“Were you frightened?”
“Only a little. I let Martha go home early.”
Tucker stood, wishing he could do more, but he couldn’t drop this thing with Annie on the off chance he could make his mother feel better. He understood that grief took all kinds of shapes, that time was relative when it came to mourning. he still felt it himself. He’d loved his father. Missed him. He could have used his old man’s thoughts on this Christian business, but if Michael had still been alive, Tucker had no idea if he and his mother would be involved with Christian at all.
The thought made him ashamed, and that combined with his guilt at leaving her on her own felt like a physical weight on his back. “While I’m away, don’t send the staff home early, all right? Not even Martha.”
“I don’t even know where you are,” Irene said. “Not Dallas.”
“Montana, actually.”
“Do we know people there?”
“We do, but that’s not why I’m here.” He hesitated, knowing in his gut it wasn’t a good idea to tell her anything at this juncture. She’d have too many questions he couldn’t answer. But at least she’d have something to hang on to, and perhaps then he wouldn’t feel so damn guilty. “Now, don’t get your hopes too high, but it’s possible I may have found Leanna Warner.”
Her inhale stopped him. “Oh, Tucker.”
“It’s not certain,” he said, hating the necessary lie. “Nothing is. George is working with me, and we’ll just have to see how this plays out.”
“But if it is her Christian will be so happy. The D.A. will leave him be. He’ll be able to go back to work, wherever he chooses. He could work in Dallas. We could help him find something. You know so many people in the financial world. Oh, Tucker, this will be wonderful.”
His mistake didn’t take long to bite him in the ass. “Mom, I don’t know if it’s her. Not for sure. She may be the woman we’re looking for. Please, don’t get carried away, not yet. It’s just, we can hope, right? I have to ask you not to mention this to Christian. The last thing I want is for him to—”
“Yes, yes. It’s not a done deal. I’m depressed, sweetheart, not stupid. I understand completely. But thank you. I needed a bit of hope today.”
“I’m sorry I’m not there.”
“No. Now that I know what you’re doing, I’ll be fine. Whatever the outcome. You’re trying. It means a great deal.”
“I am trying.” Out of the blue, he thought of the kiss and his chest tightened. “Look, I’ll call you as soon as I can. Tomorrow, if possible.”
“Be careful. I think this woman must be very clever if she could have fooled Christian. Slippery, too.”
He closed his eyes at her words, wishing he could tell her everything, how she would like Annie if only she got to know her. How it would be as clear as day that there was more to the story.
Instead, he said goodbye and hung up, not dialing George right away. Annie was clever. Which was part of the reason he believed in her so resolutely.
Tomorrow afternoon he’d prove it to her.
ANNIE, HOLDING A BOX OF FILE folders, pulled open the door to the Watering Hole half an hour before the meeting would start. The jukebox was quiet, the bar deserted because it wouldn’t open until four, although she knew Sadie had to be around somewhere. She didn’t leave the door unlocked if she left anymore.
There’d been a rash of thefts in Blackfoot Falls last summer, which sadly had turned out to be perpetrated by locals. But it just went to show that people were people, whether they lived in New York or the wilds of Montana.
She walked across the wooden floor, her eye catching on the beautiful Wurlitzer. She wished it held more music that she liked instead of mostly country songs, but it didn’t really matter since she hardly ever came in here.
Lounging around and having drinks with friends felt like something she’d read about in a book. So many things had gone away, vanished in a haze of panic and shame. A manicure would be laughable considering how she spent her days, let alone a pedicure. In Manhattan she’d often saved up for a spa day, not the high-end deals, of course, but a soothing massage, a facial. God, to be pampered like that was unthinkable now.
“Hey there, girl. Thought you’d be coming in early. Good to see you.”
Annie swung around at Sadie’s rusty voice. Every time Annie had seen her in the past few months, the older woman had lost a bit more weight, used a touch more makeup, including lipstick this time. “You look wonderful.”
“Yeah, I’m a stunner.” Sadie came up to Annie, but knowingly didn’t reach out for a hug.
“Hey, none of that.” Annie surprised herself and Sadie by briefly touching her arm. “I think Shea’s going to be here soon, too, but the big news is that we have a potential donor coming to the meeting.”
“Really? Think that’s wise?”
“I’ve warned him. And he understands that the board members are locals doing a nice thing for the animals. I think it’ll be fine. I hope. As long as Abe and Will don’t get into it.”
“They do and I’ll knock their fool heads together. Come on, let’s get these tables set up. You want something to drink?”
“No, thanks.” Annie put the box on the huge mahogany bar, then helped Sadie push the small tables into a big rectangle. Halfway through moving the chairs, Shea walked in.
No hello or other pleasantry. “Is he still planning on attending?” Shea asked.
Annie nodded, while Sadie appeared unfazed. People were getting used to Shea’s blunt ways.
“According to some,” Sadie said, darting an amused look at Annie, “you were at Marge’s last night with the best-looking man seen in Blackfoot Falls since Paul Newman visited town forty years ago.”
Annie hated the fact that her cheeks filled with heat. “His name is Tucker Brennan, and don’t you dare let people start rumors about him. He’s rich, and he’s got a foundation that could be the salvation of Safe Haven. Anything else about him is nobody’s business.”
“Whoa,” Sadie said, holding up her hands. “I wasn’t implying anything.”
“I know people in this town live for gossip but I don’t know what I’d do if somebody’s stupid remark screwed this up.”
Sadie touched Annie’s shoulder. “I understand. I’ll do my best to derail any talk.”
After releasing her pent-up breath, Annie sighed. “Thanks. And sorry for getting worked up.”
“Don’t you fret.” Sadie turned to greet Jesse, who’d walked in, then she herded Shea behind the bar to help fill mugs.
Beer, Annie had learned early, came automatically with all meetings that took place in the Watering Hole. Annie was used to it, but she wondered what Tucker would make of it.
Just talking about him had set her body all aflutter, and she had to tamp down her excitement. This was no time to act like a silly girl. This could be the most important few hours since she’d come to Blackfoot Falls. Something that would set her up for a future she had more than accepted. She belonged at Safe Haven, and every day spent working there chipped away at the guilt and pain of what she’d left behind.
Abe, the owner of Abe’s Variety, and notorious for his unrequited crush on Sadie, walked in right ahead of Will Woodruff, who was pretty partial to Sadie himself. What they had in common did not bring the two men closer together, to say the least. Even though their scowls were a matched set.
In