by Jen Talty
Also documented with an obituary and images.
She had no siblings, and only one living relative, her father’s brother.
When you Google Richard Baker, the only result was that he was related to Harmony.
Richard Baker was the code word for: get me the fuck out of here because someone is trying to kill me.
But only if she dialed the special number Sterling gave her, otherwise, Richard was her sweet uncle who lived in Scarsdale.
“How long have you lived here?” she asked, unable to take the silence that lingered for the last two minutes.
“My entire life,” he said as he took her arm in his strong hand, guiding her across the street.
“You never left?”
“Well, I did four years in the Marines right out of high school.” He raised his sleeve, showing off a Semper Fi tattoo on his right bicep. “When I opted not to re-enlist, the sheriff suggested I go to the Academy, saying he needed a deputy like me. That was fourteen years ago, and I haven’t looked back. I love it here. My parents are still alive, and they live just five miles from the cottage you’re renting. My sister and her husband live on the other side of town; he’s a vet, and she’s a school teacher at the local high school. Teaches chemistry.”
“Does your sister have kids?”
He held up his hand, showing off three fingers. “Nine, five, and two. And talk about a handful.” He shook his head, but the smile gave way to how much he loved his family.
Her heart plummeted into the depths of her intestines. In the life she’d given up, she had no one. Her father had run out on her when she’d been three. She didn’t remember him, and her mother had nothing good to say about him. On her twentieth birthday, she’d come home to the trailer she shared with her mother to find her with her head in the gas stove.
Dead.
From there, Harmony went from one man to the next until she met Lucas, thinking she’d hit pay dirt.
Only, the pay dirt had been a fist in her face.
“Do you have any siblings?” he asked.
“No.” And that wasn’t a lie.
They stopped in front of the police station which was across the street from her shop. That gave her the shivers, as if big brother were watching her.
“I can’t imagine what it must be like to have lost both of your parents.”
Well, she’d lost them both in different ways. Not that either of them had ever cared for her.
“I put one foot in front of the other and keep pushing forward.”
“That’s a good way to live life,” Mason said, stopping in front of the sheriff’s office. “My house is right next door to the cottage if you need anything at all.”
She swallowed, hard. That little tidbit she did not know.
“Maybe we can walk to the barbeque together. I can introduce your around, help you drum up business.”
“Thanks, but I’ll have to look at my calendar. I have a few short trips planned, but don’t have the details in front of me. I’ll let you know.” If she didn’t have anything planned, she’d make sure she did now. “I really appreciate you showing me around and dropping off my keys.”
“My pleasure. See you soon.”
She watched him saunter into the sheriff’s office, her heart fluttering wildly. She’d have to find a way to make sure she set up proper boundaries. She was sure she could make him a friend. A good friend. The kind of friend one didn’t get too attached to.
Just in case.
Chapter 2
MASON SET THE BOWL of dog food on the kitchen floor. Coop, his crazy German Shepherd, sat and stared at him with his head cocked.
“You’re a dog. You eat dog food. I’m a human. I get the steak.” Who was he kidding? In about five minutes, he’d be dropping a few chunks in Coop’s bowl, and both dog and man knew it.
Mason glanced out the kitchen window. The sun hovered over the horizon as the light-blue sky collided with the pending darkness of night. It had been three days since his brief encounter with Harmony and the woman not only stole his breath, she’d entered his dreams. He saw her once as he was driving through town. He waved. She smiled. He was going to stop and say hello, but unfortunately, a call came over the radio.
In all the years he’d been renting the cottage, he never wanted something to break. Anything. Giving him the excuse to go over, take a look, and spend time with Harmony.
“Maybe I should send you over,” he said to the dog, who still sat by his bowl, waiting patiently for his portion of meat. “You’re friendly. You love people.”
Coop whined.
He was a good dog, but his bark was ferocious, and he was one hundred and twenty pounds of solid muscle. No matter how happy he behaved, most people, when first meeting him, were terrified.
Mason cut up the steak, tossing what he knew he wouldn’t eat in the bowl, and Coop immediately went wild, gobbling up both the dog food and the steak.
Nursing a longneck, he looked for signs of life from the cottage. Her beat-up, old, small SUV had been backed into the space next to the house. She’d gotten home while he’d been in the shower, but he hadn’t seen her come outside.
Yet.
And when she did, he was going to find an excuse to go out and chat. He had what he would say all planned out, asking her how things were going with work and if there was anything she needed with regard to the cottage. Then he would ask about the garden. Not that he knew anything, but it should keep the conversation going. If it didn’t, he’d take the hint that she wasn’t even remotely interested in him outside of the landlord/tenant relationship.
Coop finished his last morsel with a big lick and a groan, knocking over the metal bowl. Satisfied, he lay down at Mason’s feet, his heavy tail thumping back and forth. Technically, Coop was still a puppy, just shy of being a year old. Mason had spent a fair amount of time training him and for the most part, he was well-behaved, but easily excitable.
A noise from the cottage caught both Mason’s and Coop’s attention. A deep growl, followed by two menacing barks echoed in the kitchen. Coop’s watch dog abilities were getting better and better. He raised up on his hind legs, pressing his bear-like paws on the door.
“She’s friendly,” Mason said, patting the dog’s head. “Want to go meet her?”
Coop dropped to all fours and ran in a circle, knocking over the coat stand and nearly putting Mason on his can.
“Calm down,” he ordered. “Leash.”
Coop shook his head.
Mason repeated the command, “Leash.”
Coop lowered his head, taking the leash that had fallen with the coat stand between his teeth and dropping it at Mason’s feet.
“Good boy.” He bent over, securing the leather rope on Coop’s collar and getting a few licks in the process. “You’ve got some serious nasty breath. Let’s get you a treat.” Mason pulled one of the bones that claimed to give your dog fresh breath, as if that were really possible, from the jar in the cupboard. If he left them on the counter, they’d be gone. A lesson he learned the hard way a few months ago.
He pulled back the door an inch. “Beer. I should bring her a cold beverage.” Just as he reached for the fridge, his sister’s cell popped up on his phone. He accepted the call. “Hey, Joann, what’s up?”
“You didn’t tell me your new tenant was a party planner.”
“Didn’t realize you and Brett were in the market for one,” he said, setting two beers on the counter.
“I’ve got three kids, a full-time job, and my husband works all the time. I can use all the help I can get.”
“Are you planning a party?”
“Brian is turning ten. That’s double digits. He deserves the best party ever. Does she do kid events?”
“I have no idea, but I’m about to go offer her a friendly beer with Coop, so I can ask.”
“Have you asked her out yet? I hear she’s single.”
The door creaked opened, and Coop bolted.
“Shit, Coop, get b
ack here.” But the dog didn’t listen as he bolted across the yard. “I’ve got to go.” He stuffed his phone in his back pocket and ran out the door. “Coop!”
Harmony looked over her shoulder and dropped whatever was in her hands.
“He’s really friendly. He won’t hurt you. But he might lick you to death,” Mason yelled as he tried to catch the dog. “No jumping, Coop. Be nice to the pretty lady.”
“Be nice,” Harmony repeated, holding up her right hand.
“Sit,” she said with a stern voice. “Stay.”
Coop skidded to a stop, whining, but he didn’t knock Harmony over, which was a good start, but Mason just got sucker-punched in the gut.
Harmony’s curly hair rested on her shoulders. She wore a red tank top and a pair of weathered jean shorts that hugged her hips like an hourglass. Her wide, blue eyes blinked wildly as she braced herself for impact.
“Come here, Coop,” Mason said as he snagged the dog’s collar. “Heel.”
Coop whined more, his dangerous tail smacking Mason in the thigh with a loud thwack. “Sorry if he scared you.” That was a dumb thing to say considering she handled the dog like a true dog owner.
His heart fluttered. Dog’s had always been the deal breaker with him when it came to women. He couldn’t imagine his life without one.
“He’s a big dog,” she said, bending to one knee.
He was about to tell her that wasn’t a good idea, but Coop started sniffing, and she started petting and next thing he knew, she had her arms around the dog’s neck, laughing, while he licked her wildly, but didn’t knock her over.
Thank goodness.
“You’re a big old, harmless thing, aren’t you?” she cooed, scratching his ears as she stood. “I thought I heard a dog barking when I moved in.”
“He sounds like an attack dog, and he certainly lets me know when someone is here, but he’s still a puppy. We’re lucky he didn’t jump on you. I would wager he weighs more than you do.”
Harmony scrunched her nose.
God, he was an ass. Never mention a woman’s weight.
“I pulled out a couple of beers before Coop took off running,” he said, trying to change the subject before she sent him packing. “Shall I go get them?”
Harmony glanced around, her thumbnail between her teeth.
“I’ll be right back.” He handed her Coop’s leash and turned, not looking back. She hadn’t said no. Actually, she’d said nothing at all, which meant she was contemplating saying yes, so why wait for the other part of her brain that wanted to say no.
Crap. He was turning into Lilly.
One beer. Just one. Then he’d go home, watch some television, then go to bed, not thinking about Harmony and the music they could make between the sheets.
When he returned with the drinks, she had parked herself at the garden table in the back yard, Coop at her feet. The dog barely even glanced up at him.
Could he blame him? Harmony made for better company, even to a dog.
“Looks like you made a friend,” he said, setting the beer down on the table in front of her, holding his out.
“He’s a good dog.”
“Here’s to Coop.”
The dog popped his head up for a second while they clanked glasses, and he sat across from her, thankful he’d brought his shades as the blinding sun smacked his face, making it hard to see the beautiful woman who had his stomach turning in knots. Living in a small town made the dating scene awkward. Lately, he just hadn’t dated.
“I’m glad you were here when he got out. I wouldn’t have known how to stop him from jumping on me and that would have hurt.”
“The massive amounts of saliva alone would have drown you.”
She laughed, tossing her head back, exposing the soft crevices of her kissable neck.
He lifted the glass bottle to his lips, trying to hide the fact he was indeed staring. Her blonde hair with steaks of brown caught the sunlight in her twisty, tight curls, reminding him of a cascading waterfall. The way her lips curled over the beer bottle sent a fire through his bloodstream. The last time a woman made his hands tremble with nerves had been his senior ball date, Coleen.
Now she was married to a local fireman, and one of his best friends. He never considered her the one that got away, but she was the first girl he’d ever kissed and the first girl who had dumped him for someone else.
Sadly, she hadn’t been the last. One of the many reasons he was still single.
“How goes things with work?”
“I’ve landed two jobs so far.”
“That’s good. I take it one of them was Lilly?” He cringed at the way her name rolled of his lips. It tasted sour, and she had a way of making him want to crawl out of his own skin. Lilly wasn’t a bad person, far from it, but after one date, he realized she didn’t want him.
She wanted a piece of candy on her arm. She wanted a man who would do whatever she asked at the precise moment she asked it.
Thank God, she hated dogs.
Harmony shook her head. “She hasn’t come by to see me. I called her once so far. I’ll try again in a day or two, but after that, if she doesn’t want to use my services, so be it.”
“I don’t like to speak badly of anyone, but Lilly is a bit of a control freak.”
Harmony’s lips turned upward. “I figured as much, and I take that as a challenge.”
He let out a slight chuckle. “I suspect if anyone could take her on, it would be you.”
Harmony arched a brow. “Why do you say that?”
“The way you handled Coop with confidence as he raced toward you, not knowing what kind of animal he was.”
“Well, he wasn’t growling, nor was his hair standing up on end.” She tucked a long curl behind her ear, but it didn’t stay there. “And he listened to me. If he hadn’t, I would have taken off running toward the house screaming bloody murder.”
“You’re going to wish you had ran for the hills if you get Lilly to take you up on your offer.”
“I thought you didn’t like to speak ill of others?” Her tone was less accusatory and more playful.
Damn, she was a woman after his heart, even if she didn’t know it.
“I’m just saying she can be a bit much.”
“Sounds like you two have a history.” Harmony tipped her beer before taking a large swig. “I got the impression she thinks you two are an item. Is that true?”
He coughed on his beer. “If you must know, I took her on one date a few months back.”
“I take it there hasn’t been a second.” Harmony said with a snicker.
“God, no. Besides, she hates dogs.”
Coop snarled. Smart dog.
“I’m bringing Coop to the barbeque for protection,” he said, enjoying Harmony more than he enjoyed a good doughnut. He bit back a laugh. Nothing weirder than laughing at a joke you told to no one.
“Guess I can’t be Coop’s date then. Not if I want to land Lilly’s business.”
Mason scowled. That didn’t turn out as planned. “What about being my date?” Oh for fuck’s sake, shut the hell up.
“That’s not going to win me any brownie points with her.”
“No, but by going with me, it will put a fire under her ass, and I bet she’ll hire you just to figure out what the hell is going on with us.”
“There is nothing going on.” Her tone had a harsh twang to it as she set her beer on the table.
“We know that, but she doesn’t, and hey, I’m just trying to do a neighbor a solid by helping her land a client that could potentially set her up with a few really good gigs for the next year.” He shrugged, but deep inside, he smacked himself upside the head. He’d just stooped to an all-time new low.
“Either you’re trying to make her jealous, or you’ve devised an ingenious plan.”
He raised his beer. “Definitely the latter.”
“Then consider it a date.”
Chapter 3
HARMONY HAD LOST HER MIND. Goin
g on a date with Mason was about as dumb as stopping by his house to ask if Coop could come over and play.
She checked herself in the mirror one last time. She had to admit, she looked kind of cute in her red and white sundress with a pair of white sandals, something she wouldn’t have been caught dead in a year ago. Nothing but designer dresses, three-inch heels, and a pile of make-up that took three washes to get off her face at night.
The bell rang, followed by a happy yelp. She was becoming too attached to Coop.
And Coop’s owner.
It would be difficult to avoid Mason, considering he was her neighbor, landlord, and the Deputy Sheriff of this small town. But she was going to have to put the kibosh on her flirting.
When she pulled back the door, she bit back a gasp. Mason filled the front doorway with his broad shoulders and chiseled chest, wearing a white T-shirt and jeans. He’d slicked his hair back, but not in an overstyled, greasy way.
Coop stuck his nose in, licking her fingertips.
"Wow. You look fantastic.” Mason said, obviously eyeing her outfit.
Or maybe her body.
Whatever his gaze took in, sent a warm shiver over her skin. It was a pleasant, yet unwelcome sensation.
"You look pretty dapper yourself." Dapper? Where the hell did she pick up that word? Small-town talk was already rubbing off on her. She had to admit that she enjoyed small-town life more than she thought she would. The relaxed atmosphere certainly reduced her blood pressure, however, she'd never get used to the idea that everyone knew her every move.
"The dog dresses me up nice." He smiled, holding his hand out. "Ready?"
"Just need to get my apple pie." She turned to head back to the kitchen.
Mason’s fingers curled seductively around her biceps. "My favorite,” he said, smacking his lips.
"I'm sure you say that about all sweets."
"Are you sweet?" he whispered, leaning in and pressing his lips to her cheek. "Because, you'd quickly become my favorite everything."
