by Diana Tobin
Nettie swiveled her head. “Ethan?”
Now the man’s jaw dropped as he looked from one woman to the other. “Mom?”
“For goodness sake, put on your shirt, Micki.”
“Your machine spit hot coffee all over me. I was rinsing out my shirt when this…” she waved a hand toward Ethan as though she couldn’t think of a label horrible enough, “snuck up behind me. The idiot’s done nothing but gawk and proposition me.”
The idiot in question smiled. “Excuse me, Miz Nettie, but any man who doesn’t gawk and appreciate such a lovely sight,” he gestured toward Mike, “doesn’t deserve the right to be called a man.”
Nettie’s lips twitched. “Could we trouble you for a shirt, Ethan?”
He nodded then with a lingering look at the pretty curves encased by the pink bra, turned to make his way up the stairs.
“Are you all right? Did you get burned?” Nettie hurried across the room to examine the pink splotches on Micki’s chest and flat stomach. “Let’s put some aloe on those before Ethan brings you a shirt.” She broke off a tip of the plant on the windowsill. “You might try cold water for your red face.” This time she couldn’t hold back the giggle.
“Mom.” A protest or demand, she wasn’t sure which, but she did splash cold water on her face. “Why is—”
“Here you go.” Ethan handed a tee shirt to Mike as Nettie applied the aloe to her skin. “Did you get burned?” He frowned as he bent over to watch Nettie.
“Nettie, um, Gram—Mike, what are you doing?” Dani demanded.
“What do you need, honey?” Nettie asked, as if her daughter wasn’t standing in her underwear in front of them all.
Dani narrowed her eyes. “Is this how you got my father to marry you?’
“Danielle Elizabeth Sparks, you watch your tone young lady!” declared Mike.
“Don’t expect me to call him daddy,” she sneered. “You’ve got a customer, Grandmother.” She whirled to the front of the shop, dragging her sister with her.
“Shit,” Mike muttered. “Just shoot me now.”
Nettie patted her shoulder and handed the piece of plant to her. “Make sure I got everywhere. Micki, this is Ethan. Ethan, my daughter. I need to get out front.”
“You missed a spot.” Ethan pointed to her bicep. “Want me to do it?” He grinned when she refused. “I’m Ethan Reigh. There’s another one.” He traced his finger over her thigh, pointing out another burn.
She stepped back, but put the aloe where he indicated. “Why are you here?” She pulled the borrowed shirt over her head. It was navy blue with a snarling wolf on the front and printed on the left sleeve was Webster Wolves. “What are the Webster Wolves?”
“The Wolves are a hockey team, and for another day or two, I live upstairs.” He leaned back against the counter looking at the way his shirt swallowed her up. The sleeves fell below her elbows and the hem skimmed the bottom of her shorts. She could be naked under it, but he knew there was that pretty pink bra wrapped around those luscious curves. “So, you’re Nettie’s daughter.”
“Yes, Mike—uh, Michaela Sparks. Um, thank you for the shirt. I’ll get it back to you as soon as I can.”
“Keep it. Looks a helluva lot better on you than me.” He grinned at her. “Course, I liked it even better before you put the shirt on.”
She felt her face flame. “A gentleman wouldn’t bring up such an embarrassing incident.”
“I’m no gentleman.”
“Got that right.” She folded her arms under her breasts, pulling the shirt tight. “I take it you’ll be leaving soon?”
“Yeah. Rented a house. I’m waiting for some furniture so I don’t have to sleep on the floor.” He shifted his weight. “Who were the girls who came looking for Nettie?”
“My daughters.” Even she could hear the hesitation in her voice.
“You’re recently widowed?” When she nodded her agreement, he said, “Looks like you have your hands full with the tall mouthy one.”
“Yes, Dani,” she sighed. “Danielle is fifteen and knows it all. Charley—Charlotte—is ten. They’ve both been through a lot the past few years.”
“What about you?”
“What about me, Mr. Reigh?”
“Ethan,” he corrected. “You look wound tighter than a bedspring. Speakin’ of which,” the southern accent became more pronounced. “Sure you wouldn’t like to come upstairs for a bit?”
“I assure you, Mr. Reigh, I have better things to do with my day.” Leaving him where he stood, she went out front to have breakfast with her family.
Ethan scrubbed his hands over his face after Michaela walked out. He’d been a complete ass. Well, maybe not complete. He’d have been happy to apply that plant stuff to her burns. Of course, one touch of her soft skin and he’d been close to begging. Begging to touch more of her, to taste her skin. He’d come damn close to putting his mouth right over one of those pretty pink lace cups.
He’d been pretty sure she’d view his invitation to go up to his room as an insult. If she’d taken him seriously…he’d have found a way to scare her off. No way would he get naked with the lovely Miss Michaela. She’d either look at him in shock and disgust, or worse yet, pity.
He hadn’t been prepared for what the sight of all that ivory and pink flesh did to him. He smoothed a hand over the fly of his jeans. Time was it took a helluva lot more than the sight of a woman in a bra to get him interested. It had nothing to do with Michaela; it couldn’t. He’d gone without a woman far longer than normal. No way would he get involved with Nettie’s daughter. He had too much respect for the woman who’d taken him in. And, he sure as hell didn’t want to get involved with those kids. Especially the mouthy brat.
Ethan went out to pour a go-cup of coffee and grab a muffin. He placed money on the back counter before bidding Nettie goodbye.
“Let me cook you a real meal,” Nettie insisted.
“No, ma’am. This is good. I need to head down to Augusta and get some furniture.” He couldn’t keep his gaze from Michaela sitting at a small table with her daughters. “Sooner I get beds, the sooner I can get my guys out of Web’s house.”
“I’m going to miss having you here, Handsome.” Nettie patted his arm. “Come meet my granddaughters before you leave.” She towed him over to the table. “This is Charlotte and Danielle. Girls, this is Ethan Reigh. He’s our new coach, and he’s been staying upstairs.”
“What do you coach?” asked the little one. “Is that what Momma’s shirt is for?”
“Yeah, the Wolves are a hockey team. Young men have come to town to try out for the team.” He saw interest spark in the older girl’s eyes. “I better get going. Nice to meet y’all.” He saluted them with his coffee cup before walking out the door.
Mike ignored Dani’s pout. “Since when does Webster have a hockey team?”
“Pretty much since Ethan showed up,” replied Nettie. “Web got that rink built just outside of town. He’s hoping to coach speed skaters, like himself, maybe get some figure skaters and coaches. This hockey thing is some sort of junior league to help the kids get college scholarships or get picked up by the pros. Ethan used to play professionally and Web got him to come here and coach. I hope it does well. It could help us all.”
Dani folded her arms across her chest. “Right. Like hockey could do anything for this place.”
“Because Norwich is so much better with drugs and auto theft and who knows what else?” snapped Mike. “Are you speaking of Charles Webster, Mom?”
“The one and only.” Nettie smiled. “His wife used to work here.”
“He’s married?”
“Who’s Charles Webster?” piped up Charley.
“He’s a speed skater who competed in the Olympics.” Mike looked up at Nettie. “Didn’t he win some medals?”
“He did,” agreed Nettie. “His best win was Gusta’s heart. Those two are quite the couple.” She sighed, patting her chest over her heart. “Like from a romance novel. They have
a sweet little boy, Noah. I get to see more of Alice and Joe now.”
“Grammie, who’s Alice and Joe?”
“They’re Web’s parents.” When Charley scrunched up her face in confusion, Nettie explained. “Charles Webster goes by Web. I went to school with Alice and Joe. All us girls had a crush on Joe, but Allie has always been his one true love.”
“Did you go to school with this Web?” Dani asked. “Is the town named after his family?”
“Some ancestor of theirs,” replied Mike. “Web was a few years ahead of me, plus he was always away training or competing. I wonder what made him come back here?”
“This is his home,” said Nettie. “His grandparents left the place to him and Gusta. Anyone ready for more coffee, hot chocolate, a muffin?”
“Momma was right, Grammie. You do make the best blueberry muffins,” said Charley.
“Thanks, Mom. I need to go home and change clothes so I can get started on finding a place for a shop.”
“You can take a few days to relax, honey.”
Mike shook her head. “The sooner I can get my business started, the sooner I can start building a clientele. That needs to be my priority, if you can handle having us stay with you a while longer.”
Nettie placed her hands on Charley’s shoulders. “You stay as long as you like. The house would be empty without you girls. I almost volunteered to be a host.”
“A host for what?” Mike began cleaning up from their breakfast.
“Hockey players. They have to pay to play on the team so to help with costs Web and Ethan try to find host families to take in the boys. That’s why Ethan was going to get furniture. He rented the Brewer place. You remember it?” Mike nodded she did. “It’s in a good location for him, but he doesn’t have any furniture. I got the feeling he and Web will take in any of the boys they don’t find homes for.” Nettie moved off to the counter to help customers.
Mike, shadowed by Charley, bussed the tables. When they finished, they found Nettie fixing a go-cup.
“Would you keep an eye on things, Micki? I’m going to run this down to Wil. He hasn’t come in yet this morning.” She put the lid on his cup and scooped a muffin into a bag. “He comes in every day. I hope he’s all right.” She smiled at Mike and Charley. “I won’t be long, then we’ll discuss ideas for your business. Goodness knows, I’m in need of your services.”
CHAPTER SIX
“Good morning, Wil.” Nettie breezed into the antique shop, Time After Time. “Is everything all right? You didn’t come in for your coffee this morning, so I brought you a latte and a banana nut muffin.”
“Thank you,” he said gruffly. Wil had come into his shop early and begun moving things around. His wares would become as stagnant as he had if he didn’t start changing things. He stopped his re-arranging and turned to face Nettie. “I appreciate it, but to tell you the truth, I like my coffee straight up black.”
She stared at him. “I’ve been making you these lattes for months. And, you’ve been drinking them.”
“I know.” He rubbed a hand around the back of his neck. “You seemed to take pleasure in making those fancy drinks for me and I took pleasure in watching you.”
She placed the cup and muffin bag on the counter, then turned to face him, tilting her head to one side. Could Cathy Yablonski have been right about Wil having feelings for her?
“Did Micki get here okay? Thought I saw a truck and trailer go by last evening.” He turned back to straighten some of the items he’d moved.
“Yes, it was a long day for her and the girls.” Nettie watched him fiddle with things as if he was nervous. “She’s got her hands full with those two. Especially the older one, Dani. She acts all tough and rude, but I think she’s hurting. The little one, Charley, she’s a love. Already calls me Grammie, and thinks her mama can’t do much wrong.” She gave a little laugh. “Of course, we all saw a side of Micki we hadn’t expected this morning. Especially Ethan. I’d be willing to bet she had him tied in a few knots.”
“You got everybody figured out, don’t you?” Now Wil looked angry. “I suppose you’ve got me figured out, too.”
“No, Wil, I don’t have you figured out,” she said quietly.
“Of course not. You can’t see what’s right under your nose.”
“I believe I’m beginning to get my eyes opened.”
“I doubt that,” Wil stated. “But, I’ll give you something to think about.” With that, he grabbed her upper arms, pulled her up against him, and kissed her like he’d wanted to for the past thirty-plus years. When he broke off the kiss, his chest was heaving and his hands were shaking. His eyes gleamed as he stared down at Nettie.
She looked up at him for a long moment, then, without a word, she turned on her heel and headed for the door.
Wil shut his eyes, unable to bear watching the only woman he’d ever loved walk away from him. He’d blown it completely.
His eyes sprang open when he heard the click of the lock on his door and saw Nettie turn the sign hanging in the door window to CLOSED. He was sure he was dreaming, or seeing a mirage, as she walked back to him.
Taking his large hand in her smaller one, she led him to the back room. “I believe this discussion would be better continued in private.” She looked over her shoulder and winked at him.
Pulling closed the curtain that separated his store from his workshop and office, Nettie led him to a chair, urging him to sit. Once he did, she sat on his lap. One arm went around his neck while her other hand flattened over his heart. Bringing his mouth to hers, she whispered, “Now, where were we?”
****
Mike squinted her eyes as her mother sailed back into Moose-ley Coffee. Nettie’s short mink-colored bob looked as if someone’s fingers had been playing with it. Her perfectly pressed blue blouse now sported wrinkles, hung outside her dark blue capris, and if Mike wasn’t mistaken, was missing a button. Her lips were bare of color, but slightly puffy, and a smudge of mascara was high on her cheekbone.
“Wind must’ve come up.” Mike couldn’t stop her lips from twitching.
Color flooded Nettie’s face at her daughter’s intense stare as she automatically reached up to finger-comb her hair into place. “I had an idea on my way back.”
The grin spread across Mike’s face. “Looks like you had a humdinger. Did you and Wil get into a fight, or a…wrestling match?” She pointed to the missing button.
Nettie frowned down at the front of her shirt then lifted her chin. “We had a few things that needed to be straightened out between us.”
“Looks to me like you must’ve gotten Wil pretty—uh, straight.” Mike burst out laughing, drawing the attention of Dani and Charley.
“You know what they say about a man with snow on his roof.” A smile curved Nettie’s lips and her eyes twinkled.
“We needn’t take this any further,” Mike protested. “I didn’t know you had a man in your life.”
“I didn’t know it, either,” she replied softly, still with that secret grin.
“As long as he’s good to you, Mama.” Mike straightened up. “Did you really have an idea, or was that your excuse for being gone over an hour?”
Nettie glanced at the moose clock behind her daughter. “I was gone that long? It seemed like only a few minutes.”
“Evidently, someone works fast.”
“No,” Nettie said softly, “I think it’s been years in the making.” She sighed and got a dreamy look in her eyes. Mike cleared her throat, causing Nettie to blink and focus. “Oh. Yes. I think we should call Cathy so you can look next door.”
“Look at what next door? The hardware store?”
“No, the other side of the parking lot. The old ice cream shop.” Nettie pointed out the window. “You could turn it into your salon.” Becoming business-like, she said, “Go look in the windows, and I’ll see if Cathy can come over now.”
“Where ya going, Mama?” Charley left her sister at the table they’d been sharing when Mike headed fo
r the door.
“To peek in the windows next door. Want to go with me?” Charley nodded her agreement. “Dani, you want to come with us?”
“Unless we’re returning to Connecticut, no.”
Rather than waste her breath arguing, Mike opened the door, jingling the bell, and ushered Charley outside. They crossed the small parking lot separating the two buildings and went to the large windows facing the street. Cupping their hands around their eyes, they pressed close to the glass to peer inside.
“It’s kinda empty,” Charley stated. “And, dirty.”
“Yeah,” agreed Mike, “but it could work.” Turning her back to the glass, she looked out over the street and town. Right on Main Street, also the highway, going through town, but very visible. She’d need to advertise for employees as well as customers. And, she’d need to make it welcoming to men, not just women.
Returning to the coffee shop, Mike excitedly asked when the agent could meet with her.
“Cathy should be here in fifteen minutes,” Nettie told her. “What did you think?”
“I have to see inside and learn the details of the lease, but I think it’s a possibility.” Mike chewed on her lip. “Do you think there’s living quarters with it?”
“Doubtful, but don’t even worry about that. I want you girls to stay with me. Please,” she added. “That house has been too empty with just me. Besides, it will be nice for you to get away from your work at the end of the day.”
“First things first,” replied Mike. She cautioned herself not to get too excited before she knew more about the building.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Good mornin’ Miz Michaela.”
His drawl was more pronounced when he said her name. She’d always thought plain Mike or even her mother’s Micki best suited her, but something in the way Ethan Reigh said her full name sent a tingling warmth up her spine. “Morning, Mr. Reigh. What may I make for you?”
“Black coffee will do me.” He took a seat at the counter, watching as she poured fresh coffee into a mug. “Where’s the rest of your family?”
