Chapter 7 #2
“Got it.” She moved to stand in front of the sink, swiveling the faucets until the water was flowing at full strength. If there was a leak, she wanted to make sure that Noah found it before any potential buyer could demand money off the list price.
A few minutes later, she heard Noah climbing back up the stairs, and she switched them off, glancing over her shoulder. “Well?”
Noah crossed the floor to fold his arms on top of the bar. “I need to tack up some loose electrical lines and replace the caulking around the basement window. Minor stuff.”
“What about the leak?”
“There’s a loose joint. It needs to be replaced ASAP since it’s creating a puddle on the dirt floor next to the wall. Eventually, the water will weaken the foundation that’s already pretty sketchy.”
Jesse’s heart started to sink. “Are you saying I need a new foundation?”
“Actually, Bea remodeled her café a couple of years ago, replacing her side of the foundation and the cellar wall. A nice break for you, since it strengthened both buildings. Eventually, the new owner will have to replace the bricks, but I think you’ll be able to sell the place without doing a lot of work. ”
Jesse released a loud sigh. “I’ll be sure to thank her.”
“There’s no need,” he assured her. “Bea is always happiest when she’s helping someone else.”
“That’s very true.” Jesse stepped forward, leaning on the opposite side of the bar. “I’m going to miss her when I leave.”
“I hope she’s not the only one.”
Even with the width of the bar between them, she had leaned close to Noah.
Close enough to fully appreciate the startling blue of his eyes and the chiseled strength of his features.
He would never rival Parker in the beauty department, but there was something quietly compelling about him.
Hard to believe Kelly could have willingly walked away.
Was she staring? Jesse cleared her throat, battling back a blush. “Of course not. I’ll miss a lot of my old friends.”
“Me included, I hope,” he murmured, reaching out to stroke his fingers over her bare arm. “These are stunning.” He lightly traced a tattoo of shattered chains that encircled her wrists. “Do they have a certain meaning?”
Jesse studied the simple designs as if she was seeing them through fresh eyes.
To a stranger, they would appear to be a jumble of images that melded together more from the talent of the tattoo artists than any cohesive plan.
Kind of like her life, she wryly acknowledged.
A bizarre series of events patched together by random fate.
“They’re from my dreams,” she admitted. “Sometimes I’m obsessed by an image until I can get it out of my mind. The best way to do that is to have it inked onto my skin. I doubt that makes any sense to anyone but me.”
“Does it work?”
Jesse shrugged, not willing to admit how many early mornings she’d spent pacing the floor. Or how often she’d waken from a nightmare and impulsively packed her bags, driving to a new place and a new job.
“Not always, but it’s cheaper than therapy.”
He nodded, almost as if he understood her restless need to outrun her demons.
“I thought about therapy after Kelly left,” he said.
“What stopped you?”
“I told myself I didn’t have the time. And I most certainly didn’t have the money.”
She studied his features, which were carved with strong, clean lines. It was a face that suggested a quiet confidence rather than a flashy charm.
“You seem to be doing okay.”
“What choice do I have?” He leaned forward, peering deep into her eyes. “We take our blows and move forward, right? Although my moving forward has been stubbornly standing my ground, while you have been traveling around the world.”
“Hardly the world,” she protested.
“But you’ve never stopped moving.” His gaze lowered to her arm. “Is that what these represent?”
“What do you mean?”
“They’re all images of departing.” His fingers traced the tattoo on her forearm.
“These ravens flying from a tree.” He skimmed up to the tattoo she’d gotten during her time in Aspen.
“This sun setting over the mountains.” He pushed up the sleeve of her shirt.
“These footprints walking into the ocean.” His eyes darkened as a shiver raced through her, his fingers returning to trace the delicate shackles that encircled her wrist. “These broken chains.”
“Freedom,” she whispered.
“Ah.” There was a long silence; then Noah leaned even closer. Close enough to kiss. “I don’t suppose you want to have dinner tonight?”
The invitation came without warning, and Jesse abruptly straightened, putting space between them. Did Noah think she’d been flirting with him? Wait, had she been flirting with him?
Maybe.
It was all too easy to slip into old patterns.
“Thanks, but I … I really should concentrate on cleaning out this place,” she stammered.
“No worries.” Noah easily accepted her rejection, stepping back from the bar.
“Maybe some other night. After I get some stuff done.”
“Really, it’s no problem,” he assured her. “I just wanted to catch up on old times.” There was an awkward pause. “And I wanted to make sure you knew that I haven’t told anyone about seeing Mac that night. And I never will. As far as I’m concerned it’s forgotten.”
Jesse grunted, as if she’d taken a blow to the gut. “I’m sorry. What night?”
“He didn’t tell you?”
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about. Tell me what?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Noah shrugged, casually walking toward the door. As if he hadn’t tossed a loaded grenade into the conversation. “I’ll make up an inventory of what needs to be fixed and the approximate cost and run it by later.”
“No, wait.” Jesse scrambled to stop him from leaving. “You have to tell me. Did you see my dad after he disappeared?”
Noah sent her a shocked frown. “Of course not. I would have told you if I’d seen him. I knew how worried you were.”
“Then when?”
“The night Victoria and Tegan left town …”
His words trailed away as a shrill ring echoed through the air. Reaching into his pocket, Noah pulled out his phone and answered the call.
“Yeah, I’m on way.” Shoving the phone back into his pocket, he headed to the door. “I’m sorry, I’m running late. Dad isn’t feeling well and I need to open the lumberyard. I just wanted you to know you didn’t have to worry about anything. See you later.”
“Noah.”
She reached out to grab the back of his shirt but was forced to jerk her hand back when the door snapped shut. Dammit. He couldn’t leave without giving her answers.
“Noah, wait!”
Yanking open the door, Jesse stepped into the searing morning sunlight.
Momentarily blinded, she narrowed her eyes against the glare, belatedly realizing that Noah was standing directly in front of her.
A second later, her eyes adjusted, and she discovered that it was Bea, not Noah, standing there.
Noah had already jumped into his truck and switched on the engine.
“He’s in a hurry this morning,” the older woman complained as Noah stepped on the gas and peeled away.
Jesse ground her teeth, struggling to control the searing blast of frustration.
Even if he could have caught Noah, he obviously didn’t have time to answer her questions.
He was already late because he’d been kind enough to stop by and inspect the bar.
It was unreasonable to expect him to ignore his responsibilities.
Later, she silently promised herself. The second he left work.
Releasing a harsh sigh, she forced her coiled muscles to relax. “He said something about being late opening the lumberyard.”
Bea clicked her tongue. “I heard his father wasn’t feeling well.
He had a terrible time with his back since he fell off the roof of his house.
Of course he’s too stubborn to retire and sell the lumberyard.
Not that I’m surprised. When is a man ever reasonable?
It’s a real shame, since it means more work for poor Noah. ”
Jesse ducked, pressing against the doorjamb when a loud bang ricocheted down the street. She’d lived in Chicago long enough to fear a drive-by shooting. It took a full minute to realize that it had been nothing more threatening than a backfire.
She pressed a hand over her racing heart, glaring at Noah’s silver truck as it turned a corner and disappeared.
“I swear, that pickup looks exactly like the one he had in high school,” she muttered. “I thought I was the only one who was driving around an old clunker.”
“It probably is the same one.” Bea sniffed. “Noah isn’t the sort of man who tosses things just because they’re old or broken. He cares enough to fix them.”
Jesse glanced at Bea. She hadn’t missed the edge in the older woman’s voice.
“Are you talking about Kelly?”
“Among other things.”
“Come in.” Jesse’s frustration was forgotten as she stepped back and waved Bea into the bar, trying to act casual even as her earlier curiosity rushed back with a vengeance.
“Noah did mention his ex-wife while he was here this morning,” she said as she closed the door behind her friend.
“I thought he sounded sad about the end of his marriage, but he wasn’t bitter.
He said that Kelly was under a lot of pressure before she left. ”
“That’s no excuse for breaking his heart.” Bea crossed the wooden planks to place a small basket on top of the bar.
“Have you talked to her since she left town?”
Bea shook her head as she turned back to meet Jesse’s curious gaze. “No. I haven’t seen her in years, but I heard rumors that people have spotted her in Des Moines off and on. I don’t think they ever talked to her.”
“It’s odd she never comes home.”
“You didn’t.”
Jesse flinched. It was a direct hit. “Touché.”
Bea smoothed her hands down her loose sundress, which speckled with flour. “I suppose there’s no reason for her to come to Canton. Irene is beyond comfort at this point. Poor thing.”
“What about her brothers?”