Whisper Cape (11 page)

“That may be, but the thing is, he’s really hard to figure out. One minute he’s nice and charming and the next he’s the most arrogant man I’ve ever met.

“Arrogance can sometimes be appealing. What’s his name?”

“Cael, and hell, I don’t even know why I’m thinking about him. I’ll probably never see him again, anyway.”

“Yes you will. If he’s staying in town, chances are he’ll be back at the Cliff Hanger to eat. There aren’t too many places to hang out around here, you know.”

“I’m not sure I want to see him again though. He’s very irritating.”

“Irritating as in hot and bothered? Ha, if you ask me, I’d call him irresistible.”

Addie let out a long exhale and closed her eyes realizing Darcy was right, and it bothered her. She wasn’t sure she was ready. It had been a very long time since she’d met a man to whom she was attracted. There just weren’t many guys around the cape she’d even consider dating—not that she’d been looking. She couldn’t deny the sexual attraction she felt toward Cael, but considering how extremely handsome he was, he probably had a female companion in every city and she’d just be another notch on his belt.

They watched a movie they had both seen before, making their conversation easier. Addie didn’t mention anything about her freaky sparks to Darcy. Secrecy on the issue was best—after all, someone could get hurt.

In the morning, they woke on Addie’s floor, pillows and blankets strewn about, and an empty bottle of wine beside them.

“What time is it?” Darcy yawned, stretching her arms up over her head.

They needed to be at the Cliff Hanger by eleven that morning.

Addie glanced at the clock and yawned. “It’s only nine o’clock. We should get up, though. I’m glad you stayed over—I didn’t have any nightmares.”

“Good, maybe you should drink more often. I’m sure the wine had more to do with it than me sleeping on your floor.”

“Maybe, but I’m grateful, anyway.”

***

For a Tuesday, the bar seemed unusually busy during lunch. Thoughts of yesterday’s experience at the cliff kept popping into Addie’s head. She felt sure she had taken some good pictures and became frustrated remembering they were dangling from the branch twenty feet down the side of the cliff. It was a cool camera, too, with a great zoom feature.

The heaters for the deck arrived, and Jared, Darcy, and Addie helped position them. Gerry probably could have done it without any help, but they were anxious to get them set up. Once the heaters were in place, Darcy and Addie deemed it their duty to test them out, so for the first time, they ate their lunch out on the deck feeling warm and cozy. Gerry and Jared, each holding two glasses of champagne, soon joined them and they all sat and toasted the new heaters.

“So, did you manage to get any good pictures out at the cliffs?” Gerry sipped his champagne, his sharp green eyes fixed on hers.

“Well, yeah, but ... oh, what the hell. I lost the camera.”

“What do you mean you lost the camera? How the hell did you lose the camera?”

Addie glanced at Darcy, who nodded. “Go ahead, Addie, tell him.”

“Well, I was at the edge of the cliff, and I saw this really cool cave and I wanted to capture it in a picture but I couldn’t get the right angle, and well, I slipped, and lost the camera over the edge.”

“Well, at least you didn’t go over the edge too.”

Darcy cleared her throat and blurted out, “She did.”

“What?” Gerry said.

Addie glared at Darcy. “Actually, I managed to grab hold of a branch and was able to hang on until ...”

“What? You were dangling over the cliff edge?”

Addie straightened her shoulders. “Yeah, but I’m fine, a guy came over and pulled me up.”

“Jesus, Addie, what the hell were you thinking? You could have died! Good thing there was a man close enough to pull you up. How could you be so fucking careless?”

“I wasn’t careless. I just wanted a good picture. How was I supposed to know the ground was so unstable? There should have been a warning sign, and why do you have to talk to me like I’m a child?”

Jared and Darcy winced.

“Because I care about you and you are Maia’s niece.”

“But I’m a grown woman, and very capable of taking care of myself.”

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry. I’ll try to restrain my protective instinct from now on. So, who was this
guy
who rescued you?” Gerry leaned back in his chair, relaxed a bit, and took a sip of his champagne.

Addie wasn’t sure she wanted to tell him any more about Cael. Gerry was inclined to be overprotective. The last thing she needed was for him to interfere with her personal life, but since he asked, she said, “Oh, he’s not from around here. His name is Cael. He said he’s out here on business. I think he was out at the cliffs taking in the sights.”

“Well, if he comes in here, let me know and I’ll buy him a beer.”

“Right, Gerry, you just want to get a look at him. I don’t want him to come in. He’s really very irritating.”

“Yeah, irritatingly irresistible. He got Addie all hot and bothered,” Darcy chimed in.

“Darcy, stop it. You’re not helping.”

“Really?” Jared said, grinning while Gerry sat tight-lipped and frowning.

“No. He is very annoying and rude. I don’t think I want to see him again,” Addie lied and took a long sip of her champagne before she said anything else she might regret.

***

The dinner crowd started much too soon and the noise level grated on her mounting headache. Thankfully, it wasn’t as busy as lunch had been. Addie had one hand on the tap and the other on a glass as Cael glided through the door. She wanted to appear impassive and in control, but her hands shook and she spilled beer all over the counter.

He strolled to her section of the bar, his eyes set on hers. The cool easiness in his gait suggested he had all the time in the world and no particular place to be. She gulped. She didn’t want to like him, no matter what Darcy said about physical attraction. How could someone be so arrogant one minute and so enticing the next? He sat down right in front of her wearing a wide grin and her entire body tingled.

“Hello, Addison.” His smile was too damn sexy. “I’ll have one of those,” he said, pointing to the Guinness in her hand.

Still giddy from the champagne, Addie smiled, set the pint of beer down by the man on Cael’s left, and bravely asked, “Did you find anything you like?”

“Could be I’m looking at her.”

Her face grew warm. “No, I mean a place to rent.” Addie filled another glass with the foamy brown brew and set it in front of him.

“Not yet, no, but I have a place lined up to see.” He took a sip of beer. “I have something for you, though.” His voice was deep and soft and her knees quivered.

It was upsetting to know he could make her feel so powerless. “What could you possibly have that I would want?”

Her feeble attempt to seem uninterested sounded lame, even to her. He reached in his pocket and held up her camera as his lips broadened to a wide smile.

“My camera—how did you ...?”

“I have my ways.”

Addie wondered what ways he meant as she took her camera. She examined it to see if the pictures were there, thinking maybe he’d gone out and purchased another one trying to impress her. Sure enough, though, they were there, and yes, she was impressed.

“Wow.”

Their eyes locked for a brief stirring moment.

Gerry came up behind her, breaking the spell. “Well, you must be the man who saved our Addie,” he said, extending his hand.

Cael stood and the two men shook hands.

“She held on for quite some time before I got there. It’s a good thing she has strong arms.”

Was that a compliment?

“Well, we do appreciate your heroism. That one’s on the house,” Gerry said, motioning toward the beer.

“Thanks, appreciate it.” Cael sat and returned his eyes to Addie.

“Listen, I need to take a look at a place up the road—see if I want to rent it while I’m here. Maybe you could come with me and give me your opinion, from a woman’s perspective, I mean.”

His eyes twinkled with his smile. As much as she found him arrogant, she still wanted him to like her. “Well, sure. When would you like to go?”

“When do you get off work?”

“Oh, today?”

He nodded.

Trying not to sound disappointed, she said, “My shift’s not over until eight o’clock.”

“What about tomorrow?”

“I’m working, but I have three hours in between my shifts.”

“That should work. What time is your break?”

“Two o’clock.”

“Sounds good.” Cael sipped his beer while Addie got busy with a couple sitting in her section. The bar started filling up with more customers and Addie stayed occupied mixing drinks as Cael watched.

After about thirty minutes, he stood, leaning into the bar close to her. “I’ll see you tomorrow then, at two o’clock.” He smiled and strolled out.

Addie watched him leave and took a deep breath to settle down the flutters in her stomach, but the more she thought about seeing him again, the stronger the sensation got.

The rest of the evening dragged on and Addie wanted to go home. Between the champagne and Cael's visit, it had been an emotionally exhausting day.

Chapter 12

The sound of a tree branch thumping against the living room window woke Addie from yet another episode of the continuing nightmare. Not much new. She’d hoped over time they’d provide a clue to her father’s death, but nothing so far. Rising from the bed after the long fitful night and shivering from the cold shrill of the wind, she donned her sweater before making herself a cup of coffee.

She thought about Cael. He was more handsome than any man she’d ever encountered. That thought scared her a bit—scared of what she might allow herself to do. She wondered if she was making a mistake in seeing him again. Feeling a little apprehensive, she wished she hadn’t told him she’d go with him to look at a house and thought about making up an excuse to get out of it. But as she got ready for work, she spent a bit more time and attention to detail with her appearance than usual.

When she entered the bar and grill, Addie caught Darcy and Jared in the kitchen in the middle of a very heated discussion.

“Why do you care who I go out with, anyway?” Darcy shouted. Her hands were on her hips in a very defiant manner and her face was beet red.

“I just think you should be careful about who you associate with. There’s something about Tim I don’t trust.” Jared reached out to stroke her cheek, but she swatted his hand away.

“Don't touch me!”

“Come on, Darce, you know I’m only concerned about you.”

“It’s not your responsibility to trust who I go out with and you certainly don’t need to be concerned about me. You don’t have any say in my life. Not anymore.”

It was obvious Jared still had feelings for Darcy, and Darcy still felt something for him, even if she wouldn’t admit it. Addie's heart went out to them both and she hoped they would work it out soon.

Jared dropped a heavy pot on top of another, adding to the dissonance coming from the kitchen, which brought Gerry rushing in.

“Men!” Darcy stomped by him on her way out.

“What the hell was that all about? The customers could hear all the yelling—I don’t believe I’ve ever seen Darcy so upset.” Gerry looked at Jared and then at Addie. Addie shrugged her shoulders.

“Nothing ... sorry for the disturbance,” Jared muttered and turned his attention to a large pot Addie assumed contained the day’s soup, which had the heavenly aroma of creamy tomato basil.

“Well then, keep it down in here from now on.” Gerry turned to Addie, “Morning, sunshine.” He threw a dirty rag in the hamper by the door and grabbed a clean one before leaving the kitchen.

“Good morning ... I think.” Addie grabbed her apron and gave Jared a sympathetic look. She wanted to ask him what was going on but if she didn’t get behind the bar, Gerry would soon be ranting at her. She touched Jared’s shoulder and then left the kitchen.

***

Darcy had to force herself to stay at work. She wasn’t quite sure how to react to Jared anymore. She grabbed her pad, stuffed it in her apron, and gathered up her tray. As she headed to a table occupied by a young couple her own age, she thought about Jared and wished things had turned out differently. They could have settled down, gotten married, and had kids. It was what she really wanted. It’d been a year since they’d been together. He had no right to tell her what to do, especially regarding men.

She knew Tim was a creep, but she could handle him. He had a Harley and she had always wanted to ride on one. She would dump him right after he took her for a smooth long ride on his shiny bike. Jared was just going to have to suck it up because when she was finished with Tim, she was setting her sights on Lieutenant Whelan.

***

The lunch hour went by quickly and Addie was a jangle of nerves, her stomach a jumble of knots as her thoughts turned to spending an afternoon with Cael. But when he entered the bar at two o'clock looking just as handsome and rugged as he did yesterday, she was glad she had said yes.

“Hello, Addison. Are you ready?”

She smiled as the knot in her stomach unraveled and fluttered. “Yes, just give me a second.”

Addie poked her head in the kitchen. Gerry looked up from where he was plowing through the sink full of dishes. Addie smiled. “I’m leaving. I’ll be back at five.”

Gerry nodded and went back to his mountain of dirty plates and cups.

Addie pulled on her coat and they walked out. “Your car or mine?”

“Yours, I don’t have one.”

“How can you not have a car?”

He shrugged. “I never needed one, I guess.”

“Hmmm.”
Weird
, she mused. “Well, how do you get around?”

“I manage.”

Addie grimaced, not quite understanding how anyone could get along without a car, especially out here on the west coast. Public transit was a bitch.