by Mia Ross
“It’s not easy sometimes,” she admitted quietly. “When things get tough, you need a little faith to fall back on.”
“It’s nice to have that.”
“Yeah, it is. And having family around you doesn’t hurt, either,” Emma added, smiling at someone behind Lindsay.
When she turned, she found Brian standing in the open archway, hands in the pockets of his heavy-duty jean jacket. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Why’m I getting the feeling I’m about to get roped into something?”
“We need help hanging these posters around town,” Lindsay informed him coolly. “And you’re taller than both of us.”
“Combined,” Emma added with a giggle.
“So I’m better than a ladder?”
“Mostly,” Lindsay allowed, giving him a little smirk. “Plus you’re more entertaining.”
“Mostly,” Emma echoed, and the two of them broke up laughing. Brian didn’t look thrilled, and his sister quickly went over to him, going up on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “We’re just teasing, big brother. We do actually need some help with these, if you have time.”
“You know I do.” The adoring smile he gave her told Lindsay just how much he cherished his little sister. “You’re acting like you feel good today.”
“I do.” He gave her a skeptical once-over, and she laughed. “Honest. Don’t be so gloomy. The treatments are done now, and my hair’s coming back nicely. I’ll be back to my old self in time for summer vacation.”
“I’m counting on it.” Doubt clouded Brian’s eyes, but to his credit, he masked it with a smile that was very convincing but didn’t fool anyone.
“Well, I have some errands to run,” Emma said, zipping up her cute lavender ski jacket, “so I should get going. I’ll be back in time for the committee meeting.”
“Thanks again,” Lindsay said, giving the fragile-looking art teacher a gentle hug. “And please let your students know they did a first-rate job.”
“I will. They’ll be really excited to hear there’s going to be a party for them, too.”
After she’d gone, Brian gave Lindsay an accusing look. “There’s gonna be a what?”
Lindsay outlined her kernel of an idea, and he nodded. “Sounds like fun. But you’re not gonna trick me to play ringleader for that, are you?”
“Not unless you want to.”
“Actually,” he said, strolling into the dining room, “I was thinking I’d go to the dance.”
They hadn’t discussed anything beyond logistics for making the event happen, so his revelation caught Lindsay off guard. “Oh, sure.” Realizing that sounded lame, she tried again. “I mean, you should do what you want.”
“Would you mind if I asked someone?”
“Of course not,” she replied, a little more forcefully than she’d intended. Smoothing out her tone, she dredged up a smile. “Why would I mind?”
As he stared down at her, one of those infernal grins quirked the corner of his mouth. “’Cause I was thinking of asking you.”
“You were not,” she sputtered, backpedaling to put some space between them. The grin was widening, and she crossed her arms defensively. “You’re yanking my chain, aren’t you?”
The grin evaporated instantly, and he shook his head with a somber expression. “Never.”
“Look at me,” she pressed, opening her arms to give him a clear view. “I’m hardly dating material these days.”
In truth, she suspected that her carefree dating time was probably over for good. Her own mother had blithely skipped from man to man, peppering Lindsay’s childhood with one sketchy father figure after another. There was no way she’d do that to her own child, so there wouldn’t be any just-for-fun guys in her life anymore. She needed a steady, solid man who would stand beside her through good times and bad. And if Jeff had taught her anything, it was that trustworthy men were becoming exceedingly hard to find.
“So it won’t be a date,” Brian suggested easily, as if it wasn’t that big of a deal. “We’ll just be two friendly coworkers spending Valentine’s Day at a charity dance to help rebuild the bridge. No strings, just doing our part for a good cause.”
Brian had always had a knack for making her believe that everything would be fine, even when that seemed impossible to her. Lindsay recognized that she had a pessimistic streak, and circumstances had hardened it into a gloomy view of the world that she’d love to escape. She just didn’t know how.
But here he was, offering her a respite from the incessant worry that dominated her thoughts and tripped her up when she least expected it. He made them going to the dance as friends sound plausible—and possibly even entertaining. She had to admit it would be nice to spend an evening with a man who didn’t have designs on getting anything from her beyond a few dances.
“Okay,” she finally agreed. “It would be nice to have some fun for a change.”
“My thoughts exactly. We’ve both been working like mules, and I think we’ve earned a night out.”
It was sweet of him to be so concerned about her, she thought with a smile. She couldn’t have invented a better boss if she’d tried. Someone knocked on the front door, and she heard Ellie greeting their first arrivals. “Absolutely. But for now, we have that meeting. Will you second my motion for the kids’ party?”
“Absolutely,” he repeated, grinning.
“Thanks.”
“For the invite or the backup?”
“Both. It’s been a long time since I had someone in my life that I could count on.”
Tears welled in her eyes, and she blinked hard to keep them at bay. She hadn’t meant to say that last part out loud, and she cringed at the weakness she heard in her voice. To his credit, Brian never hesitated.
Taking her into his arms, he held her close enough that she could feel his heart beating against her cheek. Burrowing into the quiet strength he offered, she relished the unfamiliar feeling of being protected from whatever the world might decide to throw at her.
“I’ll never let you down, Lindsay. You have my word on that.”
And because it was Brian, she believed him.
* * *
After all these years, Lindsay Holland still had the power to amaze him.
Brian sat midway down one side of Gran’s large kitchen table, munching his way through a piece of cinnamon swirl coffee cake so tender he hardly had to chew it. He kept a casual expression plastered on his face, even while he marveled at Lindsay’s ability to be in tears one minute and completely composed the next. If he hadn’t seen it for himself, he never would’ve believed she’d been so distraught earlier.
No doubt about it: the woman had backbone.
Gran caught his eye, giving him a curious look that clearly said she knew something wasn’t quite right with him. He deflected the concern with a grin, and though she didn’t seem convinced, she refocused her attention on the discussion about the silent auction prizes that had already been donated.
“Ten free car washes,” Lindsay was saying, “free tree trimming in the spring and four hours of handyman services from Sam Calhoun.” Pausing, she smiled at Holly. “That should be very popular and bring in a ton of money. Be sure to thank him for us.”
“Will do,” Holly agreed, returning the smile. “Now if I can just get him to actually come to the dance, it will be a good Valentine’s Day.”
The women around the table laughed in unison, and Brian chuckled at the comment. His reserved big brother wasn’t much for socializing, but he’d been attending a lot more town events lately. Brian had a feeling it was more to make his wife happy than from an actual desire to join in, but it was still good to see them out together.
Thoughts of being out together made him wonder how folks would react when they saw him at the dance with Lindsay. Their tumultuous relationship might be in the past, but he knew that in a small town like Liberty Creek,
their unexpected reunion was big news. Especially in the middle of a long winter when folks had cabin fever and were eager for anything to break up the tedium. Even though he and Lindsay were keeping things on a just-friends level, he had no doubt that some people would assume otherwise.
He also had no doubt that Lindsay would set them straight. She’d made it clear that she wasn’t ready for any emotional entanglements, which suited him perfectly. At least, that’s what he kept telling himself. Then there were more personal moments like her mini-breakdown, when she’d turned to him for comfort and he’d stepped up just like he used to. Because he simply couldn’t help himself.
Either he was a complete moron, he mused as he snagged another piece of cake, or his feelings for her weren’t as far in the past as he wanted to believe. Then again, he was exhausted beyond anything he’d ever experienced before resurrecting his family’s old business. He wasn’t used to dealing with that level of stress, and he reasoned that it probably had a lot to do with why he was feeling this way.
Once the forge started consistently bringing in some cash, he’d feel better.
“And that brings me to something new I’d like to propose,” Lindsay was saying, her urgent look dragging Brian back from his mental stroll. She quickly outlined the concept of hosting a kids’ party the same night.
The idea prompted an instant buzz, with suggestions for refreshments and activities from face painting to kid-friendly movies. When it died down, she made the motion official. Brian took his cue and raised his hand to second it. The “yes” vote was unanimous, and the delight on Lindsay’s face was unmistakable. Knowing how isolated she sometimes felt, he understood how important it was to her that she not only be involved in the fund-raising project, but also do the best job she could.
“That’s wonderful,” she approved, jotting a note on her lined pad. “I’ll be putting together an email blast to reach families around the area who are active online. But there’s nothing like good, old-fashioned word of mouth to get people excited about something. I’m hoping you can all help with that.”
Brian thought it was interesting that the shiny new laptop was nowhere to be seen. Then he recalled her comment about technology intimidating some people, and he suspected that was why she’d gone old-school for this meeting. Folks in Liberty Creek weren’t necessarily against progress, but they were traditional, and they liked to keep things simple.
After a few more items, she read through the list of assignments and reminded everyone that their next meeting was in a week.
“I know everyone’s busy, but we need to keep up the pace,” she reminded them in a bright, upbeat tone, adding a smile for good measure. “The bridge work is vital to everyone in Liberty Creek who relies on tourist trade during the good weather.”
“That’d be everyone in Liberty Creek,” Hal Rogers echoed her comment, getting nods of agreement from around the table. “I’ll be taking one of those posters with me, that’s for sure. I get a lot of traffic in the barbershop this time of year.”
Lindsay thanked him and then the entire group for giving up their evening to help out. On their way to the door, several people took posters from the stack, and before long the dining room table was clear of all but the largest one.
Folding her arms in obvious displeasure, Lindsay scowled. “It’s so pretty. I hate to see it sitting here instead of being displayed out in the open somewhere.”
“Brian can put it up in the bakery,” Gran suggested while she pushed one of the armchairs back into place. Then she gave him “The Look.”
“Can’t you, honey?” she prodded.
“Yes, ma’am,” he agreed without hesitation. To his knowledge, no one ever said no to Ellie Calhoun, and he wasn’t about to tempt fate by being the first. “I’ll pick it up in the morning and get it hung before your assistant manager opens for breakfast.”
“That wasn’t so hard, was it?” Gran crowed, catching Lindsay around the shoulders for a quick embrace. “Most problems have a solution, if you just know where to look.”
Brian chuckled. “I just can’t figure out why you’re always looking at me.”
“Because you’re tall and good with a hammer?” Lindsay asked, blue eyes twinkling with the kind of humor he was noticing more often lately. It was encouraging to see some of her old spark coming back, even briefly.
A quick circuit with the trash can cleared the kitchen table, and before he knew it, the house was back to normal. “Okay, then. Do you ladies need anything before I head out?”
“No, honey,” Gran told him, walking him to the door the way she always did. “Go home and get some sleep.”
“Thanks for everything,” Lindsay added, rewarding him with a smile warmed by gratitude. “I know meetings aren’t your thing, but you were great tonight.”
“Just following orders, boss.”
That earned him the laugh he’d been after, and she opened the door for him. “I’m looking forward to you being the boss tomorrow. It’s not easy being the one in charge.”
“Tell me about it.”
He stepped out, and she shut the door behind him. A couple inches of snow had fallen, coating the brick steps and walkway enough that he shoveled and salted them before he left for home.
Since it wasn’t all that cold, he took his time strolling along the sidewalk, admiring the still beauty of a crisp winter’s night. There wasn’t a single cloud in the sky, and the stars overhead glittered like gems in a jeweler’s display. The waxing moon hung low over the trees, its light reflecting off the snow and bathing the town in a hazy glow.
Since moving back to his hometown, this was the first time that he’d slowed down enough to really appreciate his surroundings. The charming houses, the trees covered in snow, the gazebo strung with tiny white lights for no reason other than because it was pretty that way. Portsmouth might have had more nightlife and restaurants, but to be honest, he didn’t miss them all that much. Been there, done that, he figured with a mental shrug.
In his heart, he guessed that he was still a small-town boy. And now that he was back, he couldn’t remember why he’d been in such a hurry to leave.
While he was mulling that over, he turned the corner and headed up the short path that led to the dark cottage. To his surprise, there was something on his small porch. He’d forgotten to leave the carriage lights on—again—so he turned on his phone’s flashlight and went up the snowy steps to see what was in front of his door.
A dog.
Curled up on the welcome mat Emma had gotten him as a housewarming gift, seemingly sound asleep. Its shaggy, matted fur was every color he’d ever seen on an animal, and even in the narrow beam of light it was obvious that the poor creature had dropped here in an exhausted heap.
“Hey, there,” he said softly, to avoid startling the mutt. He wasn’t keen on being attacked by a frightened animal that might tear his legs to pieces before he could get it under control.
Nothing.
A horrible thought entered his mind, and he knelt on the sagging floorboards for a closer look. The patchy fur rose and fell with each breath, and he was relieved to know the dog was alive. There was no collar, and he didn’t recognize it as belonging to anyone he knew. A quick glance around showed him that no one was out hunting for a lost pet.
He reached out a tentative hand, ready to yank it back at the first sign of aggression. When he gently stroked its forehead, the dog slowly opened its eyes. And then, to his astonishment, it let out a shuddering whimper and gave him the most pathetic look he’d seen in his life.
“Aw, man,” Brian muttered, rubbing his neck while he considered what to do. Everyone knew that letting a stray dog into the house was the first step on the road to being its new owner. But it was below freezing now, and the forecast was predicting single digits by morning. He wasn’t exactly looking for a furry roommate, but he couldn’t just leave this lost mongr
el outside on a night like this. Or any other, for that matter.
“Okay,” he finally said, getting to his feet to unlock the door. “But just for tonight.”
The dog rolled over but stayed in its prone position, gazing curiously into the dark house. Brian thought maybe it didn’t want to risk venturing into unfamiliar territory that it couldn’t see, so he reached around the door frame to snap on the living room lights. Now those ears were twitching, and his canine visitor looked up at him, angling its head in a questioning pose.
Stepping inside, Brian held the door open. “Come on in.”
Letting out a quick yip of thanks, the dog trotted inside and sat politely in front of him. Another yip, and this time it offered a mangy paw in a very humanlike greeting that made Brian laugh.
“Nice to meet you.” A quick assessment showed him that his guest was male—and even filthier than he’d originally realized. “Okay, here’s the plan. We’re gonna scarf up some dinner for you, then it’s straight into the tub. Got it?”
That got him two excited barks, and his new buddy went up on his back paws, wrapping the front ones around Brian’s waist. The show of canine gratitude was rewarding, and Brian had to admit that once you got past the dog’s rough condition, he was pretty cute.
Alarmed by the direction his thoughts had taken, he paused in front of the fridge and pointed down at the excited pup. “Let’s get one thing straight, dude. You’re not staying. Understood?”
The dog yipped, cocking his head again in what seemed to be a habit for him. Trying not to be impressed, Brian filled a bowl with cold water to keep the dog occupied while he nuked some leftover beef stew in the microwave.
The stray scarfed down what had probably been his best meal in weeks, and when he looked up, Brian noticed that the crazy markings extended to his eyes, which were a crystalline blue with silvery starbursts surrounding the pupils. Definitely unusual, he mused, and something he should add to the lost-dog flyers he’d be putting up around town tomorrow morning.
