by Tara Randel
“Mommy do good?” John asked.
Surprised by the question, Grace nodded. “Yes. Why would you ask?”
“We said an extra prayer last night. Mommy do good and make you happy.”
Her heart twisted as she glanced from John’s sincere face to her sister’s. She was trying desperately to follow Grace’s instructions. Instead of sniping, Grace should cut her some slack.
“Yes. Thank you for contacting us,” Faith finished up the call. She filled out the form, stared at it for a few moments, then tossed it across the desktop.
Grace loudly cleared her throat.
“Come on, Grace, you are so fussy,” she said as the office door opened.
“She may be fussy but she runs the best vacation outfit in north Georgia.”
“Nathan,” Faith screeched and ran around the counter to hug their baby brother.
His dark blond hair was longer than the last time Grace had seen him, his face pale from lack of sun. Once he was back outdoors, he’d tan quickly. Grace rose slowly, making her way toward the happy reunion.
Her brother’s brown eyes, so much like their father’s, searched her face as she approached before he pulled her into a bear hug. She had to admit, it was good to see the doofus, so she returned the hug with gusto. Then stepped away and slapped him on the shoulder. “Where have you been?”
“Here and there,” he answered cryptically, getting down on one knee to open his arms for John, who beelined toward him and wrapped his little arms around Nathan’s neck.
“How are you doing, buddy?”
“Got a new truck.”
Nathan ruffled John’s hair. “Good for you.”
John returned to his toys, leaving Nathan without anyone to hide behind, which was good because Grace had plenty to say.
“Nathan, we need to get you up to speed. While you were—”
He placed a finger over her mouth and she swatted it away. “What are you doing?”
“Stopping your tirade before it begins.”
She slammed her hands on her hips.
“Look, I know you all don’t appreciate me being MIA. But I’m back, ready to work and to look after Mama.”
Grace wasn’t sure she believed him but wasn’t going to argue. They needed another tour guide.
“Fine. I’ll skip the lecture.”
He grinned, all easygoing and not a care in the world, but Grace didn’t miss the shadows lurking in the depths of his eyes. She knew her brother well enough to accept he would never confide in her, so she crossed her fingers and hoped for the best.
“Heard you hired help. A cop? Really, Grace?”
“He was the only one to apply for the job and since I couldn’t locate you, it worked out.” She frowned. “How did you know he was a cop?”
“Mama.”
Hmm. Seems her family members had had more conversations than her mother had disclosed.
“Mama may not be thrilled about a cop in the midst, but I don’t care. Deke is doing a great job.”
Nathan laughed. “Yeah, Mama wasn’t happy about him being the police, even though she told you to hire him.”
Grace rolled her eyes.
“Since he’s here to stay, we’ll work it out.” He glanced around the office. “Something looks different.”
“I cleaned,” Grace answered.
“No, more...” His eyes lit on Faith. “You’re working here?”
“You didn’t know?”
“I haven’t spoken to Mama in a few days.”
So Grace was right, Mama had been keeping Nathan up to speed.
Faith’s jaw tensed. “Got a problem with that, little brother?”
“Are you kidding?” A big smile crossed his face. “This is great. I always wanted you to join us but you were busy with the kids. And then Lyle...” He broke off, a frown creasing his brow.
Faith stared at him, eyes round with surprise. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. You’re here now.”
“See, Grace? Someone is glad I’m working.”
“I never said—” She stopped short. Sighed. Her protests would only land on deaf ears.
Nathan rubbed his hands together. “So, where do I start?”
Grace rounded the desk. “Let’s see what’s scheduled.” She pulled up the calendar on the computer and was about to update Nathan when the back door opened. Deke, tall, strong, solid and way too good-looking for her peace of mind, strode into the office. He sent Grace a nerve-tingling smile before his perceptive eyes assessed the situation.
He took a step toward Nathan, hand out. “You must be the third Harper.”
Nathan took his hand to shake, standing taller as he gave Deke a once-over. “Yep, and now that I’m back we’ll have to divvy up the work.”
“Sounds good to me.” He handed Grace a clipboard and keys. “All hikers accounted for and the van is parked out back.”
“Thanks.”
Their fingers brushed as she took the board. Controlling the shiver that wanted to skate up and down her arms, she sent a covert glance toward her siblings. She’d never hear the end of it if they suspected she was attracted to Deke. Pointing at the calendar on the screen, she scooted out of the way when Deke moved so close his arm brushed hers. Good grief, what was wrong with her today? This was the first time she’d seen him since the kiss in the woods last night. A kiss she hadn’t stopped thinking about.
Before long, Deke and Nathan were working on the allocation of tours while Faith carried on with phone calls. Finding herself not needed, she sat down near John, who stood and crawled into her lap.
“Boat?”
She wasn’t sure what he was talking about, but when she noticed John staring at Deke, she remembered the day they’d carried the canoes to the lake. “You want to go out on the boat?”
John bounced up and down. “Boat. Boat.”
What had she done?
Deke came over to kneel before her nephew, close enough for her to smell his crisp, woodsy scent. Her toes curled in her sensible pumps.
“You remember taking the canoes to the lake?”
John nodded, his eyes big. “Mama, let’s go on lake?”
Faith bit her bottom lip. “I don’t know, John.”
Deke rose. “We have life vests his size and if you give us the okay, we won’t venture far from shore.”
“I suppose...”
“Boat. Boat.”
Grace hid a grin. Oh, Faith had a child just like her.
“Okay, but only if you go, too, Grace.”
Alarm bells clattered in her head. “I can’t leave. We’re working.”
“And you haven’t had a moment to do anything fun since you got here.”
True, but the lake? With Deke? “I’m here to work. Not have fun.”
“I can handle the office for a few hours,” Faith assured her. Testing her, maybe?
“And since this afternoon is free,” Nathan chimed in, “I can catch up with Mama and get ready for the next tour.”
Were her siblings ganging up on her?
Deke glanced her way. “You’d let your nephew down?”
As if on cue, John looked up at her with wide, brown eyes.
“Sheesh. Okay. I’ll go.”
John jumped from her lap, clapping his hands.
Deke’s smile took her breath away and suddenly a canoe trip on the lake seemed more than just about pleasing John.
“Give me about thirty minutes to get things ready,” he said, then faced Nathan. “If you have a few minutes, I’d like to run an idea by you.”
“Sure.” Nathan hugged his sisters again, then slapped Deke on the shoulder. “So, what’s on your mind?”
As the guys left, deep in conversation, Grace turned, ready to f
inish up so she could head back to the cabin and change for the excursion on the lake. She stopped short when Faith’s knowing eyes met hers, sparkling with humor.
“What?”
“I see how it is.”
Grace shook her head. “How what is?” Please, please, please don’t say it.
“You and Deke?”
She said it.
“It’s not what you think.”
“Really? You didn’t just get all gooey when he promised to take John on the lake?”
“It was nice of him.”
“Nice.” Faith snorted. “I saw you melt.”
Grace rolled her shoulders. “I’m not having this conversation with you.”
“Fine, but sis?”
“Yes?”
“It’s about time you stop being all about work and let yourself get involved with a nice guy.”
Was that what she was doing? Getting involved with Deke? From the look on Faith’s face, her sister thought so.
She couldn’t argue either.
Yikes. I’m in trouble here.
CHAPTER NINE
“HURRY, AUNT GRACE.” John stood in the doorway, bouncing from one sneakered foot to the other.
“Hold your horses,” she answered, scouring Faith’s closet for the pair of boat shoes her sister had offered for the lake excursion. Since Grace had brought a limited wardrobe for her stay in Golden, and canoe trips weren’t penciled into her day planner, she’d worried about having the right footwear. What she hadn’t expected to find was what she believed to be all of Faith’s worldly possessions stored here at the cabin.
“Found them,” she sang out, slipping her feet into the canvas shoes. Taking a step back, she perused the closet, then scanned Faith’s room. Unopened boxes were stacked in the corner, squeezed tightly beside the crib. Twin beds worked for Faith and John. On a hunch, Grace checked the dresser to find it packed with John’s clothing.
Faith wasn’t just here for a time-out with her husband. By the looks of it, she’d moved in permanently. Was this the reason for her sudden interest in the family business? As she investigated, Grace spotted a framed photograph of Faith and the kids. She crossed the room to pick it up, deciding it looked fairly recent.
John hammed it up for the camera, Lacey shared a gummy grin. Faith? No amount of makeup could hide the dark circles under her eyes. Hmm. No husband or father in the shot. This couldn’t be good, but it explained why her sister had shown up here, willing to share the cabin with Grace. Had Faith left Lyle?
“Aunt Grace,” John yelled from the living room, only to be shushed by his grandmother.
She replaced the picture. Making a mental note to get answers from her sister later, she smoothed the T-shirt she’d pulled on over shorts.
“Let’s go,” Grace said as she entered the other room, grabbing a pair of sunglasses from the coffee table. “We shouldn’t be long,” she assured her mother, who was trying to rub sunscreen on a squirming John.
“Be careful. John’s so little, I don’t want him falling in the lake.”
The Harpers had learned early on that things happened out of your control, but it wasn’t like Grace wouldn’t be vigilant with her nephew.
A knock sounded on the screen door, followed by a deep voice. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Harper. John’s in good hands.”
Tingles skittered over her skin as Grace’s gaze jerked to the door. There stood Deke, still in the same T-shirt and cargo shorts from earlier, sunglasses perched on top of his head, smiling at her mother. He didn’t share smiles often, but when he did, watch out.
Spreading leftover lotion on her forearm, her mother walked over to open the door. “Come on in.”
Grace hurried to follow. Her mother hadn’t met the newest employee yet, and since she had a thing about cops, Grace wasn’t sure if she’d behave. “Mama, this is Deke Matthews.”
“Figured as much.”
Deke stepped into the living room, all broad shoulders, tanned skin and gorgeous dark blue-gray eyes, filling the room with his presence. He continued smiling at her mother. To win her favor, Grace wondered?
“Mrs. Harper. I was hoping we’d meet soon.”
“Please, call me Wanda Sue.” She tucked a chunk of graying hair behind her ear. “You’ve most likely heard I’m out of commission.”
“Yes, ma’am, but I thought perhaps you’d be working soon. The way your children talk about you, it sounds like they really miss you at the office.”
Grace could have sworn her mother blushed. “Why, that’s so sweet of you to say.”
“I only speak the truth.”
Another trait Grace found wildly attractive, after dealing with her truth-elusive family.
As Deke and Mama spoke, Grace realized her mother was more animated. She’d already gotten rid of the sling and only grimaced as she moved her shoulder. Grace hadn’t seen a glimpse of this woman since she’d handed the day-to-day running of the office over to her mother before moving to Atlanta.
Tears pinched Grace’s eyes.
“So, are you guys ready?” Deke asked, turning his attention on her.
Under his steady gaze, Grace momentarily forgot what he was talking about. She shook her head. “Yes.” Held out a hand to her nephew. “John?”
“Boat. Boat.”
Deke chuckled. “One-track mind.”
Her mother held the door open as they all strolled outside, her gaze straying to John as the earlier concern returned to her eyes.
“Don’t worry, Wanda Sue,” Deke assured her, giving the older woman’s hand a quick squeeze. Deke certainly had a way of putting people at ease. Grace had seen it firsthand with the clients. And he’d managed to make her feel pretty calm a time or two. But to soothe her overanxious mother? His small gesture touched her deeply.
“Grace and I have this covered.”
At his inclusion of her, Grace’s heart took a nosedive. She was in more trouble than she thought.
“Silly of me, I know,” her mother went on to say.
“I get it,” Deke replied. “Family is important.”
“Why yes, it is.”
“Boat,” John piped up.
“We won’t be long, Mama.” Grace kissed her mother’s soft cheek then followed the guys outside. John was already rattling out question after question, which Deke answered patiently in an even tone.
The afternoon was just short of gorgeous. Fresh air filled Grace’s lungs. Fluffy white clouds drifted in a crystalline blue sky. Black-eyed Susans popped up along the way, adding a splash of color to the well-worn path to the dock. As they drew closer, they could hear the water lapping against the lake’s edge. For the first time in ages, she was actually going to enjoy an outing in the great outdoors.
They’d just reached the dock when the growling rev of an engine caught their attention. As it grew louder, Grace squinted, making out the souped-up truck rolling in their direction. The path they had taken from the cabin meandered through the foliage, whereas the truck had used the access road.
“Oh, no,” she muttered.
“Trouble?” Deke asked.
“Oh, yeah.” She tamped down her temper. “It’s Lyle. Faith’s not-great husband.”
She started to take a step in the direction of the now-idling truck when Deke grabbed her arm. “Slow down. Let him tell us why he’s here before jumping to any conclusions.”
Sheesh. He was getting to know her pretty well.
The cab door opened, sunlight reflecting off the shiny red paint. Lyle jumped down, his boots kicking up dust from the dirt lane.
“There’s my boy.”
John, who had been studying the canoes, heard his father’s voice and turned. “Daddy!”
Before Grace could catch him, John bolted toward Lyle. Deke moved to stand next to her, a heavy hand on her shoulder k
eeping her still.
Taking a calming breath, she moderated her tone, “Lyle, what are you doing here?”
He shot Grace a disgruntled look. “Can’t stop by to see my boy?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“I got rights.”
Oh, boy, that didn’t sound good. Grace was now convinced that Faith’s marriage was in deeper trouble than she’d let on.
Deke stepped forward and held out his hand. “Deke Matthews. We didn’t introduce ourselves the other day.”
Lyle stared at him in silence, like he didn’t understand the concept of common courtesy. Which he probably didn’t. She’d never liked the way he treated Faith, and since her sister’s recent actions were beginning to come clear, she held her tongue.
“Grace and I were just getting ready to take John out on the lake.”
Lyle glanced over at her and wrinkled his nose like he smelled something bad. “Really? Not worried about getting your hair wet, Gracie?”
She ground her back teeth.
“Daddy, come on boat?”
Lyle glanced down at his son. “I’m here to pick you up,” he answered.
Before Grace could jump into the conversation, Deke straightened his shoulders, pushed his sunglasses up on his head and leveled Lyle with the kind of cool stare she imagined made criminals nervous.
“Is that so?”
Lyle’s bravado slipped a fraction. “Check with Faith if you don’t believe me.”
“Trust me, we will.” He turned to Grace. “Let’s go back to the cabin.”
Right. She didn’t have her phone on her, and by the shift of Lyle’s eyes, she didn’t know if he was telling them a story or not.
“Fine,” he agreed, slamming the truck door closed.
“Nice truck,” Deke said, rubbing his chin. “That the proper frame height?”
Lyle did a double take. “Sure it is.”
“Looks a little high.”
“Naw, I...uh...it’s fine.”
“If you say so.”
Grace didn’t know vehicle regulations, but from Deke’s questions, he certainly did. His gaze met hers and when he nodded ever so slightly, she took his cue.
“I’m sure it’s safe enough to take a toddler for a ride, don’t you think, Deke?” Grace asked, her voice as sweet as honey.
