Safe at Home (Warm Springs Trilogy Book 1) Read online

  Her hair was up in an untidy knot on top of her head. There was dirt on her face and she was wearing a tank top and shorts, but something in him stirred at the sight of her. Maybe it was because she looked so peaceful. Or, it was the way she looked perfect there in the yard surrounded by flowers. Whatever it was made him reluctant to break the silence.

  He studied her a minute longer, trying to put his finger on what it was about her that made him look twice. She wasn’t his usual type. He doubted he would find her in a bar all dolled up in skinny jeans and sky high heels leaning over a pool table. Nevertheless, he liked what he saw and wasn’t sure why he hadn’t noticed before.

  Spencer cleared his throat and took another step forward. “The flowers look nice.”

  Sam sprang off the tree and whirled around, almost spilling her drink. “Thanks, I’ve been working out here all day.” She touched her hair and then brushed at her shorts. “I needed a break from the indoors.”

  He took his hat off and ran a hand through his hair. “I usually don’t work on Sundays, and you probably have a lot you want to get done, so I’ll make this quick. I was wondering if you’d be interested in joining me and my brother Jake and his family for dinner next Saturday?”

  Sam’s lips parted, but no sound came out, and then her lower lip curled inward as her teeth captured the sun-kissed rim. The backs of her fingers brushed against one of her escaped curls as she glanced away.

  Was she stalling? Lord, she was killing him. He already felt like an idiot, and now it seemed as if she was just going to stand there all afternoon and try to think of some excuse why she couldn’t come. He didn’t care how pretty she was, he wasn’t going to beg. He could kill Jake and Ann for putting him up to this.

  “Look, if you’re busy or something, it’s no big deal.” He put his hat back on and started to leave.

  “No, I . . . well, it’s really sweet of you to ask, but I . . . Wait, did you say, Jake?”

  “Yeah, my brother’s name is Jake. I usually refer to him that way. What’s the problem?” But, before the last word crossed his lips, he knew the real question she was asking. “You’ve met him I think, in town.”

  “I think I have. So, you grew up here?”

  The look on her face said it all. The rose color in her cheeks vanished and she took a step back from him, nearly tripping over a tree root. She seemed to retreat into some sort of invisible shell. Spencer tried to fool himself into wondering what the big deal was, but he knew better. “Yeah, I grew up here.” It sounded lame even to him, but he didn’t know what else to say.

  “Why didn’t you say so?”

  “I didn’t see the point.”

  “Didn’t see the point? You grew up here, it was your parents’ house, and I come in and make all these changes. All the things I’ve said about things needing work and things being neglected.” Color flooded her cheeks.

  “Look, I didn’t lie.”

  “It’s called lying by omission.” Sam marched past him and up the ladder leaning against the house where she started attacking the gutters.

  “I should’ve told you, but I didn’t see the big deal, okay?”

  Sam’s shoulders tensed and through clenched teeth she said, “No, it’s not okay. I’m not interested in liars and as far as I’m concerned, that’s what you are. So, thanks, but no thanks for the invitation to dinner. I’m afraid I can’t make it.”

  Without looking back, she climbed down the ladder but missed the last rung. Her ankle twisted sideways and she sucked in air between her teeth. He leapt into action, sweeping her off her feet with one arm behind her legs and one under her arms.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” She struggled in his arms.

  “I’m carrying you inside seeing as how you just twisted your ankle.” He glanced down at her face and then bent to open the back door. “This is the part where you say, ‘Thank you.’”

  She chose to glare at him instead, but she stopped squirming. He set her down on the couch and returned to the kitchen without a word. Alone in the kitchen, he ignored the residual heat her skin left on his and filled a small plastic bag with ice.

  “Here.” He knelt by the couch and placed the bag over her ankle. “Give this a few minutes.” His finger gently grazed her skin and it sent a rush of heat through him. Her skin was soft and her features delicate. His arms could wrap around her with ease.

  “Thanks,” she spoke without smiling, breaking his line of thought. “I guess you better go then.”

  “What? Oh right.” He headed for the door. “See ya around.”

  Spencer stalked back to his truck and tried to figure out where that temper of hers had come from. Up until now, Sam always seemed quiet, timid even, but not today. He hated to admit it, but with the extra color in her cheeks and fire in her eyes she looked damned sexy.

  She leaned her head back on the couch cushion and tried to figure out what had just happened. She heard Spencer’s tires squeal as they hit the pavement. What was wrong with her? She went crazy on someone for no reason. Who cares if he used to live in the house? It was her house now and he didn’t seem to mind that she lived here. Why had she taken the news so personally?

  She stood and hobbled to the kitchen cabinet to get something for her sudden headache. What happened to the care free girl who used to roll with the punches? What happened to her ability to trust? Not everyone was out to get her. Plus, she was now a long way away from that part of her life. It was time to get a grip and move on. After all, no one could find her here. No one even knew where “here” was. Not her friends or what was left of her family.

  Spencer turned into his brother’s driveway without slowing down and saw Ann sitting on the porch. She mouthed some words he couldn’t hear and then his brother appeared on the porch beside her.

  He brought his truck to a stop and climbed out, slamming his door with a little more force than necessary.

  “What gives little brother?”

  “I’ll tell you what gives. I went over to ask Sam if she wanted to join all of us for dinner next week and she nearly ripped my head off. Well, after she fell off a ladder and nearly broke her neck.”

  Ann crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head to the side. “Wait, why don’t you start at the beginning?”

  He filled them in on the rest of the story ending where she practically threw him out after he helped her into the house. His temper calmed some during his retelling of events, but he still felt like kicking something.

  “She does have a point on the omission part.” Ann held up a hand when it looked as if he was going to argue. “Did you apologize and invite her over?”

  “She didn’t let me apologize and she said thanks, but no thanks, to dinner.”

  “Something tells me you didn’t try very hard.” Her brows arched. “My advice? Let her cool down and apologize when you see her tomorrow for work.”

  Spencer did a mental, toe-in-the-dirt, back step. Why was Ann the only person who could ever make him see reason, to stop and think? “What makes you think she’ll forgive me so easily?”

  “She’s not a monster. She’s a woman. She just feels embarrassed is all.” Ann winked as she gained momentum to get up.

  Jake helped get her to her feet and shot Spencer a wicked grin behind his wife’s back, the same way he used to do when they were little and one of them had just gotten told off by their mother.

  They disappeared into the house while Spencer sat outside and replayed the afternoon in his head. Why had she looked so wounded? Realizing Ann might have a point, he wished the next morning would never come. No man liked the taste of his own pride.

  Chapter 5

  Sam stopped and counted to five when she heard knocking the following morning. She knew she would have to face him, but she still wasn’t in a hurry to see him after the way he’d lied and she’d acted. He probably thought she was nuts. With her nerves in a knot, she answered the door, but the apology on the tip of her tongue died. It wasn’t Spencer
after all, it was a woman. A pregnant woman.

  “Hello, I’m sorry if this is a bad time, but I’ve been dying to meet you. My name is Ann. I’m Spencer’s sister-in-law.” Ann forced a basket into Sam’s hand.

  “H-Hi, come in,” Sam recovered from the surprise and closed the door.

  “Spencer was right. You have quite the eye.” Ann looked around surveying the house and all its changes. “The place looks great.”

  Sam could feel a slight flush at the compliment.

  “Can I use your bathroom? You know how it is.” She patted her belly. “I have to go every ten minutes nowadays.”

  “Sure, the bathroom’s over there.” Sam pointed.

  “I think I remember.” Ann smiled and headed toward the door.

  Blushing from embarrassment, Sam hobbled to the kitchen. Of course Spencer’s sister-in-law knew where the bathroom was. She set the basket on the counter and looked inside. It was full of cookies and fruit. Unsure of what she should do next, Sam paced across her kitchen. What was she doing here?

  “Whew, that’s better,” Ann grinned upon entering the kitchen. “How’s the ankle?”

  “I’ll live. I was just being stupid. Would you like something to drink? I have coffee or tea.”

  “Tea sounds great.” Ann lowered her swollen body into one of the red chairs at the table. “I didn’t know what you liked to eat, so I brought some of everything from my latest midnight baking session and some pears from our tree.”

  “Midnight baking session?”

  “Cravings. They’re killing me, but the boys love it.”

  Sam didn’t know what it was exactly, but she already liked Ann. Sam’s shoulders relaxed as she set two mugs of hot tea on the table and sat down across from her.

  Ann blew across the top of her mug and took a sip. “That’s wonderful, thanks. I rarely get hot tea. Usually it’s sweet iced tea. This is a nice change.” She looked around the kitchen and down the hall toward the living room. “So, what’s next for the house?”

  “I have a lot more work to do upstairs. Maybe remodel the master bath. I was going to talk to Spencer about it today, if he’s still speaking to me.” Sam dropped her eyes to the mug in her hands.

  “I heard you two had a little tiff yesterday.” Ann smiled with a hint of mischief in her eyes.

  Sam could feel the heat beginning to flood her cheeks again. She could only imagine what Spencer had said about her.

  “Don’t worry about it. Spencer’s a blockhead half the time, just like his brother, and I can say that because he’s my husband.” Ann winked as she took another sip of tea. “So, would you like to come over for dinner this weekend?”

  Sam set her mug down and shook her head. “I don’t want to intrude.”

  “Oh stop, I’m inviting you. And besides, I could use you there. I’m outnumbered by all the boys. I need someone there who can hold their own against a Malloy man.” Ann’s infectious smile made another appearance. “Oh, come on. Saturday around six-thirty? That’ll give us a little time to chat before the guys get home from Alex’s game.”

  Sam laughed, too, and gave in. It was kind of nice talking to a girl her own age. “Okay, dinner on Saturday sounds great. What can I bring?”

  Spencer did a double take and slowed when he saw Ann on the road in front of Sam’s house. She waved and smiled, but didn’t stop. Whatever Ann was up to, he figured it wasn’t going to get him out of apologizing to Sam. He exhaled as he turned into the driveway and put his truck in park. The curtains were open in the front windows, but there was no sign of Sam. With one last deep breath, he grabbed his old hat off the passenger seat and climbed out. Better to get the groveling out of the way so he could get back to work and forget yesterday had ever happened.

  He knocked and took a step back. Maybe this way he would be out of her direct line of fire. When the door finally opened, she smiled at him and stepped outside. His words left him. He didn’t know what he’d been expecting, but her calm smiling face wasn’t it.

  “Spencer, about yesterday and the whole you growing up here thin . . .”

  “Yeah, about that.” He adjusted his hat higher on his head. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t lie to you to be cruel.”

  She cut him off. “I know and I overreacted. Truthfully, it had nothing to do with you and more to do with me.”

  “No, I was wrong. I meant to tell you sooner and then it kind of slipped my mind.”

  Sam held up a hand and shook her head. “It’s fine, really.”

  They looked at each other and laughed.

  “All’s forgiven then?”

  “Yes, of course, and since that’s all settled, I’m going to get back to painting.” She groaned playfully and reached for the door.

  “Wait, how’s your ankle?” He didn’t know what possessed him to keep talking. All he’d wanted to do was get back to work, but now that she was standing in front of him, he didn’t want her to go.

  She stopped and turned back. “It’s okay, thanks.”

  “Good, okay then.” He could feel her eyes on him, waiting to see if he was going to say something else. He bent down and ran his finger over a rough spot on one of the floorboards, making a mental note to touch it up, and then stood. “The truth is, Sam, I don’t like thinking about the last year my parents lived here.” He stuffed his hands in his back pockets and looked at the trees across the street. “See, my dad died of cancer. It was slow and awful and I’d rather not remember him that way. I’d rather focus on the happier times here. Christmas’, pelting Jake with eggs, that sort of stuff. Not what my dad became or how he suffered here in his final hours.”

  “Spencer, I’m sorry. I knew he was gone, but I had no idea. If you’d rather not work here I could…”

  He turned to her. “No, I like being here. The changes you’re making feel right. It’s like you’re giving the house new life. It’s nice.”

  She smiled at him and he shuffled his feet.

  “Okay then, I’m going to get to it.” He turned and jogged down the porch steps. He was unsure why he’d told her all that, but he felt better, like a weight had been lifted.

  After their talk, the rest of the week went by normally with Spencer working outside and Sam inside, and every afternoon Sam and Spencer took a break and shared lemonade in the kitchen. They discussed their progress and what was next. It had become a little ritual.

  The kitchen sat blanketed in darkness, as it had all week thanks to him, much to Sam’s annoyance. The windows were blacked out so she couldn’t see what it was he had been up to in the back yard. He had coaxed her with promises of greatness, and he sure hoped she liked what he’d done. It had taken more than a little convincing. She joined him in the kitchen and he smiled.

  “I want to try something different today.”

  “What?”

  “I want you to see what I’ve been doing in the back, but you have to wear this.”

  She raised an eyebrow at him.

  “Come on, just trust me.” He stepped toward her and draped the cloth over her eyes.

  “Trust is not one of my strong points, especially when you’re making me wear a blindfold in my own house,” she felt the air in front of her with outstretched arms.

  “Just a little farther.” He guided her by the elbow to keep her steady. Acutely aware of his hand on her skin. It was the first time he’d touched her since her near tumble off the ladder. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about how she’d fit against him.

  She put a foot out and stopped short when the stairs she was used to weren’t there anymore.

  “Keep going. You don’t have to worry about stairs. Those are gone.”

  He led her out the backdoor to the center of the new porch. “This way you can get the full effect.” He removed the blindfold and waited while her eyes adjusted.

  “Spencer, it’s wonderful.” She turned around in a slow circle and stared in amazement. Then, she whirled around and hugged him, catching him by surprise. She released him qui
ckly, then paced back and forth across her new spacious porch. “This is exactly what the backyard needed.”

  “I thought you might like it. Now, how about that lemonade?” Spencer stepped over to a patio table and a set of four chairs and began to pour lemonade into two plastic cups. With his back to her, Sam couldn’t see the satisfied grin on his face. Pride surged through him at her excitement.

  “Where’d you get the furniture? How much do I owe you?”

  “Whoa there. You don’t owe me anything. A buddy of mine got new stuff and said I could have this junk. I figured you’d want to pick out your own set when you have a chance. Consider this a temporary fix.” Spencer stretched out his legs and laid his head back.

  “Well, thank you.” Sam sipped her lemonade and then moved to the rail and let her fingers drag across the newly stained wood.

  “Are you busy this afternoon?” he asked.

  “No, I was just going to do some stuff around the house, and maybe in the yard.”

  “Good, there’s somewhere I want to take you.” He turned in his chair and gazed at her. Noticing her apprehensive expression he added, “You’ll love it. Trust me. It won’t take long.”

  “Sounds mysterious, but okay.” Sam grabbed her keys and purse off the counter and met Spencer at his truck.

  “The house is really starting to take shape,” he broke the silence.

  “I think so, too.” Sam twisted the strap from her purse in her fingers.

  Spencer watched her out of the corner of his eye and thought about reaching over to lay a hand over her nervous ones. Instead, he opted for distraction. “I want to run an idea by you and it won’t cost you much.”

  “What idea is that?” she asked playfully, the straps on her purse forgotten.