The Accidental Encore Read online

  “Okay,” Craig said with a nod. He knew Stacy would be a problem from the moment he met the perky brunette. “We’ve only got so much room to deal with here.”

  Davis held up his palms. “Trust me, Craig, I explained that to her. She’s got her mind set, so we’re going to have to figure this out.”

  “You said you wanted to maintain the original structure in here. If you really want a large island, you’re looking at ripping all this out and starting over. It’s going to cost you.”

  “Doesn’t it always?” Davis slapped him on the back. “Can you work up some of those computer drawings like you did before? Big island with seating, plus she wants one of those range top stoves with the warming drawer.”

  All good information to have had before. A redesign of the kitchen would set him back a few weeks. “I’ll work something up tonight.”

  “I appreciate it.” Davis looked at his watch, a flashy Tag Heuer, and flipped his hair. “I’ve got to get going. Keep up the good work.”

  “I’ll send the designs over as soon as possible. We’ll need to get this finalized soon so I can get the orders in.”

  After a handshake and a slap on the shoulder, Davis was gone. Craig put his hands on his hips and looked around the kitchen. He was pleased when Davis and Stacy wanted to keep the integrity of the house in tact while updating to modern conveniences. Stacy’s kitchen ideas were blowing that right out of the water. “Not your business,” he reminded himself. “Do what the customer wants.”

  That had been the hardest thing for Craig since getting back in the business, but on a much smaller scale. Smaller, hell, he mused. Compared to the Goliath Archer Construction, his new venture was David. Fortunately, they weren’t in competition. They weren’t even on the same playing field. Making all the decisions, being the one responsible for the success or failure of a project was something he was happy to concede.

  He wanted to get worked up about having to redesign the kitchen, but knew the extra work would keep his mind focused while Leah’s sneaky piano teacher was at the house.

  Chapter 7

  Allie sat in the drive of Leah’s house and grinned as she ended her conversation with Detective Reynolds. Ha, she thought. She knew the detective hadn’t called Craig yet and she wondered if she wanted to break the news to him or let him hear it from the police. He probably wouldn’t believe it from anyone but the authorities.

  She got out of her rental, retrieved her bag from back seat, and walked up the path to the front door. She heard the dog announcing her approach.

  Leah opened the door in a less than enthusiastic way. “Hi, Ms. Allie.”

  “Hi, Leah.” She stepped inside and held out her hand for the dog. He didn’t look so dangerous now, with his tail wagging and his ears pinned back against his head. He licked her fingers in greeting. Craig descended the stairs wearing jeans and blue t-shirt that brought out his eyes. Damn him. “Hello.”

  He peeked around her shoulder before Leah closed the door. “I see you made it here in one piece. Did you kill anyone along the way?”

  Oh, she was going to enjoy this. “I don’t suppose you’ve spoken to Detective Reynolds yet, have you?”

  “Who?”

  “The officer at the scene of the accident.”

  He narrowed his eyes at her and she smiled when she heard his cell phone ring from the kitchen. “That should be him now. You can apologize after the lesson.” She gave Leah a scoot into the den with a smirk she couldn’t hide. What an ass! An ass that looked great in a pair of old jeans. Doesn’t matter, she reminded herself as she settled beside Leah on the piano bench.

  “How’s the song coming?” she asked, determined to focus on Leah.

  “Good. I’ve got the first two verses down cold, but I get a little tripped up with the third.”

  Allie flipped open her lesson book. “Let’s see what we can do about that.”

  ***

  Craig retrieved a beer from the refrigerator and took a long sip before ambling out to the foyer. He leaned against the doorjamb and watched his niece with her beautiful and devious piano teacher.

  “That’s good,” she said to Leah. “Try it again, but this time take it slower and really think about each note. Don’t worry about the speed until you get the sequence down.”

  Leah started playing the piece she’d worked on all week, something slow and melodic that he should know the name of, but didn’t. Allie nodded her head in time with the hand she tapped against her pants.

  She was a cool one, he’d give her that much. He doubted he’d have been able to keep her secret under wraps for ten seconds, much less thirty minutes. He took a deep breath, and then returned to his computer in the kitchen to work on the designs for the house.

  He’d just figured out how to fit an enormous island into the kitchen space when he realized the music had stopped and he heard someone clearing her throat over his shoulder.

  “Ready to apologize?”

  He turned around and stared up at her stunning face. Damn shame she was such a smart ass. “I’m ready for mine, also.”

  She splayed those long fingers across her chest and gave a snarky laugh that only emphasized her perfect teeth. “You think I’m going to apologize? Dream on, mister.”

  “Why should I be the only one to apologize? You said your light was green. It was. I said my light was green; it was. So, I’d say we’re even.”

  Leah snuck her head around the corner as if hesitant to get in the middle of another argument. “You said the female gender has issues behind the wheel.”

  Allie looked at him as if to say, “Score one for me.”

  “I said that when I thought she’d run the red light. Now that I know the city’s to blame, I might be willing to retract my statement.”

  “Might be?” Allie and Leah asked in unison. Women.

  “Okay, if I say I’m sorry for accusing you of being a stereotypical bad female driver, does that make you feel better?”

  “You call that an apology?” Allie asked.

  He stood up and delighted when she was forced to look up at him. “It’s the best you’re going to get.”

  “I think you can do better.” She slapped her hands on her hips and tapped her foot.

  “Are you going to sue?” he asked.

  “Pardon me?”

  “The city. Are you going to sue? The cop seemed a little nervous we’d sue.”

  “First of all, there is no ‘we.’ And second of all, what would be the point? They’re already paying for the damages to both of our cars. Besides, suing the city is like suing ourselves. It would be our tax money paying whatever damages we recovered.”

  She was smarter than he’d given her credit for and certainly a hell of a lot more logical than her looks led one to believe. “Valid points, and conclusions I’d already reached.”

  “Then why did you ask?”

  He didn’t think she’d appreciate hearing because he enjoyed watching her get riled, and he certainly couldn’t help himself from riling her more. “Because I figured you’d want a few extra dollars to buy a pretty dress or get your hair done.”

  He watched her features change as she inhaled sharply. “You’re a sexist ass.” She whipped that mane of blonde/brown hair around and said, “Excuse my language, Leah. Your uncle brings out the worst in me.”

  “No problem,” Leah said.

  Allie turned her cat eyes back on Craig. Damn if she wasn’t more attractive with the heat of anger in her cheeks. “I don’t have any dinner to offer you tonight.”

  “I wouldn’t stay if you did.”

  “Perfect. Then I guess we’ll see you next week.”

  She put on the coat Leah handed her, some ridiculously frilly black trench, and made her way to the door. He should have been irritated that her floral scent lingered. He shooed her hand away and opened the door himself.

  After a huffing out a breath, she asked, “When does your brother return?”

  “Not soon enough. You’ve got
one more week to slobber over my handsome face.”

  “You need to wake up, Craig, and take a good hard look in the mirror.”

  “I have, sweetheart. That’s how I know you’ll be back.”

  She pointed at Leah and stepped sideways when Blackjack attempted to scoot past her to get outside. “She’s why I’m coming back.” She slung her bag over her shoulder and fixed him with a narrow-eyed stare. “You may as well tell your brother I’m billing him extra for having to deal with you.”

  Craig barked out a laugh as she retreated down the walk. “Ha! He’ll get a kick out of that one.”

  He stood at the threshold and watched her gun the engine, slam the car into reverse, and maneuver a hairpin turn out of the driveway. If it hadn’t been so dark, he would probably have seen her tires smoke.

  Leah walked up beside him and wrapped her arm around his waist. “I’ve never seen Ms. Allie get mad at anyone.”

  “It’s just a matter of finding the right buttons to push.” He mussed her hair and shut the door.

  “I think you pushed all of hers.” She walked over to the piano and began straightening her music sheets. “Dad’s going to be mad at you for making her upset.”

  “Then do something crazy and don’t tell him.”

  “You want me to lie?”

  “Of course not,” Craig said as the phone began to ring. He knew Mark called after her lesson on purpose. “Just don’t mention it.”

  Chapter 8

  Allie honked her horn and waved when the driver in the car in front of her finally looked up from her cell phone and noticed the green turn arrow. “Go, already,” she muttered, nervously tapping her fingers on the wheel and then gunning the engine. She was late for her scheduled date prep that included a hot bath, complete makeup reapplication, and hair styling. At the rate she was going, she might have to forgo the bath for a shower.

  What had ever possessed her to teach twins—five-year-old twins—on a Friday afternoon? It was probably a good thing Peyton and Paris had kept her mind off her upcoming date. Why had she agreed to out with a dentist? She loved sugar and candy and sticky treats. She’d already given up soda in an attempt to get healthy. What else would she have to sacrifice?

  She pulled into her garage and rushed inside the house, dropping her bag, keys, and purse along the way. She grabbed a diet coke from her emergency stash in the fridge, screw the guilt, and jogged up the stairs to her bedroom. She glanced at the bed. All she wanted to do was to lie on her fluffy duvet and watch a good movie.

  “Which is why you don’t have a boyfriend,” she muttered and forced herself to bypass the bed and head straight for the closet. Allie stripped out of her wool pants and button down and stared at her clothes. First date, probably a nice restaurant, she should wear a dress. She shoved hanger after hanger down the rack, dismissing options as she went. “I hate this,” she said when she got to the end of her choices and nothing seemed appropriate.

  She went back through her dresses slowly, looking at each one, trying to think about the message they sent. “Too loud,” she murmured as she passed up her favorite multicolored wrap dress. She paused at a belted gray dress. “It’s a date, Allie, not an interview.” She pursed her lips at her cream, boat neck jersey dress. “Too blah,” she decided and moved on. Through the process of elimination, she pulled out her black, sleeveless, V-neck jersey dress and paired it with silver hoops and a long strand necklace. “That will have to do.”

  After a shower and a new coat of makeup, Allie stood in front of the mirror trying to decide if she should wear her hair up or down. When her cell phone rang, she almost didn’t answer, but at the last minute rushed from the bathroom and fished it out of her purse before it went to voicemail.

  “Hello?”

  “Allie?” said a familiar, yet unrecognizable voice.

  “Yes.”

  “This is Craig Archer.” In the space of time she tried to hide her shock, he said, “Leah’s uncle.”

  Interesting. “Let me guess. Your conscience got the best of you and you called to apologize?”

  “No.” He cleared his throat. “Something’s happened. Something way outside my area of expertise.”

  “You have a question about driving?”

  “Funny. Listen, I wouldn’t call if it weren’t kind of an emergency. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t call if I had anyone else to call, but since I don’t, you’re it.”

  “Kind of an emergency?” she asked. “What kind of emergency? Is it Leah? Is she okay?”

  “Yeah, it’s Leah, but she’s not okay. Can you come over?”

  “I’m kinda busy, so if this is an emergency, you need to explain.”

  He exhaled loudly. “I can’t talk about this over the phone. Can you just come over, please?”

  “What’s wrong? Is Leah hurt? Is she bleeding?”

  He chuckled. “She’s not hurt, but there’s blood. Listen,” he said, as impatient as ever, “she needs you. I don’t know what to do.”

  “Well, I…” Allie looked at the clock. She had to leave in twenty minutes or she’d never make it to the restaurant in time. “I don’t have much time. How long will this take?”

  “If I knew anything about this at all, including how much time it’ll take, I wouldn’t be calling.”

  Allie pictured Leah, her sweet face and unruly brown hair, stuck in the clutches of an obtuse uncle during a semi-emergency. “Fine. But I can’t stay long.”

  “Great. Do me a favor and make it fast.”

  Allie pulled the phone away from her ear when she realized he’d hung up on her. “Urrrr,” she growled. She threw her keys, compact, and wallet into her favorite python clutch and grabbed a wrap as she headed for the door. “This better be worth it.”

  ***

  Craig opened the door as soon as he saw Allie’s car pull into the drive. He heard the click of heels on concrete before she waltzed into the spotlight from the porch lamps. Craig forgot for a moment why he’d asked her to come over and simply stared, concentrating on not swallowing his tongue. She looked like a Victoria’s Secret runway model wearing some floaty black dress that pressed against her as she walked, emphasizing every curve and angle of her incredible body. That blondish/brown hair hung free around her sexy, shimmering lips and eyes that seemed to glow in the night. When she stopped in front of him, slapped her hand on her hip, and cleared her throat, he regained his composure, but not before catching a whiff of something dark and sexy. He ushered her into the house.

  “What’s the emergency?” she asked as Blackjack rushed in from the den. Craig snapped his fingers and ordered him down. The dog reluctantly crept to the floor.

  “It’s Leah. She…well, I was down here in the kitchen and she screamed and when I got upstairs…” He rubbed his temple and tried to dislodge the image of what he’d seen and what it all meant.

  “Spit it out, already,” she said. Craig could tell she was annoyed by the tiny line between her brows. “What happened when you got upstairs?”

  Craig swallowed his pride, lowered his voice, and whispered, “She started her period.”

  Those dark brows lifted for just a moment before her freshly painted mouth puckered into a sympathetic pout. “Oh, poor thing. What did you do?”

  “What do you think I did? I panicked. I tried to call Mark, but with the time difference, they were either off on some excursion or too busy to answer the phone. I looked over the list of numbers he left, but yours was the only one I recognized. She needs a woman.” He thumped his fist on his chest. “I am not a woman.”

  “No kidding.” Allie turned her head toward the staircase. “Where is she?”

  “Upstairs in her room. Second door on the right.”

  “Does she have any supplies?”

  “How the hell do I know?”

  Allie sighed. “Does she know you called me?”

  “I told her I’d get someone to help. I didn’t specifically mention you.”

  “Okay.” She turned toward the
stairs. “I’ll be back.”

  “I’ll be right here,” he said.

  Her scent lingered even after she’d gone upstairs, swaying her hips and drawing his eyes to her surprisingly muscular calves. “Not interested,” he reminded himself and walked to the refrigerator to get a beer. He took a long sip, hoping cold beer would help to calm his anxiety and other unwanted urges.

  ***

  Leah’s heart rate doubled when she heard a faint knock on the door. Please, God, don’t let it be Uncle Craig or our next-door neighbor, Mrs. Rosenbloom.

  “Come in,” she said. Relief swamped her when she saw Ms. Allie, dressed up and looking like she was going to a party. “Oh, Ms. Allie.”

  “Hi, Leah. Your uncle called.” She came inside, shut the door, and closed the distance between them. Leah was too embarrassed to stand up from her desk. “How are you feeling?”

  Leah shrugged her shoulders. “Weird, I guess.”

  “That sounds about right.” She placed her very cool purse on the desk and crouched down in front of Leah. “Do you have any pads?”

  “Yeah. Dad bought me some last summer before I went to camp. I’ve got one on now.”

  Ms. Allie smiled. “Good. You’ve got a wonderful dad.”

  “I wish he was here.”

  “I know you do, sweetheart.” She placed her hand over Leah’s and squeezed. “Do you have any questions? Do you have the pad on right?”

  “I think so. I just put the sticky side on my underwear and folded the wings under. Is that right?”

  “Yep, that’s perfect.” She stood up. With the added height from her heels, she seemed too big for Leah’s small room. “Can I see the box to make sure you won’t need anything more absorbent for when you’re asleep?”

  Leah got up and retrieved the box from the back lid of the toilet. She liked the way Allie’s heels sounded on the tile.

  “This should be fine for both day and night use,” Allie explained. “Usually your first few cycles are pretty light. You might want to get some panty liners for the last couple of days when you won’t need this much protection.”