Lakeside Romance (6 page)

“We're not talking about me, Emmett. How about going down to the living room and getting to know a couple of people? Dinner's going to be served soon. Perhaps you could sit in the dining room today instead of eating in your suite? I'll even go with you.”

“I don't need a babysitter. I can do things by myself.” Emmett gazed out the window, silent for a moment, then lowered the footrest on his recliner. He stood, straightened his bow tie and reached for his wooden cane. “Let's go.”

Apparently he wasn't ready to do dinner by himself.

Alec tossed a smile at Sarah, suddenly appreciating her people skills even more. He'd give her a hug if it wouldn't be out of line. Her ability to relate to his uncle's frustration caused Alec's opinion of her to skyrocket. After spending so much time with her the past week, he'd learned she was anything but a scatterbrain.

Sarah touched his arm and beckoned him to come closer. He leaned in enough to inhale the scent of her shampoo. Her breath fanned his ear. “Do you trust me?”

“About what?” He hated the hesitation that crept into his voice, but trusting others didn't come easily these days.

“I have an idea to help your uncle feel more at home, but I need you to have some faith in me...and the key for this apartment.”

“What for?”

She dropped her hand on her hip and shot him a saucy grin. “That's where the trust part comes in. And you must keep your uncle busy for a few hours.”

Alec narrowed his eyes and searched her face, taking in those high cheekbones and the smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose. Sighing, he reached into his pocket and folded the key into her hand, allowing his fingers to linger a second longer than necessary to feel the softness of her skin.

He hoped he didn't regret trusting her.

* * *

Sarah had no guarantee her plan would work, but she had to try.

The sadness in Emmett's face carved a hole in her heart. She understood starting over, leaving behind almost everything she held dear, but she also found stepping outside her comfort zone offered new opportunities to reach out to others.

Like the teens in her summer outreach program. Like Alec.

If she hadn't moved to Shelby Lake, then she may have never met her cranky landlord, who used his surliness to keep people at arm's length.

Sarah unlocked Emmett's apartment door and held it open so Daniel and Caleb, Sarah's brother, could carry in one of the bookcases from Emmett's house. Alec had said it was one of his favorites, given to him upon his retirement from teaching English for forty years at Shelby Lake High School. Behind them, Toby followed with a box of classics with worn spines and ragged edges to line the shelves.

For the next thirty minutes, they hauled in a few pieces of furniture. Even if they weren't his favorites, they could be swapped out for ones of his choosing. The point was to make the suite feel more like home.

When she'd arrived earlier in the afternoon with Alec, she hadn't expected such sparse furnishings, especially given Emmett's penchant for holding on to memories. She totally understood needing to downsize, but it was as if the poor guy didn't have any memories in his new place. She hoped to fix that.

Sarah arranged a couple of silver-framed photos of family on the side table next to Emmett's recliner. She included a lamp from the living room and set out a jigsaw puzzle on the small oval table Caleb had pulled out of the kitchen.

Daniel and Toby removed records in their original jackets from a box and slid them into place beneath the outdated, but well-used, stereo with turntable.

She pulled her phone from her back pocket and thumbed through it to find the picture she'd snapped of his home's living room the first day she'd seen it. Then, she instructed Caleb and Daniel where to position the couch. She arranged the needlepoint pillows and tossed the knitted afghan across the back cushions. It took up a large chunk of the living room, but seeing the one worn cushion made Sarah think it had been used quite often.

Another glance at her phone showed they had less than ten minutes left. Alec had agreed to keep Emmett out for two hours. He said he'd take Emmett to Jacob House to see Gideon after dinner. Working quickly, they finished turning Emmett's sparsely decorated suite into some semblance of his former home...without the clutter.

Maybe he'd hate it, and she'd need the guys to help her haul everything back to his house, but something told her Emmett was a man steeped in tradition...someone who thrived on routine.

So much like Alec.

Her phone chimed. A text from Alec.

E's getting tired. We're heading back.

All's well here
, she texted back.

Minutes later, she heard voices in the hall. Caleb gave her a quick hug, then he and the boys slipped through the sliding glass door that led out onto a small patio. Sarah hurried to the door and threw it open, meeting Emmett's startled expression.

“Young lady, what are you still doing in my apartment?”

Sarah reached for his free hand, giving his sausage fingers a gentle squeeze. “Mr. Browne, we met for the first time today, but I've gotten to know you a little as I've been organizing your home. Please know I hold the deepest respect for your privacy. As I said earlier, I also understand how you may be feeling.” She paused and drew in a deep breath, then released it in a nervous huff. “While you and Alec were out, I wanted to try to blend some of the familiar with the new, but if you don't like it, I will put everything back the way it was.”

Emmett glanced at Alec and jerked his head toward Sarah. “She always talk this fast?”

Alec smirked and nodded. “Yes, pretty much.”

“Makes a man's ears tired.”

Sarah tried not to let his words wound her. She only wanted to help, to lift the sag in his shoulders. Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe she'd intruded without invitation.

Emmett cleared his throat. “Young lady, are you going to stand guard in front of my door or may I go in and rest my bones?”

“Sorry.” Sarah stepped aside and released the door handle. “Just remember what I said.”

Emmett frowned and grunted, pushing the door open.

Her heart picked up speed. She wiped her damp hands on her shorts.

Frank Sinatra crooned from the turntable, filling the room with his velvety voice.

Thank you, Daniel, for that last touch.

Emmett shuffled into the living room, then stopped, leaning heavily on his cane. He turned slowly, his gaze lingering on his wedding photo that Sarah had found stacked on the table and hung up where he could see it from his favorite recliner. He moved to the couch and ran a shaky hand across the afghan that lay over the back. He tightened his grip on his cane as he lowered himself onto a cushion. Patting his breast pocket, he reached for a white handkerchief.

He shifted watery eyes to Alec. “You knew about this?”

“Not exactly. Sarah asked me to trust her.”

Sarah moved to the couch and rested a hand on the older man's shoulder. “Mr. Browne, I apologize if I've intruded on your space...” Her voice trailed off as Emmett's gaze slid around the room.

Steadying himself on his cane, he rose. He moved from the couch to the bookcase to the table, taking in everything without saying a word. He trailed a finger down the spine of one of the books and sniffed. Then sniffed again.

Standing in front of his wedding photo, he lowered his head, pinning his chin to his chest.

Pressure mounted behind Sarah's eyes as her shoulders sagged. She kept her eyes glued to her flip-flops. The last thing she'd wanted was to upset the man. She shot a quick look at Alec, who stood behind Emmett with a scowl creasing his forehead. He wrapped an arm around the elderly man's shoulders.

Great. What a way to win friends.

“Unc—”

“Mr. Browne—”

They spoke in unison. Sarah snapped her mouth closed and stepped back. She put her hands behind her back and turned to stare out the window.

Behind her, the men spoke in hushed tones. She couldn't stand it any longer. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out Alec's key. She walked over to him and held it out. “Listen, I'm really sorry about this. I just wanted to help. I'll have Caleb come back and we'll get everything back where it belongs.”

Emmett stepped between her and Alec. Giving his eyes a final swipe, he looked at her with a gentle smile brightening his face. “Young lady, you will do no such thing. This is one of the nicest things anyone's done for me. I appreciate the time you took to make an old man feel at home.”

The knots in her stomach loosened as her fingers around his suite key relaxed. She pressed a kiss against his wrinkled cheek, then stepped back, returning the smile. “I was very happy to help. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to be going.” Nodding to the men, she picked up her purse and hurried for the front door.

“Sarah!”

She stopped in the hall, the loose knots in her stomach tightening again. Was he coming to yell at her for overstepping her bounds? Only one way to find out.

She turned to find Alec striding toward her. He stopped in front her with a bemused expression on his face. “Forgetting something?”

She frowned. “I don't think so.”

“Emmett's key?”

“Oh! That's right. Emmett stepped between us before you could take it. Sorry about that. And listen—I apologize if I stuck my nose in where it didn't belong. It's just that...well...the look on that poor man's face just got to me. That's all.” She let out a sigh and waited for a response, and she handed him the key.

Instead of speaking, Alec's eyes searched her face. What was he thinking?

* * *

He took the key from her, but instead of pocketing it, he gave her hand a gentle tug, catching her off guard. She stumbled toward him and placed her palms against his chest to keep from falling. His heart pounded against her hand.

He gripped her arms gently, then gathered her against his chest. Wrapping his arms around her, he leaned down and whispered, his breath warming her ear, “You did an incredibly sweet thing for Uncle Emmett.”

Sarah should've pushed away, but she liked the feel of his strong arms around her. The scent of his cologne tangled in the threads of his button-down shirt, and the rhythmic beating of his heart seeped through her, patching cracks and empty spaces in her heart.

She needed to get a grip. It was only a hug of gratitude. Nothing more.

But, deep down, if she cared to admit her true feelings, she'd confess the hug felt like more...at least, to her.

And she wasn't quite sure how to handle that. She wasn't going to allow herself to fall for her landlord. A man who was battling his own issues. Somehow, though, she needed to convince her heart of that decision.

Chapter Six

S
arah's decision wasn't going to make Alec happy. And he had a valid reason for not wanting to get involved with teens again, but what choice did she have? Surely she could get him to see reason. Besides, it was only for the night. So where was the harm in that?

But she couldn't shake the vulnerability she'd seen in his eyes that first day of the program when he'd shared his past. Maybe it would be all right as long as she kept the boys away from him. And they were such good kids, too. Definitely not troublemakers.

Sarah sat in the bentwood rocker in Daniel and Toby's living room and dug her bare toes into the beige carpet. Despite the hand-stitched quilt thrown over the back of the chair, she could feel the holes in the caning.

Screams and laughter from the other kids in the mobile-home park filtered in through the open window. She'd have to remember to close it once the boys were done gathering their things, but for now it cleared the stuffy air tinged with humidity, canned air freshener and despair.

Family photos in dollar-store frames hung on the paneled wall above the worn flowered couch with wooden arms. Embroidered throw pillows reminded her of the ones she'd seen at Alec's uncle's house. A laptop sat on a scarred end table next to the couch.

Her heart went out to Nancy, the boys' grandma. She was doing the best she could on her limited income. After losing her daughter and son-in-law at Christmas, she'd been trying to make ends meet for them while waitressing—that is, until the restaurant where she'd worked closed.

Judging by the worn, outdated furnishings and Toby's shirts and shorts that appeared to be a size too small, money wasn't stretching very far.

Daniel and Toby came into the living room with bulging backpacks slung over their shoulders. Daniel reached behind the couch, unplugged the cord and stuffed the computer into his backpack. “We're ready.”

Sarah closed the windows, followed the boys outside and waited while Daniel locked the front door.

Less than ten minutes later, Sarah pulled into her driveway. Her heart sank. The open garage door revealed Alec's luxury sedan parked in the left bay. Even though she couldn't see him, he couldn't be too far away.

Maybe they could make a mad dash for the apartment without him catching them. But she wasn't doing anything wrong. Not really.

She shut off the ignition and dropped her keys in her purse. Tossing a smile at the boys, she jerked her head toward the house. “Come on, guys. I'll give you the fifty-cent tour.”

They scrambled out of the car, grabbed their backpacks and followed her to the porch. She reached her door about the same time as Alec's opened and he stepped outside.

Dressed in khaki cargo shorts and a navy T-shirt, he nodded at her and flashed a quick smile. But the moment he caught sight of the boys, the smile disappeared under the weight of his puckered brows. Lines bracketed his thin lips.

Sarah smiled. “Hey, Alec. You remember Daniel and Toby, right? From the summer outreach program?”

Nodding, Alec thrust his hands in his pockets. “Boys.”

“Mr. Seaver.” Daniel lifted a hand in greeting.

“A word, Sarah?”

“Sure, no problem.” She turned and handed Daniel her set of keys. “Hey, guys, give us a minute, will you? Head upstairs and make yourselves at home. There are cold drinks in the fridge. I'll order pizza as soon as I'm done talking with Alec.”

Daniel studied them a minute, then reached for the keys. Neither said a word as they took the stairs two at a time. Once they unlocked the door and let themselves inside, she steeled her spine and faced Alec. “What's up?”

With his back pressed against the porch railing, he folded his arms over his chest and crossed his ankles. The intensity of his stare made her want to squirm, but she refused to be intimidated. The boys needed her today, and it
was
only temporary.

Sliding her sunglasses to the top of her head, she kept her tone casual, repeating, “You wanted a word?”

He nodded toward her closed door. “What are they doing here?”

“Their grandma fell off a chair and broke a hip. Daniel called me from the hospital, very upset.”

“So why are they here?”

“She's their sole caregiver, so I brought them home with me. With her permission, of course. They're tired, so they're spending the night here to get some rest since I have stuff to do to prep for tomorrow's cooking lesson.”

“No.”

“No, what?”

“No, the boys aren't staying here.” Even though Alec didn't raise his voice, the “my word is final” tone in his voice set her teeth on edge.

Pausing a second to school her tone, she shot him a direct look that showed she refused to back down. “Yes, they are. They have nowhere else to go. They're minors.”

“What about CYS?”

She tossed her arms up. “Children and Youth? Seriously? Where's your heart?”

Alec's eyes narrowed. “Your lease states no one else is allowed to live here without prior permission from the landlord, which is me, in case you've forgotten.”

“Of course not, but you're being a little ridiculous, don't you think?”

“My house, my rules.”

“Wow, total high-school flashback. Have some compassion, Alec. It's not like I tried to sneak them in or anything. Those boys have gone through a lot. They lost both parents in a car accident over Christmas and left everything they knew to move up here to Shelby Lake to live with their grandma. Nancy's been working hard to help them adjust. They're good kids. They've been a part of our church's youth group since they've moved here. They need someone they can trust, and that's me.”

She touched his arm. He tensed. Sarah dropped her hand to her side. “Listen, I know you dislike teenagers, but they are good boys, and it's only for tonight. Tomorrow we'll know more about what's going on with Nancy. Then, if need be, I'll stay at their place until she comes home. Or if it really stresses you out that much, I'll grab a few things and then head back to their place tonight.”

Alec ground his jaw and looked over her shoulder. Even though he hadn't changed positions, he remained totally wound. “I don't like it.”

“I didn't ask you to. They're teenagers, Alec—not toddlers. They're old enough not to cause any trouble. You didn't seem to mind when Ella and Ava spent the night with me last weekend.”

“It's not the same. Little kids like your nieces at least are still learning right from wrong. Teenagers
choose
right from wrong.”

“Daniel is a straight-A student. He bags groceries after school to save for college and to help his grandma. Toby is one of the sweetest kids I've met. Since they've moved here, they've come to trust me, and I won't turn my back on them.”

Was it only a couple of days since Alec had hugged her after she'd helped his uncle? She'd really thought their relationship had turned a corner and the teens were growing on him. She was a fool for thinking he'd changed.

Instead, he was acting like a jerk.

With her head throbbing and stomach growling, she pushed past him.

Alec reached out and grabbed her elbow. “Sarah, wait.”

She stopped, but she didn't turn around, needing a second to temper the words scalding her tongue.

After a moment, Alec pushed away from the railing and moved in front of her, holding up a hand. “Listen, I'm sorry—I overreacted.”

At least they agreed on something. “Ya think?”

He ignored her jab. “Do you know what it's like to lose everything?”

“Yes, I do. Even though I haven't experienced the tragedies you've endured, I do know the ache of having your life changed. I refuse to live life in a bubble, afraid of getting hurt again. I'm really sorry about what you've gone through, but you can't paint all teenagers with the same brush. I lost my best friend in high school, but I still create friendships. I had my heart broken, but that doesn't mean I've given up on getting married someday.”

Alec headed for his apartment. With his hand on the doorknob, he turned and gave her a long look. “Be careful. Don't be too trusting. I'd hate for you to get hurt.”

She watched him disappear into his house. The man confused her, running hot and cold. Half the time he seemed as though he barely tolerated her presence, but then he said things like not wanting to see her get hurt. Didn't he realize he was the one she needed to be careful around? The way her heart pounded and her stomach fluttered when he was around proved he had the potential to hurt her more than anyone else.

* * *

Flames shot through the grate, lapping the sizzling meat. Alec painted the chicken breasts with his homemade barbecue sauce. The rich honey-vinegar mixture made his mouth water and stomach growl.

He speared the chicken with more force than necessary and scowled when a chunk of meat fell between the grate into the coals. Great—he'd overcooked it. Within seconds flames devoured the piece, charring it beyond recognition. That's how he felt—burned, charred and definitely scarred.

Shaking away the feeling of bleakness that had crept over him since his argument with Sarah last night, he carried the platter of poultry through the sliding glass patio door into the kitchen.

After spending the past fifteen minutes in the heat of the afternoon over a hot grill, the cool, air-conditioned room was welcome relief. He set the platter on the table and headed for the sink.

Gran stood at the stove, humming to herself. He recognized the melody as a hymn she sang often, one that talked of God's love, rich and pure.

For as long as he could remember, she'd played the piano at the Shelby Lake Community Church. When he was a little kid, visiting during the summer, he'd sat beside her while she practiced on Saturday mornings. His feet swinging beneath the bench.

Gran would hum as her fingers played the notes. Before long, he was copying her movements. As he grew older, he was one of those odd kids who actually enjoyed piano lessons. Then, in high school, he'd picked up the guitar.

As a child, he spent hours sitting on the floor in Gran and Granddad's den leafing through their old hymnal collection. Granddad would patiently explain the history behind the lyrics and music.

Alec had thought Granddad knew everything. Nowadays, when he visited him in the nursing home, Granddad didn't even know Alec's name. He could blame the Alzheimer's destroying his memory for that.

He washed and dried his hands, then ran a wet paper towel over his heated face. “Gran, why so much chicken? Expecting an army?”

The doorbell rang.

Gran stopped humming. “Get that, would you, honey?” She dropped a shucked ear of corn into a pot of boiling water.

Alec tossed the paper towel into the trash can and headed for the foyer. Opening the heavy oak door, he stared at Sarah, Daniel and Toby standing on the front porch.

He hadn't seen them since yesterday. What were they doing here?

Sarah wore a green sundress that complemented her eyes and gave her skin a healthy glow. He scowled. He didn't care what she wore or how she looked. Finding his voice, he asked, “May I help you?”

Sarah flashed him a bright smile as if her anger from yesterday had been a figment of his imagination. “You could let us in. We've been invited for dinner.”

Gran joined him, drying her hands on a dish towel. “Alec, who's at the door?” Spying her guests, she edged in front of him and smiled. “Sarah. Boys. Come in, come in. Alec, where are your manners? Step back and give them some room.”

Alec jerked his head toward the kitchen. “Gran, may I talk to you a moment?”

Gran ignored his request and turned back to her guests, ushering them into the house. “Come in. No need to stand outside in this sweltering heat.”

“Thanks for having us.” Sarah lifted her nose. “Something smells great.”

As Sarah sauntered past, he caught a whiff of her perfume. He really had to stop paying attention to that.

Gran showed them to the living room. “Make yourselves comfortable. I'll be right with you.”

As soon as Sarah and the boys were settled, Gran grabbed Alec by the arm and pulled him to the kitchen. Even though he was a good foot taller and outweighed her by at least fifty pounds, he felt six years old all over again.

Once the door swung closed behind them, Alec faced Gran. “You invited them for dinner?” At Gran's nod, he continued. “Why didn't you say something earlier?”

“Why does it matter?” Her voice remained calm, almost placating.

“It does to me.”

Gran's eyes narrowed. “Give me a good reason why Sarah and those boys shouldn't be here, and I'll ask them to leave. Sarah has her hands full with the outreach program and all the work she's been doing at Emmett's. Now she's helping out Nancy—who happens to be a friend, by the way—by caring for those boys. I figured inviting them to dinner was the least I could do. If you don't care to eat with us, then you're welcome to leave.”

He stared. “You're kicking out your own grandson?”

Gran shook her head. “No, I'm giving you a choice. You're always welcome here. If you want to stay for dinner, that's fine, too, but you won't be rude to my guests. Those boys are going through a tough time right now. Get to know them. You'll see they're nothing like Justin. Stop letting your past cloud your judgment, young man.”

Alec held up his hands. “Let's not get into that again.”

Young man.

Those boys in the living room were young men. Not him. Not anymore. Haggard and worn-out, he felt every one of his thirty-two years. He spun around one of the kitchen chairs and straddled it. A dull ache thumped at his temples. He rubbed his forehead.

Gran moved behind him and placed her hands on his shoulders, squeezing gently. “You don't have to like them being here, but you won't be rude, either. You know, Alec, our family has had its share of tragedies, but we managed to get through them with God's help. Maybe it's time you asked Him for guidance.”