Obsidian (6 page)

“Well, this is the kitchen.” She pulled open the heavy refrigerator door. The light cast a pattern on the linoleum floor. “You can keep whatever you want on the bottom shelf, but I’d suggest you mark it because my brother isn’t too selective. He’ll eat anything that gets in his way.” She let the door swing shut and then turned back giving him a smile. He found himself smiling back.

“I suppose growing boys do have a way of eating a lot.”

“Growing? My brother is twenty-five years old. I was hoping that someday he’d grow out of it. But now, I just hope he will find a wife who will feed him so I won’t have to anymore.”

He laughed and she laughed with him and he found himself watching her face, watching to see her expressions. He liked the way she dipped her head down when she laughed and the way she raised an eyebrow at him when she was trying not to look at him.

She ushered him on, through the cozy dining room with a round oak table and several mismatched chairs scattered around it. Papers filled the top of the table.

“Sorry about the mess. I like to bring home the paperwork from the store and spread it out on the table to work on it.” She gave a shrug as she moved on. “We eat in the kitchen now, so there isn’t much need for the big table.”

She led him through the dining room to the front of the house. The living room was furnished simply with a couple of overstuffed chairs, and a large brown couch that didn’t go with anything else in the room.

“Come on, follow me and I’ll show you the bathroom and your room.”

She led him down a narrow hallway lined with doors, pointing out a bathroom, decorated in pink and black tiles and a large, claw foot tub that filled up one corner of the room. A shower stall occupied the other with a shower curtain that was decorated with tropical fish floating on a blue-tinted sea. It was very homey and very comfortable.

“You’re welcome to use this bathroom or the one upstairs, but I think you’ll find this one a little more private. The only other person you’ll have to share it with is my uncle.” She opened the door opposite the bathroom, facing the front of the house.

His room was small, comfortable and quiet. The single size wooden bed was covered with a soft quilt of colorful patterns and the rug on the floor was a braided design of honeyed hues that matched the wide plank flooring.

“It isn’t fancy, but it’s a good room. I put you here on the first floor so you could have privacy. My uncle’s room is just down the hall. So if you hear any creaking floorboards at night, it’s probably him. He likes to take late night walks.”

Jamie set his bag on the end of the bed. Over the bed was a large window looked out over the front lawn to where it sloped toward the water. It was a million-dollar view.

“If you need anything, my room is at the head of the stairs and to the left. You can store your stuff in here for now.” She motioned toward the upright dresser in the corner. “But if you need anything else, just let me know.”

The dresser would be more than enough to suit his simple needs.

“I’ll leave you to your things. I’m sure you’ll want to get yourself settled. There’s some lemonade in the refrigerator if you get thirsty later.”

Jamie shook his head. He needed to get his bearings and the sooner he did that the faster he could accomplish what he was sent to do.

“I think I’ll just get some shut-eye for the night. It was a long ride here and I’m tired to the bone.”

“Oh.” Her mouth formed a circle and his gaze was drawn to her lips. They were sensual lips that didn’t need the aid of lipstick to look soft and sexy.

She was looking back at him. Her eyes mirrored the round shape of her lips, surprise dawning in her gaze. Whatever it was between them, chemistry or simple awareness, she was feeling something, too.

Shelby backed up, putting one step and then another between them. Her gaze dropped to her hand, as she fidgeted with the doorknob of the door.

“Well then, goodnight.” She closed the door behind her, leaving him on his own in the quiet.

Shelby was breathless as she backed away from the closed door. What had happened in there for those few brief moments?

She walked to the kitchen and took down a glass down from the cupboard by the sink. Taking the pitcher from the refrigerator, she poured herself some of the lemonade without looking at what she was doing.

Darkness was falling heavier and heavier. In just a few short minutes, the new boarder had managed to make her forget a lot of things. She’d even forgotten that she was sad.

The slam of the back door broke her reverie as her uncle walked in. His face was dark, his skin a grayish mask and his shoulders hunched forward.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” A familiar panic rose within her.

“I’ve been searching for your foolish brother.”

“Did you find him? Is he okay?”

Her uncle face softened at her words. His concern for her and her brother was something she’d come to cherish since her father’s death. He had become invaluable to her in her dealings with the store and the wharf, but there was still sometimes when even his company wasn’t enough.

“He was down at the bar having a few with those friends of his. He said he’d be along in a while.”

Shelby let out the breath she’d been holding tight. The tension of the last few hours faded as he stepped into the light of the kitchen. He gave her a reassuring smile. His usually light brogue became heavier with emotion and fatigue from a night of searching.

Shelby pulled out a kitchen chair and sunk into it, thankful for the convenience.

“I know you worry about him, Shelby, but you can’t protect him for the rest of his life. He’s making foolish choices and he has no one to blame, save himself.” He put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

“Maybe, but I can’t lose him. I can’t lose another person in my life.” She’d already lost her parents and her husband. To lose Josh, too…

“I understand, but this is something Josh will have to find out for himself. He took it hard when your father died and he thinks he has to prove himself by making enough money to build himself a fancy boat. He just doesn’t realize that he’s going about it the wrong way.”

“I know. I just wish there were something I could do for him. I want to help him, but you know yourself that the finances for the wharf and the store are shaky at best. I’m still paying off the loans. Maybe if we have another good summer next year then things will look better. But right now, I’m having a hard time competing with the other wharves for the dwindling business. There are just too many regulations. Too many of the locals are having a hard time just making a living.”

He shook his head. “Right now, I’m more concerned about Josh’s diving. Promise me you’ll talk to him again about giving it up? I think he’ll listen to you. He shouldn’t be out there by himself. Diving is dangerous enough, but the risk could be more then he expects.” A shadow crossed his face as his words settled within her. He was right. Josh was in over his head and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it.

“I’ll try talking to him again, but I don’t have too much effect on him.”

“Yes, well trying is better than doing nothing.”

He let out a tired yawn as he pulled off his boots and set them next to the back door. He straightened, stretching his back.

“I’d best be getting some sleep. It’s been a long night and morning comes early.” He started to pass by her in the cramped kitchen before he stopped. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

He put his large hand upon her shoulder, giving her a reassuring squeeze. “Try not to worry about Josh. I’ll make sure he’ll be okay.” He leaned over, kissing her forehead before turning to disappear down the darkened hallway.

It wasn’t until she heard the soft click of his door shutting that she realized she’d forgotten to talk to him about the latest addition to their household.

Jamie Rivard, with his teasing grin and mysterious scar was sure to shake things up in Chandler.

She let out a yawn and reached over to switch off the light above the sink. Quietness settled around her as she moved through the house, shutting off the remaining lights. She was just setting out her own shoes for the morning when the screech of the door startled her.

Her brother flipped on the kitchen light as he shrugged out of his jacket and went about hanging it by the door. She could smell the faint stench of cigarettes, beer and bait on him. His hair was tousled and deep, tired lines rimming his eyes.

He headed for the refrigerator, pulling an apple out and taking a bite of it. The sound echoed through the still house.

“I was worried about you.”

Her words made him stiffen, but he kept munching on the apple. She didn’t want to get into another argument with him tonight, but there was a part of her that just couldn’t help being scared by the chances he insisted on taking.

“We’ve had this discussion before. I’m not Tom and I’m not a little boy anymore. You need to let me live my own life and make my own mistakes. No matter what they are. You need to stop mothering me so much, Shel.”

His quiet words stung her. She knew better than anyone that Josh wasn’t Tommy. Still, he was her brother and he was the only brother she had.

“I know I worry too much.”

He gave a little snort as he bit into his apple again.

“I don’t understand why you are taking so many chances, Josh. You don’t know that much about diving. You could get in a bind and run out of air, or something could happen to the equipment and you’d be by yourself out there.”

Josh tossed the apple core into the trashcan by the stove and turned to face her. His six-foot frame towered over her in the tiny, cramped kitchen. He’d outgrown her by the time he’d turned sixteen. All the men in the Case family were tall and strong. All of them, driven by something.

She looked up at him and the anger and hurt in his eyes. It was too late, in too many ways. Most of all, it was too late to be having this conversation and it was too late to try to convince him that what he was doing was foolish. Josh had made up his own mind about the diving and she wasn’t going to be able to change it with just a few words from an overprotective sister.

“If I had the money for the boat I’d give it to you. I just don’t have it right now.” She reached out to put a hand on his arm, but he shouldered by her. He was mad at her and at life in general. And there wasn’t anything she could do about it. The only thing she could do was hope for the best. He turned in the doorway to the living room and stared back at her.

“You don’t have to worry about my diving for much longer. In a couple of days I’ll have enough to build the boat and even some extra.” He shook his head. “I told you I could do it, but you just couldn’t believe in me. I’m going to have my boat built and it’s going to be the best around. Then you and everyone else won’t have anything to talk about, anymore.” He stalked off into the darkness of the living room, leaving her looking after him.

This wasn’t a new argument. She knew how hard it was on him. When their father had died, she’d inherited the store and wharf, and he’d inherited their father’s old lobster boat that was always in need of repairs. She could understand his hurt and his need to prove himself. What she couldn’t understand, was the anger behind it.

He had the money for his boat? That was a surprise. She knew he’d been working hard. But even with the catch being as good as it had been, she couldn’t see how he could have made enough. She let out another tired sigh and rolled her shoulders to ease the tension. She’d have to talk with him about the money, later.

For now, she was restless. She was in need of a walk to calm her nerves and put some distance between her and the events of the night. She’d take her usual route around the point in hopes the night air would release the tensions and fears threatening to engulf her, pulling her under.

She needed to escape.

CHAPTER FOUR

Shelby skirted the darkened edges of the lawn, moving along the shoreline. Through the window in his room, Jamie had a good view of the harbor and the moon glinting off the rippling edges of the water.

Where could she be going at this hour? It was much too late to be going out for a casual stroll.

He hadn’t really meant to eavesdrop, but the quiet house had old walls with little insulation to muffle their raised voices. Fate was lending him a helping hand by placing him in Shelby Teague’s house. He’d be able to keep an eye on her brother’s activities and still scope out the area by going out on the boat with Case.

Her shadowy form disappeared around the point. Shelby Teague was a grown woman and from what he’d seen and heard, she was fully capable of taking care of herself and everyone around her. He stretched out on the soft bed; his arms folded behind his head as he stared up at the silver spot the moonlight cast on the wall. The comfort of the quilt and the quiet house was lulling him into a soft security. But he couldn’t afford to get too comfortable. He wouldn’t be here for long.

He focused again, concentrating on the facts at hand. The way he figured, he was just where he should be. His list of suspects with possible ties to the case had included Shelby, her uncle, and her brother. Being in her home just made it that much easier to keep a watch on him.