by Susan Mason
A chill ran down Chloe’s arms at the hard look in their visitor’s eyes.
“You finished here?” he asked Matt.
All the color bled from Matt’s cheeks. “Not quite.” He licked his lips, his gaze trained on the floor.
“I say you are. Come on, let’s blow this place.”
The guy’s gaze moved to Chloe, as if in challenge.
She stiffened. “I’m sorry. No friends are allowed while Matt’s working.”
The boy moved closer, blocking the doorway and any chance of escape. “Who’s going to make me leave?”
Chloe’s authority seemed to have little effect. She chose to level him with a stare and folded her arms, more to stop her hands from shaking than to intimidate the kid.
He only laughed and took a menacing step forward.
Matt moved up beside her. “Hey, man. It’s cool. I’ll meet you later.”
A tense silence followed. Uncomfortable vibes swirled in the air.
Chloe prayed he would leave. Perspiration broke out on her forehead, but she didn’t dare wipe it away.
A loud squeak echoed through the gym as the main door opened.
Were more of Matt’s ‘friends’ joining them? Muffled voices and a light laugh floated through to the games room.
The bully turned and stormed into the outer area.
“Hudson. What are you doing here?”
Chloe had never been more thankful to hear Dylan Moore’s voice. She rushed into the gym with Matt close behind.
The guy stalked up to Lindsay and Dylan. “Just checking things out.” He turned to glare at Matt. “See you later, Brown.” A gust of wind blew in when the boy slammed out the front door.
Tension seeped from Chloe’s body and she sagged against the gym wall.
Lindsay rushed over. “Are you all right, Miss Martin?”
“I’m fine. The fumes must be getting to me.”
Dylan came to stand with Lindsay, a possessive hand on the girl’s back.
Right now, Chloe could’ve kissed the boy. “Who was that guy?” She pushed damp hair off her forehead.
“Jerry Hudson.” Dylan sneered the name. “Head of one of the local gangs.”
“He’s a gang member?”
“Yeah. Not someone you want hanging around here.”
Matt joined them. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he doesn’t come back.” Wariness shadowed his eyes.
Was Matt part of a gang? Chloe’s spirits sank at the thought. No wonder Lindsay worried about him.
“I’ll go clean the brushes, miss.”
“Thank you, Matt. And thanks for your ideas. I’ll pass them along to Mr. North.”
“No prob.”
“I’ll give you a hand.” Dylan followed Matt.
Chloe took some deep breaths, but the strong smell of paint didn’t help her head.
“You sure you’re OK?” Lindsay’s face mirrored her concern.
“I’ll be fine.” Chloe forced her rubbery legs to move. “Let’s keep Jerry Hudson’s visit to ourselves. We don’t need to give Mr. North a reason to worry.”
Lindsay nodded, her eyes solemn. “I’m good at keeping secrets.”
Chloe frowned as Lindsay went to join the boys. What other secrets was the girl hiding?
****
Aidan pulled into the lot of the rec center and jumped out of his car. He’d meant to drop by earlier to make sure Matt wasn’t giving Chloe a hard time. As he jogged up the walkway, the main door swung open.
Lindsay, Dylan and Matt pushed outside.
“Hi, Mr. North,” Lindsay said.
“Hi, guys. I was coming to check in with you, Matt. How’s the painting going?”
“Good. Finished in the gym today. I’ll start on the games room next.”
“You’ve made excellent progress.”
“Thanks.” Matt pushed his hands into his hoodie pocket.
“We’ve got to get going,” Lindsay said. “See you on Monday.”
“Is Miss Martin still inside?”
Lindsay’s pretty face creased into a frown. “Yes, but she wasn’t feeling well.”
Undercurrents of tension ran between the teens as they exchanged glances. What was that about?
“I’ll go check on her. You kids have a good night.”
“Thanks, Mr. North.”
They scurried off as if given a reprieve.
Aidan pulled the main door open, noting it wasn’t locked, and headed straight for the kitchen.
Chloe stood at the counter, packing some cleaning supplies into a bag.
“Hi, there.”
She whirled around, hand to her throat. “Aidan. You scared me.”
He took note of her pinched expression and the panic in her eyes. Something had her off-kilter. “Everything OK?”
“Fine. The kids just left.” She fumbled for her purse with hands that trembled.
“Lindsay said you weren’t feeling well.”
“The paint fumes were making me dizzy. I’ll be fine when I get some fresh air.”
Why didn’t he believe her? Maybe it was the way she wouldn’t meet his gaze. He chose not to challenge her. “Let’s go then.” Aidan picked up the bag of supplies, turned off the lights, and led her outside.
The night sky had taken on a pink glow, remnants of the recent sunset.
He locked up and handed her the keys. “I think you should keep the doors locked when you’re here alone. You don’t want any undesirables wandering in.”
“Good idea.” She leaned against her car, taking several deep breaths.
“Now that I think about it, I don’t like the idea of you here alone with Matt. What if a bunch of his delinquent friends come in?”
Chloe bit her bottom lip, and looked away.
Alarm spiked his pulse. “Has that happened already?”
“One friend came by, but I told him he had to leave. It was no big deal.”
Then why was she shaking? Whoever this kid was, he’d scared her. Aidan moved closer.
“From now on, somebody else needs to be with you. I’ll come when I can, and when I’m not available, I’ll get one of the other teachers to volunteer.” His resistance wavered and he stroked a knuckle down her cheek. “I’m not taking any chances with your safety.”
Relief washed over her features, although she said nothing. If it wasn’t one of Matt’s friends who scared her, then what had happened? She obviously didn’t want to divulge anything. One thing Aidan couldn’t tolerate was dishonesty and secrets, but until she was more comfortable with him, he wouldn’t demand answers.
13
Lately the more time Chloe spent in Aidan’s company, the more her feelings became harder to ignore. The possessive look in his eyes and the way he’d caressed her cheek left her rattled—and at the same time, thrilled. The fact that she liked that he cared about her enough to want to protect her—scared her more than Jerry Hudson’s implied threats.
On her way home, the need for some sisterly advice led Chloe to Nick and Lily’s house.
Mrs. Smythe, the new nanny, met her at the front door. “Good evening, Miss Chloe. Come in.” The gray-haired woman in her lace-edged blouse and blue cardigan smiled.
While it felt odd to be invited into her family’s house by a stranger, Chloe could not discount the value Mrs. Smythe added to her sister’s home. Lily’s health had improved, as had Nick’s stress level, and the children adored her. Chloe had to admire the woman, who at triple her age, juggled all aspects of the Logan household without breaking a sweat.
“Thank you, Mrs. Smythe. Is Lily around?”
“She’s in the living room. Mr. Nick is out at a meeting, and I’m afraid the girls are in bed.”
Chloe followed her down the hallway.
“May I bring you a cup of tea?”
“That would be wonderful. Thank you.”
Lily looked up from her book as Chloe entered the room. “Chloe. What a nice surprise.”
Chloe bent to kiss her sister’
s cheek. “Hope it’s OK to drop by. I didn’t feel like going home to an empty apartment.”
Lily’s shrewd eyes raked over her as Chloe dropped into one of the chairs near the fireplace. “Bad day?”
“You could say that.” Chloe sighed. “Do you ever get the feeling you’ve bitten off more than you can chew?”
Lily chuckled, rubbing her belly. “You’re kidding, right? Two babies and another on the way? Yeah, I can relate.”
“Somehow I’ve gone from a chef in New York to teaching cooking in high school, mentoring a wayward teen, and trying to open my own shop. All in the space of a few weeks.” And fighting an attraction I didn’t expect.
“Do you think you could be trying to escape—filling your life with so many things that you don’t have time to think about Richard?”
That’s exactly what she was doing. Although lately another man occupied more of her thoughts.
“Don’t you think it’s time you told me what happened?” Lily’s soft voice touched Chloe’s pain. “You know you can tell me anything. That’s what sisters are for.”
Bone-weary fatigue left Chloe without her usual defenses. Wasn’t this what she’d wished for growing up—a sister to share secrets with?
From the doorway, Mrs. Smythe cleared her throat. “Sorry to interrupt. I’ve brought your tea.”
Lily waved her in. “Thank you, Clarissa. Please leave it on the table.”
Mrs. Smythe set the tray down and left without a sound.
Chloe poured the tea into the delicate cups and handed one to Lily. The fire in the hearth bathed the area in a soothing glow. Everything about the room made Chloe feel safe. Maybe it was time. She needed to unburden her soul. Who better than her sister? She took a seat beside Lily on the couch.
“You seemed very much in love with Richard. So why did you break up?” Lily’s gentle tone calmed Chloe’s jagged nerves.
“I thought I loved him. At one point, I thought I couldn’t live without him.” She pushed aside memories of that dark place.
“He was a lot older than you, wasn’t he?”
“That’s what attracted me to him. He made me feel safe.” Her voice caught. “I think I was looking for security. After Mama died, I felt so alone.”
Lily’s eyes shone with sympathy. “Nick and I were so busy being new parents…we didn’t pay enough attention...”
“There wasn’t anything you could do with me living in New York.”
“So when the initial infatuation faded, you realized you weren’t in love?”
“I wish it were that simple.” Nick obviously hadn’t told Lily that Richard was married. Chloe inhaled deeply and let it out slowly. “The truth is…Richard is married.”
Lily’s cup rattled in her saucer. “Oh, Chloe, no. He lied to you?”
How easy it would be to let Richard shoulder the entire blame. But it was time for her to take responsibility for her part in their sin.
She steeled herself for Lily’s disappointment. “At first, yes. When I found out he was married, he swore he intended to leave his wife. He begged for more time. Said he couldn’t live without me. I chose to believe he would leave when the time was right, and…I forgave him.” She paused, the worst part still to come. “I continued the affair for months after I knew.” Chloe dropped her face into her hands. “I don’t think he ever intended to leave her.” How clearly she could see his deception now. Why couldn’t she see it then?
A warm arm came around her shoulders. “I’m so sorry, honey.”
Chloe raised her eyes, blurred with moisture. “Don’t you see? I’m just as guilty as Richard because I didn’t end things. I went on in full knowledge of what I was doing to his wife and their children. What kind of person is willing to sacrifice a family’s happiness for her own?” Tears spilled down her cheeks.
Lily dabbed a napkin to Chloe’s face. “A very confused and lonely girl.”
Chloe shook her head. “That’s no excuse. Mama would be so ashamed of me. And Nick…” Her throat clogged with grief, imagining his disappointment in her.
“Shh. Let’s not worry about Nick right now.”
Chloe leaned against Lily’s shoulder, drawing comfort from the warm solace she offered.
“What finally made you come home?”
Chloe straightened and wiped her face. Chills swept through her as she recalled that last horrible night. “Richard’s wife found out about us. And she tried to kill me.”
14
“Mr. North, there’s a long distance call for you on line one.” The school secretary’s voice echoed into Aidan’s office.
Four o’clock. After a week of helping Chloe supervise Matt at the youth center, Aidan knew Chloe and Matt would be there by now. He was running behind schedule, so he’d have to make this a fast call. “Thank you, Mrs. Grebbins.” He picked up the phone. “Vice Principal North.”
“Aidan. How are you?”
The female voice sent the blood rushing from Aidan’s head. “Patricia? I’m fine. How are you?”
“I’m well, thanks. It’s been a long time.”
“It has. More than a year.”
“You’re probably surprised to hear from me.” She sounded nervous.
Aidan’s senses went on high alert. “What can I do for you?”
“I heard through the academic grapevine there might be a position open in your school. Is it true?”
His head spun as he mentally reviewed the staffing requirements. He wished he could lie and say there were no openings. But lying was one thing he could not abide—in anyone. “There’s an upcoming maternity leave. Nothing permanent, why?”
“I’m thinking of making a change, and…Rainbow Falls sounds nice.”
The blood in his veins turned frigid. He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out.
“Aidan, are you there?”
He cleared his throat. “I’m here. You just caught me off guard.”
Her voice turned sultry. “In a good way, I hope.”
“Frankly, Patricia, I don’t think this position will suit you.” He paused. “Why would you give up your seniority in Arizona to come out here? With no guaranteed long-term security?”
“I’m bored with everything here. The new principal and I don’t see eye to eye.”
Patricia must be doing her usual routine of creating drama for the new principal.
“Look, I’m not sure we should work together again.”
“I thought you’d have forgiven me by now. But you’re still mad, aren’t you?”
He let out a sigh. “I’m not mad.”
She sniffed. “I miss you, Aidan. I know I made a mistake, but I want another chance. We could start over fresh in Rainbow Falls, away from the gossip.”
Her wheedling tone didn’t soften his stance. ”Not a good idea.”
“Well, I guess that will depend on your principal. I’m coming for an interview next week.”
He held back a groan. He did not need this aggravation right now.
“Think about what I said, Aidan. We’ll talk when I’m there next week.”
****
Chloe stopped in front of her shop and sent a text message to Aidan to let him know she’d be back at the youth center as soon as possible. Of all times for a problem to crop up at the bakery—the one day Aidan was late to help supervise Matt.
She fit the key into the lock and pushed it open. Everything appeared exactly as she’d left it after she and Aidan had painted. A text message from a number she didn’t recognize said there was a problem with the renovations. With an inspection pending, she couldn’t take the chance that something might be wrong, like a burst pipe or some other catastrophe.
She locked the door and flipped the main light switch. The overhead lights did not come on. The interior remained shrouded in gloom, courtesy of the dark clouds threatening more rain. Had the power gone out during the last downpour? She swallowed a spurt of panic, remembering there was a flashlight under the counter. With a sigh of relief, s
he switched it on, and the bright beam illuminated the space.
When the light hit the wall, Chloe stifled a horrified cry. Violent slashes of red, still shiny and wet, marred the far wall. More vivid color dripped from the overturned wicker furniture. Anger, as deep and red as the splatters of paint, surged through her. Why would anyone do this?
She rushed back to the counter, and with shaking hands, rummaged through her purse for her cellphone. The police needed to know about this.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
She screamed and the phone slipped from her fingers.
Three male figures, hooded and masked, emerged from the shadows.
****
Aidan glanced at the clock and pressed his foot to the accelerator. He’d taken a few extra minutes to talk with Larry Jenkins about Patricia and was now half an hour late. He pulled into a parking spot closest to the front of the center and hurried inside. His gut burned. Probably shouldn’t have had that third cup of coffee.
An eerie silence shrouded the empty gymnasium.
Where were Matt and Chloe?
Passing the dark kitchen, he entered the games room.
Matt stood rolling paint onto the wall, headphones in place. The kid pulled out the earbuds when he noticed Aidan. “Hey, Mr. North.”
“Hi, Matt. Nice job.” Aidan admired the fresh coat of blue paint. “Where’s Miss Martin?”
“She left a few minutes ago.”
Aidan’s neck muscles tightened. “To go where?”
“I’m not sure. She got a text message and had to leave.”
Something urgent must have come up. Chloe wouldn’t leave Matt alone unless it was important. When the phone in his pocket vibrated, he whipped it out, relieved to see a message from Chloe. Relief was short lived, however, when he read her cryptic note.
“Problem at the bakery. Back soon.”
A prickle of unease chilled his spine. Something wasn’t right. He had to find her.
****
Cold perspiration slid down Chloe’s back. Fear froze her feet to the floor.
The hoodlums advanced, dark and menacing.
