Stockings (Whispering Cove)

by McKade, Mackenzie

  “Bah,” Harold growled, before he reached for a piece of bread. “Katy makes the best food on the coast.”

  “Coast? My girl is a renowned chef. Has her own cooking show here in Whispering Cove.” Errol shared a look of pride with his friends as a middle-aged woman with a nametag that introduced her as Sally approached. The waitress set four whiskey glasses on the table with a splash of rum in each.

  All three men frowned and then pinned their glares on her.

  “Don’t say a word,” she grumbled as she placed a plate of crab cakes before Sky. “Boss’s order.”

  Byron picked up a tumbler and seemed discouraged as he looked at the small ration of golden liquor. “Your granddaughter expects us to toe the line.”

  “Clip our wings.” Harold raised his glass to his lips and drank the rum down in one gulp. As he slammed the glass upon the table, he grumbled, “Not even enough to wet a man’s whistle.”

  “I think you have more to worry about than Katy. Batten down the hatches, here comes Andie and her cubs.”

  Byron leaned in to Errol and whispered, “Katy didn’t waste no time.”

  “Shhhh,” Errol chastised.

  The redhead said something to the two boys strapped into a double stroller. One of the dark-haired, identical twins did his best to unfasten the lock that held him restrained.

  As she neared, the smile on Harold’s face grew wider. “There be my boys.” He chuckled as one of them broke free, almost falling in his attempt to get to his grandfather.

  “Donal!” The redhead hastened her steps as the child’s short legs moved faster and faster. When he threw himself at Harold, she laughed. “I’m sorry, Grandpa.” Squatting, she unleashed the other child and he climbed out and went straight to his grandfather.

  So Donal was the little devil and Daniel the angel.

  Harold placed a boy on each knee and hugged them to him. Their little arms wrapped around him.

  Sky’s chest tightened as she watched the children and how their grandfather freely showed his love for them. No one in her family displayed outward emotion, especially her father. There was a certain image to portray especially in public. The problem was it wasn’t any better in private.

  Lost in her thoughts, she hadn’t heard Harold introduce her to his granddaughter. She only caught the last of Andie’s question.

  “…are you from, Tempest?”

  “Canada.” She had told the lie so many times that it came naturally.

  Byron pulled a chair from another table and Andie sat down. “And, you’re passing through Whispering Cove?”

  Sky pushed the plate from in front of her, not feeling hungry anymore. “Yes.”

  “Will you be staying at Sleepy Cove?”

  “I think it would be best—”

  “No. Tempest be staying with me,” Harold stated firmly. “She be a guest in our town, and I expect me family to respect me wishes.”

  “But, Grandpa—”

  Tired of being judged, Sky jumped to her feet. When she grabbed her jacket off the back, the chair almost tipped over. “Thank you for lunch, Harold.” Tears beat at her eyes, but she held on to them. “I think it’s time for me to leave.” As she spun around and headed for the door, Harold called out to her, but she ignored him. She had to get out of there.

  Pushing the doors open, she made a quick left and ran smack-dab into someone. Strong arms circled her. When she looked up she stared into a set of golden eyes.

  “Going somewhere?”

  Sky couldn’t stop the tremor that snaked through her. “Where is my RV?” She wanted to leave—and leave now.

  “Something wrong?” Concern briefly flittered across Leo’s face, but was quickly replaced with that haughty look of disdain she had seen before.

  With a jerk, she attempted to free herself from his iron-grasp, but it was impossible. “I need to know where my RV is.”

  “Why?” he asked calmly, while she rode a turbulent sea of emotions. She was tired of being alone. Tired of running. And tired of people like Harold’s granddaughter looking down their noses at her.

  She sniffled, fighting to hold back the tears. “I’m leaving.”

  “How?”

  “None of your business,” she snapped. Anger was her only weapon and it didn’t take much for her to reach inside and pull it to the surface. “Just tell me where this Larry is.”

  “Calm down.”

  “Calm down,” she screeched.

  When she again attempted to jerk free, one of her arms came loose. With a wild fling, she smacked him in the nose with the back of her hand. He grunted. Sky could have sworn his eyes rolled back into his head. Before she could apologize, she found herself pinned against the wooden side of the restaurant and cold, metal handcuffs slipping around both wrists.

  “Wait,” she screamed. “It was an accident.”

  Leo saw stars. His vision blurry and unsteady. Yet even through the shocking pain, he was able to subdue the woman. When he turned her around, her chest heaved. Through watery eyes, he watched her half-covered breasts rise and fall with each breath.

  “I-it was an accident,” she stuttered. “I pulled. You let go. My arm slipped.”

  “What’s going on here?” Harold demanded as he exited the restaurant. Before Leo could answer, the elderly man snarled, “Let her go.”

  “Harold, this doesn’t concern you.” Leo released a pent-up breath when several more people poured out of the restaurant.

  “Officer Caan?”

  Leo closed his eyes briefly when he heard Brody call his name. When he turned around, he muttered, “Sir.”

  The sheriff frowned. “What happened here?”

  Before Leo could respond, the woman blurted, “All I wanted was to leave the restaurant—this town. Tell him Harold.”

  Brody glanced toward his grandfather-in-law.

  “She be telling the truth. Poor lassie.”

  “You okay?” Brody asked Leo.

  “Yes, sir.”

  Brody withdrew a handkerchief from his pants’ pocket and handed it to Leo. “Is it broken?”

  That’s when Leo realized his nose was bleeding. He accepted the handkerchief and pinched his nostrils. Pain splintered across his face. His vision blurred once again. “I don’t think so.”

  His nasally response received a shake of his boss’s head. “Then go inside and get yourself cleaned up.”

  Leo walked, or more like swayed, into the Seafarer. All curious gazes were on him as he headed to the restroom. Once inside, he peered into the mirror. The good news was his nose didn’t appear displaced—the bad news, it hurt like hell. He’d be lucky if he didn’t have two shiners tomorrow morning.

  It took a moment for him to stop the bleeding. When he did, he took a couple more seconds to regain his composure. When he stepped out of the restroom, the local doctor was there with ibuprofen, a glass of water and a bag of ice. Just his luck she’d be having lunch here.

  The young woman shook her head, sweeping her blonde hair back.

  He accepted the medicine first. “Thank you.” Popping the pills in his mouth, he followed them up with a drink.

  Dr. Dani pushed her wire-rimmed glasses up her petite nose before she took the tumbler and exchanged it with the ice. “Fifteen minutes every couple of hours. If the pain doesn’t subside come see me.”

  Braydon Mitchell, the doctor’s husband, walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. His windswept hair meant he’d been out on his boat. “Looks like she got you good.”

  Can this moment get any more embarrassing?

  Karma was a bitch, because the second the thought entered his mind, Reece McGrath and Devon Taylor walked through the open doors. By their grins they were looking for him.

  “Hey, bro, heard you ran into trouble.” Devon elbowed Reece, who just happened to be Brody’s younger brother. “Didn’t see that right before it was too late?” He chuckled and Reece had the good sense to stifle his.

  “Caan, that woman is
half your size. How’d she get the best of you?” Reece asked.

  “Bet his eyes weren’t where they should have been. Did you see that sexy bustier—”

  “Ha. Ha,” Leo cut Devon off. “It was an accident.”

  “Then why is she handcuffed?” Dr. Dani asked, leaning her head to one side as Braydon nibbled on her neck.

  Briefly Leo closed his eyes. That’s right. He had handcuffed her. “It was a reaction.”

  “So I can let her go?” Brody stood in the doorway. One eye on Leo, the other on their prisoner. “You’re not pressing charges?”

  “No. I mean yes.” Damn. This was awkward. It didn’t help that Devon and Reece snickered in the background. “Yes. She’s free to go. No. I won’t be pressing charges.” Leo just prayed she didn’t want to press charges on him. He had been a little rough with her after she nailed him in the nose. “Where is she?”

  “Release her.” Brody tossed his keys to someone Leo couldn’t see, but suspected it was Harold.

  As Brody walked toward him, Leo knew the sheriff would want answers. What he didn’t expect was the laughter that filtered through the doorway. The woman stepped into the restaurant with Harold on one side and Tabby, Reece’s wife, on the other. With their black hair and olive skin, the two woman could have been sisters, but Tabby stood only five-five while the other woman had to be three inches taller, even taller in her boots, as they strolled across the floor to join Errol and Byron for lunch.

  “Looks like your wife found a new friend,” Brody said to his brother.

  Reece slapped Brody playfully on the back. “You know Tabby. She’s a friend to any stray. C’mon Devon, let’s join them. Braydon, you and the doctor coming?”

  “Nah. Dani has to get back to the hospital. I’ve got some honey-do’s to complete before she gets home.”

  Brody waited until they were alone before he spoke again. “So it was a misunderstanding?”

  Leo nodded. “Did you know she’ll be staying with Harold while she’s in town?”

  “What?” The sheriff’s startled gaze jerked toward the woman. “I thought Miss Sky was leaving.”

  Yeah. He had too. Yet judging by how well she was getting along with the residents of Whispering Cove, you’d think she’d just relocated here. As Leo explained her predicament, Brody shook his head.

  “I don’t like it,” he said beneath his breath. “Does Andie know?” His wife and children were standing by the kitchen door chatting with Katy. Every once in a while she would glance toward the woman. “Never mind. She knows.” He paused for a moment. “Does Larry know how long it will take to fix her vehicle?”

  “Haven’t heard.”

  “Check on it. Then run her plates and name.”

  Leo paused. Did he dare admit that he didn’t know her name? Before he could confess to his oversight, a child squealed. Donal had spied his father.

  “Daddy!” The boy’s feet pounded across the wooden floor as he ran toward them. Daniel followed close behind his brother, a grin on his cherub face.

  Pride glistened in the sheriff’s eyes as the boys lunged for him and he caught them, raising them both as if they were light as a feather. “Have you been good for Mommy?”

  As Andie walked up, her smile appeared a little weak and she didn’t greet her husband with a kiss as Leo had seen time and time again. He must not have been the only one who noticed the difference because Brody frowned.

  “So you’ve heard?” He shuffled the squirming boys in his arms.

  Andie frowned. “Yeah. I’m the reason Tempest went flying out the door.”

  So the woman’s name was Tempest. Tempest Sky.

  “Sorry, Leo.” Andie continued, “What are we going to do?”

  “I’ll talk with Harold. Donal, quit kicking your brother,” Brody chastised.

  “I already spoke with Grandpa. He’s adamant she stay with him. She has no money.”

  “Leo brought me up to speed. I’ll pay for her stay.”

  “Grandpa won’t allow it.”

  “Andie, you don’t have anything to worry about. We’ll check up on her. Won’t we, Leo?”

  That was his clue to get going.

  He nodded. “Andie. Sheriff.”

  As Leo headed toward the door, he couldn’t help envying Brody. He had a beautiful wife, two rowdy boys. What did Leo have? He was closing in on his thirties. Perhaps it was time he started thinking seriously about a family himself. For that, he needed a wife, and to date he had never found the perfect woman.

  Hell. Is there a perfect woman?

  He was far from perfect, but he tried to walk the line, be a good person. That’s why he’d become a policeman against his parents’ wishes. The life they had planned for him was in politics, like his father. All Leo wanted to do was help people—make a difference in a small way without fanfare, without being in the masses’ eyes. He had seen the ruthlessness of the life his father lived. It wasn’t for Leo.

  Laughter stole his attention and he gazed once more in the direction of his friends. Reece’s arm was slung over Tabby’s shoulder. She snuggled into him as if she sought his warmth. Then the woman next to her turned her head. Her laughter died as her eyes met Leo’s. Her icy glare bore into him.

  A sense of regret rose unexpectedly. He tried to shun the uncomfortable feeling, but it stayed with him as he turned and walked away. There was a job to do whether he liked it or not.

  Chapter Three

  A light sprinkle of snow drifted down from the gray heavens. As the afternoon faded into an evening chill, misty fog began to crawl in from the ocean, moving like tentacles across the land. Sky zipped her jacket to her neck, a shiver racing through her.

  “You’ve got to be kidding,” she moaned.

  “It’s Christmas.” The tall, lanky mechanic wiped his greasy hands on an already oily rag. “A lot of places are shorthanded or closed due to the holidays.” He rubbed his forehead with the back of his hand, leaving a streak of grime across his face.

  “So one week for the part. Another week to fix the Black Angel?” There went all her plans. “And it’s going to cost over a thousand dollars?”

  As Larry nodded, Harold placed his palm on her shoulder. His sympathetic expression revealed he understood her dismay.

  “What am I going to do?” she muttered.

  “Stay with me. Celebrate Christmas with me family.” Harold spoke without hesitation, which almost made Sky cry. Stella had been the only other person who had offered her shelter, a shoulder to cry on, without asking for something in return.

  “I can’t do that.” Harold might not have seen his granddaughter’s expression when she learned he had offered Sky his hospitality, but she had. Not to mention, his granddaughter was married to the town sheriff. This situation painted a picture of disaster in bold colors that even Sky could recognize.

  “I’ll be hearing no more.” Harold’s brogue thickened.

  “I really do appreciate your offer, but this is my predicament—not yours.” She had been in a tight place before, but it never felt so bleak. How she held on to her tears she had no idea, but was grateful.

  “Bah. Get your things, lass. It’s colder than a brass monkey’s arse—” He choked back the last word, barking, “Get, girl.”

  Sky was too weary to argue. Maybe she needed a good night’s sleep. And maybe she needed a miracle.

  As she approached the Black Angel, a feeling of melancholy draped over her like a dark cloud. She tried to shake it off, but it lingered, clawing at her, threatening to pull her into its depths. Instead of giving in to it, she unlocked the door and stepped inside.

  On autopilot, she moved through the room, gathering a change of clothes, a big T-shirt to sleep in, toothpaste and a couple of other essentials. I can do this. Make new plans. Even as she tried to reassure herself, her conscience weighed her down. Tired of the merry-go-round of emotions she seemed to be riding, she found herself slowing down, her movements becoming lethargic. When she realized she was giving in to h
er dismay she crammed her belongings into a bag and hurried outside where the snow had kicked up, falling heavier.

  A quick scan of the area revealed no one in sight. She was about to return to her RV when she heard a shrill whistle. Then she saw an arm jut from the window of Harold’s sedan, and he waved her to him. She hurried toward the vehicle, crawled into the car and laid her bag at her feet.

  Not knowing how to express her gratitude, she paused and then cleared her throat. “Harold, thank you.”

  He smiled and shifted the vehicle into drive.

  Sky’s mind whirled as she blindly stared out the windshield. Even the swish of windshield wipers didn’t stop her from thinking of her dilemma. What should I do? Go? If I can sell my glass, maybe everything will be okay. But she needed her stock, oven and supplies. Would Larry allow her to open up shop at his station? Maybe she could offer him a small cut of her profits. Or maybe he had Christmas gifts he hadn’t yet purchased. Maybe they could swap glass for rent, the part, work performed…

  “You coming, lass?”

  Slightly disoriented, she blinked. So wrapped up in her troubles, she hadn’t noticed the car had stopped, nor that Harold had gotten out and opened her door. He stood before her, his bushy brows tugged together in concern.

  “Tempest?”

  Grabbing her bag, she climbed out, and her senses exploded. The roar of the ocean rolling in and out, snatching everything within its grasp on the sandy beach, filled her ears, while the salty air tickled her nose and snowflakes gathered on her eyelashes. Numerous colorful cottages dotted the beach. The one that stood before her was a light green with dark emerald trim. A layer of white lay upon the mock-orange hedges that lined the house.

  For a heavy man, Harold moved with haste toward the steps leading to the wooden porch. She followed, eager as him to get out of the weather. As he opened the door and moved inside, she stomped her boots and gave them several wipes on the doormat before she entered the cozy home.

  The sound of the heater switching on followed the familiar scent of warmth and something cooking from the direction of where she assumed the kitchen was located. As she slid her sight across the room and a checkered black and white afghan slung over the back of a cream-colored couch, she wondered if Harold was married. Then Errol and Byron stepped into the room.