He sipped his wine, trepidation creeping up the back of his neck. He didn’t like the sound of that.
April ripped open the nuts and poured them into a dish from the kitchen. “What’s in the bag? Hamish seems to think it smells rather nice.”
He pulled the paper bag into the middle of the table and the wet black nose sniffing along the edge of the table dropped from sight. “Dog treats for Oscar from my mother.”
She smiled at him. “I got the idea this morning that you’re adverse to animals, David. Didn’t know you actually had a dog of your own.”
“No chance of that.” He pressed the flap of the bag down. “I have a small terrier, Oscar. My aunt left him to me when she passed on.”
April tilted her head, pursed her lips and made an “aw” sound. “That’s so sweet. No wonder Hamish likes you. He can smell another dog miles away.”
“With a nose that big, I’m not surprised.” He glanced down at Hamish and felt a twinge of guilt for being so judgmental. “Sorry, that was mean. Do you think he’d like a treat?” He unrolled the bag and put his hand inside and pulled out a piece of questionable looking doggie delight. His mother had assured him Oscar would thank him for it.
“I’m sure he’d love it.” She clicked her fingers. “Hamish, David has something for you.”
He balked. “You can give it to him. He’s your dog.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, but you’re the one with the treat and, therefore, you should do the honors.”
Hamish came out from under the table and sat beside him, his lion colored eyes staring right at the treat in David’s hand. Drool oozed from the corners of his mouth and started to fall before a big tongue snaked out and swiped around his lips, the smacking sound going nowhere close to making David feel safe about his ridiculously impulsive offer.
“Stop teasing him and hand it over. I won’t be held responsible if he takes it from you.”
David held out the dried morsel expecting to lose his fingers but Hamish took it from his with a gentleness that surprised him. Maybe he was a big softie after all. He hadn’t thought of that.
“Good dog.” David patted his head breathing a sigh of relief. The laugh from the other side of the table went some way to making him feel like he’d won a hard fought point and the tension eased from his shoulders. “I can’t believe how gentle he is.”
“I did try to tell you.” She pulled out a chair, kicked off her shoes and lifted up her feet. April put them down with a sigh.
“That bad, eh?” He relaxed in his chair and took a good look at the youngest Moore sister. She was nothing like the others. Her features were finer, more petite. It went without saying her personality was like chalk and cheese compared to the others, too. They were more sedate without being boring. She was like a firecracker on steroids. Apart from at this very moment when she was relaxed and tired.
“Huge, huge day.” She stretched her foot out, rolled her ankles and pointed the pink polished toes toward him. “But I did leave you alone, which I’m sure you’re pleased about.”
The curve of her instep held his attention. Why pink polish and not the same shade of orange he’d stepped in? It seemed too tame for her.
“It was very annoying of me and I can’t promise not to do it again but, for now, you have my sincere apologies. So, yes, to your question – a massive day and I think you should come and have a look at what I’ve done. I’m pretty proud of myself to be honest.”
“That’s not really necessary, April. You have a right to privacy you know.” Just how involved did he have to get? Perhaps having this drink had given her the impression they were chums now. Better than being enemies but still, he didn’t want to give her the wrong impression.
“Don’t be so silly. I want to show you what I can do. You never know, you might like something similar in your office. I’ve been told I can use my own judgment for the revamp of the building.”
No, no, no. What part of ‘I’ve already done it’, didn’t she get? He’d just have to deflect the job every time she suggested it. “You’re right. I’d love to see what you’ve done.” If only to give him warning of what was to come. He put his glass down and stood up.
Chapter Six
April rolled over in bed and stretched remembering how David had slowly relaxed over what turned out to be drinks and a quickly ordered pizza for dinner last night. Oh, he’d protested when she suggested it but they were getting on so well and she didn’t want to break the spell. What possible harm could it do by being friendly?
The guy was cute, if not way too serious. She could get to like him a lot and now she knew he was single, well, the options intrigued her. Dakota hadn’t really given her much gossip about him. Only that he had moved back home when his father was diagnosed with cancer and had taken over the practice. Apparently it was a huge change for him compared to where he was planning on working in Seattle at a private clinic but, according to her sister, they were a really close family. Plus, David was an only child and wouldn’t have given it a thought when his father asked him to take on the care of Cherry Lake’s medical clients.
So it wasn’t his first choice of where to work, but true to the first impression she had of him, he’d stepped up and taken over, made the business his own. Which was exactly what she wanted for herself here. A business people would know belonged to her, recognized as her style, and recommended her services because they were impressed with the job she’d done of the shop. The need to finally see something through to fruition was starting to tease her with the possibilities. She yearned for the satisfaction of completing something big. Not only to prove to her family she could do it, but to make her heart feel complete. Her place in the uber-successful sibling lineup cemented once and for all.
She reached out and ran her hand over Hamish’s ears. The big dog had snuck up onto the bed when she’d first stirred. Now he was tucked in against her. “I wonder what today will bring, Hamish?”
April worked her feet on the blanket and shuffled it down the bed, lifting one foot to rest on her bended knee, flicking it left and right. “We have three more days to work on the shop before we can get stuck into the kitchen and bathrooms. Three days to figure out how to wow David’s socks off so he’ll start thinking of what I can do for him.”
And she wasn’t thinking of it in a sexual way either. Not yet. She stared the big dog in the eye. “I wonder how he’d feel about me giving his practice a dress up once I’ve painted it? Nothing too fancy, mind you. But the place does need color and a few interesting pieces. He did seem impressed with what I’ve done here so far.”
She thought for a moment, trying to remember if he’d let anything slip last night about his design preferences. Nothing came to mind. “Maybe he’d prefer I do something at the house he inherited from his aunt. It might be in need of some clever designing. You know what single men are like. So long as it works, they don’t think they need to worry about the aesthetics of it.”
She pondered that thought. “I bet he has Wal-Mart table settings and hand-me-down furniture, all mismatched and boring.”
She climbed out of bed and walked over to the window and pulled it open so she could lean out and get the soft breeze from the lake on her face. The town was beginning to come awake. A couple of female joggers hurried along the road, earbuds in as they ran. A man and a small dog crossed over from the other side and ran down the sidewalk toward her building. A cap pulled down over his eyes kept the morning sun from his face. Something about the way he held himself made her look again.
“Well, well, well. Look at that.” The damp T-shirt did little to hide the body of the man wearing it. Toned arms, a broad chest and trim waist that eased down to well-muscled legs made her lick her lips. As he came closer, he raised his head and their eyes met. April Moore stared at him with her mouth open as if she’d just discovered a new soft-centered chocolate. One she liked the taste of very much indeed.
*
David wiped a hand over his face, the
bolt of awareness hitting him hard. She wasn’t his type, even if she was friendly and had insisted on feeding him last night. Perhaps he was still in a fog over the wine he’d consumed. He could hardly refuse and it wasn’t until he was on his way home that he admitted to himself that he’d enjoyed her company. He hadn’t been expecting to see April this morning. There was something unnerving about her, raw and fresh. David almost stumbled over a crack in the pavement, his mind so deep into the hastily recalled images of last night. The way she smiled over her glass of wine. The way her lips curved when he made her laugh, giving her tiny dimples that he wanted to get closer to, to test out their depth with the tip of his tongue. The way her gaze stayed on him when he spoke. She was attentive and caring. Cute and clumsy at the same time, but nobody was perfect. Still, he had his focus and it wasn’t with someone by his side.
Oscar scurried alongside him, tongue flopping along with what David swore was a huge grin on his face. Last night when he’d arrived home to hear the poor animal whining in the mudroom, he’d promised to set his alarm earlier for the morning so Oscar wasn’t ignored all day. The pleasure he’d derived from the impulse dinner and drinks with April was overshadowed with the guilt he felt at ignoring his dog. Even opening the bag of dog treats he’d brought home didn’t make him feel any better.
They turned the corner and ran up the hill toward home, past the parking lot where April’s trailer still blocked his parking space. Let it go, David. Just let it go. You won’t be here forever if things go as planned. Get Mom sorted out and you can return to your own life. This is merely a ripple in the pond. A few more ripples before you leave won’t hurt you. By the time they ran into the backyard, he was desperate for a drink of cold water. He unhooked Oscar’s leash and filled his outside water bowl before going into the mudroom and taking his shoes off. He threw his sweaty sports clothes into the laundry basket and grabbed a long cool drink before he headed into the shower. Ten minutes later, he was in the car on the way to work, one guilt trip avoided, and one happy dog sleeping in the morning sunshine, exhausted from his run.
He walked in the back door and glanced at the closed door of April’s shop before heading to his office. Soon, his patients started arriving and he didn’t have a chance to give her another thought.
Chapter Seven
April spent a fair amount of the morning on the phone organizing her flower delivery. With plans to open the following week, she had to be prepared. Her stock sat strewn around the shop, most of it in boxes ready to pull out and put on display. She’d painted the walls in both rooms, spending more than a few long nights with a paintbrush in her hand. The bright pop of color was limited to the main room, her back wall and staircase making the statements she wanted. The remaining walls were more muted and soothing. Her dressing would do the talking for the style she wanted to create and hopefully sell to the inhabitants of Cherry Lake.
After deciding what furniture belonged in which room, she went about shuffling things into place. What a huge mistake she’d made not thinking ahead but as she hadn’t really known the layout of the shop. The movers could easily have put the large bookcase in the front room if they’d known. But they didn’t and now it was up to her to drag in in there herself. So much for being a forward planner.
It didn’t even occur to her to ask her sisters for help. The thought of getting ribbed for changing her plans foremost in her mind as she huffed and puffed sliding the old battered bookcase a few inches with each push. “This is ridiculous, Hamish.” Her big dog sat watching from his mat near the cash register. A few people walked past and took a quick peek inside the shop but nobody stopped, and she didn’t want to scare away potential customers by grabbing them off the street and dragging them inside to help her.
Almost there. She bent and sucked in deep breaths. One more burst of energy and she should be almost done. It had to go over near the window, behind the big overstuffed armchair that showed signs of wear as well as looking so comfortable, clients could imagine themselves sinking into it. Loaded up with her collection of paperbacks, old encyclopedia’s and children’s books, the bookcase would look wonderful. She planned to pile cushions in the corner under a children’s teepee, drape gorgeous soft cashmere throws over the chair and finish it all off with a delightful hand-carved side table and some of her special china.
April stretched, talked herself up for the final charge and put her shoulder against the side of the book case. Inch by inch she got it closer to the perfect spot. Another shove, another few inches and she could spin it around and push it back against the wall. She was all over this. With determination and attitude, April was unstoppable.
“Almost, Hamish.” A car drove past, its headlights flickering over the darkening shop front. Put this against the wall and she’d call it a day. Hands either side of the timber, April shuffled it in a stepping motion, inching closer to the wall with every wiggle. Something stopped the movement. She nudged it with her hip and groaned when it failed to move. “No!” Frustrated April slapped her palm against the side timber. So close it hurt.
She glanced around the back and saw the problem. One of the timber floorboards wasn’t flush with its neighbor and the corner of the bookcase was jammed against it. She’d need to lift and shuffle to get over the ridge. April smoothed back her hair, pulled up her shorts, licked her lips, and wrapped her arms around the offending side of the bookcase. She yelled with the effort of lifting the heavy object but refused to give in. With a final burst of energy, she pushed back on one side hoping to get it over the ridge.
It moved, jammed and teetered back toward her. Once it was got to a certain place, the weight took over and down it came. April’s head hit the floor seconds before the bookcase pinned her down. Fire burned up her leg, and stars blocked her vision. She cried out in pain, fighting the blackness that threatened to take her under.
*
David locked his office and flicked off the lights in the kitchen when the frantic barking of Hamish came from April’s shop.
“April?” He knocked on her door and dog’s claws raced toward him followed by a loud thump as he threw himself against the door. It sounded as though Hamish was trying to scratch his way to get to David.
“April. Are you in there?”
The only response was Hamish barking frantically. What if she was in trouble? Or what if she’d only gone out without her dog? Hamish started to whine. What could it hurt to check? If she was out, he would pat the dog, shut the door again and leave him alone.
David turned the handle and immediately Hamish was pushing his nose into David’s hand. “What’s happening boy?” Hamish turned and walked a few paces, looking back at him.
When David didn’t follow, he came back and nudged his hand. “Right, okay. You want to show me something.” He put down his briefcase and followed the dog into the darkened shop. “April.”
“Here. Over here.” Her voice was weak and he could hear the pain.
“Oh no.” David hurried into the front room where she lay on the floor, a large bookcase pinning her to the floor. He moved to the other side of her and assessed the situation. “I think I can lift it. Try not to move until I check you out.”
She gave a strangled snort followed by a jumble of muttered curses. David crouched down, knees bent and lifted the heavy object off of her, and shuffled back until her leg was clear. He let it drop to the floor with a thud and scrambled over to her. April was at least conscious so that was in her favor. “Without trying to be brave, tell me how you feel.” He could see blood but it seemed to be more a deep graze than any artery damage. If he was to guess what happened, he’d say the bookcase fell and sheered down her shin taking off the skin and top layer of flesh. His biggest fear right now was broken bones. If he could rule that out, then he would deal with keeping infection at bay.
“Freaking sore.” She gripped his arm and tried to pull herself up into a sitting position. A moan surfaced and her head wobbled precariously. David grabbed her and held her
close to his chest. “Don’t move. Let your head settle and we can take it from there.”
Hamish sat the other side of her, his eyes never leaving April’s face. “You’re a good boy, Hamish. You deserve a big bag of treats.”
April gripped David’s shirt with both hands, her breathing heavy as she dealt with the waves of pain. “Oh, my goodness. Ow, heck that stings.” She clenched her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut. “Please fix it. Make it stop.”
“I’d suggest you lie down again. I need to see how much damage you’ve done and I can’t do that while I’m busy holding you up. If I let you go, I don’t want you passing out on me and giving yourself a knock to the head.”
He eased her back down on the floor and stood up searching for the light switch. Once the lights were on, David was able to see the damage clearly. Luckily for her, it was only one leg that had suffered the weight of the bookcase. He crouched down and put his hand around her calf, lifting it a couple of inches off the floor and noticed the long shallow scratch. If he checked, he’d find a nail or a screw had done the damage. He gave himself a mental note to check for her last tetanus shot. “Can you move your foot?”
Tears trickled down her cheeks as she rotated her ankle. She sniffled as he prodded down her leg checking for obvious broken bones. “I don’t think anything’s broken but it’s hard to tell without an x-ray. We can arrange that for tomorrow if we need to.”
“Okay.” She blew out a breath. “I might need help up the stairs. Would you mind, David? And before you suggest it, I don’t want to call my sisters. They have their own lives.”
“I really think you should let them know. It’s going to be difficult to get around when you’re in so much pain.” He helped her sit up, keeping a hand on her back for stability.
The Moore Sisters of Montana: The Complete Series Box Set: Books 1-4 Page 37
