Her Handyman Hero

by Lorraine Beatty

  “You’re calmer and more relaxed, and you aren’t the hard-edged man who came to my house that first day. If you try to go back to undercover work, you could get killed.”

  He held up a hand for her to stop. “Okay, I know my skills might be a little rusty, but they’ll come back.”

  “Why do you want to go back to that life? I thought you’d found something better here with—in Dover.”

  He rubbed his forehead. “I’ll be back to visit as often as I can. I don’t want to lose touch with Lily.”

  That was sweet, but her heart screamed, What about me? She realized in that moment that she cared more deeply for him than she ever had for anyone. But she’d waited too long to see it, and now he was walking out of her life and into a world that could get him killed.

  The thought turned her blood to ice. “Please don’t do this.”

  He came to her, cradling her face in his hands. “I’d like nothing better than to stay here with you and Lily, but we both know I’m not cut out for this kind of life. I don’t know how to live a normal life or be a father. Besides, I could never live with myself if anything happened to you or Lily because of me.”

  “You mean Archer? You said that rarely happens.”

  “Rarely is still too big a risk.”

  He pulled her close and kissed her, and her heart sank. It was a kiss of goodbye. A kiss made to become a memory, not one filled with promise for a future.

  “Reid?”

  “I need to pack. I’ll stay until Lily gets home so I can say goodbye. Oh, and if it’s okay, I’d like to give Buster to her. I can’t take a dog with me, and Buster would never forgive me if I took him away from her.”

  Tori’s eyes blurred and she nodded.

  “Tori. You don’t need any help. You’re going to be a great innkeeper, and you’re already a wonderful mother.”

  Reid pivoted and walked out. Tori placed a hand over her mouth to keep from sobbing out loud. She’d finally achieved everything she’d worked for, but it held little satisfaction if Reid wasn’t here to share it with her.

  It was something she’d never anticipated. In the past she’d been the one to walk out on her fiancés. She never considered how it would feel if someone walked away from her.

  And what about Lily? Would Reid’s departure start her grieving process all over again?

  Why hadn’t she been more open, more practical, more compassionate? Shelley was right. Loyalty did have an expiration date.

  * * *

  Reid slid his duffel bag onto the back seat of his truck and shut the door at the same time Tori pulled in the driveway. Lily waved at him from the window and started tugging at her seat belt. His heart swelled with affection, knowing she was anxious to get to him. He wasn’t looking forward to telling her he was leaving. He opened the car door and Lily reached for him, wrapping her little arms around his neck in a tight hug. He experienced a rush of love so profound that it stole his breath.

  “I missed you so much. I’m glad you’re home.”

  Home. If only. “I missed you, too, Lily. How about we go sit on the porch and talk for a minute, okay?” She nodded with a big smile, glancing down at Buster, who was sitting patiently at Reid’s feet.

  For fear of losing his resolve, Reid didn’t make eye contact with Tori as he carried Lily to the porch. Leaving was the right thing to do for all of them.

  Settled in one of the rockers, the little girl in the other, Reid searched for the words to begin. “Lily, the house is ready and I’ve fixed all the broken things.”

  “I know. Now the bee bees can come.”

  “That’s right, and you’ll have fun helping Mommy take care of them. But that means it’s time for me to go.”

  Her dark eyes widened. “Why?”

  “I have to go back to my real job.”

  “Where is it?”

  “In a big city, far away.” The sadness on her sweet little face tore at his heart.

  “I won’t see you anymore?”

  “Not every day like you do now, but I’ll be back to visit you.”

  Tears formed in the little eyes. “I don’t want you to go. I told Emily I was going to ask you to be my daddy.”

  Oh, Lord, give me strength. “You were?”

  “I told Emily I didn’t have a daddy and she said everybody had to have one, so I was going to pick you ’cause I love you so much and you make me happy inside.”

  If he was being tested, he might just fail. How could he leave this precious little one behind? He glanced up and saw Tori standing discreetly at a distance, listening. Her eyes were moist, so she could probably hear them, as well.

  “You make me happy, too, Lily.” He lifted her from the rocker and placed her in his lap. “But I’m going to leave Buster here to keep you company. He’ll be your dog from now on.”

  “Really?”

  The dog placed his paws on Reid’s knees, as if aware he was being discussed. “I know you’ll take good care of him and give him lots of love.”

  “I’d rather love you.” Her tears turned to sobs, and Reid looked at Tori for help. He had no idea how to comfort the little one.

  She stepped forward and took Lily from his arms. “It’s okay, Lily. Mr. Reid will come and visit us. He’ll be one of our guests, and we can fix him a special breakfast. Won’t that be fun?”

  Lily didn’t respond. She nestled her head in Tori’s neck, looking forlorn.

  Reid stood, his body feeling like it was made of lead, his heart cold as a stone. “I have to go.” Tori nodded, but only made eye contact briefly.

  After a quick pat on Buster’s head, he spun around and hurried off the porch and into his truck, then hurriedly cranked the engine. If he didn’t pull away now, he never would, and that would be a mistake.

  He maneuvered his truck through the streets of Dover, aware of the cord attached to Tori and Lily, a cord that stretched tighter with every mile he moved away from Camellia Hall. He was doing the right thing. He was.

  A call showed up on his car’s Bluetooth screen. Tori. “Hey, is Lily okay? Something happen?”

  “No, Lily is okay. She’s curled up with Buster in the sunroom. I wanted to ask you to please keep in touch with us. Maybe you could FaceTime Lily. But I also wanted you to let me know about Eddie. I’ll be here to talk when—I mean if you need someone after...”

  Could his heart take any more pain? “I will. I promise.”

  “Good. Thank you. And, Reid, I want you to know how important you’ve become to me as a friend.”

  His throat closed up. “Same here.”

  “Okay, then. Goodbye. Take care of yourself.”

  He ended the call, unable to bear the sound of her voice any longer. She sounded as emotionally distraught as he was. It took all his resolve not to turn the truck around and go back to the people he loved.

  Chapter Twelve

  Reid struggled to focus on the mission his superior, Leonard Novak, was outlining. The drive to Houston yesterday had been long and torturous. He’d questioned his decision with every rotation of the tires. His head told him it was best to step away from Tori’s and Lily’s lives. They had a large family to care for them and pick up any slack left by him. Trying to change his lifestyle, change who he was, would be too disruptive and only make things harder on the two people he loved most in the world.

  But his heart had refused to be still, and the farther from Dover he drove the more he yearned to go back. The memory of Lily’s tears when he’d said goodbye still left a sharp sting in his chest. The look of sadness and concern in Tori’s eyes created doubts about his choice with every breath he took. But it was the right thing to do.

  “Hey, Blackthorn. Are you listening?”

  Reid slammed the door on his wayward thoughts. “Yes, sir.”

  “Good, because this job won’t be easy.”
He leaned forward, tapping the folder on his desk with his finger. “We think the Russian mob has infiltrated the Benton gang in Lubbock. They’re using a local fast-food restaurant as a cover.”

  Lubbock? That was even farther from Dover than he’d expected. How would he get back to check on Eddie?

  “Something wrong?” Novak peered at him over the rim of his glasses.

  “I wasn’t expecting to be so far away.”

  “From what?”

  Everything I care about. Suddenly the idea of going undercover, of living a lie, of wallowing in the dregs of humanity was abhorrent. His spirit craved the peace and sense of purpose he’d found in Dover with Tori and Lily, and working around the old house.

  Maybe Eddie and Tori were right. He wasn’t the same man who’d walked away from this life all those months ago. The idea of going undercover used to excite him and get his blood racing. His thoughts would be consumed with scenarios he could employ, the skills he would use, and he’d anticipate the huge adrenaline rush that accompanied the takedown.

  But today he only felt dread and apprehension. He rarely thought about being killed on the job. All agents knew it was a possibility, but they locked it away in the dark corners of their minds and did their jobs. Now, Reid looked at the specter of death with new eyes. There’d been no one in his life to care if he lived or died. Now there were people who would miss him, grieve for him.

  More important, he didn’t want to be separated from them. He wanted time together, lots of time, years of time. Emotions were now his enemy, and the biggest threat to his going undercover. One stray thought could distract his focus, one misspoken word could blow his cover, one sweet second of a memory could cost him his life.

  His boss droned on. The sound of his cell phone buzzing was a welcome interruption. He pulled it from his pocket. The name on the screen raised the hair on his neck. Hamilton Haven.

  “You have something more important to do?”

  Novak’s tone clearly revealed his irritation. There’d been a time when he would have ignored the call and kept his focus on the job ahead. He stared at the phone. He stood, tossing a glance over his shoulder at his boss. “I have to take this.” He strode to the hall, a canyon of fear opening inside him.

  “Mr. Blackthorn, this is Dr. Kennedy at the Hamilton Haven. I’m afraid your brother Edward’s condition has taken a downturn. There’s nothing we can do. I’ve called in hospice care, but I give him a day or two at most. I think you should come right away.”

  His chest constricted with pain. He’d known Eddie was running out of time and he’d tried to prepare himself, but now it was all too imminent. He wasn’t ready to lose his brother. “I’ll leave now.”

  Reid ran a hand through his hair, praying Eddie would hold on until he got there. But first he had to correct something. He stepped into his boss’s office. “I’m not coming back. This was a mistake.”

  Novak yanked off his glasses and glared. “Blackthorn, you’re the best we have. This assignment is tailor-made for you. You’d be a fool to turn this down. The only mistake you made was leaving in the first place. We need you on this job.”

  “No. Leaving this job was the best thing I ever did. Sorry, Len. I’m not qualified for this line of work any longer. My family needs me more.”

  * * *

  The main kitchen smelled like blueberry muffins and fresh coffee. Tori smiled and inhaled the sweet aroma. The Smiley girls’ recipes had triumphed again. They were perfection. So far every one she’d tried had been better than the last. Her morning menu was complete. She’d found a special item for each day of the week, delicacies that would greet her guests each morning and start them on their way. Baking had kept her occupied since Reid had left, and had prevented her from missing him too much.

  Lily skipped into the kitchen and climbed up on the stool. “Can I have one?”

  “Sure, but be careful. They’re hot.”

  “I think Mr. Reid would like these. Can we take him one?”

  Lily was having a difficult time accepting that Reid had gone away, and Tori had struggled to explain the difference between her mother going away forever and Reid going away for a short while. Time held little meaning for a five-year-old.

  Buster stretched out on the floor beside Lily’s stool and growled low in his throat. Tori pulled apart a muffin, put it on a plate, then placed it in front of Lily. “The next time he comes to visit, I’ll make these especially for him and you can help.”

  “Really? I want to cook like you do.”

  “And I’d love to teach you. It’ll be fun baking things together.”

  Buster’s growl grew deeper.

  Lily glanced down at the dog. “Maybe Buster wants one, too.”

  The animal jumped up and barked.

  “Is that a yes, fella?” Tori chuckled. “Sorry, no people food for you.”

  Buster trotted to the hall and barked again. What was wrong with that mutt?

  She walked to the hall. Buster was looking at her. He barked several more times and ran toward the formal dining room. His bark became urgent, and Tori’s concern spiked. She hurried to the room, but everything looked normal. Buster ran to the door at the far end that connected to the tearoom. His barks were frantic now.

  She took hold of the doorknob. It was hot. Smoke crawled out under the door.

  Fire. Her house was on fire.

  After a mad dash back to the kitchen, she grabbed her phone and called the fire department as she scooped up Lily with her free arm and carried her outside, far from the house. Within minutes, the scream of sirens filled the air. The squeak and grind of large wheels told her the fire trucks had arrived. Someone else must have seen the fire before her and called it in.

  She held Lily in her arms, hearing her soft sobs against her neck. “Shh. It’s going to be all right. The firemen will put out the fire.”

  “I don’t want our house to burn.”

  “I know. Don’t worry. We can fix it.”

  “Will Mr. Reid come back to help?”

  Tears stung her eyes. If only. She wished he was here to hold her and tell her everything would be all right.

  “Tori, are you okay?”

  Naomi Foster hurried into the yard, her features filled with concern. “I saw the smoke and called the fire department. I tried to call you, but it went to voice mail. I hoped you were safely away.”

  “We’re fine. The dog alerted us to the smoke.” Buster. Where was Buster? As if knowing she needed him, the dog trotted down the drive and into the yard. Tori scratched his head. “You’re a hero again, fella. Thank you.”

  And to think she’d never wanted this mutt in the first place. How many ways had Reid’s appearance in her life changed things? Her gaze drifted to the roof, where she could see water spraying over the top and dark smoke curling into the trees and up toward the clear sky, taking all her hopes and dreams with it.

  There would be no grand opening of Camellia Hall now. Or ever. The pain was so deep she couldn’t even find tears for it.

  * * *

  It was all Reid could do to keep his vehicle at the speed limit. Houston was six hours from Dover, longer if the traffic was bad. What he wouldn’t give for a pop-on red light and a siren. He settled for endless prayer and some serious soul-searching. Even so, the towns crawled by. Orange, Texas. Lake Charles, Louisiana. Lafayette.

  Outside his windshield, the tops of trees peeked over the elevated Interstate 10 and stretched for eighteen miles. Below, the Atchafalaya Basin spread out for hundreds of miles. With the sky above and the water far below, the route always made him feel as if he were flying.

  An incoming call appeared on the screen of his Bluetooth. Jim Fuller.

  Jimmy Ray. Why would he be calling? A knot of concern formed in his gut.

  “Hello.”

  “Reid?”

  The te
nsion in his friend’s tone sent his stomach clenching. “Yeah. What’s going on?”

  “I wanted to let you know about the fire in case you hadn’t heard.”

  “Fire?”

  “Tori’s house caught fire last night.”

  His blood iced. “Is she all right? Lily?” Visions of his girls trapped in smoke or flames stopped his heart.

  “They’re both fine. The fire was in the tearoom. The rest of the house is untouched, but it doesn’t look like the B and B will open on time.”

  Reid’s throat constricted at the thought of Tori’s dream going up in smoke. He could only imagine her heartbreak. “Why didn’t she call me?”

  The connection went silent a long moment. “You left.”

  Yes. He’d left. He’d walked out because he was scared, and he wasn’t sure he could measure up to the man Tori needed him to be. Truth was, he was afraid to let go of the old life, the old need for justice. It had been a part of him for so long he wasn’t comfortable anywhere else. What was it Eddie had said about stepping out of his comfort zone being the only way to find happiness?

  “I’m already on the road. And, Jimmy Ray, thanks.”

  “I thought this might clear things up in your head, seeing as how you’ve been all upside down and backward these last few days.”

  Jimmy Ray understood the struggle to leave a career in law enforcement and learn to live a life of peace and contentment. But Reid knew what he wanted now, and it was back in Dover, not in Lubbock. He only hoped it wasn’t too late.

  At Baton Rouge, Reid merged onto Interstate 12, his nerves on edge and his mind in turmoil. Dover was still an hour away.

  Would Tori be glad to see him? Or would she be angry he’d left her and Lily when they’d needed him most? Once again, he’d failed those he loved. If he’d stayed like Tori had asked, he would have been there, and maybe he could have spotted the fire sooner.

  Useless speculation. He’d have to admit his mistake, promise her he’d stay by her side forever, that he’d do whatever it took, whatever risks necessary to become the man she needed and, God willing, a father to Lily.