Hometown Hero (Hometown Alaska Men Book 2)

by Joleen James

  "It looks so elegant," Brandi said. "Perfect. I want everything to be perfect for Star."

  "Me, too," Tawney agreed. "She deserves it."

  Soon the room filled with women, pretty much every woman in town. Champagne flowed. They ate. Star opened gifts. The cake was cut.

  Tawney soaked it all in. She loved being with her sisters. Loved how happy both Star and Brandi were. But inside her own heart ached a little and she wondered how she could find the same kind of happiness for herself. She was a strong, independent woman, but she was also a woman who didn't have a lot of respect or trust for the male sex.

  "You okay?" Star asked, taking the seat next to Tawney.

  "Of course," Tawney said. "Just enjoying the party."

  "Me, too," Star said, smiling. "It means so much to me that you are here. I've missed you. If Ruby were here, I'd be complete."

  "I know," Tawney said. "I miss Ruby, too, but she can't bear to be in this town."

  "I know," Star said. She squeezed Tawney's fingers. "Love you."

  "I love you, too."

  "Hey, what about me?" Brandi said as she flopped into the chair beside Star. "I want in on this love fest."

  Star laughed. "Love you, too, Bran."

  "I love you guys," Brandi said. "And I really hope you'll forgive what I'm about to do."

  Tawney smiled. She knew the night's agenda. She also knew that Star wasn't going to like what was coming.

  "What?" Star asked, not understanding.

  The music cranked up.

  "Turn around," Brandi said.

  Star swiveled in her chair. A handsome young guy dressed like a cowboy stood behind Star.

  "Oh, no," Star said as realization dawned. "You didn't."

  "Saddle up, gorgeous," the handsome young guy said, "it's time to ride a cowboy."

  Star's mouth dropped open, and Tawney didn't think she'd ever seen Star speechless before.

  "Oh, this is going to be fun." Brandi clapped her hands together.

  Tawney laughed. Fun indeed.

  * * *

  Rick cruised past Tawney's place. The lights were out. Was she already home, in bed? Or were the ladies still partying like rock stars?

  He continued on to his place, pulled into his garage and cut the engine. Exiting the Jeep, he felt the wad of bills in his front pocket. He smiled—three hundred dollars richer than he'd been before the poker party.

  They'd given Cade a decent send off from single dad, complete with stripper. The girl had done nothing to rev Rick's motor and the reason why bothered him. Compared to Tawney, the girl had looked cheap, her body a bit on the boyish side. He hated that he'd compared the stripper to Tawney, but there was something about Tawney he'd never been able to shake, even after he'd left her at the altar. Maybe it was the wounded way she'd looked at him that night so long ago, or maybe it was the pride he saw in her now. Either way, the woman got under his skin.

  Rick was on his way to the house when a car drove by. The horn honked twice. The car pulled into Tawney's driveway.

  The girls were home.

  Tawney got out of the car. Female laughter reached his ears and God help him, he started walking toward Tawney's place.

  "Bye," he heard her call out. "Drive safe!"

  Brandi pulled away.

  Tawney had already let herself inside when he reached the cottage. The lights were on now.

  For a second he just stared at her door. What was he doing, following her like a stalker? If he knocked on the door now he'd scare her to death. She might even shoot him. She already seemed jumpy.

  He grinned.

  Yeah, she'd probably shoot him. In her mind he deserved to be shot.

  It was enough to know she was safe.

  Rick went home. He'd just removed his jacket when a second car passed outside. A glance out the window showed brake lights. The car idled in front of Tawney's cottage.

  Rick waited for the car to move on. When it didn't, he let himself out and approached the vehicle. The back plate was smeared with dirt and he couldn’t get a read.

  "Hey," he called out when he got close the car.

  The car sped off, the tires screeching in the still night.

  What the heck? Who had been in the car? Why had they stopped in front of Tawney's place? Had she drawn the attention of some random guy who'd been unable to take no for an answer, or was he reading too much into nothing?

  "Rick?"

  Tawney stood in the open doorway.

  "What's going on?" she asked. "Why are you out here?"

  How much should he tell her? Would he come off looking like a lunatic if he told her he thought someone was watching her? Or would he succeed in spooking her even more?

  "Just taking a walk."

  "I heard a car." She held the front of her robe together with one hand.

  "Yeah. The car just passed. Probably a kid just showing off."

  "Oh."

  He could hear the relief in that one word. "How was your party?"

  "Nice," she said. "How was yours? Did you win?"

  "Three hundred big ones." He smiled.

  "That's great." The wind stirred her hair. "Well, it's late and it's freezing."

  "Yeah." He stuffed his cold hands in his jacket pockets.

  "See you tomorrow."

  "Good night."

  She closed the door.

  Rick started for home, but he couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling riding his gut. He'd been a cop too long to ignore his own intuition. Tawney thought someone had been following her the other night, and now, a strange car in front of her place. Were the two events related, or was his PTSD getting the best of him, making him ultra-paranoid?

  All of his senses were awake now, alert, in police mode. As much as he hated the idea of Tawney toting a gun around, he was glad she had it. He hated that she didn’t own a phone.

  He doubted he'd sleep much tonight. Tomorrow he'd make it his business to up the safety at Tawney's place.

  * * *

  Tawney had thirty minutes to kill before her shift at the bar. The sun had come out this morning, upping the temperature outside to a toasty thirty degrees. The bay sparkled, beckoned. Deciding some brisk fresh air would be good, she got dressed for work and set out for town.

  This air didn't assault her face. Heaven. Overhead a seagull stretched his wings, warming them, probably as happy for the slight rise in temperature as she was. Tawney hoofed past The Junebug and started down the boardwalk.

  She really hadn't paid much attention to the other local businesses here. An ice cream shop. Beauty parlor. Barber. City Information. At the end of the block she turned and walked down the other side. General store, post office, Karma Fitness. A fitness studio?

  She looked up at the two story building, wondering why she'd never noticed the place before. There was no large sign, just an electric blue flyer pasted to the door advertising aerobics, Pilates, and dance classes.

  Dance classes?

  Tawney tugged the door open, starting up the stairs. Music drifted down from the second story. A popular top forty song pulsed, the bass vibrating the walls. Another blue flyer was tacked up outside the second floor door. Tawney let herself in.

  A group of about ten people followed an instructor, doing a cardio dance workout.

  The music changed to a slower beat.

  "Okay," the instructor said, "Time to cool it down, people."

  Tawney watched the end of the class. The instructor was a woman, probably around sixty years old. Her faded blonde hair was pulled back into a tight bun. She wore black yoga pants and a purple athletic top. On the slender side, she appeared to be in great shape.

  "Great workout," the woman said to the group. "See you next time."

  The group began to talk amongst themselves.

  "Can I help you?" the woman asked Tawney. She blotted her face with a purple towel.

  "I saw your sign," Tawney said. "I was wondering what kind of classes you offer."

  The woman smiled, sti
cking out her hand. "I'm Liv. I own the studio."

  "Hi, Liv. I'm Tawney."

  Liv smiled. "Honey, I know who you are. I'm just surprised it took you so long to find me."

  "What do you mean?" Tawney asked, puzzled.

  "You're a dancer. Dancing, movement, they're in the blood." Liv swept her arm wide. "This is a place to dance, to express yourself through movement, to get in shape. This is your world, honey."

  "Not recently," Tawney said wistfully. "I miss it."

  "Well, you've come to the right place," Liv said. She walked to a desk pushed up against the far wall and returned with a brochure. "Take a look. I'd love to have you attend. First class is on the house."

  "I don't suppose you're looking for an instructor?" Tawney asked. "I've taught Jazzercise, Zumba, and stretching classes. I've taken enough ballet I can teach that, too, although I'm not certified. I can tap dance like nobody's business. I've even thought about starting a class that teaches how to dance in a chorus line. I have a lot of ideas."

  Liv laughed. "I'm not looking for a partner, honey, but I like your style, and I think you'd be good for business. This is a small town. Most here know your story and are intrigued by it. I'll tell you what; I'll give you a try."

  Tawney's spirit soared. She felt giddy. Happy for the first time in a long time. "Really?"

  "I have another class starting soon. Why don't you come in tomorrow morning, and we'll talk about the best way to use your talents."

  Tawney smiled. "You've got a deal, Liv."

  * * *

  Rick was waiting for Tawney when she arrived at work.

  "Sorry I'm late," she called out as she blew past him, heading for the back room. A minute later she returned, tying her apron around her waist.

  She was smiling. Smiling. Rick rarely saw her smile, really smile. She smiled at the customers, but it was a work smile, not a genuine silly grin like she wore now.

  "What's going on?" he asked.

  "What do you mean?" She joined him behind the bar, grabbing a fresh pencil from the cup near the cash register.

  He pointed at her mouth. "The smile."

  "Can't a girl smile?" Her grin widened, and she looked eighteen again, fresh faced, beautiful, ready for anything life had to throw at her.

  "Come on, spill," he said, doubly intrigued now.

  "If you must know, I think I just got offered a job working part-time at Karma Fitness."

  "Liv's? You know she's a nut job, right? Believes in karma, auras, and all things unexplainable? I heard she had a séance there last year. Quite the party."

  "So what?" Tawney shot back. She stretched her arms wide. "I'm going to dance again."

  "Dance?" It had never occurred to him that she might miss dancing. He'd just assumed it was a job she'd fallen into accidentally.

  "Why do you look like that?" she asked. "Like you can't believe I'd miss dancing?"

  "I don’t know," he admitted. "I just assumed it was a part of your life you were glad to leave behind."

  "I hated the lifestyle in Vegas, not the dancing." She broke away from him to wait on a couple of customers. "Two drafts," she said when she returned.

  Rick drew the beers. "So tell me more." He passed her the drinks.

  She delivered the drinks, giving the men the treat of her genuine smile. When she made her way back to him, she said, "There is no more."

  "Sure there is," he said. "Dancing makes you happy, right?"

  She pursed her lips. "I guess it does. I've been doing it all my life. If we'd had the money I would have probably become a ballerina, but ballet lessons are expensive. Mom let me take lessons when she could afford it, or when we found free classes, but I never had the opportunity to really train like I would have liked to."

  "So do it now," Rick said. He loved the passion in her voice, the light in her eyes, eyes that had so often looked dead and defeated. All this time, she'd had a goal. He'd been so wrapped up in his own wants and needs years ago, he'd never even considered she'd had dreams of her own. No wonder she thought he was such a dick. He deserved her scorn and so much more.

  She smiled sadly. "It's too late. I'm too old, but I'm not too old to teach others what I know. I've led all kinds of fitness and dance classes in Vegas. It's how I made my extra money and stayed sane."

  "So Liv is interested in hiring you?" Rick asked.

  "We are going to talk about it tomorrow morning."

  A party of six walked in. "Time to get to work." Tawney scooped up a bunch of menus and went to the group.

  Rick watched her. She was different today. She was happy.

  A happy Tawney was infectious. His mind reeled back to when they were young. Had she been happy with him? He wasn't sure. The fact that he didn't know spoke volumes about his character. Shame and regret held hands and play Ring-Around-the-Rosie in his belly. He glanced at Tawney. She smiled at the customer she waited on. She'd double her tips tonight because for the first time she had a personality, a sparkle in her eyes no one could resist.

  Not even him.

  And that scared him a little. She didn't like him, didn't trust him, and God knows he was a mental mess, but that didn't keep him from watching her.

  He couldn’t take his eyes off of her and neither could the customers, especially Junebug regulars Mel and Harry.

  And that reminded Rick that he needed to talk to Tawney about upping her security.

  This beautiful, vivacious Tawney was a danger to herself.

  And he'd make it his job to keep her safe.

  After the way he'd treated her when they were kids, he owed her that and so much more.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Tawney rolled over and stretched. Sunlight streamed in through the windows. An instant optimism filled her. She was meeting with Liv this morning. Where was her depression? Her bad mood? Ha! The black cloud had lifted. It was almost as if her true self had vacated her body since Fox Lassiter had barged into her life. Now she was back! Safe, moving ahead, about to dance again—with all her clothes on!

  The clock read a little after nine.

  Tawney tossed back the covers, heading to the kitchen to make coffee. She hummed as she added coffee to the basket. Soon the rich aroma filled the cottage.

  Tawney took a minute to appreciate the bay, her gaze on the fishing boats that bobbed in the marina, the mountains, the gulls. A pure hit of nature at its finest. High in the sky an eagle soared, its white head a brilliant contrast to its brown body and the blue sky overhead. The bird's majesty filled her up. She couldn't get enough of the view.

  The coffeepot beeped. She pulled herself from the window to get a cup. On her way, a knock sounded at her door.

  She took a detour. "Who is it?"

  "Rick."

  Rick? She glanced down at her blue pajama pants with the cats on them and her clingy black T-shirt. "Hang on."

  She dashed to the bedroom and pulled a navy sweatshirt over her shirt. Back at the door, she undid the deadbolt. "What's up?"

  "Can I come in for a second?" he asked.

  She took in his black jacket, the blue knit cap, the stubble that coated his jaw. "Sure. What brings you over so early?"

  "I'm heading out to my cabin this morning. Wanted to get an early start."

  "Right," she said. "Coffee?"

  "Love some."

  He followed her to the kitchen. Tawney poured the coffee, handing Rick a mug.

  Tawney sipped her own coffee. "Why the early visit?"

  He reached in his pocket and pulled out a phone. "I got this for you, no strings attached."

  "A phone?" she asked, puzzled.

  "It's a pay as you go phone. It's got plenty of time on it."

  "Why would you get me a phone?" Tawney asked.

  "A girl needs a phone," Rick said. "Especially a girl who works in a bar. If you were followed the other night, or any night, you need to be able to call for help."

  "Is the phone in your name?" If he'd put the phone in her name, she'd kill him. She couldn't ri
sk alerting Fox to her whereabouts.

  "It's not in anyone's name. It's disposable. Just let me know when the minutes get low, and I'll take care of it."

  "As nice and thoughtful as this gift is, I don't want you paying for it," she said. "I can take care of myself, Rick."

  "I know you can." He grinned. "I've seen your gun."

  Tawney smiled. "That's right."

  "Please take the phone. You can reimburse me if you want to, okay?"

  A phone would ease some of her fear. Her name wasn't attached. Maybe Rick had provided her with the perfect solution to her lack of a phone problem. "Okay, I will. Thank you." She set the phone on the counter.

  "My number is programed in," he said. "In case you need quick help."

  "Of course it is." She sipped her coffee.

  He smiled. "I'll be on my way. It's your day off, right?"

  "Right. I'm meeting with Liv this morning."

  He drained the last of his coffee. "Good luck today."

  "Thank you." She walked him to the door. "And thank you for the phone."

  He nodded. "Bye."

  She closed the door, locking the deadbolt.

  She had a phone and a job interview. Tawney's grin widened. Things were looking up.

  * * *

  "So what days are you teaching?" Brandi asked.

  Tawney bounced baby Will on her knee. "Three days a week to start. All mornings, ten a.m. classes, so I can still work at The Junebug on afternoons and evenings."

  "You look happy." Brandi smiled.

  "Dancing makes me happy, right, Will?" Tawney smiled at the baby. He grinned back, two bottom teeth showing.

  "You seem different since you've been back," Brandi said. "More closed off. Like you're hiding something. Are you?"

  Tawney had wrestled with how much to tell her sisters about Fox Lassiter. She didn’t want to involve them, but at the same time it was hard keeping Fox from them. "Not hiding something exactly. I didn't want to involve you or Star."

  "We know something is wrong." Brandi frowned. "I think you'll feel better if you tell us."

  Brandi's door opened and Star let herself into the apartment. "Hey."

  "Hi," Tawney said.

  "Ready to go to Anchorage and shop?" Brandi asked the bride-to-be.

  "Yes." Star took Will from Tawney. "I have a long list, everything from wedding decorations, to food, to picking up the bridesmaid dresses." She kissed Will on the cheek, the forehead, the top of his head. "I love you, Will. You are such a cutie."