Apple Blossom Bride

“Every smoke alarm in the place was ringing. I had to toss the toaster outside eventually. That’s when I found out she’d put cheese slices on the bread she’d buttered before she put it in the toaster. The house still smells.”

“Accidents happen,” she told him, suppressing her laughter.

“Once could be called an accident but yesterday I had to take my DVD player apart.”

“She put something in it?” Ashley asked, trying not to stare at him as his expression changed from chagrin to laughter.

“My socks. Tati claimed she was trying to make a video for her grandmother.”

“A video of socks?” Ashley frowned.

“To show Granny the holes so she could get me new ones for Christmas,” he admitted. “Tati’s a little focused on Christmas at the moment. She has her special Christmas dress all picked out.”

“Smart girl. It’s good to be prepared.”

His shoulder brushed hers. Since Ashley was in the corner of the railing she could hardly move away. Leaving would only prove—to herself most of all—how much he affected her. So she stood there.

“It must be fun to have a child in your life.”

“Fun, yes. Also very scary. Since you knew me back when, you might remember I was never an A student when it came to responsibility. Being the youngest kid does that, I guess.” He studied her. “Are you cold? Would you like to move nearer the fire?”

Ashley nodded, followed him to the lounge chairs. He waited till she’d sunk into one, then sat down on the end of it.

“What about you? Do you want children?”

“Someday.” She panned a look. “I’d like to get married first, though.”

“Smart lady.” He flicked her cheek with one finger, chasing away a mosquito. “If I remember correctly, you were always popular with the boys.”

“You remember incorrectly,” she chided, peeking up through her lashes. “Or you’d remember me hugging your mother’s ficus plant in the corner at her parties. I was usually the wallflower. Too shy, I guess.”

“You don’t seem the shy type.”

“But then you don’t know me that well.” She reached for the soft shawl she’d dropped on a side table earlier.

“I’d like to,” he said simply, meeting her gaze. “Know you better, I mean. Maybe we could go out for dinner one evening.”

“You’re too busy,” she reminded archly. “You can’t even find a moment to work on the sets.”

“Tati and her grandmother have a standing date on Friday nights. I’m free as a bird then.”

Ashley shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not really interested in dating right now,” she murmured, feeling hemmed in. “I came to Serenity Bay to relax and recuperate for a little while.”

“After your accident. My mother told me. Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.”

“Okay, then.” Michael folded his hands together in his lap, stretched out his legs and glanced around like an eager tourist taking in the sights. “Nice weather we’re having, isn’t it?”

She couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Now there’s a sound I haven’t heard in a while. Ashley laughing. I like it.” Piper walked onto the deck behind Jason who was carrying a tray with two mugs and a plate of cookies on it. She sat down on the swing, patted the seat next to her then accepted her cup. “What are you two talking about?”

“The weather.”

“Ashley not dating.”

Their simultaneous responses had the other two grinning.

“Maybe we should go back inside and let them settle this,” Jason said.

“Oh, I’d rather let them continue. We’ll just listen in.” Piper leaned back against Jason’s arm, slung across the back of her seat and passed the cookies. “Ashley needs a challenge, Michael. She’s kind of stuck in her ways. That’s why I’ve been begging her to help me with the festival. Did you know she contacted her former boss about setting up a gallery to display local artists’ work in town?”

Michael shifted, his attention intent on Piper.

“I didn’t know,” he said. He turned to Ashley. “Any luck?”

“No. He turned me down without even seeing some of the things that are produced here. But that’s okay. I’ll find someone else. I’m good at getting backers for artists who need to get their work to the public.”

“Are you?”

“Have you heard of Terrence Demain?”

“Who hasn’t?” Michael nodded, eyes wide. “Mosaics. Gorgeous walls of fantastic color.”

“Exactly. A friend of mine commissioned his first wall. The critics couldn’t get enough of his work and he took off.”

“That’s what Ashley does, you see. She finds the talent and then brings it to the light. Her former boss could tell you how good she is if he hadn’t fired her.” Piper smiled at Ashley. “How many times has Ferris begged you to come back, Ash?”

“I’ve lost count.”

“You don’t want to go back to your old job?” Michael studied her.

“Maybe. Sometime.” Ashley kept her face expressionless as she scrambled for excuses. The intensity of his stare was unnerving. “I need a break first. I’d been working nonstop for ages. It feels good to relax, putter around a bit. And Piper’s a peach for letting me come here. There’s nowhere like the Bay for reorienting yourself.”

“Mmm.” Michael tilted his head to one side, shrugged. “I guess.”

She watched him closely, framing her next words with care.

“You probably thought the same thing yourself. I mean, isn’t that why you’ve come back, after all these years? To start over with your daughter?”

“I guess you could say that.”

If she hadn’t been watching Ashley might have missed his wince. As it was, she couldn’t help but wonder what had caused it and why he was staring at her as if she held some secret he needed.

“Anyway, I’ll probably leave in a couple of weeks.”

“But you have to be here for our wedding, Ash,” Piper protested. “You and Row are my bridesmaids and I’m not getting married without either of you. I’ve got your dresses all picked out.” She threaded her fingers through Jason’s, her engagement ring flashing its fire. “Christmas isn’t all that far off, you know.”

Michael choked on his coffee. One look at his face and Ashley burst into laughter.

“What is so funny?” Piper asked.

“Apparently you’re not the only one who’s looking forward to Christmas,” Ashley told her.

“Or thinking about fancy dresses,” Michael added.

“Oh.” A furrow appeared across Piper’s forehead. She glanced from him to Ashley, then shrugged. “I’ll assume it’s a private joke.”

“It is,” Ashley assured her.

Michael winked at her, then rose.

“I’d better get going,” he told her, holding out one hand to Ashley. “Walk me to my car?”

She could hardly refuse. Ashley placed her hand in his and rose. “I thought you said you had Friday evenings free?”

“I do. I gave my students a test last week and promised I’d have their marks ready on Monday. People think teaching is nine to three but they have no idea about the overtime.”

“I guess not.”

“Thanks for hosting me, Piper. And Jason, anytime you want another dinner guest, give me a call.”

“Will do.” Jason and Piper stood together, arms wrapped around each other’s waists. “You know you’re welcome. Bring Tatiana next time.”

“We’ll see.” He walked toward the door. Ashley followed. “Good night,” he said as he stepped outside. “Thanks again.”

They waved. Ashley walked with him to his car without saying anything. Dusk had fallen. Across the road, some sixty feet away, a doe and her fawn were enjoying an evening lunch on a patch of grass. She touched his arm, pointed.

Michael watched for a while. Then he faced her.

“It was a great meal,” he said. “I enjoyed talking to you. Are you sure you won’t have dinner with me sometime, so I can repay your generosity?”

She shook her head, smiled. “I don’t think so. But thank you.”

“Why?”

The bald question took her by surprise.

“Because.”

“That’s not an answer.” He shoved his hands into his pockets, kicked at a stone on the ground before meeting her gaze.

“I’m not trying to trap you into anything, Ashley. I’m not looking for anything more than a friend I can talk to.” He shrugged. “Tati’s great but sometimes it’s nice to talk to another adult, discuss something other than her friend Wanda at day care.”

She smiled at the frustration that gilded his voice.

“I’m sure there are lots of adults you can talk to.”

“But not you?”

She shrugged. “I won’t be here that long. I’m going to spend some time helping Piper while I search for another job.” She struggled to explain. “I’m sure your mother told you I broke off my engagement recently. I guess what I’m saying is that I need time to put my world back together again.”

He nodded, his dark eyes melting with empathy.

“Believe me, I understand that.” He thrust out his hand. “If you get a moment and want to talk, phone me.”

“And you’ll make time in that busy schedule of yours?” she murmured as her fingers slid into his.

He held her hand, stared down at it cradled in his bigger rougher one, then looked at her. Ashley stared into his eyes, unsure if the zip of current she felt was only her imagination.

“I’ll make time for you,” he answered quietly. He lifted her hand, brushed his lips against her knuckles. “Good night, beautiful. I hope we cross paths again soon.”

Then he was gone and Ashley was left with the imprint of his lips on her skin. But it wasn’t only that he’d touched her physically. Something in her spirit recognized that he was seeking solace, just as she was.

She didn’t understand how or why she knew that, but Michael Masters’s effect on her was no different than the first time she’d visited the Louvre. Her knees were weak, her palms damp and she couldn’t quite catch her breath.

Sort of like a panic attack. Only better.

All the more reason to stay away from him.

Chapter Four

“Will you get me another mommy?”

Michael jerked out of his thoughts, found Tati staring at Carissa’s picture in the silver frame he’d placed on a shelf in her room. He regrouped quickly, picked up his daughter and hugged her.

“I don’t know if I can do that, sweetheart.”

“’Cause my mommy was special.” Tati nodded like a wise owl. “I know. She danced the best Swan Lake.”

She never failed to amaze him. “How do you know about Swan Lake?”

“Wanda.” Tati’s busy fingers brushed through his hair. “She said her mom didn’t believe my mommy was a ballerina so she looked on the Internet. Wanda’s mom said my mommy had rave reviews. Are rave reviews good, Daddy?”

“I’m very sure they are,” he murmured, kissing her cheek. But they didn’t compare to holding your child in your arms. “Did you get all your toys put away?”

“Uh-huh. Can we go to the Dairy Shack now?”

“We can.” He swirled her around until the giggles he loved to hear burst out of her, then he set her down. “How about getting your jacket?”

“Daddy.” Her eyes brimmed with scorn. “It’s boiling outside.”

“It is now,” he agreed, brushing her nose with his fingertip. “But it might not be so warm on the water later.”

Tati squealed with delight. “We’re going on a boat?”

He nodded. “The houseboat. Like we had for Granny’s birthday, remember? We’ve been invited to go for a ride with Piper and Jason.”

Her face glowed with excitement, but she said nothing more, simply headed for her room and her sweater. Moments later they were on the road and Michael was fielding her incessant questions, punctuated by expressions of delight. Tati would finally have something interesting to talk about at show and tell.

“Can I catch a fish?”

“I don’t know, honey. We’ll have to see.”

“I hope it’s a giant fish. A whale.”

“We don’t have whales in Serenity Bay, honey.”

“It could happen,” she insisted stubbornly then turned to stare out the window. “Wanda says lots of strange things happen.”

Wanda would know. Michael drove through the shedding trees, crunching over dry red and gold leaves toward the ice cream shop. His mind grappled with the same old problem. Assuming he could get some pieces finished by next summer, how and where could he arrange a showing? And was that God’s will or his own?

“Look, Daddy. Aren’t the flowers pretty?”

“Where?” He followed her pointing finger to a shiny convertible sitting next to a gigantic plastic cone advertising fifty-one flavors. Something about that car seemed familiar.

“In the window of that car. The nice lady’s there.”

Michael pulled into a parking spot, turned his head and saw Ashley Adams seated behind the wheel of her black sports car, facing straight ahead. A transparency of Van Gogh’s big yellow sunflowers had been stuck on the back side window.

“Let’s go say hello.” Michael released Tati from her car seat, took her hand as they walked toward Ashley. Though the roof was down, all her windows were rolled up. He tapped on one.

Ashley jerked, slowly turned her head to face him. Her face was a pasty white, her eyes stretched wide with fear.

“Are you all right?” He waited, and when she didn’t respond, reached over the window to unlock the door. He opened it, touched her shoulder. “Ashley?”

Her whole body jerked at the contact.

“Yes?” Her voice emerged a thread of sound.

“Is something the matter?”

“Is she sick, Daddy?”

Tati’s squeak of inquiry seemed to break the bubble Ashley had been trapped in. She drew in a deep breath and released her fingers from their death grip on the wheel.

“I’m fine. Thank you for asking.”

“You don’t look fine,” he told her bluntly. She cast furtive glances to the left, then right, as if searching for someone. Or something.

“What’s wrong?”

“Wrong?” She blinked, swung her legs from the car. “Nothing’s wrong. I came to get a carton of ice cream. I’m going for a boat ride with Piper and Jason.”

“So are we!” Tati squealed in delight. “What kind of ice cream are you going to get?”

“What kind would you like?”

Her recovery happened faster than he expected, but it wasn’t complete. Michael knew from the way she closed the car door then checked the street that she was looking for something. Or someone.

“I like chocolate chip cookie dough. And tiger-tiger. And strawberry cheesecake and pistachio and—”

Ashley laughed. “Maybe I should have asked what kind you don’t like.”

“Oh.” Tati frowned, grasped Michael’s hand. “What kind of ice cream don’t I like, Daddy?”

“I don’t think there is one.” He motioned to the store. “Shall we go inside and look?”

“Sure.” Ashley walked along beside him. She wasn’t wearing her usual high heels but the cream linen pants and matching silk sweater still screamed money. Even her toes, poking out of woven rope sandals, were perfectly manicured and polished a soft blush pink.

Michael held the door, waited for her to pass in front of him.

“Your hand is shaking,” he said, softly enough that Tati couldn’t hear. “I wish you’d tell me what’s wrong.”

“It’s nothing.” She tipped her head back to stare into his eyes. “Just some bad memories that won’t go away.”

Her hair was bundled onto the top of her head and held there by a silver comb, though wispy ringlets broke free and framed her face. A few longer tendrils caressed the long smooth line of her neck like an expensive pewter frame. She was gorgeous.

“I didn’t realize you’d be going on the houseboat today.”

“Or you would have begged off?” He smiled at her faint blush. “I can cancel if it will bring back that killer smile of yours.”

“Don’t be silly. Tati would be devastated.” She inclined her head toward the little girl peeking over the ice-cream freezer trying to choose her favorite. “You have a beautiful daughter.”

“Yes, I know. I thank God for her every day.” Since they were early Michael insisted on buying them each a cone, then suggested they wander across the street to the park to eat them.

“Color coordination down to a T,” he murmured, watching as she nipped at the top of her ice cream.

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