Lakeside Hero (Men Of Millbrook Lake Book 1) (8 page)

Chapter Ten

A
lec stood on the weathered deck of AWOL, the bayside camp house he and his three friends had bought as a getaway once they were all back stateside. The four-bedroom house with the long living/kitchen combination up front was really a glorified man cave and fishing camp, but it served another purpose for all of them. It was completely private and off the beaten path, tucked back in the dense woods where the East River met Millbrook Bay. Here they could go hunting and fishing, grill food and swap war stories by a campfire.

Alec grinned, thinking they should just put up a big sign that stated No Girls Allowed. None of them ever brought a woman here. That was the only unwritten rule. That and the sign Preacher had put over the porch door: “And he said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.’”

Preacher expected the best of his buddies. He not only wanted them to catch fish and share with the masses, but he also wanted them to teach others how to function in life.

Alec was trying to abide by that rule with the Caldwell Canines Service Dog Association. He’d put in a bid on the old car lot his overly eager Realtor had found. With a little elbow grease and some remodeling, the building would make a great kennel and training facility. So he hoped to rally his friends into helping with the renovations, to save some funding for the participants and to have some downtime doing some hard work.

Work that would make him so tired, he’d be able to sleep instead of thinking about a certain Cupcake Girl.

He heard a car pulling up underneath the massive wooden pilings that held the rickety old cottage up and served as a great covered parking area. About fifteen feet above the sand and surf to avoid flooding during the frequent storm surges brought on by hurricanes, the pilings had withstood all kinds of weather and all types of previous owners.

Alec didn’t bother seeing who was down below. The old, stripped-down black Jeep was his first clue. When he heard laughter and snorts, he knew it had to be Blain and Rory. Hunter might show up late or not at all, usually on his shiny Harley, and usually with a white toy poodle tucked against his chest. Or he’d do his usual thing and sneak up on them without making a sound. The man could move through a room like an unseen shadow. Alec didn’t know the full story on Hunter, but he figured if Hunter wanted to talk he would, sooner or later.

Preacher took the old steps two at a time. “How ya doing tonight, Caldwell?”

“I’ll be doing fine if you brought that barbeque you promised me when you called.”

“I brought the drinks,” Preacher replied, holding up some liquid refreshments. “Food is in protective custody with one of Millbrook’s finest.” He glanced over his shoulder with a wink.

“I’m coming,” Blain called, both hands full of take-out bags. “Man, these ribs smell real good.”

“Let’s eat out here,” Preacher suggested. “We haven’t done this in a while.”

“Yes,” Blain replied. “A rare weekend off with fishing in the forecast and less humidity in the wind.”

Alec smiled at his friends. “Where’s Lawson?”

“Who knows,” Blain retorted, already reaching for a sauce-covered rib. “Let’s eat.”

“Grace,” Preacher said with a mock slap on Blain’s hand.

Blain frowned and lowered his head. Alec did the same. While Preacher asked for God’s love, forgiveness and continued blessings and added a special prayer for the safety for armed forces all over the world, Alec slid in his own short prayer.

Please help me to deal with my feelings for Marla in a positive, sure way, Lord
.

He didn’t realize Rory was done with the blessing until Blain cleared his throat. When Alec opened his eyes, both his friends were staring over at him.

“Sorry,” he said, one hand scrubbing across his scar. “I had a lot to pray about.”

“Talk,” Blain said, passing coleslaw and baked beans as he eyed Alec.

“He’s not one of your suspects,” Rory reminded him with his ever-present good-natured smile. “If he doesn’t want to talk about it, we can’t make him.” Then he withheld the box of ribs.

“Okay, all right.” Alec filled his plate and held his hands together. “I think Marla and I are finished.”

“Did you ever get started?” Blain asked between bites of tender smoked meat.

“We were kind of started, but we both have so much going on and, as you both know... I have a lot of excess baggage. I think I scared her.”

“Scared her?” Rory asked, holding his half-eaten rib in the air. “In what way?”

“Not the way you think,” Alec replied. “She’s been great with my physical problems. But she’s got a four-year-old daughter who was with her father when the family jewelry store was robbed, over in Tallahassee. They walked in on the robbery in progress but the little girl didn’t see her father get gunned down, thanks to a sales associate shielding her. But she heard everything—guns going off and her father telling the clerk to take his daughter and run. Now she’s scared of most men.”

Blain dropped his rib bone and wiped his fingers on a paper towel. “I remember that case—Hamilton’s Jewelry Store?”

“Marla’s husband was the owner,” Alec said, shaking his head. “Marla’s Marvelous Desserts?”

“I can vouch for that,” Preacher said between bites. “She is one marvelous cook.”

Blain nodded, his dark eyes sparked with interest. “That case made all the news stations in Florida. We were alerted with an APB on the suspects. Charlie Hamilton—his family owned several stores throughout the state but after he inherited, he kind of let things go, management-wise, and lost or had to sell most of them.”

Alec leaned back. “Do you have any of the details?”

Blain nodded. “Yeah, but not much more to tell now. He fell in with some bad people who set out to rob him. He was killed at the scene and it only came out much later—after the perpetrators were behind bars—that his little girl had been with him when he returned to find the robbers with a gun on the female salesclerk. He distracted the robbers so the clerk could grab the little girl and hit the alarm. Robbers took off when they heard sirens. They caught the suspects down in Miami, probably about to board a boat for parts unknown to meet up with a fence. They took a significant amount of cash and jewels but the sales associate identified ’em. I think she moved back to the West Coast.”

Preacher’s frown indicated he did not like this conversation. “Has Marla talked to you about this, Alec?”

Alec set down his drink. “Yes. She wanted to explain why it’s not a good idea for us to get any closer. Gabby’s still got some issues with adult men. She thinks we’re all boogeymen.”

Blain’s eyes widened. “Hey, we don’t need to repeat any of this. I was telling you the facts that you could find in any old news article. Didn’t mean to make matters worse.”

“No, it’s okay,” Alec said. “Preacher, you know I wouldn’t have asked if Marla hadn’t already told me most of this. I’m just trying to understand. Trying to accept that Marla and I might not have any kind of future together.”

“Do you want a future together?” Rory asked in his minister voice.

“I might have if not for Gabby’s needs and, well, look at me. I look like the boogeyman.”

Blain snorted on that one. “You’re serious? Has this kid seen you? Has she run away from you?”

“She hasn’t seen me yet,” Alec replied, “but what if she does run away when we finally meet?”

“What did Marla say?” Rory asked.

“She said we could be friends, maybe meet for coffee or dinner, but nothing more for now.”

Blain slapped him on the shoulder. “Then that’s what you have to accept for now. If she’s getting the girl the help she needs, her fears could go away and then she’ll see you for the good-looking, great man you really are.” He poked Alec with his elbow. “Hey, ugly, pass me the beans.”

Preacher’s blue-eyed gaze moved between them. “Ah, y’all are so sweet when you get all mushy on each other like that.”

Alec smiled in spite of creating his own personal pity party. “I guess you’re right,” he said to Blain. “What do you think, Preacher?”

“I think...all in God’s own time, boys.”

“Hey, those ribs smell good.”

Blain almost knocked over his drink. “Lawson, I’ve told you not to sneak up on me. One day I’m gonna pull my weapon on you.”

Hunter Lawson’s midnight blue eyes were as calm and clear as the quiet bay out beyond the sand. “I checked. Knew you’d put your weapon on the kitchen counter.” He snagged a piece of Texas toast. “Probably so you wouldn’t shoot yourself trying to get to those ribs.”

When his little fuzzy companion trotted up behind him, the others just shook their heads. No one was going to tell Hunter Lawson that a poodle named Roxie did not fit his image. The first time they’d seen the little ball of fur, Hunter had sent all of them a glaring frown and stated, “She’s not my dog.”

And yet, Roxie was always with him.

“He’s good,” Alec said, waving Hunter to a chair. He was glad the attention had moved to Hunter and the heat was off him for now.

But maybe Blain had a point. Why should he give up on Marla? He’d always found a way to make things work in life. He’d have to figure out a way to make things work with her.

When the conversation turned to Caldwell Canines, he realized he had the perfect way to keep Marla in his life for now.

* * *

Marla’s cell buzzed through her apron pocket.

“Not now,” she said to the offending phone. She had to get this birthday cake done before she left today since the excited mother of a one-year-old was picking it up first thing tomorrow morning. But after checking on the layers baking in the big industrial oven, Marla took a quick minute to see if one of her parents was calling her.

But the number on her caller ID stopped her.

Alec.

She hadn’t heard from him in a solid week. She knew since she’d ticked off the days in her head. Since he hadn’t left a message, she almost didn’t call him back. But after two hours of decorating a fire-truck-themed cake, she needed some fresh air.

“Hey, Brandy, I’m going to take a quick walk over to the park for some exercise.” Figuring this return phone call wouldn’t last long, she added, “Call me if you need me.”

Brandy yelled, “Okay, boss” and kept right on icing cupcakes, one eye on the front counter.

Marla crossed over to the canal that eventually ran into the lake. Millbrook got its name from an old grist mill that still sat on the canal—or brook, as it was called at the turn of the past century. The old mill had been restored to showcase the town’s history, but it wasn’t really a working mill anymore. It just made for a lovely centerpiece in the downtown park. Marla enjoyed watching the big wheel move, its slow and steady rhythm and flowing water always soothing her when she was frazzled.

Such as right now.

Marla found a bench and sat down to listen to the water gurgling along the canal. Down the way a few people were floating along on colorful inner tubes. On the distant shore, a blue heron slowly lifted its spindly legs and searched for minnows in the shallows.

It was a nice day. Maybe she’d take Gabby for a walk later, meaning she’d walk while Gabby rode her tricycle with her favorite bear, Boo, settled in the flower-encased basket.

Should she call Alec back?

Marla debated for a full five minutes. It wouldn’t hurt to talk to him—as a friend. Maybe he wanted to order some cupcakes.

Right.

She hit the number and waited, her breath hitching in a moment of panic. She was just about to hang up when the phone stopped ringing.

“Marla, hi.”

He obviously had caller ID, too.

“Hi,” she said, gulping a breath that almost made her cough out loud. “I...I saw you’d called.”

“Hope I’m not bothering you,” he said.

He sounded nervous, which only made her stomach flutter even more. “No. I’m taking a break. It’s so nice out today.”

“Not bad for a Monday,” he replied. “Listen, I won’t keep you. I was wondering if you’d still be interested in helping to raise funds for Caldwell Canines.”

Marla had not expected that. Had he really just called her to get her to sign on to help with his foundation?

“Marla?”

“Yes, I’m here. Of course I still want to help.”

What else could she say? This was better than not seeing him at all. But it might make things hard for her.

“Oh, good.” He let out a sigh. “I was afraid you’d say no.”

“I told you I wanted to do something to help,” she said, reminding herself of that, too. “What’s the plan?”

“Can we meet for dinner and discuss it?” he asked.

Marla closed her eyes and shot up an emergency prayer. This was for a good cause and she needed all the exposure she could get if she wanted her business to continue on a good upward swing. And, she missed Alec. Which was silly, but this way they could get to know each other a little bit more without risking anything. A fund-raising effort would involve a lot of people, so they’d have a buffer between them.

To protect her, him or both of them?

She decided both. “Dinner would be good. When?”

“How about Thursday night?”

“Thursday would work.”

She’d give her parents a break and ask Brandy if she’d like to earn some extra money. Brandy loved Gabby and Gabby loved it whenever Brandy came over. They played games and read books and watched videos.

“Are you sure?” he asked. “I mean, are you sure you want to do this?”

“Absolutely,” she blurted. “I believe in what you’re doing, Alec. I want to help.”

“I get that,” he said. “But are you sure you still want to deal with me?”

Did he still think this was about his outward scars?

“Yes,” she said, meaning it. “Look, this is hard for both of us. You know my reasons for taking things slow. And I understand how you’re still getting used to your injuries. We can do this, Alec. We can put all of that aside to help wounded warriors who need service dogs.”

Now he’d gone all silent on her.

“Alec?”

“Yes, I agree. We’ll make this project a priority. I appreciate you,” he said. “I’ll pick you up around seven on Thursday.”

And with that, he was gone.