Whispers (Argent Springs) (5 page)

Erin blinked in surprise. “Oh, no. You’re wrong.
We’re not together. I’m a very single lady. In fact, I just arrived in town
yesterday, too.”

Mary seemed surprised. “You did mention a long
drive, but I thought you were coming home. I was sure you two were a couple.
You look like you’re meant to be together. You know, the way couples seem when
they’ve become very intimate?”

“Uh, sure.” She backed away. “But no, not us.”

Was the woman crazy? Erin had been stiff as an old
board in Rick’s arms while they’d danced. He’d even said so himself.

“Then I’d suggest you check
his
marital
status and go for it if he’s single. You guys are fabulous together.”

Erin forced a chuckle, though she knew full well
Rick wasn’t available. “I’ll have to do that. In the meantime, I’ll see you
downstairs in just a bit.”

“Absolutely.” Mary nodded. “Looking forward to
it.”

Erin rolled her eyes in disbelief as she headed
toward the other closed door. No way would she approach him. Not ever. They
were meant to be together as much as fire and water.

And she would be the fire. He could be the cold,
dampening water. It suited his personality so well.

She knocked on the second door, braced for another
encounter. She’d deliver her aunt’s message and then walk away.

Several seconds passed and no answer.

She knocked again.

Where the hell was he?

And why did she care? If he couldn’t drag his butt
out of bed to answer the door, he deserved to miss breakfast.

She turned and ran smack dab into Rick’s naked
chest. A scream escaped her lips, and she barely had time to muffle it before
it alerted the whole house.

“Oh my god. You scared me.”

He wore a towel draped low on his hips, his dark
hair still wet from a shower. The scent of shampoo and sexy aftershave hovered
around him, stirring her senses like a powerful tornado. If she’d wanted to see
his full tattoo, she’d just been given the perfect opportunity. Heaven help
her.

She knew right then and there she’d never be able
to erase that image of him from her mind. Like ever.

“Is Annabelle still in her room?” he asked, his
brows furrowed.

“Annabelle?”

“Yes. That’s her door. If she’s not already up and
at ‘em, something is wrong.” He pushed past her and opened the door.

“Wait.” She grabbed the bottom of his bicep,
stopping him from entering Annabelle’s room. “I thought this was
your
room.”

He frowned at her. “My room is next to yours.” He lowered
his gaze to where she still held onto him, and she let go like she’d grabbed a
piece of hot coal.

“The door was shut. I thought it must be your
room.”

“Annabelle usually keeps her door shut. Some of
the guests aren’t always the most trustworthy, you know.”

She blinked. Everything he said made perfect sense
and made her feel like an idiot. “Good to know.”

He remained staring at her, making her
uncomfortable. With so much hard muscle glaring in front of her, she couldn’t
keep from glancing at his chest.

“What?” she finally said.

He arched a brow as though he knew how he affected
her. “I’m waiting for you to tell me what you came to say?”

Shit. If he’d have been properly dressed, she
wouldn’t have had her normally-reasonable brain scrambled by testosterone.
“Breakfast will be ready in like…twenty minutes.”

She glanced down again, unable to stop herself
from feasting on the hard contours and planes of his chest. “And put some
clothes on. We have guests here.”

Her cheeks heated, and he chuckled, forcing her to
hurry away as opposed to walking like she didn’t have a care in the world.

If he was in her way every time she turned around,
her two weeks with Annabelle would not be as fun as she’d expected.

Breakfast was as pleasant as she could have hoped.
Annabelle sat next to her this time, keeping Rick on the other side, at the
head of the table. At first glance, it seemed like a much-preferred seating
arrangement, until she realized every time she glanced up, Rick was in her line
of sight. And it seemed he constantly watched her.

“Besides Coraline’s at the end of the street, are
there any other things we should see while we’re here?” Mary asked.

“All of the shops have fun, eclectic tourist
items. If you’re into shawls, make sure you visit Kendra’s Creations. She
weaves all of her own yarn and creates some amazing shawls and scarves among other
things.” Annabelle glanced at Rick as though asking for his opinion.

“If you’re not opposed to driving, you should
follow the road through town and head up into the hills,” he added. “Back when
the town was first settled, an artist named Christoff had a large piece of
granite hauled into the hills. He chiseled an elaborate cross that’s been
standing for over a hundred years. Just follow the signs. It’s a bit of a hike,
but well worth it.”

Erin wanted to see the cross, too, but she
supposed it would be too much to ask to tag along with the newlyweds, and if the
hike was difficult, she couldn’t very well expect Annabelle to accompany her.
Besides, she wasn’t afraid to head into the hills alone as long as the sun
shone.

Rick pierced her with a sharp gaze. “I could go with
you, Erin, if it’s something you want to see.”

Mary raised her eyebrows at Erin in an
I-told-you-so look.

The last thing she wanted to do was spend
alone-time with the man. “Sure, maybe. If I decide to go. I was really hoping
to spend most of my time with my aunt. I’m barely getting to know her, and
she’s the reason I came.”

“Suit yourself,” he responded with a disinterested
look. He focused on his breakfast casserole and shoved in a bite. She was sure he’d
only offered because he’d felt obligated, but she was capable of handling
herself.

Annabelle patted her hand. “Isn’t that sweet? But
don’t waste all your time on me, love. I’ll slow you down.”

“No, you won’t. I’m more than happy to go any
speed you’re comfortable with.” She took a sip of orange juice, needing to
switch up the conversation. “I do want to see the town, though. Do you think we
might have time today?”

“Of course.” Her aunt’s eyes lit up. “I was hoping
we might, too.”

“Sounds like we’ll see you there,” Scott said.

*        *        *

Downtown Argent Springs was a hopping hub of about
thirty shops and restaurants, most of them located on Main Street. Annabelle
had insisted on walking and had worn her favorite boots to keep her feet from
getting tired.

As they crossed the street, Erin had the sense
they were strolling down the road in an old frontier town. It didn’t take much
to picture cowboys and proper ladies walking the streets while the prostitutes
watched out the windows. She wondered if Rosa had preferred the life of a painted
lady, or if she’d secretly wished her circumstances had been different and she
could have been a respected member of the community. Originally, Erin would
have thought respectable, but when Rosa had been offered that opportunity,
she’d blown it.

Why?

“It’s such a beautiful day,” Annabelle commented.
“I’m glad you waited until fall to visit. We have the most glorious days in
October.”

“It’s amazing here,” she agreed. Golden sun warmed
her shoulders and kept the cool temperatures from making them uncomfortable. In
the bright sunshine, the various colors of buildings stood out like crayons in
a box. All different colors. All trying to be noticed.

“Where should we go first?” Erin asked. “I want
you to take me to your favorite places.”

“That would be Walton’s Pottery, then. In my
younger days, I dabbled with pottery, but I could never quite get the hang of
it. Still, it’s one of my favorite forms of art. The colors, the clays, the way
each piece has its own character. Do you know what I mean?”

“I do. It’s kind of like photography. Different
photographers can shoot the same area, but depending on who’s behind the camera
and what settings they use, a photo can come out looking very different.”

Annabelle slowed as they stepped up onto the
wooden sidewalk. “It sounds like you know something about it.”

“It’s a hobby of mine. When I have extra time,
I’ll usually pull out my camera. But it seems lately, there hasn’t been enough
of it.”

“You’ll have time while you’re here. I’ll make
sure of it.”

“I’d love that. These mountains that surround us
are amazing. I can’t imagine going home without taking some of this with me.”

“You really should have Rick take you up to see
the cross. I’d expect you could get some wonderful photos looking down on the
town while you hike.”

“Is there any reason I can’t go alone?”

“Is there some reason you don’t want Rick to go
with you?” Her aunt was a very discerning woman, it seemed.

“It’s just that when I shoot, I like to go alone.
That way I don’t have anyone influencing my photographs.”

“I see.” Annabelle stumbled and grabbed Erin’s arm
for support. “Damn uneven sidewalks.”

Erin smiled when Annabelle didn’t let go of her.
She liked being able to give something back to her great aunt.

They’d made it up one side of the town and halfway
down the other when Annabelle led her into a small café. “This is my favorite
place to eat lunch. I’d really like you to try their fish and chips. They’re
the best in southwest Colorado.”

The café was bigger than it looked on the outside,
the narrow room going deep instead of wide. The floor had been built with rough
planks, and the heels of her boots clomped on the wood as they walked inside
the dim building. A large, polished bar, backed by bottles in many shapes and
colors rested along one side with an old-fashioned chandelier hanging above it.
Erin could easily imagine it looking like the saloons of old.

“Well, hello, Cassidee and Jensen,” Annabelle stopped
a couple heading toward the exit, introducing Erin to the strawberry-blonde and
the dark-haired man who accompanied her. “How is married life treating you?”

“It’s great, Miss Annabelle,” Cassidee answered,
slight dimples showing in her cheeks. “How are you doing?”

“Absolutely fabulous.” She turned to Erin. “I
introduced these two.”

“Yes, you did, though I was sure you were
half-crazy when you said she was the one for me,” Jensen replied. “Now, I’d say
you’re our resident matchmaker.”

Annabelle beamed. “I just call things how I see
them.”

The group laughed and then said their goodbyes,
and Erin hoped one day she’d feel part of a community like Annabelle did.

“I love the old-time feel of everything around
here,” Erin said as they sat at a table near the front. From her view out the
window, she could see a little bar called “Krog’s”. She expected it would have
quite a different feel than the downtown clubs in Salt Lake, and she couldn’t
wait to try it. “I swear the surroundings make everyone move at a slower pace.
It’s a nice feel.”

“You’re catching on quick, love.” Annabelle spread
the paper napkin across her lap. “The winters here can be harsh, but the
community is tight-knit for the most part, and we all love our way of life.”

“I can see why.” Salt Lake might have an electric
night-life, and she was sure for those who lived in Argent Springs it would be
an all-day trip to shop for a new dress instead of running to the mall across
the street from her apartment, but folks around here didn’t seem to care. Living
the slow-down-and-smell-the-roses kind of life clearly appealed to them.

A woman near her age approached, wearing jeans and
a t-shirt with an apron tied around her waist. Her blond hair had been pulled
back into a thick, luscious ponytail. Long bangs had escaped the elastic and
fell forward hiding shy brown eyes. “What can I get you?”

“Hello, Piper,” Annabelle said with a bright
greeting.

The waitress blushed. “Hello, Miss Annabelle.”

“How’s that little boy of yours?”

“He’s well, ma’am. Thank you for asking.”

“This is my great niece, Erin. She’s come to stay
with me for a couple of weeks.”

Erin reached out a hand to shake, and the woman tentatively
accepted it.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Piper.”

The woman’s hesitant gaze flitted from Erin to
Annabelle. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”

“I think Erin should try the fish and chips while
she’s in town, don’t you?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Her awkwardness eased a bit. “We
serve the best.”

“Okay, I’ll have that then.” She glanced at her
menu. “And a cherry coke.”

“I’ll have the same,” Annabelle said. “Give me my
usual addition as well.”

Piper nodded and headed off. Erin was pretty sure
she knew what the addition was.

“A little Jack never hurt anyone, right?” her aunt
said.

“I would guess not.” But was it really only a
little? It seemed her great aunt was a bit of a lush.

“Piper’s a good girl, but she sure caught the raw
end of a bad deal,” Annabelle whispered.

Erin leaned closer. “What do you mean?”

“She’s always been the shy sort, not one to flirt
with the men. A couple of years back, a certain councilmember decided he liked
her. He flirted with her non-stop, and poor Piper with no real social skills
fell hopelessly in love and ended up pregnant.”

As long as he loved her back, that didn’t sound
too bad. “Did they get married?”

“Hell, no. The dirty, lying scoundrel who knocked
her up already had a wife and kids, and as long as she wasn’t kicking him out,
he wasn’t leaving.”

“Oh.” Erin couldn’t imagine the pain or difficulty
of raising a child on her own.

“What’s worse, the jackass denied the baby was
his, called her a liar in front of the whole town.”

“What did Piper do?”

Annabelle straightened as the waitress approached with
their drinks. “Thank you, love,” she said as though she hadn’t been discussing
the woman’s personal life.

“What could she do?” Annabelle said when Piper was
far enough away. “She was stuck. A baby was growing inside her, and she had no
man to help her. Her grandma said she refused to ask for a paternity test. So
the asshole had his fun at her expense, and she’s paying for it. She does have
a sweet little boy, though. Cute and good-natured. She paid a hefty price, but I
think he’s been a blessing to her.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“It divided the town, though, just like in the
olden days. The self-righteous people won’t give her the time of day, and the
rest of us do what we can to help her. She’s a good girl.”

“She seems like a nice person.” Erin couldn’t
imagine being stuck in such a difficult situation. Her own family might be
totally dysfunctional, but her parents had kept her in nice clothes and had made
sure she’d received a good education.

They walked a little farther after lunch, and Erin
picked out a lovely pair of silver nugget earrings that would always remind her
of her time in Argent Springs. For whatever reason, her vacation held that
once-in-a-lifetime kind of feeling, even though now that she knew Aunt
Annabelle, she was sure she could come back whenever she wanted.

Annabelle paused in front of a small shop called
Enchanted Hearts. Wind chimes and mannequins draped with silk scarves filled
the window. “Do you mind if I stop in for a minute? I’d really like to
introduce you to Livia, and I have some legal business I need to discuss with
her.”

“You discuss legal things with a souvenir shop
owner?” Erin stepped inside a store full of books on karma and mindfulness
interspersed with crystal jewelry and other stones. Amber incense teased her
senses.

“She’s a lawyer as well. Most people in this town
have more than one skill. The guy who owns the café where we ate? He also
repairs skis in the winter. That’s part of the reason Rick lives with me. He
doesn’t always make enough at his car repair shop, so he helps me out when he’s
not busy, and I give him free rent.”

She gave a non-committal reply. So the guy was
good with cars as well? Yay for him. If she were lucky, there would be a lot
that would break down while she was in town, and she wouldn’t have to see him
so much.

The first word that struck Erin’s mind when she
met Annabelle’s friend was colorful. Erin would guess Livia to be a few years
younger than she was with long, flowing dark hair, silver bangles clanging on
her wrist, and flashing green eyes.

“Erin,” Livia said, taking her hand. “So glad
we’re finally meeting. Miss Annabelle here hasn’t stopped talking about you
since she visited Salt Lake. She was worried you might not make it.”

“Are you kidding?” Erin glanced to Annabelle who
gave her a sheepish smile. “I came as soon as my job would let me.”

“She’s a massage therapist,” her aunt interjected.

“That sounds like a fascinating field to work in,
being able to use your hands to create energy and a feeling of well-being.”

“I enjoy it,” Erin said. “I like knowing I’m
easing the stresses and pains of others when they come to see me.”

Livia rolled her eyes. “It’s a hell of a lot better
than knowing you’re making good people’s lives miserable. I learned several
years ago that I didn’t have the stomach for representing the earth’s worst
inhabitants.”

“She was a defense attorney,” Annabelle said,
filling in the blanks.

“Handling trusts, wills and family estates makes
for a nicer living. Maybe not as much money, but that’s what this shop is for.”
She indicated the beautiful items around her.

Erin glanced around at the shelves of tarot cards
and the display cases of crystals, turquoise and other stones. Some
eastern-sounding music, heavy with chimes played in the background. She’d
stepped into a world of relaxation and dreams. “You’ve built a beautiful place
here. Who would want that type of life when you could have this?”