Twilight's Encore

by Jacquie Biggar

  What the…?

  He searched for the critter, hoping like hell it wasn’t a rat, and found two bright little eyes glaring at him from under the counter, partially hidden by the garbage can. Ty wrapped his fingers around the top and bottom of the container, ready to dump it over whatever was cowering in the corner.

  Ty lifted the can.

  The animal hissed and made a bid to escape, jumping over his boot and onto the counter where it slid into one of the sinks. He was left staring down at a shivering kitten, and his lips tilted wryly at his own fears. The poor thing couldn’t be more than six weeks old and obviously scared silly. Topaz eyes tracked his every move from a mottled tortoiseshell colored body.

  He tried to lift her out of the sink and cursed when razor sharp nails and teeth bit into his hand.

  “Ouch, you little monster.”

  He yanked his hand back and frowned at the twin red tracks seeping blood down his finger. “What did you do that for?” His voice lowered to a soft lulling croon as he tried once more to pick the pint-sized runt up, with success this time. “I just want to check you out, little one.”

  Tiny paws rested on his index finger as Ty rubbed under the velvety chin. The kitten watched him warily for a few moments, then as if all the excitement had worn it out, her eyelids slid closed and her head tipped forward to rest on Ty’s hand.

  “How did you manage to land in here?” he murmured as he brushed gentle fingers down her bony back. Scrawny little thing. Her whole body easily fit in one hand. Good thing he’d planned on stopping at the store today anyway; looks like milk just got added to the shopping list.

  Ty tucked her up against his chest then left the bathroom. He remembered to snatch his keys off the floor. They must have fallen out of the lock when he rushed for the source of the noise. The kitten opened sleepy eyes and let out the saddest little cry he’d ever heard, then promptly fell back to sleep.

  “Where’s your momma, hmm?” Ty stopped at the front counter where Brent was taking measurements for the new snack bar. “Look who I found hiding in the back room.” Feeling like a proud papa, he held the kitten out to be admired.

  Brent shoved the carpenter’s pencil behind his ear and came around for a closer look. “Aw, looks like you’ve made a conquest there, boss.” He grinned and tapped the creamy paw. “That’s one homely cat.”

  Ty pulled the kitten back to the safety of his chest. He frowned, already oddly protective of his charge. “She’s a lot cuter than your ugly mug, Hansen. I’m going out for a bit. Lock up behind me.”

  There was a click of heels smacking together as he headed for the door. Smartass. No doubt he was getting the two-finger salute too. He never got any respect.

  ~~~*~~~

  Those idiots didn’t have a clue. From his spot hidden in the ductwork, he listened to them coo over that stupid kitten like a couple of pussies. He’d been a bit worried when he dropped the fur-ball from the ceiling in the bathroom that the fall would kill it. He could just imagine the scream if the boss’s girl had gone in there and found a dead cat on the floor. This job was turning into the most fun he’d had in a while.

  He pulled the impression he’d made out of his pocket. Perfect. It took a little longer than he expected for that chandelier to fall, but everything worked out in the end.

  Just as he expected someone had come along to double check the electrical room, and he was there waiting. He’d dropped that kitten and grinned as it shook itself off, then scrambled across the room in a blind panic. Then he’d crawled the couple of feet on the rubber matting he’d laid out as a sound muffler and watched Garrett go all ninja on the bathroom door. Hilarious. Wish he’d taped it for later.

  Knowing he only had a few moments, he’d dropped from the low ceiling, seized the keys from the lock, made his impressions, and swung back into place with time to spare. Now the games could really begin.

  ~~~*~~~

  It felt good entering the hospital. Katy liked the cleanliness of the interior as much as she’d admired the architecture outside the building. She’d been surprised when Doc told her Jeff was the driving force behind the new hospital. Katy didn’t think he’d listened when she talked about her hometown. Maybe he meant it as a gift to her. Their relationship had been a bit rocky lately. They were both very busy people and sometimes it was hard to find time for each other. She hoped that would change after the wedding.

  They followed Doc Johnson, their shoes squeaking on the waxed floors, through the foyer and down one of the long hallways to the day-patient wing. She smiled at the attention Jared’s lean body was getting from staff and patients alike, not that he seemed to notice.

  Doc led them into a cubicle and pointed at a narrow steel bed along one wall. “Hop up there, and I’ll be right back with the sutures.”

  Jared gave the bed a look between lowered brows and opted for leaning his bulk against the wall instead, his arms crossed over his chest.

  Doc shook his head and patted Katy’s arm on his way out the door. “Always did have attitude, that one.”

  Katy had to agree. Jared’s emotions always ran close to the surface. If he was mad, you knew it. Unlike Ty. Every time they’d ever argued it’d been like trying to pour cold molasses out of a can to get him to talk. No go. Maybe that’s why those two had managed to maintain their friendship all these years. It worked for them. It just hadn’t for her and Ty.

  “What’s the matter, big guy? You scared of a little ol’ needle?” she teased, as she wandered around the tiny room, built for functionality instead of comfort. Katy could easily have done the stitching herself, she’d certainly had more than enough practice during her internship, but it was better at the hospital where there would be a record of his visit in case of infection. Always better to be safe when it came to Worker’s Compensation.

  She could feel Jared’s gaze follow her meandering path and wondered what was on her friend’s mind. Katy moved to the detested steel examining table and hoisted herself up, swinging her legs like a child. “Talk to me, Jared. What’s going on?”

  Instead of a direct answer he turned the question back on her. “I could ask you the same. Any girl I’ve ever known who thought herself in love, couldn’t quit gushing about it, but you, you haven’t said a word.” He straightened from the wall and ambled across to stand in front of her. “Shouldn’t you be just a tad more excited, considering you’re about to get married?” Jared picked up the hand wearing Jeff’s weighty diamond ring and twisted it around to her palm. “Are you sure this is what you want, Katy Jane?”

  Before she’d taken this trip into her past, the answer would have been a resounding yes. Jeff was handsome, smart, and dynamic. Everything she thought she wanted in a man. He wasn’t grumpy, annoying, or aggravating, like a certain restoration man she knew. But Katy also couldn’t discount her heart. The moment she’d seen Ty standing in a shaft of sunlight beside Jared’s truck, she’d known she was in trouble. All the old feelings, long ago buried if not quite forgotten, had risen to the top like a shaken soda-pop. It took everything she had not to rush from Jared’s arms into his. The only thing that stopped her was the dark frown on his too-handsome face the moment he caught sight of her.

  “Of course I’m sure. I wouldn’t be doing this otherwise.” More than ready to change the subject, she glanced up through her lashes at Jared. “Other than Ty, have you run into any of the old gang yet? Like say, Annie Campbell?”

  Jared froze for a split second, then let her hand fall back to her lap before swinging away. “Why do you ask about her?”

  Hmm, that was interesting. Maybe the rumor mill was right this time. Katy had heard from her friend, Rebecca Sorenson, that Annie had been to see her and apparently when Jared’s name came up in the conversation she’d blushed seven shades of red. The women planned to get together next week for Annie’s birthday bash, so maybe she could pump her for info then.

  “No reason, it’s just nice to catch up, that’s all. I hear Annie’s been dating Ty’s b
rother for a while now. Wonder if it’s serious?”

  That got the sparks flying. Jared spun around, glared at her, then turned for the door, all pent-up energy and no place to go. “What’s taking so fricken long? I’m going to be healed up before they ever get around to sticking me.”

  Just then a nurse stepped into the room. She could have been a quarterback in another lifetime. Hands on broad hips, she stared them down with a bulldog expression. “I’m Nurse Spencer, which one’s the patient?”

  Katy smirked.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Ty found an old blanket in the back of his truck, bundled it up and laid the kitten within the folds. It stared up at him with solemn gold eyes. “Don’t look at me like that. I can’t keep you. What am I going to do with a cat?”

  Ty gave it a little rub behind the ear before starting his pick-up. “I’m hardly ever home. You’d be lonely.” He glanced down as he shifted into gear and noticed the tiny claws kneading the blanket. “And besides, you’ll ruin my furniture.”

  A couple of minutes later he signaled and pulled into the Pine Bluff Supermarket’s parking lot. Being mid-day, the store wasn’t packed with shoppers yet. He should be able to get in and out without taking too long. Other than the one little mew, the kitten hadn’t made another sound but Ty still didn’t want to leave it alone for long.

  “I’ll be right back. You protect the truck, okay, Tiger?” It stretched, gave a delicate little yawn and promptly went back to sleep. “Yeah, I thought not.” He left the cat to its dreams and strolled across the lot, waving to Jared’s mom as she turned from loading the trunk of her car.

  “Hi, Grace, looks like you have quite a load there.”

  She wiped a slightly shaky hand across her brow and smiled up at him. “You know the restaurant business, we’re always running short of one thing or the other.” She slammed the lid down on the trunk and bundled her jacket around her rotund frame. “I heard you gave that boy of mine a job over at the theatre. How’s he making out?”

  Ty skipped over telling her of the accident, Jared could explain later. “It’s great to have him back in town. I hope he sticks this time.”

  “Me too, son. Me too.” She played with the strap of her purse for a couple of seconds, the breeze teasing a few wisps of graying hair about her flushed cheeks. “It’s none of my business, and I probably should keep my trap shut, but with your history and all…” She sent him a mischievous look from her hazel eyes.

  “Why don’t you tell me what it is, and we’ll go from there, okay?” Ty made a mental note to mention to Jared later that Grace wasn’t looking her usual chipper self.

  “Most likely it’s nothing…”

  C’mon Mrs. M.

  Ty cut a glance over his shoulder at his truck, half-expecting to see Tiger glaring at him through the windshield. This morning’s episode was just the latest in a string of bizarre occurrences. Yesterday his electrician, a guy who had worked with him for years, blew a gasket over some trivial shit and walked. Just like that. Good thing Jared had showed up for a job, because otherwise there wasn’t a chance he’d get finished before the big day.

  “There’s a rumor floating around that Katy Fowler might be in town,” she murmured. “Your Aunt Tess was talking to Pearl over at the Rendezvous Hotel and she mentioned that Katy had booked a room. I know you two have history and just thought you should be aware.”

  Wish he could say he was stunned, but that would be a lie. There are no secrets in a small town, only juicy gossip waiting to be discovered.

  He decided to stop this particular rumor in its tracks. “Thanks, Grace. I appreciate your concern. And I’ve already seen her. She’s here to oversee the plans for her wedding, and of course make sure the venue is ready on time.”

  He almost smiled at the disappointed look in her eyes. “I better get going. I found a kitten at work today. It’s in my truck and I don’t want to leave it for long.” He took her cart to wheel it back to the store, and then remembered, “If you leave that stuff in your car, I’ll stop around by the café on my way home and unload it for you.”

  A warm smile made her cheeks puff up like little red apples. She waved a hand to shoo him away. “Bless your heart, don’t you worry about me. I have plenty of help. Are you going to keep the cat? I think Annie Campbell was looking for one to keep her old cat, Fitzroy, company.”

  Even though he’d been planning on giving the kitten up, Ty’s immediate reaction was a resounding no. The little bag of bones already had a home, with him.

  “Yeah, she’s mine. She’s kind of cute when she isn’t clawing me half to death.” He chuckled and carried on into the store.

  ~~~*~~~

  Katy was tired and hungry by the time she dropped Jared home from the hospital. The stress of unexpectedly running into Ty had taken its toll. She’d anticipated seeing him at some point, but would have been happier if it had been on her terms. Instead, even though the theatre belonged to her family, she’d been the one left feeling like an interloper. Unwanted and out of place.

  He’d changed. The ready smile and teasing remarks that used to charm her into his arms all those years ago, had been nowhere in sight today. He’d looked tired. Strained. There were dark shadows under his eyes and deep lines bracketed his lips.

  Heat suffused her skin.

  That mouth had mapped every inch of her body at one time. He’d been her first. The one no one else quite lived up to—not even Jeff, if she were honest with herself. Jeff was about as different from Ty as it was possible to be. Ty was light, with fair hair and complexion, Jeff was dark, half Native American, with black hair and swarthy skin. Where Ty was warm and caring, Jeff was often humorless and abrupt. But then his job was high-pressure like hers, so she understood. They were a lot alike; it’s what attracted her in the first place. Jeff knew she was as tied to her cell phone as he was and that sometimes their personal life would have to take a backseat. It worked for them.

  She wasn’t anxious to go back to an empty hotel room, and decided to stop at the grocery store on the corner. It felt weird being back in her hometown and having to stay in a hotel, but her parents had sold their home when they moved to California.

  A couple minutes later she pulled up near the doors and hopped out of the car, pausing to straighten her dress and smooth her hair. The old Mom and Pops store looked just the same as when her and Kyle had gone there as kids, anxious to spend their weekly allowances on the candy bins. She wondered if the same people owned it. She remembered them as kindly, with never a harsh word for the young customers invading their premises.

  She entered with a smile on her lips, her thoughts full of happier times. But one glance down the aisle straight ahead changed that. Ty. What was he doing here?

  She hesitated, not sure whether to duck back out or just hide in another part of the store until he left. Then another customer entered, brushing past her, and Ty looked up. She froze, caught in the icy cool depths of his eyes. Her pulse skittered around like a deer caught in a trap. Determined not to let him see her sweat, she hiked up her purse strap and sauntered toward him.

  “Ty, I didn’t expect to see you here. That’s twice today. I’d almost think you had it planned.” Her steps faltered when she realized just where he was standing—in front of the condom section. She flapped a hand in front of her face, a futile attempt to calm her racing pulse and pink cheeks.

  He eyed her embarrassment for an amused moment before leaning over and deliberately picking up a box of extra large—in his dreams—glow in the dark—really?—contraceptives. “Funny, that’s what I was going to say.” He dropped the box into the half-full basket he carried in one hand. “After all, sugar, I was here first.”

  Her gaze helplessly followed the carton of Trojans. They landed on top of three cans of kitten food, various colorful toys, and some litter. Katy reached into the basket and plucked out a toy mouse. “Unless you’re into some kinky activities, Garrett, your cover is blown.” She pointed toward the shelves behind
him filled with pet supplies.

  He shrugged. “You’re the one who leapt to conclusions.”

  She didn’t think he was talking about the condoms. There was no sense in bringing up the past; it could only dredge up the hurt all over again. Besides, she’d moved on, they both had if the size of that box was anything to go by. Desperate to get the picture forming in her head to disappear, Katy searched for a safe topic.

  “So, whose cat are you buying for?” Then a horrifying thought entered her mind. What if he had a girlfriend? Or even a wife? She hadn’t heard of him getting married, but that didn’t mean it hadn’t happened. “Never mind, it’s none of my business. That basket looks heavy. I’ll let you get back to your…” she couldn’t help it, her eyes slid to the contraceptives, “shopping. I need to get going anyway.”

  Katy whirled on her spiked heel, and was halfway down the aisle when Ty’s voice stopped her. “The kitten is mine, Katy. If you want to have a look, it’s in my truck right now.”

  She turned, her heart lightened by his words. It was wrong, this desire to spend time with an old school flame. But after all, you couldn’t get much more innocent than a kitten, right?

  Brushing aside Jeff’s stern countenance, Katy smiled, “I’d love to.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  This was so far past being a good idea, it wasn’t even in the ball park. Ty trailed Katy out of the grocery store, the kitty litter under one arm, while the condoms burned a hole in the bag he held in his other hand.

  What the hell was he thinking?

  The breeze teased the ends of her hair and carried the scent of autumn’s harvest to his starved senses. Peaches, pears, and apples—yum. Her white dress played homage to a truly world class heart-shaped ass. And the blood red soles of those shoes of hers were going to drive him around the bend. He could picture her on his bed, pink skinned and inviting, wearing nothing but those heels.