A Sheriff's Star, page 12
And I deserved it.
Could she claim a bit more happiness for herself? Absolutely. But should she?
She and Hannah would be settled in Houston right after Christmas. A big city with plenty of job opportunities, great hospitals and doctors, and several great special needs school options. After Hannah recovered from heart surgery, they’d find the perfect neighborhood and house. Until then, she could enjoy her time in Oak Hollow, then move on to the next phase of their lives.
Anson knew she was leaving, so he wouldn’t be expecting more than a part-time gig. Why not explore the possibilities and allow herself to be open to the idea of something temporary between them?
With a tentative plan where Anson was concerned, Tess left her daughter to her playing, pulled out her laptop and got back to work on the job she’d been hired for. There was plenty that could be accomplished on the computer, so going to the museum could wait one more day. Pushing herself too soon had been her downfall in the past, and her child needed her at full running speed.
Hannah entertained herself for another hour, had a snack and took a long nap, allowing Tess to get more than she’d thought accomplished. By late afternoon, they were both more than ready to get out of the house. Going far wasn’t an option, so they went next door to see Nan and Jenny.
Hannah ran ahead of her mother and was about to open Nan’s door.
“Hannah Lynn, stop. You have to knock. You can’t just walk into someone’s house.”
“My Nan, Momma.”
She knelt to her daughter’s level. “Sweetie, I know you like her and she’s your new friend, but you still have to knock, even at a friend’s house. And since we’ve been sick, we can’t hug her today.”
The door opened and Jenny looked down at them. “I thought I heard voices.”
“We’re having a conversation about knocking and not just walking into someone’s home.”
“That’s a good rule. You have to wait for someone to open the door before going inside.”
“Door open,” Hannah said, and then she darted past Jenny.
The two women shared a laugh.
“I need to check on something in the kitchen, but Nan is in the back sunroom. I’m sure Hannah has already found her.”
Tess followed the path her precocious child had cut through the house and found her standing in front of Nan.
“Good afternoon,” Tess said as she entered the cozy space.
“I’m so glad you two have come for a visit.”
Hannah crossed the room to look at pots of violets on a windowsill.
“We were getting stir-crazy in the house, and I wanted to thank you for all the delicious home cooking you sent over.”
“My pleasure. I’m glad to see you’re both feeling better.”
“Thanks in part to Anson’s help.”
“He seemed to be feeling pretty good when he came in to get ready for work. Whatever nursing you did sure put a big smile on my grandson’s face.” Delight was clear in Nan’s laughing eyes.
“Nothing special. Just made sure he ate and took his medicine.”
“You must have given it to him with a spoonful of sugar.”
The other woman’s innuendo brought a rush of heat to Tess’s cheeks and a momentary loss of speech. Now would be a perfect time for Hannah to interrupt the conversation, but of course her child was on her best behavior at the moment. “I think Jenny said something about making tea. I’ll go see if she needs help.” She rushed from the room and found Jenny in the kitchen. “Is it all right if I make hot tea?”
“Sure. Nan didn’t tell me she wanted any, but it’ll go good with the shortbread cookies I just baked.”
“She didn’t ask for tea. I just needed an excuse to leave the room for a minute. Nan has a few ideas about what’s been going on at my house over the last few days.”
“That sounds like her. She has a reputation as a matchmaker.”
“It seems I’m currently one of her reluctant clients.”
Jenny chuckled. “I can confirm that’s true. Could you hand me that oven mitt, please.”
Tess passed it over and then filled the kettle with water. “Is she always trying to set Anson up?”
“She occasionally tries, but he’s put his foot down a few times. I think she’s been waiting for him to be ready before cranking up her efforts.” Jenny pulled a tray of shortbread from the oven and the buttery scent of fresh baked cookies filled the room. “She hasn’t stopped where I’m concerned, but I’m not complaining. Thanks to her, I have a date tonight.”
“That’s great.”
“We’re going to see a band play in San Antonio. I need to leave as soon as Anson gets here.”
“If it’s okay with Nan, I’ll stay with her until he gets home.”
“That would be great. She fusses about Anson believing she needs a babysitter, so I try to make it seem more like I’m here to help out around the house, not just watch her.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Tess said, and put tea bags into the cups.
* * *
Tess and Nan relaxed on the back porch while Hannah sat beside one of the flower beds in the last glow of the fading sun.
The older woman picked up her needlework. “What’s holding you back, dear?”
“From what?”
“Allowing yourself to love again.”
I don’t want to fall in love again! Trembling started in her belly and bloomed into a pounding in her chest. “I have to protect Hannah. If I get serious with a man, it could have a negative effect on her.”
“It might lead to a happily-ever-after. We’ve discussed ex-husbands before, and I know that is a fear for you, but Hannah needs you to be happy so you can take care of her. You’re young and beautiful. Someone to support and love you could be a wonderful thing for both of you.”
“I...” Painful memories of her short marriage and quicker divorce assaulted her brain. And the firsthand knowledge that loved ones were often taken away too soon.
“Putting yourself back out there is a scary thing. I might be old, but I still remember. In my personal experience, the payoff can far outweigh the risk.”
In Tess’s experience, the pain of one loss on top of another could be crippling, and she worried about adding more sorrow and having it accumulate into something that might crush her. A huge gamble when Hannah was depending on her.
Nan set her needlework aside. “What’s this job that’s taking you to Houston?”
“Well... I don’t actually have another job, yet. But I have a line on several options.” Her gaze moved to Hannah meticulously laying out a row of pebbles along the top of a rock border.
“Then why are you moving there? Are the opportunities that great?”
She couldn’t keep the truth from this woman any longer, and in all honesty, she needed someone to talk to. “We’re going to Houston because Hannah needs open heart surgery.”
Nan flinched, reached across the small side table between them and took Tess’s hand. “Oh, my dear. I didn’t know. Tell me about it.”
“She was born with a heart condition, as many babies with Down syndrome are. We’ve actually been really lucky that we’ve been able to put it off this long. It’s scheduled for January.”
“And you’ll be there all alone to go through it?”
Tess shrugged and stared at the thin, fragile hand in hers. She hadn’t felt this kind of comforting maternal touch since her mother died years ago. “It’s okay. I’m used to it.”
“Pish posh. There will be none of that nonsense. Houston is not that far away, and I know just how to get there. We’ll be there with you when the time comes.”
“I couldn’t ask—”
“You didn’t ask. I offered, and I refuse to take no for an answer. Does Anson know about her surgery?”
“No.”
“I’m going to give you some advice. You can take it or leave it, but I suggest you seriously consider it.”
“Okay. I’m listening.”
Nan squeezed her fingers once more, then reached for her glass of water and took a sip. “You can’t go through the rest of your life so guarded or you’ll end up bitter and unhappy. For your sake and your daughter’s, let your heart be open to the possibility of love. You both need other people in your lives. And there are people right here in Oak Hollow that already adore both of you.”
Blood rushed in her ears, and she sputtered incoherently before clamping her jaw. Everything Nan said made sense, and even though she was already considering a friends with benefits arrangement with Anson, that didn’t mean she was comfortable putting her heart on the line.
She took a breath and prepared to voice her fears. “If I let Hannah get too attached, she’ll be hurt if...” If Anson decides he doesn’t want us. “She’ll be hurt when we leave.” And so will I.
Nan shook her head. “Oh, honey. You’ve seen Hannah and Anson together. That ship has sailed. They’ve bonded, and there’s nothing you can do to change that.”
Tess sighed with the truth of it. “She also adores you.”
“And I her. I know it’s hard, but you’ll have to take the risk with your heart at some point.”
Nan’s advice swirled in her head. Enjoying the time they had in Oak Hollow was one thing, but planning anything beyond that with Anson was ill-advised.
A gray-and-white cat Tess had never seen slowly crept out from under a cluster of vines and headed tentatively toward her daughter.
Hannah rolled onto her belly and propped her chin on her hands. “Hi, kitty cat.”
The animal stopped a foot away and settled on its belly with his front paws crossed.
Hannah continued talking to the wary cat as it inched closer and finally sniffed her extended fingers.
“Nan, is that your cat?”
The other woman glanced up from her needlepoint. “Would you look at that. We feed him, but he’s just a stray with a fondness for my yard. He’s never let anyone touch him before.”
Tess stood and walked to the edge of the porch. “Should I shoo him away?”
“They seem to be getting along okay, but I’d hate for him to scratch her.”
Not wanting to startle the skittish cat, she slowly descended the limestone steps.
The stray glanced her way, backed away from Hannah, then darted through the flower beds and around the side of the vintage glass greenhouse.
“Momma,” Hannah scolded, “you scare kitty cat.”
“Sorry, sweetie. I didn’t want him to hurt you.”
“No hurt.” She held her hands up as proof. “Nice kitty cat.”
The screen door squeaked, then slammed, and Anson crossed the porch. “Evening, ladies.”
Tess’s insides trembled at the sight of him.
“Hello, dear,” Nan greeted. “Guess who made friends with your stray tomcat?”
He turned on a full watt smile, and Tess’s pulse fluttered in her throat. “You didn’t tell me you had a cat.”
He took the steps two at a time and crossed to them in a few strides. “He just started coming around. I call him Tom-Tom, and I’ve been working on making friends with him for months. Seems somebody else has the magic touch.”
“I told you animals like her. She’s like a mini Snow White.”
When Hannah clung to his leg, he picked her up and tossed her into the air, eliciting squeals of delight before settling her on his hip. “Did you make a new friend?”
“Nice kitty cat. Where you puppy?”
“My puppy is still too little to come home. He’s staying with my friend’s momma dog until he’s big enough.”
Drawn by the heat of his body, Tess leaned against his shoulder.
“Down, pease.” The little girl wiggled in his arms until he put her on her feet, then she ran toward Nan.
That’s when Tess glanced over and met Nan’s beaming smile. She ducked her head and lowered her voice. “Your grandmother is grinning at us like she’s very pleased with herself.”
Rather than stepping away, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer. “She’ll be full of herself, but this time, I don’t mind. How’d you and Hannah feel today?”
Since their new closeness was no longer a secret, she returned the embrace. And it felt surprisingly natural. “Not a hundred percent, but we needed to get out of the house. What about you?”
“I’ll admit, I’m pretty beat. Dinner and rest sounds good. I picked up the food I promised from Acorn Cafe.”
“What happened with Tommy’s family?”
“He and his brother are staying with a great-aunt and-uncle while CPS finishes their investigation. They’re an older couple, and the only decent adults in that family. Tommy’s father and uncle couldn’t make bail.”
“What a mess.”
“We should eat before the food gets cold.” He turned them and headed toward the house.
“I hope it’s okay that I sent Jenny home to get ready for her date?”
“Sure. I wondered why I didn’t see her car.”
“Do you want to...” The words come over and hang out caught in her throat.
“What?”
“Never mind.” Hair tickled her cheeks with each shake of her head. “I’m sure you just want to go to bed after we eat.”
His lips lowered to just a breath above her ear. “Depends on what bed you’re suggesting.”
She shivered and laughed simultaneously, his husky whisper stirring up butterflies in her belly. “I was going to ask if you wanted to watch a movie after Hannah goes to bed. One that isn’t animated or about animals.”
“I like that idea. Let’s eat and get Hannah home for a bath.”
Chapter Ten
Once Hannah’s bedtime routine was accomplished, Tess and Anson tiptoed from her room and down the darkened hallway. Only the light of one lamp lit the living room, and the air sparked with sexual tension, making the fine hairs rise on her arms.
“I was surprised when Nan said she was going to get ready for bed right after dinner. Do you think she’s feeling okay?” Tess asked.
“She’s fine. She only went to bed because she wanted me to feel comfortable leaving her to come over here. Since she’s suddenly able to get around with little trouble, I’m starting to suspect she’s been physically stronger than we thought all along. I think she was staying in bed because she’s having such a hard time after losing my grandfather.”
Tess swallowed the lump that always appeared when she thought about the ones she’d lost. Her own mother had given up completely and allowed cancer to take her after the death of her husband and son. “Losing someone you love, especially someone you’ve spent a life with, like your grandparents, can wreck your will to live. I’m glad she’s coming around.” Tess crossed to the front door and checked the lock.
“Are you worried I’ll escape?” Anson asked.
“Just habit from living in big cities.” The intense gaze of his bedroom eyes sent a delicious shiver racing across her body. “I haven’t locked the side door yet. Just in case you plan to make a run for it.”
He dropped his large frame onto the middle of the couch and spread his arms across the back. “I’m happy right here.”
Flutters filled her stomach. “Want a drink?”
“Not if it’s garlic tea.” His crooked grin lightened any sting his words might cause.
“Hey, that tea is probably why you got better as quickly as you did.”
“True. I’ll give you that.”
She abandoned her safe spot by the front door but left the barrier of the coffee table between them, because what she really wanted to do was straddle his lap and kiss him senseless. “I can open a bottle of red wine.”
“You get the wine, and I’ll turn on some music.”
“What about watching a movie?” she said, and considered diving across the coffee table when he leaned forward and a slow, sexy smile reached his eyes.
“I’d rather watch you.”
Her heart leaped in her chest, desire radiating between them. “I... You...”
“Yes,” he chuckled, and stood. “You and me.”
“Wine. I’ll get it.” Oh my God. I sound like a fool.
She rushed into the kitchen, but it took her a moment to remember where she’d put the corkscrew and then she just stared at the bottle. Finally, she made it into the living room with two glasses of Malbec.
He stood beside the stereo with a thumb hooked in the front pocket of his jeans. “Dance with me?”
She took a bolstering sip, put the glasses on the coffee table and accepted his outstretched hand. The warmth of his palm calmed her nerves.
And heightened her desire.
Anson pulled her into a slow dance and sang along with Tracy Byrd’s “Keeper of the Stars.”
“This song is fitting. Hannah believes you are the keeper of the stars.”
“I’ll do my best to live up to her belief in me.” He slid his fingers into her hair and tucked her head under his chin.
She’d thought keeping distance between them was the safest course, but the shelter of his arms felt like the most protected place in the world. The lyrics about fated meetings sparked closely guarded emotions, pulling her deeper into a dreamy fog. Was it possible the stars meant for them to be together? Did the universe have a plan? Destiny or random accident?
Just when she thought they couldn’t get any closer, their bodies seemed to fuse, and they no longer moved around the room, only swayed as one. The taut corded muscles along his back flexed under her fingers, and the deep timbre of his singing vibrated against her breasts. Shivery tingles swept through her, and she gave up the last sliver of restraint and fell into their instinctual rhythm. The spicy musk of his skin, the heat of his touch and the solid press of his tall, broad frame all blended into a melody her body craved to hear.
