DEKE SAT ON the porch as dusk settled over the surrounding woods, listening to the loud scissor-snapping vibration of cicadas, thinking about the job, his mother’s situation, the course of his life and Grace, whom he couldn’t banish from his mind. The temperature had dropped after an extremely warm day, making for a pleasant evening. He’d just decided to check in with his brother Dylan when Grace rushed out of the cabin, slamming the screen door behind her.
Even though it was twilight, and she was a good distance away, he couldn’t miss the tension in her shoulders, her determined pace eating up the ground as she stalked into the dense tree line. Despite his intentions of not inserting himself into her life, he stood, grabbed the flashlight he’d left on the porch and strode after her.
“Wait up,” he called out when he was a few feet away.
Grace slowed down but didn’t look happy to have her personal space invaded.
Racking his mind to come up with a good conversation opener, he said, “Heard about your mother.”
She stopped in her tracks, nearly tripping over an exposed tree root. “How?”
“I was at the warehouse with Roan when you called him.”
She nodded, then continued walking.
“Is she okay?”
“Banged up her shoulder. She didn’t break any bones, thank goodness, but she’ll be sore for a few days.”
“I saw a woman get out of the van with all of you earlier. Your mom?”
“Yes. She’s staying with us tonight.”
Apparently Grace was indulging only in small talk, so he’d take up the slack. “Roan said he’d take a look at your mother’s front steps tonight.”
Silence.
“Nice guy. Another admirer?”
She turned her head, eyes wide. “Uh, no. I’m not that popular.”
“Just an observation.”
“An incorrect one. Roan lost his wife a little over a year ago and he’s still grieving. He and his daughter came home to Golden and my uncle hires him to help out here and there.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
“You probably noticed he’s a man of few words.”
“Yeah. What you told me explains it. He’s got that…haunted look in his eyes.”
One he understood all too well.
The light started to dim as they moved farther into the thick of the forest. Trees huddled closer together, the path became a little trickier to navigate with undergrowth and dead leaves scattered over the rich dirt.
“Where are you stomping off to?”
“My happy place.” She shot him a pointed look. “Where I usually go to be alone.”
He nearly chuckled at her disgruntled tone but decided she was already uptight and his laughing wouldn’t go over well. “Then you won’t mind me joining you?”
“You’re a bright man. You know what alone means.”
“I’m also bright enough to bring a flashlight. By the looks of things, you’ll be walking home in the moonlight.”
“I know my way by heart.”
“Still doesn’t hurt to be prepared.”
“Fine, you can tag along as long as you’re quiet.”
“Works for me.”
They walked for fifteen minutes. True to her word, Grace did know where she was going. She kept to the path, knew when to duck under low-hanging branch limbs or step over fallen tree trunks. Before long he heard a gushing sound and noticed the scent of damp air. They passed into a clearing by a stream. A medium-sized waterfall took center stage.
Water tumbled over a ragged outcrop of rock into a lazy swirl before traveling downstream. Dry boulders were scattered around the water’s edge. Grace climbed up on one and stretched her legs out as she viewed the splashing cascade glistening in the moonlight.
Following suit, he clambered up next to her. With a huff she scooted over.
“Nice happy place.”
“I’ve always thought so.”
“By the look on your face you came here to do some thinking.”
She shrugged.
“Family?”
“Always.”
He chuckled out loud. “I know the feeling.”
She glanced over her shoulder at him. In the waning light her eyes were bright and inviting, her skin luminous. Her hair, mussed after the hike through the woods, framed her pretty face and he found himself wondering what it was about this woman he couldn’t resist.
His perusal was interrupted when Grace said, “Starting tomorrow there will be some changes at Put Your Feet Up.”
He leaned closer, enjoying the warmth of her body heat and the scent of cherry blossoms. “Is that so?”
He felt her slump. “I’ll be training my sister to work in the office.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“Because…?”
“Are you sure you’re a forensic investigator?” She twisted to face him. “Seems like you’d make a better interrogator.”
“Part of the charm.”
“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to talk to you,” she huffed. “Even though you work for us, you aren’t related and I guess I need to vent.”
“I can be as impartial as the next guy.”
Looking away, she focused on the surging waterfall. Long seconds ticked by and he started to wonder if she’d trust him enough to reveal whatever was bothering her. He might regret it later, but he really wanted her to lean on him right now because he doubted she let her guard down very often.
“If it makes you feel any better, I understand tricky family dynamics,” he said in way of encouragement. “Believe me, my brothers and I have gotten into hearty disagreements from time to time. We’re competitive to a fault and try to outdo each other on a regular basis, but I know I can rely on them no matter what’s going on in my life.” He paused. Thought of his father, a man he’d looked up to, even after he’d been gone for many years. “I guess because my dad always made sure to treat each one of us differently. He picked up on our interests and took special time with each of us. Gave us confidence no matter what road we traveled down.”
“And your interest was?”
“Books. Science.” Deke smiled at a memory. “He used to take me to museums. Just the two of us, nerding out. I never really fit into a steady group of friends, but my dad made sure to let me know I was loved.”
“That’s wonderful for you. My father wasn’t quite so invested.”
“I noticed there was no Mr. Harper around to give your mom a hand.”
Her body tensed, and he would have given anything to see her expressive eyes. “Took off for parts unknown after finishing a stint in prison.”
Okay, that was unexpected.
Pinching the bridge of her nose, she said, “After I put him there.”
“Whoa. Back up.”
She let out a big sigh and inched a little closer to him. “Well, technically I didn’t put him there. My mouth did.”
“You aren’t a very coherent storyteller.”
“It’s a time in my life I don’t usually get all nostalgic over.”
“So what happened?”
“One day I came to the office after school and overheard my dad talking on the phone. I was in the hallway leading to the rear door, so he never saw me, but he was talking to someone about a delivery. He said it was coming from Atlanta and they had to meet the truck up at Bailey’s Trail at midnight. I thought that was weird because we didn’t normally have anything delivered to the office and midnight was way too late for a hike in the woods. Then my dad said he had a major buyer, which seemed off. Buyer for what? When I finally walked into the office, he gave me a big hug and asked me to tell my mother he wouldn’t be home for dinner, that he had an errand to run.”
As she told the story, she leaned into him, probably unaware she was doing so. Deke stayed still, not wanting her to come to her senses and move away. He hated to see this normally in-control, vibrant woman beating herself up over her father’s actions.
“He’d been missing dinner, scheduled tour trips and other family outings often, and my mom was always miffed at him. I just shrugged off my dad’s request, hating to bring Mama bad news. Later that afternoon Uncle Roy and a bunch of his buddies came by the office and he’d asked where my dad was. I told him I didn’t know, but that he was going after a delivery later and my uncle’s face turned a funny shade of red. He asked when and where, and I told him. That night, my dad got busted for dealing drugs.”
“And you had no idea?”
“No. I was fifteen. Naive about the world. Other than the fact that my parents were arguing a lot, I was just like any high school kid.”
“What happened then?”
“He was arrested, stood trial, got sentenced to time in prison. No one ever admitted who tipped off the police. My mother retreated, still in denial to this day. My uncle, who suspected what my dad had been up to but could never prove anything until our conversation, poured himself into running both our business and the cabins. Faith rebelled and Nathan followed in Daddy’s footsteps.”
“Selling drugs?”
“No, finding the easy way out. Apparently my dad got tired of the day-to-day grind and wanted a fast way to make money. He got hooked up with a guy he used to know from the next town and they decided to funnel drugs into Golden, which didn’t go well with local law enforcement or the residents. My family became outcasts after that, until the trial proved only my father was part of the drug business. I took over Put Your Feet Up shortly afterward.”
“I get it now.”
“Get what?”
“Why you’re a criminal attorney.”
“That obvious?”
“Now that I know your story, it makes sense.”
“So if I were to know your story, I’d understand why you became a cop?”
He rested his chin on top of her head. “My dad was police commissioner. All my brothers are in law enforcement.”
Making space between them, she said, “Who’d have thought, the daughter of a criminal sitting here chatting the night away with the son of an upstanding policeman.”
“Doesn’t make us perfect.”
“Bet you didn’t have kids making your life miserable in school.”
“I was bookish and quiet. They picked on me anyway.”
“Did your brothers stand up for you?”
“I never let them know, but if I had, they would have intervened.”
“Must be nice.”
“Your family isn’t so bad.”
“Really? Faith took off and Nathan goofed off. No relying on them then or now.”
“Maybe your sister working in the office will change things. For the better.”
“I’m not holding my breath. Faith is usually all about Faith.”
“She has her own family now. Hopefully her priorities have changed.”
Grace stared at the water. “I guess I’ll find out.”
They went silent for a time, both caught up in their own thoughts. Deke would definitely have to deflect swapping family details if he wanted to keep the reason he was in Golden a secret, but sharing stories had given him a new insight into the woman he found more fascinating every moment he spent with her.
Grace eased back against him. “What a pair.”
Deke fingered the ends of her hair, enjoying the soft silky strands sliding across his skin.
“So, is there a significant other in your life?” He had to ask. “Hiding out in Atlanta maybe?”
“Right. Between my family woes and my work hours, who has time to date?” She rested her head on his shoulder. “You?”
“No one serious.”
“What about that friend you talked about?”
His stomach jolted. Here was an opportunity to open up about what had happened, to ease his guilty conscience. Instead he went for easy. “Her name was Britt. We tried to date once, but were better off as friends. I actually introduced Britt to her future husband and they clicked in a way she and I never did.”
Truth be told, he’d been jealous and hurt, but as time went on, he realized Britt was right. He became buddies with her husband and he’d been adopted into the family as Uncle Deke after the birth of her sons. In a way, she still owned a tiny piece of his heart. Not in a romantic way, he’d come to realize, but part of a loving friendship he missed terribly. He’d never found anyone to fill that void, until now. In a short time, Grace had touched those empty places inside him.
He shifted, moving Grace so she faced him. Yeah, she did it for him. Her eyes glittered in the sliver of moonlight filtering through the leafy tree limbs. Her gaze met his and when he saw approval there, he didn’t hesitate. He leaned down. Covered her lips with a gentle brush. She inched forward, placing her delicate hands on his chest. His heart raced beneath her palms, so he kissed her again, this time with greater intention. She went soft against him, returning his kiss with an ardor of her own. He forgot why he was in Golden, the personal conversation they’d just shared here in the middle of the woods and why going this far was probably not a smart idea. All he was capable of recognizing was how Grace made his blood speed through his veins. She touched him in a way no one had ever done—how, he couldn’t begin to explain. She was so wrong for him, this attorney who defended criminals and took care of her family above all else, leaving no room for others in her life. Yet this kiss couldn’t have felt more right.
He would have kept tasting her lips for hours if she hadn’t pulled away, her voice breathy when she said, “I, um, think we should head back.”
“Grace, I’m sorry if I stepped over the line.”
“It’s…” She waved her hand as if to brush the kiss away, but the gesture hit him like a punch to the gut.
“You work for me, Deke. And without Nathan, I can’t risk messing up and having you leave me shorthanded.”
Her words sobered him. Work. She was all about work.
Sliding off the boulder, he held out his hand to help her down. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t disappointed by her decision, but he understood. She’d been looking out for her family for years before he came into her life. Wasn’t he here because of that same loyalty to family? Grace wasn’t the type to throw caution to the wind and start something with him that might affect the family business in a negative way. It made him admire her all the more for her stand, while at the same time his heart wavered with a funny ache.
As she started along the path, he flicked on the flashlight to illuminate the trail.
“Maybe if you decide to go back to Atlanta and your old job, we can see where this leads,” she said, her voice muted as she led the way.
He stepped on a twig and it snapped, just like the mood. If they were both back in Atlanta that meant she’d be defending criminals he was trying to put away. And how exactly would that lead to moving closer? He’d be betraying Britt’s memory, and right now, he couldn’t take that step.
“We’ll see,” he said, tempering his tone. He noticed her shoulders tense and realized he’d driven a spike between them and the tender moment they’d just shared.
* * *
“WHY CAN’T YOU just file the request form like I showed you?” Grace asked after correcting Faith for the third time Wednesday morning.
“I don’t see what the big deal is.”
“The deal is we have a pipeline so the booking requests don’t get lost.”
“I can remember.”
“Really. With Lacey crying and John wandering off?”
“So it’s not ideal, but I want to learn, Grace.”
“Then please follow the protocol I’ve put into place.”
“Fine.” Her sister muttered under her breath, taking the printed request and making a grand show of placing it in the right slot on the shelf on the wall.
The phone rang and Faith grabbed it. “Hello.”
Grace closed her eyes and counted to ten.
“Ah, I mean Put Your Feet Up.”
Grace lifted one eyelid and squinted at her sister, who was hunting for a pen. Grace had just placed the ones scattered across the desktop back into the holder.
“Yes, we have boats.”
Grace cringed again. Mouthed, “Canoes.”
“Right canoe trips. I’d be happy to give you the information.”
Faith rattled off the packages from the detailed notebook Grace had stayed up late last night preparing. Once she’d returned to the cabin after a terse goodbye to Deke, her mother had informed her that Faith was starting work first thing the next morning. Then she’d gone to sleep in Grace’s bed. Since the lumpy couch was going to keep her up anyway, she’d stayed busy until three that morning, detailing vacation packages, costs and schedules. Thankfully Faith had read through it a few times and was booking tours with Grace’s assistance.
They had both dressed in a skirt and blouse for work today, but Grace noticed the frayed cuffs Faith tried to hide. Were things worse than Faith let on? Lyle hadn’t been back to the cabin and Grace didn’t know if Faith had enough money to get by. A sobering thought. Suddenly Faith’s situation took on a whole new light.
Taking a breather, she went to the small office fridge and removed two juice boxes. She pulled up a chair, opened the straw and stuck it in the cardboard container to hand to her nephew. “I think we deserve a break.”
John dropped the truck he’d been running across the floor, sound effects and all, and sat back. “Yeah. We workeded hard.”
Grace grinned and sipped the sugary juice after inserting her straw. She could have gone for another soda right now, but she didn’t dare leave Faith alone.
“Mommy do good?” John asked.
Surprised by the question, Grace nodded. “Yes. Why would you ask?”
“We said an extra prayer last night. Mommy do good and make you happy.”
Her heart twisted as she glanced from John’s sincere face to her sister’s. She was trying desperately to follow Grace’s instructions. Instead of sniping, Grace should cut her some slack.
“Yes. Thank you for contacting us,” Faith finished up the call. She filled out the form, stared at it for a few moments, then tossed it across the desktop.
Grace loudly cleared her throat.
“Come on, Grace, you are so fussy,” she said as the office door opened.
“She may be fussy but she runs the best vacation outfit in north Georgia.”
“Nathan,” Faith screeched and ran around the counter to hug their baby brother.
His dark blond hair was longer than the last time Grace had seen him, his face pale from lack of sun. Once he was back outdoors, he’d tan quickly. Grace rose slowly, making her way toward the happy reunion.
Her brother’s brown eyes, so much like their father’s, searched her face as she approached before he pulled her into a bear hug. She had to admit, it was good to see the doofus, so she returned the hug with gusto. Then stepped away and slapped him on the shoulder. “Where have you been?”
“Here and there,” he answered cryptically, getting down on one knee to open his arms for John, who beelined toward him and wrapped his little arms around Nathan’s neck.
“How are you doing, buddy?”
“Got a new truck.”
Nathan ruffled John’s hair. “Good for you.”
John returned to his toys, leaving Nathan without anyone to hide behind, which was good because Grace had plenty to say.
“Nathan, we need to get you up to speed. While you were—”
He placed a finger over her mouth and she swatted it away. “What are you doing?”
“Stopping your tirade before it begins.”
She slammed her hands on her hips.
“Look, I know you all don’t appreciate me being MIA. But I’m back, ready to work and to look after Mama.”
Grace wasn’t sure she believed him but wasn’t going to argue. They needed another tour guide.
“Fine. I’ll skip the lecture.”
He grinned, all easygoing and not a care in the world, but Grace didn’t miss the shadows lurking in the depths of his eyes. She knew her brother well enough to accept he would never confide in her, so she crossed her fingers and hoped for the best.
“Heard you hired help. A cop? Really, Grace?”
“He was the only one to apply for the job and since I couldn’t locate you, it worked out.” She frowned. “How did you know he was a cop?”
“Mama.”
Hmm. Seems her family members had had more conversations than her mother had disclosed.
“Mama may not be thrilled about a cop in the midst, but I don’t care. Deke is doing a great job.”
Nathan laughed. “Yeah, Mama wasn’t happy about him being the police, even though she told you to hire him.”
Grace rolled her eyes.
“Since he’s here to stay, we’ll work it out.” He glanced around the office. “Something looks different.”
“I cleaned,” Grace answered.
“No, more…” His eyes lit on Faith. “You’re working here?”
“You didn’t know?”
“I haven’t spoken to Mama in a few days.”
So Grace was right, Mama had been keeping Nathan up to speed.
Faith’s jaw tensed. “Got a problem with that, little brother?”
“Are you kidding?” A big smile crossed his face. “This is great. I always wanted you to join us but you were busy with the kids. And then Lyle…” He broke off, a frown creasing his brow.
Faith stared at him, eyes round with surprise. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. You’re here now.”
“See, Grace? Someone is glad I’m working.”
“I never said—” She stopped short. Sighed. Her protests would only land on deaf ears.
Nathan rubbed his hands together. “So, where do I start?”
Grace rounded the desk. “Let’s see what’s scheduled.” She pulled up the calendar on the computer and was about to update Nathan when the back door opened. Deke, tall, strong, solid and way too good-looking for her peace of mind, strode into the office. He sent Grace a nerve-tingling smile before his perceptive eyes assessed the situation.
He took a step toward Nathan, hand out. “You must be the third Harper.”
Nathan took his hand to shake, standing taller as he gave Deke a once-over. “Yep, and now that I’m back we’ll have to divvy up the work.”
“Sounds good to me.” He handed Grace a clipboard and keys. “All hikers accounted for and the van is parked out back.”
“Thanks.”
Their fingers brushed as she took the board. Controlling the shiver that wanted to skate up and down her arms, she sent a covert glance toward her siblings. She’d never hear the end of it if they suspected she was attracted to Deke. Pointing at the calendar on the screen, she scooted out of the way when Deke moved so close his arm brushed hers. Good grief, what was wrong with her today? This was the first time she’d seen him since the kiss in the woods last night. A kiss she hadn’t stopped thinking about.
Before long, Deke and Nathan were working on the allocation of tours while Faith carried on with phone calls. Finding herself not needed, she sat down near John, who stood and crawled into her lap.
“Boat?”
She wasn’t sure what he was talking about, but when she noticed John staring at Deke, she remembered the day they’d carried the canoes to the lake. “You want to go out on the boat?”
John bounced up and down. “Boat. Boat.”
What had she done?
Deke came over to kneel before her nephew, close enough for her to smell his crisp, woodsy scent. Her toes curled in her sensible pumps.
“You remember taking the canoes to the lake?”
John nodded, his eyes big. “Mama, let’s go on lake?”
Faith bit her bottom lip. “I don’t know, John.”
Deke rose. “We have life vests his size and if you give us the okay, we won’t venture far from shore.”
“I suppose…”
“Boat. Boat.”
Grace hid a grin. Oh, Faith had a child just like her.
“Okay, but only if you go, too, Grace.”
Alarm bells clattered in her head. “I can’t leave. We’re working.”
“And you haven’t had a moment to do anything fun since you got here.”
True, but the lake? With Deke? “I’m here to work. Not have fun.”
“I can handle the office for a few hours,” Faith assured her. Testing her, maybe?
“And since this afternoon is free,” Nathan chimed in, “I can catch up with Mama and get ready for the next tour.”
Were her siblings ganging up on her?
Deke glanced her way. “You’d let your nephew down?”
As if on cue, John looked up at her with wide, brown eyes.
“Sheesh. Okay. I’ll go.”
John jumped from her lap, clapping his hands.
Deke’s smile took her breath away and suddenly a canoe trip on the lake seemed more than just about pleasing John.
“Give me about thirty minutes to get things ready,” he said, then faced Nathan. “If you have a few minutes, I’d like to run an idea by you.”
“Sure.” Nathan hugged his sisters again, then slapped Deke on the shoulder. “So, what’s on your mind?”
As the guys left, deep in conversation, Grace turned, ready to finish up so she could head back to the cabin and change for the excursion on the lake. She stopped short when Faith’s knowing eyes met hers, sparkling with humor.
“What?”
“I see how it is.”
Grace shook her head. “How what is?” Please, please, please don’t say it.
“You and Deke?”
She said it.
“It’s not what you think.”
“Really? You didn’t just get all gooey when he promised to take John on the lake?”
“It was nice of him.”
“Nice.” Faith snorted. “I saw you melt.”
Grace rolled her shoulders. “I’m not having this conversation with you.”
“Fine, but sis?”
“Yes?”
“It’s about time you stop being all about work and let yourself get involved with a nice guy.”
Was that what she was doing? Getting involved with Deke? From the look on Faith’s face, her sister thought so.
She couldn’t argue either.
Yikes. I’m in trouble here.