Home Is Where the Heart Is (Welcome To Redemption) (5 page)

Hannah cleared her throat, though the sound more closely resembled a chuckle.

“What?”

“Oh, nothing.” She pulled open the heavy metal door that opened into the breezeway of their home, then looked back over her shoulder. Her knowing smile really chafed his ass. “I just wonder if you plan to take your own advice.” She shut the door without waiting for a reply. A full minute must have passed while he stared at the closed door in frustrated silence.

“Women,” he finally muttered. “Crazy, the whole lot of ’em.”

“Anyone I know?” The question was followed by a loud
“Woof!”

Drew swung his head, surprised to see his buddy Charlie Russell standing just inside the service door, Sugar, Bo’s sister, at his heel. “Christ, I didn’t even hear you come in.”

“Interesting considering Sugar practically took the door down on her way in.” Charlie let Sugar off her leash, and she ran straight for Bo, who barked his excitement as brother and sister went at it, sniffing, nipping, roughhousing. “So again, anyone I know?” Understanding flared in his eyes accompanied by a knowing grin. “Ahh. The lovely Miss Melinda Spalding. Got you twisted up already, hey?”

Scowling, Drew got back to work on Hannah’s Jeep. “Why does everyone refer to her like that?
Miss Melinda Spalding,
” he mimicked. “As if she’s so damn special.”

Charlie chuckled as he joined Drew under the hood. “Damn, it’s even worse than I thought.”

“Shut the hell up.” Drew cast his grinning friend a sidelong glare. “Besides, this ain’t about
her
, it’s about her stupid cat and my idiot dog. Something weird’s going on. I swear it’s like they’re in love or something.”

“Maybe you should take him to see Dana. She specializes in that kinda stuff.”

Drew thought about it for a second. Charlie’s fiancée had lots of fancy degrees, and the vet raved about her. Seemed kind of strange to bring a dog to a shrink, though. But what other choice did he have? Bo’s infatuation with a pretty face could only end in heartbreak. And it was his job to make sure that didn’t happen, right?

“Guess it can’t hurt. Anything to get that annoying female out of our lives.”

“You talking about the cat or the woman?”

“Both. Now make yourself useful and hand me that flathead.”

* * *

“I swear, Bianca, I have no idea what you were thinking. Rolling around on that disgusting concrete floor like some common...some common housecat! Your bloodlines go all the way back to the days of the Crusaders, for God’s sake. I expected better from you, young lady. Much better.”

Bianca gave an owlish blink and let out a pathetic “
mrow
” before giving her paw a lick; more for show than anything else, Lindy knew. Good Lord, her fur was so matted down it was a miracle Bianca could even lift her head. Stupid...dog.

“And he drools. Is that really what you want?” Lindy tsked. “You can do so much better, girl. Trust mommy. We’ll get you cleaned up, and once you’ve had time to think about it, you’ll see that I’m right. Maybe we should start looking for a suitable companion for you. A nice Himalayan with an impeccable pedigree. Would you like that?”

“Rooow!”

Lindy made a left onto the street just before the library, then another quick left onto Liberation Lane. Beverly Donovan’s house was easy enough to spot, just as Hannah said it would be. Besides the Jesus statue and green and yellow shutters, a huge ‘Go, Pack, Go!’ sign hung in the front picture window. Lindy pulled into the driveway and killed the engine, praying the woman was home.

With a paper towel-wrapped Bianca held firmly against her chest, she hurried up the walkway, relieved to hear music coming from inside the house. “Looks like we’re in luck, girl,” she said and rapped on the door. It swung open, and an attractive middle-aged woman stood there, her expression curious, her dark brown eyes widening when they landed on Bianca. She wore a powder blue velour jogging suit, and her graying blonde hair piled on top of her head in a loose bun.

“Well, there’s no reason to ask why you’re here, is there?” Beverly said with a chuckle, her singsong voice light and airy, surprisingly soothing. Lindy smiled. There was something quite charming about the older lady.

She gave Bianca a reassuring cuddle. “Mrs. Donovan, my name is Melinda Spalding and this is Bianca. I was told that you do pet grooming out of your home...?”

“That I do, love. Come on in. And please, call me Bev.”

“Thank you.” Lindy stepped into the small foyer and followed Bev through the kitchen, where the rich scent of cinnamon mingled with the nutty aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Lindy breathed deep, eager for a sample of whatever it was that smelled so yummy.

“Cinnamon rolls,” Bev supplied, as if reading her mind. “My oldest son will be here soon with my granddaughter. He’s a single dad, so I watch her full-time during the week while he’s at work.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I should’ve called first. I could come back...?”

“Nonsense. You’re already here, may as well stay. Besides, that poor thing looks as miserable as my Paco when he can’t remember where he’s buried his bone.” With a ‘follow me’ wave, Bev led her through the living room to a small backroom which appeared to be her laundry room.

“You have a lovely home,” Lindy said and meant it. Though the outside was a tad tacky in her opinion, the interior could have been right out of Style magazine. Brushed stainless steel appliances graced the kitchen, along with granite countertops, gleaming walnut cabinets, and polished hardwood floors. The living room was striking in brass and glass with a sleek, modern black leather sofa and matching loveseat.

“Thank you. My husband loved remodeling. I swear the man was always working on one project or another. Redid the bathroom three times, the kitchen twice. And my daughter is an interior designer, so she’s constantly buying things for me.”

Bev turned on the faucet in the utility sink and tested the temperature before plugging it to fill. “All right, sweetheart, time for your bath.” She carefully took Bianca from Lindy’s arms. Bianca looked back over her shoulder and let loose a pitiful whine as Bev set her in the sink.

“Sorry, Binks,” Lindy gently chided. “You have no one to blame but yourself.” She moved in closer to give Bianca a reassuring scratch behind the ears.

“My goodness,” the older lady said as she squeezed pet shampoo into her hand. “How in the world did you get so dirty anyway? Looks like you were rolling around in a grease pit.”

“She was, sort of.” Lindy explained about Bianca’s unnatural attraction to Drew Porter’s mangy monster of a dog and her escape earlier from
Coffee To Chai For
to go see him.

A knowing smile lit the older woman’s eyes as she lathered and scrubbed the top of Bianca’s head with nimble hands. “Got yourself a crush, eh? Not that I blame you. That is one fine looking dog.” She met Lindy’s gaze for a brief moment. “And his master ain’t too hard on the eyes either.”

“Hmph. I guess. If you like the rude, rough-and-tumble type. Frankly, I prefer a man a little less acerbic. And some manners would be nice.”

“Are we talking about the same Drew Porter? Because the young man I know has never been anything but kind and pleasant.”

Lindy eyed the older woman with skepticism. Before she could voice a reply, a masculine voice called out, “Mom? We’re here!”

“Oh, that would be Mike and Maddie.” She turned and called out, “I’m in the back room!”

A moment later, a little girl with a mop of red curls and freckled cheeks skidded to a halt inside the grooming slash laundry room. Her gaze bounced from Lindy to the sink where her grandmother was elbow deep in suds. Bianca let loose with a rather loud
mrow
, and a huge smile lit up the little girl’s face, revealing the cutest dimples Lindy had ever seen. Maddie scampered forward to lean against her grandmother’s hip and peer into the sink.

“Careful, sweetie. She’s not too happy at the moment.”

“I won’t pet her, Nana, I promise.”

Watching the heartwarming scene before her, Lindy’s heart swelled with a yearning completely foreign to her. Children weren’t exactly a priority for her—heck, she wasn’t even dating anyone at the moment. Not to mention she was only twenty-five years old. But there was something about Maddie...the way she gazed up at her grandmother, leaned into her side, her excitement over watching Bianca get a bath. That sweet face, those adorable curls. All of it doing funny things to Lindy’s maternal mojo, making her ache for things she’d never given much thought to before—home, hearth, a family of her own.

Dammit...fricken Mayberry already!

She glanced up in time to see a uniformed police officer striding their way, a coffee mug in one hand, a gooey cinnamon roll in the other. He eyed her with smiling curiosity as he approached.
So this is Mike, huh? Not bad, not bad at all. Bet he wouldn’t push me away if I kissed him.

Too bad the only man you want to kiss is an overbearing, egotistical jackass.

“Hi.”

Lindy’s cheeks crooked up of their own accord. The man really was something. What a smile. “Hi.”

Bev glanced over her shoulder. “Ah, good, you helped yourself. Mike, I’d like you to meet Melinda Spalding. Melinda, this is my son, Mike. Also known as Officer Donovan.”

He grinned. “I’d shake your hand, but...” He gestured helplessly with the mug and the cinnamon roll.

“I understand. Those look and smell delicious.”

“Oh, crud!” Bev craned her neck and gave Lindy a look of apology. “I didn’t even think to offer you one. Such a dunderhead I am. Mike, would you mind? Pour her a cup of coffee, too, please.”

“No problem.” His eyes twinkled with amusement. “Melinda, how do you take your coffee?”

Chapter 5

“Hmm...I think I’ll try the turkey club, with steak fries and a large glass of lemonade.” Lindy folded the menu and handed it back to Hannah.

Hannah tucked the menu under her arm with a nod and a rueful smile. “Listen, I’m really sorry about Bianca. Was Bev able to clean her up?”

Lindy waved off her apology. “The little stinker’s good as new, so no worries. And it wasn’t your fault; I should’ve had her on a leash. Bianca’s normally very well-behaved. She’s certainly never run off like that before. Though I knew exactly where she’d gone off to.”

Humor lit Hannah’s eyes. “They’re in love. I think it’s cute.”

Lindy barely held back an eye-roll. “They’re of different species.”

“I know. But come on, don’t you find it just the teensiest bit romantic?”

Now Lindy did roll her eyes. “Hannah, I think your bun may be twisted too tight.”

With a soft laugh, Hannah walked off to place Lindy’s order. It amazed her that such a nice, thoughtful girl was related to that foul-tempered jackass.

As if you have such a sweet disposition. Pffft.

Oh, shut up.

Lindy opened her laptop and found the file she wanted. Hannah returned with her lemonade and a bottle of ketchup. “Your club and fries will be up in a few minutes.”

When Hannah remained standing at her side, Lindy looked up and was met by curious mirth. “You’re obviously dying to ask me something.”

Hannah cast a quick glance over her shoulder before sliding into the booth across from her. “I can’t remember the last time I saw my brother like that. What the heck did you do to him?”

Lindy gaped at her. “Me? Why would you assume
I
did something to
him
? Maybe that arrogant brother of yours...what’s so funny?”

Hannah’s grin broadened. “You’ve got it as bad as he does. Why don’t you two just admit there’s something there and see where it goes?”

Because I don’t plan to stay in town long enough to find out.
“Look, I understand. You’re a romantic at heart and you’d like to see that playboy brother of yours settle down. But—”

“Drew isn’t a playboy.”

“—trust me when I say—”

“He just hasn’t found the right woman yet.”

“—I’m not the one for him. And he surely isn’t the man for me.”

Frustration creased Hannah’s brow, but she held her gaze in thoughtful silence. With a reluctant nod, she stood. “Okay, then, I won’t push. But I think you’re wrong. You’re exactly what my brother needs. And whether you want to admit it or not, I think he’s exactly what you need, too.” With that, Hannah headed back to the kitchen.

Clacking her nails on the table in exasperation, Lindy stared after the younger girl, the truth of her words sinking in like boulders in quicksand. Only in her own mind could Lindy admit her attraction to Drew had soared past the physical and landed with a thud in the deep end of the pool. She wanted him, had since the first moment she’d laid eyes on the arrogant man. And with just one kiss—one unforgettable, heart-stopping kiss—she’d started to yearn for him in ways she’d never before experienced. The magnitude of emotion that had swelled in her chest after that kiss scared the hell out of her.

Regardless, Lindy couldn’t fathom the thought of settling here in the Midwest. L.A. was her home—always had been, always would be. The beautiful climate, amazing and diverse restaurants, numerous historical museums, shopping on Rodeo Drive. Not to mention the breathtaking backdrop of the Santa Monica Mountains. And she knew it’d be a cold day in Hell before Drew Porter packed up and moved to the City of Angels with her. So really, what would be the point of pursuing something that could never be more than a fling?