CHAPTER ELEVEN
WHITNEY
Whitney took her time dressing for dinner. It had been a while since she’d been out, and though it wasn’t a real date, she wanted to look nice. She studied herself in the mirror. Since leaving Hollywood behind, she’d gained a couple of pounds that she was forced to admit made her look better.
She checked to be sure her hair was in place. Most hot days she wore it in a ponytail, but tonight she wanted a different, softer look. Satisfied, she turned away, retrieved a bottle of wine to present to the cooks, and left the house with Mindy at her heels. Her dog would play with Pirate in the backyard while they had drinks on the patio.
Whitney could hardly wait for dinner because sharing food they’d prepared together was so important to Dani and Brad. It was cute how they were becoming even closer through cooking. They’d even invited GG to dinner several times.
She walked across the lawn to Brad’s house.
Brad answered the door wearing a chef’s apron. “Hi, Whitney. C’mon in. Dani’s working in the kitchen. We’re about ready, and Nick is on his way.”
“Something smells delicious,” said Whitney handing him the bottle of wine.
As she entered the kitchen, Dani looked up at her and smiled. “Hey, there. You look lovely.”
“Thanks,” said Whitney. She put Mindy outside and then turned to her. “What are you making?”
“Brad is going to grill some veggies that we’ve been marinating, along with chicken breasts with a teriyaki glaze. What you smell is a pineapple upside down cake for dessert. Not too rich.”
“I’ll certainly have a taste. It smells too delicious to resist.” Whitney smiled at the image of Dani wearing a frilly apron over the cut-off jeans and T-shirt she usually wore to the building site.
Dani noticed and grinned. “I haven’t had the chance to change. I’m still learning how to time things better. I’m glad it’s you and Nick for dinner and not Brad’s parents or mine.”
They laughed together and then Brad led Nick into the kitchen. “The gang’s all here.”
“Hi, everyone,” said Nick. “Something smells delicious.” He put a bag holding ice cream on the kitchen counter. “Here’s the vanilla ice cream Brad asked me to bring.”
Grinning, Dani shook her head at Brad. “That was sneaky. But we’ll all enjoy it.”
“A man’s got to have ice cream with cake. It’s a rule,” said Brad laughing.
“Not in my house growing up,” Dani said. “But working on the farm is hard, so I understand why it your family did it.”
“Scoops has the best ice cream. Remember how we all used to end up there a few summer evenings every year?” said Nick.
“Yes. Especially after swimming at the lake,” said Whitney awash in childhood memories. Summers in Lilac Lake had been a wonderful change for her sisters and her.
“How about some wine?” said Brad. “Whitney brought a nice Chandler Hill Chardonnay.”
“Sounds perfect,” said Dani. “Let’s sit outdoors. It’s cooled off nicely.”
Brad opened the wine, and then they each carried a glass out to the patio.
Nick sat facing Whitney in the circle of chairs and smiled at her. “I drove by while the baseball clinic was being put on for the kids. I heard it was your doing that made it happen.”
“Yes, I thought it might help one of the boys on the production team for the play we’re putting on for Labor Day.”
“Oh? Which boy are you talking about?”
“Jamie Thompkins. His father doesn’t like Jamie being associated with the play. Apparently, he doesn’t know about Jamie’s dance classes. After meeting his father, I understand why Jamie and his mother are keeping it a secret from him.”
“Bud Thompkins is a troublemaker. His wife has called for help a couple of times when Bud’s had too much to drink. But I understand he does a satisfactory job for the trucking company he works for. No alcohol allowed, of course. So, I think it’s a way for Bud to let loose. But I’ve warned him that bad behavior will not be allowed in town.”
“Wow! He must not have liked to hear that,” said Taylor.
“He was very angry with me, but I won’t back down. At the first sign of trouble, he’ll be brought in.” His deep voice, firm and steady, was comforting.
“I’m keeping an eye on him. Jamie is afraid of his father,” said Whitney, filled with a determination to help.
“If you suspect anything, call me. Don’t do anything on your own. That could be dangerous with a man like that.” Nick’s gaze bored into her.
“We might as well get the unpleasantness out of the way so we can enjoy the rest of the evening,” said Dani. “Nick, what did you find out about that fan group of Zane’s?”
Nick drew a deep breath and let out a sigh. “On the surface, it looks like a bunch of disgruntled fans who Zane had reached out to at one point in his career, sending photos, exchanging messages in social media, and the like.”
“Something we were warned not to do,” said Whitney, unable to hide the disgust in her voice.
“But there’s a disturbing commonality among them. They’re loners who’ve come together over a false belief and who are determined to take things into their own hands.” Nick shook his head. “In this day and age, with social media promoting wrong information or even simply accepting statements that aren’t true, I suggest we all keep eyes and ears open to any unusual activity in town that might be directed against Whitney.”
A shiver traveled down Whitney’s back and settled in her stomach causing her to feel nauseous.
Nick reached over and clasped her hand. “Don’t worry, Whitney. You’ll be safe. I’m going to see to it.”
She looked into his startling blue eyes and saw something deeper than friendship. Uncertain what to say or do about it, she remained quiet.
“We’ll keep you surrounded with people who care,” said Dani. “No one wants anything bad to happen to you.”
“Thanks,” Whitney managed to say, remembering how alone she’d felt in L.A. Small town living sure had its advantages.
“Enough of all this worrisome stuff,” said Brad. “We’ve got a great dinner ahead. Let’s enjoy it.”
Dani lifted her glass of wine. “Hear! Hear!”
As Whitney raised her glass, she looked around at the people with her and felt a surge of love.
###
After a meal in which compliments were well deserved, the four of them sat talking on the patio and sipping ice water. It was too hot even to think about coffee. Still, the thought of being so comfortable, so free to speak was rewarding to Whitney. Being in the spotlight with her work and with the uproar over Zane’s death, she’d begun to feel as if no one was listening to her. Now, the reality of a group the press was calling Zaniacs was disturbing. Especially because they were ignoring all the facts.
The young man she’d fallen in love with had taught her a lot about love, life, even herself. Then it had become a tangled mess with an ugliness she’d never be able to forget completely.
Nick stood. “Guess I’d better head home. Busy day tomorrow.”
“I should go too,” said Whitney. She knew both Brad and Dani were up early to get to the building site during summer hours when work could start at first light.
Whitney got to her feet, hugged both Dani and Brad and waited while Nick said goodbye. Then they left together with Mindy.
Outside, Nick turned to her. “I meant what I said, Whitney. Call me any time day or night if you feel the least bit uncomfortable about being alone.”
Whitney smiled and gave him a quick hug. “You’re such a dear friend.”
Nick studied her with those startling blue eyes and for a moment Whitney felt as if she were swimming in them.
He lifted her chin and very gently kissed her cheek. “Let me know if that feeling ever changes.”
She nodded too shaken to speak. She’d admired him, his body, his steadfastness to doing an outstanding job for the community. She’d adored him as a teenager.
“C’mon, I’ll walk you over to your house to be sure everything is fine.” He took her hand.
The jolt Whitney felt from the way his fingers curled around her palm made her release a soft gasp. She glanced at Nick, but he didn’t seem to notice. He was too busy studying the front porch of her house.
He dropped her hand. “Stay here.”
He jogged over to the front steps and lifted a brick. Sliding the paper beneath it out, he read the bold, typed words: I know where you live.
“What is it?” asked Whitney joining him, Mindy at her heels.
He silently handed her the note. “I don’t like this. I think I’d better stay. If you’re okay with it, I can sleep on the couch. Tomorrow, we’ll try to get some information from any of the neighbors about seeing an unfamiliar car or person.”
“Where do you think that came from?” asked Whitney feeling a chill run through her.
Nick shook his head. “It could be anyone. We already know there are certain individuals who are trying to harass you. Sometimes a person can read or hear about something like that and add to it in a big or even small way. It’s sick behavior, but it happens.”
A burst of anger swept through Whitney. “I can’t leave Lilac Lake or allow them to scare me. I’ve got the play to put on. I won’t let the kids down.”
“One day at a time, Whitney,” warned Nick. “No need to panic. I’ll have a patrol car assigned to drive by the house on a regular basis. And, like I said, until we get a handle on it, I’m willing to stay. No strings attached.”
Whitney’s shoulders sagged. “Okay, if you think that’s best. I’m glad Taylor is out of town and Dani is with Brad. I wouldn’t want them placed in danger because of me.”
“It could be only a kid wanting to play a dirty trick. We don’t know. Anyone could’ve seen all the furor on social media. And there was talk about it at Jake’s recently.”
“Or it could be a kid’s father,” said Whitney thinking of Bud Thompkins. She hadn’t liked him from the start, had sensed his antipathy when she had done nothing wrong. But if she wasn’t mistaken, Bud was used to being in control. All the more reason for him never to find out about Jamie’s dancing lessons.
Whitney let out a long sigh. “Are you sure you don’t mind staying the night? Dani’s room is available. You won’t have to sleep on the couch.”
“Thanks, but for tonight, I’ll take the couch. Seems more professional that way,” Nick said, giving her a wink that sent a bolt of electricity through her.
“Okay, but I want to be sure you’ll be comfortable,” said Whitney.
Inside the house, she left him in the living room and returned with fresh sheets, a pillow, and a light summer blanket. With the air conditioner running, he might need it.
Together, they made a bed for him on the long couch. Whitney told herself to stop wondering what it would be like to sleep with him and hurried to the kitchen to get him a glass of water.
She handed the glass to him. “There. I think you have everything. Can you think of anything else?”
“Maybe a kiss goodnight?” His lips twisted into a lop-sided grin.
She laughed and allowed him to kiss her. When she pulled back, she could see desire in his eyes. Confused by her own quick arousal, she stepped away.
“Don’t worry, Whitney. You’ll be safe with me,” he said, and she wondered if he knew what that kiss had done to her. It wasn’t safe at all.
###
Later, as Whitney lay in bed, she stared up at the ceiling reliving Nick’s kiss, his hand curled around hers, the wink that was filled with a promise she was pleased to consider. The way he made her remember what it felt like to share passion at the same time he made her feel safe was an interesting balance.
She recalled the summer they dated. She was a sophisticated eighteen and he was in his early twenties. She was smitten with him, and though he returned her feelings, he’d told her from the beginning he’d never stand in the way of her doing what she wanted with her life, that he never wanted to hurt her. Life interrupted their young romance when Whitney got word that an acting school had accepted her application and she left New Hampshire early.
But now, thinking of him in this new light, she was intrigued by the possibility of a more sophisticated relationship with him. She knew enough about him to know she could trust him. Even though he and Crystal had married and divorced, the fact that they were still friends told a tale of its own. He was a very decent, kind man.
Moving Mindy away from her side, Whitney rolled over, relieved to know Nick was downstairs ready to protect her, if necessary.