Tinkering with Love, page 21
“He’s looking for you,” Maria chimed in. “Brian just texted me as we were on our way here, that he was at the house.”
There went some of her cheer. “I have nothing to say to him. I don’t want to talk about him. What you’d bring?”
“Staples.” Ruby trotted over to one of the bags. “We need a proper table.”
“I was going to throw that piece of plywood on top of the sawhorses. Proper enough for me,” Dawson mentioned as she moved toward it.
Flora lifted it with her and soon, with her coffee safely in Maria’s hands, they had a makeshift table. Then the women unloaded what they brought. Pints of ice cream, maple syrup, alcohol, and junk food like chips, candy, soda, and, oh yeah, more alcohol.
There were no chairs but it didn’t matter. Maria dug into a tub of ice cream, Ruby opened the chips, as Flora went for the liquor. Dawson finished off her coffee and held out her mug for more.
They talked, ranted, raved, and helped her not feel like the fool she had been feeling. Food in hand, they all trudged across the field to the house and walked in.
Torvold looked over his shoulder from his chair and sighed heavily. “Why is there more than one woman in my house?”
Ruby walked to him and handed him a pint of ice cream along with a spoon. “We’re helping her cook.”
“No crying,” he called out as they went to the kitchen.
They all looked at one another. “There’s no crying in baseball!” It was said simultaneously before they burst out laughing. That had been a trivia question from one of their games they’d played at Maria’s and so they’d all watched A League of Their Own.
Flora worked on the mashed potatoes, Ruby tackled the pan-fried pork chops, Maria took care of the salad, while Dawson handled dessert and made a grasshopper pie.
At some point one of them brought out their phone and turned on some music. More specifically, the seventies.
She and Maria were setting the table as Flora mashed the potatoes and Ruby was finishing up the chops when This Will Be came on. As they sang along, she noticed that Torvold leaned in the doorway, watching them with a wistful expression on his face. But the moment he found her watching him, he stepped back and didn’t return until they were ready to eat.
He grunted through the meal, not participating a lot, but she did notice how much he ate. She cleared dishes and went to the freezer to pull out dessert as Ruby put down new plates for the pie. Pulling it from the icebox, she turned and paused; in that moment, she knew she wasn’t running. They might want her gone but she loved it here. Loved these people.
Fuck them all. I’m staying. This is the first place I’ve been that feels like home. I will set up shop here and damn it, I will fucking thrive.
When everyone glanced at her, she realized she’d said that aloud.
“Good,” Mr. Harrellssen said. “Don’t ever let anyone tell you what your dream is.”
“Hear, hear!” Maria lifted her glass.
…
The following morning, she was ready to walk into Laroche’s, head high and dressed to kill as she typically did.
She’d ridden her bike in this morning and as she sat in the parking lot, she removed her helmet and looked over the place where she’d been working. The large glass windows in the front had the shades half down to protect from the bright light on the long brick building. There were entrances on each side of the building as well as one in the front. There was a sign, identical to the one by the entrance that read Laroche’s Dealership, stuck in the ground between two vehicles parked near the glass on the left side.
For a moment, she was able to imagine it decorated for the holidays. Lined with garlands. Or autumn leaves, heck, even Halloween decorations. The walkway up to each door had new flowers. She’d signed the requisition to have them purchased and planted.
This wasn’t the place for her, but she wasn’t going to be run out of town. She’d lived far too long not standing up for herself.
Swinging a leg over her ride, she adjusted the grip on her helmet before heading into the building. Maria was in the front already and gave her a warm smile. One she returned.
“Morning, boss.” She got out of her seat and walked toward Dawson. “Looking hot today. Not that you don’t always. But this”—she waggled her eyebrows—“me likey.”
Dawson smiled her thanks as she reached out with the hand not carrying her helmet to take the messages Maria handed her.
“I know there is a meeting with Mr. de Laroche at eleven but unless it’s dire, please make sure I’m not disturbed.”
She sobered with a nod. “Got it.” Maria went back to her desk while Dawson continued down the hall to her office.
Opening the door, she paused at the sight of a large vase of flowers on her desk.
Placing her helmet down, she took a deep breath and gathered herself before reaching for the card. She pulled it free and read:
Please allow me a chance to explain.
There was no signature but she didn’t need one. Crumpling the card, she dropped it in the trash and picked up the vase, carrying the arrangement all out front. Without a word, she placed it on the counter surrounding Maria’s desk.
Her friend looked at her, one eyebrow up, and all she could do was give a small shake of her head, then returned to her office. Closing the door behind her, she exhaled, cracked her neck, then got down to business.
It didn’t take long to gather her belongings into a box she could take with her today. She’d not brought in a lot of things. The largest were the plants she’d purchased to make the space a bit homier. Making a note to bring her SUV tomorrow and get the plants back to her apartment, she put the small box she’d gathered by the split leaf philodendron that sat along the far wall.
Dawson finished the paperwork she’d had from yesterday and glanced up when Maria knocked on the doorframe.
“Mr. de Laroche is here in the conference room.” Her brow pinched. “Tully and Mrs. de Laroche are here as well.”
Fuck.
With a true smile for Maria, she pushed to her feet and allowed her mask to settle into place as she picked up the zipper portfolio she always used. Silver phases of the moon popped on the blue and purple celestial background. She had only one sticker and quote on it. Ashoka Tano, holding her white lightsabers and the phrase, I am no Jedi.
The quote always helped Dawson realize that she had her own path to travel and that’s where she belonged.
She bent and picked up her tumbler holding her coffee and said, “Let’s get going.”
…
Tully held his breath when the familiar figure of Dawson Shay filled the doorway seconds before she stepped through. As usual with her, his breath was sucked away.
She was fucking gorgeous.
His heart hitched, knowing there was that chasm between them. Nothing had been forgiven the moment he spied his flowers on the counter in the front, he knew that.
A steel-gray button-down shirt was buttoned up to her neck where a small plaid bow rested. One that matched the colors of her skirt. A black and purple tartan plaid.
Her boots hugged her legs up to her knees, giving him a few flashes of her brown skin. She sat and gave the room a cursory glance before flipping open her padfolio and uncapping her pen.
Other than the initial glance over him, he noticed she kept her gaze on Picard.
“I know today is a bit awkward after the realizations that came to light yesterday,” Mr. de Laroche said.
Tully looked at Rachel and sat forward. “I want to say something.” He placed his focus on Dawson. “I never would have willingly taken a job from you. I’m sorry.”
Her gaze remained void of any emotion. She blinked those long, curved lashes of hers and promptly dismissed him.
“Dawson,” he said.
His heart hoped, so hard, when she looked at him. “If this isn’t work-related, Mr. Faulkner, you and I have nothing to discuss.”
That was the end of that, then.
The meeting was difficult, because he wanted to see the Dawson he’d gotten to know and the one he’d fallen for. Not this cold, robotic shell of a woman.
“I have to say, Dawson,” Picard said. “I’ve noticed a bunch of plants in and around the building. I don’t remember getting a requisition for them.”
“You won’t,” she said flipping through her papers. “I purchased them with my money. I also bought some for each employee here. Plants reduce stress, fuel creativity, and boost productivity. Plus they help to clean the air. It was my thank-you to my team for performing so well.”
“And the dinners you’ve had with them?”
She picked up her tumbler and took a drink. Tully struggled to hide his smile as he read the phrase on it. Real Women Fix Each Others’ Crowns. Rachel read it and looked away.
“We’re friends. Nothing that I have done for them or with them has cost you any money.”
Picard shook his head. “I’m not worried about that. I want to know how it got started, because I think it should be done at the other shop, too.”
Tully saw his opportunity and jumped on it lightning quick. “I’m happy to meet with Dawson after the meeting. The two of us can grab some food and talk about it.”
“Maybe Picard and I should hear this, too,” Rachel said.
Refusing to give up his time with Dawson, Tully tried to think of a reason the de Laroche’s didn’t need to come. Picard did it for him.
“No, honey. We’re owners. This is between management and the rest of the employees. Best we let them do it.”
Dawson wasn’t going quietly, though. She picked out two sheets from her pile and pushed them to Tully. “No need for us to meet. That’s an outline of my thoughts on the matter.”
“And you had them ready?” Picard questioned.
“I made them up if the next manager wanted to know what I’d done.”
“I don’t want to lose you, Ms. Shay.” Picard frowned.
Yeah, I don’t want to either, Legs.
“Not that this is the place to discuss this,” Dawson said. She flicked her eyes to the paper before her and back to Picard. “I suppose it isn’t going to hurt to say this now. I had planned on telling you at our meeting, Mr. de Laroche.”
Unease filled Tully at the calm yet decisive expression on her face. What the fuck was going on?
“Consider this my two-week notice.”
Hell fucking no!
He gripped the edge of the table to keep from jumping out of his seat. “Dawson—”
“Ms. Shay,” Picard interrupted him with a sharp look in his direction before he focused back on Dawson. “This is not at all what we want.”
She held up her hand with a small shake of her head. “This isn’t up for debate. If you want me out sooner, I can have my things packed up today.” Dawson placed her pen back in her portfolio and closed the cover. “But I won’t stay here. Not when one of the owners is going against the policy you gave us about honesty and trust. And I don’t work with people I can’t trust.”
Yep, he knew that was directed at him even though she never peered in his direction. There was no inflection in her tone, but hell, she didn’t need any. Each point she made hit the appropriate target like a barb.
“You and I will have another meeting tomorrow, Dawson.” Picard stood and escorted his wife from the room. “I don’t want to lose you.”
Tully was there to close the door behind them. “Are we doing this here, Dawson?”
“The name is Ms. Shay, if you feel the need to address me.” She walked toward him, expression letting him know she wanted him out of the way.
Tully knew if he did, that was it. There were no more chances for him. “I can’t let it go like this, Legs.”
“You lost that right to call me anything remotely endearing the second I found out you bet on me.” Her voice shook and his heart wanted him to back off to avoid inflicting pain on her.
His brain knew it had to be done. The minefield separating them had to be crossed. It would hurt but if he didn’t, there wasn’t a future for them.
And he fucking refused to believe that.
She strode off down the hall and he just stood there and watched her go.
Chapter Twenty-One
Sixty-five days later
Dawson sat at the makeshift table out in the barn on Mr. Harrellssen’s property.
She’d settled into a routine, working here before taking time for herself, every day, at Palisade Glen. A covered bridge. Ruby had taken her back there one day when she was giving her friend a ride on her Dark Horse. She’d fallen in love with the area.
Okay, so she’d fallen for Rock Falls in its entirety. But that place looked like it was plucked from a movie. It helped her think and come to terms with a lot of things.
Faust bleated as he bounced around outside the open bay door in a pen area. She was using him to clear away the grass. She didn’t want to admit how much the goat had grown on her.
Back in her work, she lost track of time, listening to soundtracks until her alarm went off. After she covered the parts to preserve her completed work, she cleaned up and walked out of the barn heading to the house. Knocking twice on the door, she poked her head inside.
“I’m heading out. Do you need anything before I leave?”
Torvald was in the kitchen making a sandwich with the chicken salad she’d made him from the other night’s leftovers.
“No.”
He didn’t turn and she waited, feeling honest amusement and fondness she had for this grouchy old man. Finally he stopped and glanced over his shoulder. “Why are you still here?”
“Waiting for you to say goodbye.”
“Why are you so annoying, little girl?” He sucked whatever it was off his thumb, then followed that up by cleaning off the spoon.
“Part of my charm.”
He grunted and scowled. “Bye.”
“That’s all I wanted, Mr. Harrellssen. I’ll see you tomorrow. You have my number if you need anything.”
“I was fine before you burst in and started mollycoddling me.”
“And will continue to do so. Have to go. Girls night out.”
He faced his plate once more with a grunt and she closed the door on her way out.
A cool breeze blew down from the surrounding mountains and she shivered. Summer was definitely at an end. She wasn’t sure when the snows were coming but she already worried about driving in it. Still, she’d kept herself busy since leaving Laroche’s, and surprisingly, her mind had remained focused on her job, not other things. Or people.
She climbed on her Dark Horse and headed back to her apartment to shower and change. Emma waited for her when she came down the stairs. Her friend was dressed to kill, in a short dress that accentuated her legs and the tuck of her waist. Hair was in a French braid and she wore a light touch of makeup.
“Thank you,” Emma said. “For allowing me to go with you.”
“Please, you’re as much a friend to me as they are.”
“I’ve not been out in so long.” A wobbly smile. “Is it odd I’m nervous?”
Unlocking her SUV, Dawson shook her head. “Nope. Let’s get going.”
They drove to Rock in the Green, one of the bars in town. It was the nicest, she felt, but she wasn’t a huge bar person, despite having gone out to them often when she lived in San Francisco. Still, she missed her friends and, since she no longer worked at Laroche’s, she didn’t see them as often.
Once she’d parked and gotten out, Dawson made sure her credit card was in her bra along with her identification. Raking her gaze over her outfit using the reflection in the side of the SUV, she tugged on the hem of her shirt once more.
“Let’s do this.”
From the outside, Rock in the Green looked like an old two-story home that had been converted. The brick was painted cream and the edges were a nice hunter green hue.
Over the main entrance was a large marquis sign that displayed when happy hour was as well as dates and times for live bands. Together she and Emma walked in. The hardwood floors gleamed in the blue and green lighting, music pumped, the dance floor crowded, and people were yelling to be heard. She loved it.
Immediately, she found Ruby and Flora in the back. Maria wasn’t at the table so either she was elsewhere in the bar or hadn’t arrived yet. They were soon seated at their table and Maria returned with some food.
They gave their drink order and as they chatted about this and that, Dawson noted how Ruby continued to eye her with caution.
“What’s wrong? Do I have food in my teeth? My breath rank? Am I rank?”
Ruby’s smile was unsure. “No. It’s just that Tully walked in with Mitchell and Linc.”
Her entire body tensed and she forced herself not to immediately turn and look for him. “We live in the same town. Figure we’ll run into each other here and there.” There, look at that, she could do this and act as if his appearance didn’t matter to her in the slightest. She’d managed to avoid him so far, which had been relatively easy hiding out with Harrellssen.
Was it a lie?
Hell yes, her insides were a mess. She wanted to see him. Wanted to yell at him. Most of all, she wanted to be held by him.
“We could go somewhere else?”
Her self-preservation screamed yes. But the woman who didn’t allow bigots, fat shamers, or any other asshole out there in the world to make decisions for her refused to run from a man she’d fallen in love with before he’d broken her heart.
“Nope. We have just as much right to be here as he does. Plus we haven’t even gotten our drinks yet.”
All of them smiled and nodded.
She could do this. She had friends and she was making life-changing decisions without having a firm plan if they didn’t work out. Being a grownup was fucking scary but she was doing it. No more running.
