Bigger Than the Sky (Serenity Point) (14 page)

Because I can’t leave well enough alone (and I’m still not ready to let my aspirations of being a P.I. die), I get up and dress, and grabbing my jacket, hustle downstairs to go check things out. Pulling my keys from my jacket pocket, I lock the store and walk up the street, making sure to stay in the shadows. When the door to Jen’s opens, I jump quickly into the cover of Sanderson Insurance Agency’s doorway and watch from across the street as Kade comes out with an arm around Brody who’s completely trashed and another around Peyton who’s acting like she’s wasted but knowing her it’s probably just another act to get his attention. I tell myself he’s just being nice. He’ll take her home and that’ll be the end of it. I hope.

He walks them both down the street toward his store where his truck’s parked and I follow stealthily. When they get to his truck, he opens the passenger door and helps Peyton in first. Then he practically has to pick Brody up and shove him inside, but only after he finally gets hold of him because Brody’s been performing, playing air guitar, making the base riff sound with his mouth to Ozzy’s “Crazy Train” (Dun dun! Dun dun, dun dun, dun dun!) and boasting to Kade that he should join his band because he could “so fucking rock the shit out of everyone” if he did.

I make it to the overhang at my station and have to bite my lips to stifle a giggle as Brody starts screaming the “Aye, aye, aye, aye” part while still jamming out on his “guitar.” Kade stands with his hands on his hips and watches him and I know he’s rolling his eyes which makes me snort quietly. When he finally gets Brody in and closes the passenger door I see him let out a deep breath. Now I keep my eyes on him as he goes around, gets in the truck and starts it. It’s dark inside so I can’t see all that clearly, but I’m pretty sure I see things all too well when Peyton wraps her arms around his neck and lands a big one on him. But what really shocks me is that he doesn’t pull away.

I wait for him to move away. And wait. And wait some more. Then I stand there stunned and all I can think is, he just had his mouth on me not thirty minutes ago and he’ll probably be doing the same to her in ten! Annnd this makes me want to puke.

Brody protests and Kade finally pulls away from her and I watch as she reaches a hand up to his mouth, probably wiping lipstick off him.

I also watch as Kade backs out and heads out of town toward Brody’s house, which means he’s not taking Peyton to hers.

I’m still watching when the street is empty and the disbelief of what I just saw becomes reality, and I know that my cluelessness over Kade and me has ended and I just want to go home to Richmond.

Chapter 12

I’m up early the next morning. I’ve already burned my lip on my coffee, stubbed my toe on one of my new end tables and banged my head on a counter when I stood up too quickly from underneath it. It’s definitely a Monday.

I’ve opened the garage doors to air the place out some and I’m standing outside testing one of the air hoses when a car pulls up and a man I don’t know steps out. He’s very good looking, dressed in a navy suit with a blue striped tie, his blond hair has fashionably spiked bangs and I just know his tan skin is from a tanning bed not from working outside like Kade does.

Ugh. Kade.

I frown because I’ve told myself I’m not going to think about him again. Ever.
Ever ever ever
. But just as I remind myself of this, I look over at his store and see him in the window moving some inventory around, pointing across the room for Mike to move something, and I want to walk over there and give him a big fat piece of my mind about what happened last night. I’m still staring across the street when Suit Guy speaks, getting my attention.

“Hi. Dax Baker.”

Ah, so this is the guy Peyton was cheating on her husband with. Mr. Mayor himself. The huge smile on his face makes me have to blink a couple times because his white teeth are almost blinding in the early morning October sun. I take the hand he’s holding out and say, “Oh, sorry. Amelia Hale-Chapman.” His hand is so soft and I’m tempted to ask what kind of lotion he uses.

“Nice to meet you, Amelia. Just thought I’d come by and introduce you to the mayor,” he says with a wink. “So, you’re fixing up Jean and Elliot’s place, huh?” We turn and face the garages.

“Yes. Hoping to, anyway. I’ve got to go in this morning to check on my permits.”

“I saw them go across my desk on their way to the City Planning Commission,” he says with a grin. Even though he’s very handsome, his grin is a little smarmy and he’s kind of giving me the creeps, especially when he puts his hand at the small of my back and leans in close saying rather suggestively, “I can put the fast track on things if you’d like.” He does some kind of tickle thing with his fingers on my back and I freeze. What the hell?

“Uh, I’m sure everything will go through fine,” I reply, moving away a little. His touch makes me want to take another shower. Ick.

“Well, how ‘bout I nudge things along for you,” he says with another wink. He leans toward me and says with a sly look, “Need to get back to the office. A mayor’s job is never done.” He chuckles and takes my hand between both of his. “It was
very
nice meeting you, Amelia.” He leers at me suggestively for a moment before letting it go and turning to go to his car.

Yep. Definitely going to need another shower. I watch him leave and happen to glance across the street to see Kade standing at the window, hands on his hips watching me with a scowl.

I raise my eyebrows at him and give him my best “What are you looking at?” sassy face then spin on my heel and go back inside the garage.

~~~

By noon I’m pretty pleased. I’ve had five guys and one woman come by to pick up applications for the mechanic positions and an older couple who owned a quick stop in a small town a few hours from here who would like to manage the station.

I realize I haven’t eaten all morning and now a roast beef sandwich from Mags’ is calling me, so I walk up the street to the diner and I’m greeted immediately when I walk inside.

“Amelia! That’s two days in a row!” Mags hollers out from a table where she’s taking an order.

I blush when everyone in the place turns to look at me, but I smile and nod at her. I walk to the front counter where her husband Frank is working the register. His face lights up with a big smile when he sees me, and after he checks out the couple who was paying, he comes out from behind the counter. He’s not a big man, just a little taller than my five and a half feet, and he probably weighs only twenty pounds more than I do, maybe a good one-forty. He has a sweet, taciturn demeanor about him that I know works so well in his career. I’ve seen him dog whisper even the most ill-tempered canines into submission with his softly quiet voice a few times.

“Amelia! Maggie said you were in town! So good to see you, sweetheart!” He wraps his arms around me in a hug.

“Hi, Frank,” I reply as I hug him back hard.

God, they’re the best people. I forgot that he closes down the veterinary clinic every weekday for an hour to come help Mags with the lunch crowd. When he pulls back, he keeps his hands on my upper arms. “I’m glad you’re here. Serenity Point is where you belong, you know.”

I smile weakly at him, not sure if he’s right. “We’ll see,” I say with false enthusiasm.

“Bah. You’re a hometown girl.” He winks at me. “Now, what can I get you, hon?”

I order and pay for my sandwich then sit on the little bench next to the register waiting. I look around the place and shake my head in awe. Every booth and table is full and there are still people waiting to be seated. Maggie’s is a real-life legend. As I look around, I recognize several people I’ve known for years who smile and nod at me and I do the same in return. Hm. I wonder if Frank’s right about my being a hometown girl. I have felt welcome since I’ve been back, Peyton being the only exception. I’m inspecting my fingernails as I’m pondering if I’d be happy moving back here, when the bells on the door go off for what seems to be the hundredth time since I walked in. Glancing up, I lock eyes with Kade. Great. His narrow for a few seconds and I can tell he’s not too pleased with me, probably because of my encounter with Mr. Mayor earlier. Oh, and maybe the sass that I threw in, but whatever. I can flirt with whomever I want. I mean, he was making out with Peyton last night, so why should I give a crap.

I watch him walk smoothly toward me, his long strides eating up the space between us, and have to remind myself to breathe. His body in motion is definitely a sight to see.

“Here we are, Amelia,” Frank says as he comes out of the kitchen with my sandwich in a bag.

Sweet! Frank saved me from an awkward encounter with Kade. I so want to kiss him right now. I thank him and turn to leave and come up short because Kade’s right there. Jeez.

“Uh… excuse me,” I mumble looking up into his steely eyes.

“By all means,” he replies acerbically, his eyes piercing mine as he sweeps a hand out to his side. Yep, he’s pissed.

Of course, I have to rub a little salt in the wound, so I smile sweetly at him and answer, “Thank you, Kade,” then make my way around him, heading toward the door.

“Are we going for three tomorrow?” Mags hollers out at me.

I turn with a smile and nod before leaving.

~~~

After lunch, I walk to the mayor’s office to meet with the Director of City Planning to get my permits in order. He’s an old friend of Papaw’s, and everything has gone through without a hitch, thank goodness. When I go back to the station, a few more people show up to pick up applications and at five, I put up the “Closed” sign. Overall, it’s been a pretty successful day.

“Hey, Cass,” I say when my phone rings.

“You up for some barbecue and beer?” she asks.

“You bet,” I answer.

“Then get your ass out here now,” she orders with a laugh.

“Yes, ma’am! I’ve got to clean up but I’ll be there in thirty. Um, Kade’s not gonna be there, is he?”

“Only if you want him to be.”

“Nope.”

“Then it’s just us girls,” she says before hanging up.

I take a shower and dress then head her way. She lives in a doublewide trailer on the same five acres Brody does, his trailer sitting on the front two acres and hers on the back.

“Knock, knock,” I say as I walk inside to the glorious smell of all things barbecue. “God, it smells great, Cass!” She’s in the kitchen putting pork ribs onto plates along with baked beans and homemade coleslaw. “I need to do anything?”

“Get me another beer,” she says with a chuckle as she carries the plates to the table.

I open the fridge and reach inside to grab a couple bottles taking them to the table where she’s already seated, handing her a bottle and sitting down.

She holds her bottle up. “Here’s to hot make out sessions with hot guys,” she says with a wicked grin, clinking her bottle to mine.

“Have to say, I’m kinda surprised you still have a face because it looked like Jeremy was trying to suck it off,” I tease with a giggle.

“Holy shit, Mill. He’s the best kisser ever,” she replies with a dreamy sigh. “I think I want to have his babies.”

I raise my eyebrows at this. “That serious?”

She shrugs then takes a drink.

“Wow,” I respond. This is interesting. I know she’s liked him for a long time, but Cass has not once talked about settling down with anyone ever.

“So, what happened with you and my brother last night?” she inquires.

“Really wanna know?” I ask as I hold a rib with my fingers and bite off the meat.

She scrunches up her face in thought for a moment. “You know, this is tough. You’re my best friend and I want to know all about your sex life just not with my brother. That’s kinda gross.”

“Let’s just say I got mine and leave it at that.”

I can see she’s conflicted not knowing whether to cheer or be disgusted that she knows her brother performed oral sex on me which makes me snort.

“Damn…” she mumbles.

“Yeah. When he left, he told me to let him know when I’m ready for all of him.”

She chokes on the drink she’s taking. “God. If he wasn’t my brother, I’d say that was fuckin’ hot.”

I nod in agreement, also taking a drink. “Got my permits today and had several people come in for applications.”

“You gonna set up interviews?” she asks.

“After they turn in their apps. I’m excited, though! Who knew I’d feel this way about getting the place up and running?”

“I’m glad, Mill.” She takes a bite of her beans. “Wish you’d consider staying.”

“Wish you wouldn’t talk with your mouth full,” I say then crack up when she almost spits out her bite.

Dinner’s great, the company’s even better and after I help her clean up, I head back to town with her following so she can run by the fire station and drop off some ribs for Brody and Jeremy and maybe have an impromptu “make-out sesh” with Jeremy, her words exactly. I’m really happy for her. She’s pined for him for years and I’m glad he’s finally gotten his head out of his ass.

It’s eleven when I finally plop my tired body into bed. Just as I’m drifting off, I get a text message.

Kade: …the sky

I bite my lip and decide not to reply.

Chapter 13

Tuesday goes by quickly with several more people coming in to pick up applications. I’ve looked over the ones I’ve gotten and called those who I feel are most qualified in for interviews on Friday. I’ve heard back from the state and the inspector will be out Friday to have a look around, and as soon as that’s done, the fuel company Papaw used is coming out to fill the tanks. I’ve kept the insurance all along and the next payment is due next week, so everything’s in order.

Several times during the day when I’ve been outside sweeping the filling lanes or cleaning the windows, I’ve not been able to help myself and looked across the street at Kade’s store. Funny thing is, of the several times I’ve checked it out, I’ve caught him watching me right back a few times, his eyes boring holes into mine from inside the store and once when he was outside loading plywood into Mr. Matthews’ truck. I can feel his ire from here as the tension between us mounts. Yikes.