A Hero for Tonight (20 page)

Hurt mingled with disappointment whenever she thought about Shane’s betrayal. He’d appeared so interested in her work, in her plans for her future until the turn of events. Not that she’d ever expect him to take her side over his family’s, but this wasn’t even something his family had taken a stand on. He’d just decided that it wasn’t to be discussed. That’s what hurt the most, his complete lack of trust that she’d find a way to make her future the way she wanted
and
keep his family happy.

For some reason, she’d been stupid enough to believe that the sex they’d shared, the few laughs had changed the animosity between them their entire lives. When push came to shove, Shane always dug in his heels and had to have his way, and God help anyone who crossed him.

The sound of a key turning could only be one person. Krista straightened her spine and lifted her chin before looking toward the front door.

Shane walked in, glanced her way, and kept going right past her to the kitchen in the back. When he came back out, he had a cup of coffee and the thicker coat he wore when he ran the hay wagon.

When he went back through the door to the outside, she let her breath out.

So much for communication
.

This was even worse than before. At least before they’d slept together, they could work together, even when they bickered.

Melissa arrived and Krista pushed thoughts of Shane and his mood away to show the other woman around and give her a quick lesson on the inventory.

“If you can work the floor this morning, I’ll work behind the counter. Then this afternoon, we can switch if that works for you?”

“Sounds like fun. Is the register complicated? It’s the only thing I’m worried about.”

Krista was giving her a fast lesson when Shane returned. His scowl turned to a smile as he glanced toward them. Krista’s heart jerked, only to drop when she realized the look of pleasure was not for her.

“Hey, Melissa. Dad told me they’d asked you to help out. Thank you so much for being there for my folks.” He moved to the counter and pinned the woman with his most charming smile. “It means a lot to them, well, to all of us really.”

“Gee, thanks, Shane. It’s actually more of a favor for me really. I love doing this kind of stuff and well, with the move and all, the little extra will certainly help give Brittany a nicer Christmas.” Melissa turned back to Krista. “So, once the sale is rung up, you want me to put the checks here and the bills here, right?”

Krista glared at Shane. He glared back. For a long second, the room was thick with tension. Only when Melissa’s head turned to glance between them did Krista remember the question asked.

She pulled her gaze back to the register. “Sorry, yes, that’s exactly what you do. Every night total it all and take the register tapes from the day. Everything goes in this lock box, and Gary will do the rest.”

“What do you mean, the lock box?” Shane peered over the counter to the silver box with the tiny lock under the counter. “Is that where you keep the money?”

Krista rolled her eyes. “Yes. It goes in there until your father takes it to the bank every few weeks.”

Shane shook his head. “Few
weeks
? The money just sits there for weeks at a time? Unreal! And what do you think is stopping anyone from breaking a window and grabbing that silly little box.”

Krista put her hands on her hips. “No one knows it’s there.”

“All it takes is one customer to spot it. Some teenager comes in here with her mother and buys some silly candles, tells her delinquent boyfriend about it and he comes back with his buddies that night after closing. There goes your money.”

“Fine. We’ll put the lock box in the kitchen. No one will see it there.”

He shook his head. “I’ll take it to my folks tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll get a regular safe we can keep in the back.”

“Don’t you think you should ask your mother and me if that’s what
we
want to do?”

This time he snorted. “The money isn’t staying in that ridiculous box. It’s going in a safe in the back.”

Krista was infuriated, and she didn’t even know why. He had a valid point. The lockbox system had been in place ever since they had a tiny little fruit stand. Now that they had a regular store, the money piled up in there. They really did need a much more reliable system. Still, she couldn’t tolerate Shane giving her orders.

She marched out from around the counter. “I know a much safer place to put our money, Deputy Donovan.”

Shane frowned. “Where?”

“Up your—”

The front door opened and their first customer walked in.

Melissa quickly rounded the counter and approached the group of ladies. “Good morning, welcome to the Apple Basket. My name is Melissa. Can I get you each a cup of tea or some coffee? We have wonderful warm cinnamon scones just out of the oven. Can I get you each one?” She turned and pinned Shane and Krista with a look that could only be described as teacher to naughty pupil stare. “Perhaps the two of you could work this out in private, hmm?”

Krista whirled around and went back behind the counter. Shane stormed out the door.

The day flew by in a blur. Customers bought baskets, pies, pretty much anything that was in stock. Most of the locals came in and asked about Mary and exclaimed over the pregnancy. All of them bought more than they usually did. Karen even stopped by and invited her for dinner after closing.

“I know that you and Shane had a bit of a falling out, so I have to be honest, he’s coming over to help Dave clear out that room we’re going to make into the nursery...but I’d still love for you to come,” she added fervently. “You know them, they’ll be upstairs the whole time. Please come anyway. I want to celebrate with you.”

Karen’s eyes pleaded with her until she couldn’t say no.

Besides, she wasn’t about to drop her friends just because she’d made a mistake and slept with Shane. Sooner or later, they had to both get over it and move on. “Of course I’ll come. I’ll bring dessert. That is, if there’s any apple pie left. We’ve had a killer day in here.”

Karen glanced around. “I’ve never seen it this busy before.” She turned back to Krista. “How’s it working out with Melissa?”

“Great. She’s a natural with the customers and seems like she can sell them almost anything.”

“Good. Mary will be relieved to know everything here is under control. She was worried about leaving you in the lurch.”

A customer approached the counter and Karen waved and stepped back. “See you tonight.”

When the last customer walked out the door, Krista hurried over to flip the CLOSED sign around and lock up as Melissa straightened the displays across the room.

“You might not believe this, but we’re not always this busy. I’m glad you were here.”

Melissa smiled. “I loved it.” She crossed the room. “Thank you again for asking me to help out. It’s sad to say, but as much as I love teaching, this was so much more fun. It was like shopping all day, except with other people’s money.”

Krista laughed. “You’re very good at helping people find just the right thing.”

In her head, she was already thinking of how she could ask Melissa if she’d like to help out permanently, but she couldn’t say anything until she talked to Mary. It was that responsibility, and not Shane’s angry face in her mind that held her tongue. Melissa was the answer to her situation. Now, she needed to figure out how to have
Mary
come up with the idea so she didn’t feel shoved out, that was the real issue. The last thing Krista ever wanted to happen was for her friend to feel as if she was being replaced by the younger woman rather than seeing her as the answer to both their goals.

****

Shane eyed the oversized steamer trunk. “What are you going to do with this?” He and Dave had already carried out a heavy vanity and nightstand. The trunk looked like it weighed a ton. Hopefully, it wasn’t going into the attic along with the other items.

“Karen wasn’t sure if she was going to keep it in here and use it for baby stuff, or put it down in the living room. Personally, I’d love to see it disappear. I hate that thing and we’ve moved it with us from place to place.”

Shane stood with his hands on his hips. “Let’s get her up here so we can deal with it.”

Dave walked to the doorway. “Honey? Can you come up here a minute?”

Within a few seconds, footsteps landed on the stairs. But the woman who appeared in the hallway wasn’t his buddy’s wife; it was Krista.

“Karen’s on the phone. What do you want?”

Krista’s here?
Shane glared at Dave, but his buddy wouldn’t look at him.

“We need to know what she decided to do with this trunk—up to the attic or down to the living room.”

Krista stepped into the room. “I wouldn’t put it in the attic. I think Karen would like it in the living room or dining room even.”

“I’m not moving this thing twice,” Shane snapped.

Krista rolled her eyes with disdain, but left the room.

He turned to his friend. “You needed me to move this thing, and I agreed as long as Krista wasn’t involved. Are you trying to get us to kill each other?”

“I didn’t know she was coming until
after
I’d asked you. And frankly, I needed your help with this stuff.”

“I could have done it tomorrow, or some other time. You could have told Karen that it wasn’t a good idea to have us here together.”

“Tell Karen what to do? You
have
met my wife, right? Frankly, she thinks the best thing that could happen is if we locked you two in a room together...preferably with a nice comfy bed.” He wiggled his eyebrows and grinned.

“The very last thing I want to do is go to bed with Krista.”

The lie rolled out, and of course, she walked in just as he said it.

She raised one eyebrow. “I didn’t invite you, but good to know your thoughts.” She turned to Dave. “Karen said I can have it. Can we carry it down to the front hall? I’ll figure out a way to get it home.”

“What the hell do you need this thing for?” Shane snarled.

“None of your business. I just want it. I’m not asking you to bring it to my house; I’m simply asking you to carry it downstairs.” She lifted her chin and moved closer to him as if challenging him to fight about it.

“We’ll put it in my truck and get it to your place when you leave tonight. No problem, Krista.” Dave stepped between them almost as if to play referee.

“I say we put it to the curb and let it become someone else’s problem,” Shane growled.

Krista crossed her arms. “How come everything
I
want has to be exactly the opposite of what you think I should want? And why do you keep sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong?”

“Whatever.” He threw up his hands and marched over to the trunk, lifting one side by the wooden handle. “Ugh,” he grunted with the weight.

Dave scrambled to join him on the other side and hoisted his half. “Sorry.”

“Just go,” Shane snapped.

Even with Dave helping, the trunk felt like it had lead balls inside as they reached the hallway. “I can’t believe how heavy this is.” Shane stepped back and glanced down the staircase.

“I can’t believe how much you’re whining,” Krista chirped.

Shane jerked his head around. From the corner of his eye, he noted Dave inching past him.

“I think Karen’s calling me,” he muttered and bee-lined it down the stairs, leaving the two of them alone in the upper hallway.

“You don’t need this thing.”

“I want it.”

“You can’t always get what you want.”

“I’m not asking for the moon, Shane. It’s just a trunk.”

He crossed his arms. “I think you only want this thing because you know what a pain in the ass it will be for Dave and me to haul it to your place.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Yep, you’re right as always. I only want it because it’s going to make your life miserable.”

Her cleavage, now pushed together with her arms, teased him because he knew exactly how soft that particular spot of her body was, and how she’d smell like fresh sunshine if he buried his face there.

Swallowing hard, he turned back to the trunk. “You don’t need a trunk to make my life miserable.”

“What’s that?” She stepped up closer to him, her arms dropped to her side. “I make your life miserable? That’s precious. You’re the one who—” She clamped her mouth shut.

“I’m the one who what?” Was she seriously thinking their blow up was all
his
fault?

“You’re the one who won’t even listen to me about the shop. You won’t help me figure out any options.” Her voice broke as if she was about to cry.

Shane’s heart squeezed at the thought of her crying, and he raked a hand through his hair. Wishing with everything he had that she could see this his way, he softened his tone. “There aren’t any, and you know it. If you keep the shop open, my mother will half kill herself to help, and there won’t be anything any of us can do about it.”

“I don’t believe that. I think there’s a way that I can bring Melissa into this and Mary will be okay with it.”