Книга - Some Like It Hot
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Some Like It Hot
Susan Andersen
Wrong for each other never felt more rightEven a lifelong traveller like Harper Summerville has to admire the scenery in Razor Bay, Washington. Theres the mountains. The evergreens. The water. And Max Bradshaw, the incredibly sexy deputy sheriff. Still, Harpers only here for the summer, working covertly for her familys foundation. And getting involved with this rugged, intense former Marine would be a definite conflict of interest professionally and personally.Maxs scarred childhood left him determined to put down roots in Razor Bay, yet one look at Harper a woman who happily lives out of a suitcase leaves him speechless with desire for things hes never had. He might not be big on talking, but Maxs toe-curling kisses are getting the message across loud and clear.Harper belongs here, with him, because things are only beginning to heat up
Wrong for each other never felt more right
Even a lifelong traveler like Harper Summerville has to admire the scenery in Razor Bay, Washington. Theres the mountains. The evergreens. The water. And Max Bradshaw, the incredibly sexy deputy sheriff. Still, Harpers here only for the summer, working covertly for her familys foundation. And getting involved with this rugged, intense former marine would be a definite conflict of interestprofessionally and personally.
Maxs scarred childhood left him determined to put down roots in Razor Bay, yet one look at Harpera woman who happily lives out of a suitcaseleaves him speechless with desire for things hes never had. He might not be big on talking, but Maxs toe-curling kisses are getting the message across loud and clear. Harper belongs here, with him, because things are only beginning to heat up.
Reviewers love New York Times bestselling author
SUSAN ANDERSEN
This warm summer contemporary melts hearts with the simultaneous blossoming of familial and romantic love.
Publishers Weekly on That Thing Called Love
A smart, arousing, spirited escapade that is graced with a gentle mystery, a vulnerable, resilient heroine, and a worthy, wounded hero and served up with empathy and a humorous flair.
Library Journal on Burning Up
A sexy, feel-good contemporary romance Palpable escalating sexual tension between the pair, a dangerous criminal on the loose and a cast of well-developed secondary characters make this a winner.
Publishers Weekly on Bending the Rules
This start of Andersens new series has fun and interesting characters, solid action and a hot and sexy romance.
RT Book Reviews on Cutting Loose
Snappy and sexy Upbeat and fun, with a touch of danger and passion, this is a great summer read.
RT Book Reviews on Coming Undone
Lovers of romance, passion and laughs should go all in for this one.
Publishers Weekly on Just for Kicks
Andersen again injects magic into a story that would be clichd in anothers hands, delivering warm, vulnerable characters in a touching yet suspenseful read.
Publishers Weekly on Skintight, starred review
A classic plot line receives a fresh, fun treatment. Well-developed secondary characters add depth to this zesty novel, placing it a level beyond most of its competition.
Publishers Weekly on Hot & Bothered
Some Like it Hot
Susan Andersen
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Dear Reader,
I am so excited about this second book in my new Razor Bay series. You first met Max Bradshaw in That Thing Called Love, where he took his man of few words reputation to new heights when he caught sight of Harper Summerville. Maxs tongue might get tied in a few knots around the sophisticated newcomer, but in a town the size of Razor Bay, he cant avoid her.
Many of you know the setting of fictional Razor Bay holds special meaning for me. I plunked it down on the precise spot on Hood Canala sixty-five-mile saltwater fjord in western Washingtonwhere my folks built a little cabin when I was nine. Long before that, Id spend two weeks every summer running wild with my brothers and cousins, swimming in icy, buoyant water until my fingers and toes were pruney, playing until the sun sank behind the soaring Olympic Mountains, roasting marshmallows and hot dogs over blazing bonfires. This, to me, is the most wonderful spot on earth.
I imbued Max with my love for this incredible corner of the world. Having spent too many years in war-torn countries, he has no plans to leave Razor Bay again. But hell have his work cut out for him convincing Harper to share a life with him there.
~Susan
This is dedicated
with love
to
Jen and Margo
For always making me look way better than I would
without your priceless participation
And
to
the Mazama Crew:
Ken, Sue, Ron, Steve, Doug, Mimi, Martha & Gary
for the marvelous food, music, skiing,
snowshoeing and shopping.
And, oh, mama, for all the laughter, which is the glue
that glitters through everything else.
Love you all
~Susie
Contents
CHAPTER ONE (#ub1a39644-df68-56c3-9faa-5a03f3cbfecb)
CHAPTER TWO (#u4707ac90-9617-5632-b94d-2e77e2832ed9)
CHAPTER THREE (#u60ba8415-122f-5eac-bf55-2dab0222a99d)
CHAPTER FOUR (#ua5868a62-83ef-52ac-bd41-60896aad2764)
CHAPTER FIVE (#ub9a6f4d6-2c70-5b88-a4f7-890f284949c3)
CHAPTER SIX (#ud8b854d5-7d5f-5145-a847-c6fc170f3251)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIXTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINETEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)
EPILOGUE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE
OH, MY GOD. Is he coming here?
Before Harper Summerville glanced out her front window to see Max Bradshaw striding up the sun-dappled trail between the evergreens on the inn grounds, shed been enjoying her day off. It was fun puttering around the little playhouse-size one-room-plus-loft cottage that was part of her employee compensation as the summer activities coordinator for The Brothers Inn. She loved, loved, loved the glimpses she could catch from up here of the fjord that was Hood Canal and the soaring Olympic mountains beyond it. The spectacular scenery was what brought people to the little resort town of Razor Bay, Washington.
Seeing a huge, unsmiling man bearing down on her, however, made that enjoyment falter. And her heartbeat inexplicably pick up its pace.
He looked different than he had during their previous two brief meetings. Plus, the first time shed seen him, as well as on the handful of occasions when shed glimpsed him around town, hed been wearing his deputy sheriffs uniform. But there was just no mistaking a guy that big, that hard-looking, that intense and contained for anyone else.
She blinked as he suddenly left the path and disappeared from view, then shook her head at herself. Oh, good show, Harper. Conceited much? Because, despite her cottage being the only one up here before the trail wound into the woods, it apparently hadnt been Bradshaws destination. Breathing a sigh of reliefright?she plugged in her earbuds and turned back to the couple of boxes shed put off unpacking.
Within moments, shed revived her earlier enjoyment. She loved seeing new places, loved meeting new people and diving into a new job that was never quite like any other. Since shed structured her life to do exactly that, she was generally a happy woman.
Harper sang along with Maroon 5 as they played through her earbuds. As she efficiently unpacked the boxes of odds and ends her mother had insisted on sending her, she swiveled her hips and bopped in time to the music.
Thoughts of her mothers hopes and expectations for her, however, elicited a sigh in the midst of crooning along with Adam Levine. Gina Summerville-Hardin refused to believe that Harper could live very contentedly without a permanent base or a host of belongings, since making a home had been her way of coping with the constant moving from place to place that had been part and parcel of her husbands work. Neither Gina nor Harpers brother, Kai, had loved the adventure of seeing new countries and meeting new people the way Harper and her dad had.
Still, Harper had to admit that she adored the throw pillows and candles her mom had sent. They added a homey touch to her minuscule cabin. Admitting as much certainly didnt take away from how she chose to live and honor her dads memory.
All the same, when the song ran its course, she thumbed through her playlist and pulled up her fathers onetime theme song.
Papa was a rolling stone, she sang along with The Temptations as she focused on finding a place to put the other items her mother had sent, given that storage space was at a premium. Wherever he
Something warm brushed her elbow. Her heart climbing her throat like a monkey riding a rocket, she jerked her chin downward. She stared at the rawboned, big-knuckled masculine hand touching her.
And screamed the house down.
Shit! Max Bradshaws voice exclaimed as she ripped the earbuds from her ears and whirled to face him.
He was in the midst of taking a long-legged step away from her. His big hands were up, palms out, as if she had a howitzer aimed at his heart.
Ms. SummervilleHarperIm sorry, he said in a low, rough voice. I knocked several times and I heard you singing, so I knew you were here. But I shouldnt have let myself in. Slowly lowering his hands, he stuffed them into his shorts pockets and his massive shoulders hunched up. I sure didnt mean to scare the shthat is, stuffing out of you.
Even through the embarrassment of knowing hed seen her shaking her butt and singing off-key, it struck her that these were probably the most words shed ever heard him string together at one time in her presence. Drawing in a deep breath and dropping the hands shed clasped to her heart like an overwrought silent film heroine confronted by the mustache-twirling villain, she pulled herself together. Yes, well, intention or not, Deputy Bradshaw
Max, he interjected.
Max, she agreed, wishing shed simply said that in the first place. After all, not only had they been introduced on the day shed interviewed for her job at the inn but theyd attended the same barbecue just a couple weeks ago. As I was saying
Her already open front door banged against the living room wall, and they both whirled to stare at the man barreling through it. From the corner of her eye, Harper saw Max reach for his right hip, where his gun no doubt usually resided.
The strangers forward momentum carried him across the threshold and into the small room, the screen door slapping closed behind him. As he left the glare of sunlight flooding the porch, he coalesced into a tall, gangly man in his mid-thirties.
Then he was blocked from view as Max stepped in front of her. She leaned to peer around him.
Are you okay, miss? the man demanded, glancing about wildly. She assumed his eyes had adjusted to the dimmer interior lighting, for it was obvious from the way they suddenly widened that hed gotten his first good look at Max. His prominent Adams apple rode the column of his throat as he swallowed audibly.
For good reason. Max was six-four if he was an inch and probably weighed in the vicinity of two-twenty.
Every ounce of it solid muscle.
But Harper had to give the resort guest credit. He was clearly outmatched, yet while he looked as though hed give a bundle to go back out the way hed come in, he instead moved closer and ordered firmly, Step away from her, sir.
Oh, for God sake, she heard Max mutter, and hysterical laughter bubbled up Harpers throat. She swallowed it down as she watched Max do as directed.
Then she looked at the resort guest. Im okay, she said soothingly. Its really not what you must think. She ran him through her mental database. Youre Mr. Wells, right? I believe your wife is in my sunset yoga class.
Sean Wells, he agreed, shedding some of the tension that caused him to all but vibrate.
This is Deputy Bradshaw, she said. I screamed because I had my earbuds in and he startled me.
Sean relaxed a bit more, but he shot Max a skeptical look as he took in the bigger mans khaki cargo shorts, black muscle shirt and the tribal tattoos that swirled down his right upper arm from the muscular ball of his shoulder to the bottom of his hard biceps. You dont look like a deputy.
The dark-eyed gaze Max fixed on him froze the other man in place. Its my day off, he said with Just the facts, maam directness.
Harper had no idea why she found that so damn titillating.
I just came by to ask Ms. Summerville to dinner, he added, and shock whipped her head around.
She gaped at him. You did? Crap. Was that her voice cracking on the last word? She hardly ever lost her poise. But in her own defense, during their previous encounters shed gotten the impression Max viewed her as a mental lightweight. She would have sworn, too, that she hadnt even registered on his Attraction-O-Meter.
Yes. Dull color climbed his angular face. That is, Jake sent me. Jennys having a dinner party tonight and wants you to come. Glancing away, he leveled an are-you-still-here look on Sean Wells.
The man immediately mumbled an excuse and melted out the door.
Thank you, Harper called after him, then quirked an eyebrow when the deputy turned back to her. You sure know how to clear a room.
Yeah. The shoulder with the tattoo lifted and dropped. Its a talent of mine. He gave her a level look. So, what do you want me to tell Jenny? You in or you out for tonight?
Im in. What should I bring?
Youre asking me? Im the guy who usually shows up with a six-pack of beer.
She grinned at him. Ill call Jenny.
He didnt smile backyet something in his expression lightened, which might have been his version of one. Hard to tell, since his deep voice contained its usual crispness when he said, Good idea. Ill leave it to you to let her know youre coming, then. So. He gave her the terse nod she remembered from their earlier encounters. Sorry about scaring you. I guess Ill see you tonight. He turned for the door.
I guess you will, she murmured to his already retreating back. She trailed in his wake as far as the screen door and watched through it as he strode down the path. She didnt turn away until he disappeared around a bend.
Wow. Nothing, not even the photograph shed seen of him in the dossier the Sundays Childs investigator had sent her, could adequately describe the sheer impact of the man in the flesh.
Then a small smile curved up the corners of her lips, and she shook her head. At least this time he didnt call me maam.
* * *
MAX BANGED THROUGH the door to the upstairs room that his half brother, Jake, used as a workspace. Striding right up to the long desk where Jake sat, he stopped, slapped his hands down on its surface and leaned his weight on them. She said yes. Shell come. He sternly ignored the way his heart rate continued to rev from those brief moments spent with Harper. I still dont know why the hell you couldnt just invite her yourselfits your fiances party.
Like I told you, bro. Jake dragged his attention away from the computer monitor hed been studying. Ive been home four lousy days, and theyve got me on one of the tightest deadlines of my life.
Whats their big rush? he demanded, all jazzed up and more than willing to take it out on his younger half brother. God knew that had been their mutual M.O. up until a few months ago. Hell, you only lasted ten days of the three weeks you were supposed to be gone before you turned around and came home again. Shouldnt they have all kinds of extra time? Pushing back, he folded his arms over his chest and gave Jake an assessing gaze. For a guy who was in such a red-hot rush to get out of Razor Bay, you sure seem to have developed a taste for it.
Yeah. Jake smiled. You can blame Jenny and Austin for that.
No fooling. Maxs half brother had come back this spring to claim his newly orphaned, then-thirteen-year-old son Austin, whom hed walked away from when he was just a teenager himself. His plan to haul the kid back to New York with him had hit the skids when hed instead fallen head over heels in love not only with Austin but with the Inns manager, Jenny Salazar, who had been a sister to his son in everything but blood.
Thinking about their relationship set off the somethings not adding up instincts Max never ignored. Why do you think Jenny decided on a dinner party when she knows your deadline?
Beats the hell outta me.
He found that hard to believe and simply fixed Jake in his best cop gaze.
And was tickled to see his half brother squirm.
Okay, Jake said, giving the monitor a concentrated attention Max found suspicious, considering how rapidly he opened and closed the photo thumbnails, I may not have stressed to her how short my deadline is.
Seriously? Didnt stress or didnt mention it at all?
I might have forgotten to mention it. Jake essayed a negligent shrug, then gave up pretending to work. Hey, if Jenny wants a party, then a party she gets. His smile was so fatuous Max was embarrassed for him.
Okay. But getting back to your cut-short trip, whats National Explorers hurry?
Unlike you, they never really expected it to take me the entire three weeks to do the job. And it was always understood Id turn in the preliminary shots for them to choose from within a week of my return.
So what youre saying is it isnt really the tightest deadline of your life.
Jake frowned up at him. What the hell, Maxyou gonna break out the hose and bright lights next?
Hey, Im just trying to get things to add up. Like, if you knew that seven-day deadline thing going in, why arent you further along?
Uh, I might have spent most of it getting it on with Jenny.
Jesus, do not tell me stuff like that! Max involuntarily shuddered. It makes me wanna scrub my brain with industrial-strength bleach to get the image out of my head. Until his half brother had come to town, hed never once thought of Jenny as a sexual being.
Jake snorted. Please. Youre just jealous because youve got no women to roll around with.
Maxs mind immediately went to the woman in the little cabin nestled just this side of the woods in the back acre of the resort. Harper. Of the beautiful creamy light brown skin. Of those big olive-green eyes and dark spiral curls. That smoky voice. Hed give his left nut to roll around
With a rough, impatient jerk of his head to shake her image out of it, he said, Hey, I could get a woman just...like...that! He snapped his fingers under Jakes nose. Except he wasnt interested in any of the ones he could get. He was fascinated by Harper Summerville, and had been since hed first clapped eyes on her when shed shown up at Team Photo Day with Jenny.
He scowled at his half brother. Next time find somebody else to run your errands. Youre a dad, for Gods sake. Why didnt you just order your kid to do it?
Wouldve if I couldve, bro, but its summer, hes fourteen and hes off in his boat somewhere with Nolan and Bailey, and bound to be gone all day. Besides Jake shot him a sideways glance didnt I carve some precious time outta my schedule to make coffee for you?
Big whoop.
Hey, I showed you my work. Shared the genius of my very efficiently taken-in-ten-days photographs with you. I dont do that for just anyone, you know.
And it was real special. He deliberately made his tone sardonic, but the truth was, getting to see his half brothers talent in a behind-the-scenes way...well, it really had been a treat. It wasnt every day a guy got to see hundreds of freshly downloaded photos taken in various locations throughout Africa by a well-known National Explorer magazine photographer.
He walked over to the open window of The Sand Dollar, the luxury cabin Jake had been renting on The Brothers Inn grounds since hed come to town, and faked an interest in the eagle flying through the compound with a seagull and several crows hot on its tail. Watched as the summer breeze sent the heavy boughs to swaying in the evergreens that dotted the grounds.
Then he shoved his hands deep into his pockets and looked over his shoulder at his half brother.
Damned if even under deadline pressure, Jake didnt look like Mr. Upscale with his expensively cut sun-streaked brown hair and his pale green hundred-dollar silk T-shirt the exact same shade as his eyes.
Max still found it amazing that he and Jake were developing an honest-to-God relationship after almost an entire lifetime spent hating each others guts. Who would have ever predicted that? Not him, that was for damn sure. Yet the fact that they were made it easier to turn around and admit, It really was pretty awesome to see some of your process for winnowing down all those photos. His eyebrows drew together. Doesnt mean you dont still owe me, though.
Right, Jake said in a tone that was desert dry. It being so tedious and all, having to talk to a pretty woman.
Shes not pretty, you idiot, shes beautiful. And have you forgotten the other two times youve seen me talk to her? The way hed lost all verbal skills when hed found himself thrown in her company those times was nothing short of pathetic. He was a damn deputy sheriffhell, a former marine, for Gods sake. He could usually talk to anyone.
Except the silver-spoon girls.
Oh. Jake sobered. Yeah. You were really pitiful. He gave a decisive nod. Okay. I do owe you.
Damn straight, he muttered. Although I will admit I didnt do as badly today. Which is a damn good thing, he said drily. Embarrassing myself like that again doesnt bear thinking about. Not when Ive got such ready access to an entire arsenal I could use to put myself out of my misery.
Jake raised skeptical brows. Get real. You and I both know youre too much of a hard-ass pragmatistnever mind that law-and-order thing youre so wedded toto ever choose such a permanent solution to a temporary problem. He shot Max a cheerful smile. And look on the bright side, broyou can only improve.
Hell, yeah, Max said sarcastically, heading for the door. How can I not, with faithful encouragement like that to prop me up? Get to work. Ive got stuff to do, tooI cant hang around here all day. Ill see you at Jennys at seven.
But as he loped down the staircase to the first floor, he thought, From your lips to Gods ear. Because improvement couldnt come quickly enough to suit him. He let himself out the front door of The Sand Dollar, allowing the screen door to bang shut behind him. Not nearly quickly enough.
For he was sure as hell tired of acting more tongue-tied than a horny thirteen-year-old with his first crush every time he stumbled across Harper Summerville.
CHAPTER TWO
MAX SLAMMED HIS car door and hotfooted it across the little parking lot to the back of Jennys cottage. He took the stubby flight of stairs up to her mudroom in two big steps.
He hadnt deliberately been late for her dinner party. After leaving Jakes hed gone out to Cedar Village, the group home for at-risk boys a few miles out of town. And hed ended up staying longer than hed planned.
Which was hardly a surprise, considering it was the same thing he did every time he went out there. At one time hed been an angry teen himself. He knew what it was to get into his share of trouble, knew about having anger he didnt quite know how to manage. So he liked volunteering some of his free time to work with the kids. He understood where they were coming from.
But hed let the time get away from him. The boys had roped him into a vigorous game of basketball, and the demand that he join them had been the first sign of softening hed seen from a couple of the kids. If hed blown off the opening theyd given him, he wouldve risked having them never give him another. That hadnt been an option.
He was already running late when hed finally pulled himself away, but hed had no choice but to go home for a quick shower and a change. Jenny, bless her heart, threw reasonably casual parties, but he was pretty sure shed expect him to at least shave and throw on something a bit less scruffy than his day-off knock-around clothes. Especially when Jake, the love of her life, was one of those GQ-type dressers. And he didnt even want to think about what shed have to say if he showed up smelling as ripe as only a guy whod pounded up and down a court with boys who could run him into the ground could.
He smoothed his hand down the navy T-shirt hed tucked tightly into his low-slung jeans to get the drawer wrinkles out. Straightened the button placket of the loose weave, sage-green short-sleeved shirt hed worn open over it to dress things up a little. Shifting the six-pack of Fat Tire beer that Jake preferred to the Budweiser Max would have chosen were it just for him, he rapped on the mudroom door.
It whipped open, and the sound of dishes clattering and women laughing in the kitchen poured out at him. He looked down into the face of his nephew, Austin.
Dude! The fourteen-year-old, who was at that all shoulders, arms and legs stage, grinned at him. Thank Godwe need more guys here. Jenny invited way more chicks.
Oh, way more, my butt. Jenny stuck her head into the room, her shiny brown hair catching the overhead light. I invited a couple of women from work who didnt have plans. Hey, Max. She crossed the small space at the same time he stepped into the mudroom.
Having learned her ways, he obligingly bent so she could give him a hug. That was something new to him, and he always stood stiff as an oar in her embrace. Considering she kept doing it every time he arrived or left, however, Jenny apparently didnt mind.
And he had to admit, there was something nice about iteven if it did make him feel awkward as a working girl at a revival.
Jenny was a tiny woman who somehow failed to realize it, and she gave him a quick, fierce squeeze before stepping back. The men are out on the front porch doing the barbecue thing, she said, patting his arm. Why dont you take your beer out therewe put a cooler with ice and soft drinks to the right of the door.
She turned to Austin. What are you doing this close to the kitchen if youre so uncomfortable with all the women?
The kid puffed up. Im not uncomfortable, he protested. Im just saying theres a bunch of em, and we guys are outnumbered. I only came out here cuz Im lookin for the croquet set. Dad said maybe we could play a game after dinner.
Color me corrected. Reaching up, she ruffled his dark hair. Sets in the shed.
Austin grinned at her and loped out the door.
Not all that certain he was ready to face a kitchen full of females himself, Max took a step back. Well, Ill just head for the porch. Nice day, huh?
She flashed him a smile he was pretty sure said, Yeah, right, like youre fooling anyone. But she truly was the nice woman hed always considered her, because she simply rubbed his arm again and said, You bet.
Jennys best friend poked her strawberry-blond head in the room. Jen, where can I find Oh, hi, Max.
Hey, Tasha. Hows it going?
Pretty darn good. She eyed him where he stood with one foot in the door and the other out on the stoop. You coming in?
I was just gonna duck around to the front and say hi to the guys.
She raised an eyebrow. Intimidated by the number of women in the kitchen, huh?
Completelyand thats without even knowing exactly how many that is. He got a sudden vision of how ludicrous he was being and smiled.
Tasha blinked. Whoa, she said. You really oughtta do that more often.
What?
Smile, Jenny filled in for her friend. Youve got a great one, but you hardly ever use it.
Thats because I save em up for the prettiest girls, he said with rare flirtatiousness. Annnd I really am going to the front now.
He heard them laugh as he strode down the stairs.
Climbing the front porch stairs a moment later, he spotted Jake and Mark, Austins best buds dad. Whoa. This is it? Austin wasnt kidding when he said we were seriously outnumbered by chicks.
Wendy Chapman brought her new boyfriend, Mark said, then shrugged. But hes in that shit-faced-in-new-love stage, so hes hanging with the women in the kitchen.
They all shook their heads at the mystery of that.
Jake looked at the six-pack in Maxs fist and laughed. Hey, you brought the good stuff. Theres some Bud in the cooler for you.
Refusing to acknowledge the blanket of warmth his half brothers thoughtfulness wrapped around his heart, Max made room in the cooler for the Fat Tire bottles, then fished out a Budweiser. He drank the beer, stuck his two cents in on how best to barbecue the steaksbecause, really, what guy could keep his opinions to himself when fire, sharp utensils and red meat were involved?and jawed with Jake and Mark.
He set up a long table when Jenny asked for a volunteer and Jake refused to relinquish the barbecue forkthen eyed a couple of the women as they decked it out with a tablecloth before dealing out festive plastic plates, silverware and napkins. They even plunked down a vase of flowers in the middle.
Then Harper carried out a big bowl of salad greens, and he was hard pressed to keep his gaze from following her every move.
Sometimes there was a stillness about her that made her look like a queen. Maybe it was the way she was put together: all exotic coloring, long lines and good bones. Or her posture, so proudly tall. Hell, maybe it was the solemnity of her full mouth in repose or the heavy-lidded eyes that gave her that appearance of aloof distance. Whatever it was, it reinforced the well-educated rich-girl image that never failed to tie his tongue in knots.
He didnt know where it had come from, this awkwardness he had around the silver-spoon girls. Surely it didnt go all the way back to the sixth grade crush hed had on Heather Phillips. His mother had pointed out, with her usual Im-unhappy-with-the-world surliness, that the girl was too damn rich for the likes of him.
Hell, it wasnt like hed been bothered by Moms flatly stated warning that hed better not expect an invitation to any of that kids parties anytime soon. She hadnt been wrong. And even if she had been, aside from the subject of his father, hed mostly blown off Angie Bradshaws negativity. If hed allowed it to stop him from doing things or going after what he wanted, he wouldve been paralyzed a long time ago.
Because, face it, the woman bitched about everything, and had from the moment his dad had left them for Jakes mom.
But coming back to Harper, well, he oughtta cut himself some slack. Hed done all right earlier today. Besides, she hadnt been all that aloof when hed caught her shaking her very nice butt and singing along with music only she could hear. She was also smiling and laughing with Tasha now as they carried out more salads, bread and a fruit platter and arranged them on the table. When she was like this, she radiated a friendliness, a charisma, that was electric.
Meats done, Jake said and piled steaks onto a platter.
Jenny carried out a pitcher of sangria damn near as big as she was, and Mark went around to the side of the cottage to call the kids who were setting up a croquet course there. For the next several moments pandemonium reigned as people took seats at the table.
Max sorted everyone out as the food was passed around. There were the teens Austin, Nolan and Austins girlfriend, Bailey, plus Nolans little brother. The unattached females consisted of Tasha, Harper and Sharon, the latter of whom he really didnt know all that well since shed married a local who had graduated a good fifteen years ahead of him. Theyd divorced a couple of years ago, and she had stayed to run the housekeeping department at the inn while the local had moved to Tacoma. Then there was him, Jake and Jenny, Mark and his wife, Rebecca, and Wendy, who owned Wacka Dos Salon on Harbor Street, and her new guy, Keith somebody or another.
The platters completed their circuit, and the laughter and chatter quieted down as everyone dug in.
A while later Tasha leaned forward to look down the table at Harper. I saw the advertisement in the new brochures for the sunset yoga class you teach. I could use something like that. Im not nearly bendy enough. She appraised Harper. You, on the other hand, look real flexible.
Harper flashed the smile that changed her entire look. It was wide and heart-shaped and showcased not only bright teeth that looked as though someone had sunk a fortune into them, but a flash of the healthy gums in which they were anchored, as well. You should drop in sometime, she said. I doubt Jenny would mind that youre not an inn guest, since she told me youre her bestie.
Oh, please. Jenny, who was sitting next to Tasha, grinned. Be my guest.
Her friend gave her a friendly bump, but continued to address Harper. You know, Id definitely take you up on thatif it wasnt right in the middle of my busiest time.
Thats right. Youre the owner of the pizza parlor in town, arent you?
Yep. Bella Ts.
I havent had a chance to try it yet, but I hear its fabulous.
Best pizza anywhere, Austins friend Nolan said through a mouthful of corn on the cob.
Mark tousled his sons hair but smiled at Harper. The execution could have been more elegant, but the sentiment is dead-on.
Then Ill definitely have to make the effort to get in there. She looked at Tasha. Lets talk after dinner. We can probably come up with a time thatll work for both of us.
What did you do before you came here? Marks wife, Rebecca, inquired.
A little of everythingmuch to my mothers dismay. Since we came back to the States Ive taken a number of temp jobs. Ive worked at Nordstroms, for a little college press and a remodeling company and did a stint as a contracts coordinator for a midsized construction company
Max didnt plan his interruption, but he couldnt help himself. Why were you out of the States? And who is we?
She tilted her head and looked into his eyes. Would you like the long version or the short?
Long, all the women said in near perfect synchronicity.
O-kay. Her olive-green eyes were mostly blocked from sight behind the dense lashes that formed little crescents when she laughed. My folks met when they were in college and married within two months. Mom is Cuban, African-American and Welsh. My daddy was the only child of an old Winston-Salem family. It was no longer the South of the Sixties in those days, but his parents still werent thrilled with his marriage. In fact, they went so far as to suggest he annul it.
She shook her head, a small, reminiscent smile curving up her lips. Youd have to have known my dad to appreciate what a mistake that was. Grandma and Grandpa did know better, but I guess they panicked, probably worried about what their friends would say. She made a wry face. Anyhow, Dads response was to pack his newly minted civil engineering degree and move Mom to Europe. We lived all over the world. I was born in Amsterdam and my brother, Kai, in Dubai.
Wasnt that hard? Jenny asked. Constantly having to pick up and go?
No, it really wasnt. I was not only a daddys girl but a chip off the old block. He and I loved getting to see new places and meet new people. Kai and Mom werent as thrilled with the constant upheavals. A faint shadow flitted across her eyes. I think thats why my mothers having trouble with the fact that I continue to travel. She and my brother were beyond happy to settle down after we moved back to the U.S. It bothers her that I havent done the same.
Tasha planted her chin in her hand. Did your folks ever reconcile with your grandparents?
Yes. Quite early on, actually. I dont personally remember the rift, just the stories about it. By my first memory, theyd come to love Mom almost as much as Dad did. And they were the greatest grandparents. Her smile lit up the room and made something in Maxs chest ache.
Jake, who traveled extensively for his magazine, asked Harper about some of the places shed been, and they compared their impressions from locations theyd both visited. Max sat silently listening...and working overtime not to give in to jealousy. God knew hed spent far too many years doing exactly thatbeing resentful of his half brotheralready.
But the sophistication of Harpers upbringing dredged up old insecurities. It was a universe removed from the way hed been raised, and chewing over the contrasts between their worlds, watching the ease with which Jake conversed with her, it was hard not to regress to feelings hed thought safely in his rearview. He could feel them crowding in, however, demanding attention. He pushed them back, because damned if hed allow the same tangled morass of twisted emotions hed once had for his half brother to regain the purchase theyd claimed when he was a kid. He wasnt giving way to them now that he and Jake were finally in a good place.
Their mutual father had left Max and his mother when Max was just a toddler. If Charlie Bradshaw had simply left town as he had when he ultimately deserted Jake and his mother, as well, things might have been different. Or if Max had had a different kind of mother...
He gave an impatient twitch of his shoulders. Because neither of those things had happened. Charlie was one of those men who was all about the current family. In Maxs case that had meant Jake and the second Mrs. Bradshaw. Hed seen the old man with them around town sometimes. It had been damn hard to miss, given the size of Razor Bay. So hed witnessed Charlie acting the way Max assumed a dad should toward Jake, while he might as well have been the incredible Invisible Boy, so concealed had he appeared to be from his fathers sight.
Even with his mind mired in the past, he was aware of Harper across the table, and he tracked her movements as she reached for the pitcher of sangria. The container was still fairly full, the distance wasnt optimum for her reach and he watched its weight immediately tip forward as she picked it up. Surging to his feet, he leaned across the table to steady the pitcher and slapped his free hand over hers on the handle to correct the forward momentum.
It was as if hed grabbed the business end of a live wire. Heat streaked like lightning through his veins, and it wouldnt have surprised him in the least if someone started slapping at his head and yelling that his hair was smoking. He wondered if she felt it, too, or if this began and ended with him. Shed gone very still, and those big eyes were locked on him and rounded in the same O as her lips. But, hell, that could very well be due to the sheer speed of the events from her reach for the pitcher, to its tipping, to him leaping to the rescue like a tattooed, beefed up version of Dudley Do-Right.
The instant the pitcher touched the tabletop againthis time nearer her where its entire weight wouldnt be dangling from her hand with no arm muscle behind it for supporthe yanked his hands clear. Thumped back into his chair.
He did his best to ignore the residual electricity zinging through him from the feel of her skin. Making a point of not looking at her again, he deliberately forced his thoughts back to the relative safety of his old animosity toward Jake.
His mom sure as hell hadnt helped the situation. Not that hed seen that at the time; it wasnt until he was old enough and distanced enough to view the situation with an adults perspective that hed realized if Angie Bradshaw had been a different kind of woman, he probably wouldnt have suffered much damage from the desertion. Hell, hed barely been two years old when Charlie had moved out. Most of the memories of actual time spent with his father had come through the home movies Charlie had left behind.
His mother, however, wasnt a big believer in letting things go. Rarely had a day gone by that she hadnt reminded him of what theyd lost. All hed ever heard were acid-etched stories of the slut whod stolen his father away, and of his little shit of a half brother who had gotten everything that should have been his.
It hadnt helped that in school his half bro had been a serious student and run with the kids of Razor Bays movers and shakers, while he had pulled average grades, run with a wilder crowd and frequently gotten into trouble.
No wonder he was so fucked up when it came to the silver-spoon girls. They were simply the female version of Jake.
Max?
The sound of Harpers voice snatched him from his stroll down memory lane, and as his awareness raced to catch up with his inner musings, he realized his name hadnt been the first word shed directed at him. Looking at her across the table, he felt the same crazy-ass clench of his heart he experienced every damn time he laid eyes on her.
And clearing his throat, he lied without compunction. Sorry. I was thinking about work for a minute there. What did you say?
I was just asking what you did with the rest of your day off after I saw you.
Okay, this was something he actually liked talking about. I went out to Cedar Village. He was surprised to see startled recognition in her eyes and raised his brows. Youre familiar with it?
Ive heard it mentioned, although I cant remember where. Its a...boys camp?
Jake snorted, and Max gave her a one-sided smile. Dont mind him, he thinks its more like a reformatory. Its actually a group home for troubled kidsboys. And, yeah, most of them have been in trouble. But, so was I at their age and
Look how well that turned out, Jake deadpanned.
He grinned at the sarcasm in his brothhalf brothers voice. I know, damn good, right? For instance, unlike Mr. Shutterbug here, instead of playing with cameras, I have a real job.
Harper was staring at him, and his smile faded, his self-consciousness resurfacing. But damned if hed allow it to short-shrift his responsibility to the Cedar boys. He rolled his shoulders. Anyhow, a lot of these kids come from dicked-up backgroundsbroken homes, substance-abusing mother or father or sometimes both. None of our boys parents are physically abusive, but some are purposefully neglectful, while others simply have to work killer hours just to put food on the table or hang on to their house. A few of the boys actually come from warm, involved familiesthey just lost their way for a while or fell in with the wrong crowd. In every case, they need the attention, the stability that the counselors out there provide.
Is that what you area counselor, as well as a deputy?
Me? That startled another one-sided quirk of his lips from him. He shook his head. Nah. Im on the board of directors, but mostly I just hang out with the boys. But, speaking of my board position...
Everyone except Marks youngest son and the woman named Sharon groaned, and Max laughed outright. Thats right, boys and girls. Its put-up-or-shut-up time. Our pancake breakfast fund-raiser is next Sunday. I know most of you have already bought tickets, but we also need volunteers to help man it. I just happen to have a sign-up sheet in my car.
Can we be excused, Jenny? Austin asked, hastily pushing back from the table. His friends Nolan and Bailey followed suit. We have to finish setting up the croquet stuff.
Ill take that as a yes, Max said. You guys wanna be waitstaff or work in the kitchen?
Aw, man! Do we hafta?
We have several boys from the Village wholl be working the event, but we could really use more help. He looked his nephew in the eye. These kids havent had the advantages youve had. Its for a good cause.
Austin sighed but nodded. So did his sidekicks. Max turned his attention to the adults.
Dont look at me, said Sharon. Those boys scare the crap out of me.
No, cmon. Theyre just kids.
She shrugged. Doesnt matter, they still scare me. Ill buy a ticket, though.
He knew better than to feel resentful on the kids behalf, but it took a little effort to say mildly, Thanks, thatll help. You want the eight or nine-thirty sitting?
Ill take the eight.
You can sign me up to help, Harper said.
Maxs head whipped around. Oh, yeah, baby. Sternly telling his libido it was out of line and to take a damn seat, he raised a brow. Yeah?
Yes, sure. I have next Sunday off and it would be a good way to see the town in action. Ill wait tables. I can get to know more people that way.
Excellent. Thank you. He leaned back in his chair and looked around the table. Now, thats what Im talking about, people. Harper and the kids just gave us a decent start here. So, how bout the rest of you? He gestured with uncharacteristic expansiveness. Step right up, ladies and gents. The line forms to the left.
CHAPTER THREE
LAUGHTER, DEEP, LOUD and masculine, rolled out of the community center kitchen and across the counter where Harper had just picked up her industrial-sized platter of pancakes. She froze for an instant, and the chatter and clatter of crowded tables full of hungry pancake diners faded away as she searched the packed kitchen for the laughs source.
Not that there was any doubt as to whose large chest that had come out of. Shed only heard it once before, and God knew it hadnt been directed at her. But no one whod ever heard Max Bradshaw laugh would mistake it for anyone elses. Even someone as new to Razor Bay as she was grasped it was a rarity. Hell, a simple grin from him at Jennys dinner party earlier this week had all but knocked her on her butt. His laugh was a steamroller that threatened to flatten her.
She needed to keep in mind that all this interest was one-sided. And, cmon, how hard could it be to do soshe only had to remember Maxs assistance at Jennys when shed tried to pick up the sangria pitcher from too far away and had nearly poured it all over the picnic table instead. His touch when hed wrapped his hand around hers had all but electrified herexactly the way it had the first time theyd met when shed touched his bare forearm. It wasnt possible for a mans skin to be any hotter than anyone elses. So why did her mind insist it was?
She gave her head a subtle shake. The answer to that hardly mattered, so there was no sense even going there. Because if shed been electrified, he had shaken free so fast you wouldve thought she was toxic waste, and he without his hazmat suit. Charm had always come easily to her, but either her ability abandoned her around the good deputy or he was immune. Either way, her mad skills were wasted on him.
She located him now over by the gargantuan stove, standing headand in most cases shoulders, as wellabove the boys around him. He looked like a Hells Angel with those brown-ink tribal tattoos, his disreputably torn blue jeans and that brilliantly white, batter-splattered T-shirt that clung damply to his big shoulders and muscular chest. The faded blue bandanna tied around his dark hair only added to the image.
But his face was alight with whatever amusement had set him off, his teeth flashing a white bright enough to rival his T-shirts, and most of the teens gaped at him as if he were a rock star. Given the absorption with which she was staring at him herself, she could hardly blame them. If their interactions with the guy were anything like her own admittedly limited exchanges, they, too, were likely more accustomed to seeing him sober and serious.
Forcing herself to get back to the business at hand, she turned away to carry her tray over to one of the long tables in her area. Whos ready for more pancakes? she demanded cheerfully.
And only glanced over her shoulder once to make sure that Max was no longer visible from this vantage point.
A largely male-voiced roar of enthusiasm from the patrons greeted her question, and she laughed and chatted up people as she dished out fresh stacks to everyone who indicated an interest.
Hows the syrup holding up? she inquired at one point and, being told that it was getting low, waved one of the teen volunteers over to exchange a full dispenser for the almost empty one. She summoned two other helpers as well to refill empty glasses from the pitchers of water and orange juice they manned.
Megan, Joe, hello! She forked pancakes onto the plates of two guests from the inn who had been in her guided kayak tour the day before. Im so glad you made it.
Joe grinned. Seriously good pancakes. Were glad you told us about it.
She laughed. The pancakes were decent but nowhere close to seriously good. But they were plentiful, and the atmosphere in the hall was loud, cheerful and fun, all of which she suspected contributed to the food tasting better.
She ran out of pancakes halfway through the next table and almost mowed down Tasha on her way back to the kitchen for another refill. Oh, hey, sorry. Reaching out, she steadied the other womans tray, which unlike her own was loaded. I wasnt looking where I was goingI was too busy marveling at the pancake-eating contest over there. She indicated a table on the stage at the end of the cavernous hall.
I know, its always kind of like watching jackals taking down a gazelle. You really want to look away, but find you cant.
So this isnt just an impulsive boys gone wild event? Theyve done this before?
Oh, yeah, its an annual event. Tasha tipped her head toward the wiry little guy in the middle packing away an amazing quantity of pancakes. Greg Larson will likely win. He almost always does. But every now and then, just often enough to keep things interesting, we have an upset. She shrugged and looked at Harper. How are you holding up?
Im doing great. Upbeat crowds like this give me oomph.
Well, lucky you, Energizer Bunny. The strawberry blonde gave her a weary smile. I had a long shift at Bellas last night that ran late, so Im starting to wilt. And Id sure like to know how the hell Jenny managed to weasel out of this detail.
Harper shrugged. She said there was too much to do at the inn.
Yeah, thats the story she fed me, too. Tasha raised her brows at Harper. You buy that?
Not for a minute. Oh, not that the inn isnt really busy, because its definitely jumping. But while I havent been around forever like you natives, I get the impression that Jenny thrives on the summer madness. She looked askance at Tasha, who nodded her agreement.
Harper hitched a shoulder. That being the case, and going by the fact that Jakes not here, either, my guess would be that theyre sneaking some time together to make up for him being out of town.
Yep. Thatd be my take, too. Tasha really looked at Harper. You know what? You and I should have a girls night one of these days. Jenny can join us if we can pry her away from Lover Boy, but right now shes deep into that all-Jake-all-the-time stage, so I dont hold my breath over that happening. What do you say? You in?
Absolutely. One disadvantage to all of the traveling shed done in her formative years was that shed spent considerably more time with adults than people her own age. The upside, of course, was that it had resulted in far more sophisticated experiences than she likely wouldve received otherwise. But after the age of twelve she hadnt had what most women would consider real girlfriends. Watching Tasha and Jenny together made her feel shed been missing out.
Good. Tasha glanced down at her loaded tray. Id better pass these out while theyre still lukewarm. Ill give you a call, okay? And this time I really mean it. I kind of let the yoga thing get away from me.
Harper executed the particularly French shrug shed picked up during the eighteen months she and her family had lived in Clermont-Ferrand. Believe me, I know how that goes.
They parted ways, Tasha plunging into the crowded room and Harper heading back to the food service counter that divided the hall from the kitchen.
She chatted up one of the boys on the other side while he refilled her tray with more pancakes. Hed just finished loading up when a horrendous crash of glass smashing to smithereens made them both jump as if someone had unexpectedly fired off a shotgun next to them. Her head swiveling in the direction of the sound, she focused in on two teenage boys standing in a quickly dissipating wreath of steam from the open door of a huge dishwasher. As she watched, one shoved the other.
Look what you made me do, you dumb shit! The shover gave the other, larger, teen another shot to the chest.
Who the hell you callin a dumb shit, ass cap? The bigger boy pushed back, making the first kid stumble back several paces. Following up his advantage, Big Boy dogged the retreating boys footsteps, thrusting his face into the other youths. Youre the one who backed into me, you stupid fuc
Thats enough. Maxs deep voice cut through the obscenity, and suddenly he was just there, reaching between the boys to separate them. Sometimes accidents are just accidents. Jeremy, grab the broom.
Why the hell do I have to sweep up his mess? Big Boy demanded.
Because we work as a team and I asked you to, Max replied evenly, giving the teen a level look that had Jeremy slouching away. The remaining boy snickered.
Max turned to him. I wouldnt be too smug if I were you, because youre not off the hook. Go get a dustpan and the mop. After you pick up the glass Jeremy sweeps, you can mop the area.
Hey! The slighter boy adopted a belligerent stance. He only hadda do one thing. How come I gotta do two?
Rules of the road, Owen. Maxs voice was matter-of-fact yet somehow as calming as cool water poured over scorched earth. Jeremy wasnt wrong, you knowyou picked up a huge tray of glasses, then backed up without once looking behind you. And the guy going in reverse is always at fault.
That sucks!
Max reached out and squeezed the boys shoulder. Maybe so. But rules are rules, kid. Go grab the dustpan and mop.
The boy grumbled but did as he was told. Harper picked her tray up off the counter and turned away.
Great. Like it wasnt bad enough that she already harbored a fascination for this guy. Why did he have to go and be good with kids, as well?
She didnt understand this damn attraction; it was so not her general M.O. Shed never gone for the big, physical guysshe was usually drawn to older, more sophisticated men. But Max Bradshaw... Lord, whenever he was near she felt like a vampire trying to do the stay-on-the-straight-and-narrow-blood-bank thing.
All the while scenting a juicy vein.
And if that didnt make everything more complicated, she didnt know what did. Like things werent convoluted enough already...considering the job with The Brothers Inn wasnt her sole reason for being in Razor Bay.
You probly better move, lady, the boy who had refilled her tray suddenly said, shaking her out of her reverie.
Whats that? She blinked, then, following his gaze, glanced over her shoulder. Other volunteers, awaiting their turn, had begun stacking up behind her. Oops. She flashed them her friendliest smile. Sorry.
Picking up her tray, she threw herself back into dishing out pancakes.
When the last patron left, Harper nearly did, as well. She had wiped down her tables and straightened the chairs. And since shed tucked her drivers license into her back pocket so she wouldnt have to deal with a purse, she was good to go.
But looking into the kitchen, she saw Max and his crew still hard at work cleaning up. She could see the boys had about reached their limit of volunteerism, and, with a quiet sigh, she rounded the end of the counter and crossed the kitchen to the teen who was about to carry a stack of plates on which hed precariously balanced more glasses than was safe. He was the larger of the two boys Max had separated earlier, the one shed privately labeled Big Boy.
Let me give you a hand with that, she said, reaching to pluck the glasses off the plates and efficiently stacking them into two towers.
Thanks, lady. The teen pulled an overhead cupboard open and shoved the plates in. He jerked his head to the cupboard next to his. Glasses go in there.
Im Harper.
Jeremy, he said in a voice that didnt encourage her to get chatty.
Nice to meet you. Stepping alongside him, she reached up to set the glasses in her right hand on the shelf. Apparently shed stacked them just a little too high, however, for the bottom of the uppermost cup bumped the edge of the cupboard and began to tilt back toward her.
Warmth radiated against her back, even though nothing actually touched it. At the same time a suntanned, white-cotton banded biceps came into her peripheral vision, and Max Bradshaws deep voice said, Hang on, let me take a couple cups off the top.
It only took him a second, but that moment stretched languorously as a cat after a long nap, her senses bombarded with his heat, with the salty, slightly musky scent of him mixed with that of pancake batter and laundry soap. She eyed the up-close view of the tail end of his tattoos undulating from beneath his sleeve hem with the movement of his arm, then transferred her attention to the muscles and tendons that flexed in his forearm, his rawboned wrist and long hand as he swiftly slid a couple of cups from the stack she still held aloft, dropped them onto the one in her left hand, then removed four or five of those and put them in the cupboard.
There you go. He stepped back and Harper put the rest of the cups alongside the minitower hed placed on the shelf.
Exhaling softly, she glanced at him over her shoulder. Thank you. You seem to have a knack for rescuing me from glassware accidents-about-to-happen.
He stilled for a moment, and something hot and fierce flashed in his eyes. Or perhaps she only imagined it, because in the next instant he gave her a faint smile, polite nod and a murmured, My pleasure.
Oh, trust me, it was mine, as well.
Probably a less than brilliant idea to go there, however, so she shook the thought aside and injected some starch in her spine. Then, seeing an opportunity and not shy about taking advantage of it, she turned to him fully. Listen, I only work three-quarter time at the inn. Id love to volunteer some of my free hours to Cedar Village.
Yeah? He studied her through shuttered dark eyes. What do you have to offer?
I dont know. What do volunteers generally do? Im pretty much a jack-of-all-trades. But what I really rock at is organizing activities. And fund-raising. When he continued to simply look at her with level, noncommittal eyes, she shrugged impatiently. People usually jumped at her fund-raising skills. If that doesnt work for you, I could always just provide a womans touch.
I wouldnt mind a womans touch, drawled a blond boy who was swabbing down the counter a few feet away, and his tone told Harper he wasnt thinking motherly thoughts.
Thats enough, Brandon, Max said, but it was the look that Harper aimed at the youth that made the boy squirm. It was a thousand-yard stare shed perfected when she was twelve, a nonthreatening but cool gaze that made the recipient completely question the wisdom of uttering the words that had warranted it in the first place.
Sorry, Brandon muttered.
Not a problem. She gave him a slight smile that was warmer without encouraging him to repeat his blunder. Then she turned back to Max. This wont help for todays event, but I could tell you how to make your next pancake breakfast more profitable. And while I cant promise anything until I talk to Jenny, maybe shed let us offer the occasional supervised use of some of The Brothers resources.
Max dug his wallet out of his back pocket, fished out a card and handed it to Harper. Why dont you give me a call and well talk about it. But for now, you should go enjoy the rest of your day off.
Sliding the proffered card into her own back pocket, she nodded, recognizing a dismissal when she heard one. Ill do that. She glanced at the teen still stacking dishes next to her. It was nice meeting you, Jeremy. She nodded at the other boys who had stopped working to watch her.
Then she strode to the kitchen door and let herself out.
Dude, she heard one of the boys say as the door closed behind her. Shes hot. Whyd you let her get away? There was a beat of silence, then, Oh, man. Its not because shes black, is it?
Harper froze. Omigawd. Was it? That hadnt even occurred to her, maybe because shed spent the majority of her life in Europe where race wasnt as big an issueor at least didnt have the history that it had in the States. But for all she knew
Hell, no, Maxs voice said emphatically. Listen, kid, men dont hit on every hot woman they see. He was quiet for a moment, then said slowly, Besides, did she strike you as the kind of woman who would welcome me hitting on her?
Yes! Embarrassing as it was to admit, she definitely would welcome that.
Nah, I guess not, the boy said.
Oh, for cris Harper cut herself off, blew a pithy raspberry and stalked over to her car.
Her feet hurt from being on them all morning and she was cursing having worn her tallest wedged espadrilles as she blew through the front door of her cottage. Loggins and Messina played Your Mama Dont Dance on the cell phone shed deliberately left behind, and she crossed the room and snatched it off the little coffee table.
Hi, Mom. She kicked off her shoes and headed straight for the mini-fridge, where she pulled out a nice cold bottle of raspberry-green-tea-flavored artesian water. She rolled its cold plastic across her warm forehead.
Hey, Baby Girl.
Ever since her dad had diedand that had been a few years ago nowshe and her mother had been at odds more often than not. So, hearing the nickname gave her a rush of pleasure. Tucking the phone between her ear and shoulder, she twisted the cap off the bottle and drank half of it down in one large swallow.
For heavens sake, are you gulping something in my ear? Did your Grandma Hardin and I not teach you better manners than that?
Harper tried not to feel resentful, she really did. She was thirty years old, for Gods sake; long past the age to be either scolded like a child or react as if she were one.
She inhaled and blew out a quiet breath, and still a vestige of attitude she simply couldnt expunge colored her voice when she said, Sorry. I just spent three-plus hours serving pancakes for a Cedar Village fund-raiser, and Im tired and thirsty.
There was an instant of silence. Then Gina Summerville-Hardin said softly, How did that happen?
Oh, God, it had been so easy, Harper still couldnt quite believe it. Shed almost fallen off the picnic bench at Jennys dinner party when Max had presented the opportunity. My bosss boyfriends half brother is Max Bradshaw.
The sudden silence was so absolute that Harper began to wonder if theyd lost the connection. Mom?
Yes, Im still here. The same Max Bradshaw whos on the Cedar Village board?
Yes.
I was quite impressed with his dossier, being both a deputy and a veteran and all. He sounds like a very responsible man. Still, I must say Im stunned at the coincidence.
For a few seconds, her thoughts got hung up in that touch theyd shared over the sangria pitcher. Then she shrugged it off. Well, Razor Bay is pretty small. Its tougher to maintain my anonymity in a one stoplight town, but the upside is its easier to get to know the players, as there are just plain fewer of them. But, man. I thought I was lucky to get the job at The Brothers. A dry laugh escaped her. I had no idea how lucky.
Shed taken the position because it was right up her alley, considering it was the kind of job shed done before her dads death had pulled her into the nonprofit charity her parents had started when her father retired his engineering degree. But primarily shed taken it because ever since she had joined the fold, her year-round job had become assessing the worthiness of the less-established charities applying for grants from Sundays Child. In this case Cedar Village had submitted a request to the family foundation for a grant that would enable them to hire an additional counselor, fill the gaps in their supplies and fix the roof on the classroom building where the boys kept up with their education even as they learned the skills theyd need to reenter society as fully functional young men.
Her dad was the one who had originated the policy of anonymous evaluations after his first few trips to meet grant applicants had resulted in lavish dog and pony shows presented strictly to impress him. Hed decided a better way to get the true measure of how a charity was run was to assess them anonymously in their day-to-day business.
I still dont understand why you took that job at all, her mother said, pulling Harper from her reverie. It doesnt take you thirteen weeks to make your assessment.
Mom, I told youthe only other reason to be in a town this size would be to take a vacation, and whod believe a single woman on vacay had a sudden yen to volunteer at a home for delinquent boys? How would she even hear of it? Besides, I kind of needed a vacation.
So you took a job?
Harper bit back a sigh, because theyd had this conversation before. I took a fun job, and its a break from lying to people. That is a vacation.
Yet youre lying to these people, too, arent you?
Harper was suddenly so weary she could barely hold her head up. What the hell had happened to them that they were so far apart these days? Yes, Mother. Youre absolutely right. Im a liar no matter what I do.
Darling, I didnt mean it that way. I simply think if youre unhappy, you should let someone else do that job and come home.
Im not unhappy. Yes, she got tired of the subterfuge sometimes, but she genuinely got the reasoning behind it. And she loved the new places, new people aspect of it. Loved getting to help charities that made things easier for kids. But her mother, who wanted her to quit traveling and settle down, would never believe that.
And she really didnt feel up to justifying her choices yet again. Whoops. Theres the doorbell. Ill talk to you soon, Mom.
Harper, wait
Gotta go. Bye. She disconnected. Then, blowing out an unhappy breath, she tossed the phone on the table and flopped back on the couch.
This was the right way to do things, she assured herself. Her dad had done it so, and she still trusted his judgment unswervingly. As for the niggle of doubt her mothers words had created?
Taking a steady, calming breath, she flicked it away.
CHAPTER FOUR
MAX WAS ON his way to Harpers cottage the next evening when a movement in his peripheral vision caught his attention. Glancing left, he expected to see someone lounging in the inns hot tub. Instead, the spa appeared empty. Then another tiny shift along the waters already bubbling surface drew his focus, and he saw a woman free-floating, only her neck and head supported by the edge of the tub.
Her warm, gorgeous coloring seized his attention, and it never even occurred to him to question her identity. He knew who she was by the hot jolt of electric pleasure that sparked through his veins. Veering off the path, he made a beeline for the little oasis of plantings where the tub resided just outside the inns pool house. This made things both simpler and more difficult.
Simpler because he wouldnt have to be alone with Harper in her tiny bungalow. And harder because, well, helllook at her. Close up, he could see the light brown skin of her breasts, framed by the deep V of her black-and-white patterned halter top, rising out of the bubbling water. The uppermost curve of her long, smooth thighs and her orange-tipped toes broke the waterline, as well.
He shook his head impatiently. Hed sworn to himself he would meet with her tonight and not think about sex.
Yeah, it was a stupid promise, but his word was his word, dammit. How could you have made the pancake breakfast more profitable? he demanded as he stopped at the tub.
And watched her give a start and damn near go under before she righted herself. Her head came up, and her shoulders shot out of the water as her butt lowered to sit on the submerged seat. And he realized she hadnt merely been ?berrelaxed. Aw, crap. Did I wake you?
What? No, of course not. She yawned widely, then dropped the dripping hand shed raised out of the water to cover her mouth and gave him a tiny lopsided smile. Well, maybe. What time is it?
He consulted the big tank watch on his wrist. Going on eight.
It was around a quarter til when I climbed in the tub, so I guess I did drop off for a bit.
He couldnt help it; deputy was pretty much his default mode. You know its not safe to sleep in a hot tub, right?
Yes, Papa. She started to roll her eyes but apparently thought better of it, for she went all faux solemn-eyed on him and offered a polite smile instead. Is there something I can do for you?
A raft of dirty suggestions popped to mind, but since he wasnt a damn fourteen-year-oldeven if that was the way he invariably felt around herhe wisely swallowed them. Particularly since he didnt know why hed come to grill her in the first place. Hell, hadnt he given her his card so she could be the one to get in touch with him?
Whatever his reasons for showing up unannounced, here he was, so he might as well make the most of it. Hooking a hip on the corner of the tub, he braced his other foot against the grass and ignored the splashed water soaking into the seat of his jeans. You said yesterday morning you could tell me how to make the next pancake breakfast more profitable. How would you do that?
She merely looked up at him for a moment. Wreathed in steam, moisture beaded her face, and her hair, pulled atop her head in a high ponytail, curled wildly, crazy little corkscrews plastered damply to her temples and nape. Buy me a Coke and Ill tell you.
Good idea. A nice cold drink might cool him down, help him quit thinking about licking the water drops sliding down her silky-smooth cleav
He surged to his feet. Be back in a sec. Fishing his wallet from his back pocket, he crossed to the vending machine in the ice machine room attached to the pool house.
Moments later he was back. He popped the tab on one icy can and handed it to Harper, then opened his own and knocked back half of it as he resumed his perch on the edge of the tub.
She took a long swallow herself and used the tip of her tongue to absorb a drop of soda from her upper lip as she lowered the can. Setting it aside on the little shelf that filled the gap between the back of the hot tub and the pool houses outer wall, she focused her attention on him.
One way to make your breakfast more profitable, she said, is to host a silent auction. That can be as elaborate or as simple as you want, but you have a captive audience in the people who come to eat, and everyone loves the idea of getting something at a bargain price.
Pushing against the foot planted on the ground, he straightened. Is it hard to do?
Not really. It can be time-consuming, but thats where volunteers like me come in. You use us to solicit donations from local businesses and set up a table or two to accommodate the acquisitions. We can also help with things like deciding on a price to start the bidding for each item and at what increments to increase and make individual sheets for them
Wait, wait. Explain what you mean. And pretend I dont have a clue.
She laughed. Because you dont?
Yeah. His own mouth crooked up in a smile. Im a copand before that a marine. Stuff like this is way outside my experience.
Okay. She scooted to the edge of her submerged seat. Say Wendy at Wacka Do donates a haircut and she usually charges thirty-eight dollars. Youd make a sheet that says Haircut at Wacka Dos, value thirty-eight dollars. And since its a service and not, say, a pretty gift basket that visually pops to catch a potential bidders attention, you might want to add a photo of Wendy doing a haircut, or a styled wig on a wig stand. You with me so far?
Yep.
She took another sip of her pop. Regardless of the visual, the sheet needs a starting bid, so say three-fifty or around ten percent of its value, with fifty-cent or one-dollar increases. Now, if your brother were to donate one of his photographs, on the other hand, youd have a much higher value amount because hes well known in his field. That would make both the starting bid and the increments higher. See?
Yeah, I do. And he liked the idea. No one else in town was doing anything like it. So you just flop the stuff down on a table and youre good to go?
God. Her mouth quirked up. Youre such a guy. The idea is to try to make the presentations as striking as possible to capture as much bidder interest as you can. You also need to give people enough time to both look at whats offered and to bid again if someone trumps them. And have a clear end time. Then youd need someone responsible to collect the money, but thats pretty straightforward. The winner simply brings the sheet to the cashier and pays the final bid amount on it. And since its for a charity, you dont have to deal with collecting sales taxalthough Id double-check that one in case Washington state differs in that respect.
Thats so cool. What else you got?
She blinked those olive-green eyes at him. Scuse me?
You said for starters. Does that mean you have even more ideas?
Oh, honey. Stretching her arms out along the tubs rim, she tipped her head back and let her torso float up to the surface again. Smooth skin stretched over toned thigh muscles and all that beautiful cleavage as her various curved parts cleared the roiling water. Raising her head again, she caught him dead to rights checking out the entire kick-ass package and sank back beneath the water. Ive got a million of em.
Excellent. He grinned and settled in, feeling truly comfortable with her for perhaps the first time since theyd met. Hell, she had pointed it out herself; he was a guy. When guys were presented with tits and gorgeous legs, they looked. They sure as hell didnt apologize for it. Lets hear em.
Was the community center space donated?
Yeah. We had to put down a damage deposit, but we got it all back. Well, except for the cost of replacing some broken glasses.
She grinned at him. Yes, I was having my tray refilled when that happened. Did you solicit the food and the paper goods?
Huh? That straightened him up. No. We got a rebate from the pancake manufacturer for fund-raising, but it never occurred to us to ask The General Store to donate it.
Next year make a list of everything it takes to put on the fund-raiser, then try to get as much of it donated as possible. Im guessing your boys are from places other than just here, right?
He nodded. We dont actually have any kids from Razor Baytheyre mostly from the Silverdale or Bremerton areas. But some come from as far away as Seattle or Olympia.
From what youve said about some of the boys home lives, parental involvement might be far different from the families Ive worked with. But if any of the parents do actively engage in their kids recoveryespecially if they live in the nearby areas since the regional aspect works bestget them to hit up their local grocers, printers, party storesanyplace that might contribute something youd otherwise have to buy. The idea is to funnel as much profit back into the program as possible, right?
Absolutely. The timer for the jets clicked off, but for once his attention didnt go to her suddenly much more visible body. He gave her a puzzled look. How do you know so much about this?
Ive had a bazillion temporary jobs, and one of them was taking over an auction coordinator position for a private school when the one they had was put on bed rest during the final trimester of her pregnancy.
And you justwhat?knew what to do?
No. She gave him a rueful smile. Far from it. I didnt have the first notion how an auction was run. Luckily for me, several of the parents whod spent their PIP hours working on the auction did, and they taught me.
What the hell are PIP hours?
Oh, sorry. It stands for Parent Involvement Program. Most private schools designate a given number of hours parents are expected to volunteer at their kids school. She stood up and water cascaded down her. Hand me that towel, will you?
Sweet Mother Mary. His good intentions went up in smoke, but screw ithe claimed the guy defense again. Fumbling for the towel folded near his feet, he handed it over, then simply stared as she patted herself dry. Hed assumed she had on a bikini, which until tonight hed pretty much considered the gold standard of sexy beachwear.
The one-piece suit that molded faithfully in all the right places was hands-down sexier. The band beneath the black-and-white bra part tied around her neck and behind her back like a bikini top, but was attached to a solid black body that was cut in toward her waist, low on her back and high on her thighs. And its wet spandex clung to every luscious inch it covered.
Hooyah, he breathed when she turned three-quarters away from him, propped a foot on the edge of the tub and bent to dry her lower leg. He had to physically restrain himself from reaching out to stroke the sweet, firm curve of her ass. He cleared his throat and sternly recalled the topic theyd been discussing before her rise like Venus from a fucking shell had blown it from his mind. Why didnt one of those parents just take over?
She glanced over her shoulder at him. Youre a logical thinker, arent you? And hiring someone familiar with the program would make sense...if even one of them had been in the market for a short-term job that was about to transition from part-time to ten-hour days.
That got his mind back in the game. I thought you said it wasnt that difficult!
The scenario I propose for Cedar Village isnt. But the kind of auction I did for the school was held in an Atlanta hotel, featured a sit-down meal and included enough items to fill a ballroom. It also employed an auctioneer at a live auction for the high ticket items. Thats a much more time-consuming endeavor.
She climbed from the tub and balanced gracefully on one foot while raising the other to towel it dry. Upon finishing both feet, she turned, crossed her arms beneath her breasts and pinned him squarely in her sights. So, have I demonstrated enough experience to volunteer at the Village?
Luckily for him, it was dim out here, so the blood he felt surging up his throat and onto his face likely didnt show. Hed inferred that she might have nothing the home could use yesterdayor that the boys would make mincemeat of her, because hed been rattled by the microsecond spent all but wrapped around her when hed stepped in to help with the leaning tower of glasses. Rattledand wanting nothing more than to avoid running into her at the one place he felt most like himself.
But hed known when shed made Brandon squirm with nothing more than a look that she could hold her own with the Cedar Village boys. Yes, he said honestly. And then some. Do you want a regular schedule which hed prefer so he could arrange, for both their sakes, to be elsewhere or
Id rather come when I can, if that works for you. My hours at the inn change week to week and sometimes even day to day.
Sure. He pulled out his wallet again and searched through it for a Village card. Locating the one he knew was in there somewhere, he pulled it out and extended it to Harper. Sorry thiss so battered, but the director Mary-Margarets name and number are on it. Shes the one to talk to, but Ill let her know about our conversation on Thursday, which will be the next time Ill be there, so shell know who shes talking to when she gets your call.
Thanks, Max. She pulled a vivid red cover-up over her suit and slid the card in its pocket, then gathered her room card and the still half-full can of pop from the little shelf. Ill give her a call on Friday.
Are you headed back to your place?
She nodded. Yeah. Its been a busy dayIm going to call it a night. She looked him over. You have to be pretty whipped yourself. You slaved over a hot stove and rode herd over teenage boys for a good part of yesterday, and have obviously worked today. She indicated his department uniform and holstered gun.
He shrugged. What can I sayIm tough. One hand hovering just above the small of her back, he gave her an after you sweep of his free fingers. Come on. Ill see you to your place, then Im gonna head home, myself. Ive got a beer calling my name.
You dont have to walk me home. She grinned up at him. But youre going to anyway, arent you, cause youre Mister Responsible. She turned in the direction he indicated and headed down the path that intersected with another that led to her cottage, getting ahead of his hand, which he dropped to his side.
Thats me, he agreed. And for a woman Id lay odds on being pretty damn independent, youre being suspiciously easy to steer.
Never get between a man and his beer, I always say.
No fooling? Tucking his hands in his front pockets, he strolled a scant inch behind her. I just might have to marry you.
He thought he saw her step falter, but maybe not, because he blinked and she was walking with hip-swinging ease. Not to mention the wry smile she shot him.
You dont think you might have kind of low standards for a future wife? she inquired.
Hey, Im pretty serious about my beer. And damn amazed that for this moment, at least, he felt downright at ease with her.
Ah, well, then.
They arrived at her cottage, and she turned to face him. Thanks, Max. You truly are a nice guy.
No, Im not!
Her dark brows furrowed. Thats not an insult.
Except for the part where being a nice guy was usually the kiss of death when it came to getting laid.
He straightened. What the hell difference did that make? It wasnt as if a woman like Harper was going to sleep with a guy like him anyway.
Youre right, he said, giving her a stiff smile and falling back into the professionalism hed used from day one as a shield against his attraction to her. It was a very nice complimentits just been a long day, like you said. But Im always glad to be of assistance. He tweaked the room card from her fingers and slid it into the slot, then turned away for her to punch in the code.
He twisted back when he heard the door open and gave her a crisp nod. You enjoy the rest of your night, now.
O...kay, she said faintly.
But he was already off her porch and halfway down the path.
CHAPTER FIVE
IM SO GLAD we finally managed to get together. Harper said as she slid into a chair across a small wooden table from Tasha at The Anchor bar Friday afternoon.
No foolingIm happy you could get away during the day. The tall, attractive strawberry blonde gave her a rueful smile. Im afraid the downside to owning my own pizza joint is that my work is generally just kicking into high gear about the time everyone elses is winding down and theyre getting ready to go home for the day.
And erratic hours are rather the upside of my job. I guided a kayak group along the shoreline to town this morning, but Fridays are a big transition daycheckouts in the morning and even more ins during the late afternoon, so I dont have anything scheduled until my sunset yoga class this evening. So, good-oh for us, huh?
Whats good-oh for you two? A purse landed on the table next to Harper, and she looked up to see Jenny pulling out the chair beside hers. Tell me I didnt miss anything good.
Nah. Tasha shook her head at her friend. We were just congratulating ourselves on finding some mutual time off.
Yeah, too bad about you peons. Bouncing a fist off her chest, Jenny flashed them a big smile. Its good to be boss.
Hey, Im a boss, too, Tasha said. Im the boss of me.
And yet youre always tied to Bella Ts from late afternoon on. Hell, from lunch on most of the summer.
Yeah, I should probably think about hiring more people to give me some flexibility. She slid them a sly smile. Still, it could be worse. I could be the peon like Harper.
Now, thats just cold! But Harper laughed, enjoying herself immensely. Shed been sitting with the two women for less than five minutes and already it had occurred to her that shed done herself a huge disservice when shed failed to pursue more female friendships over the years.
Tasha grinned at her, and Harper determined then and there that she would actively work at having a relationship with her and Jenny. For once in her life she wasnt going to allow the length of time she spent in a given town to dictate the effort she put into getting to know people. This time shed make friends on a deeper level than her usual enjoy-them-while-they-last-but-dont-get-too-involved way.
Im surprised you managed to pull yourself away from Lover Boy, Tasha said to Jenny as she raised a hand to catch a nearby waitresss attention.
It wasnt easy, the small brunette agreed. But its been far too long since Ive had any decent girl time. And much as I love Jake, the estrogen deprivation was starting to make me twitch.
Tasha gave her a solemn nod. I totally get that. Lovely as men can be, theres such a thing as testosterone overload.
But, oh, what a way to go, Jenny murmured with a small, private smile.
All three women laughed. Oh, sure, rub it in for those of us who havent been as lucky lately, Harper said. She raised her brows at Tasha. Or maybe thats just me.
Nope. Much as Id love to say it is, Im part of the aint-getting-any demographic myself.
A college-aged blonde stopped by their table to drop three coasters in front of them. You ladies ready?
After they placed their orders, they watched the blonde stride off. Then Jenny turned to Harper. Planting an elbow on the table, she propped her chin in her palm to study her. I never would have pegged you as a beer drinker.
What did you think Id drink?
Martinis, Tasha said unhesitatingly, and Jenny nodded her agreement.
Really? She shifted her gaze between the two women. Why?
Probably because youve got that whole Jenny rotated a hand sophisticated thang going for you.
This time Tasha nodded.
Then the petite brunette dismissively flapped the same hand. Thats not important, though, she said, focusing her attention on Harper. I was wondering...how would you like to take on some added responsibility at the inn?
Well, I dont know. Harper was at once excited at the idea and uneasy. She always enjoyed the challenge of learning or conquering new skills. At the same time, the goal that had brought her here had nothing to do with her job at The Brothers. You know Im not looking for a full forty-hour week.
Right now youre not even up to thirty hours. Jenny sat straighter in her chair. What I have in mind will add maybe an extra five hours a week. And I think its something youd not merely enjoy but be really good at.
Okay, now youve got me all curious.
Me, too, Tasha said.
Every year, from the Thursday before Labor Day through the holiday, the town holds its annual Razor Bay Days. Max told Jake, who of course told me, about your ideas to bump the Villages fund-raising efforts up a notch. Thats exactly the kind of thinking we need for handling the inns participation in the events.
Jenny must have seen her instinctive shake of the head, for she hurried to say, You dont have to reinvent the wheel, sweetie. Its mostly a matter of handling the things we already have in place. For instance, we always buy a block of preferential seating for the Saturday parade and Sunday night fireworks in town, and youre in a perfect position to let people know theyre available. The actual sales will be handled at the front desk. Youd set up an Adult Night with an appropriate theme and activities, as well as a coordinating Game Night for the kids. Youre so damn inventive, this stuff oughtta be right up your alley.
Im surprised youre not doing it yourself, Harper said slowly. You must have it down pat by now.
The cocktail waitress arrived then with their order, and the three women exchanged pleasantries with her as she placed their drinks on the table. When she walked away again, Jenny leaned forward.
Thats actually part of the problem. Razor Bay Days is the inns single largest occupancy week, and its routinely sold out as much as a year in advancein many cases to people who come year after year. I feel we need some fresh eyes on this, fresh ideas.
A few ran through Harpers mind, and she couldnt help the excitement that coursed through her veins. She loved doing this sort of thing. Okay, it sounds like fun. Ill do it.
Excellent! Jenny smiled hugely and leaned into her. Lets get together at my office tomorrow and
Everything was fine until you came along, a belligerent voice suddenly cut through their conversation, and Harper twisted in her seat in time to see a man take a swipe at the drink in front of another man sitting with a woman at the bar. The top-heavy glass tumbled over, and liquid spilled across the bar to waterfall over the side.
The woman leaped to her feet, brushing at her shorts and the waistband of her top, which were spotted with whatever had been in the glass.
Crap. Wades at it again. Jenny, who had turned toward the bar as well, swiveled back in unison with Harper to face center again.
Whos Wade, and why on earth did he do that?
Wade Nelson. Tasha tipped her chin in the direction of the woman whod jumped up. He and Mindy were married once upon a time.
But Wade has issues, and one day she finally had her fill of them and kicked him out, Jenny said, picking up the story. Eventually she and Curt Neff started going out, and a year or so later they got married. Wade refuses to accept that its over between him and his ex-wife.
The man was still loudly haranguing the ex-wifes husband. Youd think theyd be furious, but I dont hear them saying anything to him in return. She wanted to turn around to see, but her manners-count upbringing deemed it best not to gawk at them again.
They learned through hard experience that ignoring him is best all around, Jenny said. I dont know if I could keep my mouth shut as well as they have, though. That has to be hard.
Seriously hard. How long have they been doing it?
Seven years.
An incredulous laugh escaped her. Are you bamming me? Theyve been apart seven years and he still thinkswhat?that shell come back to him? When he acts like that?
She and Curt have been married seven years, the petite brunette corrected. Mindy and Wade have been divorced damn near nine now. But youve got the basic idea right. He simply wont admit shes never coming back.
Sunlight flooded the front end of the bar for an instant as the door to the street opened; then the room regained its usual atmospheric dimness once again when it slowly closed behind the new arrival. A no-nonsense voice Harper would know anywhere said, Lets go, Wade.
Like a compass needle seeking true north, she swung around to watch Max Bradshaw stride up to the bar. He wore his usual uniform of knotted-to-within-an-inch-of-its-life black tie over a khaki shirt with shoulder epaulets. A gold-toned badge was pinned to his chest, and gold, black and green shield-shaped patches, each sporting a spread-winged eagle and the Razor Bay Sheriffs Office designation, decorated his shirts sleeves above the hems that bisected the solid mounds of his biceps.
His jeans, soft and worn almost white at the seams, might have seemed incongruous with the crisp professionalism of his upper torso if not for the black web utility belt that bristled with the tools of his tradeincluding a deadly-serious-looking gun. Or perhaps it was his no-nonsense, you-dont-even-wanna-mess-with-me attitude that so efficiently negated any slacker-dude vibe the near-shabby jeans might have otherwise suggested.
She watched him put a big hand on Wades shoulderand shivered, remembering how crazy-aware shed been of it hovering just above her own back when hed escorted her to her cabin from the hot tub. Lets go, he said again.
Wade shook him off so abruptly that he himself staggeredthen glared at Max as if it were his fault. Why the hell dont you take him in, he demanded, jutting a petulant chin in Curts direction.
Max reached out to steady him before the other man lost his balance entirely and replied evenly, Because the call I got said Mindy and Curt were just sitting here minding their own business when you showed up and made a scene. Since Ive been called out dozens of times to deal with this exact same situation, I have no reason to question the information. He gave the other man a level look. Now, you can come with me peaceably, or I can drag your ass out of here in cuffs. Its your choice, Wade.
Fine. Tugging the neckline of his stained T-shirt away from his Adams apple, Wade twisted his chin, stretching it first to the left, then to the right. Whatever. And he shambled toward the door, with Maxs hand planted between his shoulder blades to guide him whenever he hesitated.
At the door Max reached around Wade to pull it open. Sunshine splashed into the room again. Then the two men stepped out into the afternoon and disappeared from view as the door swung shut behind them.
Blowing out a quiet breath she hadnt even realized shed been holding, Harper turned back to her companions. I am simply amazed no one has snapped that man up.
Who? Jenny asked. She blinked then, and sat a little straighter. Max?
Yeah. Oh, I know hes not the most sociable guy in the universe, but hes big, hes built, and God knows the man is competent at everything he does. I find that seriously sexy. Seeing her new friends gaping at her, she stilled. Come on. I cant be the only woman in town who finds him attractive.
Um...yeah, you kind of are, Tasha said. Then she shook her head. That is, he is an attractive man. Hes built like nobodys business.
And hes got a killer smile, Jenny contributed. But hes kind of stingy with it.
And like you said, the strawberry blonde concluded, hes not exactly Mister Social.
Jenny snorted agreement, and Tasha looked at Harper. Max is just so sober and intense. Not to mention disinterestedand I guess between all of that, it scares women off. Because now that you mention it, I cant say Ive seen him with a particular woman since he came back to town.
Harper planted her chin on her fist. For some reason Max and Razor Bay are linked in my mind. Where did he come back from? It was all she could do not to squirm in her seat. For the first time since shed taken over the job of assessing grant applicants for Sundays Child, she felt a hint of shame for pretending ignorance. God knows shed thoroughly studied the foundation-generated dossiers on every Cedar Village board member.
Still, she had a job to do. And much as it bothered her to be duplicitous with Tasha and Jenny, her friends would likely find it odd if she didnt show an interest.
He spent years in the Marinesmostly in war-torn countries. Tasha gave her head an impatient shake, her curls quivering with the motion. But hes been back for years, and as I said, I cant think of a woman hes ever paid special attention to. Not that I dont see him talking to different ones occasionally, but its usually more like theyre talking to him and hes mostly just listening. I dont recall ever seeing him look as though he were with one of them, ya know? She looked at Jenny. Can you think of anyone?
Nope. I cant put him with anyone, either. Which is odd, when you think about it. Because I know hes kind of a lone wolf and all, but theres sure as hell nothing asexual about him.
No shit, Harper murmured.
Jenny grinned at her. Oh, good, you do swear.
She tilted her head slightly to study her friend. And thats a good thing?
Its not good or badwell, unless youre one of those high school boys who cant seem to string a sentence together without saying some variation of fuck every other word. Its just that most everybody does to some extent, but since weve met, youve just been so damn...perfect.
I have not!
Yeah, you kind of have, Tasha said. You have gorgeous manners, amazing posturedid you go through childhood balancing books on your head or something?and you always dress exactly right for the occasion. Plus, you sound educated andlets face itrich girl when you speak.
Yes, Jenny agreed. For an American, your accent is not quite but very nearly British sounding.
She smiled. Okay, Ill cop to that one. Because we moved so much as kids, my brother, Kai, and I often had tutors. And when we did stay in one place long enough to go to a local school, as with our tutors, the English spoken and taught there leaned heavily toward the Queens version. Ive been told I kind of retained the cadence, if not the actual accent. She took a swig of her beer, then shook her head. Im nobodys rich girl, though. My grandparents on my fathers side are quite well-to-do, and my dad did okay for himself as well, although he didnt attain their income bracket. But me, personally? Not even close.
Ah, but youre talking to a couple of girls from the wrong side of the tracks, Tasha said cheerfully. A man passing behind her bumped her chair, and she hopped it in a little closer to the table. Well, Jenny actually started out on the right side, but circumstances dumped her in my part of town when she was sixteen. She flashed Harper an easy whatta-ya-gonna-do smile. So were easily impressed.
Her laid-back acceptance made Harper realize their assessment of her wasnt a youre-not-one-of-us judgment; it was simply a recitation of their impressions. She took a sip of her beer and leaned back in her chair. I spent a good deal more time with adults than kids my own age growing up, so I suppose I dont sound quite like your average American thirty-year-old. But I can start swearing up a storm if you want.
They both flashed her unrepentant grins, and she grinned right back.
Then she sobered and gave them a curious look. Razor Bay is small, and I havent seen an overabundance of hot guys our age in the short time Ive been here. So, werent either of you ever even a little tempted by Max? I thought teenage girls were fascinated by the broody Heathcliff/Vampire Edward type.
He wasnt around when Tash and I were in high school, and when he did come home we were both way more interested in improving our futures. So the idea of him as potential dating material never even occurred to us in our impressionable years. Besides, I like guys who make me laugh, Jenny said.
Tasha nodded. Same here. And Max just isnt my type.
Harper studied her. What is?
The strawberry blonde grinned. I like em tall, charming and fun, she said slowly. The words had no sooner left her lips, however, than her gray-blue eyes darkened as if a thick cloud had suddenly blown across the sun. And her mouth, with its exotically fuller-than-its-counterpart upper lip, tightened. She made an erasing motion. No, I take that backIve sworn off a type. I have awful taste in men.
No, you dont, Jenny said firmly. You had awful taste once. One time, Tash.
Well, considering that one time landed my ass in a Bahamian jail, Tasha retorted coolly, I think its probably enough, dont you?
Hello! Harper straightened. That sounded wildly intriguing. But one look at the rigid set of Tashas shouldersnot to mention the other womans blind-eyed attention to the wineglass in her handand Harper knew better than to pursue the conversational bomb that had just rolled onto the table between them. Not even the crystal green and blue waters of the canal at low tide were clearer than the vibe Tasha was putting out that shed spoken unthinkinglyand this was not a subject she cared to discuss.
So Harper gave the other woman a cocky smile to lighten the mood. I guess this means my Hunky Deputy and The Handcuffs fantasy is all mine, then, yeah?
Her new friends laughed, and the tension that had hovered like a noxious mist over their table for a moment dissipated. Oh, yeah. Tasha gave her a lopsided smile. Which is not to say I dont wish you the best with it.
Absolutely, Jenny agreed. And should it ever come true for you...well. We expect details.
Lots and lots of details, Tasha said. Because Jennys right. Max is far from asexual, and I for one would love to know if hes one of those tell-a-girl-exactly-what-he-wants-from-her-in-bed kind of guys.
Harper stilled. Oh, hell. Like her imagination wasnt active enough.
That was the last image she needed planted in her brain.
CHAPTER SIX
MAX STOOD IN front of the open refrigerator Saturday morning, absentmindedly scratching his stomach above the cutoffs hed pulled on when hed rolled out of bed. When it came to breakfast choices, there wasnt a lot to select from. The fridge was empty except for a few cans of Coke, fewer bottles of Bud, a lonely, nearly gone quart of milk that might or might not still be drinkable and an assortment of condiments that ran heavily on the mustard and pepper sauce side.
He could always throw on a shirt and some flip-flops and go to the Sunset Caf to get himself a big plate of the Fishermans special, he supposed. And in truth, bacon and eggs and hash browns, with a side of toast and jam sounded awfully damn good right about now.
But if he scrounged something up here, he could get an earlier start on the home improvement project hed been planning for his next day off.
Which was today.
Screw it. He reached for the milk carton, inverted the fold to the pour position and sniffed. What the hell. It didnt smell sour, exactly, so he kicked the fridge door shut and grabbed a bowl, a spoon and a box of Froot Loops from the cupboard. He carried everything over to the table, where he shoved aside a stack of unopened mail with the bottom of the milk carton, then unloaded the rest of his haul onto the tabletop. He turned back to give the coffeemaker, sitting cold and silent on the counter, a considering look. Then with a shrug, he returned to the fridge to grab himself a can of Coke. Breakfast of champions.
He popped the tab on his way back to the table. As he took a long gulp, he hooked a bare foot beneath the stretcher separating the chairs back legs to tow it away from the table. Taking his seat, he poured cereal in the bowl, topped it off with milk, then picked up his spoon and dug in.
He ate fast, and as soon as he scraped up a lone Froot Loop and the last of the milk from his bowl, he climbed to his feet again. Taking everything back to the kitchen, he poured the little bit of milk still left in the carton down the drain and dumped the empty container, along with his bowl, spoon and can, into the sink to deal with later. Then he located an old pair of beat-up running shoes, shoved his feet into them and went out to the garage to gather his ladder and tools. He didnt want to spend his entire day off working, so the sooner he got started, the sooner he could get in a little beach time.
He worked steadily and had just finished applying a peroxide-based cleaner to the last of the cedar shakes on the north side of his house and was up on the ladder scraping mildew out of the grooves of the affected shingles when he heard car tires crunching up the drive. Curious, he tossed the scraper onto the ladders shelf, jumped to the ground and strode toward the corner nearest the driveway. He didnt get much in the way of company.
Or, okay, any as a rule.
Rounding the corner, he was in time to see his half brother climbing out of his fancy-ass Benz BlueTEC. Pleasure splintered through him, a recent sensation that caught him by surprise every time he saw Jake.
He gave himself a shake. It was hardly an oddity that he was not yet accustomed to the new direction their relationship had taken. God knew theyd spent a helluva lot more time being enemies than friends.
Hey, he said. I didnt expect to see you here.
I figured the only way Id ever get to see your place was to invite myself. Pulling his sunglasses down his nose, Jake gave him an unhurried once-over. Youve sure as shit never issued one.
Yeah. Max rolled his shoulders guiltily. Sorry about that. Most of the group I used to run with were either gone or on the wrong side of the law when I got back to town, so I guess Im out of the habit of inviting people to drop by.
Jesus, dude, dont you have any friends?
I have friends, he said defensively. Most of them are marines, though, so were scattered all over the place. But I have a couple of guys I shoot pool with at The Anchor or share an occasional beer with around town. But, okay, didnt really see otherwise.
Then he went on the offensive, since everyone knew that was the best defense. And what the hell, Jakeyoure one to talk. I havent exactly seen you overrun with buddies, yourself.
Jake grunted and shoved his shades back up. Gotta point. He turned away to check out Maxs place.
Max wouldve sworn he wasnt a jumpy kind of guy. But when Jake took his sweet time surveying the house and its surrounding land, he found himself damn near twitching by the time his brother finally turned back.
Jake gave him an imperturbable look. This is moderately cool.
Its hella cool, Max corrected but then grinned. Because given the way they insulted each other on a regular basis, in Jake-speak moderately cool was a downright endorsement. It was pretty lame to be so thrilled by his brothers approval, but even in his wildest, what-kinda-trouble-can-I-get-into-now days, hed never tried to lie to himself.
And that meant he had to acknowledge he pretty much was...well, maybe not thrilled, exactly, since that was for little kids and chicks. But pleased.
It struck him that he no longer thought of Jake as his half siblingthe guy was finally, simply, his brother in his mind. And, yeah, he was pleased that Jake liked his place. So sue him.
Hed stick a needle in his eye before hed admit as much out loudespecially to Jakebut what hed long wanted more than anything else in the world was a guy version of the white-picket-fence life. Right down to a loving wife who would put him first. Because that...well. That was something he could only imagine.
Hed never come first in anyones life.
And hed like kids, too, one day. He would never do what his father hadhed sacrifice his right testicle before hed cheat on his wife or abandon any kid of his.
Not that his lofty principles were of immediate concern, he acknowledged wryly, seeing as he was nowhere near attaining that dreamand didnt know if he ever would. A guy had to actually put himself out there to meet women. But he had this house. It was a first step. And, hell, maybe hed take that second step one of these days as well, and head into Silverdale some Saturday night to spend a couple of hours at The Voodoo Lounge. He liked to dance, and it was a decent place to meet like-minded women.
And even if he didnt meet The One, at worst he might get laid. He sure as hell wouldnt mind that.
It had been a while.
He merely shrugged now, however, and got his head back in the conversation. Theyd been talking about his house, not his less-than-titillating sex life. Ive been working on it. The place was a train wreck when I bought it, but shes got excellent bones and someday I think shell be a beauty.
Yeah, I can visualize it. How much land have you got here?
Four and a half acres.
Hands stuffed in his pockets, Jake rocked back on his heels and looked at the large yard Max had platted by removing some of the trees that surrounded it on three sides. I like the privacy. He shot Max a crooked smile. Were so gonna have to have the next barbecue here.
The idea of hosting anything sent a blip of panic racing through him. It wasnt that he was against the ideaand for sure hed been to enough dos put on by Jake and Jenny that he likely needed to reciprocate. He simply didnt have any idea how to go about pulling together anything more complicated than putting out beer and chips. Swallowing his discomfort at the mere thought, however, he said, Yeah. Maybe.
Jake snorted and shot him a fist to the shoulder, along with a knowing smile, as if he could somehow look right into his mind. But before Max could respondor even decide how he shouldhis brother turned to look at the house again. What were you doing when I got here?
And just like that, Maxs discomfort disappeared. He loved his place and, unlike a lot of other subjects, could always discuss it without having to dig for conversation. This is the original stain job, he said. Or at least the one that was on the house when I bought it. Ive been waiting for both a spate of nice weather like weve been having and time off to spruce it up. Today Im washing the shakes and scrubbing out mildew on the north side, getting it ready to restain.
Handy guy. Need a hand?
Max laughed and eyeballed Jakes designer T-shirt and shorts. Yeah, right. And screw up your GQ look? He indicated the muck splattering his own chin and neck and shoulders, smeared in the hair on his chest and down his abs and spackling his cutoffs. Your duds probably cost more than my mortgage payment.
Please. Jake made a rude noise. Thats an easy fix. Reaching over his back, he pulled his T-shirt over his head and tossed it aside. Then he unzipped his shorts and let them drop to the ground, stepping out of them and kicking them toward the discarded shirt. He turned back to Max wearing nothing but a tan, a pair of boxers and his Tevas. Im good to go.
Jesus. Max shook his head. You must be wicked bored.
Yeah. Jake gave him a sheepish smile. Jennys at work, and Austin went out on his boat with Nolan and Bailey. Ive cleaned up all my photo files and have been a fucking Suzie Spotless around my place. I need man work.
Max laughed and led his brother around the corner of the house where he showed him how to scour the shakes. Once Jake started attacking the siding, Max went to the garage to scrounge up another scraper.
With two people working, they finished the north wall in record time. Max found sharing the chore and jawing with his brother a nice change to his usual solitary dig-in-and-just-get-it-done routine. So, after cleaning the brushes and putting them away along with the ladder, he invited Jake into his house to clean up. Then he showed him around, pointing out the improvements hed made in his spare time over the past couple of years.
This is really going to be something when youre done, Jake said with clear appreciation as they came back downstairs after viewing the still unfinished bedrooms. Jenny and I have to start looking for something thats big enough for the three of us and an office and darkroom. Im tired of living in separate houses.
I bet. You gave her the ringyou got any concrete plans on tying the knot?
Before Jake could answer, the phone rang. Max unearthed his cell from beneath a short stack of Law Officer magazines on the coffee table in the living room and checked the readout. Seeing the callers name, he felt his usual combination of enjoyment and tension.
He looked over at Jake. Ive gotta get this. Theres beer in the fridge and some chips in the cupboard above it.
When his brother walked into the kitchen, Max hit the talk button. Hey, Ma. Hows London?
Rainy, she said, and Max exhaled softly.
So it was going to be one of those calls. Ignoring the discontentment of her tone, he said cheerfully, Weve had a pretty good run of weather here for the past couple weeks. I look at it as our reward for the crappy wet winter.
Well, I suppose we did have a pretty nice spring here, his mother allowed.
There you go. Hows Nigel? he asked, naming his stepfather.
Hes doing great. Her voice perked up, and Max smiled to himself.
Hed been shocked to come home after mustering out of the Marines to discover his mother had packed up and moved to London to marry the man. She hadnt given him so much as a heads-up.
But Nigel Shevington had turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to Angie Bradshaw. Shed met him while waiting tables at the restaurant in The Brothers Inn. Nigel had proven himself a fast worker, sweeping Angie off her feet and getting her to agree to move halfway across the globe with him practically before shed even presented him with the check for dinner. Nigel thought she hung the moon, and since meeting him, Angie was probably the happiest shed ever been.
Happier than hed ever seen her, at any rate.
Old habits were hard to break, however, and sometimes when they talked she fell back into her old churlish ways. He was content to have diverted her now.
So what are you doing with yourself in the nice weather? she asked him. Are you working today?
No, I have a rare Saturday off. I spent some time scraping the shingles on my house to get it ready to stain and thought I might hit the beach in a bit.
You and that canal, she said, her voice half indulgent, half exasperated. Never in my life have I met anyone else so drawn to the beach and the water as you. Im surprised you didnt buy yourself a house on the canal.
The sheriffs department pays a pretty decent salary. But not that decent.
I bet that little shit Jake
Ma, he said with flat-toned warning.
All right, all right. She was silent for a heartbeat, then asked, So, what color are you going to paint your place?
I havent quite made up my mind yet. I thought Id ask Shit. Jake, hed almost said, because his brother had a much more artistic eye than he did. And wouldnt that go over like a fart in church? a friend I know whos good with that sorta thing.
.
.
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- Жанр: Зарубежные любовные романы, Современная зарубежная литература, Современные любовные романы
- Язык: Книги на английском языке
- Объём: 310 стр. 1 иллюстрация
- ISBN: 9781472017222
- Дата выхода книги: 04 января 2019
- Версия: 📚 Электронная книга
Wrong for each other never felt more right…Even a lifelong traveller like Harper Summerville has to admire the scenery in Razor Bay, Washington. There’s the mountains. The evergreens. The water. And Max Bradshaw, the incredibly sexy deputy sheriff. Still, Harper’s only here for the summer, working covertly for her family’s foundation. And getting involved with this rugged, intense former Marine would be a definite conflict of interest – professionally and personally.Max’s scarred childhood left him determined to put down roots in Razor Bay, yet one look at Harper – a woman who happily lives out of a suitcase – leaves him speechless with desire for things he’s never had. He might not be big on talking, but Max’s toe-curling kisses are getting the message across loud and clear.Harper belongs here, with him, because things are only beginning to heat up…
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