Storms of Passion (7 page)

“You may not have noticed me with the sign in front of my nose.” His smile revealed a full deck of pearly whites. “But you’re here now. So all’s well that ends well. Can I walk you back to the Roost?”

“Thanks, but no. I’m fine. I think I’ll pick up the pace again.” With his nearness making her jittery, she was eager to escape. “I told Ethel, she the owner of the Mariner’s Roost…” His grinned caused a flush of warmth over her cheeks. “But of course, you probably already know that.” She paused again to catch her suddenly missing breath. “I told her I would only be an hour and she’s holding dinner.”

As she turned to go, his hand touched her arm. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Vivian.”

Vivian glanced from his face to his hand on her arm before returning to meet his eyes. His feathered touched caressed her skin. “It’s nice to meet you, too.” Quelling her melting insides at just beholding this handsome rouge of a man, she held her hand out in a departure shake. Was it her imagination or did he hold her hand a fraction too long?

“Firm grip.” Tuck smiled, letting go of her hand.

This man sure knows how to douse a good mood. “Tall with a firm grip. Don’t get many of us in these parts do you?” She raised a brow before turning away, placing the ear buds back in place.

“None, like you.” Marston, for whom she had forgotten was there, stepped forward to hold out his hand. “Marston Miles, nice to meet you.”

Vivian shook his hand, and then quickly waved at them both as she turned to leave. She wanted to look over her shoulder for one last glance at the handsome Tuck, but knew that would be too obvious.

****

Marston stood beside Tuck, watching Vivian run. “Hoo, ahh.” He showed Tuck a thumbs-up. “Just the sight of that curved and luscious roundness tips me into over-drive. What a piece!”

“Go home, you little punk.” Tuck shook his head, no remorse for the younger man. He despised Marston since he was a wee lad, climbing up the family tree to piss on a cat. To Tuck, Marston’s actions were worse than being sprayed by a skunk—for the cat and him too, since he had to wash the cat. “Ever try to bathe a cat?”

“Hey, when ya gonna get over that? I was a kid for Christ’s sake.”

Tuck didn’t bother responding. He turned on his heel and headed for his SUV, thinking of Vivian and wondering why she seemed to be stuck in his thoughts.

****

Vivian second guessed everything from coming here to what would have happened if she hadn’t came as she soaked in the claw-foot tub that evening in her, oh-so-beautiful room. Staring at the dormer window, now shuttered for the evening, her emotions were like a yo-yo since setting foot on the plane this morning. One moment as high as a kite, flying with happiness and freedom that she was doing something on her own—to plummeting back to Earth, convinced she was the biggest looser for having no one to share her life with.

She was accustom to small towns, living in rural farm country like she did, but she soon learned the definite difference between small town and rural. Her little cottage sat on a small parcel of land completely surrounded by homesteads, and people tended to keep their distance unless they knew you, and even then your space was your own. After only a few hours in this town, she could tell it was similar to what her authors wrote about—people wanting to know you and get to know you. They were bold and friendly, which made her shy and apprehensive to their forward ways, yet she hope she they wouldn’t make the wrong assumption. She didn’t want to give off the wrong impression. Anxiety swirled in Vivian’s stomach as she soaked in the tub.

Vivian wrapped a large, fluffy towel around her and pulled out her nightdress from the luggage bag. She then called Marcy to let her know she had arrived. “Well, take it for what it is,” Marcy said. “It’s all part of the adventure.”

“I suppose. Yeah, I guess, you’re right. Vivian knew she had to open up to the experience. While believing she should live the way others thought to be right, she lost herself in the process. Something as essential as to who she is—who she needs to be.

Marcy laughed. “Of course I’m right. I am a mom of two boys.”

She said goodbye to her friend before crawling between the Egyptian cotton sheets, so crisp and clean.
Heavenly
.

Chapter Five

The smell of bacon wafted under the closed door, announcing breakfast the next morning. Ethel greeted Vivian with a plate piled high with the fluffiest scrambled eggs she had ever laid eyes upon, or taste buds, with a side of homemade hash browns. Thick-cut toast in wedges diamonded the platter. The scent of Lilac mixed with the aroma of breakfast, lured Vivian’s eyes to a large bouquet of flowers. The beautiful native flowers were full of color and fragrance.

Vivian smiled at the lovely set table. “Oh, they’re beautiful.” With both hands hovering at the end of the bouquet, she thrust her face into the blooms to inhale their perfume.

“The MacLean’s sent them,” Ethel said, pausing to lift a hand to pat her perfect bun at the base junction of her neck and spine. “Apparently Lynette feels bad about the mix-up yesterday. Seems you and Tucker missed one another at the airport. Anyway, Billy brought them around this morning.”

Touched by the gesture, Vivian buried her nose back in the flowers. “Tucker? Billy?”

Ethel’s hands returned to her side, brushing the flour from her skirt. “Tucker, he likes to be called Tuck, he’s Lynette’s son, and Billy, is one of Daniel’s boys, Randy’s brother.”

Vivian reluctantly left the bouquet to take a seat at the table, wondering if Ethel would join her or continue to hover.

“You know Lynette?” Ethel’s brow rose.

Vivian nodded as Ethel gave her the scoop on the MacLean’s. “Lynette is married to Randy MacLean. Tucker and Nathaniel are their boys. Tucker ran off to be some big shot, while Nathaniel stayed and married that pretty Emily from down the harbor. They have two kids now. Lynette quite likes being a grandmother.”

As Ethel paused in thought, though her face did not change expression and her eyes never wavered, Vivian scooped a heaping helping of eggs on her fork, and savored the flavor.
Delicious
.

“Maria and Matthew, those are the names of the kids. Almost escaped me for a moment or two. They’re named after Lynette’s folks. Daniel is Randy’s brother and he has four children, Billy being the youngest. All except Tucker, they all work one way or another in the family business, but now the big shot is back. Taken down a notch or two he is, if you ask me and rightly so. His folks have him working in the business, seems there’s always a spot for one more.”

Ethel wiped her hands on the dish cloth and then tossed it on the sink’s ledge. Vivian pulled a chair out for Ethel to begin her breakfast, but she wasn’t done her story.

“They say Tuck has some talent. He did make me some brochures and put the Inn on that spider’s web. You know that computer place.”

About to correct the older woman who seemed out of touch with the modern age, Vivian changed her mind. Trying to educate the matron on the World Wide Web would be a lost cause. Interested though she may be in the information she gleaned from Ethel, Vivian was eager to meet Lynette and didn’t want to be jaded in a first impression. Taking a different tact, she changed the subject. “Do you have any other guests staying with you?”

“Oh, yes, I have the Parsons, the Matthews, the Jordans, and of course, you. Typically, there are four new couple’s every two weeks, but you being a single means there’s just seven guests this go round. I must say I’m grateful to the MacLean’s business as it keeps my Inn running. But you slept later than the rest today and they’ve already left to see the sights.”

Vivian’s gaze flicked to her tasty breakfast as it turned cold while she continued to listen to Ethel’s rant.

“Lynette and I make sure everyone is well equipped with maps and such to go off exploring, but we just didn’t know what to do with you, travelling by yourself and all. It’s not like one of those couples could to take you along and it seemed wrong to book any tours for a single. Well, we just didn’t know what to do.”

Never feeling as alone as she did at that moment, Vivian forced what she hoped was a pleasant smile. Obviously Ethel thought Vivian to be some sort of defect travelling alone. Perhaps the modern woman didn’t exist in MacIntosh?

“Well.” Vivian sighed and folded her napkin. Having suddenly lost her appetite, she rose from her chair, “I don’t want to keep everyone, being that I overslept. I’ll find my own way over to the MacLean’s.”

“Billy said to tell you to drop by the house and Lynette would take you to the warehouse for a tour,” Ethel said as Vivian left the kitchen.

****

His mother fussed about the kitchen giving orders and writing notes on her to-do list. “You’ll take Vivian to the warehouse today and then show her some of the sights.” Lynette turned to Tuck before leaving to begin her errands. “I should be here when she comes by though, as I don’t expect to be too long.”

“Much as I would love to play tour guide, Ma, I can’t.” He held up a finger before his mother uttered another word. “One, it’s not part of my job description, despite how often you want to change it on your own whim.” He held up a second finger. “And two, I have a mountain of work to get to and unless you have another IT fella on the side, I guess, I’m your man to get that done.” Booking no further conversation, he headed downstairs to the office.

“It’s nothing that can’t wait, can it?” His mother followed him to the stairs. “She’s all by herself for heaven’s sake. I feel bad for her. She sounded like such a nice lady on the phone and I want her to have a good time. I can’t ask Nate, it’s not right with him being married. You’re not married.” Leave it to his mother to state the obvious. “You go.”

“She’s a big girl, Ma. Someone who obviously didn’t need her hand held to get here and would likely resent it anyway if I offered.”

“Listen here, Tucker Michael MacLean.”

Oh, no, I’m in trouble now if she’s pulling out my full name
.

“Whatever you have to do can wait. Clients are important. You have making up to do for yesterday, so you’ll find the time to show her around.”

“Ma, she booked the trip on her own.”

“Don’t you sass me.” She pointed a finger at him, her other hand wrapped tight around the purse slung over her shoulder.

“Ma, I’m not seven. All I’m saying is she chartered the trip. She went to the effort of finding us on-line and booked a two-week holiday that included learning the skills necessary to sail as part of a crew. We always schedule enough free time before and after to accommodate the necessity for site-seeing and the boat trip. I’m sure she can manage.”

His mother’s face softened into a smile, and he knew he had lost the battle. “Just offer, okay? If she says no, fine. You’re off the hook. But make the offer to show her around.”

Tuck sighed, holding up his hands in surrender. “Fine, you win.” He continued down the stairs. “Suppose I’ll have to foot the bill for this too,” he mumbled. “Flowers weren’t enough…”

“What’s that?”

“Nothing, Ma, nothing. See you later.”

Tuck didn’t think he had to be a companion simply because Vivian didn’t bring one.
All this fuss for some woman who came alone.
Spending unnecessary cash was no longer part of Tuck vernacular. “No one else gets this kind of treatment.” He argued plaintively for his own hearing.

“Did you say something?” his mother called from the top of the stairs. When he didn’t answer, he heard her footsteps move toward the kitchen door. “See you in just a bit.”

Tuck heard the squeak of the door as his mother left the house. His computer monitor binged, announcing more e-mail. No longer interested in conquering the mountain of paperwork on his desk, he stood, leaning his hands on the mahogany table, letting his head swing between his shoulder blades. The descending silence reminded him of the one project he wanted to get done while the house was deserted. He shook his head, welcoming the excuse to do something besides sit at his computer. Taking the stairs two at a time, he went outside and into the garage to grab his tool belt.

The proximity of the kitchen door to the flight of stairs to his office echoed the sounds of the coming and goings of everyone through the stairwell. It wasn’t so much the constant banging of the screen door that irked his nerves as the squeaking that sounded like bagpipes on their initial sigh when the kitchen door opened. While motivated he might as well take care of the banging.

The old family house was a parcel of additions. It had been added to with each generation of MacLean’s living in it. His generation had just finished modifying, renovating, and expanding the old home to include offices in the basement for the business.

Many, many years ago, Old Captain MacLean, the original, did all his business from his ship or in the Tavern. Back then, business was completed anywhere from the wharf to the kitchen table, never ironically enough in the actual warehouse where the ships were built, restored, and repaired. Upon Tuck’s re-entry to the business, his family had discussed building a loft in the warehouse for offices and such, but his mother was so use to working at the kitchen table, directing family traffic, and taking care of family members that she couldn’t get everything done from the warehouse—so far away.

So far away…just down the road. “Not even a five-minute walk,” he muttered, pushing the garage door open with his shoulder. Even this door had a mind of its own, loose in the winter allowing drafts and powdery snow to seep inside, and in the warmer weather it stuck. Inside the garage he continued his internal rant.
Comply with the boss
. He rolled his eyes heavenward, praying for patience. Though his father ran the company, he left all the details to his wife and from there she delegated. It seemed his father’s main objective was keeping Lynette happy, and he and his brother, Nate, followed suit.

The rusted toolbox banged against his leg when he retraced his steps back to the porch. No matter how much grease was applied the damned thing continued to squeak. Tuck decided new hinges were in order. Even that small task wouldn’t be easy because they had to have the right
look
.