Embraceable You (Irish Hearts Series) (3 page)

“Right. Mayor? You?” She laughed a little.

He shrugged, offering no more. “Sorry about your aunt. Everyone in Haven’s Point loved her. She’ll really be missed. I’ll open her place for you, help bring in your bags.”

Siena wanted to ask if he was married with five kids but it didn’t matter. She wasn’t interested in another man to distrust. And experience had taught her that a man this good-looking – and in politics - was bound to be un-trustworthy.

She glanced back at Aunt Addie’s shop,
Amazing Lace.
Not only was the shop dark, so was the apartment above it. They looked closed and uninviting. She shivered involuntarily, remembering the warm atmosphere her aunt created with hot tea and clam chowder. Just knowing it wouldn’t be happening again sent chills down her spine. Not ever. She couldn’t help feelings of resentment toward Dana for not coming here to soften this grim task before her.

“Hurt your arm?”

She turned back to Zach. “Yeah, I fell. It’s nothing. Just a sprain. More of an annoyance right now than anything.”

He nodded slowly. “I remember when you broke your arm here, skating. We were young, maybe eight or nine.”

“That was a long time ago.” She was surprised he even remembered.

“I was impressed because you didn’t cry. You were a tough girl, and I admired that.”

“It was all a fake. I just didn’t want to be a sissy in front of you.” She smiled and relaxed a little. He made her feel good. Always had. “Just so you know,” she said for herself as much as him. “I’m not staying. Only long enough to take care of Aunt Addie’s things.” 

“That’s fine,” he said as if he didn’t care. “I’ll help you.”

She shrugged. “I’m just interested in selling. And closing up.”

“Sure thing. Wait here a minute while I grab a clean shirt and my jacket. We’ll get you and your luggage inside, out of the cold.” He nodded at the dark building.

Zach returned wearing a brown leather jacket with enough zippers and brass to do a Hell’s Angel proud. His jeans were tight and sexy on slim hips. He looked like someone in a Ralph Lauren ad, only not as combed. He handed her a purple envelope. “Key’s in there. And a note, too. I think she might have sensed this time would come.”

“I shouldn’t be surprised. Aunt Addie always knew things.” S
iena fingered the envelope, and tucked it into her coat pocket for later. It was hard, damned hard. And where the hell was Dana? Their footsteps crunched in the spotty snow as they made their way to her car. Siena popped the trunk of her red Toyota thinking that she needed some cash flowing soon to make the next payment.

Zach grabbed several suitcases from the trunk. “We’ll go through the shop because the outside stairs are too icy. Snowed a couple of days ago.”

“No wonder she went to Florida this time of year.” Siena clutched a couple of her smaller bags and started down the icy brick walk. Suddenly, the earth seemed to shift and Siena was moving, slipping, sliding. She tried to make a V-wedge with her feet, like in skiing, to avoid crashing into Zach. But her forward motion on the slick ice couldn’t be stopped. Clumsily she bumped into him, her long legs skidding between his. Struggling for balance, she dropped what she carried, tucked her injured arm against her chest and grabbed for him with one hand.

It happened fast. They were clutching, grappling, dancing on ice. Arms hooked, legs intertwined, they clung to each other on the way down to a rough landing on the cold brick sidewalk – a blur of legs and arms and two pressed-together bodies.

Everything scattered.

One thing for sure, they were close. And breathing hard. Siena and Zach - nose to nose, lips to lips, her female to his sexy male. She closed her eyes and felt herself melting into his caramel-cream eyes as his warm, sweet breath caressed her. They were so close to a kiss that all she had to do was pucker. And she considered it. Seriously.

“Are you okay? How’s your arm?”

“Uh-huh, think so.” She
scooted his hand from her breast and realized one of her knees was wedged in his crotch.

“No sudden moves,” he grimaced gingerly, “or I’ll be singing with the sopranos in the choir.”

She laughed low, embarrassed. “Wouldn’t want to be responsible for that. Sorry, I slipped on the ice.”

“Sorry my trick knee wouldn’t hold us.”

"Don't be sorry…" She muffled a sigh. "Nobody's fault. Meant to be… " She hiccupped, remembering that she didn't believe that crap.

He put his lips next to her ear and whispered, “I see that Siena-banana is still in fine form.”

“Damn you for remembering that name!” She tried to loosen her good arm to poke him but they were too tight.

“Oh, Siena-banana, I remember everything about you.” He laughed, and she knew the teasing would never stop.

She wiggled and they shifted even closer together. They were about as intimate as they could be in sweaters and leggings. “I believe this is what’s known as a compromising position, Mr. Mayor.”

“In my business, compromise is necessary.”

She could feel his hard body pressed against her. Snug and very nice, rolling in the snow with the mayor. It was all too much, and she started laughing.

“What’s so funny?”

“I would never imagine you as a politician. Taking the pulse of the city and compromising on everything.”

“Who said I’m a politician? I’m mayor-in-charge.” He started moving. “I think we’d better get up. Easy now.”

When she turned her head, her nose brushed his. They were that close to a kiss. She pulled in her breath and pretended her heart wasn’t pounding.

“Hold it
. . . you shift this way. . . I’ll get up first, then I’ll help you.” With careful finesse, and maybe a little reluctance, they untangled their bodies. He pulled her upright and made a big to-do of brushing snow off her back and butt. He even adjusted the sling on her arm. “Is this okay? You sure?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Just embarrassed for being so clumsy.”  She motioned to the sling. “That’s how I got this. On Christmas Eve. I was distracted, not thinking about where I was going.”

“You’ve got to be more careful, Siena-Banana. Our sidewalks are extremely slick this time of year.” He began gathering the things they’d dropped and continued the banter. “I’ll speak to the mayor about this hazard.”

“Don’t expect quick action, considering how slow politicians work.”

“I have an inside track.” He grinned and handed her a couple of items.

Siena remembered romps in the snow with Zach. And cold, wet kisses that warmed them thoroughly. Oh yes, Zach had always exuded a strong maleness, a certain sexy strength – something definitely missing in her relationship with Warren. Apparently her former fiancé had saved his sexy self for someone in a short tight dress and no opinions.

Back when Siena and Zach had kissed behind the barn, they’d both been skinny teenagers. Now, they were romance-weary adults. At least, she was. But she wouldn’t let herself get caught up in Zach’s sexy appeal. Again. She was still trying to get over a broken heart from Warren. Besides, her trust in men was all worn out.

Zach unlocked the shop door and a flash of fur whirled past them. He flipped on the light switch and headed inside.

Siena gazed at the cluttered cloister of a store. Everything from romance novels to feathered masks jumped out at her. And lace, lots of lace. Lacy stuffed animals. Lacy heart pillows. Little lacy angels. A stack of quilts in the corner with lace on them. A rack of sunglasses on the counter. A boatload of lighthouses, big and small. And lobsters in various colors and sizes, everywhere. She couldn’t suppress an audible groan and dumped what she was carrying right there in the doorway.

Zach hauled everything to the bottom of the stairs that led up to the apartment.
Siena steeled herself and ripped open the note from Aunt Addie.

Dearest One,

If you’re reading this, it probably means I didn’t make it back from my Florida vacation. I hope you will find happiness and joy in Haven's Point. They need you, body and soul.

Please take good care of
Sally and Harry, my Lacy Ladies especially Claire, and that Amazing Lace. It really is magical, you know. You just have to believe and call on the powers around you. Listen to Claire. She will be your very best friend in the whole world, just as she was for me. Now, don’t cry for me. I did my best to surround myself with happiness and good people. And that's all anyone can expect.

With love for all,

Addie

Siena sighed. Aunt Addie was always talking about the power around her, but Siena didn’t feel one iota of power here tonight. And she didn't want to be needed, body and soul. That was scary. “Zach, who are Sally and Harry? And the Lacy Ladies?”

“Cats, I believe. And the Lacy Ladies
. . . well, you’ll meet them soon enough.”

“Damn! I don’t want to have the responsibility for them.” The words just spilled out of Siena, spurred by an overflow of emotions. “I don’t want Aunt Addie’s stuff. I want to be back home. Finding a job. Building that happy life Aunt Addie wants me to have. Not here. How could this be happening?”

Siena balled her fist to her forehead and pressed. Life’s miseries were closing in on her, and she wanted out, out, out. She wanted a dynamic job, a fabulous love life, and most of all, to do some serious damage to Warren. And this remote berg was
not
the place for her personal achievements.

“Need a shoulder?” Zach stood near, arms inviting.

Giving in to her emotional overload, Siena pressed her face against him and let the tears flow. She was vulnerable. He was strong and willing. Maybe this was what she needed, an old boyfriend’s shoulder as a temporary solution.

Both of them jumped when the shop doorbell clanged a very old-fashioned taa-ding. A man with fuzzy gray hair and a Santa Claus beard poked his head inside. “Hey, who let those damn cats out? I just saw them racing up and down the street in the snow. Addie will haunt us all forever if anything happens to them. You know
. . .” He paused and looked around. “Oh, hi Zach. Who's this?”

Zach stepped back, keeping one arm around Siena’s shoulder. “Siena Summerfield, Addie’s niece. Being in the shop has been a little emotional for her." He
gestured toward Santa. "And this is George Rowan. Runs
Kaleidoscope
, the bookstore and frame shop next door. Also is a sci-fi writer of some note.”

Siena quickly wiped a tear. “Nice to meet
. . . ”

George rubbed his boots on a doormat. “So you’re the one who’s taking over Addie’s shop? Well, luck to ya’.” He ended with an evil chuckle.

“No, I – ”

“First thing, ya’d better take care of those damn cats unless you want Addie's ghost haunting you. They go with the place. And I don't want to take the blame for their demise in the snow.”

Siena lit up inside with anger and she gave him a look to kill. She’d had just about enough of this. Dana leaving her in charge of something she didn’t want, this miserable little shop, two runaway cats and this demon old man accusing her of mayhem with the cats. Then the Lacy Ladies, whoever the hell they were. And this . . . this out of control feeling she had around Zach.

“Not to worry, George. We’ll get the cats,” Zach said.

Siena gestured futilely at the roomful of lighthouses, lobsters and shell nightlights. “Gotta have cats, to go with all this, I suppose.”

“Not just any cats, Maine Coons,” George corrected. "They're special.
Big, like bobcats but are as gentle as can be."

“Right. Good to know.” To go with the witches and gnomes and invisible powers hiding in the corners and around the stairs, she thought. Siena didn’t bother removing her faux fur coat. “Okay, I can’t live with frozen cats on my conscience. I’ll go find them right now.” She stomped outside, her boots crunched in the snow as she headed up the street. “Heeeere kitty, kitty, kitty!”

“Wait up, Siena –” Zach followed close behind her. “You can't chase them down. George has a brilliant idea.”

Yeah, so did she. Like turning around and going back home. What made her think coming here was the right thing to do? This trip back in time was worse than she imagined. Seeing Zach again and feeling what he did to her insides, just being near him. But this was no good, no good at all. Not the right time, certainly not the right place.

She whirled around in the middle of the street to face him. “Zach, are you – ”

He stopped, stared, and waited for her to finish.

She blurted, “Married? Five kids? A lobster boat?”

There was surprise in his expression. “Nope.”

She blinked and turned away quickly, looking for a crack to disappear into. Why had she done such a stupid thing? She didn’t care what he was doing with his life. She was leaving soon. Closing up shop. Getting out of town. She had a list of goals and Zach wasn't on it.

Siena’s head swirled. She was crazy with desire for Zach. It hit her hard, like an avalanche of snow and bucket of hot water at the same time, covering her, stopping her forward motion. She groped mentally for her mantra
. Taking care of business, closing shop, leaving soon.