Miracle Road es-7

by Emily March

  “Yes. I guess I didn’t get enough sleep last night.”

  “I’d apologize, but I’d be lying,” he replied, an unrepentant look on his face. “Why don’t you take a nap?”

  “I think I will, if you won’t mind. Just a short one.”

  He reached across the console and gave her thigh a pat. “Sleep as long as you want. I’ll wake you when we get to the restaurant.”

  She drifted off almost immediately but awoke before they reached Gunnison when Lucca tapped his brakes too hard and muttered a curse. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you up. Some fool on a bike just had to pass me for the fourth time, and he cut in too close. If I wasn’t paying attention, I’d have hit him and the woman he’s got clinging to him like wallpaper. Idiot. Driving recklessly on these roads is asking for trouble.”

  “Why four times? Did you speed up to pass him back?”

  “No. They’re stopping at every scenic overlook so the chick on back can take photographs. They stay long enough for me to drive past them, and just when I think I’m done with them, here he comes again. Guy’s driving a crotch rocket, too. Not even a big old Harley.” He spared her an apologetic glance. “Sorry, honey. Go back to sleep. Hopefully, they’re tired of stopping.”

  Hope checked her watch. She’d slept for over an hour, and she felt much better. Now she was curious about the motorcyclist who had given Lucca a slight case of … not road rage. More like road annoyance.

  “I’ve slept long enough,” she told him. She studied the area surrounding them. Having made this drive herself plenty of times, she knew they’d reach Gunnison in another half hour.

  “There they are again,” Lucca muttered as they approached a turnout with a historical marker sign.

  Hope took in the bike. Sleek and powerful—so different from the big, bulky Harleys you saw in the mountains so often. The woman was standing on the ground, but she wasn’t taking pictures this time. The man’s back was to the road, shielding the woman from view, but his position didn’t hide the helmets discarded at their feet or the fact that they were wrapped in a passionate kiss. Hope particularly noted the woman’s boots. She loved them. Black leather with a fringe—sexy and strong, but feminine. Maybe she should let Celeste talk her into taking up biking to give her an excuse to buy boots like that.

  “If they’re going to act that way, they need to get a room. This is a public highway. Hell, they’d be about a button away from being arrested if Zach were to happen along.”

  “Oh, don’t be such a grump,” she teased him. “I’m told that riding a motorcycle can be a very arousing experience. All that vibration down where it counts.”

  His brow arched in surprise. “Is the kindergarten teacher hiding an adventurous spirit?”

  “Maybe more than I previously realized. Something about you makes me want to walk on the wild side, Coach.”

  “Really, now.” He watched the road, a grin playing on his lips. “I think there is a cycle store in Gunnison. Maybe we’ll add another destination to our shopping trip.”

  They kept their conversation casual the rest of the way into town. Lucca was hungry so he asked if she’d mind if they went to Gloria’s first. The restaurant had changed hands in the past month, and the menu revisions had stirred quite a debate with her Eternity Springs friends. “Zach loves the changes the new owners have made,” she told Lucca. “So do the Murphys, but Nic and Sage say they liked the old menu better.”

  “I judge Mexican food restaurants by chips and salsa and chiles rellenos.”

  “For me it’s cheese enchiladas and guacamole.”

  They enjoyed a leisurely meal. Hope gave the new ownership high marks. Lucca declared his rellenos to be the best he’d had since his last trip to El Paso. “But you spent so much time in Mexico.”

  “We’re talking Tex-Mex, here. Two different cuisines.” He told her about some of the food he’d eaten during his summer down south, and when he took the conversation toward lizards, snakes, and bugs, just thinking about it made her queasy. Once queasy escalated to nauseated, she set down her napkin. “Excuse me. I’m a wuss. Thinking about eating bugs has turned my stomach, and I need some fresh air.”

  “I’m sorry. Go on outside. I’ll pay the check and meet you in front.”

  The cool, fresh air helped, and by the time Lucca exited the restaurant a few minutes later, she felt better. “You still up to do errands?” he asked her.

  “Absolutely.”

  “Walk or drive?”

  “Let’s walk. It’s a lovely day, and I need some exercise.”

  “All right. Why don’t you lead the way? I’m still learning where things are in this town.”

  “All right.” Hope realized she could get used to the companionship of a man like him. Lucca was different from her ex. Mark had always needed to be in charge.

  Hope led him north, then took a right at the next intersection. Her destination, the teaching supplies store, was halfway down the next block. When they passed a camera shop, Lucca’s steps slowed. “Mind if we duck in here?”

  “Not at all.”

  Ten minutes later she walked out of the shop a little shocked. The man had just dropped almost three thousand dollars on gifts for his family. She’d known he had money. Successful collegiate coaches made bank, and he’d been a professional athlete before that, but still. “Do you do that sort of thing often?”

  “Spur-of-the-moment gift buying?” He shook his head. “It’s an act of self-defense. I learned long ago that if I get an idea for Christmas or birthday gifts, I’d better jump right on it, because chances are Tony will come up with the exact same idea. I guess it’s the twin thing. Anyway, our deal is that the first guy to buy it has dibs on giving the gift. I usually have all my Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving.”

  “You certainly made that shopkeeper’s day.”

  “I like to buy local, but since Eternity Springs doesn’t have a camera shop, I figure this will do. Let me put this stuff in my trunk, and then we’ll tackle your errands. Where are you needing to go?”

  “The teaching supplies store,” she replied as they retraced their steps to his vehicle. “They have a United States map rug I’m considering ordering for my classroom, but I want make sure that it’s well made enough to withstand kindergarten wear and tear. After that I need to pick up a few things at the drugstore, and if we still have time, I’d like to visit the yarn shop.”

  “Are you a knitter?” he asked, thumbing the door release button on his key fob.

  “I crochet. My grandmother taught me when I was a little girl. I’m crocheting a christening gown for Michael Murphy, but I need one more skein of thread.”

  “That’s cool,” Lucca said. He piled his packages into his SUV, then shut the door. “My college roommate’s mother crocheted, and she made me an afghan that is one of my prized possessions. I think … well now … look where our friend ended up.”

  Lucca hooked his thumb toward the motel across the street. The motorcycle sat parked in front of room 110. “Now we know why he was in such a hurry. What do you want to bet that the old Matterhorn Mountain Motel rents rooms by the hour?”

  “Like I said,” Hope observed, catching his hand in hers. “Good vibrations.”

  He snorted, and she hummed the old Beach Boys tune as she tugged him down the street toward the teaching supplies store. There, he played Santa Claus and purchased supplies not only for Hope’s classroom, but for all the other Eternity Springs classrooms, too. By the time they returned to his SUV an hour and a half later, both his and her arms were full. The motorcycle remained parked in front of the Matterhorn Mountain Motel.

  “Guess he’s not always in a hurry,” Lucca observed as he pulled away from the curb.

  They arrived at the airport just as a tanned and happy Gabi Romano exited the terminal. Lucca got out of the truck to help her with her bag. Upon seeing her brother, she waved and smiled. When she spied Hope sitting in Lucca’s vehicle, curiosity lit her eyes. “Well, well, well,
” she said when she reached the car. “This is a surprise.”

  “Gabi, you look gorgeous. Welcome home.”

  “So, you missed me so much you decided to tag along to see me two hours sooner?”

  Hope didn’t see any sense in being coy. Gabi had a bit of terrier in her personality and if she had questions, she wouldn’t quit before she learned the answers. Besides, the thought of shocking her friend had some appeal. “I tagged along because I’m dating your brother and he invited me.”

  Gabi’s surprised smile bloomed. “Really? Cool. Which one? Tony or Max?”

  “Very funny,” Lucca said.

  Gabi slipped her arms around her brother’s waist and gave him a quick, hard hug. “Good for you, bro. So you got through the anniversary okay?”

  He met Hope’s gaze. “I had a great day.”

  “I’m so glad.” Gabi looked from Lucca to Hope appraisingly. Then she gave her brother another squeeze before stepping back and climbing into the rear passenger seat. “I can’t wait to tell you about my trip. At the last minute the Thurstons decided to have their beach house painted so they flew me to … guess where. You’ll never guess where.”

  “You’re tan,” Hope said. “Key West?”

  “The French Riviera!”

  “Seriously?”

  “Seriously. They took me along on their trip as the official pet sitter. I flew first class and stayed in the same resort where they were.” Gabi settled back against the car seat and released a satisfied smile. “I’ve decided what I want to be when I grow up.”

  Lucca’s gaze flicked up to the rearview mirror. “Filthy rich?”

  “You guessed it. But in the meantime, I’m starved. How about I buy you guys dinner? I’ve been dreaming about Mexican food all the way from Atlanta.”

  “Oh, Gabriella,” Lucca whined. “We ate there for lunch. Not all that long ago.”

  “Fine. I’ll buy you and Hope dinner at the Yellow Kitchen when we get home … but take me to Gloria’s first. Please?”

  “What do you think?” Lucca asked Hope.

  “I have room for a sopaipilla.”

  As they drove back toward the center of town, Gabi chattered about her trip, though the looks she gave Hope told another story. She wanted answers. Hope suspected Gabi would be dragging her off to the ladies’ room to dish as soon as they reached the restaurant.

  Maybe she should try to avoid an encounter like that. She didn’t know what she would tell her. Let her corner her brother, instead. Maybe I’ll learn what he thinks about us that way.

  The downtown area bustled on this Saturday night, and Lucca drove around a bit searching for a parking spot. “Don’t worry about getting close on my account,” Gabi told her brother. “I’ve been cooped up on airplanes for too long. A walk sounds really good.”

  “I’ll make the block one more time,” Lucca said. As they passed the Matterhorn, he pointed toward the empty parking spot in front of Room 110. “Looks like our biker friends have moved on. Finally.”

  “You are awfully interested in some stranger’s sex life, Lucca.”

  “What?” Gabi leaned forward and propped her elbows up on the seat in front of her. “What did I miss? Whose sex life?”

  “I’m not interested,” Lucca replied to Hope, ignoring his sister’s questions. “I’m just making an observation.”

  “Well, I observe a parking spot,” Hope said. “Up ahead two blocks on the right. It’s in front of the ice cream shop.”

  Lucca goosed the gas when the signal light turned yellow and made it safely through the intersection. He executed a skillful bit of parallel parking that disgusted Hope. “It would have taken me three tries to fit this truck in that spot. You made that look too darned easy.”

  “What can I say? I’m good.”

  She wasn’t going to argue with that. She climbed out of the passenger seat and shut her door, then turned to Gabi. “So are you a fan of guaca …” Her voice trailed off. The color had drained from Gabi Romano’s face and she stood frozen in place, staring in shock through the plate glass window of the ice cream shop.

  The biker was there. So was the short woman with those boots Hope liked so well. He was sharing his ice cream cone with her, and she was licking it lasciviously. It wasn’t until Hope heard Gabi make a strangled sound that she took a closer look at the biker, and then his babe.

  “Is that … Mom?” Gabi croaked.

  Having come around the back of the truck to join Hope and Gabi on the sidewalk, Lucca heard the question, spied his sister’s wounded look, and froze. His gaze went from Gabi to the shop window. It took a few beats, but Hope recognized the instant that it clicked.

  Shock, betrayal, hurt, then fury. Hot, fierce, murderous fury. His fists clenched at his sides and his jaw turned to granite. Hope reacted instinctively, threading her arm through his and holding on for dear life. She didn’t care how she had to accomplish it, but she wouldn’t let this escalate into a public brawl.

  Then, as if Lucca’s green eyes had shot magnetic laser beams across the distance separating him from his mother, Maggie Romano straightened on alert. She pulled her gaze away from the ice cream cone held by the biker—contractor Richard Steele, Hope now realized—and turned to gaze out the window.

  She looked like a soldier on a battlefield who had caught a bullet, and staggered back. But Maggie Romano was apparently wearing Kevlar, because after that first devastating moment of stunned surprise, she squared her shoulders, lifted her chin, and silently told her adult children to go stuff themselves.

  Richard Steele leaned down and licked a streak of ice cream away from the side of her mouth.

  Lucca made a sound—a low, menacing growl—and Hope knew she needed to take action immediately. “Into the truck,” she ordered, shoving Lucca toward the closest door. Ordinarily, it would have been like moving a mountain, but right now he was off balance. She grabbed the keys from his hand and released the locks, then yanked open the passenger door, and demanded, “Lucca, get in. Gabi, you, too.”

  She shoved him toward the opening, and blessedly, he went, taking a seat in eerie silence. Gabi remained rooted to her spot, her horrified gaze locked on her mother, so Hope repeated her action with the back passenger door and guided her friend inside.

  Then, like a bat fleeing the dragon’s lair cavern, Hope drove the Montgomery siblings away from the scene of their mother’s crime.

  For the first ten miles of the road back to Eternity Springs, nobody spoke. Lucca’s head was spinning. He remembered how he’d felt that time he’d come home from college unexpectedly and walked in on his parents going at it. This felt similar, but worse.

  When Hope braked at a road crew flagger’s signal, Gabi emerged from her silent shock in the backseat to suggest, “Maybe it wasn’t how it looked.”

  “It was exactly how it looked,” Lucca fired back.

  “We can’t know that,” she insisted, denial strong in her tone.

  “We can damned sure infer.” Lucca summarized the motorcycle incident for his sister.

  Gabi’s shaky voice said, “Maybe it was a different motorcycle. Mom wouldn’t do that. She wouldn’t. I can’t believe this. The Matterhorn? Really?”

  “Same boots.”

  “You noticed Mom’s boots?”

  “Yeah.” He’d thought they were sexy. Knowing now that they’d been his mother’s boots gave him the creeps.

  “So you are saying our mother is having sex with her handyman.”

  “Contractor, Gabriella,” he corrected. The other term was an invitation to tasteless jokes. “Tasteless” led him to recall the image of his mother’s—his mother’s—blatantly suggestive consumption of an ice cream cone. “I wonder how long this has been going on?”

  “Puts a whole new perspective on the name ‘Aspenglow,’” Gabi said glumly. “That’s it. I’m through working at her B&B. I don’t do threesomes.”

  Lucca grimaced and held his head between his palms. “Please, Gabi. It’s bad enough as it is
. I don’t need you to put pictures in my head.” He looked over at Hope. “Well, you haven’t said a word. What do you think about all this?”

  Hope cautiously said, “At the risk of annoying you both, I feel the need to stick up for my friend. Maggie is still young. She’s vibrant. She’s unattached. You and I are unattached. Why the double standard? So what if she’s found someone she wants to be with?”

  “Hope, it’s not the same.”

  “Wait a minute,” Gabi said. “Did I just hear what I think I heard? You’re sleeping with Lucca? Jeez. A girl goes to the French Riviera for a few days and the world turns upside down. What’s next? You’re not going to tell me Tony has run off with a stripper, are you?”

  “You didn’t just call me a stripper, did you?” Hope asked.

  “No!” Mumbling, she added, “I’m having trouble processing what I saw.”

  Lucca raked his fingers through his hair, ignoring his sister as he said, “You’re right, Hope. It’s a double standard, so sue me.”

  “Now, Lucca,” she chastised.

  “Dammit, she’s my mother! I don’t care how old you are, no child likes to think about his parent having sex.”

  “Yes, I’ll give you that one. But that’s your issue, Lucca. Not your mother’s. It’s not fair or right for you to expect her to quit living.”

  Yeah, well. Maybe so. It still sucks to see your mother doing … that. “I may never eat ice cream again.”

  “Who is Richard Steele, anyway?” Gabi asked. “Do you think he’s after her money?”

  Hope rolled her eyes. “Have you looked at your mother recently? She’s gorgeous.”

  “Richard is not a bad guy. But he’s not … Dad.”

  Gabi closed her eyes and massaged her temples. Her voice fluttered from the backseat like a little bird’s. “I still miss him every day. They were married for decades. How can she be ready before I am?”

  Lucca muttered a curse, and Gabi added, “What are we going to do, Lucca?”