Walking on Sunshine (13 page)

Slow and Easy

S
HANE HEARD A SCREAM JUST AS HE STAR
TED THROUGH
his front door. “Laura Lee?” His heart pumped double time and he ran through the entrance in search of her. He knew there wasn't much crime in Cricket Creek, but if someone was attempting to hurt her, there would be hell to pay. “Laure Lee!” he shouted this time when he failed to see her.

“Over here,” she whispered, and he spotted her flattened against the wall with wide eyes and a look of stark fear on her pretty face. He also noticed that she looked damn hot in a bathing suit. When he started to come closer she shook her head. “No! Don't move.”

“What's wrong?” Shane asked, truly worried.

When Laura Lee nodded her head forward just slightly, Shane followed her fear-filled gaze.

A black snake was curled up on the white tile floor directly in front of the fridge. And it was small. “That little bitty thing?”

She nodded. “It's a snake,” she whispered, and he thought it amusing that she felt the need to tell him that.

“It's harmless,” Shane said in a reassuring tone, but
when he moved the snake raised its head and its tiny forked tongue appeared. Laura Lee whimpered and pressed her back harder against the wall. Seeing that she was really frightened, Shane felt his humor vanish and he hurried over to her side. “Hey, it's okay.” He took her hand and squeezed. It was ice-cold.

“I'm so sorry. I am deathly afraid of snakes.”

“There's nothing to be sorry about. A lot of people are scared of snakes. I once had a roadie who was big enough to wrestle a bear but would cower in the corner if he spotted a spider.”

“I can relate. I think I'd rather face a bear too.”

Shane squeezed her hand again and then without thinking brought her fingers to his mouth and kissed her on the knuckles. He inched closer to her and could feel the slight tremble in her body. “I'll go over there and take the snake outside.”

“No!” She held his hand in a viselike grip. “It might bite you!” she still whispered.

“Well, we can't stay up against the wall forever.”

“I was thinking that I might just have to do that.”

Shane chuckled. “Listen, I'm a country boy. I've picked up many a snake in my day. I'll be fine.”

“Absolutely not.” Laura Lee shook her head firmly. “I won't let you,” she said, but then gave him a sideways glance and the hint of a grin. “Oh, I forgot you're the boss, not me.”

Shane wanted to tell her that she could order him around all she wanted and he wouldn't mind one little bit. He also felt it very sweet that she was so concerned for his welfare. “How about if I get a broom and just sweep it out the front door?”

“Do you think that would work?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, the broom is in the laundry room off the garage. I'd go and get it, but as silly as it seems I am completely frozen with fear of that tiny little guy.”

“No worries. I'll get the broom. But, Laura Lee?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“You have to let go of my hand.”

“Right,” Laura Lee said, but the snake chose that moment to slither across the tiles to hover in the corner beneath the cabinets and she refused to release his hand. “I almost peed in my pants.”

He tried hard not to laugh. “Do you want to come with me?”

Laura Lee glanced at Shane again. “No! What if he goes somewhere and hides? I'll have to keep an eye on him.”

“He's more afraid of you than you are of him.”

“That's not even remotely possible.”

Shane chuckled. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't laugh.”

“Yes, you should. I'm a grown woman. This is totally ridiculous.”

“I think it's cute,” he admitted.

“You're just being nice,” she whispered, and he thought it funny that he was talking in a normal tone but she still felt the need to keep her voice down as if the snake would hear. “This is my entire fault! I'm sure he came in through the back door when I went out there to call Mattie. I should have been more careful.”

“I'm not sure he could have gotten up onto the back deck, Laura Lee, but who cares if he did? You've got nothing to be sorry for,” he insisted in a gentle tone. He had to wonder if her ex-husband always placed blame upon her and if that had sucked the life out of someone so sweet and caring. He didn't even know the guy and he wanted to punch him in the face. “Now stay here and I'll be right back. I'll take care of the snake for you.”

She nodded and gave him a small smile before letting go of his hand.

Shane found the broom and dustpan and hurried back. He had to smile at her intake of breath when he walked across the kitchen and swept the scared little snake onto the dustpan.

“Oh, don't hurt him!”

“I won't.” The snake wiggled a bit, making Laura Lee shriek, but to her surprise she followed Shane out the front door.

“Make sure you get him into the woods so he can find his family.”

Shane finally had to laugh. “You're very concerned for something you detest.”

“I don't detest him. I'm just afraid of him.” She walked a safe distance from the dustpan. “I would never hurt him.”

“I don't think you could hurt anything or anyone.”

“Unless they were trying to hurt someone I loved. Then I'd have to show off my karate skills.”

“You know karate?”

“No, so it would be kind of a problem.”

Shane laughed so hard he almost dropped the snake. He gently put the snake at the edge of the wooded area to the side of the garage. The little guy slithered away as if happy to be back in his element. “All done,” Shane said when he reached her side. “You can breathe a sigh of relief.”

“Oh . . .” Laura Lee put her hands over her face. “I feel so silly.”

Shane put the broom and dustpan in one hand and then reached out and pried her fingers from her face. “Well, don't, because you shouldn't. Please.”

“Okay.” She looked at him and when he took her hand she didn't protest. “Thank you for being so nice to me,” she said, and then looked away as if embarrassed that she said such a thing to him.

Shane paused when they reached the front porch. “Why wouldn't I be?” When she only shrugged he said, “Did you think I was going to be an arrogant jerk because of my success?”

“No. . . . Oh, maybe, I guess. I didn't know what to expect.”

“Listen, because I was blessed with a good voice and get paid piles of money doesn't make me any better than
anyone else. I'm just a man, Laura Lee. Lucky that I got a break. Not everyone who has talent gets discovered. That's one of the reasons I'm looking forward to working with those trying to break into this crazy business.”

“I'm sure that you worked hard for your so-called lucky break.”

“I paid my dues and then some.” Shane looked at her and she reminded him of the sweetness that Patsy possessed. “And maybe I'm not as lucky as you might think.”

Laura Lee's eyes widened in surprise. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Shane had never talked about his divorce on a deeply personal level with anyone, not even his parents. But for some reason he wanted to open up to Laura Lee, so he found himself nodding. “I do, in fact. I'll change into swim trunks and grab a pitcher of sweet tea.”

“I'll do that part.”

“No way. I'm giving you the day off. We're just two friends talking. Okay?”

“Okay,” she said, and although she smiled Shane saw the play of emotion cross her face. He knew she must be thinking that she shouldn't get this close to him or perhaps risk her job, and he hated it. There were so many times when he wanted to be friends with employees, but they never completely let their guard down with him in the way he'd see them interact with others, especially on the road. He'd often walk up to a group of people laughing and the laughter would immediately die down when he approached. Fame came with a huge price tag. So he was not only her employer but a famous one to boot. A double whammy to overcome.

“I'll meet you out by the pool.”

“I'll just grab my beach bag.”

“You have plenty of sunscreen?”

“Are you kidding?” She smiled. “I'm a ginger. We always lather up with powerful sunscreen. And even then I'll have freckles pop out all over the place.” She wrinkled up her nose.

“I like them.”

“My freckles?”

“Yes, your freckles.” She seemed so surprised that he reached over and pulled her in for a quick hug. “There's a lot to like about you, Laura Lee,” he said when he really wanted to say that there was a lot that
he
liked about her. But he had to be careful. He didn't want Laura Lee to think that he expected anything from her or would take advantage of her in any way, so he started walking toward the house. “I'll meet you poolside,” he said, and had to grin when she took a rather fearful look around. “I don't think the little snake has any brothers or sisters lurking about.”

“I was more interested in a mother or father slithering about. What if there is a whole family?”

Shane laughed. “I think you're fine.”

“See, the operative word there is
think
.”

“Well, then I'll keep a look out for mama and papa snake. In the meantime go out to the pool and relax. I'll bring some snacks too,” he said, and when she looked as though she was going to protest he shook his head. “You're off the clock, Laura Lee. Let me wait on you for a change,” he insisted, but when she appeared so uncomfortable he shooed her with his fingers.

“But—”

“Don't even bother to protest. You already go way over and above the call of duty. I don't think I've ever been this pampered in my entire life.”

“Are you serious?”

Shane thought about that for a moment, but it was true and he suddenly knew why. “The difference between you and anyone else is that you do things for me because you're being thoughtful. Most others do things for me with an agenda or because it was part of their job description. You might be doing your job, but you also care.”

“Guilty as charged.” Laura Lee smiled as if she knew it was pointless to deny that she cared about him. And then as if shy about her admission, she turned around and
walked toward the back deck. He watched her go, admiring the sway of her hips and long, slender legs. For a split second he wondered what it would feel like to have those legs wrapped around him and he pushed that thought from his mind. But he shook his head, thinking that she must have been an amazing wife. Who in his right mind would have mistreated a woman like her and put such sadness in her pretty eyes? The thought brought out a masculine protective instinct that had him clenching his jaw. In that moment Shane vowed to make Laura Lee laugh and to chase the sadness as far away as possible.

As promised, Shane brought a tray of veggies and dip, fruit, crackers and cheese, and the pitcher of tea out to the pool deck. He paused, though, when he looked at Laura Lee stretched out on a lounge chair. One endless leg was bent, giving him a side view of her elegant body. She wore a wide floppy hat that looked both cute and classy, and he thought that she looked as if she were in an ad in a glossy magazine for something cool and delicious. He actually longed to put the food down and snap a picture with his phone.

“Gorgeous day,” Shane said when he walked past her to put the tray on an umbrella table.

Laura Lee looked up from her book at him and smiled. “Oh, I was thinking the same thing. The sky is so blue and the slight breeze feels refreshing.”

“It's a perfect day to be outside.”

“Oh, would you look at the nice display of snacks?”

“You keep us well stocked.” Shane walked her way and put the tray within reaching distance.

“Thank you.” She plucked a green grape from a bunch and popped it into her mouth. He liked her deep rose shade of lipstick with just a hint of shine. She had full, lush lips and Shane had the urge to feed the grapes to her, one by one.

“I even put ice in a tray beneath the food to keep it from spoiling,” he said, trying to derail his train of thought.

“I'm impressed!”

“Comes from many years of consuming catered food. I often had to eat at odd hours, usually late at night after shows. Your home-cooked meals are so much better.” Shane inclined his head and wished he could see her eyes behind the bold black sunglasses she wore. He'd bet she'd never guess how elegant she really did look lounging gracefully on the chair. While as a celebrity Shane had become used to women staring him down, he wondered if Laura Lee found him to be attractive.

Sexy?

Shane sure did wish that she wasn't his employee so he could flirt with her and see where it took them. But he knew that at least for now he'd have to settle for friendship. “Would you like me to bring you a plate of food?”

“No, thank you. You don't have to do that. I'll come over there and sit in the shade and have a snack,” she replied, and then stood up.

Shane joined her and they sat in companionable silence for a few moments.

“If you've changed your mind and don't want to talk about personal things, it's perfectly okay. I do want you to know that anything you do tell me goes nowhere.”

“I believe you, Laura Lee,” Shane said, and in truth it had been difficult for him to confide in many people for that very reason. “I've learned over the years to be a good judge of character and I feel as if I can trust you completely.” He brought over two plates of food and put them on the small table between the lounge chairs.

She swiped a carrot stick through the ranch dip. “Thank you.”

Suddenly feeling more comfortable than he'd felt in a long time, Shane stretched his legs out and crossed his ankles. “For the food?”