Heart of Clay (The Tanner Series Book 6)

by Jo Willow

  “I had sex with Marla in the kitchen a few hours ago.”

  She knew it would be bad and it was. She didn’t want to say something in anger that she couldn’t take back later on. She turned it over in her mind and started thinking.

  They had only been friends until a few seconds ago. No declarations had been made, no commitments given. He had no clue she was there when she’d caught him crying in the shower, so he regretted the act so much, he was crying at the thought of having to tell her. He told her. He didn’t try to deny it or cover it up, he looked her in the eye and he told her what he’d done. He also told her he’d spend the rest of his life making it up to her. That struck her stranger than anything else he’d said. Why would he feel the need to make it up to her if he didn’t have feelings for her?

  When he started shaking, she realized he was waiting for her reaction. He was still staring at her and she moved a fraction of an inch and kissed him. He instantly stopped shaking.

  “Thank-you for telling me yourself.”

  “You’re not angry?”

  “Of course I’m angry! You made love to me this morning and then turned around and made love to her this afternoon! What kind of person does that Mitch?”

  “I did not make love to her. She attacked me in the kitchen Beth. She got nothing out of it and I felt cheap and dirty afterwards. She said that she and I could be fuck-buddies and that you never had to know. I told her we wouldn’t be any kind of buddies and threw her out of the house. She threatened to hurt our business.”

  “Can she do that?”

  “She has the connections to do that, yes. Let her try. If people are more interested in her stories than my work, then they don’t matter to me anyway.”

  “Mitch, were you more worried about my reaction or what she could do to the gallery?”

  He moved one hand to her face and smoothed her cheekbone.

  “Your reaction. I never want to hurt you Beth. Can you forgive me?”

  “I’d like to think so. Lord knows I forgave Brian for it often enough and he didn’t love me half as much as you do.”

  Mitch was staring at her as she spoke and he smiled. She didn’t even realize what she’d said, but she’d spoken the truth before he had.

  “Mitch, what are you smirking about?”

  “You. You know how I feel and I’ve never said a word.”

  She rolled her eyes at him and he relaxed further, feeling hope again for the first time in hours.

  “Of course I know how you feel. You can’t keep your hands off of me, you’re kissing on me every chance you get and you’re terrified that you could tell me something that would make me hate you. We’re a team Mitch. Do you understand that? As long as we stick together, nobody can touch us.”

  Her words were like a soothing balm and she’d taken what he did and made it into something he could learn from. He still felt bad that he’d hurt her, but he knew they could get through it. She’d just told him as much.

  He started kissing her then and he felt like he needed to ask her permission to touch her. He’d almost worked up the nerve, when she rolled onto her back and brought him with her.

  “I need to forget about that Beth. I need to be yours again.”

  He shifted and filled her and Beth took complete and total possession.

  Chapter Four

  While Mitch was accepting his fate with a smile on his face, Marla was pacing in her gallery and scowling. No one had ever spoken to her in such an unforgivable manner. Tanner or not, it was unacceptable and retribution would be swift and painful. She’d hit them on so many levels, they wouldn’t be able to recover for years. She’d get to the business eventually, but for now, it was personal. Marla picked up the phone and started calling in favors.

  They slept tangled in blankets and each other, spent and satisfied. When the glow filled the room, Beth thought it was daybreak and she’d overslept. She yawned and stretched, and then saw the light flicker on the wall. Her eyes flew open. The light was wrong. It was the wrong color and it moved. She sprang out of bed and ran to the window.

  Awakened by the sudden movement, Mitch opened his eyes to her naked form standing at the window.

  “Beth, what is it?”

  “Oh my god Mitch. The barn is on fire!”

  They both scrambled for whatever clothing was laying around and ran to the kitchen. Mitch ran out the back door and Beth stopped to call 911. She was as patient as she could be, given the circumstances, then she hung up and joined Mitch in the back.

  The barn was completely engulfed in flames, the roof sagging in the center. Everything inside would be a total loss, Mitch didn’t need a Claims Adjuster to know that. He put his arm around Beth and listened as the sound of the wailing sirens grew closer.

  The firemen worked hard for an hour to get the blaze under control. Numerous people interviewed them, none of them the press. Mitch assumed that that would come later because of his last name.

  Shortly after dawn, everyone drifted away leaving Mitch and Beth to sit staring at the smoldering mess of what used to be his workspace. He hugged her closer and kissed the top of his head, contemplating the total devastation of his life.

  “I don’t know what we’ll do now Beth. All of our money is tied up in the gallery. The insurance will pay up eventually, but what are we gonna do until then? How will I work? All of our stock was in that barn. We have exactly one pot sitting inside the shop. One. How did this happen?”

  Beth had lived her whole life staring down adversity. This was bad, but she was already making plans. She straightened up and patted him on the back.

  “If we had the barn back, how long would it take you to replace the stock?”

  “I’d need new wheels, kilns, tools - not to mention the actual materials - at least two weeks, maybe three if I worked ten hour days.”

  “If you had all of that, would you be willing to put the time in if I helped?”

  “I’ve never been afraid of hard work, you know that. What are you thinking?”

  “I’m thinking you’re a damned Tanner and it’s time to capitalize on that.”

  She’d started for the house and he grabbed her arm to stop her.

  “Beth you know I can’t take a dime of their money.”

  “Who the hell’s talking about money? We need to have an old fashioned barn raising. The Amish do it all the time. Right? David was a carpenter. Surely he knows people that would be willing to help. Habitat for humanity builds houses all the time using volunteers. If he directs us, I’ll bet we can be up and running again in a few days.”

  He searched her face and felt a flicker of belief. He couldn’t ask for money but he could ask for help. That would work. Families help each other all the time.

  “What about the money for materials? The cost of the barn alone will be ungodly, not to mention what we’ll need to fill it.”

  “Mitch, do you have faith in me?”

  “You’re about the only thing I do have faith in right now.”

  “Then you let me worry about the money. You start calling your relatives and get this ball rolling. Let me know when everyone can get together on this and we’ll be ready. I’ll need to know exactly what we’ll need to build a decent barn. The sooner you can get me that information, the better. Come on, we’re burnin’ daylight here!”

  She started to walk away and he pulled her back again.

  “Why are you so good to me? I’ve put you through more in the last few days than most people have to put up with in years.”

  She stopped and smiled up at him.

  “You’re my friend and I love you. I meant that when I said it Mitch.”

  “Why did he let you go?”

  She knew what he was referring to and it was a sore spot even after all the years that had past.

  “You’d have to ask him that. Come on, we’ve got a lot to do.”

  Beth Hamilton-Stone accomplished more in three hours than most people accomplished in a day. While Mitch was busy in t
he backyard with David and Kevin, she was on the phone talking to her father the electrician. He knew people that knew people and before long, she had plumbing and electrical work lined out on the new barn. Her folks offered to hang on to the kids for the following week, her dad would drive them back and forth to school. Privately, they were hoping that things would move right along between her and Mitch.

  She made a few more inquiries, then grabbed her keys and started for town.

  Mitch, David and Kevin finished their work outside and went into the house to talk to Beth. David watched him search the house for her and then he reached for the phone. She wasn’t at her house either. He elbowed Kevin, then took a jab at Mitch.

  “What’s the matter Mitch, misplace your woman?”

  He looked up to see David and Kevin grinning at his distress. He loosened up and grinned back.

  “I’ve never had one to misplace before. Is this common?”

  David rolled his eyes.

  “Common? In my house it’s a daily occurrence. Trying to keep track of Claire is an exercise in futility. Kevin’s got Carie bogged down with children and keeping track of who’s living in Tara and who’s just visiting. I haven’t managed that yet. Where did she go?”

  “Who knows? I’d be willing to bet that it’s got something to do with the barn though. Let me try her cell.”

  Mitch reached her on the first ring and answered technical questions regarding wheels, kilns and supplies. When he could get a word in edgewise, he gave her the information she needed regarding the barn.

  “Beth, where are you exactly?”

  “I’m at a pottery equipment store, shopping for what we need. They’ll have to order most of it, but we should be able to get started with what they have in stock. They’ll deliver it on Thursday. Did you know that Pottery Barn doesn’t sell pottery supplies?”

  Mitch was fighting laughter because he didn’t want to make her feel bad. Kevin and David saw his face and wondered what had triggered his expression. Mitch held up one finger and asked the question as seriously as he could.

  “Hon’, you went to Pottery Barn looking for kilns and wheels?”

  David and Kevin erupted in laughter and Mitch couldn’t contain it any longer.

  “Well I’m glad somebody thinks it’s funny. I’ve never been there before, how was I supposed to know? Anyway, I’m leaving for the lumberyard now. Let me talk to David.”

  Mitch handed the phone to his cousin who was wiping his eyes.

  “Hey Beth. Sorry about the laughter. What can I do for you Sis’?”

  “I’m writing this down and I need for you to give me a rough estimate of what it’s gonna take material wise to build this barn.”

  David rattled off a list based on what they’d discussed outside. Beth wrote it all down and repeated it back to him.

  “That should get us most of the way there. We may have to run for odds and ends, but we won’t know that until we get started.”

  “Do you have all the tools you’ll need?”

  “I’ve got all of that covered, don’t worry. Do you need money?”

  Mitch stiffened, but David didn’t notice. What he did notice was her off-the-cuff reply and it worried him.

  “He wouldn’t take your money if I did need it. I’m gonna take out a second on my house tomorrow. It shouldn’t be a problem. Tell him I’ll be home in time to fix dinner and mom and dad are keeping the kids for the week. Give Kevin a hug and tell him I said thanks. You guys are the best for helping us pull this together. We might get this gallery open after all.”

  “Gallery? What gallery?”

  Mitch blushed and looked at the floor. Kevin’s eyes darted between him and David and he started paying closer attention to what David was saying.

  “We took out a lease on a gallery here in Savannah. Mitch is finally gonna go into business for himself and showcase his work. He quit his job last week to concentrate on building up inventory and then this happened. We have exactly one pot and it’s sitting in the store. Everything else was in the barn.”

  David quickly assessed the situation and worked out the problem. Mitch and Beth wouldn’t accept monetary help, but they’d agree to labor. He arrived at the solution just as quickly.

  “Can we sell the piece in one of Tim’s shops?”

  “Discuss it with Mitch, I really have to go. It’s Sunday and these places close early. I’ll order the barn supplies and get them delivered as soon as I can. We can clear out the rubble when the Fire Marshall gives us the okay. Thanks again for all the help, we appreciate it.”

  “No problem Beth, that’s what family’s for. Later darlin’.”

  David pressed a button and handed the phone back to Mitch.

  “When were you gonna tell us about the gallery?”

  Mitch accepted the phone and looked at his cousins who were waiting for an answer.

  “Since when are you guys interested in a pottery shop?”

  “It’s not just a ‘pottery shop’. It’s our cousin’s art gallery. At the very least, Tim and Pam would want to take a peek. Were you going to invite us to the opening?”

  “Of course we were! It’ll be a little ways off now, but you’ll get your invites as soon as we’re up and running.”

  “Beth says you’ve got a pot sitting in the shop.”

  “It’s an urn and it’s the only piece we have left.”

  Kevin joined in the conversation, speaking quietly and with authority.

  “Sell it in Tim’s shop in Atlanta. I know what those things go for, Carie and Pam are heavy into those pieces. He’ll get you the best price for it and the money will go a long way toward the rebuild.”

  “I couldn’t ask him to do that, it wouldn’t be right.”

  “It would be exactly right. You’re not asking him to buy it, you’re asking him to sell it. Huge difference. If he can’t sell it, he’ll tell you. Tim will know right away if he can market it or not. Let me give him a call.”

  Fifteen minutes later, the conversation was over and Tim had agreed to drive out and look at the urn after work. Mitch called Beth and she agreed to stop by the gallery to pick it up. It wasn’t much, but it was a start and Mitch was grateful.

  When Kevin and David were in David’s truck and on the way home, the real discussion began. David filled Kevin in on Mitch and Beth’s financial situation and Beth’s solution.

  “We can’t let her take out another mortgage on the house. Hell I don’t like the fact that she’s got one, two is out of the question.”

  Kevin had taken a shine to Beth and appreciated that she was a single mother working her ass off to raise and support two children. At the same time, she was doing everything she could to keep Mitch’s spirits up and his priorities lined out. David liked her because he liked her and he wanted her in the family.

  “I think I have a better solution. It’s sneaky, but it’ll work if we can keep Mitch from finding out what we did.”

  “We can’t start paying for stuff, he’ll figure that out in no time.”

  “Kevin, I know that. My idea is simple. We need to hold a family auction for that pot.”

  “It’s not a pot, it’s an urn. What do you mean a ‘family auction’?”

  “We get our hands on that thing, prop it up in the living room and outbid each other.”

  Kevin shot his brother a sideways glance and grinned.

  “You’re serious.”

  “I’m dead serious. Our house needs a nice pot. How about yours?”

  “It’s an urn, not a pot and I think it would make a nice gift for Carie.”

  “I’m gonna put your uppity ass in an urn if you keep correcting me. My idea is pretty straight forward. Between the four of us, we should be able to raise enough money to build that man a barn. He works his ass off Kevin and always has, and he’s never once asked for help. That woman he’s with gave him her kids’ college fund to start this business and it all went up in flames in one night. They deserve a damned break.”

 
Kevin threw his hands up in a defensive gesture.

  “Hey I’m not arguing with you, I’m on board. I think it’ll work if we can come up with a good cover story for why it brought in so much money.”

  “That’s where Tim and Pam come in. They sell overpriced shit all the time. They’ll have an idea. Call him and tell him the plan before he goes all the way to Savannah.”

  Beth gave the list of materials David needed to the man at the lumber yard and he let out a low whistle.

  “Are you building a barn or something?”

  “As a matter of fact we are. Ours burned down last night and we need it replaced as soon as possible. When can we get all of that stuff?”

  The man scratched his head and decided to play hardball with the little lady.

  “We can cut it to specs and deliver it for twenty-six thousand in about three weeks.”

  “You’re out of your mind. If you want our business, you’ll cut it, deliver it and do it for twenty-one by Friday.”

  “Lady, there’s no way. It takes time to put this much lumber together and get it where it needs to be. Do you know how many projects are ahead of yours? I can appreciate your problem, but there’s just no way and especially not at that price. We’ll be taking a loss.”

  “Mister, we’re in Georgia. If you can’t find timber in Georgia with people eager to cut it in this economy, then you don’t know how to run your business. I’ll just tell Mr. Tanner that we’ll be taking our business elsewhere. Good-luck.”

  The man’s eyes grew huge when she said Tanner and he grabbed her arm to stop her. She looked at his hand and then raised her eyebrows in question.

  “Forgive me for being so forward, but did you say Tanner? Would that be the Atlanta Tanners?”

  “They’re Mitch’s cousins and are helping with this barn build, yes. David and Rose assured me that we could get it started on Friday if we had the materials ready and waiting. They put me in charge of finding those materials. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve wasted enough time here.”