Chapter 2
Warmth seeped into Vanessa’s palm, chasing away the chill clinging to her bones. Something about the way this man stared at her, earnestness in his deep, blue eyes, made words impossible to form in her brain.
Frankie whined, wiggling to be free of her confinement.
Humor ticked up the corner of Dax’s mouth. “He doesn’t look happy.”
Sliding her hand away from his, she hoisted Frankie in her arms and placed a quick kiss on the dog’s head. “It’s been a long few days followed by one hell of a welcome home. We’re both a little shaken.”
The older woman from behind the desk stood and hurried over. “You poor things. Both of you. Why don’t you take a seat and tell Dax and me everything? I can grab a bowl of water for your dog. Go ahead and set him down. What’s his name?”
“This is Frankie,” she said, setting the little ball of muscle and fur on the ground.
The woman crouched and scooped Frankie against her. “Hi, Frankie. I’m Peggy. And your name, dear?”
“Oh right. Sorry. I’m Vanessa Kemp. I just moved to town, today actually.”
Frowning, Dax tilted his head to the side the same way Frankie did. “Kemp? Any relation to Earl Kemp?”
Her grandfather’s name created a lump of emotion that lodged in her throat. “He was my grandpa.”
Peggy’s mouth formed a small O, and she abandoned the dog to fold her into a hug. “I’m sorry for your loss, honey. Earl was a good man. Loved by everyone in this town. We’ll all miss him so much.”
Vanessa blinked to keep the unexpected tears from falling. The trauma from earlier, combined with her exhaustion and excitement, leaving her on shaky emotional ground. “Thank you.”
Dax swept his cowboy hat from his head and clasped it over his heart with his big hand. “My condolences.”
The gesture was so small and simple, but the clear respect he paid to the man she loved twisted her gut. “I appreciate that.”
“Are you moving into his place?” he asked.
“That’s the plan,” she said, a short, high-pitched laugh lifting her voice to an unnatural place. “But I wasn’t expecting to show up and find someone inside.”
As if suddenly reminded of why she was there, Peggy hooked an arm around her shoulders and led her to the couch where Dax had been seated. She’d hoped he’d reclaim his seat beside her, but he remained on his feet with his arms crossed over his broad chest, hat now dangling from his hand.
“Go on and tell us what happened,” Peggy said.
She drew in a shuddering breath, her earlier fear coming back to hit her over her head like an anvil. “Frankie and I just got to town. It’s my first time here, and I was so excited to see the place my mom grew up—the home my grandparents shared.”
Dax’s dark eyebrow hooked toward his hairline, but he didn’t interrupt.
“We got inside, and Frankie started growling,” she continued. “I figured he was spooked by the sounds of the old house. But then someone flew down the stairs, knocked me off my feet, and ran out of the door.”
“Did you call the police?”
“Yes. Sheriff’s deputies came and took my statement then checked the house.
Everything seemed fine, but I’m not sure how safe I feel.
I’m already a little uneasy being in a new place, but now…
” She shrugged, hating the anxiety snaking up her spine.
Moving to Cloud Valley had been a huge leap of faith, and now she was second-guessing uprooting her life and starting over from scratch.
Maybe she should sell the house and land, pack Frankie into the car, and head back to Chicago. Back to the concrete jungle with its sky-high buildings and friends she’d left behind.
Sensing her worry, Frankie hopped onto her lap and nudged her hand with his wet nose.
“I understand how upsetting that must have been,” Dax said, cutting into her thoughts. “But this is a safe town with good people. I’d hate to think some clown messing around in a house that’s sat empty for weeks would chase you away. Not if you really want to be here.”
She tucked her bottom lip between her front teeth. The past years of pain and grief returned in a flash. So much loss. So much heartbreak.
She needed a fresh start like she needed her next breath. Tucking her tail between her legs and giving up before she’d really tried wasn’t an option.
At least not yet.
“I really want to be here,” she said. “But not if I’m afraid someone will burst into my house or be waiting for me when I come inside. It’s difficult enough to find comfort in a new place. I’m not sure how to do that now, when this space has already been violated.”
“Anyone would feel the same way,” Peggy said. “Sunrise Security can offer several services to secure your home and maintain your safety as well as your peace of mind. The owner, Madden, had to step out of the office. But we can go over some options with you until he gets here.”
“Why waste time?” Dax said, covering his close-cropped dark hair with a hat of the same color. “I can head to your place, see what we’re working with, and suggest some things we can do to help.”
The thought of being alone with the devilishly handsome cowboy made heat creep up the back of her neck.
Calm down, girl.
A good-looking man was the last thing she needed to focus on. He was just offering to do his job, which was exactly the reason she’d come here.
“Is that a good idea?” Peggy asked. “Madden would want to meet the newest resident of Cloud Valley before she decides if she’d want to use our services or not.”
The pointed look Peggy aimed at Dax had Vanessa bouncing her gaze between the two of them. She was clearly missing something, but she couldn’t bring herself to care about someone else’s problems right now.
A low, menacing rumble poured from Dax’s throat that should have her running instead of almost swallowing her tongue. Maybe they should wait for the owner. Hopefully he was a short bald man with a beer gut and a wedding band.
“Why waste time?” Dax spit out. “She needs to know what her options are. I can give her a better idea of what we can do when actually at her house, not sitting here giving her generic information. As long as that’s what she wants.”
Peggy struggled against a grin. “Whatever you think’s best. I’ll let Madden know what’s going on when he gets back.”
“Well?” Dax turned expectant eyes her way and butterflies flapped like crazy in her stomach. The hard lines of his face broadcasted his irritation, but he softened his features as he waited for her response.
She couldn’t turn back now, couldn’t let fear of the unknown—or of the hot security specialist—rule her life. Fate had brought her here, and she wouldn’t walk away from the life she craved. “You want to ride with me or meet me there?”
* * *
Dax stepped out of his truck and slammed the door shut.
The earlier downpour had slowed to a lazy drizzle.
He waited for Vanessa to lead the way to the porch before walking up the stone pathway.
Weeds wedged between the loosened rocks, cracks showing the lack of maintenance that had poisoned a lot of properties in the area.
The ugly little dog with his scrunched face and oversized ears stared at him, his breaths wheezing from his nose.
“He okay?” Dax asked.
Vanessa glanced over her shoulder at the dog before unlocking the front door and stepping inside. “He’s fine. He always breathes like he’s about to drop dead from a heart attack.” She took a few more steps and pivoted to face him, twisting her hands in front of her.
He wished he could wipe away her anxiety, but nothing would erase the memory of what had greeted her when she’d first stepped into this house. But he could put measures in place so it wouldn’t happen again.
“So, do you want to look around?” she asked. “I could give you a tour, if you need it, but honestly, I haven’t even gotten the lay of the land yet. My boxes are still in the car.”
“Seriously?” He shifted to get a better glimpse of the living room to his side.
She swished her lips to the side and lifted one shoulder. “I didn’t have time. I parked the car, came inside to check the place out, then was blindsided. After you leave, I’ll bring in a few things. At least enough to get me through the rest of the day.”
He shouldn’t worry about what she’d do with her time, but he couldn’t help but be intrigued by her.
She’d admitted this was her first time in Cloud Valley.
Why had Mr. Kemp left her his home instead of the son who’d lived in town his whole life?
And what had made her leave everything behind to live in a place she’d never stepped foot?
A strong desire to know more about her kept him talking. “Did you bring more than what’s in your SUV? Furniture? A giant television?”
“Nope. I brought what I couldn’t leave behind and figured anything else I’d need would be here waiting for me.”
He glanced up the stairwell, anger tightening his hands into fists at his sides. “I can install a top-of-the-line security system. Will keep out anyone you don’t want in here. Maybe a camera at the front door to see who’s coming around.”
The lines of her face relaxed for the first time since he’d set eyes on her, a small smile lifting her full lips. “That’d make me feel a lot safer.”
“Good. Do you mind if I poke around a bit? Make sure all the windows are secure and locks are in working order?” Okay, so checking locks and windows wasn’t usually on the checklist, but she had no one looking out for her.
Unless her uncle planned to stop by and offer his assistance, but he didn’t foresee that happening. Chip Kemp wasn’t exactly known around town for his warm and fuzzy nature. If he’d never showed a nurturing side to his own daughter, Dax doubted he’d make an appearance for Vanessa.
She wrapped her arms around her middle. “I’d appreciate that. Since I don’t know where anything is anyway, I’ll follow you.”
He started up the stairs and Frankie leapt into action, nearly tripping him as he mistook his movement for a race to the top. He gripped the oak railing and waited for the little rat to win the race before continuing, the old steps squeaking with each movement.
“Sorry about that. He’s got a lot of pent-up energy in him.”
“I’ve got plenty of experience with energetic animals, it’s the size that I don’t know how to handle. He’s more like a fat cat than a dog.”
Vanessa laughed. “Don’t let him hear you say that. He’s very sensitive.”
“Dogs aren’t supposed to be sensitive,” he said, scowling down at the panting dog with the tongue hanging out the side of his mouth.
Frankie’s tongue snapped back into his mouth, and he lifted his stubby snout in the air.
“See, you offended him.”
“I’ll buy him a bone later. For now, let’s check out these windows.”
He poked into one of the four closed doors to find a small room with blue walls that matched the blanket on the twin bed.
He crossed over the threadbare rug to the lone window.
Satisfied it was secure, he repeated the process for what he assumed to be the primary bedroom and a bathroom before dipping inside the remaining space.
“Oh my God.” Vanessa’s voice was quiet, and awe-filled.
The tears hovering over her dark lashes caught him off guard. “Are you okay?”
“I think this was my mom’s room. It doesn’t look like Grandpa changed anything after she left.” She stepped past him and stood in the center of the room, rubbing her fingers against her collarbone.
He studied the light pink walls and white-eyelet cover over the bed.
A tall jewelry box collected dust on the long, white dresser and browned tape held up faded posters all around them.
He didn’t know anything about her mom or their relationship, but her reaction kept his mouth closed as she took it all in.
Nothing but the sound of Frankie’s heavy breathing filled the room. Dax watched her as she lightly touched the bed then opened the closet door.
“She left clothes hanging in here. Shoes on the floor. There are boxes stacked to the ceiling. Parts of her I never got a chance to know are waiting for me to uncover, and I’m not sure if I’m ready.”
Her tortured tone had him forgetting logic or reason, or hell, even acting appropriate with a woman he’d just met, and he made his way over to the closet.
He rested a hand on her shoulder and squeezed.
“All this has been here for years. It’s not going anywhere.
Take whatever time you need. One day, you’ll be ready.
And when you are, it will all be waiting for you. ”
“Thank you for that. I don’t even know you and somehow you managed to say exactly what I needed to hear.”
“Good, and now that I’ve said what you needed to hear, let’s check out the rest of the property and see if there’s anything else you need me to do.”
She scrunched her brow, deepening the V between her eyes. “Where else would I need a security system besides the house?”
“You’ve got the barns. Not sure if anyone would venture in there, but we should visit the goats and make sure nobody’s messed with them.”
Her jaw dropped. “I have goats?”
He couldn’t help but laugh at her surprise. Vanessa Kemp was proving to be interesting as hell, and a feeling in his gut told him he hadn’t even scratched the surface.