Hometown Hero (Hometown Alaska Men Book 2) (10 page)

"Ready to go?" Rick asked when they finished cleaning up.

"I'm so ready." She put her coat on, wrapping her scarf around her neck. The temperature had dropped again, hovering in the teens.

They stepped outside. "Smells like snow," Rick said.

"It does." Tawney lifted her face. Clouds covered the moon, leaving the street dark. "I hope it holds off until I teach my classes this week. Too much snow will keep people home."

"I don't know, this is Alaska. Folks here are used to driving in snow. If they waited for the roads to clear they'd never go anywhere."

Tawney's boot slipped on the icy sidewalk. Rick took her arm, steadying her. "Thanks."

They walked, the hard crust of old snow crunching under their boots. When they reached her place, Rick said, "You okay, or do you want me to come in and look around?"

"Come in, please." She unlocked the door, letting him inside. She knew she'd sleep better if he checked the place for intruders.

Rick did a walk-through. "All clear."

She hung up her coat. "Thanks. I'm such a big baby. This afternoon really shook me up."

"Fox doesn't know you're here," Rick said. "He's in Vegas. I checked. You're safe."

She gave him a tired smile. "I hope so."

"What kind of precautions did you take on your way to Alaska?" Rick asked. "You drove up, right?"

"I did," she said. "I've done it before."

"I don't want to know how you got your gun across the border," Rick said.

Tawney smiled. "No, you don't want to know. I used cash only. I did not use my phone. Kept it turned off, threw it in the bay when I got here. I left no paper trail. No one in Vegas knows about Alaska."

"No friends?" he asked.

"No." She sat on a kitchen chair and pulled her boot off, rubbing her bone spur. "You'd be surprised. A lot of people in Vegas don't want to talk about where they came from."

"Feet hurt?" he asked.

"Killing me." She massaged the aching spurs. "Dancing ruined my feet."

"You're working under your social security number," Rick said. "Fox could trace that."

"I know," she said. "I didn't use my real name in Vegas, but my last employer has my legal name and social security number. A man like Fox could get that information. I pray every night that I'm not worth the trouble, that he's moved on. There is one big reason he might be searching for me."

"What is it?"

"Remember how I told you he left me gifts? Well, one of the gifts was an emerald ring. I sent the ring back to him, but on my last day in Vegas I came home and found the ring on my pillow."

"He'd been inside your home?" Rick asked.

"Fox, or maybe one of his goons," Tawney said. "I wasn't thinking clearly, I just knew I needed to get out of town. I took the ring with me and pawned it. I got fifteen thousand, but it was worth double that. Fox might come after me for the money."

Rick blew out a breath. "Maybe, but that's chump change to a man as wealthy as Fox."

"Could he accuse me of stealing?" Tawney said, afraid to hear the answer.

"Was anyone around when you received the ring the first time?" Rick asked.

"Yes, all the girls were in the dressing room."

"Then I think you're okay. You received a present. The ring is yours to do with as you see fit."

"Okay, good," She pressed a hand to the flutter in her belly, waiting for relief to chase the butterflies away.

"Did he ever try to physically harm you or force himself on you?" Rick asked.

"No. He tried to kiss me once, but he wasn't successful. He didn't force the kiss. In fact, he acted like a gentleman when I said no. After that, he began to send the gifts, show up backstage, come to my house. I asked him to please leave me alone, but the price tag on the gifts increased. I'm pretty sure he had me watched. There was a black sedan that used to follow me. Totally creepy."

"I'm sorry." Rick clenched his jaw, and she knew that look combined with his stiff posture signaled how angry he really was.

"Fox is good at intimidation," Tawney said, "but as a guy, why would you scare the woman you want? It makes no sense."

"I suspect he's not used to hearing the word no," Rick said. "Maybe he's in love with you, or maybe he just gets off on your fear."

"Love?" She chuckled. "He doesn't even know me. If he is in love, he's weirder than I thought."

Rick nodded. "If you're really spooked, you could stay with Brandi or Star."

"No, I don't want to do anything that will spoil Star's special time. My sisters know about Fox, but I don’t want Star or Brandi to worry about me."

"Okay." Rick hovered near the door. "I'm right next door. Call me if you need anything."

"I will. Thanks, Rick. I don't know what I would have done without you today."

Their eyes met. The years reeled away and she let herself remember how much she used to love him. Instantly her chest ached as remembered heartbreak returned.

"Good night," he said, breaking the spell.

She closed the door, then turned the deadbolt.

They were different people now. Rick had his own demons. She had hers. She needed to remember that, but sadness filled her anyway.

Tawney crawled into bed. She slid her gun under the pillow and checked to make sure her phone was within easy reach.

She hated being alone, hated admitting she needed someone to make her feel safe. She was stronger than that.

Maybe Rick was right. She was giving Fox Lassiter too much power. Running away made her a coward. Yet she wasn't sure she could face Fox. She did know one thing, being around Rick made her feel stronger. And she liked the feeling.

*    *    *

Tawney left Karma Fitness and stepped onto the sidewalk. She tilted her face up, letting the powdery snowflakes hit her skin. She inhaled a scent she hadn't recalled in years—snow. Funny, but snow had a smell. And along with the smell of a big snow came the anticipation or magic that had filled her as a child. Smiling, she set out for home. Snow or no snow, she had a date with a cup of tea and her dirty laundry.

"Great class this morning," a woman called out as she passed Tawney.

"Thanks," Tawney said, the compliment warming her in a way her jacket couldn't. The class had gone great. She'd had twenty people! Twice the number of people Liv's class had brought in last week. Liv had smiled the entire hour, watching from her desk. After, she'd told Tawney again that she was good for business.

Tawney was starting to believe her.

Still smiling, Tawney rounded the corner.

"Tawney."

Mel stepped out from the shadows of the building.

Tawney's heart danced a triple beat, but she recovered quickly. "Hi, Mel, what are you doing out here?"

"Just grabbing a smoke." He smiled. "Say, I was wondering if you'd like to get some lunch with me."

Her gut clenched. She thought of the flowers he'd sent her. The hairs on the back of her neck rose to attention. There was something about him that made her skin crawl.

"No time for lunch today," she said her tone light while inside fear held her in its grip. "I have a ton of things to do before my shift tonight." She moved to pass him. "Thanks though. I'll probably see you later." Tawney walked away, her pace brisk.

Please don't let him follow me
.

She resisted looking over her shoulder until the cottage came into view. Only then did she pause. No Mel. She breathed a sigh of relief as she let herself into the house.

Darn Mel for scaring her.

And shame on her for letting him.

Unsettled, Tawney started a load of laundry. She paced the tiny cottage, too keyed up to make that cup of tea.

Fox Lassiter did have the power. He'd made her afraid of all men and their motives. How did she get past that fear?

Tawney grabbed her phone and called Rick.

"Tawney," he said on the first ring. "Everything okay?"

"I've been thinking about what you said last night about Fox controlling me with fear."

"And?" he asked.

"I need to feel more secure."

"How can I help?"

"You know I have a gun; will you teach me to shoot it?"

"You don't know how to shoot it?" Rick asked, sounding slightly amused.

"I know how to shoot it, but I have no idea if I could hit a target. Will you work with me on accuracy? I think I'd feel better if I really understood the weapon and knew what the gun was capable of."

"You know I will," Rick said. "It's a great idea. Are you free now?"

She thought of her laundry. "I will be once I put my clothes in the dryer."

"I'll meet you in the driveway in fifteen minutes? Wear warm clothing and boots."

"Okay. Fifteen minutes."

Being proactive felt good, great. She could do this; she could take charge of her life.

*    *    *

Rick upped the tempo of the Jeep's windshield wipers. A fresh batch of thick snowflakes hit the glass before the wipers could clear the snow away.

Beside him, Tawney said, "Wow, it's really coming down. Should we turn back?"

"Naw. It's supposed to let up this afternoon." He stole a glance at her. She stared out the window. A red knit cap covered her dark hair. A brown parka with a fur collar kept her warm. Her beauty awed him, as it always did. He'd never get tired of looking at her.

"It sure is pretty," she said, turning toward him. "I know folks here get sick of the snow, and maybe I will, too, but not today. I love it."

Rick grinned. "A fresh snow does have a certain beauty. The turn off to the cabin is just ahead. I've got a great target practice area there."

"Okay."

The road to the cabin had a coating of fresh snow, making driving easy. Rick parked the Jeep near the porch, and they made their way inside. He plugged in the heaters.

Tawney blew on her gloved hands. "Holy cow, it's freezing in here."

"I'll make us some coffee. We can warm up a bit before heading out to shoot."

"Sounds good."

Rick put the water on. He debated starting a fire in the wood stove but decided against it. They wouldn't be there long enough. They both had to work at The Junebug tonight.

"It's so peaceful here," Tawney said as she pulled her gloves off. She set them on the kitchen counter. "I would have never pegged myself for a country girl, but I love it out here."

"Me, too."

She dug in her purse, producing her gun. The pistol was no bigger than the palm of her hand.

"You know that gun is tiny, but it can still do a fair amount of damage," Rick said. "It's not a toy."

"I don't want to kill anyone. Can't I just shoot at his kneecaps or something?"

"Risky," Rick said. "Might not stop him, might just make him angry."

"How about his dick?" Tawney smiled. "I've thought about shooting off Fox's dick more than once."

"Ouch," Rick said, grinning. "I didn't know you were so bloodthirsty. Remind me to never make you mad."

She met his stare. "I'm not going to shoot someone because I'm mad. If I shoot, it's because I'm afraid for my life."

He could hear the desperation in her voice, could feel her despair deep in his core. It was a desperation he'd heard in a woman's voice before.
Angie
. Shame and sadness double-teamed him. He'd failed Angie. He'd be damned if he'd fail Tawney. "I'll show you how to use your gun, but I’m also going to teach you how to use mine."

She pressed her lips between her teeth, appearing to consider his words. "Okay. Knowledge is power, right?"

"Yes, ma'am." The kettle whistled and Rick busied himself making coffee. Within minutes they were drinking steaming cups.

When they finished, Rick said, "Ready?"

"As I'll ever be."

He spent several minutes going over each part of her gun and his gun. He showed her how to remove the safety. How to check to see if the gun was loaded. He explained the sensitivity of the trigger to her. Then he went over the most vulnerable parts of the body to hit. When he felt that she understood both weapons, they bundled up and stepped outside.

Snow swirled around them, falling thicker and faster than before.

"It's really snowing," Tawney said. "Maybe we should put this off and head home."

"It's fine," Rick said. "We're here. Let's fire off a few rounds. Put on your ear protection."

She did, taking a minute to adjust the protective gear. "Okay," she said loudly.

Rick smiled before putting his own ear protection in place. He said, "Let's start with your gun. The trigger is sensitive, remember? It doesn't take much pressure to set it off. Hold your arms like this." He held his arms out. "Gun in your right hand, left hand here to brace the weapon and absorb the kickback."

Tawney held her arms out like he showed her.

Rick moved behind her, his arms going around her, helping her to brace the weapon. The last thing he wanted was for the gun to kick and hit her in the face.

"Line the barrel of the gun up with the center of the target."

"Okay," she said.

"Pull the trigger."

She did. The gun exploded, kicking back, but Tawney had a good hold on the weapon and his arms around her weren't really necessary. Yet he didn't let go of her and he didn't ask himself why.

"Good," he said. "Again."

She fired again. "Did I hit anything?"

"No," he said, "and that's okay. Right now I just want you to have a feel for how the weapon fires. Want to try on your own, without my support?"

"Absolutely." Tawney fired twice more. On the third try she hit the target, the ring of metal filling the air.

"I did it," she cried, whirling to face him. "I hit it." She smiled ear to ear. Snowflakes stuck to her lashes, her hat, her coat.

Her beauty hit him like a fist to the gut. It took him a second to realize he was staring at her, but he recovered quickly. "You did. With practice you're going to be a crack shot."

She laughed. "Can I try your gun now?"

"Sure." He went over the weapon's specs with her, again showing her how to hold the gun. He stepped behind her, his arms going around her. "This one will have more of a kick. The blast will be louder, the wound more deadly."