by Diane Bator
Lucy’s jaw dropped. Katie and Clancy already knew each other. She shouldn’t be surprised. Packham was a small town and they did own shops on the same block.
Katie cleared her throat and sipped her coffee. She stood and walked Lucy part way back to the table where Clancy waited. “Sorry about that. Mimsy can be a little over the top. She’s got one foot in the real world and the other… Actually, we’re not so sure where either foot is most of the time.”
“That’s how I feel lately too,” she said. “Sounds like we’ll get along great.”
“Probably.” Katie wrote on the back of a business card then handed it to Lucy. “If you decide you want to check out the group sometime, we’d love to have you. My cell number’s on the back in case I take off to help Danny renovate his farmhouse.”
“Danny’s your boyfriend?” Lucy raised her eyebrows. “What kind of renovations are you doing at his farmhouse?”
“Putting up drywall, painting, chasing raccoons out of the attic, lots of fun things.” She laughed. “Progress is slow, but it’s made for a few good stories to tell. I hope you come to a writing group meeting, we’re better than therapy. Actually, most of us should probably be in therapy.”
“I’d fit right in then.” Lucy glanced at Clancy who sat at their table texting with his forehead creased in concern. “I’d better go.”
“Mimsy’s right. He is cute.” Katie followed her gaze. “He owns the tattoo place, right? Have you guys been together long?”
She winced. “Yes to the tattoo part, but we’re not together. He’s my neighbor’s son. My kids are with their dad for a week. Clancy’s just trying to keep me from driving myself crazy.”
“I hear he’s single too.” Katie winked. “What does your husband think?”
“My husband’s a jerk,” she blurted then hesitated. “We...recently separated.”
“Oh, honey, I’m sorry.” Katie gave her a quick hug as though they were old friends. “Just a word of advice. If you decide to join us, don’t drink before coming to a meetings. While it makes everyone more tolerable, you’ll never live it down. Trust me.”
Lucy was silent on the drive home, her mind on Mimsy and Katie.
Clancy pulled into her driveway and nudged her arm. “Why don’t you come over? We can hang out and have some dinner and a couple drinks. I’ll invite Mitch and April too. At least the hot water will keep you from being stiff and sore over the next few days after all the gardening earlier.”
Her thoughts jumped back to the dug up patches of dirt in her garden and April’s. She needed to get rid of Clancy and find out what was buried in her yard.
“I’ll pass. I’m exhausted.” And emotional. And wary. Lucy closed her eyes. “I want to see if I can get hold of the kids. I haven’t talked to them since they left.”
He winked. “And you don’t want to be alone with me wearing nothing but a skimpy bathing suit and a smile.”
“It’s not that.” Well, partly, but also a combination of lack of sleep, yard work all day, the beer Mitch had fed her that afternoon, and missing her kids. Wondering what lay buried in her backyard didn’t help.
“Tell you what. I’ll go invite Mitch and April right now.” Clancy handed her the remains of the chocolate cake and sandwich he’d asked Jo to wrap earlier. “Soaking for half an hour will help you sleep better tonight. I’ll even cook you dinner.”
She scowled. His resort to bribery worked. “What time?”
“Eight o’clock.” He gave her hand a squeeze. “Bring your bathing suit and your appetite. I hope you like seafood. If you don’t show up, I’ll come and get you.”
“Yeah.” Lucy sighed, sure there he’d stuck an invisible hook in her cheek to reel her in.
Locked inside her house, she called the kids at the cottage three times. Still no answer. Then she tried Roger’s cell phone. Customer unavailable. She settled at her computer to write before she was expected to appear in Clancy’s backyard. Unable to focus on her novel, she returned to the unsettling information she’d unearthed about Roger.
All the business cards he’d kept with the jewelry bothered her. She’d pulled up every one of the names. All the women were dead. Murdered, according to the newspapers. She pulled up the files one more time then glanced at the clock. Seven-thirty.
If she started going through every article now, she’d miss dinner for sure. At five to eight, she changed into the bikini she’d only ever worn in her backyard and tied the strings around her neck. Her waist was slightly thicker than the last time she’d worn the bikini, but still fit comfortably. She pulled on a long t-shirt, grabbed a towel then slid into her flip-flops.
At the front door, she rested her hand on the doorknob and hesitated. If she went to Clancy’s there’d be no going back. Life would move forward, like it or not. She took a deep breath, opened the door, and walked up the street.
Clancy’s smile wavered then brightened when he saw her. “Hey, I’m glad you came.”
When Mitch and April waved from the patio table, Lucy blew out a relieved breath and sat between April and the hot tub.
Dinner was decadent. Lucy ate too many grilled shrimp skewers with garlic butter, steamed rice with curry and drank far too much wine. The empty dishes had barely left the table when other neighbors wandered into the backyard asking questions about Clancy’s parents. People came and went, several bottles of wine and cases of beer covered the table. She yearned to go home and sleep, but didn’t want to be rude. Even chatting with people about being a writer and about her kids, she felt as out of place as a white elephant in the middle of the backyard.
“I know I’m ready to relax.” April nudged her arm. “Come sit in the hot tub. You worked hard today, you deserve a break.”
“I’m good.” Lucy’s whole body ached. She sat back and pretended to be invisible, wishing she’d stayed home to work on her novel. At least she’d be sober and not fighting sleep on one of Clancy’s patio chairs.
“Come on, Lucy.” Clancy grasped her hands and pulled her to her feet. “I promised you a soak in the hot tub so let’s get you relaxed.”
She tugged her hands away. “I am relaxed. I need to go home. I’ve had too much wine and sunshine and still have a lot of work to do. Deadlines, you know.”
“Relax, Lucy. Give yourself a break.” Clancy draped one arm around her shoulders. “Are you anti-social or what? You’ve lived on this street for how long and you don’t even know your neighbors.”
He had a point. While Roger would drink with Clancy’s dad and Mitch some nights, Lucy put the kids to bed and met deadlines and fell into bed exhausted by the end of each day. Maybe some time in the hot tub would help get her creativity flowing. “I can’t stay long. I want to call my kids tonight.”
Clancy frowned. “Have you talked to them yet?”
“Not since they left.” Lucy stepped into the hot tub with his help. “I’m trying not to worry, but it’s not like them not to keep in touch.” April smiled. “I’m sure they’re having a great time swimming, having bonfires on the beach, hunting fireflies, all the things kids love best.”
Lucy sat back, closed her eyes, and tried to relax. While she should have gone home right after dinner, there was no time like the present. All she had to do was stand up and leave, yet the warm water lulled her into submission.
Someone kicked her leg beneath the warm water. “You’d better not be falling asleep.”
“What?” Her eyes flashed open.
Mitch’s face hovered inches away. He sat down, making waves lap the sides of the hot tub. “You know the only person who could carry you home is Clancy.”
Lucy’s face grew hotter than the bubbling water. She set aside her glass of wine and focused on people watching. Some of her neighbors would make great characters for books, including Mitch who leaned to grab another bottle of beer and hit his wife’s shoulder.
April shot him a nasty look. “Hey, be careful.”
“Don’t hurt your wife.” Lucy frowned.
“Ah, I couldn’t hurt her, she’s well padded.” He grinned. “But you, you’re padded well.”
Clancy chuckled and rolled his eyes as he handed Lucy her glass. “Come on, one more glass can’t hurt.”
“It’s not the one glass I’m worried about. It’s one before that and the one before that and the one before that. Not to mention the beer and chocolate cake and gardening in the hot sun this afternoon...” Nauseous, she stared at the water and prayed not to vomit.
April let out a deep sigh. “You’re so lucky. You can wear a bikini after having three kids. I can’t even look at one.”
Clancy’s gaze dropped to the soft roundness of her breasts. “I thought you said you didn’t own a bikini.”
“What I said was I haven’t worn one in public in years.” Lucy folded her arms across her stomach. “I wear it in the backyard with the kids. Well, at least I did before our pool popped.”
“That makes me want to spend a lot more time in your backyard.” Clancy’s lingering gaze and the tone of his voice left goose bumps on her arms.
Lucy backed away, not in a hurry for things to get intense. Life was hard enough when Roger heard Clancy watched the kids after she’d walked into the patio door. If she stayed in the hot tub any longer, his reaction to the rumors would be a thousand times worse. She stood up with a strong urge to leave before there was more trouble. “I’d better go. I didn’t sleep much last night then all of the yard work today.”
“Excuses. Excuses.” Mitch waved a hand.
Clancy scowled and sat up on the edge of the hot tub. “Do you want me to walk you home? There’s a lot of lunatics out there.”
“He’s right. And someone as hot as you would be fair game.” Mitch grinned. “A girl like you needs a knight in shining armor.”
“Or a hunk in a Speedo. Do they even still make those?” April giggled. “Have a drink and relax. There’s no one at the house right now anyway. You’ll have more fun here with us than you’ll have at home.”
Lucy moved toward the edge of the tub. “I know, but I need to—”
Clancy hooked a finger in the back of her bikini bottoms and pulled her closer. “I’m sure the kids are fine. It’s their mom I’m worried about.”
“Me?” She turned to face him. “Why?”
He slowly studied her from head to toe then licked her lips. “Because in spite of the rumors, I think you’ve forgotten how to have a good time. Maybe hanging out here with us will refresh your memory.”
Lucy took a sharp breath. “I don’t want to have a good time. I want to write.”
Mitch didn’t make any sudden moves to leave. “Aw, come on, Lucy. Stay and party. I promise, we’ll all behave.”
April sat up. “We should go too. I have to work in the morning.”
“Just call in sick.” Mitch urged.
“I don’t get paid if I don’t show up.” April gripped the side of the hot tub then got out and reached for her towel.
Lucy glanced at Clancy. “Thanks for a fun evening, but I’m going home too.”
“Please don’t. Not yet.” He swung his legs over the side and stood up. “We need to talk. Let me get rid of everyone else first.”
Curious, Lucy sat back in the warm water and laid her head on the edge. She gazed at the stars and imagined floating among them in a wonderful, magical dream as her remaining energy floated away on the bubbles.
When everyone else had gone, Clancy turned the porch light off. The sky suddenly seemed much darker and the stars grew a dozen times brighter. He slid back into the water and turned the lights in the bottom of the hot tub off then wrapped his arm behind her. His lips touched her ear and sent shivers through her entire body. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Breathless, she got met his gaze. Caught up in the magic of the night and the abundance of alcohol, she allowed him to kiss her. Sensations exploded through her body she hadn’t experienced in ages. While there hadn’t been a man in her life since Roger left, this particular man both unnerved her and excited her at the same time.
Clancy pulled her across his lap and toyed with the strings of her bikini top.
At home in her backyard, she tied a knot behind her neck. Tonight, she’d tied bows he could loosen and it wouldn’t be long before he worked them free and saw more of her than she was prepared to share. She leaned back, her own worst enemy. “This isn’t a good idea. I should go home.”
He kissed her throat. His fingers leaving behind tingling trails on her skin as he caressed her. “You and I both know you don’t want to leave.”
Lucy closed her eyes and sighed. Parts of her wanted him to do things no one other than Roger had ever done. The thought sobered her enough to push away from him and clamber to her feet. “I need to go home.”
“Yeah, you keep saying that.” Clancy stood and kissed her so hard she grew light-headed. He tugged the strings of her bikini loose as he held her tight. “Last chance.”
She backed away slightly and clutched the bikini top to her chest. “You said we needed to talk. About what?”
He gave a dreamy drunken smile. “Yeah. I had an idea the other night. I’d love to give you a tattoo.”
“Now?” Her eyes widened. “Are you serious?”
Clancy chuckled and kissed the tip of her nose. “No, I’d probably hurt you if I did it drunk. I mean later this summer. Once you think it over.”
Lucy winced. “I’ve never had a tattoo before.”
“I know.” He grinned. “I looked.”
A burst of heat rocketed through her body. He had to know what he was doing to her. She tried to move away, but he arms tightened his arms around her waist. “I have no idea what kind of tattoo I’d get.”
Clancy nuzzled the side of her neck. “I have a design I was working on earlier. I haven’t been able to get it out of my head since we had lunch the other day.”
Lucy swallowed hard. “Oh yeah? What?”
“A four leaf clover.” Clancy trailed a finger down her neck and stopped when he reached the fabric of her bikini top. “Right here.”
“Why a four leaf clover?” She squirmed beneath his touch undecided if she should move closer or run for home.
“Lucky Lucy. One leaf for Gina.” He kissed her left cheek. “One for Shawn.” He kissed her right cheek. “One for Parker.” He kissed her forehead. “And the last one for you.” He kissed her on the lips long and hard.
“I’ll have to think about that.” She sighed when he released her, not sure she meant the tattoo or their romance.
“I’d do the tattoo for free.” Clancy covered her mouth with his again. His hands roamed over her skin then over her bikini until her whole body hummed. “If you don’t like that idea, I’ll do anything you want. Just name it.”
Chapter 17 ~ Danny
Danny grabbed a hot shower and a cold sandwich then headed back over to Bishop Street for an hour or so. No lights blazed at Lucy’s house, which wasn’t like her. He rolled down the window. A party was underway at Clancy’s house. By the sounds of things, most of the neighborhood seemed to be hanging out in Clancy’s backyard.
He parked across the street and vowed to do a wake-up call in the morning just to see if Clancy was hung-over. Tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, he tossed around the notion of crashing the party. In the end, he turned off the engine and opted to wait.
By eleven o’clock, lights flick on in several homes as most people went home. Danny watched. Soon, the entire street fell dark and silent and he frowned. Either Lucy was an expert at stumbling through every room in the dark or she had yet to leave Clancy’s house.
He grabbed a flashlight and got out of the car. Was Clancy prying her for more information about Roger or did he have his own more intimate agenda? Willing to bet on the latter, he crept around the side of the house and silently thanked whoever had left the side gate open. At least he wouldn’t have to make a lot of noise to get in.
Voices murmured at the back of the house as he took careful steps alo
ng the fence. When the hot tub motor switched off, the voices filled the void left behind. He froze, his heart hammered in the sudden silence.
“I really can’t do this.” Lucy sounded agitated. “I have to go home.”
“Come on, Lucy.” Clancy’s low tones made Danny cringe. “Wherever your kids are, they’re all asleep and won’t call until morning. What have you got to lose?”
Her sigh was loud enough Danny heard it around the side of the house. “My dignity.”
Clancy groaned. “Lucy, I’m sorry. I’ll walk you home.”
“Don’t bother. I’ll take my chances.” Water sloshed and someone, Danny assumed Lucy, stumbled then stomped off the deck before the slap of her flip-flops became muffled by the grass. As she rounded the corner, she ran straight into Danny.
When she opened her mouth to scream, he covered her mouth and put a finger to his lips. Clancy swore and splashed water as he got out of the hot tub then the patio door slid open and closed. After that, quiet.
Lucy ripped his hand away from her mouth and, thankfully, kept her voice low as she shrank away and tightened the towel around her torso. “Who are you? What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“A friend.” He blew out his breath. “I’m here to make sure you’re okay.”
“Some friend.” She pushed her face closer to his. “You’re the guy from the Honda. The one who’s been stalking me.”
“Yeah.” He ran a hand through his hair. “About that—”
Lucy pushed past him and headed for the sidewalk. “Leave me alone before I call the police. I don’t know anything. I didn’t do anything. I just want to go home to bed.”
“I know, Lucy. It’s okay.”
She stopped then turned around. “What do you know? Besides my name.”
Under the street lights, she reminded Danny of a frizzy-haired, shivering teenage girl he’d once dated in high school. She swayed enough for him to assume she’d consumed her fair share of alcohol at the party. He ached to tell her to run home and stay away from Clancy, from both of them, actually.
“Go home, Lucy.” He ran a hand through his hair and hoped Clancy wasn’t sober, or near any windows. “We’ll talk tomorrow after you get some sleep and sober up.”
