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“Whatever you say, boss.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Please, call me Grace. I don’t plan on being here long enough to really be your boss.”
He shrugged. “Grace it is.”
They walked back to the office. His long stride made her pick up the pace to keep up. When she’d noticed his arm muscles flex as he’d steered the Wrangler, she’d had to force herself to look away. Yes, he was in good shape, and yes, he was good-looking. But he was an employee and she didn’t mix business with pleasure. Even though his dark blue-gray eyes, which held a hint of sadness, made her curious. She chastised herself. She was in no position to ask about his secrets.
“Any other questions?” she asked.
“I think you covered everything.”
“Once we’re inside, I’ll give you a key to the warehouse so you can get in whenever you need to.” She unlocked the front door to the office and fished through the top drawer of the desk to hand him the key.
“Thanks. I think I’ll go check out the path to Crystalline Falls.”
“It’s not taxing, but some of our clients misjudge how much of an incline they can handle.”
She took a seat, hoping he’d leave so she could get some work done. Too much of his woodsy scent and masculinity for one morning. She needed to focus and with Deke around that was next to impossible.
“Quick question,” he said. “Where’s a good place for lunch?”
She rose, went to the counter and pulled a paper brochure from a clear plastic holder. “This lists all the stores and eateries in town. Depending on what you’re hungry for, you can find it here.”
“This helps a lot. I was going to walk back and forth along Main Street to familiarize myself with the area, but this gives me a heads-up.” He opened the brochure to find a detailed map and scanned the information. “Golden seems to be quite a tourist destination.”
“When I was a kid, there were only a few places for tourists to visit, but when Mr. Tremaine Sr., Carter’s father, began promoting the town, it gradually grew to what you see today. We still have a long way to go to compete with some of the more established vacation spots.”
“The son is following in the footsteps of the father?”
“Looks like that. The Tremaines are all about publicity, and the other important family in town, the Mastersons, are big into real estate.” She might not like Carter and Lissy Ann, but she had to admit, they were committed to making Golden a premier tourist stop, which in turn kept her mother’s finances in the black.
His head jerked up. “Masterson?”
“Yes.” Her suspicion meter started clanging again. “Do you know them?”
“Maybe. I have a friend, Logan, in Atlanta with the same last name.”
“He would be from the same family.” She paused. “The wayward son.”
“Huh,” he said, then went back to the map. “Small world.”
“I suppose.” She tilted her head. “He never mentioned Golden? I mean, since you decided to head up here to hike?”
“To be honest, I haven’t seen Logan in about six months.”
Made sense. She had to remind herself not everyone had ulterior motives.
“I see there are lots of shops listed up and down Main Street.” He paused. “Jerky?”
“You’d be surprised what’s been popular through the years. The buildings all remain the same. It’s the type of businesses in each one that vary depending on current trends. Right now jerky and specialty sauces seem to be big sellers.”
His perceptive gaze caught hers. “You have your finger on the beat of the business community, too?”
“From time to time.” She would never admit it to her family, but yes, she kept up with the merchants in town. If only to help her mother, she’d convinced herself.
He continued reading. “Blue Ridge Cottage. What’s that?”
“Handmade greeting and post cards, specialty stationery.”
“Interesting.” A moment later he looked up. “Tammy’s Tiny World?”
“Miniature dollhouses and stuff like that.” She frowned. “Why all the questions? Are you interested in a part-time job on top of your new full-time job to overlap with your leave-of-absence job?”
He chuckled. “Like I said, familiarizing myself with Golden.”
He folded the brochure and stuffed it in his back pocket, not meeting her gaze. Was there something he wasn’t telling her?
“Okay, I’m off,” he announced. “I’ll let myself out the back door.”
“If you have any questions, call me. I’ll be here all day.”
He saluted her. “Later.”
Settling in to work, she took some calls, but the office soon became too quiet. Normally she liked to work alone, but today, she was a bit antsy. Because of Deke? Didn’t make sense, really. She’d worked with all kinds of well-built guys who were guides over the years. What was it about him that made her heart pick up speed whenever he was around? She pushed her thoughts from Deke, dressed in a T-shirt that molded to his muscles, to the attorneys she now worked with on a regular basis. Suits were the norm, and if they went for casual, it entailed losing the jacket but keeping the buttoned-up shirt and tie.
As she thought about that, her mind wandered to how fortunate she’d been to land a job at a popular firm and she hoped her leave of absence wouldn’t jeopardize her future there. The timing was not ideal, but thankfully she’d already put in lots of overtime. She’d been taking care of her mother for so long that when she called, it was only natural that Grace came running.
Looking around the office, she realized how much of her heart and soul she’d poured into Put Your Feet Up. Not the physical space, which needed refreshing, but the spirit of the company. While the reminder was still fresh, she grabbed a piece of paper and made a quick list of the work to be done here at the office, as well as her mother’s house. Once finished, she dropped her chin onto her upraised hand, pondering her attachment to the business.
If it hadn’t been for her, her father’s actions might never have come to light. And she wouldn’t have had to grow up so quickly.
She’d overheard her father’s conversation about deliveries and inadvertently mentioned it to her uncle. Soon after, the dirt hit the proverbial fan. Their father had been arrested when it was discovered that he and a buddy in town had decided to start a lucrative side business selling illegal recreational drugs. She learned later that Daddy was always looking for the next big moneymaker. Apparently her father wasn’t that discerning. And he’d always been impatient. Not a great mix.
Then, after what seemed like a lengthy trial, he was sent away to prison. She often wondered if that was why she’d decided to focus on criminal law. Even though their lives had been upended by her father’s bad decisions, the experience had left an indelible mark on her soul. She hadn’t meant to cause problems, but she had gotten her father in hot water anyway. Maybe she could help others now.
But when her mother couldn’t come to terms with the reality of her husband leaving, that left sixteen-year-old Grace, with the help of Uncle Roy, to step in. She’d be forever grateful to her bear of an uncle for guiding her in the early years. But Mama? Grace still didn’t understand why the woman would let a teenager take over the family business instead of encouraging her to have a life. Her own life.
Yeah, it still smarted. She’d been involved in this company one way or another for most of her life. Was she destined to stay here forever? Shuddering at the thought, she realized she needed to get back to Atlanta as soon as possible.
Grace glanced at the phone. Reached over, hesitated, then tapped the numbers to the law firm, asking for her coworker Stacy when the receptionist answered.
“Hey, Stace. What’s going on?”
“Swamped, as usual.”
Guilt pressed on her shoulders. They’d been hired around the same time and now Stacy had to handle Grace’s work as well as her own. “I’m sorry you had to take my cases.”
“Don’t even worry. Someday I’ll need a favor and you’ll owe me.”
“You bet.” Should she ask if there was any scuttlebutt that she was in danger of losing her position? “So it seems like it’s still okay that I’m gone?”
“Yes. Things are running smoothly, don’t worry.” Grace heard voices in the background. “Look, I have to run.”
“Thanks, Stacy,” she said, but her friend had already ended the call. Grace stared at the receiver, then replaced it, a shiver of dread drifting over her skin. She shouldn’t have called. Shouldn’t have given in to her doubts. The partner who had interviewed her had been thrilled with her work at the public defender’s office. Had given her the okay to take time off. Had assured her that family came first. She wanted to believe that...
The phone rang and she was soon caught up with vacation business. By three, she needed a change of scenery and decided to close up early. Maybe a walk by the lake would calm her nerves. Or the opposite, make her worry about what she was missing in Atlanta. Either way, she desperately wanted to head home.
She called her mother to see if she needed anything, but Wanda Sue informed her that some of her friends were going to bring dinner by the house. With her mother taken care of, Grace drove up the mountain. When she’d pulled up to the cabin, her mind had already created ten worst-case scenarios about her job, which quickly faded away when she spied a dusty, silver minivan that had seen better days parked in front. She eased to a stop. Only one person drove that make and color car with a deep dent in the back quarter panel.
She grabbed her purse from the passenger seat, opened the door and walked to the porch. She’d just stepped inside the screened enclosure when her sister appeared at the door, a baby on one hip, a toddler with his arms wrapped around her legs.
“Hey, sis. Mind some company?” Faith asked.
Just then the baby yelped out a loud wail followed by the little boy bursting into serious crying.
After the few days she’d had, Grace could relate.
CHAPTER FOUR (#u814b1cb9-63d4-557d-b6b7-6bf353ac817e)
GRACE TRIED TO school her expression as she studied her sister. It had been almost a year since they’d crossed paths, but the changes in Faith were startling. Dark circles ringed her hazel eyes, tawny hair tangled around her wan face and her drool-stained, stretched T-shirt hung haphazardly over baggy shorts. What on earth had happened? Fatigue seemed to have washed the life out of her and Grace couldn’t ignore the warning bells ringing in her head.
“Faith?”
Annoyance flashed in Faith’s eyes at Grace’s soft tone, a look Grace recognized from her sister’s rebellious days, and she silently cringed.
“Don’t mind me. I don’t have the energy to dress up after mothering a six-month-and four-year-old all day.”
“I didn’t mean...” She could never get it right with Faith. “I just... You look beat.”
Faith sent her a really? look.
Okay. Time to try another angle. “What are you doing here?”
“I don’t mean to impose on you while you’re in town, but Lyle has been beyond difficult lately, knocking down every idea I’ve come up with to solve our financial problems. I took off to find some space.” Faith shot her a knowing look. “Apparently you had the same idea.”
Grace closed the door behind her. “This has always been our go-to place.”
Faith bounced her daughter. “If I’d known you were staying here, I’d have gone to Mama’s.”
“No, stay,” Grace rushed to assure her. “Please.” Hearing sniffles, she looked down at her nephew, clinging to his mother’s leg for dear life. She knelt down. “Hey, John. What’s with the tears?”
John tightened his grip on Faith’s leg.
“Separation anxiety,” Faith informed her. “This phase of child-rearing is wearing me out.” She shifted Lacey again, bouncing up and down to get her daughter to calm down. Seemed both her children were on the same wavelength.
Grace rose. “What can I do?”
Faith nodded over her shoulder. “John’s favorite truck is on the couch.”
Grace tossed her purse on the sagging chair and fetched the toy. Once again on John’s level, she held it out to him. “Here you go, buddy. Want to play cars?”
John sniffled, looked up at Faith, then eased his death grip. After a few tentative steps, he walked to Grace. Once the truck had his full attention, Grace rose, questions on the tip of her tongue.
“Let me get Lacey a bottle,” Faith said. “Then we can talk.”
“That’ll give me a few minutes to change.”
Grace disappeared into one of the two bedrooms and quickly shucked her work clothes for a hot pink T-shirt, denim shorts and pink sneakers, then quickly joined her sister in the kitchen.
Faith was preparing a bottle as Grace walked in and she handed Lacey to her while she finished the job. Inhaling the scent of powder and just plain baby, Grace tried to settle down her fussy niece.
“When Mama told me you were coming home, I should have known you’d escape here,” Faith said loudly over Lacey’s crying. “As soon as I stepped foot inside the cabin earlier today, I knew someone had aired out the place. Figured it was you after nosing around. Nice outfits, by the way.”
“Thank you?”
Faith chuckled. “My first instinct was to leave, but I didn’t want to go home to Lyle or explain to Mama that we aren’t seeing eye to eye. Again.”
“How long has this been going on?”
After testing the formula to make sure it was the correct temperature, Faith rubbed the nipple over Lacey’s lips until the baby opened up and started drinking. Silence reigned. “Let’s sit so I can keep an eye on John.”
Heading back into the living room, Faith collected Lacey from Grace and took a seat in an armchair to feed her daughter, while Grace sat on the nearby couch, tucking one leg under the other.
“Uncle Roy didn’t tell me you were staying here.”
Grace grimaced. “Probably on purpose.” Obviously their uncle thought the way to get the sisters speaking to each other again was to stick them in the same cabin. Talk about tough love.
“I can call him. See about moving over to his place.”
“He rented his cabin.”
Faith did a double take. “This is news. Since when?”
“A day ago.”
“That doesn’t sound like Uncle Roy.”
“It might have something to do with a woman he met on his trip.”
“A woman?”
“Long story, but when I thought someone was breaking into his cabin last night, I discovered a new tenant. When I called to confirm, Uncle Roy mentioned that he’d extended the trip.” She grinned. “I heard a female voice in the background so I had to ask.”
“Wow. I don’t know whether to be pleased or confused. Since when did he start dating?”
Grace shrugged. “Beats me.”
“I wonder if Mama knows.”
