to say about Tanya.”

  “And?”

  “And she didn’t know Tanya before. The woman Cat described, her first impression and instincts, was that Tanya is a woman desperate to make up for what she deems as mistakes and start afresh. More than that, Cat thinks Tanya’s scared to death to look inside herself and see who she really is.”

  Liam pulled his lips together. Hearing Jay say what deep down Liam already knew did nothing to lessen the knowledge that he and Tanya together was a disaster waiting to happen. He couldn’t be with her halfway. If he was with her, he was in for the long haul and that meant accepting all her past mistakes.

  She needed to be with someone who didn’t know her before, someone who hadn’t had his heart broken by her. She needed to start again with someone new so she’d have a nice clean slate.

  If she was with him... She deserved to be with someone who wasn’t so afraid to trust her.

  “Nothing to say?” Jay lifted an eyebrow and blew out a breath. “So the deal is no personal stuff between you, just smoking out this Davidson piece of crap?” He shook his head. “Not sure how that’s going to work, mate.”

  Liam held Jay’s gaze, his body rigid with tension and misplaced pride. “It will work because I’ll make it work.”

  “Yeah? And what if Tanya starts dating someone else? She’s a good-looking woman. It won’t be long before some other guy in the Cove takes an interest in getting up close and personal with her. What then? You’d still be able to concentrate on Davidson and only Davidson?” Jay drained his can. “No judgment, but I don’t know a man on earth who can sleep with a woman, who has history with her, still cares for her, and handle that situation well. You included.”

  Liam shook his head, his gut twisting with jealousy. “I can’t think about that. I can’t start worrying about what might happen.”

  Jay smiled. “No?”

  Liam glared. “No.”

  “Then what happened to make you sleep with her and then decide you didn’t want anything more to do with her?”

  “I don’t trust her, okay?” Liam put his soda on the table in front of him and stood, pushing his hand into his hair. “She’s had a hard time, but I know her. Sooner or later, she’ll take what she wants without giving a damn who gets hurt in the process. I can’t trust her. I won’t let myself trust her.”

  “You’re falling for her again.”

  “No, I’m not.”

  “Sorry, mate, but you are.”

  Liam’s heart pounded with the knowledge he wasn’t just falling in love with Tanya again, he was facing the reality he might not have ever stopped loving her. He clenched his jaw. “Well, whatever, I don’t want to fall in love with her. I don’t even know if I’ve recovered from the last time she walked out of Templeton and never looked back. I’m not going down that path again.”

  “Yet you slept with her. It’s still there between you, whether you like it or not.” Jay slumped back onto the couch, his gaze determined. “When Cat came back to the Cove, I was in deep shit. The moment I saw her, I was back to the summers we spent together. I loved her then as I love her now. We don’t get to choose who we love. All we get is the choice to accept it, bad with the good, or walk away. I’ve never heard of anyone regretting that they didn’t walk away from The One. Have you?”

  Liam stared. Could he really walk away from Tanya? Not touch, kiss or make love to her again? Could he watch another man seduce her? Christ, fall in love with her...her fall in love with him?

  He squeezed his eyes shut and tipped his head back. “It’s better this way.”

  “Hey, it’s your life. I’m just saying, fiery temper and mind so sharp, it scares the living crap out of me, I wanted Cat. Drugs, mistakes and God knows what else, Cat wanted me. Just make sure Tanya is a woman you can look back on and be absolutely sure she wasn’t the one who could’ve made you happy for the rest of your life.”

  Uncertainty churned in Liam’s stomach. He loved Tanya, would most likely always love her. He dropped his chin and opened his eyes. “I’ll work this out, okay? If Tanya and I are meant to be together, we’ll end up together. If not...”

  “You’re over her and I’m wrong?” Jay sighed and turned toward the TV.

  Liam dropped back into the armchair, his head a mess and his heart even more so.

  * * *

  AS TANYA TAPPED another booking into her computer calendar, satisfaction washed through her. “Well, with Mr. MacIntyre’s staff event, we’re going to be busy through to the middle of October. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.”

  Lucy looked up from her desk at the side of the office and smiled. “You should be laughing. I knew the minute I walked in here you were onto a winner. There’s never been a party planning business in Templeton as far as I know. How could people not want your services? It will be Halloween and Christmas events next.”

  Tanya grinned and shouldered her growing sense of pride with more acceptance than she had for months. It was time to start enjoying the first inkling of possible business success...to start to enjoy living in Templeton. Period. “We deserve a treat. How about lunch at the Seascape to celebrate?”

  “Sounds good to me. I’ve nearly finished putting together the invitation options for Mrs. Sheridan. Do you want to call her to arrange a time to come in?”


  “Sure. I’ll do that now and then we can close up for lunch.” Tanya reached for the phone just as the front door opened.

  Her stomach tightened with anticipation that the visitor might be Liam—just as it had every time for the past five days. Instead, a man in his early twenties walked in. His gaze immediately locked on hers, his smile wide.

  Tanya stood, her smile frozen in place as awareness skittered over her skin. He was dressed in a smart, black suit and open-necked shirt. His dark hair was undeniably gorgeous, and even from the distance that separated them, it was easy to see the guy was attractive. Not Liam attractive...but attractive all the same.

  She cleared her throat. “Can I help you?”

  He closed the door, his gaze still on hers as he strolled closer. “I hope so.” He held out his hand. “Mike Ellison. Pleased to meet you.”

  “Tanya Todd. What can I do for you?”

  His hand remained in hers for a moment as he languidly ran his gaze over her face. He dropped her hand. “I need to sort out a Halloween party at my nightclub. It’s something my DJ and I usually deal with, but seeing as everyone I’ve spoken to keeps hinting I should give your business a try, I thought I’d come by and check it out for myself.”

  Tanya smiled, pleased that people were talking about the Party Place and recommending her services to others. She waved toward the couch. “Great, why don’t you take a seat over there and I’ll be right with you. Would you like coffee? Tea?”

  “Coffee. Black, no sugar. Thanks.”

  “Coming right up.”

  He walked to the couch and Tanya turned to Lucy. Her assistant was eyeing Mike Ellison with open interest, her bright blue eyes carefully assessing. She turned and flinched when she met Tanya’s gaze. Tanya lifted an eyebrow. “Would you mind getting coffee for me and Mr. Ellison when you’re ready, please, Lucy?”

  Lucy blinked, her cheeks coloring. “Coffee...right. Of course.” Tanya’s cell phone rang and Lucy halted. “Shall I get that for you?”

  “I’ve got it. Thanks.” Tanya looked at Mike Ellison. “Do you mind if I answer that? I can’t afford to turn away business...at least not yet.”

  He smiled. “Sure. Go ahead.”

  With his gaze burning into her back, Tanya picked up her cell from her desk and looked at the display. DI Garrett. Tension immediately straightened Tanya’s spine and, despite being aware she was neglecting a potential client, the need to know what DI Garrett had to say took over. She pressed Talk. “DI Garrett?”

  “Miss Todd. Hi. How are you?”

  “Good. Do you have any news?”

  “That’s why I’m calling. We may have a lead that connects Matt Davidson to another fair outside of Latchford. I have officers looking into it now, but I don’t want you to get your hopes up just yet. The people we’ve spoken to at the Sundrome and Funland haven’t been particularly cooperative. I don’t need to tell you how much of a closed community fairgrounds can be. I just wanted to check in with you and let you know we’re doing all we can...and ask that, for now, you sit tight and let us get on with it.”

  Tanya narrowed her eyes. “Where’s the other fair?”

  “Miss Todd—”

  “The least you can do is tell me where the search has extended. You promised if I stepped back, you would continue to keep me informed. I’ve kept my end of the bargain.”

  DI Garrett’s exhalation rasped down the line. “It’s in Parmouth.”

  “Parmouth?”

  “Yes.”

  Tanya’s mind raced. Latchford wasn’t so far from Parmouth. It was highly probable Davidson could work both fairs without raising suspicion of his illegal and sickening sideline. “So there’s nothing new to add to what Liam and I found out in Latchford?”

  “Not at the moment, but that doesn’t mean that situation won’t change once my officers report back to me.”

  Avoiding Mike Ellison’s curious and steady study, Tanya stared through the window toward Liam’s office. His advice to go to the police hadn’t helped even in the smallest of ways. In fact, she and Liam had achieved more toward finding Davidson than Cat Garrett had so far.

  “Miss Todd... Tanya...please, let me deal with this, okay? As soon as I know anything, so will you. You have to trust me and protect yourself. The more mixed up you get with this, the more likelihood there is of you making a mistake that could lead to Davidson’s disappearance. I’ll be in touch.”

  Before Tanya could respond, the line buzzed dead in her ear.

  She pressed the end button, her hand trembling. She’d given the police a chance. They were just taking too long. It would be her move next—whatever DI Garrett might have warned. Liam had spoken to someone at Funland who knew Davidson was in Latchford. She’d find out who that person was and, some way or another, lever more information out of him. She smiled wryly. Sometimes a woman’s touch was so much more effective than a man’s.

  Taking a deep breath, she put her cell back on the desk and glanced toward Mike Ellison. He met her eyes. His gaze was soft with interest, smoldering with what could only mean one thing...flirtation. She picked up her notepad and pen.

  Before her return to Templeton, men had been way down on her agenda as she struggled with her anxiety and low self-esteem. To see attraction in another man’s eyes—other than Liam’s—was disconcerting. She and Liam had come to a roadblock caused by his mammoth distrust and her stubborn reaction to it. He hadn’t called or come into the office for almost a week. He’d not even asked how things were going as far as finding Matt Davidson was concerned.

  Tears burned. But if he had moved on, maybe she should, too.

  Taking a deep breath, Tanya returned to the seating area and sat next to Mike Ellison on the oversize couch. She put her notepad on her lap, gripped her pen with both hands and smiled. “So, you have a nightclub? Is it in the Cove?”

  He settled back against the cushions and lifted his ankle onto the opposite knee, snaking one arm across the back of the couch. “No, it’s in Tynesworth. Do you know the town?”

  Tanya frowned. “Sure, but that’s quite a way from here. May I ask who recommended me?”

  “I have a pretty good business relationship with the DJ who works the club in Templeton. He said you were starting out and I should give you a chance to impress me.” He flashed a smile. “He didn’t warn me about those eyes of yours, though.”

  Tanya forced a smile, her flimsy attraction to the guy rapidly deteriorating. Overconfidence had to be the biggest turnoff. “And what’s this DJ’s name?”

  His smile wavered. “Does it matter?”

  His unexpected retort prickled the hairs at the back of Tanya’s neck. She lifted her shoulders. “Not really, but it would be nice to pass on my thanks for mentioning the Party Place.”

  “It’s Nick.”

  “Nick?” Tanya frowned, her mind running through the people she knew in the Cove. Recognition hit. “Nick Carson?”

  He grinned. “The one and only.”

  Tanya laughed, her shoulders relaxing. “Well, I’m glad to hear he found a vocation to deal with all that energy. I assume time hasn’t calmed him?”

  “Nick? No way. That guy will still be partying when the rest of us are sitting in front of the TV with our slippers and a glass of cognac.”

  Tanya smiled, her unease lifting a little. It was no wonder Mike Ellison was all flashing eyes and teeth if he was in the same business as Nick. “Well, I know Nick from way back, so any associate of his is an associate of mine. I hope you like what the Party Place has to offer, Mr. Ellison.”

  “Mike, please.”

  His cool gaze traveled over her face, bringing unexpected heat to Tanya’s cheeks. The clink of crockery broke the tension and she looked up as Lucy approached with two steaming, oversize cups of coffee. Tanya took the cup Lucy offered. �
�Thanks, Lucy. This is Mike Ellison, hopefully a new client of ours in the not-too-distant future.”

  Mike smiled and held out his hand. “Hey, Lucy. How you doing?”

  Lucy stared back, no smile curving her lips, her body tense. Tanya dropped her gaze to her notepad and hurriedly wrote Mike’s name and “Halloween Party” in capital letters. Lucy’s obvious awkwardness could mean one of two things—she either didn’t trust the guy...or wanted to get to know Mike a lot better...and not as a client.

  Lucy held out his coffee. “Hi. Nice to meet you.” She turned to Tanya. “Do you need me for anything else?”

  Tanya bit back a smile. “We’re fine for now. Did you want to go on to the Seascape and I’ll meet you when Mr. Elli... Mike and I are done?”

  “Sure.” Lucy turned to Mike. “It was nice to meet you.”

  He winked. “You, too.”

  Lucy whirled away, practically running into the room at the back of the office. Tanya resisted shaking her head. Only a girl as young as nineteen would be immediately smitten with a lothario like Mike Ellison. “So...let’s talk about this party. What sort of thing do you have in mind?”

  Time passed quickly as she and Mike worked out a few preliminary ideas and themes. The next time Tanya looked at her watch, it was nearing two. She snapped the top onto her pen and laid it on her notepad. “Right, well, why don’t you leave this with me. I’ll come up with some invites, decoration and costume ideas and call you in a few days to arrange another time for you to look everything over.”

  He smiled, his green eyes once more glinting with flirtation. “Sounds good. Or...you could agree to come out with me Friday night and we could talk about it over dinner at the Oceanside?”

  Tanya stilled. This guy was not her type...at all. Her mind scrambled for an excuse. “Dinner?”

  “Why not?” He raised his hands. “No pressure, just good food, good wine and hopefully you’ll think I’m not too bad company by the end of the night. What do you say?”

  Tanya grimaced as a way of apology. “I say not. Sorry.”