by Gracie Guy
“They’ll work out the closing for sometime during the kid’s spring break.”
Kara loved the grin on Robin’s face. “I’m glad you’re moving down. I don’t want to come back to this town again.”
“I know Kara. I know.” Robin patted her shoulder. “Tell me what’s up with the cowboy. What’s his name, Mark?”
“Since you asked, now you can tell me if I’m being a fool.”
Kara spent about half-an-hour telling Robin about the conversations she’d had with Mark concerning her house and her job. Him asking questions which made her feel like she should seek his permission before making decisions. That he seemed a bit condescending regarding her independence since he called her a woman’s libber and acted jealous whenever she mentioned the contractor. Basically, for thirty minutes, she whined to her friend.
“So Kara, what you’re telling me is he acted a whole lot like Dan used to.”
Robin’s statement was like a fist to the head. “Why didn’t I see that?”
“Um, ’cause you think he’s really hot. And do you know why?” She heard her friend pause waiting for her response, but she didn’t have one. “The pictures you have of him on your phone. This guy Mark even looks a lot like Dan.”
“Maybe.”
“Do you want my honest summation?” Kara nodded her head at Robin’s question.
“I think you were fighting a losing battle with your marriage for the last year or so. Then you got sucker punched by Dan’s death. The cowboy, who resembles the man who was the love of your life, was sweet to you at a time when you really needed it. But he lives half a country away, how serious could it get? I think you made the right call.”
“Okay, change of subject.” She paused for a second while Robin got them each a fresh beer. “The dogs and I are starting our search and rescue program right after New Years.”
“Really? John convinced you to do it?”
“No, you’ve got it wrong. I asked him to find the program. It’s a pretty intense eight weeks.”
“Where?”
“On the State Office Campus in Albany. Monday through Thursday. Homework and the whole bit.”
“Look, Kara. I think you’re crazy. But, if it’s what you want to do, then I’m backing ya. And by the way, John doesn’t look anything like either of the other two.”
Avoiding a response, Kara sucked down half of her beer. “Let’s hit the hay. It’s been a long day. We can analyze the rest of my social life over breakfast.”
But their visit the next morning was cut short by new snow. When everyone crawled out of bed, there were big, fat, wet flakes slowly floating through the air under a cloudy sky. Kara checked on-line and decided leaving early was sensible. Route 73 was likely to be slippery and busy with other people trying to leave the area for parts south.
Loaded down with hot coffee and a bagel, she made her goodbyes before nine o’clock. As she drove through the village of Lake Placid, hopefully for the last time in her life, her phone whistled with an incoming text.
“New message from John H – Trooper,” the crisp, professional voice of the woman in her dashboard announced. Kara tapped the read button on the screen in her dash.
“E-mo-tee-con.” Apparently the automaton female had trouble translating, so Kara pulled over to look at her phone. And there it was, his response to her Christmas greeting, a single smiley face. She took it as a good sign that he enjoyed hearing from her. Popping a few fresh CDs in, she let Coldplay shuffle randomly with Marillion, Janis Joplin, George Strait, and Maroon 5. It was an odd combination, but one that had her singing happily for the remainder of her three-hour drive.
###
Kara was home from Lake Placid about an hour when her cell phone rang. Looking at the screen, she couldn’t stop smiling at the name: JOHN H—TROOPER. Hhmmm…maybe I should change that to John Harley and drop the title since we seem to be past all that.
“Hi John.”
“Hi Kara. Sorry about the brief response this morning. I don’t like to text. It seems like a cold way to communicate. Besides, this way I get to hear your voice and picture you in that black skirt.” He stopped long enough to chuckle. “Oh, and belated Merry Christmas.”
“Thanks for the compliment. The same to you—I mean, about the Merry Christmas. But it’s not really belated.”
“How’s that?”
“John, John, John. Dig deep into that Catholic upbringing of yours.” He was silent for a moment. And then, based upon his laugh, she knew when it hit him.
“Oh, right. Today is actually the second day of Christmas. Little Christmas falls on January 6th. I believe it’s an important day to someone. Am I right?”
She could not believe her ears. “What are you talking about?” A slight giggle escaped with her question.
“Well I believe you will celebrating a birthday then.” Now it was his turn to laugh at the surprised intake of her breath.
“How did you know?”
“Really? I’m a cop. We have resources.”
For a second, Kara couldn’t decide if this was exciting or intrusive. “You mean you researched me?” She made no attempt to control the accusatory tone carried in her words.
“Whoa, nope. Don’t get carried away. Think about a few things first.” He paused a moment, allowing her a chance to calm down. “First there was the investigation into your husband’s death. Then don’t forget your application for the Search and Rescue program. Your birth date was on both of those records.”
She bit her tongue when he paused again, and then was pleased she had.
“And to be honest, what man wouldn’t memorize the birthday of such a beautiful woman?”
She rewarded his question with a robust laugh. “Thank you. But do they call that flirtation by investigation?”
“I don’t know. I just thought of all of it.”
Kara slid onto the couch, enjoying their easy banter. “So Inspector Gadget, why did you call?”
“I wanted to let you know that I took your advice. I’m off the clock for a few days. I was wondering if you would like to have dinner or go see a movie while I’m in the Albany area.”
She couldn’t believe what he was saying. Another date? No waiting until mid-January to see him? “Sure. That sounds…” Her response was cut off by the dogs going ballistic. Leaving the couch, she saw a dark blue Jeep with tinted windows pull into her driveway. “Great. That sounds great.” She shouted over the dogs. “Sorry John, gotta go. Somebody just pulled into the driveway.”
“Okay Kar, talk to you soon.”
After dropping the phone on the coffee table, Kara moved to the door while trying to calm her canines. When she pulled the solid interior one open to stand at the storm door, it felt like she was dreaming. Walking to her stoop, dressed in jeans and an unzipped grey ski jacket, holding a bouquet of flowers, was John Harley.
Kara clapped with joy, half lunging out of the house to greet him. “Oh my gosh, aren’t you a wonderful Christmas surprise!” Happily she stepped into the best hug she’d had in years.
Chapter Thirty-five
She couldn’t believe John was standing in her living room. “Um. Wow! Here, let me take your coat.” She hung his ski jacket in the closet. “Sit. Sit. Um, make yourself comfortable.” She waved to the couch. “Something to drink?” My god, I’m babbling.
“Hey. Relax. Sit a second with me.” John looked in the direction of the couch.
Kara felt her cheeks heat up with a full flush of embarrassment. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m acting this way.”
“Here.” He pushed the flowers into her hands. “Why don’t you find them some water and I’ll wait here.”
Kara nodded as she took the bouquet to the kitchen, quickly pulling a vase from the cabinet and filling it with water. Snipping the ends of each stem, she arranged the colorful faces, silently smiling at her unexpected visitor. With the flowers safely on the dining room table, she sat on the couch, a few inches from John’s leg.
He rewarded her with a devilish smile adorned by dimples. Save me, those things are spectacular! Concentrate girl, he’s speaking.
“You seem to think things through in a way I don’t. I’m always pushing the envelope. In the end I’m exhausted and demoralized.”
Kara leaned back a few inches. “Wait. You think I don’t work as hard as you?” She felt her temper spike at his responding laugh.
“Hold on a sec.” He held his hands up in mock defense. “Cripe I hope you’re not packing or I’m gonna get shot before I finish my story.” He lowered his hand a few inches. “Is it safe for me to go on?”
Pursing her lips, Kara nodded.
“I didn’t say anything about you not working hard. What I said was that you thought things through. You add a logical step that I seem to lack for myself.” Before she could interrupt, he rambled on. “Four months ago your world crashed. You did the whole tough thing, made your way through all the personal stuff, including moving, and went to work through most of it. But then, you figured out that you were tired. Very tired and needed a rest.” He held a hand up again to prevent her from speaking. “And now, here you are taking a few months off, building your new house and restarting your life.” He looked down at his hands. “And ya know what Kara?” I’m really proud of you and I really respect you.”
Afraid John would see the tears starting to pool in her eyes, Kara jumped from the couch and walked toward the kitchen. “Hey, you want a seltzer or something?”
“Yes, please.”
When she handed him a frosted glass full of crystal bubbles, he nodded to the couch. “Sit, will ya?” Compliantly, she did, but on the edge of the cushion instead of leaned back, like he was. “You don’t have to hide your emotions with me.”
Kara kept her eyes on her glass, unsure of her ability to speak. Then she felt his fingers gently rubbing her hands. Swallowing deeply first, she plunged headlong into her thoughts.
“John, I’m not trying to hide. But I’m always such an emotional dork.” She forced herself to look at his eyes rather than her glass. “And I really respect you too, so your opinion is important to me.”
“Good.” He squeezed one of her knees. “Now that we both know where we stand, how’s your house coming?”
“Great!” She practically exploded off the couch, retrieving the blue prints from a closet by the front door, spreading them on the table for John to see.
“Is it an octagon?”
Resisting was futile. Kara’s excitement got the best of her and she babbled on about the size of the windows, the square footage of the house and deck, hickory flooring throughout, except the ceramic tile in the kitchen and bathrooms. She knew she was glowing.
“Look at you. This is like your baby.”
“Yeah, it is. It’s my baby.” She smiled at John. “Would you like to see it in person?”
“Lead the way.”
Fifteen minutes later, she pulled into the unmarked driveway Mike Corbin plowed to reach the building site. She threw her truck into four-wheel,enabling her to drive slowly, giving John a chance to look around. When they rounded the corner of imposing white pine, the meadow opened up, embracing her barn and the foundation for her house. The sight caused her chest to swell with pride, especially when John let out a long, slow whistle of approval.
“Kara, this is beautiful.”
She couldn’t contain her pleasure, giggling while she clapped her hands. “I know. I love it.”
They parked next to the contractor’s truck just as he climbed out of the concrete walls of her new basement. Kara waved in greeting.
“Hi Mike.” He waved back, rounding the front of his truck with an outstretched hand for her. “This is my friend. John. He’s visiting from up north so I thought I’d show him The Ponderosa.”
Michael Corbin chuckled at her reference to the 1960s TV show all horse-crazy girls seemed to have enjoyed at some point. Kara watched while the two men silently took stock of each other before they shook hands. Oh Mergatroid. Is this a pissing contest?
“So, are you running into any complications?”
“Nope. Matter of fact, we expect to start the floor joists tomorrow. Hopefully we’ll be going up with the walls by early next week.”
“Stop, really?”
“Yeah. The weather’s been pretty spectacular. I’m putting on two more guys who’ve done a lot of framing work for me in the past. They’re happy to have the money coming in this time of year.”
“This is so cool. Has Matt Colby’s brother been by?”
“Yep. A copy of your building permit is in the top of my gang box. He was supposed to mail you the original.”
“Okay, I’ll keep an eye out for it. Anyway, we gotta get going. We want to see a movie and I still want to show him the inside of the barn.”
She watched them exchange another handshake, but not much conversation, as she got back in her own truck. Turning around she made a larger sweep than usual because of the transmission being in four-wheel. But she couldn’t resist goosing it into a fishtail once she was clear of the contractor’s vehicle. Out of the corner of her eye she saw John grin in response from the passenger seat.
At the barn, she made him stand with his eyes covered while she opened the monster sliding door and turned on the inside lights. When he dropped his hands, the glow of countless sodium orbs bathed his surprised face.
“Whoa, this is a palace, not a barn. Those horses of yours will be living large.”
“Ha ha. Isn’t it like crazy ridiculous?”
“Don’t mind my manners, but what did you pay for this?”
“The property and barn were ninety-three thousand. The house is contracted for one hundred fifty.”
John walked into the barn, admiring the quality of the stalls. “So even if there are extras on the house, the whole spread is less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars? Is that a fair market price?”
“Yes, it’s under two fifty. Fair market? You better sit down.” He chose to lean on a stall instead. “If I ever decide to sell, the realtor says I can get at least $450,000 once the house is finished.”
His jaw dropped in amazement.
“Come on. We’re going to miss the movie. It takes over half an hour to get to the mall from here.”
####
Kara blinked a few times as her eyes adjusted to the well lit lobby after nearly two hours of the dark theater. She felt John place his arm around her shoulder.
“You okay with this?”
She turned her face up to look at him, trying to repress the grin she felt. “Yeah. Feels nice.” Gently she turned so they walked in the direction they’d parked.
“Tell me again why we parked so far away from the theater.” He tapped her head in an affectionate tease.
“So we can enjoy all of these.” She swung her arm to embrace the mall walkway fully bedecked with Christmas decorations. Lights twinkled against giant presents wrapped in glossy gold and red paper while music streamed up from hundreds of poinsettias. “I love them.”
She felt John’s embrace tighten just a little. “I see that.” He stopped her for a second, kissing her on the forehead. “And, that smile looks wonderful on your face.”
They continued along the lower concourse of the mall, stopping several times to admire outfits she would never wear, like chartreuse skinny jeans paired with black stilettos that laced up the calf. Kara noticed that anytime their lingering lasted more than a minute, John silently surveyed the area. Hhhmmm…occupational hazard?
As they neared a bend in the walkway, the aroma of various foods reached them.
“Do you want to eat in the mall?” He waved toward the food court lined with chain restaurants.
“Nah, there’s a great place on the way. Sort of a sports-bar-meets-awesome-burger-joint-meets-family-restaurant. And it’s locally owned.”
“Sounds perfect.”
They gave up window shopping and left the
cavernous building in companionable silence, gently bumping hips as they wove around shoppers. John’s arm held her safely every step of the way.
####
“Come on sleepy, I’ll drive.”
Kara dropped her truck keys into his outstretched hand. Stifling a yawn, she felt her cheeks flush. “I’m sorry, it’s not the company. Remember, my day started in Lake Placid many hours and many miles ago.”
“I know. I feel like a cheater since I slept until nine at my sister’s house and then she made me breakfast.”
Kara watched him walk around the front of the truck after he closed her door. The sodium lights of the parking lot caused the tiny diamond chip he wore in his left ear to sparkle. She smiled at the renewed surprise of seeing it for the first time. Until today, she’d only seen this man in formal business attire. His strong chest and square shoulders in a crisp white shirt and a navy, black, or grey suit—projecting an air of authority. But when he stepped into her house earlier this afternoon, she had trouble pulling her eyes away when he removed his ski jacket because his aura was total sexiness. The muscles of his chest perfectly filled a hunter green Henley tucked into the waistline of a pair of low-slung denim jeans. Good lord this man is down right lick-a-licious!
He slid into the driver’s seat, adjusting the position for his well developed, long legs. Kara felt him give her a sideward glance as he started the engine. “Penny for your thoughts.”
A deep-throated chuckle escaped her lips as she felt heat spring to her cheeks. “Oh, nothing really. Just wondering if the State Troopers make you guys stay in shape.”
“Ha ha!” His explosive laughter filled the truck. “I guess you haven’t seen many of the patrol guys.” He shook his head slightly. “No, they don’t. But maybe they should. Why?”
“Just wondering, that’s all.” Kara couldn’t meet his eyes. Instead she changed the subject, pointing to her right. “We’re taking Route 9 south to my house.”
“You got it.” John was still grinning.
