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Saturday morning, early, Lindsay was up and dressed. Last night’s crying had been a good thing; most of her pent-up anger and panic had been released.
But now she had to get out of the house as soon as possible. Her shop was open on Saturday mornings, and Saturday afternoons she usually spent mixing oils and making sure she had enough stock in the shop for the week ahead. Over the past week she’d received quite a few requests from clients who wanted various blends of oils for all sorts of ailments, ranging from headaches to snoring husbands, so she had more than enough to do to keep her busy all afternoon.
She and Charlie had converted the building Charlie had inherited from their Aunt Charlene into two parts. One the one side, Charlie had her rooms where she saw her clients for Bowden treatments, and Lindsay had turned the other side into her shop. At the back, attached to her shop, was a smaller room she used as a studio, where she mixed her essential oils and skincare products.
They were both healers—her dad used to tease them. Ever since they were small, they’d bring home stray and hurt animals, to their mother’s dismay. So it hadn’t come as any surprise when they’d both taken up nursing after school. And now they’d both found their own unique way of healing and helping people. Charlie had her Bowden Therapy and she had discovered the healing power of essential oils.
Her phone rang. Great, it was Stacy Lawrence. There weren’t many young people in Alisson, and when she’d met Stacy, during one of Blake’s self-defense classes at his dojo, they’d immediately clicked.
Stacy was also originally from South Africa and had moved to Alisson recently. Exactly what her story was, wasn’t clear. Stacey never gave a direct answer to anyone’s queries about her past, something that was driving Eleanor crazy. They all liked her, though, and were very glad about the small printing shop she’d opened. On top of that, she was also a computer whiz, and among the many things she could do, she designed websites—the reason why Lindsay had contacted her a while ago.
“Hi, Lindsay,” Stacy greeted her. “Sorry I’m only now phoning you, but it’s been a crazy week. Are you in the shop today? I can come and see you anytime.”
“Great. Whenever suits you.” They organized a time before Stacy rang off.
Smiling for the first time since she’d opened her eyes, Lindsay put her phone away. She’d been thinking about the idea of selling her products online, and the first step would be to get her own website. Up until now, she’d been reluctant to share any information about herself online because she’d been worried Mark would try and find her. But now that he’d tracked her down anyway, it didn’t really matter anymore. An online presence would give her a wider network of clients.
Just thinking of Mark made her shiver.
She hated feeling on edge all the time. Why couldn’t the police or the sheriff catch him?
Slowly, she walked down the stairs. In the cold light of day, the events of the previous evening seemed surreal. But the sounds coming from the kitchen were very real, emphasizing the fact she wasn’t alone in this house because Mark was threatening her safety.
And now Blake was here, living with her, under the same roof. Sleeping in the room next to hers. And immediately those stupid butterflies were back. She pressed her hand to her tummy. Seriously. The only reason he was here, at all, was because of her “psycho ex-boyfriend,” as he’d called Mark. Pressing her lips together, she stepped into the kitchen.
Blake was in front of the stove and didn’t turn around to look at her. “Morning. I’ve made coffee. Pancakes coming up.”
“You cook?”
“I like to eat; therefore, I’ve taught myself to cook.”
Not a man of many words. She poured coffee into a mug, and leaning against the kitchen counter, looked at him. Muscles rippled underneath the lightweight white sweater he was wearing.
She tried to inhale, but for some or other strange reason, she was finding it difficult to get enough oxygen in her lungs. Oh, my goodness, this was ridiculous.
“I’m sorry about my remark last night about your...about Taylor.” Blake still didn’t turn around to face her.
Just then, her phone rang. Relieved to be doing something other than staring at Blake, she checked her phone. It was Charlie.
Oh, damn, her sister had probably heard about the car that had nearly run her over. She kept forgetting everyone knew everyone’s business in the small town of Alisson, Montana. Except Stacey’s, of course. She’d been hoping it wouldn’t be necessary to tell Charlie that Blake was staying here. But she should have known Charlie would hear about it sooner or later, if not from Eleanor or Brooke, then from someone else.
“Hi, Charlie—” But that was as far as she got.
“Mark Taylor is back in Allison and you didn’t let me know?” Charlie cried out. “I had to learn that from Eleanor when she has just phoned to say she and Brooke wanted to join us here in Seattle for a few days. We’re on our way back, of course; we’re not staying here when—”
“No, please don’t. I’m absolutely fine—”
“How can you say that? He tried to run you over again last night!”
“I know, but...”
“I can’t stay here and know you’re in danger, Linds. I’ll never sleep. We’ll try to catch the next—”
“You’ll do no such thing!” Lindsay interrupted her. “Blake is staying here. Until the police can catch Mark.”
For a few moments, the line was quiet.
“Charlie? Are you still there?”
“Yes, I’m still here,” Charlie finally said. “I’m just not sure I’ve heard you correctly. Blake as in Blake Davidson? Your self-defense instructor? The same Blake who was one of Logan’s groomsmen? Blake Davison, the guy you don’t like, is staying with you?”
Before Lindsay could answer, Blake had taken the phone from her. “Yes, Charlie, it’s Blake. And yes, I’m staying with Lindsay until Taylor is caught.” His eyes were on Lindsay. “Even if your sister doesn’t like me.” And with that, he handed back her phone.
Lindsay turned away. Nobody had invited the damn man into their conversation. “It’s just temporary,” she said to Charlie.
“Well, I can’t tell you how relieved I am to hear you’re not alone. Logan would’ve dropped everything he still had to do, but now I know Blake is staying there, we don’t have to rush back, and Logan can finalize all his business before we return. And also, Eleanor and Brooke can come and visit, too. Are you okay about it, though? I know he’s not your favorite person.”
“I’ll be fine, don’t worry about me. Tell me how you’re feeling? Baby still okay?”
A sure way to get her sister to talk about something else was to talk about her pregnancy. There was a time Charlie thought she’d never be able to have children.
They talked for a few minutes longer before Charlie ended the call. Lindsay stared at her phone, an idea taking shape in her mind. What if she joined Eleanor and Brooke when they visited Logan and Charlie in Seattle? That way, she could get away from Alisson until they’d caught Mark. She’d also escape Blake’s constant presence, and an additional bonus would be she could see her suppliers in Seattle.
Relieved to have some sort of plan, she put her phone down and finished her coffee.
“Come and have something to eat,” Blake said, and put a plate full of pancakes on the table.
Her mouth watered and she pulled out a chair. “I love the American version of pancakes.”
“I didn’t know there were other versions,” Blake said.
“In South Africa, we call what you’ve made crumpets or flapjacks, but for us a pancake is bigger and flatter and we eat it rolled up, with cinnamon sugar. But I love these, too.”
Blake sat down and they began to eat.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
She nodded, her mouth already full of syrupy pancakes.
For a few minutes it was silent. She kept her eyes on her pancakes but she was aware of his eyes on her.
Finally, he cleared his throat. “I keep hearing you don’t like me. Any particular reason?”
“You’re always frowning when you look at me.”
But he wasn’t listening to her any longer. His eyes were on her mouth. Again. Her breath hitched in her throat. The next moment, he reached across the table and wiped the corner of her mouth with his thumb.
As if in a trance, her eyes followed his thumb back to his mouth where his tongue shot out and licked it. Oh, my. She felt that lick right down to her very core.
“You had some syrup on your lip.” His voice was gruff, sending shivers down her spine. “And just for the record, I like you. Way too much for my piece of mind. I told you I want to kiss you.”
Stunned, she stared at him until a car started up nearby. Rattled, she jumped up. The last thing she wanted to be reminded of was the way she’d hovered in his room the night before. He had to mention kissing her before she’d fled. “I’ll be in the shop all day.” She was a little out of breath, but hopefully, Blake wouldn’t notice.
“Will you be alone?” Blake asked.
“Lilly will be there,” Lindsay said quickly while she cleared the table. He didn’t have to know Lilly left at noon on Saturdays. Nothing could happen to her while she was in her shop. On either side of their building were other businesses; there were other people around. But she needed to get away from Blake before she did something really stupid.
She was nervous and on edge—that was the only reason she was reacting to Blake’s presence like a lovesick schoolgirl.
“I’m going to check in on the dojo before I get the necessary items to repair the window,” Blake said.
Lindsay looked up quickly. Oh, my goodness, she’d completely forgotten about the broken window. Seriously? Having Blake so close was really messing with her brain.
“You don’t have to do that. I should be able to slip out during the morning to buy what is needed.”
Warily, she glanced at him. Taking a stand about anything was still a novelty to her. Mark’s erratic behavior had taught her to keep quiet and agree with his suggestions. But this wasn’t Mark and she wasn’t the same person she’d been two years ago.
The muscle in his jaw moved a few times. “I know you’re perfectly capable of doing it yourself. But I need to do something. Let me do this, please?”
She sighed. It would be better if he got whatever was needed; Saturday mornings were usually quite busy. And he did ask nicely.
Nodding, she poured more syrup on the pancake. “Let me know what I owe you.”
He looked at her but didn’t answer.
“A friend, Jason Coleman, has been helping out at the dojo,” he said after a few minutes. “He tells me you haven’t been back for your self-defense classes since I’ve left?”
She shrugged. “Yes, I know about him. Charlie got married. We were busy.”
“Charlie is now married. And I’m back.”
“I’ll think about it.”
The beginnings of a smile turned up the corners of his mouth ever so slightly. “Let me know when you’re ready to leave. I’ll drop you off at work and I’ll pick you up whatever time you’ve finished.”
“I can drive myself to work, seriously...”
He caught her hand. “I don’t want to fight with you. Please?”
Warm, brown eyes stared down at her. The butterflies loved this and went mad. Irritated, she pulled her hand out of his and turned away. “Do those chocolate brown eyes always work for you?” The minute the words left her mouth she wished she could make them disappear into thin air.
A low chuckle came from behind her. “Chocolate?”
Muttering, she stomped away. Staying in the same house with Blake Davidson was so not working out for her. She’d speak to Brooke as soon as possible about joining them when they went to Seattle.
Over the last two years, she’d worked hard to create a calm and quiet life for herself. After her parents’ sudden death, Charlie’s injury, and on top of that, the whole bad experience she’d had with Mark, she’d rebuilt her life step by step, with her sister’s help, of course.
But now Charlie was married and she didn’t want to rely on her sister any longer. Mark had been her mistake, no one else’s, and she would have to sort out this mess.
She’d never been one for crowds and noise; she needed peace and silence around her ever since she could remember. But now that the lovely people in Alisson had become aware of the fact that Mark was trying to hurt her, she’d been overwhelmed by everyone’s concern. Truth be told, she hated being the center of attention.
And it would be so easy to become dependent on others to fix her problems again but she wouldn’t allow it. Her mistakes—she had to find the solutions.
Her life was anything but peaceful at the moment and she hated that. And okay, yes, maybe everyone, including Blake, thought he was helping her but in fact he was adding to her agitation.
Pressing a hand against her tummy, she raced up the stairs. These stupid butterflies had only appeared when she’d first met him. He was stirring something inside of her, and even though her instincts were telling her he was a completely different man to Mark Taylor, she wasn’t sure she could trust her own feelings again.
––––––––
Even before his car had come to a complete standstill, Lindsay had opened her door.
“Thank you. I...I’ll get home by myself...”
Muttering under his breath, he got out and followed Lindsay to the entrance of her workplace. The woman was driving him crazy. It was cold, she was wrapped up in a coat, and a scarf and a beanie covered her hair, but he’d seen the soft, blue lace top hugging her breasts in the kitchen, and he couldn’t get the damn picture out of his head.
While she unlocked the door, he turned and looked up and down the street. All around them, businesses were opening, people were walking, cars were driving up and down the street. Across the street was a coffee shop and through the window he could see several customers enjoying their breakfast.
The uneasiness from yesterday was back. He’d always relied on his gut and it was telling him something was off. He just couldn’t put his finger on it. Once Lindsay was behind the counter, he’d stroll over to see if any strangers were lurking around.
“I’m fine now,” Lindsay was saying, but he ignored her and stepped in front of her to enter first.
“Wait here,” he said, scanning the small interior as he walked around.
“What are you doing?” she asked, clearly irritated.
He didn’t answer but walked towards the section of the building where Charlie’s rooms were.
“Blake, seriously, what are you doing? There are people outside. Nobody...”
He turned around quickly; she was right behind him. Her hands landed on his arms. Blue eyes darkened. Desire. That was the emotion he’d seen before and couldn’t identify. But now, this close, he recognized the familiar emotion.
“Damn, Lindsay...” He barely got the words out, then slipped his hands around her neck.
“Hallooo!” a voice called out.
Lindsay put her hands on his arms and pushed them down. “I...I have to go. It’s Lilly.” She turned away.
“I’ll be there in a minute.”
“You can really go now, I’ll be fine.”
“In a minute,” he said through clenched teeth.
“But why...?” she began, turning back to face him, a frown on her face.
Cursing, he pulled her close, making sure she felt what she was doing to him.
Her eyes widened and she stilled. “Oh.”
“Yeah. Oh. I need a minute.”
He’d thought she’d be angry. He’d reckoned she’d move away quickly. Counted on it, truth be told. But she didn’t move. And his body, clearly very happy with her closeness, reacted with speed to her nearness.
“Lindsay? Anybody here?” Lilly called again.
Only then Lindsay turned around. “I’m here. Coming!” she called, and with a last look over her shoulder at him, walked away quickly.
Damn it to hell and back. Blake walked farther into the sections of the building where Charlie’s rooms were. Her door was locked, the small waiting room, empty. He opened the curtains and looked outside. It was the usual Saturday-morning picture of a small-town street. But something was making him uneasy.
The coffee shop. That was what had been bothering him earlier, before he’d let his hormones take over his brain.