Unveiled Treasures (5 page)

“Thanks, I need to concentrate on the living room and kitchen for now. The bath and bedrooms will have to wait for the next trip.”

“Sounds like you’ve got either some major remodeling going on or you are just sick of your existing colors and looking for a change. Give me some idea what you are looking for. Are you warm, neutral colors or bold and exciting colors?”

Rachel laughed. “I like to think a little of both, warm, neutral tones for the living room and something bold and daring in the kitchen. And you were right on both counts, major remodeling and sick of existing colors. I have to cover up buttercup yellow baseboards.”

“Well, here we have your neutral colors from off-whites to various shades of brown throwing in some grays for good measure. We can mix any color of the rainbow or in between if you don’t see something that strikes your liking. Oh here, this is a new color that just arrived last week, it’s called Cigar. Let me get you a sample card.”

“Thanks. That would be great. I’ll know the colors when they jump out at me.” She smiled sheepishly. “I know that sounds silly but it’s true.”

Jessica became more relaxed as the conversation revolved around paint. “As silly as it sounds, I understand completely. Here’s the paint sample.”

It was just what Rachel was looking for, the perfect color for her living room, a warm, dark beige color that spoke of comfort and home. “An excellent choice, I’ll take two gallons of it. It’s going to go really well with my furniture and the natural stone fireplace. Now for the kitchen, I’m thinking something bright but it will need to work with pearl gray and stainless steel.” She laughed as she continued to scan paint chips.

Jessica was ready to burst. Todd told her Rachel wanted privacy but this pretending she didn’t know was killing her. Rachel’s books really meant something to her, her characters had a life and vibrancy all their own. She laughed, cried and screamed right along with them. She couldn’t stand it any longer. With her nerves wound tight and her stomach in her throat, she took a deep breath. “I know who you are, Ms. Hardy, and I just want to say I love your books. I wasn’t sure how to approach you but then you needed help with paints and the opportunity came up and I took it. Please don’t look at me like that. If you ask anyone in town, I’m not dangerous. I’m known to be blunt and straightforward. Not really sure if it’s a quality or a curse, but never dangerous. Oh God. I’m rambling. Somebody shut me up! You’re going to think I’m crazy and run screaming from the store.”

Rachel just stood there jaw dropped. This girl was as nervous about meeting her as she was about being spotted on the street.
Like recognizes
, she thought to herself as she smiled and extended her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Jessica. I am flattered you think so highly of my writing. Thank you.”

Shaking hands with Rachel, Jessica seemed to calm down a little. “My brother stopped by a few minutes ago and let it slip you’d moved in to town,” she said, smiling again.

“Your…your brother? You mean Sheriff Bradley is your brother?” Rachel stammered the questions out. “I saw him leaving on my way in here. I can definitely see the family resemblance now.”

“Yep, has been all my life.” She beamed proudly. “It was hell when we were kids, I couldn’t get away with anything. That guy has eyes in the back of his head and I swear he can smell it when I lie.” She giggled and continued. “Guess it helps to have qualities like that when you’re sheriff, but it sucked growing up with him. So, if you don’t mind my asking. Why are you here? Although they don’t say a whole lot, your book bios all indicated that you lived in Phoenix.”

“I did until two days ago,” Rachel replied. “It was time for a change. I had no idea my dad still had the place up here, and once I found out about it, I couldn’t get it out of my mind. I had to come.” Wandering around to look at more paint chips, Rachel hoped the conversation would revert to safer ground and become less personal. There was something she’d liked instantly about Jessica. That never happened to her, but she wasn’t ready to open her life story to a stranger.

Hoping to change the subject, Rachel spoke up. “I think I’ll go with the aquamarine in a semi-gloss for the kitchen. I’ll need two gallons of that and probably three gallons of the high gloss pure white for trim and cabinets.”

“You have a good eye for color. You could use the colors together in the same room for accent if you chose to. I’ll get the cans shaken for you. Do you need help finding anything else or will this be all?”

“No, I need a few more things. I’ll browse around and find them myself. I’ll come back and pick up the paint in a few minutes.” Rachel headed off to gather the rest of her painting supplies, preoccupied with her thoughts back on her list of necessary materials.

* * * *

Jessica went about gathering the cans of paint she needed for mixing, just as happy as she could possibly be. She was so glad she came in to work today. She turned around and ran smack into Ed Templeton. “Oh, I’m sorry, Ed. I didn’t see you there. Are you okay?”

“Yes Jessica, I’m quite all right,” he replied. “I couldn’t help but notice the lovely young woman with you a few moments ago. Did I hear you correctly, she has moved into the Hardy place by the creek?”

“Yep, she just arrived a couple of days ago, looks like she plans on staying too. She’s buying a lot of tools and supplies to fix the place up,” she said as she continued to mix paints. Jessica didn’t like to gossip; she was just confirming what Ed had overheard. She didn’t feel it necessary to explain who Rachel was though. “How’s the real estate business going? With the weather changing you’re probably about done for the year, aren’t you?”

“Oh, I still have some deals in the works, enough to keep the wolves from my door this winter. If all goes according to plan, I’ll be spending the cold weather season on a warm sandy beach.”

“That’s good. Did you need some help with something?” Jessica felt the hair stand up on the back of her neck and gooseflesh run down her arms. Thinking it was a chill; she grabbed her sweatshirt and pulled it over her head. Something always made her uneasy around Ed Templeton. She thought it might be the thin-lipped smile she never felt comfortable believing or maybe it was the beady, black eyes.

“No, I’ve acquired more than I came in for actually. Thank you.” He made a slight bow to her as he headed towards the exit.

* * * *

Rachel returned to the paint counter to find her paint cans mixed and ready. Piling everything in to the cart, she looked over at Jessica. “I need to hire some contractors. I was hoping to get some recommendations if you know anyone. I’m looking for a carpenter, plumber, roofer and I need someone to do some rock work.”

“I do. Working in a hardware store, I meet all the local tradesmen. Let me find you some cards, I’ll be right back.” Jessica returned with a handful of business cards. “These guys are really good. Not hard to look at either, in case you’re interested. Make sure you tell them I recommended them to you,” she said with a smile.

“Thanks, I really appreciate your help. It was very nice to meet you. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you again, Jessica. I can’t possibly have everything I’m going to need in this basket.” Laughing, she headed to the check out register. Three hundred and seventy-five dollars later, she was out front of the hardware store loading her purchases in the back of her truck. She looked around and had the funny feeling she was being watched. Scanning the street she didn’t see anyone staring at her but the feeling didn’t go away. Shrugging it off, she climbed in to the truck and headed back up the hill.

Rachel pulled up in front of Canyon Grocery for another batch of supplies and more ice for her cooler. The quaint charm of the place made her smile every time.
Just add two old men playing checkers on a whiskey barrel and a sleeping hound at their feet
. Brutus was content to sleep on the seat while she went shopping. Laughing at her imagination, she jumped out of the truck and walked in to store.

Josie lit up the moment she saw Rachel come in. “Good day to you, Ms. Hardy. What can I help you find today?” She all but bounced up and down on her stool behind the counter.

“Um, thanks, Josie, but I think I can find everything okay,” Rachel answered shyly. She turned around to grab a shopping cart and ran face first in to the solid chest of Todd Bradley. He reached out, grabbing her arms to steady her.

“We really have to stop meeting like this, Ms. Hardy, people will begin to talk.”

“I’m sorry, Sheriff. Are you alright? I wasn’t looking; I didn’t see you standing there. I—”

Todd cut off her apology by pressing his index finger against her lips. “Calm down, Rachel, no harm, no foul. How about you? Are you okay?”

She nodded. Embarrassed and a little disconcerted, she turned her head away from his touch. “You can take your hands off me now, Sheriff. I can stand on my own two feet, thank you very much.”

Tracing her jaw line with his finger, he grinned. “Yes, I’m sure you can Rachel, but you see, I like having my hands on you and have imagined doing more, much more.”

She wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole. Her panties dampened and she felt her knees weaken. Refusing to back down, Rachel stiffened her shoulders and looked him in the eye. My God, they were beautiful eyes, stormy gray with flecks of blue. She couldn’t, no wouldn’t let them affect her.

Tilting her chin, she looked straight into his eyes, “I hope your imagination is vivid because imagining is all you’re going to do,” she whispered seductively. He wanted to play games, she could play too. She wasn’t about to let him know how he was really affecting her.

“We’ll just have to see about that, won’t we? I love a good challenge,” he countered, flashing that crooked little grin of his leaving her speechless. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I came in here to see the lovely Josie.” He winked at the clerk behind Rachel. His eyes sparkled with mischief and humor as he stepped aside, allowing her to reach for a shopping cart.

“Well then, I will get out of your way so the two of you can talk. Good day, Sheriff.” She huffed down the aisle without giving him the satisfaction of turning around to look at him again.

Rachel closed her eyes, exhaled a sigh and willed her knees to stop shaking.
You are acting like a complete fool around this guy. What is your major malfunction? I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know! I’m scared, I’m excited, I’m attracted and I’m…I’m overwhelmed by him
. That had her stopping in her tracks.
I’m blowing things way out of proportion here. We’ve had one kiss, one utterly mind-blowing, toe-curling kiss. Oh! Get a grip, Rach
. Shaking her head in self-disgust, she headed for the fruits and vegetables.

* * * *

Sheriff Bradley stood at the counter watching Rachel while he spoke with Josie.

“You know, lyin’s a sin. You didn’t come in here to talk to me. We both know that. I got eyes in my head. I see the way you’re sniffing around that girl. You better watch yourself, boy,” Josie said, smiling at him. “Love has a funny way of sneaking up on you.”

“Thanks for the advice. If I didn’t love you so much, I’d tell you to mind your own business,” he said, grinning.

She threw her head back and cackled. “I’ve had my nose in your business ever since you moved here twenty years ago. You were a snot nosed eight year old looking for trouble then. Now you’re all grown up, wearing a badge and still looking for trouble. You just might find it with that one.”

“Bye, Josie,” Todd said, walking out the door. He could still hear her laughter as he climbed in his truck. He sat in his truck thinking about big blue eyes, a sea of dark brown hair and wildly exotic night flowers. His hands were full enough now with a burglar on the loose without a woman complicating his life any further.
But what a complication,
he thought as she came out of the store. She glared at him as she climbed in the cab of her truck and drove off. She was definitely much more than a pretty package. He’d known enough women to know that beauty was a whole lot more than skin deep.
What are you looking for, Todd?
he asked himself as he watched her drive away. “More,” he thought out loud,
someone to share my passions and interests, someone to share my life with me. Stop it! You’ve kissed her once and now you’re dreaming of spending your life with her? Get a grip, Bradley.
Gunning the engine to life, he backed out of the parking lot.

Chapter 4

“I so love driving through this canyon,” Rachel said to Brutus on their way home. “You can’t find this kind of solitude in a big city. Turning off the main road up the steep drive, she stopped to admire a doe and her fawn drinking from the creek. Sitting up, Brutus barked at them. Rachel smiled as they dashed off into the thick cover of trees. This was her own private joy, having nature right outside her door. Parking the truck, she grabbed her bags and headed for the front door. Once inside, she went about putting everything away. Looking around the kitchen, she did a little happy dance. This was her place! She couldn’t get over that. Envisioning everything repaired, patched, painted and replaced if necessary made her feel giddy. Her belongings and furniture would make it complete. She was going to make it fantastic. Her cell phone rang as she walked back in to the living room. “Hello?”

“Well hello, stranger, thought maybe you forgot about us down here in the South.”