Fool's Gold (10 page)

Mel was satisfied and thought Addie appeared relieved, as well. “It’s a start,” Mel commented after showing Hal out.

“Yeah, it’s good. I’m still worried about where the money will come from. But I needed to do this. Thanks for setting it up.”

“You’re welcome.” Mel moved closer, giving Addie a kiss. “I believe I promised you dinner, too.”

“Not too hungry.” Addie ran her hands over Mel’s shoulders. “For food, anyway. I’ve been thinking about you all afternoon. It’s a damn good thing you called and warned me the contractor was coming over. He’d have gotten quite a surprise.” Her eyes sparkled.

“Oh yeah?” Mel licked her lips, a tingling of lust rising in her. “What were you thinking?”

“Actually…” Addie reached for the hem of Mel’s shirt, pulled it over her head and tossed it aside. “I thought about waiting for you, lying naked across the bed.” She unfastened Mel’s bra and sent it flying. “Then I thought about running a nice, warm bath in one of the big ol’ tubs upstairs. I think I’d enjoy seeing you surrounded by bubbles.”

Mel kicked off her shoes, as Addie dragged her slacks and panties off. “A bubble bath sounds fun.”

Addie pressed her up against the wall in the hallway outside her bedroom. “I just decided I’m too impatient for any of that. I need to taste you
now
.” She dropped to her knees and spread Mel’s legs, hoisting one calf over her shoulder.

Holding onto the wall behind her, Mel gasped as Addie moved swiftly and purposefully.

Spreading Mel’s pussy lips, Addie drove her tongue forward. No gentle caresses, no skirting around the edges this time. She appeared to know what she wanted and went for it.

“Oh lord.” Mel cradled the back of Addie’s head with one hand. “I won’t last long with this treatment.”

“Good.” Addie’s voice sounded muffled and breathy, but she didn’t stop what she was doing. “I want to feel you come. Want to
taste
you come.”

Mel groaned as Addie drove deeper, stroked faster. She gasped and tried to remain standing, accidentally tugging Addie’s hair. “Sorry.”

“No problem,” Addie chuckled. “Maybe we should move to the bedroom.” She released Mel’s leg and stood, pulling her by the hand to the bed and settling her back.

Mel reached for Addie’s head and encouraged her to return to the job at hand. Her arousal seemed to urge Addie on. The persistent woman nibbled and licked with abandon until Mel finally groaned and shuddered. An intense climax spiralled through her, igniting every fibre of her being. She collapsed into the mattress as Addie sucked the last of the juices she’d coaxed out.

Addie crawled up over Mel, staring into her eyes. “That was fucking awesome.”

They kissed, and Mel slid her arms around Addie’s neck. “I totally agree. Now lie back.

I want to make love to you, and it might take some time.”

Addie kissed her again, their tongues battling each other for dominance. At last, she leaned back and grinned. “Promise?”

Mel lay with her head on Addie’s belly, one hand tracing the curves of her breast. She was totally at ease, more comfortable than she’d ever felt with anyone. If she never had to move again, it’d be too soon.

Addie fingered the small silver hoop in Mel’s ear. “Oh! I forgot to tell you, my lawyer called today.”

“Really?” Mel gazed at her. “Any news?”

“Just that my mother isn’t backing down. We have a court date in two weeks.”

“No!” Mel frowned. “Have you tried talking to her?”

“I tried once. She wouldn’t speak to me.” Addie touched her hand to Mel’s cheek. “I guess a judge will decide my fate.”

“Addie, no!” Mel tried to rise but Addie grabbed her shoulder.

“Don’t get up. This feels too good to move.”

I think so, too
. Mel remained where she was, but a feeling of unease spread over her. The lawsuit between Addie and her mother was troubling. “The whole thing is just awful. I can’t believe your mom would sue you.”

“I know.” Addie sighed and closed her eyes. “Just do what I do, try not to think about it.”

Easier said than done
. Mel wanted Addie to decide her own fate, not some judge. A shiver ran down her spine, and she hugged her lover close.

Addie had moved all the damaged furniture to the porch by the time Hal’s employee showed up to start the floors the next day.
Jason
. He was another Cattle Valley hunk with short dark hair, brooding eyes and a handsome, muscular physique. As he started to work, he casually mentioned his partner, and it dawned on her he was gay. She still wasn’t used to the majority of people in the town leaning in that direction. This guy, like most of the others, was hotter than a firecracker. If she were straight, she’d find the place annoying as hell.

She settled into a chair on the porch. Jason had stirred up a cloud of dust in the front room, and she wanted to steer clear. While she was deciding what to do, Mel pulled into the driveway.

Addie strolled down to meet her. “What are you doing? If you’re home for a noontime quickie, I hate to break it to you, but the floor guy is here. Jason somebody.”

Mel didn’t get out of her car. “I wish I could, but no time today. I’ve only got thirty minutes, because Naomi has a doctor’s appointment. But I want to take you somewhere. Hop in.”

“I can’t just leave,” Addie protested, glancing back at the inn.

“We won’t be gone long. Tell Jason you’ll be right back and come on,” Mel insisted.

Addie debated then jogged into the house and relayed the message. She grabbed her purse and hurried back out to Mel’s car. “Okay.” She buckled in. “Where’re we going?”

“You’ll see.” Mel smiled mysteriously.

Addie watched her drive, realising more and more, each day, how attached she was becoming. It felt wonderful and scary at the same time. Mel stopped in front of an antique store and Addie looked at her. “What’s going on?”

“Come on.” Mel motioned towards the store, and they both got out, heading inside.

The front door tinkled, and a man poked his head out from the back room. “Hi, Mel.”

“Hi, Ryan. I’d like you to meet Addie Murphy, the new proprietor of the Apple Valley Inn. Addie, this is Ryan Bronwyn. He owns this place.”

“Hi,” Addie nodded to him.

He set a plate on the counter in front of him, and she realised it was the one from her newly-discovered attic collection.

“Mel brought this in yesterday, and I’ve been going crazy trying to track it down. I finally did. It’s fairly rare and produced by a fine, French company.”

“Really?” Addie blinked in surprise. “That’s nice. I guess it’ll make the inn look good, then. I’m going to bring the boxes down and start washing everything before we use it.”

Ryan smiled at her. “I don’t think you understand. This is rare, old, French china. It’s not the most expensive stuff I’ve ever seen, but it’s up there. I don’t think you’ll want to use it at the inn.”

She glanced from him to Mel and back. Both of them wore huge grins. His words were just sinking in when Mel said, “Don’t you get it? Ryan can sell this for big bucks. You can buy practical dishes, something that can go in the dishwasher. Something you won’t mind getting broken.”

“Ah. That makes sense.” She didn’t plan on spending her time hand-washing dishes every day. She looked at the plate then back at Ryan. “How much do you think they’re worth?”

“Therein lies the problem. What they’re worth, and what I can get for them, are two different things. I’m sure they’re worth thousands, but there’s not much call for fine china in rural Wyoming. If I took my time and found a buyer, I could probably get a better price for you, less a modest commission, of course.”

Addie’s heart sank. “Time and money, two things I’m short on, Mr. Bronwyn. Could you give me anything for the china?”

Mel touched her arm. “I had a better idea. Ryan has a warehouse full of furniture. I’ll let him tell you.”

He nodded. “I acquire all kinds of stuff at auctions and flea markets. Sometimes it comes in lots, and I get more than what I really wanted. I only put the antiques in here. I store the other stuff until I can barter it off sometime.”

Addie’s interest was piqued. “What kind of stuff?”

“Beds, dressers, night stands, everything except mattresses. I probably have six or eight of each.”

She smiled. “I only need six.”

Squeezing her arm, Mel agreed. “That’s what I thought!”

Ryan raised a hand. “I’ll tell you up front, they won’t match. But they’re in good condition. I don’t have room to store junk. I toss it. I also have some sofas and living room furniture.”

“Any dining room chairs?” Addie crossed her fingers hopefully.

“Yeah, a bunch. I can’t promise they’ll match, either, but I might have several groups of four that do.”

“Her dining room tables seat four,” Mel said excitedly and looked at Addie. “You could have similar chairs at each table. The whole room doesn’t have to match.”

Addie shrugged. “Eclectic isn’t bad.”

“Eclectic is in, right now.” Ryan patted the counter. “If you’re interested, I’ll give you whatever furniture you want from my warehouse in exchange for the china. “We’ll go over there together some evening after I’ve closed, and you can take your pick. We’ll mark it, and I’ll have it delivered.”

“Oh my god!” Addie couldn’t believe what he offered. “That’s incredible! Thank you so much.” She hugged Mel, laughing, then reached across the counter and hugged Ryan.

“Thank you,” she murmured in his ear.

He returned the hug affably, and they parted. “It’s a great deal for me, too. I’ll be glad to free up some storage space.”

Mel touched her shoulder. “I need to get back to work. Why don’t you take my car and pick me up later?”

“I can walk. It’s a beautiful day. Not sure my feet will touch the ground the whole way home.”

With a grin and a quick kiss on the cheek, Mel returned to work.

Ryan rewrapped the plate and set it aside. “I understand Jason is redoing your floors.

Why don’t you call me when they’re done, and we’ll get together then? I know you want the stuff as soon as you can get it.”

Addie chuckled.
Small town
.
Everyone knows everything
. At that moment, she wouldn’t have chosen to be anywhere else.

Restoring the floors took the rest of the week. Addie spent several nights at Mel’s apartment to get away from the sanding dust. But when Jason had finished, she was amazed at how clean he left the place and was thrilled with the job he’d done.

Ryan Bronwyn had been true to his word. As soon as she’d called him, he’d arranged to meet her at his warehouse, so she could choose her furniture. Addie debated, but finally mustered up the nerve to call Mel’s friend, Nate, to ask if he’d go with them to pick out the stuff. He’d offered to help her decorate, but she’d secretly wondered if he’d just been being polite.

Nate set those worries aside at once. He sounded genuinely pleased to help out and changed his plans for that evening to meet them at Ryan’s.

The furniture was better than Addie had hoped. It took Mel, Nate and her very little time to select what they wanted. Ryan promised to have it delivered.

The next afternoon, standing in the front room as two men carried things in, Addie was excited. Each bedroom received a queen-sized bed, a nightstand and a nice-sized dresser and mirror. She’d also chosen a comfortable armchair for each room, a small writing table and a straight-back chair to sit at it. It was more furniture than the rooms had previously had, but it all fit nicely, and she thought it would be perfect.

“That bedroom stuff looks great.” Nate followed the deliverymen down the stairs for the last time and saw them out. “Thanks,” he said.

“Yes, thank you!” Addie called to them.

They nodded and left, then Nate closed the door. “The rooms already feel more comfortable than they did. The drapes and blinds are fine, so you’ll want to keep their colours in mind when you’re choosing linens and a spread. A couple of the rooms are blue, two are mauve and two have interesting, mustard-coloured drapes.” He made a face.

Addie grinned. “They’ll be fine. I’ve seen some beautiful fabric using that colour as an accent woven through. If I can find something like that, it’ll look fantastic. I’m going with comforters instead of bedspreads.”

He nodded. “And mattresses. You’ll want some of them, of course.”

“Thanks.” She screwed up her face at him. “Really, I thought I’d just let people sleep on the floor within the bed frame. Nice and firm for the back, you know.”

“You might get a few guests, though I’m not sure they’d be the type of folks you were after.” He wandered into the dining room. “These chairs look fine!”

“Hardly any of them are the same.” She followed his gaze and chewed her lip nervously.

“Who cares? For all anyone knows, you planned it that way! They’re attractive and sturdy. I’d mix them all up. Instead of having two tables with matching chairs, and the others unmatched, just move them all around. It’ll look more natural that way.”

“If you say so.” Addie and Nate dragged chairs around until all four tables were full.

He touched the carved swear words in the top of one table and shook his head. “Do you have cloths or do you need to get some?”

“I have all those. Apparently, my little houseguests didn’t get into the linen closet.”

He ran his hand over the top. “Put down a table pad first then the cloth. No one will ever know what’s under here.”

“That’s what I thought,” she agreed. “They’ll be fine.”

He walked into the front room. “This stuff is better than fine. I love the deep-red brocade sofa and the white brocade easy chair. But the red and white striped loveseat really ties it all together.”

“Different fabric.” She touched the cotton loveseat cushion. It was modern, while the other two were older and more classic. But he was right, they looked incredible together.

He started to reply, when a knock sounded on the front door. They glanced up and saw his partner, Ryan, with another man. “Must be official sheriffing business.” Nate crossed the room and opened the door. “Hey, there.” He smiled at his man.

“Hey, Nate.” Ryan Blackfeather looked past him to Addie and nodded. “Addie. This is Taylor Adams. Could we come in for a minute, please?”