by Jill Sanders
“Forgot something, McGowan?” Just hearing Addy’s sexy chuckle had him reaching to cover himself. “Shy too.” She laughed at his move.
“What the hell?” He took a step back and realized the kitchen was full of people. “Damn it, Mom, couldn’t you have warned me?”
His mother was all smiles as she leaned against the kitchen counter with a glass of wine in her hand. “Watch your language.” She motioned to the phone in his hands. “I did text you over an hour ago.”
Trent groaned as he remembered her telling him about the party a few days ago. He’d gotten so caught up in his new toy that he’d lost track of the days. He made a quick retreat into his bedroom. Would he survive the next few months until his new home could be delivered and set up? Thoughts of renting his brother’s old apartment above the Wet Spot went quickly through his head.
After showering and pulling on a fresh shirt and jeans, he made his way back out to the room full of guests.
He’d moved too quickly to register anyone other than Addy and his mother; now, however, his face heated with embarrassment as he realized how big his audience had been.
“Enjoying yourself?” he asked Addy, shoving a carrot stick into his mouth.
“So far I’ve enjoyed the show,” she teased.
“Really?” He leaned closer to her and savored her soft scent.
“I’d say you were the highlight of the party so far,” Addy said just under her breath.
He held in a chuckle, but groaned in spite of himself as her eyes moved over him.
“If you want . . .” He trailed off when Addy’s gaze moved across the room. He watched concern flood in as she looked at Kristen standing near the fireplace.
“She’s still struggling with everything.” Addy nodded toward Kristen.
His brother Tyler had his arm wrapped around Kristen’s waist, holding her against him with tenderness.
“Yeah, they both are.” Trent’s good attitude took a dive when he noticed the dark circles under Kristen’s eyes. “Being with him helps, though.”
“I suppose,” Addy said and took another drink.
“You suppose?” He turned to her and took another carrot.
“I mean, he is the one who found her, and it seems like he loves her.” She shrugged a little.
“But?” he asked.
“Depending on someone else to heal your pain . . .” She shook her head and glanced back across the room. “Only time and distance from those who hurt you can do that.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Who’s hurt you?” He took a step closer to her.
Just then, his mother interrupted by tapping her spoon against her wine glass to get the room to quiet down.
“We’d like to thank everyone for coming tonight,” she said, as she joined Kristen, Tyler, and Trisha by the fireplace. “I believe Kristen and Trisha have a few words for everyone.”
His mother stepped back and gave them the room.
Trisha spoke first. “No words could ever convey how lucky we are to know everyone in this room. For the longest time, it’s just been Kristen and me. We’ve been through a lot together.” She reached for her daughter’s hand, and Trent heard a sniffle somewhere in the room. Immediately he tried to take a step backward. He hated seeing women cry, especially a whole room full of them.
“Scared of a few tears?” Addy mocked lightly, causing him to relax back against the bar next to her.
“Just wish I had a beer,” he said under his breath.
“But,” Trisha’s voice broke in again, “over the years, we learned to rely on one another. We never for a moment believed that we’d ever feel part of something bigger than us. The McGowan family and you, the good people of Haven, have changed our minds.” She raised her glass and everyone in the room followed suit. “Not only did every one of you in this room help find and save my daughter, but you’ve welcomed us with open arms and hearts. We’re both very proud to now be part of this wonderful community and hope that someday, somehow, we can repay your kindness.”
There were a few shouts of “hear, hear,” and “welcome aboard,” then everyone drank.
Kristen’s smile was so bright, Trent felt the heat from across the room. His brother had lucked out in finding her, the woman Trent would call sister-in-law soon enough.
“My mother sure does have a way with words,” Kristen said, getting a few giggles and sniffles from the room. Her smile dipped slightly, and she reached for Tyler’s hand and clasped it together with her mother’s. “But I know in my heart that without everyone in this room, I wouldn’t be standing here today.” She took a deep breath, and Trent watched Kristen’s eyes move to Addy, standing next to him. A tear slid down Addy’s cheek. “So thank you.” Kristen raised her glass.
Trent saw Addy quickly dash the tear away and take a sip of her drink.
“Going soft?” he said when the room filled with noise again.
She glanced over at him. “You’re one to talk.” She nodded to his damp cheeks.
“I’m allowed to be emotional. I was there when we found her.” He rubbed his face dry. “No one should ever have to go through that kind of abuse.”
“No,” Addy sighed. “They shouldn’t.” She waved to someone across the room. “Excuse me.”
He watched her walk across the room. Somehow, he doubted she’d been talking about Kristen and wondered again who had hurt her.
Trent circulated, chatting with everyone, snacking on fried chicken and his mother’s herb-mashed potatoes, and finally got that beer he’d been wanting.
He spent almost fifteen minutes talking to the mayor of Haven, Ms. Martha Brown. The woman was a ball of energy. She filled him in on the new elementary school plans. The building site was just on the outskirts of town. He’d been on the committee who’d voted for the location.
He’d even seen the first run of building plans and had liked what he’d seen. But Martha went on about some of the challenges they would be facing in the future. He was beginning to wonder if she had a point somewhere when she finally got to it.
“So I was talking to your brother.” She waved a hand at Tyler, who was busy talking to someone else across the room. Kristen was still leaning against him. “He hinted that you’d be the person to talk to about looking at the landscaping plans for the school. Where to put the playground equipment, what kind of trees and bushes should go in, where it should all go. You know, all that stuff.” She waited as he looked down at her. “Basically everything you’re now doing for your own business. But for the town and kids.”
His heartstrings were sufficiently tugged. He sighed and took a sip of his beer. “I’ll swing by your office later this week.”
The mayor’s smile bloomed bright and big. “Thank you.” She reached up on her toes and placed a loud, smacking kiss directly on his lips, much like his mother did. Once she walked away, Addy came back.
“First you give a room full of people a show, and now you’re hitting on women older than you by half your age.” She tsked as she edged past him. She was heading to the hallway and the front door, so he followed.
CHAPTER FOUR
Addy stepped outside of the McGowan home and hugged her jacket closer to her as the crisp mountain air hit her.
Her mind was already flooded with tomorrow’s list of things to do. Since returning to town, she’d barely had enough time to research what Beau had asked her to. She had a trip to city hall scheduled for first thing tomorrow morning.
She was leaning on the front screen door when it opened behind her, nudging her a few steps forward.
Strong hands wrapped around her shoulders and held her.
“Sorry,” Trent’s deep voice sounded from directly behind her.
She closed her eyes and took a moment to enjoy the feeling of being held by him again.
Then, as quickly as he’d caught her, his hands were gone, his warm touch replaced by the cool air.
She shifted a foot away from the top edge of the porch until she knew she was
out of the way of the screen door. He’d been correct earlier; part of her was and would always be a klutz.
“You’ve forgotten your jacket,” she said absentmindedly.
She watched as he shrugged and walked over to the porch railing. “It’s warmed up finally.”
She moved closer to him, almost as if she were in a trance. The memory of him rushing out of the kitchen, dressed only in a dark pair of socks and tight—very tight—boxer briefs, had her mind swirling.
He had been everything she’d dreamed about. His body had actually been better than her imagination had conjured up over the years.
“Did your . . . Bessy get here safe?” she asked, not sure what to say. The night seemed so quiet. Even with the muffled sounds of the party still going on just a few feet away inside the house, the night air was too quiet.
He glanced over at her, and his smile caused her breath to stick in her chest.
“Yeah, she’s a beauty. Spent the entire day on her. Cleared more land in a single day than in a week of backbreaking work between the three of us at Tyler’s place. He’s already begging me to drive it up to his place and finish the job there.”
She couldn’t help it; his smile was contagious. She leaned against the railing next to him and lost herself in his eyes for just a moment.
“Why are you clearing your land?”
“I’m having a log home kit delivered in a few months.” He turned slightly and his body brushed against hers. She straightened and stiffened. Her chin rose.
“Why do you do that?” he asked, his hand reaching out slowly as he brushed a finger down the arm of her jacket.
“What?” She took a slow breath.
“Tense every time I get near?” A small crease formed between his dark eyebrows.
“Why wouldn’t I?” She looked away into the darkness beyond the light from the porch. The yard was too dark to see, but she knew that Gail, Trent’s mother, kept her plants and yard as tidy as her house. In a few weeks, the front area would probably be full of blooms. Something she missed living in a small travel trailer. Not having dirt to play with, not being able to help things grow.
His voice broke into her daydreams of planting a garden of her own. “Someday you’ll open up and tell me who has hurt you.”
“What makes you think I’ve been hurt?” Her face went blank. She’d gotten good at that.
His head tilted and his eyes bore deeper into hers until she had to blink and glance away. She hadn’t realized his arm had remained on hers until he removed it when the front door opened, flooding the front porch with light.
“There you are.”
They both turned to see the mayor of Haven walk out onto the front porch.
Addy had seen the woman talking with Trent and half the people at the party. Figuring that she hadn’t finished her conversation with Trent, Addy took a step back, expecting to make her retreat. But then the mayor walked over to her and took her arm. “I hope you’re not leaving already,” she said to Addy, surprising her.
Addy had known Martha Brown her entire life. The woman had been one of her mother’s friends. Then again, the mayor of Haven was friends with almost everyone. One of the reasons she was the most popular public official Haven had ever seen.
“I . . . I was about to go. I need to be . . .”
“Nonsense,” Martha said, patting Addy’s hand. “We were just talking about your little group and could use some help in explaining some things.”
Addy glanced over her shoulder at Trent as the mayor tugged her back into the house.
Trent’s frown caused her to be very grateful for the interruption. She knew that once he or his brothers got their mind set on finding answers, they were as determined to get to the bottom of things as she was.
There was no way she was ready to open up about her problems to a playboy who at one point or another had dated every girl in town. Every girl except her.
For the next hour, she stood and explained what her “little group” was actually doing in Haven. She felt like she had to repeat herself more than a half dozen times, but in the end, she at least knew that the mayor had really listened to her concerns.
“Of course, I care very much about what goes on in and around my town. I’d like to set up a time when we can meet in my office,” Martha said. “Maybe we can have a private meeting with the McGowans as well to talk through everyone’s concerns.”
“That would be wonderful.” Addy smiled. Score one for me. Man, would Beau be proud.
“Why don’t I check with their schedules and mine and get back to you?” Martha jotted something down. “Give me a call later this week.”
She handed Addy a business card; on the back was her private cell phone number.
“Thank you.” Addy felt a huge weight lift from her shoulders.
“Don’t mention it.” Martha smiled. “Now how are your parents doing? I haven’t seen them in a while.”
Addy blinked and felt her heart kick. “They’re traveling,” she said between clenched teeth. “For the past few years, they have spent the first month of spring in the Caribbean.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Martha made a tsk sound. “Who would spend the best part of the year away from all this? Watching the last snow melt away, the flowers bloom.” She took a drink as her gaze hopped around the room. “We have a good group here,” she said, and Addy could see pride and love in the woman’s eyes. “I’m happy things didn’t end in a tragic way for Kristen and Tyler.”
“Yes,” Addy agreed. “It must have been terrible.”
“That’s a strong woman there.” She nodded to Kristen. “She deserves to be happy.” Martha turned to her and laid a soft hand on her elbow. “So do you.”
Addy didn’t know what to say. Her throat closed up and suddenly she felt her eyes sting.
“I . . . I am happy,” she said. Her voice sounded faraway and hollow.
“Yes,” Martha said, drawing the word out. “I can see you are.” The tone of the older woman’s voice said it all. “Maybe you should take a page from Kristen’s book.”
Addy’s eyebrows shot up in question.
“Let someone unexpected into your life.” She patted her arm. “Don’t forget to call later this week,” she said over her shoulder as she moved across the room.
Addy stood by the kitchen bar and watched as the crowd of people slowly thinned.
She’d meant to leave too, but her feet felt rooted to the spot. Even though most of the people in the room weren’t technically related, they acted as if they were closer than most families.
Then again, it didn’t take too much to outstrip her own family.
When there was only a handful of guests left, she made her way over to Kristen and Tyler, said her good-byes, and once again stepped out onto the front porch. Taking a deep breath of the crisp night air, she slowly made her way down the steps.
“Leaving so soon?” Trent’s voice caused her to jump.
She hadn’t seen him sitting on the front porch in the dark.
“Sorry.” He chuckled. “It got a little too crowded in there and I needed some fresh air. Again.” He stood up and approached her.
“Yeah,” she added, looking back toward the almost-empty house. “Still, it was nice of them to include me.”
“From what Tyler has told us, you really helped out. Going into the Wet Spot. I heard you took a few cat scratches from Darla.” He shoved his hands deep into his pockets.
She grinned at him. “I gave her a black eye.”
He nodded. “Yeah, I saw it myself.”
“Oh?” She crossed her arms. “Still frequenting the Wet Spot?”
His chuckle echoed again. “They do have the best steak dinners in town.”
She dropped her arms and shrugged. “Right,” she said, turning away from him. She didn’t want him to see her disappointed look. She knew she could never compare to the half-dressed busty women at the local strip club. Darla, as ugly as the woman was on the inside, was wrapped in
a very sensual, exotic package that made most men drool.
Compared to her old best friend from junior high, Addy had always been the invisible girl. She couldn’t even remember why or how they had become friends back then. Maybe it was because they had both come from damaged families? Maybe it was just dumb luck?
She took a few steps toward her Jeep.
“So what about that dinner I owe you?” Trent caught up to her.
Her eyes flashed to his in question. “Dinner?”
His smile was quick. “Sure, remember?” He had to slow his pace down to match hers.
She stopped just short of her Jeep as she remembered his words on the trail the other morning. “Oh.” She shook her head. “How about we call it even since I gave you soup the other night?”
He shook his head. “No, that was you feeding me. I owe you. Not the other way around. Although technically now I owe you two meals.” He leaned closer until he was just a breath away. His smile slowly spread, causing that sexy dimple to flash. “How about dinner and then . . . breakfast?” he said in a husky voice.
She couldn’t help it. A burst of laughter escaped her lips. Any other woman would have melted at his feet. But she knew him too well.
“What?” He stepped back with an offended look. “What’s so funny? The prospect of dinner or the idea of spending a night with me?”
“Both,” she said between laughs. She shook her head. “Good night, Trent.” She opened her Jeep door and slammed it behind her.
As she drove away, she could still sense the confusion in Trent’s eyes, even though it was too dark to see them clearly.
Did he really think that a line he’d used a dozen times on her friends would work on her? She chuckled about his repeat moves until she pulled in next to her trailer.
Then her smile fell away as she saw a small group of people, led by Brian, standing outside her camper.
“What now?” she groaned as she got out of her Jeep.
