Chapter 21 #2
It was a worry I had, one of many, that went along with my dreams. We’d spoken at town council meetings, and everyone appeared to be on board, but that was now.
Would it be the same when construction started, when guests began filling up the sidewalks?
I had to hope everyone would be okay in the long run, but I couldn’t kid myself.
It was a damn risky proposition to be taking.
A stunning black woman stepped out of the store we were standing in front of, a sneaky smile playing at her lips as her gaze traveled from Clay to me. “I’ve been waiting for you to get here.”
I rolled my eyes as I stared at my friend. “Ever?”
“Of course.” She extended her hand to Clay. “Astrid Morgan. Welcome to Henley Falls and Henri’s Art Gallery, Clayton Montgomery.”
Was it my imagination, or did her voice sound more sultry when she addressed him?
Looking from Clay, in his expensive suit pants and shirt, to Astrid, in a picture-perfect white dress against her dark skin, they looked like they could be on a magazine cover together.
I looked like a country hick next to her, even if I was in a dress and sandals.
Still, Clay didn’t look at her any differently than he had Ever or any of several women who’d eyed him as I showed him around.
There was no showing off his dimples, no spark in his eyes.
Not until he turned to me, at least. Then, those sparks were enough to set fire to every part of me. I didn’t want to admit that it felt sort of nice.
“Nice to meet you too.” He peered through the window, taking in the paintings lining the back wall. “Is that a Renli?”
“Good eye. It is indeed.” Astrid responded while winking at me behind his back. “Nice,” she mouthed, while wiggling her brows.
“I meant to ask Reese about the gallery I saw as I drove in. Definitely not something I was expecting to find here.”
Astrid rolled her eyes, before responding. “You and me both.”
I laughed, because a high-end art gallery in Henley Falls still created some confusion among most of us. “We’re reasonably sure Henri got lost and doesn’t realize the Falls isn’t exactly a place for expensive artwork.”
Astrid shrugged. “And, somehow, he convinced me to run the gallery here after he ‘retired’ and closed the one I was running in DC.” She glanced up and down the street.
“Have to admit though, I like it here. It’s different, and not without some issues for me, but there’s something about this little town that feels right. ”
Astrid had struggled for a while settling into small-town rural Virginia, but she’d handled it beautifully, and I couldn’t imagine the town without her. It didn’t hurt that she’d become one of my closest friends outside of my family.
Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out her vibrating phone. “Boss man’s calling. Nice to meet you, Clay.” With a quick wave, she stepped back inside.
“Alone again,” his whispered words made me think we really were alone even though people sidled past us on both sides.
They made me wish we were, too.
“We should probably head back and maybe talk.”
Clay brushed a stray strand of hair back and behind my ear.
I tried hard to hide the resulting shiver, but wasn’t able to.
“We could have talked this morning if only you had been where I last put you.” Leaning down, his mouth brushed my ear.
“I didn’t enjoy waking up alone, without you wrapped around me. ”
I shook my head, but still ran my hand through his hair. “Not here.” I couldn’t have this conversation here, in the middle of town, where everyone could see. Where I was barely holding myself together.
“Then where? Your room or mine?” His growly voice was enough to make me melt into a puddle. “I want another taste. You didn’t come near enough times in my mouth yet.”
“Good Lord,” I panted the words, unable to actually suck air into my lungs.
“You can definitely be a good girl for me.”
His tongue darted out to trace my ear, and I barely held myself together. Why did his words turn me on so much? I didn’t think it was the novelty because I’d never had a lover talk like this. No, this had everything to do with the man himself.
And the words didn’t hurt.
“Yo, Reese, you okay with the rich guy?” Wally’s words snapped me out of the haze Clay had created in my brain. “You need me to save you from him?”
I pulled away quickly, realizing the spectacle I was making of myself.
“She does not, you old coot.” Three older women approached from behind Clay, the one leading the charge talking.
“Stay outta this, Bev.” Wally made his way around me and stood next to the ladies. “I’m her honorary granddaddy now that Cyrus is gone, so I gotta watch out for her. This guy seemed okay at Millie’s, but I don’t know if I trust him anymore.”
This was not what I needed right now. This could actually be worse than my parents catching me on the verge of making out with Clay in the middle of the sidewalk. Though, it could also be entertaining.
If Clay wanted an introduction to small-town life, there was none better to give it to him than these three women and Wally.
“Reese, dear, we’re so glad we ran into you.
” Bev reached out, grabbing my hand. “We were getting worried about you. Why, just this morning at the Hen House someone mentioned they hadn’t seen you in town in a few days, but I guess I understand why.
” All three women looked at Clay, and for lack of a better word, checked him out.
Collectively, their eyes traveled the length of his body before coming back to his face.
His suddenly reddened face. I tried to hide my chuckle behind a cough, but it was no use. This was going to be amazing.
“I trust him,” another of the ladies spoke up and winked Clay’s way. “I think he’s just fine.”
“Oh, I’m sure you do, Ruth.” The last of the ladies interjected. “We can all see he’s fine. I may not hear well, but my sight’s still good.”
“You can’t see crap, Helen. That’s why they took your license away,” Bev added.
“True, but I can see just fine up close.” She sidled a few steps closer to Clay, practically pushing me out of the way, as if punctuating her point.
Nothing could stop the laughter bubbling out of me this time.
Somehow, I didn’t think Clay had ever had to deal with anyone like Henley Falls residents known as the Shenanigan Sisters.
The three ladies, all widowed now, had been friends since grade school.
I heard they hadn’t changed much over the years.
They were loud, bold, and inappropriate.
I loved them.
One day, that was going to be Ever and me and whomever else I can drag into the fold.
“Ladies, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” The professional man had returned, full of New York sophistication and suavity. He reached out his hand. “Clayton Montgomery.”
He didn’t know what was coming.
“Beverly Rosewood,” the unofficial leader of the pack stated, before adding, “Oh, the pleasure is all ours. Trust me.” The wink she sent Clay’s way actually had him blushing.
I was about ready to get out my phone and start recording.
“This is Ruth Townsend and Helen Lincoln. No relation, though she likes to pretend there is.”
“There could be, Bev. I’m thinking of doing one of those DNA test things.”
“That’s not how DNA works, Helen. I keep tellin’ you that, but you don’t listen,” Bev groused, likely because they had been over this topic before. “You would need Harvey’s and you can’t us his ‘cause he’s dead. Besides, that scoundrel was not a relation to Lincoln.”
“Clay and I met before,” Wally interjected. “I ain’t gonna fawn all over him, like these three.”
Clay nodded at the older man. “Thanks, Wally. I appreciate that.”
I had a feeling Clay was well acquainted with women fawning all over him. Hell, I was practically one myself.
“You remember what I said before, rich man. No funny stuff with Reese.”
“You can do funny stuff with me,” Ruth whispered under her breath.
“Oh please. Shut your yap, Ruth,” Helen added. “I wanna hear Wally laying down the law.”
“No law, just a reminder. Do right by Reese here and we won’t have a problem.”
This was getting way out of hand. “Alright, enough already. There’s no doing right by anyone yet.
I don’t even know if Clay’s going to stick around or be able to help us, so let’s not start putting the cart before the horse and giving him warnings.
He could easily decide to up and go back to New York tomorrow. ”
I didn’t think he would, but it was a worry of mine. When would I become too much for him like I had for so many others? When would he decide my vision wasn’t worth his time and effort?
I glanced at Clay, expecting him to have a look of agreement on his face, except he didn’t. Instead, there was the look of a man very displeased with my thinking he was going anywhere. I didn’t really know what to do with that look or what I wanted to do with it.
“Remember what I said,” Wally delivered the words politely, but with no small amount of threat behind them. Then he turned and walked off.
The ladies followed him, giving Clay coquettish waves as they left.
“The Hen House?”
I had a feeling he’d ask about that. “The Henley Falls House of Beauty.” I pointed to the store across the street we’d passed early on in our tour.
“The ladies call it the Hen House for fun. Speaking of fun…” I chuckled.
“If you weren’t so attractive, the ladies might have been a little easier on you. ”
Clay snaked an arm around my waist, pulling me close. “You think I’m attractive, do you?” When he licked his lower lip, I mimicked the move, wanting a taste of my own. “You don’t have to answer. You already said it.”
He leaned down again and brushed his mouth against mine. The move was fleeting but even more powerful in its tenderness.
I was convinced he was trying to kill me.