“How about I meet you at Trib’s instead—I have to go into town and drop off something for Cherry after her last class ends, then I’m going to see if Gilda has finished repairing that thousand-dollar dinner jacket for me. How does thatsound?”
He didn’t say anything. He just slipped a hand around the back of her neck and brought her to him for a sweet kiss filled withpromise.
“I’ll see you at Trib’s,” he said, then took off before he could change his mind and go back formore.
Twenty
“So…Declanand I are meeting for dinner tonight at Trib’s,” Leslie told Cherry. “I think things might work out afterall.”
They were in her aunt’s upper-level yoga studio and the last class had just ended. Cherry was straightening foam blocks, arranging rolled-up yoga mats, and closing the blinds. The place smelled faintly of lavender, and a soft breeze scuttled the wind chimes that hung just inside an open window. The strains of flute-heavy music filtered through the air at just the rightvolume.
“Thank God. I just don’t think we needanothersexually frustrated woman in this town,” Cherry said. “On a happier note, I just found out that William Reckless—yes, that’s his real name—is going to be at the reuniontomorrow.”
“You mean the guy who went to Tibet for a year to live with the monks? And this is good news…how?”
“He was there for five years—I think he even climbed one of the big mountains there—then he spent four years in the Amazon jungle working for the Peace Corps. And some other places. He’s back in the States to stay…believe it or not, he just bought a house in Grand Rapids.” Her eyes were gleaming with delight, and maybe even a little bit of lust. “He’s not married. Did I mention that? And he’s definitely straight…so…Grand Rapids is just far enough away that he won’t be all up in my business every day. But close enough for a booty call whenever I needone.”
Leslie laughed. “Go for it, auntie. I don’t think William Reckless will know what hithim.”
“Oh, I think he will. Didn’t I mention…he was the guy who popped my cherry—no pun intended—way back in theday.”
“Are your cheekspink, Aunt Cherry?” Leslie hooted. “You’re really excited about this guy, aren’tyou?”
“Well…let’s just say…I wouldn’t mind if things went full circle. He was the one who got away—and spoiled me for everyone who came afterhim.”
Leslie softened. “I hope it works out for you, Aunt Cherry. You deserve to find someone who’s just right foryou.”
“And so do you, Les. Ever since I found out Declan was a blacksmith, I just knew you two were meant for each other too. So…keep the peace. He’s a wonderful man, a great father, and an honest, hardworking businessman. You couldn’t ask for anythingmore.”
Leslie nodded, but she had a lump in her throat. Despite their conversation this morning, she wasn’t certain what sort of future they had. After all, she hadn’t been a completely honest person herself. And there’d been times when she was ruthless and cutthroat in her own business dealings in the past. What would a man like Declan want with someone likeher?
Well. The only way to find out was to have dinner and see whathappened.
When she left Cherry’s studio, it was only quarter past six, so Leslie had plenty of time to walk the four blocks to Gilda’s Goodies to check on the dinner jacket. As she’d feared, the shop wasn’t open—only belatedly did she remember that Gilda told her she closed at six on Saturdays during the off-season.
However, Gilda mentioned she often stayed late to work in the back, so Leslie walked to the end of the block then into the alley that led to the backside of the shops. It was nearly dark by now, but she was able to figure out which was the back door to Gilda’s. A light was on inside, so she knocked—and the door opened under the gentleforce.
“Hello? Gilda? It’s Leslie Nakano,” she called, stepping inside. Everything was quiet and still. The hallway was lit with a dim light, and there was a more vibrant stripe of illumination under the door at the end of thehall.
But no one seemed to bearound.
For some reason, Leslie’s palms became damp and her pulse kicked up a bit. Maybe it was because of all the talk of murder, and the fact that a man had drugged her lastnight.
For whatever reason, Leslie felt that strange eeriness settle over her as she poked her head around the corner, looking down the short hall leading toward Gilda’s storage room. No lights down there. The silence was heavy, which made her skin prickle. But the light was on, the door had been open—maybe Gilda was expecting someone and she’d just stepped into the restroom, or out front in the shop,or—
“Leslie?”
She nearly jumped out of her skin and spun around. “Good grief, Regina, you scared the heck out of me. I was looking forGilda.”
“She should be back there. I was coming to see her myself.” Regina looked mildly concerned. She was also dressed more casually than Leslie had ever seen her: in jeans and a simple twin sweater set. “Gilda?”
Just then, a door closed somewhere and there was the sound of rushing footsteps. “Oh, thank God you’re here, Reggie. I’ve got it all figured—Leslie?What are— I mean, hello. Sorry, I—I’m a littledistracted.”
“I think we all are,” Leslie said, suddenly feeling very awkward for a reason she couldn’t quite identify. Her instincts were pinging wildly. “Especially after what happened to MarcusLevin.”
“I know,” Regina said in a low voice. “It was just awful, wasn’t it? And at the high school too, with his head bashed in.” Sheshuddered.
“Well, what can I do for you, Leslie?” asked Gilda in a businesslike tone as she gestured them into her office. “Come onin.”
