Like a Charm (20 page)

“It's…gorgeous.” My eyes watered and I sniffled. I bit my lip to keep from crying.

“So you like it?” He was like an excited schoolboy.

“I love it.”

He took it from me and put it on my wrist. “Every time you look at this I want you to remember how much I love you.”

The tears spilled over.

“Oh, baby, please don't cry.” He held my face in his hands and used his thumbs to wipe away the tears. “I want you to be happy.”

“I am,” I said on a sniffle. “It's the most beautiful thing anyone has ever given me.”

Smiling, he kissed me again. This one was slow and passionate.

“What time is your flight?”

“Three hours,” he said against my lips.

My mind did quick calculations. If we hurried, he'd have just enough time to make it.

Feeling bold, I pushed him back on the bed. “I have a present for you too.” I kissed his neck and nibbled at his ear. “A little something for you to take to Japan with you.” I slid down his body.

B
y the time I dropped Caleb off at the airport and made the drive back to Sweet, it was almost seven a.m. I didn't want to stay at his condo without him, so even though I was exhausted, I decided to make the trip home.

I pulled up outside the library and, after locking the Mercedes, I carried the bags to the door.

Inside, the library was cool, but there weren't any dead people hanging out. At least not any I could see.

Herman and Rascal waited for me at the foot of the back stairs. “Hey, pooches. Thanks for watching over the place.” They gave a short hello bark, Rascal's high and yippy, Herman's low and loud. One nice thing about ghost dogs is there are never any accidents. And I didn't have to walk them in the cold weather.

I dumped everything on the sofa, threw my clothes on the floor, and climbed into my bed. I set the alarm for ten and slept for three hours.

I made it to the nursing home in time. I'd dressed in jeans and a green cable-knit sweater. Margie was so grateful I showed up. “Your piano playing helps drown out the tuneless crowd. Hey, what's that?” She pointed at my wrist.

“Isn't it pretty?”

She nodded. “More like gorgeous. Is that from Caleb?”

I bit my lip and nodded.

“Man, he must really be hot for you.”

I smiled. “I'm kind of into him too. I've never felt this way about a guy, so it's all kind of new to me.”

Margie hugged me. “Kira, I've learned when it comes to men, it's best not to analyze too much. Just enjoy your time with him.”

Sam was there and gave me the third degree about my weekend. I placated my protective friend with stories about our dining experiences.

Sam groaned. “I love Sweet, but I've been missing sushi big time.”

I laughed. “Maybe we can all go someday soon, after Caleb gets back.”

“It's a date. You know, you seem happier than I think I've ever seen you. This thing with Caleb is going well?”

Smiling, I squeezed his arm. “Yeah. It's still new, but yes. It's the best thing ever.”

He hugged me. “I'm glad. Be careful.” Sam wasn't throwing doubt. He wanted me to protect myself.

“I will.” After playing for forty-five minutes, I snuck out while the elder residents opened their gifts.

I picked up a meatloaf sandwich and a salad from Lulu's. The mysterious phone call from the day before still had me spooked, and I already missed Caleb. I had to keep my mind busy. I planned to search for the all-important book Terry had hounded me about, and I wouldn't rest until I found it.

 

W
hen I woke up the next morning, I'd been asleep for almost twelve hours. My plan to find the book didn't pan out. I'd lain down to take a short nap, and zonked. The good news was I felt more rested than I had in weeks. I opened my eyes to see the bracelet on my arm and my heart did a funny little flip at the thought of Caleb.

He must have been reading minds, because my cell phone rang. I ran across the cold wood floor to see his number on the caller ID.

“Hey, babe. Did you make it home safe? I know you didn't go back to the condo. I called the doorman.”

I rolled my eyes even though he couldn't see me. “Yes. You sound tired. Did you sleep on the plane?”

He laughed. “Off and on. I kept having wicked dreams about a beautiful blonde driving me mad.”

I wrapped the quilt from the sofa around me. “Really? Who?”

“Oh, just some girl I met. Her kisses are still making me…”

“Caleb! Don't talk like that. I already miss you.”

He laughed. “That's what I wanted to hear. Oh, how did the carols at the nursing home go?”

“Fun. Any idea when you might be back?”

“Not yet, but I hope soon. Hold on one sec.” I heard him talking to someone. “Listen, I've got to go. I love you, Kira. Be safe.”

“I will.”

After we hung up, I squeezed my arms around myself. I did miss him.

“Let's see. Shower, breakfast, and then to work,” I said out loud. “Maybe if I work really hard the next few days I can keep my mind off of missing Caleb.”

I snorted. “As if.”

 

A
n hour and half later when I opened the large wooden doors of the library, a surprise stood on the steps.

It took me a minute to recognize him. “Mr. Grayson?” He was one of the men I'd interviewed with in Atlanta.

“Hello, Ms. Smythe. May I come in?”

“Uh, sure.” I backed up so he could pass through.

“I know this must seem odd.” He shook the snow off his shoulders onto the mat in the vestibule, and then hung his coat on the rack there.

“Surprising, yes.” I was glad I'd put on one of my suits this morning and had taken the time to apply makeup. It was kind of hit and miss with me lately. One day I'd wear jeans, the next Armani. I went with my mood. The townspeople didn't seem to care what I wore.

“Cynthia Jordan told me you were staying here through the holidays, and I wanted the chance to speak with you before you made your decision at the end of the year.”

“Would you like a cup of coffee?” I offered.
This multi-billionaire had come to the middle of nowhere to woo me?
I was pleased and wary at the same time.

“That would be wonderful. I didn't realize how cold it is here. The jet had a tough time landing in all the snow and ice.”

It had been snowing off and on for the last twenty-four hours. There was almost a foot more this morning than when I'd fallen asleep early yesterday.

I brought out two red mugs to the reading table where Mr. Grayson was seated. He wore a maroon sweater over a shirt and tie. “Thank you,” he said as I handed him the cup. “This is a quaint town, not at all what I expected in the middle of West Texas.”

I laughed. “No one ever expects the architecture. It reminds me of Prague.”

He looked up at the stained glass, gothic-style windows. “It's beautiful. I can understand why you wanted to come back here to visit.”

I sat back in my chair. I learned long ago to let the other person do the talking. You always find out more that way.

He leaned his elbows forward on the table. “I wanted to apologize.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“I feel I came on a little strong during our first meeting.” As he spoke, the room filled with people, none of them living. Terry leaned against the row of nonfiction books, filing his nails.

I tried not to notice and concentrated on what Mr. Grayson said. “We want you, and we're willing to make a deal on your terms.”

“That's very generous of you.” I stared hard at him. “What I don't understand is why?”

Clasping his hands together, he pursed his lips. “Money. That's the honest answer.”

I liked that he told the truth.

“Mr. Grayson, any good contract lawyer could do the same for you.”

“Would they be as honest or as forthright as you? Do they have your integrity?” he asked.

“What?”

“I don't want to bring back bad memories, but you stood up against your entire corporation for a woman you barely knew. You stood up for what you knew was right. I followed that case from the beginning and I know what you've been through.

“You're the kind of person I want, someone who will do what's right no matter what.”

Some of the firms I'd interviewed with had used what I'd done to lowball my salary. Of course, they still wanted me to help them out. This guy saw my loyalty to my coworker as an attribute.

“I don't know what to say.” I was honest. “You could have called.”

He laughed. “I wanted you to know how serious we are about you. You're one of the most brilliant legal minds I've come across in years. Your instincts are some of the best I've ever seen, especially for one so young. That deal you put together between Myers and Zeb Corp. made your company more than a billion dollars. And you did it in a way that was beneficial to both organizations, made them stronger…” He was interrupted when the door blew open and Sam came skating into the library.

I jumped up. “Sam, what's wrong?”

He stopped so fast he almost fell over. He wore his white lab coat over a starched blue shirt and tie. “Are you okay?” He gasped out the words.

“Yes. Why?”

He took a deep breath. “Caleb called. He couldn't get hold of the sheriff. He said some guy from Atlanta was giving you trouble, and that he'd landed here in Sweet. Told me to rush over and save your—” He gave Grayson a nasty look.

It took a minute for my brain to switch into gear. I laughed.

Mr. Grayson stood up slowly, watching the spectacle.

“I'm fine. Sam, this is Mr. Grayson. He owns one of the investment firms,” I cleared my throat, “where I've been
interviewing
. He flew in to talk to me personally. About a job.”

Confusion ran over Sam's face and he frowned. “So he's not trying to—
oh.
”

I laughed again. “No.” I turned to Mr. Grayson. “I'm sorry. I have an over-protective boyfriend who seems to know my every move even though he's on business in Japan.”

I had no idea how Caleb knew Mr. Grayson had arrived, but I would deal with him later.

“Sam, you can go back to work now.”

He was still trying to catch his breath.

“Oh. Yeah.” He reached out a hand. “Mr. Grayson, nice to meet you. Sorry. We're all kind of protective of our Kira.”

“I find that quite admirable, Doctor.”

The absurdity of the situation made me smile again. “I'm so sorry about this. I couldn't begin to explain even if I tried. Do you have time for breakfast? I'd love to give you a little taste of Sweet before you go, and we can continue our talk.”

He glanced at his watch, which I noticed cost more than most peoples' homes. “I do have some time.”

I shooed Sam out the door. “You better call me later and tell me what the hell Caleb was so worried about,” Sam whispered.

I nodded.

I took Mr. Grayson by the arm. “I think the very least I owe you is breakfast.” If nothing else, the twins drooling over the handsome older man might help him forget all of this nonsense.

He'd have his hands full with Ms. Johnnie and Ms. Helen, and maybe if I was in a public place, Caleb would stop sending in the cavalry.

A
fter seeing Mr. Grayson off, I called Caleb and left a message.

I was at the front desk when he returned my call. “What were you thinking?” I screamed. I seldom lost my temper, but he'd gone too far.

“You can be mad, Kira, but I'm not going to apologize. I was worried about you. The police in Atlanta have pictures from the security cameras of some guy skulking around your condo. I wasn't about to take any risks.”

I blew out a breath. “How did you even know someone was here?”

“I've got Daryl out at the hangar calling me whenever visitors fly in, and the sheriff is supposed to be keeping an eye on the roads. When I couldn't get in touch with the sheriff, I called Sam.”

I growled. “Caleb, common sense says some guy flying in on a private jet is not coming to kill me. You made me look like an idiot in front of a man who flew here to hire me.”

“I had no way of knowing that since I'm on the other side of the world,” Caleb bit out the words. “Damn. I am sorry for that. I don't want to fight with you. I'm tired and things aren't going well here. And I feel like I should be there protecting you.”

I suddenly noticed several live and dead patrons trying to act like they weren't listening. I'd been so mad, I hadn't realized they were there. I gave them my best death stare and they looked down at their various books.

I made my way back to the break room and heated water for a cup of tea. “Maybe next time you could call
me
first? We'll have some kind of code word and if there's a bad guy here I'll say it.”

“Hmph,” Caleb grunted.

“How about, ‘Sir, I'm sorry, we don't carry the Batman comics'?” I had no idea where that came from, but it made him laugh.

“I'm still not going to apologize for loving you and wanting to take care of you,” he grumbled. “And I wish you'd keep your cell phone closer. If I'd been able to talk to you, none of this ever would have happened.”

I smiled. “Caleb I can't be accountable to you twenty-four hours a day. Just
think
before you decide to charge in on your white horse to save the damsel in distress, or ask your friends to charge in. Now when in the hell are you going to be home? It's been almost two days, and even though I'm furious with you, I can't stand it much longer.”

“I'm on my way. I leave in about an hour, and it's a seventeen-hour flight back to Dallas.”

This time I was the one who grumbled. “Whatever. Bed's cold. Hurry home.”

He laughed. “I'll be home to keep you warm soon. I love you.”

We hung up and I carried my tea back to the front. I heard whispers as I rounded the shelves, and then a hush. The Sweet gossips, dead and alive, would have fun with this one.

 

L
ater in the afternoon I had another surprise visitor.

Bronwyn was back in town. She came to return the books she'd borrowed and to check out a few more. I invited her to an impromptu girls' night and called Margie to see if she could come too.

They both arrived at seven and I introduced them to each other. We'd decided on a Mexican theme. I'd borrowed one of the cookbooks from the library and had made my first batch of chicken enchiladas. Margie brought the rice and beans and Bronwyn provided the margaritas and desserts.

I showed them to the back and up the stairs.

“What is this place?” Margie asked as we climbed the steps. At the top of the landing she said, “Oh.”

“Hey, who would have known?” Bronwyn chimed in. “This is so cool.”

It made me happy that they liked it.

“How did you get all this furniture up those stairs?” Bronwyn said as she deposited the margarita mix on the counter.

“I have no idea.” I shrugged. “None of it's mine. It belonged to Mrs. Canard.”

Bronwyn nodded. “Huh. She had really great taste. It's comfortable but kind of chic in a way.”

“Yes it is.” Margie pulled a Crock-Pot out of the box she was carrying and plugged it into one of the outlets on the counter.

I'd eaten most of my meals at the small table in the kitchen area, but we set everything up in the formal dining room for tonight.

By the time we had the food on the table, it was like we were old friends. Well, Margie and I had known each other forever, but Bronwyn fit right in.

“So Margie, who was that guy I saw you with at Lulu's?” I asked. We'd had two margaritas, and the giggles had already begun.

“Nosy butt.” Margie bit her lip. “His name's Billy. He's a rancher and one hot kisser.” She laughed. “I met him at the nursing home when he came to visit one of his old ranch hands. He's kind of nice, and not so pushy like some of the other guys in town.”

I had a lot of respect for Margie. She hadn't had the easiest childhood, but she'd put herself through nursing school and carved out a life in Sweet.

“But enough about me.” Margie leaned forward. “You and Caleb are the talk of the town. And when a man gives a woman a bracelet like that”—she pointed to the Tiffany hearts—“things are downright serious.”

I couldn't keep from smiling. “I'm taking it one day at a time.”

Bronwyn laughed. “You're full of crap. I can see it in your eyes. You are just as sappy over him as he is over you. I think it's kind of cool.”

I took a bite of my enchilada so I didn't have to say anything.

“Come on, Kira. Tell us what's really going on,” Margie urged.

“I don't know. I mean, I haven't decided what I'm going to do as far as a job is concerned. I've had a couple of really great offers. One is for my dream job in New York. Caleb lives in Dallas, and I don't know how good I'd be at a long-distance relationship.

“And then there's the library. I don't know what to do about it.”

“What do you mean?” Bronwyn asked.

I told them everything about the will and what had been going on, minus the dead people.

Bronwyn blew out a low whistle. “That's rough. And you haven't found any loopholes?”

I shook my head. “I'm sure Mr. Pierce came up with that will, and he's a crafty old coot. I can't find a single word out of place. It's annoying as hell.”

“Man, I can't imagine this town without the library.” Margie sipped her drink. “That's kind of sucky. I mean, Kira, you have to do what's best for you. Not everyone gets a chance at a dream job, but it's sad to think about this place being sold off at an auction.”

The very idea made me sick to my stomach.

Bronwyn put her paper napkin on the table. “Well, one thing you don't have to worry about is Caleb. He wants to move here, but I have a feeling he's going to follow you wherever you end up. He's like a little puppy that has found the perfect master. I don't know what you did to the guy, but he's well and thoroughly leashed.”

I laughed. “Don't tell him, but that goes both ways. I can't imagine my life without him. Heck, it's hard for me to remember what things were like before I met him. But it's all happened so fast.” I looked at Margie. “A dear friend told me to take it one day at a time, and that's what I'm doing.”

Bronwyn rolled her eyes. “I don't get what you see in him, but you could do worse. I certainly have. You guys ready for dessert?”

After serving up huge chunks of apple pie from Lulu's, we talked until almost midnight. I'd just let them out the front door into the cold December wind when I realized it was just as chilly inside.

I turned to find a mob staring back at me. Terry was once again at the lead of the pack. The dogs had materialized beside me, as if they guarded against the dead. At least the pooches were on my side.

A rose brooch had been added to Terry's green dress, and I wondered if the people on the other side had the option of changing clothes or if they could only add accessories.

“Can I help you?”

“Are you going to leave us?” His voice sounded pained.

I shrugged. “I can't stay here forever. I'm a lawyer, not a librarian.”

“But if you leave, they'll sell the place and then what will we do?” He tapped his long fingernails against the back of a chair.

“Certainly there are other libraries you can go to.” I refused to let them make me feel guilty. Though they were doing a pretty good job.

“No, we can't. You still haven't read the book.” Terry pointed a finger at me. “You can't possibly understand the magnitude of what will happen if this place goes to auction.”

Frustrated, I pulled a hand through my hair. “I can't find this imaginary book with all the answers that you've been talking about. I've looked through shelves, stacks, boxes, everywhere I could think. I haven't found any
book
.”

He turned to the group. “Fan out people. You know what you are looking for, and we aren't leaving until we find it.”

“What are you doing?” I crossed my arms.

The spirits spread out all over the library and more arrived. They were upstairs and down, in the break room and even under the counters.

“We're going to find that book. It's time you discovered who you really are, Kira Smythe.” Terry gave me a stern look.

I didn't roll my eyes, but I wanted to. I sat down at the computer and pretended to be busy while they looked. I'd searched the place over, and I knew they wouldn't find anything.

After a half hour, a guy around forty or so whispered something to Terry.

He cut his eyes, framed with the largest pair of fake lashes I'd ever seen, at me.

I threw up my hands. “What?”

“Jack here is a detective—or was—for the Chicago Police Department. He says you need to search your apartment upstairs.”

“I thought I told you guys to stay out of my loft.”

Terry frowned. “You did. That's why he said
you
need to do the searching. We've looked everywhere, and that's the only logical place left. Jack says he'd be willing to bet that it's right in front of your face.”

Jack's a jerk.

Terry's eyebrow lifted as if he knew what I thought. Everyone stopped their search and turned to look at me.

I growled. “Fine, whatever. I'll go look upstairs. But no one comes up with me.” I thought about crawling into the bed and pulling a pillow over my head; there was nothing they could do about it. Unfortunately, they'd probably be waiting downstairs when I woke up, so I decided to at least make the effort.

Though I'd looked through it a half dozen times, I searched the bookshelf in the living area first. There was a mixture of books from Mrs. Canard, and some that I'd brought up.

I put my finger on each spine, reading it carefully. When I ran into Dickens's
A Christmas Carol
, I picked it up. When I was a kid I read it every year around this time. The book fell out of my hands and hit the floor with a thud.

The jacket came off and the hard cover read,
Library Care for the Living and the Dead
.

Oh.

Sitting down on the floor, I picked it up and put it in my lap. It was warm to the touch. I flipped open the first page, and gasped.