by Regina Hart
Doreen cleared her throat. “Well, there’s no reason you couldn’t come back for a visit once in a while.”
“No, there isn’t.” Though it wouldn’t be the same. A vacation romance was no longer enough for her. But was it possible for Jack to give her anything more?
Jack watched Wendell saunter into the main cabin Thursday afternoon. He should have known the other man would be back. The music producer seemed like the type who had to have his way.
He lowered his laptop monitor and rose from his seat behind the registration desk. “Don’t have any cabins.”
“‘No room at the inn’?” Wendell came to a stop at the counter.
Jack ignored the biblical reference, returning the other man’s laughing gaze in silence. It was almost lunchtime. Audra would be back soon. He hoped Wendell wasn’t planning on staying long.
Wendell leaned against the counter. “Don’t worry. I booked a room in a hotel just outside of town. Thanks, anyway.”
“Sure.” Jack shoved his hands into the front pockets of his brown shorts.
“It seems that your sesquicentennial has overtaxed the town’s one hotel and one bed-and-breakfast. And, of course, your cabins.”
“Why are you here?”
“You know you’re in the service industry, right? You’re going to have to work on your customer interaction. Let’s raise the volume on the friendliness quotient.” Wendell’s chuckles shook the smaller man’s shoulders.
“Why are you here? Please.”
“You may need a twelve-step program.” Wendell straightened, scanning the room. “This is really pretty property.”
“Thanks.”
“I wanted to take another look at it—and at you.” Wendell turned his full attention to Jack. “There’s something going on between you and Audra, isn’t there?”
Jack didn’t respond.
“This time, your silence speaks volumes, dude.” Wendell’s grin was smug. “See, if you weren’t making time with her, you’d say so. Frankly, I don’t know what she sees in you.”
Jack wondered the same about Wendell. He may have only known Audra for three weeks, but the music producer didn’t seem to be her type. The music producer enjoyed the sound of his own voice. And, judging by his appearance, he liked to draw attention to himself. His gold hoop earrings, dark red mesh tank, and gold shorts screamed, Look at me!
The other man continued. “You’re a small-town man with a couple of fixer-uppers. She has a Grammy. Did she tell you about that?”
Jack crossed his arms over his chest. No, Audra hadn’t told him, but he’d already known. “You’re saying I’m not good enough for her?” Why did the wannabe music mogul think his opinion mattered?
Wendell gave him his snake charmer’s smile. “I want to make sure you know there isn’t any ‘happily ever after’ for the two of you.”
Wendell wasn’t telling Jack anything he hadn’t realized on his own. But knowing it and hearing it—especially from Audra’s ex-lover—were two different things. At least that’s how he explained the phantom pain around his heart. But he wouldn’t let the other man know his words had hit their target. “Afraid of competition?”
Wendell’s uproarious laughter was insulting. He’d probably meant it to be. “Dude, what competition? You’re not even part of her world.”
“You are?” Jack wasn’t prepared for the sting of jealousy.
“You know I am.” Wendell spread his arms. “I’m a music producer. She’s a songwriter. She’s like jelly to my peanut butter.”
More like a cure to his disease. Jack gripped the edge of the desk beneath the registration counter. “Then why did she leave you?”
Wendell waved a dismissive hand. “Creative differences.”
“You mean your lies.”
Wendell’s skin darkened with an angry flush. “Audra’s a sucker for a sob story, too. I hate to break it to you, dude, but you’re Audra’s summer pity project.”
Jack stiffened. “What?”
The malicious glitter returned to Wendell’s dark eyes. “She probably heard about your daughter and felt sorry for you.”
“How do you know about my daughter?” The pulse pounding in Jack’s ears made it hard to think, hard to hear.
Wendell shook his head in a mockery of sympathy. “Dude, don’t you know everyone talks in small towns? Trinity Falls isn’t any different.”
Jack forced himself to take one deep breath, then another. He wasn’t Audra’s pity project. He knew this because she’d told him so. Her words whispered across his mind, “I’m sorry Zoey died, but I don’t pity you. I admire you.” Wendell was trying everything possible to drive Jack and Audra apart. It wouldn’t work.
He grabbed for a measure of calm. “What’s your game, Wendell?”
“I’m not playing a game.” Wendell waved his hand again. “But it’s obvious that Audra’s sorry for you. She’s always trying to fix things for other people. Once she’s fixed you, she’ll move on.”
“Did Audra ‘fix’ it so that you could have the career in the music industry you weren’t able to build on your own?” Jack watched in satisfaction as Wendell’s triumphant expression darkened. A muscle ticked in the other man’s jaw.
“I made my career myself. No one did that for me.” Wendell chewed the words. “It was my hard work and talent that got me where I am now.”
Jack arched a brow. “If you don’t need Audra’s help, why did you follow her to Trinity Falls?”
“The same reason you want her to stay here, but that’s not gonna happen, dude.”
Shock shorted Jack’s system. Wendell was right. He wanted Audra to stay in Trinity Falls. How had she sneaked past his emotional guard and made their make-believe relationship real? He was falling in love with Audra Lane. He hadn’t felt this much fear since Zoey had died.
Wendell was still talking. “You’d better get over that little fantasy real quick. Audra may be playing house with you now, but she can’t stay here, not if she wants to be at the top of her game. She has to be in L.A. She needs to mix it up with other artists, hang out in the clubs. This town doesn’t have any kind of nightlife. What’s she going to do here?”
“She’s not going back to you.” Jack spoke in anger born from fear.
“But she is returning to L.A. Who knows what’ll happen from there?” Wendell licked his lips.
Jack couldn’t let that pass. “You’re deluding yourself.”
“I think you are. Your ex-wife even left Trinity Falls, and she’s from here. Audra’s from L.A. What chance do you have of her staying? Hey, once her vacation is over, maybe you can become pen pals or something.”
“Which is still more attention than she gives you.”
Wendell stepped back from the registration counter. “I’ll give you some advice. Wake up and smell the coffee. Audra is leaving. Make it easier on yourself, dude. Just rip off the bandage. Don’t try to make her stay.”
On that note, the music producer sauntered back across the lobby and out of the main cabin. Jack shook his head in amazement. Maybe Wendell was right. A quick good-bye would be less painful. Then he could try to heal—if that was even possible.
CHAPTER 21
“Afternoon, Darius.” Alonzo’s easy drawl announced his presence Thursday afternoon.
Darius automatically saved the news story he was drafting on his desktop computer before spinning his office chair toward his cubicle entrance. “Hi, Sheriff. What brings you to the Monitor?”
“Do you have a few minutes?” Alonzo removed his brown felt hat.
Darius checked his watch. It was just after three o’clock. He had almost two hours before the copy deadline. “Sure. Have a seat.”
His curiosity was aroused. Had Alonzo ever come to the Monitor’s newsroom before? He watched the lawman settle onto the worn upholstered visitor’s seat.
Alonzo rested his right ankle on his left knee. “I heard you’ve been to the university to interview the new history professor.”
“That’s right.” Darius sat back, resting his wrists on the arms of his chair.
“And before that, you called her and Foster Gooden.” There was a note of discomfort in Alonzo’s voice.
Where was the sheriff going with this line of questioning? “I’ve spoken with the university’s vice president of academic affairs before, Sheriff. Is there a problem?”
Alonzo sighed. “I know you’re just doing your job, Darius. But Dr. Harris is calling it harassment.”
Darius’s head jerked back in surprise. “What?”
“I know you don’t mean any harm, but the professor is very concerned. I offered to have a talk with you.”
Dr. Peyton Harris had called the police about him. This, after throwing him out of her office Tuesday. Darius raised his hands in surrender. “Consider your message delivered, Sheriff.”
“And she doesn’t want you writing any articles about her, either.”
That annoyed him even more than being frogmarched out of her office. “I can’t write an article about her if she won’t let me interview her.”
Alonzo lowered his right leg to the ground. “Thanks, Darius.”
Darius considered the sheriff. The older man’s gaze was direct but guarded. “You know why she doesn’t want to be interviewed, don’t you?”
“Even if I did, I couldn’t tell you.”
“Look, Sheriff, I’m not going to write an article about her. I just want to know why she’s so secretive about her past.”
“If she wanted you to know, she’d tell you.”
Darius leaned forward. “Is she a danger to the town? Is she a fugitive from the law or in the witness protection program?”
“Darius, I can’t tell you anything more than what I already have.”
“You haven’t told me anything.”
“And I can’t tell you anything more.” Alonzo’s eyes twinkled with humor.
Darius sat back. “That’s not being diligent toward the community. The public has a right to know whether our newest neighbor is a threat.”
“You’re quoting the public’s right to know, but you’re the only one asking. Tell me, does your curiosity have anything to do with the fact that Dr. Harris is an attractive woman?”
“I hadn’t noticed.” Darius struggled to hold Alonzo’s gaze as the sheriff silently laughed at him.
“Mmm-hmm.”
“You might as well tell me, Alonzo. Otherwise, I’m sure I’ll find something on the Internet.”
Alonzo’s amusement disappeared. “I’d rather you didn’t do that, Darius. This young woman has a right to her privacy. She’s not hurting anyone. She’s not a danger to anyone.”
“I won’t publish anything. I just want to know.”
Alonzo gave him a long, silent look. “How would you feel if you were in her position?”
“I don’t know what her position is.”
“A lot of people in Trinity Falls are curious about the person you go to visit almost every weekend over in Sequoia.” Alonzo cocked his head. “How would you feel if one of them started digging into your personal life?”
Darius’s muscles strained with the effort to appear relaxed. “Your point is taken.”
“I hope so.” Alonzo stood. “I’d hate to have to execute the restraining order Dr. Harris requested.”
Darius’s eyes widened. “Restraining order?”
“I told her you were a sensible person and that I could reason with you. I’m glad you didn’t make me a liar.”
“Thanks, Sheriff.” Darius couldn’t believe his request for an interview would be cause for a restraining order.
“Don’t mention it.” Alonzo paused in the entrance of Darius’s cubicle. “You know, Darius, you can always channel your extra energy toward convincing your father to pull out of the mayoral campaign.”
Darius swung his chair to face the sheriff. “I’ve tried. He won’t listen.”
“Then maybe there’s someone else he’d be willing to listen to.”
Darius had realized long ago that the sheriff’s easygoing manner and calm eyes masked a sharp intelligence. Dread settled on his shoulders. “Why do I have the feeling you’ve been checking into the person I visit in Sequoia?”
Alonzo settled his felt hat on his head. “Pure speculation. I’ve known your father for a long time, and I know you’re not like him.” The sheriff nodded before he disappeared.
Darius hoped Alonzo was right. He tried hard not to be anything like Simon Knight. He turned back to his desk and his gaze fell on his telephone. He lifted the receiver and dialed her phone number from memory before he had time to consider his actions. The call connected on the second ring.
“It’s Darius. I need to see you tonight. I think it’s time the three of us spoke with my father.”
Doreen unlocked her front door and preceded Alonzo into her home Thursday afternoon.
“Thanks for your help with my groceries, Alonzo. Imagine running into you at the store.” She locked the door behind him, then led him into her kitchen. Doreen lifted her bag onto the kitchen counter.
Alonzo set his two bags on the table. “Doreen, I have a confession.”
“Mmm. What’s that?” She started unpacking her groceries.
Alonzo hesitated. “I didn’t bump into you at the store by accident. I know you usually go shopping after work on Thursdays.”
Doreen turned from the bags to face him. A smile trembled on her lips. “In that case, I have a confession, too.”
“What?”
“I didn’t need all of these groceries. I just wanted you to help me with them and drive me home.”
A slow smile eased the worry from Alonzo’s proud features. “Really?”
“Really.” Doreen chuckled. “We’re acting like a couple of high school kids.” And she thoroughly enjoyed the feeling.
A sudden frown appeared. “Can I still stay for dinner?”
“Of course. But for now, sit down and keep me company while I put away the groceries.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Alonzo settled onto a chair at the kitchen table.
Doreen tossed him a wry look for his response. “What do you want to talk about?”
“Have you decided whether you’ll stay in the mayoral race?”
She hesitated before unpacking her fresh fruits and vegetables into the refrigerator’s crisper. “Why are you asking?”
“I’d like to know who’s going to be running the town for the next four years.” There was a shrug in Alonzo’s voice.
Doreen put the milk and juice on a shelf in the fridge. “Would it upset you if I ran for mayor?”
“No, it wouldn’t.” His voice was firm. “I don’t have any qualms about your being mayor.”
She shut the refrigerator door and faced him. “Why not?”
“A lot of reasons. First, I’m not Leo.” Alonzo gave her a pointed look.
“I know.” Doreen crossed to the table to unpack the remaining two grocery bags.
“Second, I know you, and I know you’d be good for this town.”
Good answer. But not good enough.
“You said you were interested in a relationship with me.” She continued putting away the groceries. “Aren’t you concerned about the demands being mayor would make on my time?”
Alonzo chuckled. “I’m the guy who left town when you married Paul, remember? Doesn’t that prove what your happiness means to me? I’m in love with the woman you are. Why would I ask you to change that?”
Very good answer. Doreen leaned against the kitchen counter, afraid her shaky knees wouldn’t hold her. “That’s a good point.”
“It’s also the truth. So, are you going to remain in the race?”
“Yes, I am.” She stuffed the empty plastic grocery bags into the cabinet below the sink, then returned to her position at the counter. “Ramona convinced me that if being mayor is what I really want, I should run. I shouldn’t let other people define me.”
Alonzo’s dark eyebrows stretched up
his forehead. “Ramona, huh? Well, I’ll be darned. She’s right, but I never would have guessed she’d be the one to convince you to campaign.”
Doreen tossed him a smile. “She wants to make sure there’s someone to step in when she and Quincy leave Trinity Falls.”
“It’s more than that.” Alonzo stretched his long legs, clad in his green uniform pants, in front of him, crossing them at the ankles. “She wants to make sure she’s leaving the town in good hands.”
Doreen blushed at Alonzo’s words. “Maybe if we take this slowly . . .”
“It’s been forty-two years. I have been taking this slowly.”
Doreen’s blush deepened. “I suppose you have—” The doorbell chimed, interrupting her. She checked her watch. It was nearing five o’clock in the evening. “Excuse me.”
As Doreen passed him, Alonzo stood, trailing her across the living room. Doreen went up on her toes to check the front door’s peephole. Leonard. What does he want?
She opened the door with more than a little reluctance. “Hello, Leo.”
“I figured you’d be home from the grocery store by now. We need to talk.” Leonard’s dark eyes were grim with resignation. He stepped forward as though he assumed she’d welcome him into her home.
Doreen braced a hand against the threshold to bar his entry. “This isn’t a good time. I have company.”
Leonard’s expression was blank with surprise. “Who?”
“Evening, Leo.” Alonzo materialized behind Doreen. How had he appeared without her hearing him?
“Alonzo?” Leonard’s voice strained with incredulity. His gaze moved from Doreen to Alonzo and back. “What’s going on?”
Alonzo responded before Doreen could answer. “I could ask you the same thing.”
“Bullshit.” Leonard packed his irritation into those two syllables.
“Leo, we’ll talk another time.” Doreen rushed to control the situation.
She started to close the door. Leonard’s arm struck out to keep it open. His reaction surprised Doreen. But with a subtle movement, Alonzo shifted his stance, putting himself between her and Leonard.
“Doreen asked you to leave.” Alonzo’s voice was cold and flat.
