Trinity Harbor 3 - Along Came Trouble (31 page)

He glanced over at her, his pulse lurching at the effect of that red dress. She was sexy, too, by gol y. She was going to keep his golden years from turning dul , that’s for sure. Assuming, of course, he could pin her down and get a straight answer to his bungled marriage proposal.

He drove into the crowded parking lot at the marina, glad that he’d had the forethought to cal ahead for a reservation. Not that Bobby wouldn’t have seen to it that he got a table eventual y, but he wanted tonight to go off without a hitch.

As he and Frances strol ed through the restaurant, every eye was on them. King had little doubt that their presence here tonight, especial y with Frances al dol ed up in that provocative dress, would be the talk of Earlene’s in the morning. Wel , he could stand the ribbing he was bound to take. In fact, he was looking forward to it.

“My, my, don’t you two look incredible?” Anna-Louise said as they passed the table where she was sitting with Richard. “King, I’ve never seen you look so dapper, and, Frances, you are stunning in that dress. You should wear red al the time.”

King studied the preacher with a narrowed gaze. “You after something?”

Anna-Louise regarded him with an innocent expression. “What on earth could I possibly want?”

“That’s what I’m wondering,” King said. He turned to Richard. “You have any idea what she’s up to?”

“Al I know is that she was out at Swan Ridge earlier with Liz Chandler, Gail Thorensen, Daisy and Jenna,” Richard said.

King’s blood ran cold. “Daisy was out there consorting with the enemy?”

“King Spencer!” Frances protested.

King gazed into her condemning eyes and backed down at once. “Okay, okay, I won’t get into al that tonight.” He regarded Anna-Louise with an innocent look of his own. “So, how are things coming with that project of yours?”

“The youth center?” she asked.

“I don’t know anything about any youth center,” King retorted. “I was thinking about something a little more personal.” He directed his gaze toward Richard. “She talked you into becoming a papa yet?”

This time the vehement protests came from both women. King winced at the chorus. He refused to back down. If Richard needed a little nudging along those lines, he was prepared to offer it. “Nothing like fatherhood,” he told him. “And you don’t want to wait too late for it, either. Take it from me, parenthood is not something for old people or sissies. It requires a lot of patience and energy.”

“Especial y when you insist on meddling in your children’s lives,” Anna-Louise commented dryly. “King, do you suppose you could leave this particular topic to Richard and me?”

“Not til I’ve heard what he’s got to say,” King persisted. “So, boy, what’s it going to be? You up to the task or not?”

Richard rose to his feet slowly and looked King directly in the eye. Anyone else would have backed down under that hard stare, but King didn’t flinch.

“I know you think you run Trinity Harbor, King, but you can’t control the lives of everyone in it,” Richard said with a chil in his voice. “My personal life is off-limits. Try to remember that the next time you’re tempted to stick your nose in where it doesn’t belong.”

King was about to respond that he had been consulted on the matter by one of the two interested parties, but one look at Anna-Louise’s drawn expression warned him to stay silent. For once in his life he was smart enough to take the hint.

“I stil say there’s no time like the present to consider an important step like this, especial y with a woman like Anna-Louise to be the child’s mother. She’s a born nurturer, and she’s not going to be content with having a bunch of old geezers like me to look out for. She needs a baby.” He nodded at Anna-Louise, satisfied that he’d done his part to help her get her wish. “You two enjoy your evening.”

He turned to Frances, tucked her arm in his and led her to their table across the dining room.

“Why on earth would you get into such a personal topic with Anna-Louise and Richard?” Frances demanded the instant they were seated.

“That’s confidential,” he said prudently.

She studied him with a narrowed gaze. “And that’s al you intend to say?”

“That’s it,” he said, scanning the menu. “The veal special looks good tonight. What do you think?”

“I think you’d be better off with crow,” she said tartly. “I’l have the pork tenderloin.”

He chuckled. “I imagine my son could even manage to make crow downright appetizing.”

Frances feigned shock. “Why, King Spencer, I think that is the very first time I’ve ever heard you say something complimentary about Bobby’s cooking.”

“That’s not true,” he protested. “I might not understand his decision to make this his life’s work, but I praise his skil al the time. Now let’s forget al about my children, Anna-Louise and Richard, and concentrate on us.”

She seemed startled by the suggestion. “That wil be a first.”

He shrugged. “Never let it be said that an old dog can’t learn a new trick or two, given the right incentive.”

“And the incentive would be?”

He opted for being plainspoken. This was one message he didn’t want her to miss. Looking her straight in the eye, he said, “I want you, Frances.

And I’m not going to quit until I get you.”

She waved her menu to fan her suddenly flaming face. “Wel , then, I suppose we’l just have to wait to see if you’re up to the task.”

King grinned at the chal enge. “You know I am.”

“I know nothing of the sort.”

“Liar.” He reached for her hand, brought it to his lips and kissed her knuckles. To his satisfaction, her breath hitched. “That’s just the warm-up, darlin’ woman. You don’t stand a chance.”

“You should have seen the two of them last night,” Bobby reported to Tucker over breakfast at Earlene’s the next morning. “Daddy and Frances were making eyes at each other al evening long. And she was wearing this dress—this bright
red
dress—that just about had his eyes popping out of his head.”

Tucker laughed. “Good for her.”

“I’m tel ing you, if those two don’t announce an engagement soon, I’l grind up the stemware behind the bar and eat it.”

Tucker shuddered. “Sounds deadly.”

“Which should prove how convinced I am that Daddy’s fate is sealed,” Bobby said. “So, where were you? I cal ed several times to give you a blow-by-blow report of the events as they unfolded.” He waved his hand. “Never mind. You were with Mary Elizabeth.”

“Okay, yes,” Tucker admitted defensively. “I did stop by after I left the marina.”

“And?”

“And nothing,” Tucker retorted. “We sat down by the river and talked for a while. That’s it.”

Bobby glanced up just then, and a grin began to spread across his face. “Maybe I’l try for another version and see if it matches up,” he said, beckoning to someone behind Tucker.

Mary Elizabeth walked up to the table. Tucker’s pulse began to thud dul y. She could make a liar of him in two seconds flat, if she chose.

“Join us,” Bobby suggested. “Tucker was just tel ing me al about his visit to you last night.”

Her gaze narrowed. “Oh, real y?” she said, slipping in beside Tucker until they were thigh to thigh. “And what did you tel him?”

Bobby held up a hand. “No, wait. I don’t want you comparing notes. You just tel me what happened. I want to see how truthful my brother is being.”

“Watch it, Mary Elizabeth,” Tucker warned, amused despite himself. “Bobby seems to be al caught up in romantic gossip this morning. He’s just been tel ing me al about our father’s candlelit dinner with Frances last night.”

“Don’t try to distract her by changing the subject,” Bobby protested. “Come on, Mary Elizabeth, spil everything.”

Earlene arrived just then, plunked a coffee cup noisily on the table in front of Mary Elizabeth and fil ed it, grabbed up Tucker’s plate, then left after casting a disapproving scowl at al of them. Mary Elizabeth sighed.

Tucker promptly took offense at Earlene’s deliberate show of attitude. “I’l talk to her,” he said grimly. “Let me out.”

“No,” Mary Elizabeth said. “Let it be. She’l mel ow in time. I’m developing a thick skin and a renewed commitment to the virtue of patience.”

“You’re a customer,” he protested. “Earlene should know better. Move, Mary Elizabeth. I want to have a few words with her.”

She refused to let him out. “No, absolutely not. Forget about it, Tucker.”

“She’s right,” Bobby added. “Let it go. You won’t help matters by getting Earlene stirred up and causing a scene that everyone in town wil hear about before nightfal .” Apparently satisfied that he’d made his point, Bobby winked at Mary Elizabeth. “Come on, now. Let’s hear al the good stuff.”

Obviously relieved when Tucker sank back beside her, Mary Elizabeth propped her elbows on the table and rested her chin on her cupped hands.

“Wel ,” she began, regarding Bobby intently. “First we got this old blanket, and then we strol ed down to the river. The sky was like black velvet sprinkled with diamonds, and the air smel ed as sweet as honeysuckle.”

Bobby made an exaggerated show of fanning himself. Tucker final y felt his tension ease as he listened to her spin her web around Bobby. To be truthful, her version was a whole lot more fascinating than his.

“And then we stretched out on the blanket, side by side,” she said, her voice little more than a seductive purr now.

Bobby’s eyes widened with anticipation. “Yes?”

She grinned. “And then we talked.”

“Talked?” Bobby repeated.

She leaned back and poked Tucker in the ribs with her elbow. “Yes, that’s it. We talked. Right, Tucker?”

“That’s it,” he agreed.

“Wel , damn,” Bobby muttered. “I had a higher opinion of you, bro. Maybe Walker and I need to have one of those birds-and-bees talks with you.”

“Trust me, I have the birds-and-bees things down pat,” Tucker said. He glanced at Mary Elizabeth, then intentional y held her gaze. “There’s nothing wrong with building a little anticipation now, is there?” He watched the pulse at the base of her neck beat a little faster. She licked her lips, and suddenly his pulse was ricocheting wildly, too. He swal owed hard. “Wel , Mary Elizabeth?”

“Anticipation is a beautiful thing,” she agreed. “As long as a person remembers that there is a very fine line between pleasurable anticipation and teasing.”

Tucker nodded, keeping his expression somber. “I’l remember that.”

Bobby released a deliberately huge sigh. “Oh, my,” he said with another wave of the menu to fan himself. “That was so…so…There are no words to describe it.”

Tucker laughed. “Good. Maybe you’l be able to keep your mouth shut.”

“Don’t count on it. I live to spread tales about you, Tucker. I’ve waited a long time to get even for the way you taunted me about Jenna.”

“Go for it, as long as Daddy’s not on the shortlist to hear the news,” Tucker said. “After that dinner you described him having with Frances, I’m not sure his heart can take much more.”

Mary Elizabeth’s expression brightened. “Let’s talk about that. Are things heating up after al ? When I talked to Frances, she was total y frustrated that King would never make a move.”

Tucker stared at her. “You talked to Frances about her relationship with my father?”

She shrugged. “She was upset. We had a little girltalk. I gave her a suggestion or two.”

“Did any of them involve a slinky red dress?” Bobby inquired.

“Actual y, no, but I must admit that had to have been a nice touch.”

“Oh, yeah,” Bobby confirmed. “I definitely think it did the trick.”

“God bless Frances, is al I can say,” Tucker said fervently. “If she can divert his attention from me for a while, more power to her.”

“Trust me, bro. I don’t think you were on Daddy’s mind last night,” Bobby said. “I’m pretty sure he was trying to figure out how to get Frances out of that dress.”

“Please,” Tucker protested. “The concept boggles the mind. I’d just as soon not have that particular image floating around in my brain al day long.”

He turned to Mary Elizabeth. “By the way, what are you doing in here at this hour? Were you looking for me?”

“No, you’re just a bonus,” she said, winking at Bobby. “I’m meeting Gail Thorensen for coffee. She cal ed me after you’d left last night and suggested getting together before she opens the bookstore.”

“More talk about the youth center?” Tucker asked.

“Actual y, I don’t think so. She was pretty evasive when I asked why she wanted to see me. She just said she’d had a brainstorm on the way home and wanted to run it by me.”

“Uh-oh,” Bobby said. “When any of these women get evasive, it means trouble, usual y for us men.”

“Especial y Gail,” Tucker noted. “I’l never forget how she maneuvered Andy into buying that property and helping her open a store more than a hundred miles from where they actual y lived. The man was retired from the D.C. police force and living down here before he knew what hit him. Watch your step with her, Mary Elizabeth. She’s sneaky.”

“I doubt she’l try the same tactics on me that she used on her husband,” Mary Elizabeth said, regarding him with amusement. “Besides, I’m up for anything that gets me out of Swan Ridge and back among the living.”

“Glad to hear that,” Gail said, arriving just then and nudging Bobby until he slid over to make room for her. “Because what I have in mind wil definitely keep you occupied.”

Tucker didn’t like the gleam in Gail’s eye one bit. “What are you up to?” he demanded.

“Just a little selfish request,” she said innocently.

Then, in what Tucker was fairly sure was a deliberate attempt to keep them guessing, she waved Earlene over to ask for coffee and a cinnamon bun.

“Wel ?” Tucker prodded.

“Not til I’ve had my first sip of coffee,” Gail said.

Thankful y the coffee and bun arrived at once, but then Mary Elizabeth decided she had to have one, too. Only when both women were happily drinking their coffee and eating Earlene’s gooey, iced cinnamon buns did the conversation resume.

“Okay, here it is,” Gail said, sitting back and regarding Mary Elizabeth with an expectant look. “How about coming to work for me?”

“In the bookstore?” Tucker asked before Mary Elizabeth could say a word. He tried to envision her working for minimum wage in a tiny little bookshop here in Trinity Harbor after hobnobbing with the elite in Richmond. He couldn’t see it. As far as he knew, she’d never held a paying, nine-to-five job in her life.