Embraceable You (Irish Hearts Series)

by Mary Tate Engels

  "I wanted to see how you are today, Siena. If you're okay about last night. If you feel like I do about us."

  "About us?"

  He shrugged. "I can't stop thinking about you."

  "What a bunch of bull! I got a visit from the Lacy Ladies." She shifted, facing him with arms folded. "They said you were engaged. About to marry the rich girl in town, Zach? Then why would you invite me home with you? And straight to your bed?"

  His face tightened, his lips thinned. "I am not engaged. There are a bunch of wagging tongues in this town who have nothing better to do than spread rumors."

  "But your mother – "

  "My mother doesn’t know squat." He came closer.

  OMG, she could drown in his eyes, touch him if she reached out. She didn’t dare.

  "Remember when we swam in the lake, Siena? Naked."

  She grinned, shook her head. "Don’t remind me."

  "Young love."

  "Young lust."

  "It gives us a bond."

  "How do you figure that?" She looked away from the magnetism of his gaze.

  He grinned. "I’ve held you close, Siena. We’ve had great sex. Just last night. Isn’t that a bond?"

  "I don’t know anymore."

  "Why? What wrong with that?"

  She shrugged. "I have doubts. About all this."

  "Don’t." He hooked a hand around her neck and pulled her close, pressing a fierce kiss on her lips. She felt his tongue teasing the sensitive inner part, and she opened to him. Fully and willingly. She wanted, in that moment, to take him completely, to feel him in her again, to know his sexy strength. Finally, he lifted his head. With lips still barely touching, he said, "Don’t doubt this Siena. What we had is still there. I feel it, don’t you?"

  "I don't know anything anymore."

  "You're here for a reason. You and me. We're good together." He kissed her again, quickly. "See you later."

  He exited the shop as abruptly as he had arrived, leaving her breathless and feeling thoroughly kissed. And very confused. Could one glorious night remove all doubt and change the course of her life? No, definitely not.

  Siena knew that memories were fickle. They made you think things were better than they actually were. Or perhaps even worse. But most memories weren’t entirely accurate. They were a distorted illusion of how things were and what happened. That's why different people at the same scene often recalled it differently. Siena tried to remember the first time she ever saw Zach. He said he remembered her falling, the time she broke her arm. But she remembered an incident earlier than that.

  Siena was young, maybe seven or eight, when Aunt Addie taught her to make banana muffins. She had been through a rebellious stage that resulted in her being dumped on Aunt Addie while Dana tried to build a relationship with her latest boyfriend. At least that’s what she told Aunt Addie, which Siena overheard because she was a little snoop and listened through the door.

  What she said to Siena was, "Come on honey, you’re going to Aunt Addie’s for a few weeks to keep her company while I take care of some business. She loves having you there because she’s lonely." And what that meant to Siena was that Mama didn’t want her around while she had a new boyfriend. So Siena started calling her Dana, like she was a big sister, not a mama.

  Siena remembered some of her rebellions. "Euwwww, bananas? I hate bananas."

  "Well then," Aunt Addie said patiently, "we’ll mash them and hide them in muffins so they can be nutritious and taste good, too." Siena recalled that Aunt Addie was always cheerful, not moody like Dana.

  Siena was not eager to cook bananas into muffins, so she folded her arms and watched. This was way before the current rage for muffins.

  Aunt Addie got the ingredients and pan and set them on the counter. "One really great thing about muffins is that you have a small piece of a tasty cake that’s easy to share. Friends can eat them or take them along. They always bring people together to eat and that’s a good thing. They attract attention. So if I take them downstairs to my shop, they might draw more customers in. We can even put a surprise in them to make them unique."

  "A surprise? Like a toy?"

  "No, not a toy. Something good to eat. Like a couple of craisins. Or orange zest. Or a little dab of jam. What would you like to put into them, Siena?"

  "Whatever. Will it bring my ma—uh, Dana back?"

  "Probably not right away. But maybe a new friend will stop by."

  And sure enough, that afternoon, a skinny boy with a scratch on one cheek and wild blond hair stopped by the shop. "Do you have anything special today, Aunt Addie?"

  "Just these Surprise Muffins. Siena helped me make them." Aunt Addie lifted the glass dome over a plate of muffins. "Have one, Zach. Or two."

  He snatched one in each hand and started for the door. "Thanks! You’re sure a much better cook than my mom."

  Siena followed him and yelled. "Hey, guess what the surprise is."

  He turned around and ran backward, showing both empty hands. "What surprise? They’re all gone. I already ate them."

  "You pig!"

  "Oink-oink!"

  And that was the first time Siena ever saw Zach Cassidy. He did not make a good first impression. But she didn’t care. She just knew that every time her mother had a new boyfriend, she was left with Aunt Addie. And eventually, over the years, Zach became a friend and more.

  Like now. She was in Haven’s Point to deal with Aunt Addie’s ghost and miserable little shop while Dana was heading cross-country with Chaz, yet another boyfriend.

  The cherished muffin recipe was in Boston in her favorite cookbook, tattered and well used over the years.

  Siena looked around and found a leather-bound ledger under the cash register counter. Handwritten sales for the week prior to Aunt Addie's leaving for Florida totaled less than fifty dollars. And now Siena was left holding this empty bag of a shop. And two damn cats the size of small dogs.

  If she abandoned all this, which was a strong temptation, Amazing Lace would be one more building in town to close its doors. And she would get nothing for this business that her aunt had worked so hard to build.

  Still, something drastic had to be done, or she might as well close up shop now and not waste any more time here.

  Chapter Four

  The doorbell dinged. "Are they all gone?"

  Siena looked up to see George, the horror writer from next door. She nodded. "No one here but me. And I promise not to say a word."

  "Aw, you're all right I guess. But those women drive me nuts with all their jabberin’."

  "They’re just lonely, that’s all." Siena slammed the ledger shut. "I didn’t realize things were this bad when I decided to come. Do you know what Aunt Addie took in receipts last week? Forty-seven dollars! Nobody can run a business on that."

  "She has her rentals. Uh, had them. I guess they're yours now."

  "What rentals?"

  "Why, everybody in this building rents from her. There are three other shops besides ours. A plumber’s office where he takes calls and makes appointments. Good business to have in this town. There's an art gallery, closed most of the time. Opens in summer. Art's like writing. You need a day job for the lean times. At the far end is a kayak and canoe shop that provides summer rentals. Not much kayaking in the snow, though." He chuckled.

  Siena looked around in surprise. She hadn’t even considered who owned this building. "Aunt Addie owns it? The whole thing?"

  "Ya’, she does. Uh, did. Now you, I suppose. There's talk of tearing it all down."

  Siena felt a surge of renewed interest. "Well then, the rents kept her going. Sort of. That’s an interesting surprise."

  "Likewise, she kept us going. Remember, that’s just winter sales. She made more, much more, in the summer. We all do. That Addie, your great-aunt, she was a fine woman. We’re all sorry to lose her. You too, I’ll bet."

  Siena nodded her appreciation for his clumsy expression of sympathy. "So, tell me George. What’s in the buildin
g down at the far end? No signs or anything."

  "Aw, the place is empty. And going downhill fast. At one time it was a boat repair shop, then a restaurant, then something else I forgot. Now, just storage."

  Siena walked to the window, then turned around and asked, "What will you do? If I sell out and they tear this building down?"

  "I'd probably move on up the coast. I can write from anywhere but I like to be where water and land meet. And to sink into the long cold winters with nothing better to do than make up weird stories to scare the residents."

  "But this is just your day job, right? I assume you've got a successful business with your books."

  "Aye, finally. It'll do for folks who like zombies and demons and whatever else keeps me up nights."

  "Oh." She folded her arms, grinned. "You're inspired here in Haven's Point?"

  "Here, life is slow, and nobody bothers me much. I think they're afraid I'll put them in one of my books. Addie was one of my few friends in town, which is why I miss her so much. But, she was a friend to everyone. Didn’t matter who they were."

  Siena walked across the room. "I must admit Haven’s Point has a special beauty. But it takes more than appearances to keep a town going."

  "Ya’, that it does."

  "The winters are dismal. Streets are empty. Stores closed." She turned around. "Is Zach doing a good job as mayor? What do you think about him?"

  George tugged on his beard. "He has potential. But I suspect he battles the Fairchild's with every innovative idea he has."

  "The Fairchild's? Who are they?"

  "Claire’s relatives, in-laws by marriage. Or out-laws, depending on how you view them." He paused to chuckle at his own joke. "Old Walt and his son, Rich have run this town for so long, they can’t let go. Walt is Claire’s husband's cousin."

  "Where does Zach fit in? If they run the place, how did he get this job as mayor?"

  "Why, he saved Rich’s daughter’s life when she fell through the ice last year. Princess Monique, I call her. She was raised wealthy and expecting more, now she's bound to find her way into one of my books in some form. She took a liking to Zach and that put him in with the family, if you know what I mean."

  "I heard about the rescue. And now they’re engaged?" Siena walked back to the counter and feigned a casual interest in Zach’s personal life.

  "Well, what do you expect? She’s blond and beautiful. Got tons of money. He’s not dead. I’m sure he’ll be hooked by summer’s end if Monique has anything to do about it." George was quiet for a moment. "On the plus side, Zach managed to get some federal monies to improve our schools. Roads are next. And he built that gym across the street. People like that."

  Siena leaned on the counter. "He said he would work with me on Aunt Addie’s business. Don’t know exactly what he meant."

  "Interesting." George paused, then sounded like he was thinking out loud. "Wonder what influence the Fairchild's have in his decisions. For sure, he’ll be more than glad to work with you on this property. Rumor is. . . that he wants to buy it. Or wants the city to buy it."

  Siena straightened. That’s what she wanted in the first place, someone to buy the place and take it off her hands. "Will they really do that?"

  George shrugged. "They can do anything they want, especially if they claim to want it for public use, for the greater good." He grinned. "Besides, our mayor used to be in real estate, so he should know about land values. Apparently he made big bucks flipping properties before the crash hit. So he took a break from real estate to be mayor of our fine town. We’ll find out what he’s got planned for us in due time, I guess." George started for the door. "Already said too much today, but if you want to sell this place, Zach's got your get-outta-town ticket."

  "But they want to tear it down? Seems like a conflict of interest to me."

  "Depends on whose interest." George stopped at the door and turned back to her. "You can find me online under R.R. Rowan. Stands for Renegade Rogue."

  "Do I detect a book brewing here, George?"

  "Could be. Ya' never know."

  Siena folded her arms and chewed on what George had told her. She knew he wanted to size her up, compare her to Addie. Either he wanted to know what she would do with the shop and building, or he was planning to put her in one of his books. As long as she wasn't a zombie! Demon, okay. But not walking dead.

  It seemed that Zach was closely linked to the daughter of the wealthy town leaders and may well be influenced by them. The offer to buy might be just what she needed. And, better yet, her quick getaway ticket.

  Somehow, though, the idea of tearing the old place down hit her in the pit of her stomach. Why was she hesitant now when just yesterday she would have jumped at the opportunity to sell?

  Normally, Siena would lose herself in the kitchen while she worked off her stress and figured out her solutions. She’d bake chocolate chip cookies with fresh mint or banana bread with cranberries and walnuts.

  But this time, she needed to get outside, take a walk, and breathe in a little Haven's Point fresh air. Maybe it would give her a better perspective of the situation. She flipped the closed sign outward on the door and ran upstairs to get her boots and coat. She grabbed her cell phone and tried, unsuccessfully, to reach Dana. She left a terse, "Call me Dana" and stuffed the phone in her pocket.

  She strolled past the shops George had mentioned in the old, two-story building. One shop was tagged Waterfer with kayaks and canoes in the windows. It looked closed. The other shop, Firebird, was probably the art gallery. It definitely was closed. She wondered if they paid rent even when closed, or if Aunt Addie suspended it during the winter. Not very business-wise, but sounded like something she would do. Paul’s Plumbing shop had the lights on, although there was no one in sight. She assumed people still needed plenty of plumbing in the winter.

  Siena walked along the waterfront, picking her footing carefully past a few bobbing lobster boats. She went up a hill, over a wooden footbridge, past some Cape Cod houses with spectacular views of the bay. It was a blustery day and few people were out. Occasionally a vehicle would rumble past. In a little valley away from the bay sat city hall, a small brick building next to the white clapboard, steepled church. She was amazed at her heart-pounding reaction just thinking about Zach in his office in city hall. She thought she had moved beyond a visceral reaction to any guy, years ago. But, guess not.

  What was he really doing with her? Lying about the business and misrepresenting his status with the rich girl in town? Then, making love with such passion that they both – she knew – were shaken.

  On the side of the hill was a little park that overlooked the town and bay. There was a quaint gazebo in the middle and benches scattered around. All were laden with snow. Haven’s Point looked like an enchanted fairyland, beautiful and carefree. If only that were true.

  The quiet was broken by someone shouting. "Yo! Hey! Hey there! Hi Siena!"

  A slender girl in a silver and white ski suit approached from the top of the hill on cross-country skis. Her long red hair flew behind her like a flaming silk scarf and spread on her shoulders when she pulled up. "Hey, do you like to ski? I have another pair. We could tour the town."

  Siena lifted her arm in the sling. "I’ve already taken a couple of tumbles in the snow. Better not risk it yet."

  "I’ve got just the thing for you. Snowshoes! Ever tried them?"

  Siena shook her head. "Thanks. Maybe when this thing’s healed."

  "Will you still be here? When it’s healed?"

  "I don’t know."

  "You’re Siena, right? Here to take over Aunt Addie’s property?"

  "You might say that." The girl looked somewhat familiar, but Siena couldn’t place her.

  "I’m Zoey. Zach’s sister."

  After a pause, Siena nodded. "Of course. I remember that red hair. You were just a little kid when I was last here, always busy with something."

  "Yep, that's me. I never want to be dull and boring, like most of these
zombies around here. I'm convinced that George writes about all the folks in this town, only disguises them as paranormal beings. Not hard to imagine aliens folding up here for the winter, then coming out to kill and take over the world."

  Siena laughed and looked around at the quiet, beautiful little town. Maybe, in her wild mind, she could imagine creatures hiding behind trees and under snow piles. "He's an interesting guy. I'm just getting to know George."

  "He's brilliant. Maybe a little wacky, but I love him. So smart." Zoey touched her temple as a tribute to George. "There are ways to open up this town, if the mayor would only listen. But hey, he doesn’t think his little sis has a brain. He has his own ideas."

  "Like what?"

  "To build a mall. A frickin’ ugly discount lighthouse mall."

  "I guess that would bring in businesses and people."

  "But he wants to do it right there." She pointed to Amazing Lace. "Great location, right?"

  "Aunt Addie’s building?"

  "Yep. Got big plans for that whole spot along the waterfront. And that reminds me; I’d love to have the stained glass mermaid over the door when they tear the building down. It’s an artistic thing that I’d hate to see ruined."

  "When they tear it down? Wait. Are you saying that they already have plans to tear the building down?"

  "Of course. How else would they build a mall there?"

  "My understanding was that he’d buy it and then decide ..."

  "Yes, and . . . do you think they'd let someone else try to make a go of it?"

  "Honestly, Amazing Lace isn't a viable business," Siena admitted. "Not in today’s marketplace."

  Zoey nodded. "It would be a challenge. Are you up to it? I have some ideas."

  Siena looked away for a moment. What was this smart-mouthed girl up to? "Honestly, Zoey I’m not interested in fighting a useless battle here. Seems like that's what I've been doing all my life."

  "I don’t blame you. Let them fight it. Only here, you'd be in charge." Zoey pushed off slowly. "If you change your mind, talk to me. We can sell anything online. Even lighthouses and lobsters. But that Amazing Lace is the ticket. It's got power!"