The Chesapeake Diaries Series 7-Book Bundle: Coming HOme, Home Again, Almost Home, Hometown Girl, Home for the Summer, The Long Way Home, At the River's Edge (49 page)

“You’ll be in for a tongue-lashing if she hears you used the O-word and her name in the same sentence,” Beck reminded her. “And she’s not alone, Dallas. She has an entire community looking out for her. But for the love of God, don’t let her know anyone’s keeping tabs on her. Heads would roll.”

“My lips are sealed.” Dallas stepped back to allow the car to pass. “But thanks, Beck. I do appreciate it, and I appreciate you letting me know.”

“Berry’s a legend in St. Dennis, Dallas, you know that. She’s a treasure.” He rolled up the window as he eased the cruiser on by.

Dallas waved and continued on down the road toward the Bay and Scoop, thinking how life sometimes took the oddest twists and turns. She remembered the summer when Gabriel Beck just sort of appeared in town, a sullen boy in his early teens who seemed to have it in for just about everyone who had the misfortune of crossing his path. It wasn’t long before she and the entire town heard that he’d been dumped off by his mother on the front porch of his unsuspecting father, Hal Garrity, who at the time was the chief of police. Back then, Beck was a wild child, the kid who bordered on bad but who never seemed
to cross that line. Somehow, he’d gone from being as close to juvenile delinquent status as any kid in St. Dennis ever had, to a respected officer of the law and a man beloved by his town, even by those who’d been plagued by his adolescent antics. Dallas was happy to see that life had turned out so well for Beck. She’d always liked him and his dad.

That’s how it is in places like this
, she thought as she took a seat on a wooden bench at the end of the path that looked out on the Bay.
People look after each other
.

It had never occurred to Dallas that Berry needed looking after, but she was pleased to know that someone cared enough to keep tabs. A lot of someones, she suspected. It was comforting to know that Berry would be checked up on after Dallas and Cody returned to California. Berry’s ego aside, it was clear that she wasn’t as strong as she’d been the last time Dallas had visited. The concept that Berry was, after all, human, and susceptible to the effects of time just like everyone else, was a foreign one. Dallas never thought of Berry as anything but hale and independent. If anyone could live forever, surely it would be Berry.

It bothered Dallas to think about a day when there’d be no Berry in St. Dennis, in her life.

Some other day
, she told herself, and pushed the thought aside.

It was hot sitting in the sun and she was getting a little cranky waiting for Berry and Cody.

“Well, how dumb am I to be sitting right outside an air-conditioned ice-cream parlor while I complain
about the heat?” she muttered. She picked up the bags from Bling and her shoulder bag, and went inside.

“Looks like someone’s been shopping.” Steffie was leaning on the counter near the cash register.

Dallas smiled and held up the bags. “I could really lose my head in that place.”

“Vanessa would be delighted to hear that.”

“The woman has fabulous taste. If Bling was in California, I’d be there every day.” Dallas paused near the menu board. “What do I want today?”

“I think you want something light but fruity and refreshing. Maybe the lemon meringue. It’s brand-new. Want a taste?”

“Sure.”

Steffie grabbed a plastic spoon from a cup and opened the freezer case. The spoon disappeared for a moment, then reappeared, a pale yellow confection mounded in its bowl. She handed the spoon over the top of the case to Dallas.

“Oh, man, that is truly heaven.” Dallas sighed after she’d licked the spoon clean.

“I just made it this morning. It has homemade lemon curd in it.”

“Sold. I’ll have two scoops.” Remembering the meal she’d had the night before, she added reluctantly. “No, better make it one. In a bowl, please.”

“How ’bout one generous scoop?”

“You’re the devil, aren’t you? The real one, the one who leads us into temptation …”

Dallas reached up for the bowl just as the door opened behind her. Expecting Berry and Cody, she
glanced over her shoulder, ready to admonish them for being late.

“Grant,” Steffie called from behind the counter, “you’re just in time to say hey to Dallas.”

“Hey, Dallas,” he repeated as if on autopilot.

“Grant.” Dallas forced a smile and hoped it didn’t look as forced as it felt. “How are you?”

“I’m good. Thanks.” He put a friendly hand on her shoulder, as anyone might do when greeting an old friend. “You’re looking good.”

“I’m good.” She nodded and tried to ignore the fact that, beneath her shirt, her skin was starting to warm at his touch.

“I heard you were in town.” Was he avoiding eye contact? Or was she? Either way, Dallas was okay with that.

“Since last week.” She nodded again, then told herself to stop. “Bobble-head” was not a good look for anyone.

“My daughter said you might be thinking about getting a dog.” His hand slid away—across her shoulder and down her back—as he walked past her to the counter. She relaxed slightly and exhaled a breath she hadn’t been aware she’d been holding.

“My son would like a dog, but there’s been no decision yet.”

“I’m sure Paige told you we have lots of adoptable dogs at the shelter.” He turned to his sister. “How ’bout a double chocolate malt with a dabble of raspberry and some chocolate sprinkles?”

“Oink,” Steffie muttered, and Grant laughed good-naturedly.

He’d always been like that, Dallas recalled as she
took a seat at a small table just inside the door. He’d always laughed easily and had a great sense of humor. Maybe that’s why she’d never forgotten what his laughter sounded like, or the way his mouth turned up when he smiled. Or the way he—

“Hey, Mom!” The door flew open and Cody burst through.

“Whoa, pal.” Dallas put an arm out to reach for him. “Take it easy. And quick, catch the door before it bangs against the—”

The door hit the wall.

“—wall.” She jumped up to grab it and pull it back. She held it while Berry came inside, then closed it quietly. “You owe Steffie an apology, Cody.”

“I’m sorry I let your door bang.” Cody didn’t look the least bit concerned but he sounded sincere. One out of two wasn’t bad, when you were dealing with a six-year-old.

“I forgive you,” Steffie told him solemnly. “Now come over here and sample this new flavor and tell me what you think of it.” She dipped into the case. “It’s chocolate chip fudge.”

“Sorry to be late, dear.” Berry sat her handbag on the chair next to Dallas’s bags from Bling. “The story hour ran late, and …” Behind her dark glasses, her eyes scanned the shop. A huge smile spread across her face when she saw the man leaning against the counter. “Why, is that Grant Wyler?”

“Just waiting here for you, Miss B.” Grant put down his bowl of ice cream and crossed the floor in two strides to plant a kiss on Berry’s cheek. “How’s my favorite pinup?”

“Oh, dear, I can’t believe you found those old photos
on the Internet.” Berry blushed prettily. “You’ll never let me live that down, will you?”

“Are you kidding? I printed them out,” Grant teased. “On glossy paper. Poster size. Got ’em hanging on my walls at home.”

“Oh, you do not.” Berry pretended to be flustered.

“Oh, I certainly do. Just the other day, I was thinking I’d have one made a little bigger for the waiting room at the clinic.”

“Grant Wyler, you’re just … naughty.” Berry laughed coquettishly.

“I’ve been called worse. Actually, I believe I’ve been called worse by you.”

“Never, dear boy.” Berry shook her head.

“What can I get for you?” Steffie addressed Berry.

“I’ll come up there and take a look.” Berry went to the case to look inside. Grant followed and grabbed his bowl of ice cream from the counter where he’d left it. When he returned to Dallas’s table, Cody was right behind him.

“Grant, this is my son, Cody Blair. Cody, this is Mr. …” She corrected herself. “Dr. Wyler. He’s Paige’s father. Do you remember Paige?”

Cody nodded. “You’re the veterern … vetererarian.”

“Veterinarian,” Dallas corrected.

“The dog doctor.” Cody looked up at Grant and extended his little hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Dallas smiled. It was always a surprise when your child remembered the manners he’d been taught. Her smile faded when Grant reached a hand to take Cody’s. Dallas remembered those hands …

“It’s nice to meet you, too, Cody,” Grant was saying as Dallas’s heart began to speed up just a little.

“You have lots of dogs and you give them to people who want them.”

“I run a shelter where we take care of dogs that are waiting for new homes. Cats, too,” Grant told him.

“Mom said maybe I could have a dog,” Cody said. “Maybe you have a dog for us.”

“Maybe I do. That’s up to your mom.”

“Actually, it’s really up to Berry, since it’s her house we’d be bringing a dog to.” Dallas tried to focus on a freckle in the middle of Grant’s forehead but she couldn’t help but meet his eyes. He held her gaze for a long moment before she blinked and looked away. Blue eyes. So very blue. She’d written a poem about his blue eyes when she was sixteen. It had been embarrassingly bad. She blushed at the memory.

Cody scrambled off his seat and ran to the counter, where Berry stood talking to Steffie.

“A dog’s a big responsibility.” Dallas cleared her throat. “I don’t know if Cody’s ready to take on that kind of responsibility.”

“Taking care of a pet is a great way to learn responsibility.” Grant leaned on the back of the chair that Cody had vacated and brought himself eye level with Dallas. “But of course, it’s up to you. And your aunt.”

“We need to give it some more thought, but thanks. If we decide to take on a pet, we’ll be sure to come to you first.” Even to herself, she sounded stiff and formal.

“Good. I think it would be great for your aunt to have a dog in the house with her.” He loaded ice
cream onto his spoon and raised it to his mouth, then licked the spoon clean. “A dog would make a great companion for her.”

“I don’t know that Cody would want to part with it when we leave.” She tried to look away, but couldn’t. She remembered that mouth, those lips.

“When do you suppose that’s going to be?” Grant asked as another spoonful of ice cream headed for his mouth. Dallas fought hard against remembering the many places where that mouth and those lips and those hands had been, once upon a time.

“I haven’t really thought about it.” She sat riveted to her chair, visions from her past dancing merrily in her head.
Shoo
, she demanded.
Go away. Go away now
.

Grant appeared to be about to say something else when Cody bounced back to the table.

“Aunt Berry is thinking about it,” he announced gleefully. “She said she would think about it today and she’s going to talk to you some more.” He pointed at his mother. “So you should talk now.”

“We’ll talk when we get home, Cody.” Dallas could feel Grant’s eyes on her. She looked up at him and tried to project calm, tranquillity.
Which is where being an actor comes in
, she mused. “Do we need to call first, if we wanted to pursue a dog through your shelter?”

“A call is always a good thing. Gives us a heads-up, a little time to look over the dogs that might be contenders.” Grant pulled his wallet from a back pocket and a business card from the wallet. He scribbled something on the back with a pen he took from the counter next to the cash register and handed the card
to Dallas. “Now you have all my numbers. The clinic, the shelter, my house, my cell.” He looked down into her eyes and added, “You can find me anytime you want me.”

“Good to know.” Dallas tucked the card into her pocket.

Berry approached the table with a generous scoop of peach ice cream balanced on top of a sugar cone.

“Delicious,” she declared after taking a nibble. “And doubly so since I don’t have to obsess about my weight anymore.”

“When did you ever obsess about your weight?” Dallas snorted. “I don’t recall you ever having a problem with your weight.”

“Perfection doesn’t come without a price, dear,” Berry said breezily.

“You’ve always been perfect in my eyes, Miss B,” Grant told her.

“You know, Grant, if I were twenty years younger …” Berry flashed a smile.

Dallas cleared her throat.

“All right, thirty years younger …” Berry paused, then waved her hand. “Oh, never mind.”

Dallas laughed and grabbed her bag from the floor. “I say we leave it right there.”

“Probably for the best,” Berry agreed, then tapped Grant on the shoulder. “We’ll let you know what we decide about the dog, dear.”

“I gave Dallas my numbers, so you can call anytime,” he told Berry.

“A fluffy white dog,” Cody said with emphasis on the color. “Aunt Berry would like a fluffy little white dog.”

“I’ll see what we can do for her,” Grant assured the boy.

“We’ll be in touch,” Dallas told him as they headed for the door.

“I’m counting on it.” Grant held the door, and closed it behind her after she passed through.

“Well, that was fun.” Steffie leaned on the counter after the door closed with a click.

“What was?” Grant turned to her, his face as impassive as he could make it appear while his heart was beating out of his chest.

Steffie laughed. “You are so not a good actor.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Please.” She rolled her eyes and lowered her voice. “ ‘Here are all my numbers. Now you can find me whenever you
want
me.’ ”

“You’re a jerk.” He grabbed a few napkins from the holder on the counter and left the shop, his sister’s “Love you, too,” trailing behind him.

He walked down to the water’s edge and watched the sailboats out on the Bay while he finished his ice cream, and tried to get his thoughts straight.

That he would run into Dallas while she was in town had been a given. St. Dennis wasn’t so big that they wouldn’t have bumped into each other at some point if she stayed for more than a few days. He’d known this and had mentally prepared himself for the day when it happened. At least, he thought he had.