“Coming right up.”
As few boats can seal out water when it’s blowing sideways at over 100 mph, Tadie wasn’t surprised to see the mess. The hatch over the V-berth had dribbled onto Jilly’s bed, but with a waterproof mattress cover, only the sheets and comforter needed cleaning. Jilly’s menagerie hung in netting along the side walls and had missed much of the onslaught.
Tadie yanked bedding off the bunks while Will reached into cupboards and pulled out wet foodstuff. He set the items on plastic bags on the floor and wiped down the damp spaces. Tadie checked the drawers and hanging lockers. Jilly’s clothes were damp, so she bagged them and set them on the deck with the bedding. Water seemed to have slithered in through a vent in an aft locker. The hole in the deck was over the head, so rain had merely run into the bilge. Will opened floorboards to make sure the battery-driven sump had done its job.
“Still working.” He dropped the board back in place and went on to the next task, grabbing more towels from a dry cubby to sop up water where it puddled near the companionway. He spoke in a monotone, his voice revealing nothing.
If only the Nancy Grace had stood alone somewhere. Or if the yard had done its job of preparing the other boats left in its care. Tadie sighed and continued wiping wet walls.
Digging around in a cockpit locker, Will pulled out damp line, which he ran through a couple of boom blocks. “I’ll rig this up so we can lower the bags easily. You want to climb down and meet them?”
Tadie untied the line from each sack as Will lowered it. His efficiency impressed her, the way he’d immediately started solving problems instead of moaning. A man who didn’t get mad at things impressed her.
All right, fine. A lot about Will Merritt impressed her.
The muscles flexed in his arms as he lifted the bags over the remaining stanchions. Knowing he was immune to her—and unavailable—gave her license to study him, didn’t it? Wouldn’t he be horrified if he could read her mind?
He’d surprised her many times in the past two days. His smiling eyes, his intelligence, his thoughtfulness. Now she noticed his lean strength.
Deep breath.
She wanted to keep Jilly in her life, at least as much as the cruising lifestyle would permit. She could be an aunt to Jilly. Maybe invite the child to visit and give Will a break every so often. Wouldn’t that be fun?
Suddenly, he paused and stared back. She pretended to be studying the sky. He lifted the last bag over the rail. “Here it comes.”
“What’s next?” she asked, untying the line.
“I’m going to bring all the cushions out to sit in the sun for a few hours, now that I’ve cleared some deck space.”
Tadie climbed back up the ladder as he went below. “Hand them out to me.”
After setting out the last one, she leaned in the companionway. He stood, wiping his forehead with a paper towel and surveying the cabin. His shoulders hunched slightly before he straightened them and climbed toward her.
She backed up. “I bet you could use a dehumidifier.”
“You think I can find one?”
“In my barn.”
“Well, aren’t you amazing?”
She shaded her eyes. “You want me to go get it?”
“I’ll come and help. We can use my muscles instead of yours.”
“And nice ones they are too.”
At his surprised expression, she blushed. Maybe she shouldn’t have been quite so frank. “You being a man and all.”
His face seemed to relax and catch the humor. “Of course. Being a man.”
* * * * *
They hooked up the dehumidifier with a few asides about a man’s muscles tossed out for her benefit. “Enough,” she cried as he fitted “the beast” into place—a small device even she could lift. The teasing seemed to help them both relax.
“Isn’t the insurance company going to want to see the ‘before’ pictures?”
“I’d rather dry the boat than worry about them believing I need to. Besides, if I don’t get those wet things to a Laundromat today, I’ll have mildew issues, which will cost a lot more.”
“No Laundromat. You’ll use my washing machine. Why don’t we head on back to the house where Jilly and I can wash clothes while you deal with your insurer?” She put her hands on her hips and tried to sound severe. “And don’t even think about moving back on board until everything’s fixed. Jilly likes my house. Besides, Eb is her new best buddy.”
He cocked his head and watched her. “You’re going to spoil her, you know.”
“My daddy spoiled me because my mama couldn’t. I adored him.”
“That’s what I’m worried about.”
“That she’ll adore me?”
“She already does.”
“Well, the feeling’s mutual. You’ll have to bring her back every year so her new Aunt Tadie can love on her some more.”
Will nodded, but he had a crease between his brows.
She bit her tongue. A little late, but she stilled it. She’d better work a lot harder at keeping her wants from getting the better of her mouth. Wants could land her—and Jilly—in big trouble. But how could she let them run off to a motel when she was having so much fun with them at her house?
The thing to do—maybe—was let them stay at the house, but distance herself. Keep busy in her studio or at the shop. Enjoy them at dinner. Whatever it took to keep that worried look out of Will’s eyes.
* * * * *
Tadie’s studio door closed as Will and Jilly tuned in to the Discovery Channel. Like the perfect hostess Will had found her to be, she’d set out a bag of microwave popcorn and pointed to the refrigerator, telling them to make themselves at home while she caught up on some work.
So maybe he’d been wrong. Maybe that look on her face wasn’t what he’d imagined.
He hadn’t been wrong about his own response when he’d caught her gazing up at him. He’d seen her eyes widen. Lust had slammed hard into him, and neither of them had been able to speak, even as her eyes quickly shifted and she pretended she hadn’t been staring at him. She’d tried to turn it into a joke.
He’d shrugged off the moment as a normal male reaction to obvious female appreciation. That’s all he needed to do. Recognize the problem. Then solve it.
Jilly snuggled deeper into the couch cushions, her sock feet stretched across his knees, the cat sprawled at her side. “Look, Daddy. Zebras. Turn it up.”
The doorbell rang as he pressed the volume button on the remote control. Jilly’s feet hit the floor and before he could catch her, she dashed into the hall.
“Hold on, kiddo. It’s Tadie’s house.”
Jilly skidded to a halt in front of the door.
At the second chime, Tadie emerged and flipped on the porch light. Will ambled closer as Tadie checked to see who was there.
“It’s okay, Jilly, you can answer the door,” she said.
Jilly pulled it open and cringed back. Will looked past her to the creep from the store—the fellow who’d asked about Tadie—who’d almost killed Jilly. He pressed his curled fingers against his thighs.
The man peered around Jilly, smiling when he caught sight of Tadie.
“Alex,” Tadie said with a loud sigh.
Will didn’t have time to analyze the sigh before Jilly ducked behind him, only her head peering around his hip. Tadie made the introductions.
“We’ve seen him before,” Will bit out.
Jilly mumbled something under her breath.
“What, honey?” Tadie bent to ask.
Jilly shook her head against Will’s backside, her fists clutching his shirt. He saw the concern in Tadie’s eyes, but his attention was drawn to the snide look on the other man’s face.
“I thought you would all be gone by now,” Alex said, his gaze taking in Will and Jilly.
Tadie glared at him. “What made you think that?”
“The hurricane’s over. Anyway, Hannah sent me to see how you’re doing. Do you need any help?”
“I see.”
Will bet he did. Bet the creep saw the disgust in his eyes and the fear in Jilly’s. Just what was this man’s relationship to Tadie that he assumed the right to question—or even wonder—who stayed here?
“Did you and Matt get the drive cleared?” Tadie asked.
“Matt supervised.”
Will’s jaw tightened at the man’s arrogant tone, which the fool couldn’t hide even when he tried to massage his sneer into a smile.
“It’s clear,” Alex said. “They lost the old cedar.”
“What a shame. It was a beautiful tree.”
His glance again passed over Will. “What are you three up to?”
“Not much,” Tadie said. “Jilly and her daddy are watching TV.”
He stepped a little farther into the hall, forcing Tadie to back up. Peering into her studio, he asked, “And you?”
“Working.” She reached around and closed the studio door. Turning her attention to Jilly, who still hid behind Will, she gentled her voice. “What are you watching, Jilly?”
Jilly peeked up at Tadie, did a quick reconnaissance, then whispered, “Zebras. I love zebras.”
“I’m crazy about them too.” Tadie reached down and Jilly slipped her hand in Tadie’s, edging part way out of her hiding place.
Will remained still.
“Then you better come see these. They’re stupendous,” Jilly said.
“If Tadie needs to work, that’s a lot more important than television, don’t you think, young lady?” Alex said.
Will’s eyes narrowed when Alex spoke to Jilly. Come on, jerk, he almost said. Take one step closer. He clenched and unclenched his fist. One more word. Give me a chance to rearrange your face.
Will watched Tadie’s cheeks color as she reached for the door, gesturing Alex out. She pushed on the man’s shoulder when he didn’t turn. “You just scoot on back home and tell Hannah I’ll talk to her tomorrow.” Her voice had risen at least one octave.
It took Alex a moment or two to wipe the surprised look off his face. Will spread his feet apart, ready to boot the fellow out. But he held back. This wasn’t his house.
Alex must have noticed the fists and the scowl. “Well, fine,” he said, retreating. “I’ll look forward to seeing the pieces you’re working on. Perhaps in the shop next week.”
“Goodnight, Alex.”
Tadie closed the door on him, then leaned down to put her arms around Jilly. “Sweetie, I’m sorry he was rude. But we got rid of him, didn’t we?”
Jilly gave Tadie a big hug. “He’s not very nice.”
“No, he’s not, but he’s Hannah’s brother-in-law.” She wore a questioning look as she turned to Will. “Is there something going on between you two that I don’t know about?”
“He almost ran over me with his car.” Jilly hopped sideways and then back. “And he wasn’t very nice to Isa in the store.”
“No wonder we don’t like him. I’m glad we showed him the door.”
A little of Will’s anger drained out. “I take it he doesn’t know you well enough to recognize Mama Bear.”
“He’s never seen her before.” Tadie glanced down at a puzzled Jilly. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s go watch those zebras.”
Jilly’s heart was in her eyes. Will glanced over at Tadie. Same thing. Not good.
He mumbled, “All I need now is a pipe, slippers, and the big chair.”
“Porridge, anyone?” Tadie asked. He caught her sarcastic tone, and the bite of it surprised him. So she could dish it out too, could she?
Jilly’s “Yuck!” at least got them all laughing.
But it didn’t stop the questions. Will pretended to watch the screen, but he couldn’t forget Alex’s glances. Or Alex’s words.
And there was Tadie, hovering over Jilly with a proprietary air of her own.
Yep, Mama Bear, indeed.
Chapter Twenty
Tadie fell more deeply under Jilly’s spell when the child asked for help with her bath. “Come on,” Jilly said, tugging at her hand as they started up the stairs.
Later, Jilly’s bedtime prayer plaited Tadie’s heart strings to her own, and her kiss soldered them permanently. The prospect of Jilly and Will sailing away was already too painful to imagine.
She didn’t go back downstairs. She couldn’t let Will see her lost state.
His door eventually opened and closed. A few minutes later, splashes sounded from across the hall.
Listening to the spray on tile, Tadie imagined water streaming down his firm body. She fanned her face to cool it. She was a mess. That’s all there was to it.
Celibacy hadn’t looked quite this bleak in a very long time.
A man like Will Merritt would never be interested in a woman like her—alone, unloved, untouched. Men didn’t like women other men rejected. Isn’t that what Mr. Darcy had said? They might try to seduce such a woman, but they would never marry her. Never love her.
No one, not even Hannah, knew her secret. Hannah assumed she’d had sex with Alex—which meant Alex had kept his mouth shut.
Unless he hadn’t. She wouldn’t put it past him to have strutted around, proclaiming something that hadn’t happened. Especially after Matt’s early success with Hannah.
Tadie slipped down under the covers and yanked a pillow over her head. She saw the movies. She read the books. No one except Sara Longworth, spinster of Beaufort, had hit this ripe old age untouched.
If only she could blame it on her faith. If she’d stayed chaste out of reverence or obedience, she could feel justified. After all, hadn’t chastity been a frequent Sunday school subject? And hadn’t her father and Elvie Mae taught her a standard of purity?
But no. She knew her heart and it wasn’t pretty.
She’d almost let loose with Alex. It hadn’t been God who’d kept her from taking that step. Far from it. She’d lusted and yearned and only said no because she hadn’t trusted Alex, not deep down where she’d needed to. And after that, the others, even her erstwhile—and very temporary—fiancé, hadn’t tempted her to the tipping point.
There had to be something basically wrong with her—with her appearance or her personality or her psyche. Look at her, imagining her houseguest naked in the shower. That little girl’s father. And why was she allowing herself to become attracted to a man like Will Merritt, a man who’d never want her?
She was sick. There was no other answer.
And she couldn’t tell a single soul.
* * * * *
Will scrubbed at his skin until it hurt. He’d tried to ignore his fears as Jilly and Tadie had cuddled. He’d brushed them aside, sublimated them even, for the sake of his own comfort. What kind of father was he?
Jilly did not need someone in her life who would even consider having someone like Alex as a friend. No, he and Jilly were doing just fine on their own.
Besides, he still mourned Nancy. What kind of man—husband—let a strange woman’s laughter sneak under his guard? It was wrong. All of it. Time to go, and quickly, before Tadie did any more damage to his little girl’s heart.
He usually spotted this sort of thing before it got out of hand. What had been different this time?
He knew the answer to that. This wasn’t a new discussion between him and his thoughts.
But still. Once more.
Maybe this time he’d hear, put it in perspective, and figure out his next move.
Tadie was a sailor. Since Nancy, all the other women sailors he’d met had been married, safe. Leslie didn’t count. She had been a friend of sailors, not one herself.
Tadie had opened her home to them. That one had been his fault. They’d needed a place and he’d been lulled by the town, the friendliness of the people at Down East Creations, and h
is conviction that Tadie was an independent woman who wouldn’t use a child to get herself a husband.
Well, he’d been a fool. When her friend, Alex, had stopped by, Will had seen the calculating look in Tadie’s eyes and he’d known. Yeah, Alex was related to Tadie’s friend Hannah, but the man’s attitude didn’t come merely from being the friend of a friend—or even the brother of a friend.
Maybe Alex was someone she’d dated who just wouldn’t come up to scratch, so she figured he and Jilly were a better bet. That way, she’d even get a bigger boat thrown in. She’d absolutely coveted the Nancy Grace, oohing and aahing at the woodwork and the layout. She’d stood tall and proud at the helm on the way to the dock.
Too bad. The Nancy Grace wasn’t hers and never would be.
Instead of sleeping, he strategized. He’d go out early and find a rental car. He could get a loaner from the yard until the agencies opened. Then he’d return Tadie’s humidifier, get the rest of their clean laundry, and fetch Jilly.
But he couldn’t keep her on the boat while he was restoring it, not for very long. He’d call Jilly’s Aunt Liz as soon as he figured out his timetable.
That settled, he dozed fitfully. And in between bouts of sleep, he thought of Nancy. He even tried a half-hearted prayer or two. He was way too upset to make them real.
* * * * *
Tadie headed downstairs the next morning, still looking like a hag in a horror movie. Sure, she’d tied back her hair and done her best to cover up the dark circles and baggy eyes. She’d even put on a bright turquoise shirt. But none of it helped.
A note on the counter greeted her: Jilly should sleep until at least nine. I’ll try to be back by then to take her to breakfast. Please go about your day as if we’re not there. You’ve already done too much for us. Will.
She sagged against the refrigerator door.
He knew. He’d felt her desperation.
But he was right. She’d get on with her day and forget about them. It was the only thing to do.
She brewed a cup of coffee, toasted an English muffin, and carried them to her studio. As an afterthought, she picked up the portable phone in case Hannah called.
Becalmed: When a Southern woman with a broken heart finds herself falling for a widower with a broken boat, it's anything but smooth sailing. Page 16
