Hometown Hero (Hometown Alaska Men Book 2) (7 page)

"Sorry I'm late," she called out as she blew past him, heading for the back room. A minute later she returned, tying her apron around her waist.

She was smiling. Smiling. Rick rarely saw her smile, really smile. She smiled at the customers, but it was a work smile, not a genuine silly grin like she wore now.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"What do you mean?" She joined him behind the bar, grabbing a fresh pencil from the cup near the cash register.

He pointed at her mouth. "The smile."

"Can't a girl smile?" Her grin widened, and she looked eighteen again, fresh faced, beautiful, ready for anything life had to throw at her.

"Come on, spill," he said, doubly intrigued now.

"If you must know, I think I just got offered a job working part-time at Karma Fitness."

"Liv's? You know she's a nut job, right? Believes in karma, auras, and all things unexplainable? I heard she had a séance there last year. Quite the party."

"So what?" Tawney shot back. She stretched her arms wide. "I'm going to dance again."

"Dance?" It had never occurred to him that she might miss dancing. He'd just assumed it was a job she'd fallen into accidentally.

"Why do you look like that?" she asked. "Like you can't believe I'd miss dancing?"

"I don’t know," he admitted. "I just assumed it was a part of your life you were glad to leave behind."

"I hated the lifestyle in Vegas, not the dancing." She broke away from him to wait on a couple of customers. "Two drafts," she said when she returned.

Rick drew the beers. "So tell me more." He passed her the drinks.

She delivered the drinks, giving the men the treat of her genuine smile. When she made her way back to him, she said, "There is no more."

"Sure there is," he said. "Dancing makes you happy, right?"

She pursed her lips. "I guess it does. I've been doing it all my life. If we'd had the money I would have probably become a ballerina, but ballet lessons are expensive. Mom let me take lessons when she could afford it, or when we found free classes, but I never had the opportunity to really train like I would have liked to."

"So do it now," Rick said. He loved the passion in her voice, the light in her eyes, eyes that had so often looked dead and defeated. All this time, she'd had a goal. He'd been so wrapped up in his own wants and needs years ago, he'd never even considered she'd had dreams of her own. No wonder she thought he was such a dick. He deserved her scorn and so much more.

She smiled sadly. "It's too late. I'm too old, but I'm not too old to teach others what I know. I've led all kinds of fitness and dance classes in Vegas. It's how I made my extra money and stayed sane."

"So Liv is interested in hiring you?" Rick asked.

"We are going to talk about it tomorrow morning."

A party of six walked in. "Time to get to work." Tawney scooped up a bunch of menus and went to the group.

Rick watched her. She was different today. She was happy.

A happy Tawney was infectious. His mind reeled back to when they were young. Had she been happy with him? He wasn't sure. The fact that he didn't know spoke volumes about his character. Shame and regret held hands and play Ring-Around-the-Rosie in his belly. He glanced at Tawney. She smiled at the customer she waited on. She'd double her tips tonight because for the first time she had a personality, a sparkle in her eyes no one could resist.

Not even him.

And that scared him a little. She didn't like him, didn't trust him, and God knows he was a mental mess, but that didn't keep him from watching her.

He couldn’t take his eyes off of her and neither could the customers, especially Junebug regulars Mel and Harry.

And that reminded Rick that he needed to talk to Tawney about upping her security.

This beautiful, vivacious Tawney was a danger to herself.

And he'd make it his job to keep her safe.

After the way he'd treated her when they were kids, he owed her that and so much more.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Tawney rolled over and stretched. Sunlight streamed in through the windows. An instant optimism filled her. She was meeting with Liv this morning. Where was her depression? Her bad mood? Ha! The black cloud had lifted. It was almost as if her true self had vacated her body since Fox Lassiter had barged into her life. Now she was back! Safe, moving ahead, about to dance again—with all her clothes on!

The clock read a little after nine.

Tawney tossed back the covers, heading to the kitchen to make coffee. She hummed as she added coffee to the basket. Soon the rich aroma filled the cottage.

Tawney took a minute to appreciate the bay, her gaze on the fishing boats that bobbed in the marina, the mountains, the gulls. A pure hit of nature at its finest. High in the sky an eagle soared, its white head a brilliant contrast to its brown body and the blue sky overhead. The bird's majesty filled her up. She couldn't get enough of the view.

The coffeepot beeped. She pulled herself from the window to get a cup. On her way, a knock sounded at her door.

She took a detour. "Who is it?"

"Rick."

Rick? She glanced down at her blue pajama pants with the cats on them and her clingy black T-shirt. "Hang on."

She dashed to the bedroom and pulled a navy sweatshirt over her shirt. Back at the door, she undid the deadbolt. "What's up?"

"Can I come in for a second?" he asked.

She took in his black jacket, the blue knit cap, the stubble that coated his jaw. "Sure. What brings you over so early?"

"I'm heading out to my cabin this morning. Wanted to get an early start."

"Right," she said. "Coffee?"

"Love some."

He followed her to the kitchen. Tawney poured the coffee, handing Rick a mug.

Tawney sipped her own coffee. "Why the early visit?"

He reached in his pocket and pulled out a phone. "I got this for you, no strings attached."

"A phone?" she asked, puzzled.

"It's a pay as you go phone. It's got plenty of time on it."

"Why would you get me a phone?" Tawney asked.

"A girl needs a phone," Rick said. "Especially a girl who works in a bar. If you were followed the other night, or any night, you need to be able to call for help."

"Is the phone in your name?" If he'd put the phone in her name, she'd kill him. She couldn't risk alerting Fox to her whereabouts.

"It's not in anyone's name. It's disposable. Just let me know when the minutes get low, and I'll take care of it."

"As nice and thoughtful as this gift is, I don't want you paying for it," she said. "I can take care of myself, Rick."

"I know you can." He grinned. "I've seen your gun."

Tawney smiled. "That's right."

"Please take the phone. You can reimburse me if you want to, okay?"

A phone would ease some of her fear. Her name wasn't attached. Maybe Rick had provided her with the perfect solution to her lack of a phone problem. "Okay, I will. Thank you." She set the phone on the counter.

"My number is programed in," he said. "In case you need quick help."

"Of course it is." She sipped her coffee.

He smiled. "I'll be on my way. It's your day off, right?"

"Right. I'm meeting with Liv this morning."

He drained the last of his coffee. "Good luck today."

"Thank you." She walked him to the door. "And thank you for the phone."

He nodded. "Bye."

She closed the door, locking the deadbolt.

She had a phone and a job interview. Tawney's grin widened. Things were looking up.

*    *    *

"So what days are you teaching?" Brandi asked.

Tawney bounced baby Will on her knee. "Three days a week to start. All mornings, ten a.m. classes, so I can still work at The Junebug on afternoons and evenings."

"You look happy." Brandi smiled.

"Dancing makes me happy, right, Will?" Tawney smiled at the baby. He grinned back, two bottom teeth showing.

"You seem different since you've been back," Brandi said. "More closed off. Like you're hiding something. Are you?"

Tawney had wrestled with how much to tell her sisters about Fox Lassiter. She didn’t want to involve them, but at the same time it was hard keeping Fox from them. "Not hiding something exactly. I didn't want to involve you or Star."

"We know something is wrong." Brandi frowned. "I think you'll feel better if you tell us."

Brandi's door opened and Star let herself into the apartment. "Hey."

"Hi," Tawney said.

"Ready to go to Anchorage and shop?" Brandi asked the bride-to-be.

"Yes." Star took Will from Tawney. "I have a long list, everything from wedding decorations, to food, to picking up the bridesmaid dresses." She kissed Will on the cheek, the forehead, the top of his head. "I love you, Will. You are such a cutie."

"We're ready," Brandi said, smiling, "but Tawney was just about to tell me why she's really in Alaska."

"Really?" Star said, taking a seat on the sofa next to Tawney. "Shopping can wait. I'm all ears." She bounced Will on her knees. "We are dying to know, right, Will?"

The baby smiled.

Both Star and Brandi gave Tawney their attention. She couldn’t put it off any longer. She wanted to come clean with her sisters.

"I had a stalker."

"What!" Star cried. "Did you go to the police?"

"Of course," Tawney said. "It didn't help. My stalker is a rich, powerful mobster. He owns the police. He wanted to own me."

"Oh my God," Brandi said, her brows drawing together. "Tawney, I'm sorry."

"I had a restraining order, but he was smart. He used his hired men, or goons as I call them, to bring me presents, follow me, even enter my apartment when I wasn't home. The last straw came on the day I left. I'd come home and found a present on my pillow. I knew then I had to disappear, and that's what I've done."

"Oh, honey." Star rubbed Tawney's arm. "I'm so sorry. I'm just sick for you."

"Me, too," Brandi said.

Tawney smiled. "I've wanted to leave Vegas for a while. He gave me an excuse to go. I’m not sorry I left."

"I think we should tell the local police," Star said. "It wouldn't hurt for them to be on alert."

"No," Tawney said. "I can't risk them putting my name through some kind of database. My stalker has people everywhere. He'll find me. It's best to let it go. I don't think he can trace me here. Even if he found out my real name, I've left no paper trail. I never used an Alaska address on anything in Vegas."

Star and Brandi exchanged a look.

"Don't make me sorry that I told you," Tawney said. "Please, keep the info to yourselves. The less people who know the better."

Star nodded. "Okay, but I don't like it."

"Okay," Brandi agreed.

Tawney smiled. "Let's go shopping. This day is about Star, not me."

"I'll get Will's jacket." Brandi stood.

"Would you feel safer staying with me?" Star asked.

"I’m good here. Rick's made it his job to be my protector. I think he feels like he owes me. He walks me home. He even got me a phone. One that's not traceable to me."

"Does he know?"

"No, I think he's just worried about me. We have a couple of regulars at the bar Rick's worried about. I think they're harmless, but Rick's being careful."

Star's eyebrows shot up. "You don't say? Well, as far as protection goes, an ex-cop is pretty good protection."

"And he's right next door," Tawney reminded her sister.

Brandi took Will from Star, putting Will's jacket on. "All set, let's go have some fun. You can fill Star in on your new job on the way."

"New job?" Star asked. "Wow, I'm feeling left out on everything."

Tawney linked her arm through Star's. "Let's go."

*    *    *

Rick locked the door to The Junebug. The street was empty, the night silent. The sky had a thick layer of clouds shrouding the town, but he didn't need moonlight to find his way home. Rick rounded the corner. The temperature had warmed to a balmy thirty-eight, giving them a reprieve from freezing temperatures. He still wore a hat and gloves, but the air no longer felt like needles on his skin.

He wondered how Tawney's job interview with Liv had gone. He'd missed Tawney tonight. The bar had seemed dull without her, his shift dragging on and on. The locals had missed her, too. Especially Mel and Harry, the latter switching from his usual beer to Southern Comfort. Rick finally had cut Harry off, putting him in a taxi for home.

Tawney's place was dark when Rick went by. No doubt she was asleep. He let himself into his cottage and pulled his hat off, tossing it on the chair near the door. His gloves and coat followed.

His body begged for sleep. He'd spent the day at the cabin stacking firewood, cleaning the gutters, and doing general maintenance before starting his shift at The Junebug. He'd put in a full day's work and then some.

He stripped off his clothes, leaving them in a pile on the floor. He washed up and brushed his teeth before falling onto the bed. Instantly his mind blanked, and the haze of sleep began to soften the edges of his day.

A sharp ring caused him to bolt upright.

His phone! Rick shook off the first minutes of a deep sleep and searched the pile of clothes near the bed to locate his phone. Tawney's name lit the screen. He glanced at his clock: three-forty-five a.m.

He hit the talk button. "Tawney?"

"Rick?" she said, her tone breathless. "I hear something outside."

"Hang on," he said, all his senses wide awake now. "I'll be right there."

Rick pulled on his discarded clothes and ran from the cottage. He scanned the area between his place and Tawney's but didn't see anything.

"I'm here," he said as he rapped on her door.

The door whipped open. She wore a blue bathrobe with fuzzy yellow quarter moons all over it. Her hair looked good and mussed, her eyes still heavy with sleep.

"I heard something. Someone was out here." Her voice shook.