The New Guy in Town

by Teresa Southwick

  He loved his work, assessing risk and evaluating financial products for banking customers. Handling commercial and real estate loans. Managing grants for enterprising small business owners. A vision of Faith Connelly popped into his mind and her flower shop—Every Bloomin’ Thing.

  The pretty plant lady had approached him on his first day in this new building—Hart Financial, LLC. She’d negotiated a price to lease space in the lobby for her flower cart, making the case that his clients might benefit from the convenience. Just limited hours at first because she had to cover her main store in downtown Blackwater Lake.

  As office occupancy in the building increased and foot traffic grew, she would hire another employee to work the cart while she took care of the shop. Until then customers would have to deal with her. He smiled, recalling her rhyming blue with shrew. Not only was she pretty, but she always made him laugh. Since his protracted and ugly divorce he hadn’t laughed all that much, so it was noteworthy.

  “Sam? Are you listening to me?” The pitch of Ellie’s voice sharpened.

  “Of course.” He hoped there wasn’t a test. “You were telling me how much mom liked the birthday flowers.”

  “‘Liked’ is an understatement. You get the son-of-the-year award. Possibly a lifetime achievement plaque. Cal sent a gift card and Linc took her to dinner. But she said the star lilies in that bouquet made her day. The scent was magical. In fact, I can still smell them a whole week later.”

  Sam wasn’t about to mention Faith and share the credit. He planned to ride this hero thing as long as it would run. “I’m glad she liked them.”

  “Not to change the subject, but...have you heard about the fire on Crawford’s Crest?”

  “Yeah.” Sam swiveled his chair and looked out his office window. Clouds of red-tinged black smoke rose from the tree line to the west and curved up the hill. Fortunately it was moving away from town. “Any news on containment?”

  “Not that I’m aware of,” she admitted. “And this wind is going to make it tough on the firefighters. The last I heard they’re calling in reinforcements from all over Montana. Quite a few homes are threatened.”

  “Looks like it’s pretty far away from your place.”

  “It is,” she confirmed. “We’re close to the lake and the fire is out near isolated cabins and neighborhoods of older homes at the foot of the mountain.”

  Sam’s new place wasn’t far from his sister’s so it was safe, too. “Do they know how it started?”

  “Lightning ignited dry brush. It’s August and there hasn’t been much rain. This is a problem every summer.”

  “The price we pay for the beautiful scenery. And Mother Nature can be a wicked mistress.”

  “Yeah.” She sighed. “Didn’t mean to keep you. I just wanted you to know how much Mom enjoyed the flowers while she was here. She asked me to tell you goodbye and that she’ll be back to visit soon.”

  “Thanks for letting me know. I’m glad she liked her birthday gift. Talk to you later, Ellie.”

  “Love you. Bye.”

  He hit the end call button and took a last look at the smoke. It was unsettling. Another way one’s life could be turned upside down in an instant.

  He looked at the paperwork on his desk and sighed. There wasn’t anything here that couldn’t wait until tomorrow. After shutting down his computer, he left his office on the building’s top floor and rode the elevator to the lobby. Faith’s cart, with its cheerful sign, Every Bloomin’ Thing, and the fragrance of flowers always lifted his spirits.

  She was there and he walked over. It looked as if she was packing up for the day. Her long strawberry blond hair was pulled into a messy side bun and long bangs touched her thick eyelashes. Warm brown eyes made her coloring unique and the sprinkle of freckles across her straight nose was pretty cute. She was smart, sassy and every guy’s little sister.

  Today he didn’t have a date and wasn’t breaking up with anyone so his only excuse for stopping was to thank her again for her efforts and let her know the bouquet she’d arranged had been a big hit with his mother.

  “Hi,” he said.

  She glanced over her shoulder, then set down the long-stemmed flowers she’d been about to move for transport. “Hi, yourself. Got a hot date tonight?”

  “No. Despite what you seem to think, my social life isn’t all that active.”

  “I noticed you’ve been slacking since your mom came to visit.” She nodded knowingly. “You’re smarter than you look.”

  “Do you talk this way to all your customers?”

  “No, actually. Just you.”

  “Should I feel special?” he asked, not in the least offended.

  “If you’re not, I didn’t do it right.”

  “So you admit to deliberately provoking me?”

  “It’s the best part of my day.” The words were teasing, but her eyes didn’t have their customary impertinence. “Is there something you need?”

  “No. I just wanted to let you know my mother loved the birthday arrangement.”

  “Good.” She transferred the flowers to a small hand cart used for moving her inventory from her van to the lobby stand.

  “I wanted to thank you. It was a last-minute order and meant keeping you late. The effort is much appreciated.”

  “You’re welcome. If you could give me a Facebook like and say something about my exemplary customer service that would be great.”

  It flashed through his mind to offer to buy her a drink or dinner as a thank-you but his internal warning system flagged and shut down that thought. He knew the difference between good and bad risk, and an invitation to dinner fell into the really bad column. As the newcomer to Blackwater Lake he was trying to fit in and, as Faith had pointed out more than once, his romantic record was abysmal. Dating and dropping the town sweetheart would not win him the hearts and minds of the locals.

  “Are you in a hurry?” It seemed to him that she was distracted while she packed up to go. Now that he thought about it, he was leaving work earlier than usual and normally she was here as he walked out the door, so this was really early for her. “Do you have a date?”

  “Oh, please...”

  He noted the blush that slid into her cheeks. The color reminded him of a pink rose. He recalled the first time he’d bought one and her warning him away from pink or red because the shade symbolized a deepening of feeling. “It’s a reasonable question. You’re not bad-looking for a smartass.”

  “Be still, my heart.” She rested her hands on the counter between them. “Careful, Sam. Words like that could turn a girl’s head.”

  “That was nothing more than a simple statement of fact. Let me use the rose metaphor to explain.”

  “Please do.” A brief flash of amusement crossed her face.

  “Just like you, a rose is beautiful. And then you open your mouth and out come the thorns to jab a guy.”

  “And yet you keep coming back. Maybe you’re a glutton for punishment.” Her inner smartass couldn’t be silenced for long. “Maybe I should leave the thorns on the first-date roses for you. No pain, no gain. It could work in your favor to get you a third date.”

  “That twisted logic presupposes I want one.”

  “That is an intriguing clue into the mystery of Sam Hart. You have no idea how it pains me not to pursue it.” She glanced past him to wicked, billowing smoke clearly visible from the tall glass lobby windows. “But you’re right. I’m in a hurry, and not because I have a date.”

  “Then what’s so urgent? Is your daughter okay?”

  “The fire isn’t far from my house. I need to go pack some things for Phoebe and me, just in case we have to evacuate. She’s fine,” Faith added.

  “Good.” There was a splash of apprehension in her expression that touched him because it was so different from her usu
ally brazen, audacious behavior. She was every guy’s sister and if Ellie’s house was in the fire’s path he would do anything to keep her safe. “Can I do something to help?”

  “Thanks, Sam.” She smiled a little. “But I’ve got it covered.”

  “What about your daughter?”

  “She’s at summer camp. Cabot Dixon’s ranch. The wind is blowing the fire away from them. He and his wife will keep her until I can pick her up.”

  “Okay. Then at least let me help you move the flowers back to your store in town. It will be faster,” he pointed out.

  She wanted to say no. Even a spreadsheet nerd who crunched numbers for a living could see that. But she nodded and said, “Thanks.”

  Together they got all the flowers on the flat hand cart, then locked up ribbons, tissue paper, cellophane and all the other supplies she kept here. She secured the credit card receipts and cash in her purse, then gave him a nod to head for the exit. Before they took a step, Blackwater Lake’s mayor walked into the lobby and straight over to Faith.

  Mayor Loretta Goodson-McKnight was an attractive brunette somewhere in her late fifties, but it was asking for trouble to put even a ballpark number on a woman’s age. Today she looked a little older and that probably had something to do with the natural disaster she was dealing with. It was her job to coordinate resources and the emergency response. Judging by the expression on her face, whatever she had to say wasn’t good.

  “Faith, I’ve got some bad news.” The mayor got straight to the point. “We just received word that there’s an evacuation order for everyone who lives near Crawford’s Crest.”

  “That’s where my house is.”

  “I know.” The woman’s voice softened and her expression was sympathetic. “I’m on my way to the staging area right now for an update from the fire captain and wanted to let you know myself.”

  “And I appreciate it more than you know. I’ll just go to the house and grab a few things for us.”

  The mayor shook her head. “They won’t let you through. The sheriff has blocked off the road. You can’t go home, honey.”

  Faith blinked as the meaning of it all sank in and shock took over. “Oh my God. You mean I could really lose it—”

  The woman started talking, telling her about everything being done—tankers dropping fire-retardant chemicals and water on the blaze. Firefighters were clearing the brush, trying to deprive the fire of fuel to burn and slow it down so they could surround it. But Sam saw the worry on her face and what she was leaving out. No one could control the wind that was fanning the flames, limiting the ability of ordinary men to save the structures in the fire’s path.

  “All your neighbors are getting out. That’s a lot of people to find shelter for.”

  Sam watched the color drain from Faith’s face and had the most absurd desire to pull her into his arms and tell her everything was going to be fine.

  “Faith, honey, we’d rather keep evacuees in private homes as opposed to setting up temporary quarters in the high school gym. You know how people in this town pull together when there’s a crisis. My office has lined up volunteers and we’ve almost got everyone covered. You and Phoebe can stay at my house. It’s pretty full, but we have air mattresses and floor space in the living room.”

  Apparently Sam’s male chromosomes, the ones that made him want to fix a problem rather than just stand by and listen, kicked into gear. That was the only explanation for what came out of his mouth. That and the fact that there was no way he would let them sleep on air mattresses, even if it was in the mayor’s living room.

  He touched Faith’s arm. “You and Phoebe can stay with me.”

  Chapter Two

  Faith’s sassy inner flirt went absolutely silent and all she could do was stare at Sam for several moments. Then her mind just went numb. “I’m sorry. You want Phoebe and me to do what now?”

  “Stay with me.” His concern seemed genuine but that didn’t mean it was.

  Although the look was another winner for him. And the fact that she could even think that in a time of crisis was reason enough to decline the offer. “That’s very nice of you. But I wouldn’t want to cramp your style.”

  “What style would that be?”

  “You know.” She glanced at the mayor, not wanting to discuss his personal life in front of her. Plant lady–client privilege should be as sacred as the confessional.

  “No, I don’t know.” He folded his arms over an impressive chest. The stance oozed challenge, daring her to elaborate.

  “Okay then, I’ll spell it out. You’re a bachelor and you date a lot. I have a young daughter. It might not be the best arrangement for us.”

  “As you know, I don’t have many third dates, which is the threshold, according to what I’ve heard, for connecting in a—” He looked at the mayor, who was taking in this conversation with more than a little interest. “More physical way.”

  “So you’re saying you didn’t ‘connect’ with Kiki? Hard to believe since you had her room number at the lodge.” Hey, he opened that door by stretching the boundaries of discretion.

  “A gentleman always respects a lady’s privacy. Especially about connecting—”

  “Look, I’m not Phoebe,” Mayor Loretta said. “I’ve heard the word sex. In fact, believe it or not, I’ve actually experienced it a time or two.”

  “Right. Because you’re married.” Faith’s cheeks were burning with embarrassment. “Here’s the thing—Phoebe is young and impressionable. Witnessing a parade of women going in and out of Sam’s house would raise a lot of questions that I’m not prepared to answer right now.”

  “I think I can survive without female companionship while the evacuation order is in effect. We’re only talking a day or two. Right?”

  The mayor nodded. “That’s the best guess right now. But fire is unpredictable.”

  “I’m grateful for the offer, Sam. Really. But it would probably be best if we stay with Loretta and Tom.”

  “Even though I have multiple bedrooms with actual beds? Not air mattresses on the floor.”

  The mayor looked puzzled. “Of course you’re welcome, Faith, but it sounds as if you’d be more comfortable at Sam’s until the danger is over.”

  Faith was comfortable teasing and tormenting him when he bought flowers from her. Being in his house didn’t sound comfortable at all. “Phoebe has to be my first priority so—”

  “Look, Faith, your aunt Cathy was my best friend,” Loretta said. “When she was losing her cancer battle she made me promise to watch over you and Phoebe for her. And I swore I would make sure you were being taken care of. In this situation I have to say the best place for you is with Sam.”

  “Selfishly,” he said, “you’d be doing me a favor.”

  “Really?” She didn’t actually buy into that and was humoring him.

  “I’m new in town and trying to fit in. Folks here take care of their own. It’s a hallmark of Blackwater Lake. So let me be neighborly in order to win them over.”

  “He’s got a point,” the mayor agreed.

  “And it’s not an inconvenience.” Sam gave her a look that probably melted female resistance like a Popsicle in the summer sun. “I’m sure the firefighters will get things under control pretty fast.”

  “And I really need to get an update on their progress.” Loretta looked at her watch.

  Faith felt ganged up on and wanted to dig in but there was no mistaking the worry and weariness in the other woman’s face. She wouldn’t add to it. “All right. If you think it’s best, Loretta. Sam can earn points for being a good citizen.”

  “Good. That’s settled.” Loretta looked relieved. “I have to run.”

  Faith deliberately watched the mayor hurry to the lobby’s double glass doors and quickly leave the building. She would have watched a
nything to put off having to face being alone with Sam Hart. It shouldn’t feel different from all the other times she’d talked to him, but it did. Because she was going to move in with him.

  Would Kiki be jealous? It was easier to think about that than the nerves she was currently rocking. Activity was the best defense so she went back to shutting down the flower cart.

  “Okay, then,” she said. “I’m going to load up the van and take all this stuff back to my shop. Then I’ll pick up Phoebe from summer camp.”

  “Do you want me to pick her up? Save time?” Sam asked.

  “She’s going to be scared so it would be best if I do it. Besides, you’re a stranger and not on the list of people authorized to get her. She doesn’t know you and that could cause more anxiety.”

  “Of course.” He nodded and took a business card from his wallet. After writing something on the back he handed it over. “This is my address. I’ll follow you to the shop and help unload the van.”

  “But—”

  He held up a finger to stop her words. “I’m not sure what your deal is—whether you don’t want help or just not from me. But this is about being neighborly so don’t compromise my image.”

  “Okay. When you put it like that...”

  After locking down the cart, Faith wheeled the flowers to her van parked in the lot behind the Hart financial building. She opened the vehicle’s sliding door and stepped inside, then let Sam hand the vases and flowers in so she could secure them.

  With his hands on the portable cart, he said, “I’ll put this back inside, then meet you at the shop.”

  Part of her wanted to be snarky about him taking charge. The other part was glad he did. Because she probably wasn’t thinking all that clearly, what with her house in danger of going up in flames.