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Lindsay had her phone out and was dialing Brooke’s number even before she greeted Lilly. She was burning up; her whole body seemed to be on fire. The look in Blake’s eyes, his body pressed firmly against her, made it abundantly clear why he needed a minute. Air. Oh, goodness. She needed air.
Waving quickly at Lilly, she waited for Brooke to pick up. And why was it so hot? With her phone against her ear, she walked to the first window to open it.
“Let me...” Lilly said cheerily and quickly opened the window. “You looked flushed. What...?” Her eyes strayed over Lindsay’s shoulder and widened. She grinned. “Oooh, now I understand those blushing cheeks.” She giggled under her breath.
“Hi, Mr. Davidson...” Lilly sang, and walked over to him.
Lindsay turned away. Brooke wasn’t picking up. She checked her watch. Brooke was probably busy with six-year-old Connor at this moment. Grimacing, she put her phone away and glanced over to where Lilly was chatting away with Blake. Why was he still here?
The bell above the door jingled. Plastering a smile on her face, Lindsay turned around to greet her first customer of the day. A beaming Suzie Stevens rushed in.
“Lindsay!” she called, out of breath. “I have to tell you...” She inhaled on a laugh. “It was quite a night, my dear. Quite a night. I simply had to come and tell you about it.”
Acutely aware of Blake’s eyes on her, Lindsay tried her best to ignore him. “I’m so glad to hear that. So what can I do for you today?”
Suzie leaned forward. “I was hoping for another bottle of your bedroom oils. Tomorrow you’re closed and...well, let’s just say, I don’t think there will be enough until Monday.”
“Of course, you can have more, but you do know you only need a small amount of oil on your hands...”
“I know, dear, but it was going so well and...” Suzie grinned happily.
“Let me help, Mrs. Winters,” Lilly interrupted, and smiled at Suzie before she looked at Lindsay. “Mr. Davidson wants to talk to you.”
Lindsay felt like stamping her feet. Why hadn’t Blake left already? There were people around her; he really didn’t have to be here any longer.
“Is there a place where we can talk?” he asked as she neared him.
“I have a shop to run. I don’t have time...”
“Damn it, Lindsay, will you please listen?” Taking her hand, he proceeded to walk in the direction of Charlie’s rooms again.
“You had the whole morning to talk to me. Why...?”
He turned around and she lost her words. Pure, unadulterated hunger shone in his eyes, just for a millisecond, but she forgot where they were and why she’d been so worked up just now. But then it was gone and his lips formed the thin line she was used to.
“I shouldn’t have touched you, I’m sorry. You make me feel things...and... Damn it, all I can think about is kissing you...but it’s... I can’t!” he called out in frustration.
Stunned, she stared at him. Why does he keep talking about kissing me? Around them, the air thickened. She had to say something before this got completely out of control. “I don’t kiss men with beards,” slipped out.
His eyes darkened. “I’ll see you later today.” And swearing softly, he turned and walked away.
Lindsay put her hand out to prop herself up against the wall, desperately trying to get enough oxygen into her lungs. Her legs felt like rubber; she wasn’t sure she could walk just yet.
As long as she lived, she’d remember the look in his eyes. No man had ever looked at her in quite the same way, as if she were the most beautiful woman in the world and he wanted to devour her.
But he didn’t want this—he’d just made that clear—and neither did she. The last time she’d given someone her heart, he’d trampled all over it, and the same person was still hell-bent on making her life miserable.
Her phone rang. It was Brooke. Inhaling slowly, she tried to find her equilibrium. Her phone kept ringing. Brooke. She wanted to ask her something. It was another second before she remembered why she’d called earlier.
“Hi, Brooke,” she finally answered. “I have a favor to ask.” She needed to put distance between herself and Blake as quickly as possible. And if she could sidestep Mark in the process, so much the better.
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When Blake arrived at the dojo, Jason had just finished teaching a karate class. Blake nodded to the people leaving. Some faces were familiar; others he hadn’t seen before.
“The classes have grown considerably since you’ve left.” Jason greeted him with a handshake. “People from neighboring towns have heard about the dojo and have signed up. A high school came to investigate, and quite a number of their students enrolled afterwards.”
“That’s good news. I really appreciate you stepping in to help,” Blake said.
“Of course. I’m enjoying my stay in Alisson. I may just decide to stay here after you sack me.” Jason grinned.
“That’s good to know. Our ex-employer needs help with another case, so I may need you again. Or have they contacted you, as well?”
Jason nodded. “About the bank robbers? Yeah, they did. I’m thinking about it. What about you?”
“Not until we find Taylor. Any news on that front?”
Jason shook his head. “After you phoned last night, I drove around town, but I didn’t see the green car you described anywhere.”
“Could be he left town. But he’s nearby. I can feel it. I checked out the coffee shop across from Lindsay’s shop this morning.” He rubbed a hand over his neck. “I had this feeling someone was watching from inside. But by the time I got there, only the usual crowd were having their Saturday morning coffee. According to the waitress, there was someone earlier she doesn’t know.”
“So why did you get involved with this case? Hunting down ex-boyfriends isn’t your usual gig, is it?” Jason asked with a twinkle in his eye.
“No. But I have to make sure she’s safe.”
Jason’s eyes widened, and grinning, he slapped Blake on the shoulder. “You fell for a woman? Well, I never.”
“No, I haven’t fallen... What I mean is...” Whatever did he mean? “She’s a friend.”
Jason grinned. “A friend?” He sounded skeptical. “Okay. If you say so. Gorgeous friend, by the way.”
Blake frowned. “I thought you told me she hasn’t been for her self-defense classes since I’ve left.”
“That doesn’t mean I don’t know who the most beautiful unattached female in town is.”
Blake was staring at the door where a few women had entered, but his head whipped back to Jason when he registered what his friend had said. “Stay away from her,” he growled before he could stop himself. He and Jason had worked together on numerous cases. He liked the tall, lanky guy, but he also knew there was a string of broken-hearted women in Jason’s wake.
Jason laughed. “Thought so. You’ve got a thing for the lovely Lindsay?”
Blake shrugged. “Wouldn’t matter if I did, would it? In our line of work...”
“But we’ve quit, remember? You don’t have to take on the next case just because they ask you to.”
“I have to.”
Jason crossed his arms and leaned against the table. “Why?”
“Don’t you have a class to teach?”
“Not right this minute, no.”
“My partner died because I wasn’t focused. So if I can help catch the next bad guy...” He shrugged.
Jason straightened. “That’s not what happened, and you know it. Will made the decision to rush into a building and not wait for backup. That’s not on you.”
“I should’ve known what he was going to do. I should’ve stopped him.”
“There was no way anyone could know what he was going to do.”
“I was his partner...”
“Partner, yes. Keeper, no. Trying to get yourself killed, or trying to redeem yourself by continuously putting yourself in danger, is not going to bring your partner back. So you’ll have to find another reason to stay away from the lovely Lindsay. Because I have to warn you, there are plenty others—me included—who wouldn’t mind...”
“I said stay away from her.”
“I’ll stay away if you’re making a move. Otherwise...” Jason taunted him.
“No. She deserves a whole lot better than a jaded ex-FBI agent like me or you.”
He could hear Jason’s laughter all the way back to his car. Damn it to hell. Before Miss Betty O’Hara had taken him in all those years ago, he’d learned the hard way, in the many, many homes he’d lived in for short periods of time, not to become too attached to anything or anyone. It could be taken away from him at any time. As was confirmed when first Miss Betty and then Will were killed.
He’d thought his strength and his fists could help him in any situation. But when Miss Betty fell ill and then died, or when Will stormed into that building and lost his life, there wasn’t anything he could do. And the gut-wrenching pain he’d experienced when they’d died wasn’t something he’d survive if there were a next time.
So he’d made sure to keep people at a distance, to not become involved with any woman for more than sex. That resolve had worked until he’d stepped into the bar in Alisson and had seen Lindsay Wilson for the first time.
She’d literally taken his breath away, and the clear lines he’d drawn to safeguard himself had been blurred. Cursing, he started his car. He had a window to replace and then he’d wait in the coffee shop until Lindsay was finished for the day. From there, he’d have a clear view of the shop, and she wouldn’t know he was there.
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Lilly locked the front door and walked back to where Lindsay was counting the money.
“Wow, we had a busy morning,” Lilly said. “I love it. People love your products; we can hardly keep up. How did your chat with Stacy go? How soon can she create a website for all your lovely oils and creams?”
Lindsay smiled. Lilly’s enthusiasm was one of her many endearing qualities. “We talked about what kind of look I’d want, the idea of a logo, and more or less what and how I’d want to do this. She’ll send me some ideas and then we’ll proceed from there.”
Lilly rubbed her hands. “Ooh, so exciting!”
“Yes, it is. That’s why I’m going to Seattle next week. I’ve made appointments with our suppliers. I need to get stock and just talk to them about my ideas.”
Lilly frowned. “It sounds great, but should you leave now? When your ex is in town and looking for you?”
“A very good reason why I want to leave town now,” Lindsay said. “Are you happy to run the shop on your own this week? I’m going to make a huge batch of creams this afternoon. It should be enough for the coming week. If you don’t think you’re up for it, we can always close the shop for a week.”
“Never!” Lilly exclaimed. “It won’t be the first time, remember. I’ve done this before, when you and Charlie and your brother went to Seattle.”
“If you’re sure, then great. I’m going with Eleanor and Brooke and we’re leaving tomorrow morning. They’ll probably stay a bit longer in Seattle, but I’ll be back on Friday. You sure you’ll be okay?”
Lilly took her bag from under the counter. “Of course. I’m off. I’ll see you tonight at the bar?”
“Maybe not tonight. But next weekend when we’re back.”
“Have a great time!” With a wave, Lilly bounded out of the shop.
Lindsay sighed. Oh, to be so young and carefree again. Grimacing, she locked the front door. Twenty-six wasn’t old; she just sometimes wished she’d never laid eyes on Mark Taylor. She’d like to be the carefree person she used to be before her world had changed forever.
She quickly looked around the shop. The windows were closed, the door locked; she could go to her studio. At this point, she was quite hungry, but she wanted to begin mixing the creams. Maybe she could slip out a little bit later.
The studio was small but ideal at the moment. She put her earphones on, picked out an album of the latest country artist she was enjoying, and sat down in front of the long bench where the magic happened.
Bliss. She didn’t have to talk to anyone, the stupid butterflies were quiet, and she could do what she loved doing. She had still been a nursing sister back in South Africa when she’d been introduced to the age-old healing powers of essential oils, and after she’d bought a starter kit with a diffuser, she was hooked. Soon she was mixing oils and making skin products for everyone around her—until she’d met Mark. He quickly put an end to her plans of making it a business. It was a stupid idea, just what he’d expect from someone as stupid as her. He’d called her “stupid” so many times, she’d actually been at a point where she’d believed him.
But when she and Charlie had moved here from South Africa, she knew immediately that she wanted to work with essential oils. And here there were so many wonderful suppliers, she was in heaven. Finally, she was able to do something that gave her joy. Having her own shop, selling the creams she mixed by hand, seeing the pleasure on her client’s faces were all her dreams come true. And it was going so well. Over the past few months, she’d had many visitors from out of town, people who’d heard about her products from locals.
Inhaling deeply, willing the bad thoughts away, she concentrated on the lovely voice of the artist singing in her ear about a woman who was crazy and beautiful, but he loved her anyway.
That was the kind of love her sister had found with Logan. They couldn’t be more different, but Logan loved Charlie because of her uniqueness; he didn’t ridicule or belittle her. And the way he looked at the woman he loved was the same way—
Her hands stilled.
Nah, she was being silly. It wasn’t the way Blake looked at her at all. Besides, he may have had lustful thoughts at that moment, but it would be mostly because they’d been sharing the same space for a few hours. He was a man, she was a woman—these things happened but it didn’t mean anything.
And he was very clear about the fact that nothing could happen between them.
But those few moments so very close to him... She groaned out loud. How was she ever going to forget his warm, throbbing body pressed against her?