Built To Last (Saltwater Springs #1) (11 page)

Luke brushed her hair back off of her face. “I’m so sorry you had to deal with all that. I know how much you loved that place. The decision to sell couldn’t have been easy.”

Emotion welled up inside her and a lone tear rolled down Scarlett’s face. Luke used his thumb to wipe it away. “It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made.” She sucked in a breath, trying to compose herself so she could continue. “I wasn’t happy in Boston, and I needed to make a change. I still really wanted to have my own bakery, and with my parents gone and the expectations they always had for me not mattering anymore, I had to decide whether to use the equity in my Boston condo to save my family home or to start my life over again and live it the way I wanted.”

Guilt from her selfish decision crept into her body and cemented itself like cancer clinging to her bones. A sob wracked her body and her hand flew to her mouth, trying to hold it in.

Luke leaned forward and wrapped her in his strong arms. “Shhh, Lettie. It’s okay. Your parents would want you to be happy.” His warm hands rubbed up and down her back, bringing some comfort. She buried her face in his neck and let the tears soak his t-shirt.

Eventually, Luke grabbed her upper arms and pushed her back slightly so he could see her face. “You have nothing to feel bad about, sweetheart. You made the right choice.”

Scarlett’s face crumpled. “Maybe so, but it doesn’t make it hurt any less. I should know. I’ve made plenty of bad decisions before and since.” She buried her face in his neck again and clung to him like he was life itself. And maybe to her, he was.

S
carlett’s words
—and the pain and desperation behind them—gutted Luke. His chest ached as he held her against him. He had no idea what she was talking about, but it was obvious how much agony it caused her.

She’d said she made some bad decisions. He wanted to be her good decision. More than anything, he wanted her to know that he was there for her and she could count on him. He just wished he could take her pain away. Hell, he’d feel it for her if he had to. He couldn’t bear seeing her so traumatized.

After a time, her sobs became less frequent until they stopped completely. She pushed away from his body and, missing the feel of her soft curves against him, he had the overwhelming urge to pull her back to his chest.

“Are you okay?” he asked. Her eyes were red and puffy, her skin blotchy, and her hair a little disheveled. Even still, she’d outshine the prettiest girl in that moment.

Scarlett nodded and wiped the tears from her face.

“Now, why don’t you tell me what has you so upset.”

Her shoulders slumped. “The guy I hired before you. He took most of my money without doing much of the work or supplying the materials. He scammed me, and now I barely have enough to live on and pay my rent. I have to use everything I have left to get the bakery open, and it still won’t be exactly how I wanted it.”

Luke never thought he’d see the day when the tables were turned and
he
was the one with the healthy bank account and Scarlett was the one struggling, but here it was.

He took no joy in it.

Quite the opposite, actually.

Rage burned hot in his veins at the idea that some scam artist had taken advantage of his Lettie.

“Who the hell was this guy?” he ground out.

She shrugged, seeming defeated. “Some guy I found online. He seemed okay…professional. He started the work and then asked for some cash advances to get materials and hire subcontractors. When I’d inquire where everything was, he’d say he was holding it off-site in a storage facility, since the storefront didn’t have that much space for it. I was stupid and believed him. It’s my own fault for being so dumb.”

“Horseshit,” he said with venom in his words.

Her eyes flared open. “What?”

“It’s not your fault. These guys are professionals at removing people from their money.”

“Yeah, but if I didn’t—”

“I don’t want to hear it.” Luke let his hands drop to the cool leather and squeezed them into fists. His anger was getting the best of him, and he didn’t want Scarlett thinking he was pissed at her. “You did nothing wrong except take someone you should have been able to trust at their word. What did the police say when you reported it?” Scarlett began fidgeting and stared down at her hands. “You did report it, right?” She continued to ignore him. “Scarlett?”

“No, I didn’t!” she yelled, the spitfire in her letting loose. “I’m too embarrassed. If I report it, everyone in town will know what an idiot I am. They’ll probably put it in the local paper, for all I know. Everyone seems to know everything around here.”

She wasn’t wrong about that. The whole damn town was made up of a bunch of busybodies always getting involved in everyone’s business. “Who cares what anyone thinks? This guy has to be stopped. Who knows how many other people he’s done this to?”

Her eyes flicked up to meet his. “You really think he’s done this to somebody else?”

“Absolutely. I guarantee you’re not the first.”

That seemed to get her attention. “I hadn’t even considered that. I was only thinking about how humiliating it would be to have to admit I’d been duped.”

Luke brought his hands to Scarlett’s waist and squeezed. “A lot of people feel that way and never report it. Which is why these cons are able to continue taking people for a ride.”

She let out a resigned sigh. “I’d hate for it to happen to someone else.”

“If you want, I can go with you to the police station.”

A small smile started on her face. “You would?”

“Of course I would. I’ll stay with you the whole time. Why don’t we go tomorrow when we break for lunch?”

She nodded. “Okay,” she said in a soft voice. She’d agreed, but it was clear she still had reservations about it.

Luke leaned forward and brought his lips to hers. “Good, I’m glad that’s settled. But there’s something else we need to discuss.”

Confusion swarmed Scarlett’s face. “What?”

“I want to help you and I’m not going to let you refuse, so you should know that right now. You’ve hired me to get the bakery ready for your opening, and I’m going to do that. But I’m not going to charge you for my labor. I’ll let you pay for the materials because I know how stubborn you can be, but my time is free.”

Scarlett’s mouth dropped open. “I can’t let you do that!”

“Can and will. End of discussion.”

“Luke—“

“Lettie, I said that was the end of the discussion.” The woman in front of him could be as stubborn as a mule. Luke knew this, but he also had no intention of giving in and she’d soon figure that out.

“I can’t possibly—”

“I’d really like to watch this movie rather than sit here arguing with you about this for the next hour. I’m not going to back down, so you might as well get used to the idea. If it makes you feel better, think of it as a grand opening gift.”

She studied him for a moment and, without warning, sprung forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, planting kisses all over his face. “Thank you. Thank you so much, Luke. I don’t know how I’m ever going to repay you,” she said between kisses.

He pulled her away from him, his hands on either side of her face. “Aw, Lettie, seeing a smile light up your face again is thanks enough.” What he didn’t say was that he lived for those smiles. And he planned on making sure he’d be the one to witness them for the rest of his days.

S
carlett stood
at the base of the police station steps and bit down on her finger. Luke reached for her wrist and pulled her hand down.

“Don’t be nervous. It’s going to be fine.”

She turned to face him with a pleading expression on her face. “What if they make me feel stupid? Or worse, what if they come right out and tell me I’m stupid?”

“They’re not going to do that. I’ve already called ahead and told my buddy Graham that we’re coming. He’s going to take your statement.” Luke placed his hand on her back and rubbed, somehow managing to rub reassurance right into her.

She nodded. “Okay, let’s get this over with.” Luke gave her a smile filled with pride, and she was happy to be able to put that look on his face.

He held the door open for her like the gentleman he was and followed in behind her. Scarlett walked toward the counter with unsure steps. She knew she had to report what had happened—she couldn’t stand the thought of someone else being swindled by that jerk. Luke’s hand came to rest on her lower back, and the comfort it brought eased her worry.

“Hey, Graham!” Luke said in a raised voice.

An attractive officer with dark brown hair turned in their direction. He smiled and made his way up to the counter.

“Hey, bro.” Graham stuck his hand out and shook Luke’s in a familiar way, then shifted his attention to her. “You must be Scarlett.” He smiled and stuck his hand out to her. He seemed friendly enough, and a little more of the tension in Scarlett’s muscles eased.

“I am. Nice to meet you.” She shook his hand in return.

“Luke filled me in a little, but I understand you’re here to make a formal report about a con artist?” Graham’s face turned serious, losing the friendly edge.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Good. I can’t tell you the number of people that don’t report crimes like these. The criminals know it, too, and it allows them to keep doing it to other innocent people. So thanks for coming in.” He rested his hands on his hips.

She motioned over to Luke. “He was the one who convinced me to come forward. I was too embarrassed to at first.”

Compassion shone in Graham’s eyes. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about. These people are professionals. They know what they’re doing. Plenty of intelligent people fall for their scams.”

Maybe she wasn’t such an idiot after all. “I don’t want this guy to do it to anyone else. So, what do you need me to do?”

“Why don’t you both come with me, and I’ll get all the information I need to start the ball rolling.”

Graham directed them to a door to the right of the counter. Instead of fear, Scarlett now felt determination to nail the bastard that had ripped her off. Taking control of the situation sure felt a hell of a lot better than cowering from it. Once again, Luke had swooped in and saved the day.

Her heart felt full as he took a seat beside her and took her hand in his large one. She ignored her subconscious as it sneered at her to enjoy it while it lasted.

W
hen she’d finished filing
the report, Graham walked them back to the front of the station. “Thanks again for coming in, Scarlett,” he said.

“Thank you for not making me feel stupid.” She gave a small laugh.

“That’s not in my job description, so no worries there.” He turned his attention to Luke. “I haven’t seen you in a few weeks. How is your mom doing?”

His mom? What was wrong with Luke’s mom?

Luke’s gaze darted over to Scarlett for a second, and he pushed his hands into his jean pockets before responding. “Pretty decent. Some days are better than others.”

Graham squeezed Luke’s shoulder in a friendly way. “Well, if you need anything, you know my number.”

“Sure thing,” he said quickly. “Well, we should get back to the shop. We’ve still got a lot of work ahead of us.”

With her mind conjuring up any number of different scenarios that Luke’s mom might have found herself in, all Scarlett could do was nod her head.

“See you guys soon, I’m sure,” Graham said before turning and leaving them in the lobby area.

“Let’s go,” Luke said, settling his hand on her lower back and leading her outside. When they’d reached the sidewalk, she spun to face him.

“What’s wrong with your mom?” she asked, her voice sounding more accusatory than she’d intended.

Luke huffed out a sigh. “She was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year. She’s going through chemo right now.”

Her hand flew up to cover her gasp. “Is…is she going to be okay?” When Scarlett was a teenager, Luke’s mom had been a pseudo-mother of sorts. She’d always been kind to Scarlett and welcomed her into their home, doing her best to make Scarlett feel comfortable. Betty was the kind of woman who’d give you the shirt off her back, never mind the fact that she couldn’t afford to buy another.

Luke shoved his hands in his pockets, a sure sign that he was uncomfortable. “Wish I could say. Her treatments seem to be going well…” He trailed off, and Scarlett knew exactly what he wasn’t saying. Anything could happen. Anything at all.

Being the woman Scarlett was, her mind went straight to practical matters. “Who is taking care of her? Does she drive herself to and from her treatments? How is she responding to chemo?”

Luke laid his hands on her shoulders. “I drive her mostly, and I’ve hired a nurse to watch over her when I can’t be there. She has a few more chemo treatments left and from there they’ll decide whether or not she’ll need radiation, though most likely she’s going to.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked softly. The fall wind whipped Scarlett’s hair in her face. Luke pushed it back and gazed at her, holding her hair back with his hands. His expression was full of concern…and maybe a little fear.

“I didn’t purposely keep it from you. I had planned to bring it up last night, but after you confided in me, the timing didn’t feel right. You had enough on your mind.”

Scarlett nodded her understanding and placed her arms around Luke’s waist. “I’d like to help in whatever way I can.”

Luke shook his head. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to.”

“I’ve got it under control.” He tried to separate himself from her, but that only had Scarlett steeling her grip around his waist.

“I’m sure you do have it under control, but I’d like to take some of the burden. Your mother was always wonderful to me, and I’d like to help.”

“Lettie—”

“Don’t Lettie me, Luke Garrity. I said I want to help, and I’m going to. Now stop being so stubborn and tell me the best way I can.”

Luke must have seen that she wasn’t going to budge because he acquiesced. “Well, if there’s any chance you could make her dinner from time to time, it would help. That way I can work later at the bakery and get you ready for your opening. I have another big job that’s run into some roadblocks, so I’m going to need to spend some time there, too.”

“I can definitely do that,” she said, her mind already running through all of the recipes she thought Betty would like.

Luke chuckled. “We both know my mom always preferred you in the kitchen to me anyway. I’m sure that hasn’t changed.”

It was true. His mom used to encourage Scarlett to test her baking skills when she visited their home, and Betty always “helped” by sampling the wares. “Let’s hope I don’t disappoint her. Is she eating well?”

“It depends on the day. But if you make her some of your treats, I suspect she’ll start eating a lot more.”

“I’ll make it my mission then,” Scarlett said.

Luke leaned in and gave her a slow kiss—no tongue but no less sensual. She smiled when the kiss ended, content that she would be able to repay him some of his kindness by helping out a woman she still cared for.

He pulled away and they started down the street toward the bakery. Their hands grazed against each other’s a few times as they walked until Luke finally took Scarlett’s hand in his. It was nice, but in some ways foreign. She wasn’t used to the easy intimacy, and she couldn’t be sure that Luke wasn’t doing it for the sole purpose of making a statement in public. Hell, she didn’t know whether she cared if he was or not anymore.

To ease some of her discomfort, she tried to think of something to talk about until they were once again distracted by the sheer amount of work to do inside her bakery.

“What’s the other project that you’re having trouble with?”

Luke’s hand twitched before he squeezed hers tight. “Just this old place the owner is working on restoring. It’s one of those cases where everything that could go wrong has.”

Scarlett laughed. “I’m pretty familiar with those myself.”

“Yes, but things seem to be looking up now, wouldn’t you say?” He smiled and pulled her hand up to his mouth, brushing his lips across her knuckles.

The warm feeling in her chest that was so often present when Luke was around expanded. Scarlett needed to be sure that she didn’t allow herself to become fully consumed by it. That would only mean more pain in the end—for both of them.