Deadly Ties (11 page)

“Good.” She licked her lips, seeming nervous. “I can’t believe I missed this bond between us, but maybe I didn’t. That first night on the beach. That was special.”

“When we had coffee at Ruby’s too.”

She nodded. “How long did we sit there and talk? Three hours?”

“Nearly five.” He clasped their pinkies. “I enjoyed every minute of it.”

“Me too—and all the times we met there afterward, just talking about our days. Everything and nothing. That meant the world to me.”

“Really?”

“Surely you knew.”

“I’m glad to know it now.” Maybe her feelings for him were further along than he thought. Talking, she had let him look into her heart, and he had validated her dreams. She’d done the same for him too. Why hadn’t Joe mentioned that part?
Charm her sincerely
.

“Good. It’s settled then.”

He’d leapt too far and missed a step. “What’s settled?”

She wrinkled her nose and smiled up at him. “We’re officially more than friends.”

They always had been. He fought it, still wasn’t confident in how to earn even a little bit of her love, but a part of him had been waiting and hoping she’d catch up. “Officially, yes.” He clasped her arm. “Now let’s get to your party before it’s over.”

They walked to the edge of the canopied tent, then stepped inside. Tables stood draped in white linen, and at the far end of the tent on the stage, the band began playing a new song. Music filled the air, and couples danced and sang along, having a great time.

Lisa scanned the crowd. Something dark flashed in her eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Mark asked.

“My mom called and said she’d be here, but I don’t see her. Something must have happened.”

She wanted Annie with her tonight to celebrate. Getting her license was a huge moment, and she’d been denied too many huge moments with her mom.

“I’m sure she’ll be here soon, unless Dutch somehow found out.”

“He’s in Georgia, checking on his stores.” She dropped her voice. “I’ll be so glad when she’s out of that house.”

“You’re worried.”

Lisa clutched at her stomach. “So much I can barely breathe.”

Mark wished he could reassure her, but he couldn’t. He pulled out his cell and checked for messages. “She hasn’t called.”

Lisa checked hers as well. “Me either. Something’s wrong, Mark. I feel it.”

She could be overreacting. With Dutch on the attack, that would be justified, but it wouldn’t really be typical. Lisa took things in stride, even very bad things. Her training and life experience demanded it. Otherwise, she’d always be rattled.

“Detective Meyers is keeping an eye out. Let’s dance one dance, and if she isn’t here by then, I’ll go check on her myself.”

“Can you check on her without getting caught?”

“I do it every night.”

Lisa stopped on a dime. “Since when?”

“Since I started working for Ben.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“Annie and I have a system. She puts a candle in the window. It’s not lit. That’d be too obvious. Just on the windowsill. If the candle is there, she’s okay. If not, then she needs help.”

Tears brimmed in Lisa’s eyes. “So Ben did this too? Taking care of me, med school, and my mom?”

“Um, actually, Ben doesn’t know about the checkups on your mom.” Mark’s ears burned.

“I don’t understand. Who pays you to do that?”

“No one.” He looked away. Penance for Jane, for Lisa because she couldn’t do it. “I like her.”

Tears trickled down Lisa’s face. “I think I might like you more than a little bit, Mark Taylor.”

He thumbed the tears off her cheeks. “Glad to hear it, Dr. Harper, but if that’s the reason, it’s definitely gratitude and it isn’t necessary.”

“Not because I owe it you. Because you’re the kind of man who thinks to do something like that.”

“Oh.”

“You’re … special.”

A lump settled in his throat and wouldn’t go down.
Special
. He was special.

Beside him, Joe approached Beth Dawson. At her back, he bent over her shoulder and spoke softly, but his voice carried. “Tell me some man didn’t put that snarl on your face.”

Beth whirled around, her green dress clinging to her waist and falling free at the hem. “Actually, one did.”

“Point him out. I’ll make him regret it.”

Beth smiled. “I appreciate it, but I can’t. The jerk happens to be married to my best friend and business partner. I’d love to see him flattened, but it wouldn’t go down well with her.”

“That does make the matter complicated.”

“Boy, does it ever.”

“Then forget the insensitive ingrate and dance with me instead.”

Charm in action
. Mark bit back a smile.

Lisa followed Mark’s gaze. “Ah, Joe’s discovered Beth Dawson. She looks like Demi Moore with her hair long like that. I love it.”

She did look pretty. Very different from the sweats and shorts she usually wore. “They look good together.” Joe was partial to brunettes, and Beth’s hair was a warm brown with gold streaks. He’d like that.

“Striking.” Lisa hiked her shoulders, smiling.

Joe was a pretty big guy, nearly as tall as Mark and a lot better looking by Mark’s measure, and Beth had bright eyes to go with that long brown hair. She was a good five inches shorter than Lisa. Probably about five foot five. She cleaned up pretty good.

Lisa leaned closer to Mark. “I hope they have a great time tonight.”

“Why?”

“Why not?” Lisa shrugged. “I like Beth, I like Joe, and”—she nudged Mark—“I want everyone to be as happy as I am—officially.”

Mark let his fingertip slide down Lisa’s face, cheek to chin. “Then I hope they do too.”

Mark also hoped Joe didn’t address the object of Beth’s snarl. Seagrove Village was a close community. Everyone knew everyone’s business, and it was no secret that Beth’s partner, Sara, had married a social-climbing moron with expensive tastes and tons of arrogance.

“Before we mingle, may I ask for one more thing?”

Mark gave Lisa his full attention. “Sure.”

“Kiss me again.”

Lisa wanted his kiss, his touch. He curled his arms around her and kissed her soundly, swearing he wouldn’t stop until she was dazed, he was, or both.

Lisa stood in the crowded tent. Ben and Kelly swirled on the dance floor, so did Nora and Clyde, and Harvey was on its edge, teaching Mel the rudiments of the Viennese Waltz. Her frame needed work, but she had great lines.

“Mark,” Lisa whispered. “Check out Mel. No green spikes in her hair and a sophisticated little black dress—she’s gorgeous.”

Mark smiled. “She had green spikes at the center. I distinctly remember them.”

“Well, she doesn’t have them now.”

“No, she doesn’t.” He paused to study her. “To tell you the truth, I miss her funky look. It suits her.”

Peggy Crane joined them. “I agree. Funky is uniquely Mel. But she’s worried she’s not being taken seriously at college, so she’s toning down her appearance. It’s been planned for weeks that she’d debut her makeover here tonight, which is why you saw green spikes at the center and not here.”

Lisa smiled. “I’m honored.” She also wished Mel would just be Mel. She was special and unique and adorable exactly as she was.

Talking with Nick, Sam cursed.

Peggy stiffened. “Excuse me,” she told Mark and Lisa.

Mark sighed. “I warned him.”

“He won’t forget again,” Lisa murmured. Peggy took Sam by the arm and led him out of the tent. Lisa staved off a giggle. “Ready for that dance?”

“More than ready.” Mark gave her his most charming smile. “I hate dancing, you know. But if it gets you into my arms, I’ll do it and be grateful for it.”

“Straight talk. I love it.” From the corner of her eye, she saw Tim speak to the lead singer. The music shifted to a slow ballad. Lisa shot Tim a thumbs-up and smiled at his acknowledging wink.

Mark’s team was always aware. To have a group so attuned to you was something else. They’d depended on one another to survive, and now they watched over one another to make sure they lived well. Bonds like that were lifelong. Special and rare.

“Cutting in.” Nick tapped Mark’s shoulder.

“It’s our first dance.”

“Yes, I know.”

Mark scowled. “Well, can’t you wait for the next one?”

“I could.” Nick’s expression stayed sober. “But I’m not going to.”

Mark’s scowl deepened. Lisa shrugged. “You guys are a package deal.”

Mark backed away, allowed Nick to replace him, and watched them dance his dance.

“Mark’s a good man,” Nick told Lisa. “He hasn’t caught a lot of breaks, so if you’re planning on ripping out his heart and feeding it to him—don’t.”

Ah, the protective bears were already laying down the law. It sure hadn’t taken them long. “No ripping in my plans, Nick. I’ve had my share of tough breaks too.”

Another shoulder tap and Tim stepped in. Nick grumbled at him but released her.

“Ignore Nick,” Tim told her. “He’s a great guy, but if there’s a dark side, he’s going to wallow in it. It’s his nature.”

Lisa let her arm relax against Tim’s shoulder. “I see.”

“No, but with time you will.” He dipped her and then lifted her up in perfect time with the music. “So are you serious about Mark or just playing around?”

“I don’t play around. Never learned how, see no sense in learning now.”

He studied her eyes, then a twinkle lit in his. “Fabulous.”

Moments later, Joe tapped Tim’s shoulder. Lisa moved into his arms, laughing. “You guys are something else.”

“Definitely,” Joe said. “You know Mark’s been kicked around his whole life by everyone but us and a few of you here, right?”

Her chest tightened. His father she’d known about. But all his family? “Actually, I didn’t know that.”

“What about Jane? Has he told you about her?”

Lisa nodded. Her heart ached. What would it be like to be loved by a man like Mark Taylor? Even as a sister?

“I figured as much, which is why I’m telling you if you treat him right, he’ll be the best thing that ever happened to you. If you don’t—”

“Then I’ll have to contend with all of you.”

“Well, yeah.” Joe shrugged. “I wouldn’t have phrased it that way, but it works for me.”

She should be insulted, but she couldn’t be. They weren’t against her; they were just for Mark. And from the way his family had treated him, it sounded as if he needed someone on his side. Someone besides her.

“So you know, Mark is already one of the best things to ever happen to me, Joe. I haven’t seen my mother in twelve years. I hadn’t talked with her for nine of them. Her husband forbade it. Then three years ago, Mark shows up at the center and hands me a phone. ‘When it rings, answer it,’ he said. Then he turned around and walked out. I didn’t know what to think.”

“The caller was your mother.”

Her vision blurred from her glistening eyes. Lisa nodded, too moved to speak.

“Vintage Mark.”

“Yes, vintage Mark.” She kept one eye on the tent door. Mark stood near it, talking on his cell phone. He glanced at her but didn’t smile. His tension radiated to her. “I was right. Something is wrong.”

Joe didn’t miss a step. He swirled her in a circle, seemingly checking everywhere at once. “Relax. We’re good.”

“No, we’re not good.” Lisa stopped dancing. Worry pounded off Mark in waves, nearly knocking her to her knees. “Something’s wrong with my mom.” She backed away from Joe and hurried over, hearing him follow behind her.