Chapter 15 #3
She’d changed something in him, something he wasn’t sorry to see changed.
She’d smoothed out his bitter edges and given him reason to hope again.
Halfway up the stairs, he stopped short, astounded to realize he was falling in love with her.
He, the guy who’d sworn he was done with love, was suddenly on his way to being flat on his face in love again.
This time was different, though. This time he was falling for someone real and genuine and sexy as all get-out.
“Blaine?” With Laura in his arms, Owen looked down from the third-floor landing. “Everything okay?”
“Yep. I’m coming.” He delivered Holden to the apartment Owen and Laura shared on the third floor. Owen was pulling the covers over Laura’s shoulders when Blaine entered through the door Owen had left open for him.
“Let me know if you guys need anything,” Blaine said as he handed over the baby to his stepfather.
“Thanks for your help.” Owen kissed the baby’s forehead. “Heck of a time for Laura to get sick with the hotel opening this week. She’ll be in a panic about work.”
“It’ll all be fine. This is Gansett. People expect things to be laid-back.”
“That’s true. I’ll remind her of that when she wakes up having a panic attack.”
“Good luck,” Blaine said as he left Owen to take care of his family. Descending the stairs to the second floor, he looked for Sarah Lawry in each of the three bathrooms and found her in the last one he checked. “Sarah?”
The woman nearly jumped out of her skin, and Blaine berated himself for sneaking up on her. “Sorry to startle you.”
“Oh, hi, Chief Taylor. No apology needed. I’m jumpy by nature.”
Blaine was certain that years of abuse at the hands of her ex-husband had contributed to her jumpy nature. “Please, call me Blaine. How’re you doing?” He took in the faded blonde hair that she wore in a stylish bob and the gray eyes that were so much like her son’s.
“Very well. Busy getting the hotel ready to open. It’s so exciting to see it back in business. Mother and Dad have been so sad that it was closed since they retired a few years back. Thank goodness for Laura.”
Her chattiness astounded Blaine, who’d become accustomed to one-word answers and downcast eyes whenever he spoke to her. To see her emerging from her shell was nothing short of miraculous. “I was just with Laura, and it seems she’s come down with the flu that’s making its way around the island.”
“Oh no! Poor thing! It’s the worst possible time.”
“She said the same thing. Owen is with her and taking care of her and the baby.”
Sarah’s smile lit up her face, and Blaine caught a glimpse of the pretty young woman she’d been before her husband broke her spirit. “He’s so crazy about both of them. Never thought I’d see that happen.”
“Happens to the best of us eventually, I suppose.”
Sarah tilted her head to take a measuring look at him as only a mother could do. “Is that so?”
Blaine smiled and shrugged, unwilling to disclose his newfound feelings to anyone until he shared them with Tiffany. “I was wondering if I could ask a favor.”
“For you? Anything.”
“That’s very kind of you. There’s a woman in town who I think might benefit from your wisdom.”
“What wisdom do I have to share with anyone?”
“You left an abusive relationship.”
“Oh. That kind.”
“She’s recently come to the understanding that she can no longer be with the man who hurt her, but I worry about her wavering and going back to him. Next time, I worry he might kill her.”
“And you think I can help her?”
Blaine feared he might’ve made a misstep by bringing up this subject with her when she seemed to be doing so much better. “I do. You can tell her that it doesn’t get better. It only gets worse.”
A long moment passed while she considered what he’d said. “I’d be happy to talk to her if you think it would help.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
“When would you like to do it?”
“How about tomorrow?”
“That’d be fine, as long as the kids don’t need me to help with the baby.”
“I’ll call you, and we’ll set something up. Thanks again. I’ll let you get back to work.”
“Blaine?”
He turned back to her.
“You’re good at what you do.”
“Thank you,” he said, ridiculously pleased by her praise.
“Sarah!” A male voice boomed from the stairway to the third floor.
Sarah stood up a little taller and looked over Blaine’s shoulder, her face turning an intriguing shade of pink.
Blaine turned to find Stephanie’s stepfather Charlie Grandchamp in the hallway.
“Sorry,” Charlie said in the gruff, clipped tone he favored. “Didn’t realize you were busy.”
“It’s fine, Charlie. You know Chief Taylor?”
“Can’t say I’ve had the pleasure.”
“Good to meet you.” Blaine shook Charlie’s hand. “Heard a lot about you.”
“Bet you have.”
Blaine wasn’t surprised by the terse response to a police officer. “I’ve heard only good stuff,” Blaine said. “Stephanie and Grant speak highly of you.”
Charlie eyed him with skepticism that Blaine suspected was ingrained after his years in prison. “Nice to hear.”
“I won’t keep you folks,” Blaine said. “I know you’ve got work to do. I’ll be in touch, Sarah.”
“Thanks, Blaine.”