Why couldn’t she be just a little fast? A tiny bit reckless? The kind of woman just as happy with a casual roll across his mattress as Hagen tried to convince himself he was?
Hair secured with one of her newly purchased bands, Rhea grabbed her bag and laced the handles over her arm. “Thank you for saving the day. I thought I was going to be melting.”
A stupid amount of pride pushed at his chest. As if selling her hair ties made him a knight in shining armor.
Rhea needed to get the hell out of his store.
Jerrik came through the door, saving himself one of the ass-kickings Hagen had lined up for him.
“I think your friend needs you.” Jerrik looked over his shoulder. “He looks pretty wound up about something.”
Rhea walked to the door. “He’s fine.” She gave Hagen one last look over her shoulder. “Just a lot sometimes.” She turned to give Jerrik a once over before looking back at him. “Know what I mean?”
Hagen waited until the door closed behind her to start laughing.
Jerrik stared after Rhea as she walked across the street toward where her friend was draped across a bench in front of the small row of buildings that made up one side of Greenlea’s downtown. “She’s something else isn’t she?”
Hagen watched as she swung her bag and caught Stewart in the shoulder. “Comes by that hair honestly I think.”
“Hell yeah she does.” Jerrik turned from the door and propped against the counter. “You ready to take them out?”
A mix of dread and excitement sat like lead in Hagen’s stomach making him feel sick and elated at the same time. He’d be seeing Rhea again, there was never any question of that. Her group was here for the full Bigfoot experience but before he had to spend full days and long nights with her, secluded in the mountains, Hagen had to make sure his head was on straight.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” He picked his inventory list back up. “You gonna be able to help much?”
Jerrik shrugged. “Some. The assholes from Florida are still here and I don’t want to be too far away in case they get another hair.”
“They are a pain in the ass this year aren’t they?” Hagen walked to the spot he’d left off when his brother came in.
“They’re a pain in the ass every year.” Jerrik yawned, starting his next sentence before he finished. “This year they just won’t fucking go home. They were at the bar until after three last night. Kari had to call me to come get them and take them to their cabin.”
“They probably think they’re already back in Florida with the weather the way it is.” Hagen deftly counted a row of camouflage printed hunting knives. “If they give her a problem tonight call me. We’ll nip it in the bud.”
Jerrik nodded in understanding. “Let Magni know to back off when they’re out looking. Don’t give em any reason to come back.”
That was a good idea. Greenlea was just starting to find its footing as a tourist spot for casual and serious hunters alike, but some things just weren’t worth the money. “Has their group reported any sightings this year?”
“Haven’t heard.” Jerrik rubbed one hand across his freshly shaven chin. “I’ll check with Kari. See if they’ve mentioned anything at the bar.” Jerrik looked his way. “What about the new group?”
Rhea’s crew was booked at the bed and breakfast for four weeks. That meant Hagen had four long weeks of dealing with his mother’s ideas and being too close to a woman who was already proving to be a problematic presence in his life. He only had one option.
“I don’t think we should give them anything. Maybe they’ll go home too.”
****
“Where in the hell is my razor?” Stewart rushed around their room at the bed and breakfast in a panic and a pair of boxer briefs. “No one likes a hairy man rubbing all over them.”
“That’s not true.” Rhea didn’t even look up from her Sudoku book. “And you don’t even know if he wants you rubbing all over him.”
Stewart stopped, a bathroom towel hanging from one hand. “Oh I know Re-Re. I can tell.” Stewart tossed the towel over one shoulder and motioned down his body with both hands. “That man is all about this that you see here.” He tipped his head back proudly displaying his bare chest. “Take it in. Appreciate it.”
Rhea shook her head and filled in the final square of the puzzle. “I’ve seen it.”
“Don’t hate.” He started to walk away then stopped. “Maybe you’d rather be seeing something of the Big and Scary variety?”
She finally looked up, trying to act uninterested. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Still in denial? That’s okay baby.” He gave her a sly grin. “But I can tell you with absolute certainty Big and Scary knows what he’d like to see.”
She shook her head and looked back down at the next page of her book, Stewart lingering in her peripheral vision.
Her friend popped one hand on his hip but didn’t say anything, just kept looking at her with that sly grin. Finally he spun on one heel and went to the bathroom. Before the door shut he peeked his head out. “He wants to see if you’re a real redhead.”
Her puzzle book almost made it to his face before Stewart shut the door. Instead it bounced off the door with a thump and fell to the floor, pages fluttering on the way down.
The door yanked back open a sliver, showing only half her best friend’s shaving cream covered face. “And I think you should let him find out.” The door slammed closed again but didn’t shut out the sound of Stewart cackling on the other side.
Rhea slouched down in the floral wingback angled in front of the large window facing the single street running through the small town. The spot afforded her an angled view of the general store. One she took advantage of whenever Stewart was otherwise occupied, catching glimpses of Hagen’s large frame moving through the shop. Checking out customers. Wiping down the large front windows. She could almost swear he looked up at her as he swiped a white cloth over the glass, the hem of his t-shirt lifting just enough with each wipe to give her a peek at the tanned plane of his stomach.
The guy didn’t even need a stool to reach all the way to the top of the ceiling height windows.
When his eyes caught hers she didn’t look away. Rhea didn’t care if he saw her staring. She found him fascinating.
Hagen was interesting. He was intense. Dark in spite of his fair hair and pale beard.
And good lord was he beautiful.
What was it like to spend time with a man like him? Did that intensity carry over into everything he did?
She stood up and paced across the room. This was ridiculous.
Rhea banged on the bathroom door. “When are we supposed to start working? I can’t sit around here like this.”
Chauncey needed to get this show on the road. Literally. Give Rhea something else to do besides drive herself crazy pondering over Big and Scary’s bedroom abilities.
“To-morrow.” Stewart shouted over the sound of running water in a singsongy voice.
Good. Tomorrow she would be hiking through the woods.
With a camera.
Hunting for Bigfoot.
Not something Rhea expected to say in her lifetime.
Definitely not anything she thought she’d be relieved to be doing.
3
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Rhea flopped back on the bed and pulled the blankets over her head.
“I don’t control the weather Re-Re.”
She didn’t have to see his face to know that Stewart was smiling from ear to ear.
“If you could it would still be raining.” She tossed the covers down to her chest and glared at him. “This is the longest job I’ve ever been on and it hasn’t even started yet.”
Stewart kneed his way across the bed. “I swear I will make it up to you.” He grabbed her hand. “Why don’t you come with us? We’re going to drive around and look at the mountains.”
“Yeah. That’s exactly what I wan
t to do. Hang out with you and Chauncey while you two take a romantic drive through the countryside.” She reached out to straighten the collar of Stewart’s perfectly pressed shirt. “You go. Have fun driving around in the rain.” She poked him in the chest. “Be careful. I’ll kill you if you two die and all this was for nothing.”
Stewart smiled down at her. “It won’t be for nothing. I’m going to start planting the seeds of your ideas in his brain today. He won’t even know it happened. He’ll be begging you to help him.” He threw the covers over her head. “Now go brush your teeth. You stink”
The door to their room closed as he left and Rhea rolled to her side, burrowing into the bed, taking advantage of having the whole thing to herself. Sharing a room with Stewart wasn’t the worst thing to happen but it wasn’t a perfect situation. When they were at home Rhea could sneak off to her room when she needed some peace and quiet. Time away from everything around her to recharge. Here there was nowhere for her to hide when she needed a break. Then again, maybe Stewart and Chauncey would actually hit it off and they’d be the ones sharing a room.
She could only hope.
For lots of reasons. The least of which was she didn’t want to deal with Stewart if this Chauncey guy wasn’t all he thought.
Stewart wouldn’t be the only one disappointed if that was the case. She loved her best friend but she didn’t just come here for him. Chauncey could make it possible for her to make a difference. To prove the choices she had to make weren’t the wrong ones. In spite of what her family might think.
Rhea threw off the covers and stretched. She sat up in the middle of the bed and tugged at the rubber band holding her nightly braid in place. If her hair wasn’t braided every night before bed it was unbearable in the mornings, especially in the humidity. And today it wasn’t just humid. It was raining.
Her fingers began to work the plaits of her braid loose as she scooted across the bed. Sitting on the edge, Rhea looked up at one of the four beasts who watched her sleep at night. A shiver crept along her spine.
Why the face of a mythical creature carved in wood made her feel so strange she hadn’t yet been able to figure out. Usually it was just people who gave off feelings.
Rhea wasn’t even sure what the odd feeling was. It was a sensation completely foreign. Not fear. Not discomfort. It wasn’t actually an unpleasant reaction at all. Just...
Odd.
But she’d still slept like a baby in the bed. Wrapped up in the pile of blankets, sinking down into the softest mattress she’d ever felt. It was like being wrapped in a warm embrace. If you were into that kind of thing.
Slipping off the edge of the mattress, Rhea crossed to the window and pulled back the sheer curtain revealing the dreariness of the morning. Streaks of water slipped down the window, catching on the gridlines and the sash. A section of dark grey clouds hanging low over the mountains illuminated in a quick flash followed by a low rumbling.
Which reminded her she was hungry.
And still in her pajamas. Rhea looked down at the leggings and tank top she slept in and shrugged. They were passable. Not street wear but she was just running down to grab a quick bite to eat. Then she could come back and get dressed.
Or probably just go back to bed.
After wrestling on a sports bra and sliding into a pair of cheap flip-flops she slipped out the door and into the hallway. It was empty. Not just empty. It was silent.
Maybe everyone left for the day since there would be no filming until the rain cleared.
Rhea smiled. Maybe this wouldn’t be too awful of a day after all. A big, quiet bed and breakfast all to herself. She caught her reflection in the brass framed mirror at the top of the turning staircase and turned her head from side to side. Her hair even looked good today. Not too big. Not too crazy.
She touched the waves softly, surprised by what she saw. “Huh.” It was almost a shame she didn’t have anywhere to go.
Only almost.
Her flip-flops made soft slaps against the polished wood of the stairs as she hurried down, hoping it wasn’t too late to catch breakfast. The smell of coffee and bacon filled the downstairs, making her stomach growl almost as loud as the skies outside.
Pushing open the swinging door to the kitchen, Rhea peeked in expecting to see Gail. Instead, a beautiful woman with longish, almost black hair tumbling in loose sweeps around her shoulders smiled from the large table that took up the length of the breakfast area.
“Oh.” She stopped. “I was looking for Gail.”
The door pulled free of her hands and Gail beamed from the other side. “You found me.” She grabbed Rhea’s hand and pulled her into the kitchen.
It was a move that normally felt invasive. To have someone she didn’t know well touch her, but this morning it didn’t bother Rhea like it generally would. Maybe it was because she was in a good mood. Maybe it was because Gail was moving her hungry stomach closer to the food on the stove. Maybe it was because she just liked being near the warmth and kindness that radiated off Hagen’s mother, cradling her in the soft energy.
Probably it was all of it.
Gail pulled out a chair at the long rustic-looking table for her. “This is my friend Christine. We’ve known each other for years.” Gail gave her a wink. “Just don’t expect her to be as entertaining as your friend.”
“I don’t know that anyone’s as entertaining as Stewart.” Rhea peeked toward the stove. “Is it still breakfast time by any chance?”
“You can have breakfast anytime you want dear.” Gail flipped open a cardboard carton on the butcher block counter beside her elbow. “How do you like your eggs?”
“Um.” Maybe her understanding of how a bed and breakfast worked was wrong. She’d assumed it was more akin to the breakfast buffet offered at hotels. You get what they serve and you like it cause it’s free. “Scrambled?”
Gail grinned from ear to ear. “That’s how my Hagen likes his too.”
Rhea glanced between the two women and shifted in her seat. Gail was warm and friendly and kind but Rhea felt like she was under a microscope every time Hagen’s mother looked at her. And now there were two sets of eyes studying her intently instead of one.
Rhea swallowed and tried to think of something to talk about with the women. A topic that wouldn’t be too horribly painful to feign interest in. Like the weather.
Rhea cleared her throat and went with the conversation Gail already started. “Do you just have the two sons?”
“A daughter too.” Gail stopped, her hand hovering over a bowl, an egg suspended in her grip. She looked up at Rhea. “You met Jerrik?”
“I did.” Rhea rubbed her lips together and mulled over her options. She settled on one that would hopefully make his mother happy. “He seems very... nice.”
“Nice?” Gail’s eyes twinkled. “I’ll have to tell him you said that.”
The women went silent. At least their mouths did. Rhea could feel energy pulsating around her. Most of it coming from the dark haired woman beside her. She rubbed the arm closest to Christine, trying to ease the tingling sensation crawling across her bare skin.
Christine’s clear, blue-green eyes watched the movement intensely. “Would you like a cup of coffee Rhea?”
“I would.” Rhea let out a breath as Christine moved to the other side of the room taking her oddly powerful energy with her. She hadn’t missed the fact that Gail’s friend already knew her name. Another thing to add to her list of odd happenings since arriving here. Then again maybe she helped run the B&B and was familiar with all the visitors. Time would tell.
Christine set a large mug and a small pitcher of cream next to Rhea. “Do you need sugar?”
Rhea shook her head. “No thank you.”
Christine went back to the other side of the kitchen with Gail and leaned against the counter. “How do you like it here?”
“It’s beautiful.” Rhea sipped at her coffee. “It’s a nice change from LA.”
Gail looked up from the pa
n of eggs but her hand kept stirring. “Are you from there?”
“No. I’m from Wisconsin. This place kind of reminds me of home.” She tipped her head to one side. “Just with mountains.”
“Bacon or sausage?” Gail scooped a pile of eggs onto a plate.
“Can I have both?” Yesterday was a long freaking day of flights and bus rides through the hills. By the time Rhea was settled in, eating was the last thing on her mind and her stomach was punishing her for it now.
“Absolutely you can.” Gail dropped two slices of thick cut peppered bacon on her plate along with a round of sausage and sat it down in front of Rhea. “What are you going to do today?” She went back to the stove and began to straighten up. “I think all the boys left you.”
Rhea smiled at her breakfast. “I think I’m just going to hang around here and relax. Gear up for filming tomorrow.” She looked up at Gail and Christine. “Is it supposed to stop raining by then?”
Gail slowly looked up at her. “You should check with Hagen. He’s in charge of taking you guys out. Making sure everything goes well.”
Rhea’s stomach flipped at the thought. It made her a little excited. A little nervous.
A little concerned. “What do you mean ‘goes well’?”
Gail’s eyes moved to Christine then back to her. “There’s all sorts of things in those woods that could be a threat.” She gave Rhea a reassuring smile. “Stick close to Hagen and everything will be just fine.”
****
“Hagen.”
“Hagen!”
Kari glared across the scarred wood of the bar, swiping a damp rag over the worn, time-weathered surface. “Are you just going to stare at her all night?” His sister glanced over one shoulder at the fair-skinned redhead drinking whiskey straight-up at the other end of the bar. Rhea sat on her stool looking more than a little out of place next to Stewart and the newest arrival to Greenlea, a pale, skinny, blonde with a clump of hair hanging over one eye.
Hagen Page 3
