Safe Haven (The Protectors Book 1) Read online

  ***

  Later that night, Hayley opened her front door and stared at Tank. “You look exhausted. Are you sure you want to have dinner with us?”

  He held a bottle of wine and a bunch of flowers toward her. “If I stay at home it will be worse.”

  “I take it the meeting with your parents didn’t go well.”

  “Not quite as bad as last time.”

  “Anything has to be better than last time.” She opened the door wider and took the wine and flowers. “You didn’t need to bring anything, but thank you. Mom is in the living room. She’s looking forward to seeing you.”

  “How’s her Alzheimer’s?”

  “Getting better. I can’t wait to see her latest test results. Come and talk to her.”

  Hayley closed the door and led Tank into the living room. Alice was sitting in her favorite seat, talking with Sophie.

  “Tank!” she stood on her own and walked across to her favorite person. “It’s so good to see you.”

  “It’s good to see you, too, Alice. You look beautiful.”

  Alice patted her hair. “Hayley took me to the beauty salon in town. I wanted to try something new, so they cut my hair shorter and added a few highlights.”

  “You look twenty years younger.”

  A soft blush filled Alice’s cheeks. “You’re such a nice man. Where have you been? I haven’t seen you in a long time.”

  “I was away for a few days. Tell me about your nursing home. I’ve heard it has a great music program.”

  Hayley watched Tank closely. He knew exactly what to say to distract her mom from asking more questions about him, but Hayley wouldn’t be that easily sidetracked.

  He’d called her from the airport in Denver and asked if he could come around to see her. He’d sounded upset and she knew why.

  She could understand his parents’ horror at what had happened. She could even understand their hurt and confusion over why it had taken so long for him to tell them about David. But what she couldn’t understand was their inability to see how David’s actions had almost destroyed Tank.

  They had one child left, and if that had been Hayley, she would have walked over hot coals to make sure her child was all right, regardless of their age or what had happened.

  Her sister walked into the living room and smiled at Tank. “I thought I heard someone knock on the front door. How have you been?”

  “Okay. I hear congratulations are in order.”

  Sophie wiggled her hand in the air. A sparkling diamond engagement ring caught the light. “Ryan asked me to marry him, and I said yes. Word travels fast in Montana.”

  “Wait until Doris Stanley hears about it. Once she adds your engagement to the community Facebook page, everyone will know.”

  “It’s already gone viral on the Internet. Being engaged to a country music superstar is going to be a challenge. If Ryan sneezes everyone wants to know when it happened and if there were any naked women involved.”

  Hayley bit back a smile. “That’s what you get for being famous. Wait until people hear about your supplement. It will be the top story in every media outlet in the world.”

  Alice smiled at Tank. “Sophie’s fiancé knows some Glen Campbell songs. He’s going to have dinner here tomorrow night. Would you like to come?”

  “How can I say no? I’d love to.”

  Hayley mumbled something about getting Tank a drink. As soon as she was in the kitchen she wiped her eyes and blew her nose. She hadn’t seen her mom look so happy in years. It made her cry when she remembered how her life used to be before she started drinking Sophie’s supplement.

  “Are you all right?” Tank joined her beside the counter.

  The concern in his eyes brought more tears to her eyes. “I’m crying because I’m happy.”

  “You are?”

  “You know I cry at the drop of a hat. I can’t help it if I have overactive tear ducts.”

  “It’s not your eyes that are the problem. It’s your heart.”

  Hayley blew her nose. “What do you mean?”

  Tank’s frown would have worried her if it had been anyone else. But he wore a frown like most people wore a thoughtful expression.

  He passed her another tissue. “It doesn’t matter whether you’re happy or sad. When your heart fills up, it overflows into your eyes.”

  “Tell me how your visit with your parents went before I drown everyone in tears.”

  “I don’t know if I should,” he muttered. “You’ll keep crying and your mom and sister will think I’m being mean to you.”

  “You couldn’t be mean if you tried.”

  “I’ve done things I’m not proud of.”

  “I know.” Hayley picked up a wooden spoon and stirred the pumpkin soup Sophie had made. “What are you going to do next?”

  “John needs me to go to Detroit for a couple of days. After that, I don’t know.”

  “What about your PTSD?”

  “Another security specialist is coming with me. We’re following up on some work we did six months ago. If I feel as though I can’t cope, I’ll come home straight away.”

  “You need to take care of yourself.”

  Tank’s smile was her undoing. Tears gathered in her eyes.

  He leaned forward until their noses were almost touching. “You’re crying again.”

  “I’m crying because you’re you.”

  His gaze dropped to her mouth. “Is that a good or bad thing?”

  Hayley’s heart skipped a beat. “It could be a very good thing.”

  “Would you be willing to show me how good?”

  “I could try.” She rested her hands on his shirt and felt the heat of his body through the cotton. “You smell great.”

  “Old Spice.” Tank’s lips met hers. They teased and cajoled, then devoured her whole until she was a quivering wreck.

  Hayley stepped back and sighed. “You’re a great kisser.”

  “We could practice again,” Tank said hopefully. “There’s always room for improvement.”

  “If we practiced again, Sophie would start looking for us. And if she came into the kitchen, mom would follow. Pretty soon we’d have everyone in here, including the neighbor’s cat.”

  “Their cat?”

  She nodded. “Henry. He’s twelve years old and likes salmon fishcakes. If you leave a window open, he’ll wiggle his skinny little body inside and sleep on the end of your bed.” She bit her bottom lip before she told him about the other animals her neighbor looked after.

  “Lucky Henry.” Tank pulled her close and kissed her again.

  Hayley wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Tank wasn’t the only person coming to terms with a life-changing event.

  She was falling in love and didn’t know how to tell him.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Hayley walked into Emily Green’s boutique in downtown Bozeman. She smiled as sunlight bounced off the chandelier hanging above the grand staircase.

  The store was a beautiful mix of Parisian chic and pure indulgence. As well as displaying some of the most gorgeous clothes she’d ever seen, the boutique was full of gilt-framed mirrors, soft velvet chairs, and antique clothes racks. Even if she weren’t doing a fashion course, she would have enjoyed spending time in the boutique.

  For her next assignment, she had to interview someone in the fashion industry, and Emily had agreed to help. They’d already met once. Hayley was impressed with what Emily had achieved in such a short time. Her fashion label was sold worldwide, mostly through her online retail site. But that didn’t mean that her boutique wasn’t important.

  People came from around the country to look at her latest designs and enjoy a personal shopping experience with their favorite designer.

  Hayley walked across the store and smiled at Emily. She was wearing a red polka-dot dress with a bright yellow sweater. “Hi. I thought Julia was working this afternoon.”

  Julia was Emily’s new assistant. Without extra help to look after the st
ore, Emily didn’t have time to create the clothes her clients ordered.

  “She’s having lunch at Angel Wings Café. It’s good to see you. I just made coffee—would you like one?”

  “That sounds great.”

  “I’ll be back soon. Don’t worry if someone comes into the boutique. I can hear the bell from the staff area.”

  While Emily was gone, Hayley looked at a display of jewelry. Each piece was made to last in a clever mix of styles and materials.

  “The necklaces are lovely, aren’t they?” Emily returned with two mugs of coffee and handed one to Hayley. “Kelly Harris made them.”

  “The same Kelly who owns the store beside your boutique?”

  “That’s right.”

  Hayley had met Kelly last week. Her store was a treasure trove of specialty craft supplies, antiques, and locally made handcrafts. She took one of the necklaces off the display. The silver chain held a pendant shaped like a key. In the center of the key, a pretty silver filigree setting surrounded a dark blue gemstone.

  “This is beautiful. Has she ever thought of making jewelry full-time?”

  “Not until recently, but she’s thinking about it.”

  Hayley looked at the necklace once more before returning it to the display. “She’s very talented. I hope everything works out for her. It isn’t easy finding a balance between what you need to do and what you’d like to do.”

  “Knowing Kelly, she’ll be fine. She’s turned her uncle’s musty craft store into a great business. It takes a lot of hard work to make that happen.”

  Hayley nodded and opened her notebook. “Are you happy to answer the last few questions for my assignment?”

  “Of course I am. Let’s get started.”

  Hayley worked her way through the questions, trying not to take too much of Emily’s time. Julia arrived back just as they were finishing.

  “How was the café?” Emily asked.

  “Busy. Tess has changed her menu and most of Bozeman is sampling her new recipes. Thanks for looking after the boutique.”

  “You’re welcome. Julia, do you remember Hayley?”

  “Sure I do. How’s the assignment going?”

  “It will be finished by the end of the week.”

  Emily picked up their empty coffee mugs and smiled at Hayley. “Do you want to see what I’m working on?”

  Hayley could have done a happy dance in the middle of the boutique. She felt like a six-year-old in a toy store at Christmas.

  “I’d love to.” She didn’t care if her voice was a little breathless or if Emily grinned back at her as if she knew exactly what she was thinking.

  She picked up her backpack and felt the weight of her camera inside. “If I’m careful not to photograph entire garments, can I take a couple of digital photos for my assignment?”

  “Be my guest. If you send me the images, I might be able to put them on my website.”

  With a quick wave to Julia, Hayley headed upstairs with Emily.

  When they reached the top of the stairs, Hayley’s mouth dropped open. “It’s lovely.” The large open-plan space was flooded with natural light. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked Main Street and in the distance, the Bridger Range.

  “I’m glad you like it. My husband and I spent a lot of time remodeling the building.” Emily pointed at the tables in front of her. “This is my work area. Up until six months ago, the room on the far side of this floor was my sister’s office. She’s a business consultant. When she moved out, we turned the space into a meeting room. There’s a small kitchen and a bathroom behind us.”

  Emily walked toward one of the tables. “These are the drawings for next year’s spring collection.” She opened a large sketch pad and turned it around. “What do you think?”

  Hayley turned the pages, admiring each design. “The over-sized wool jackets are fantastic. I like the way you’ve draped the fabric. It looks like a cozy wrap you could wear anywhere. What colors have you chosen?”

  Emily pulled a book of fabric samples off a shelf. “Look at these. I love the shell-pink wool. It’s soft and feminine. My clients are going to love it.” She flipped to the back of the book and showed Hayley another swatch. “This is called hot chocolate. It’s a cross between traditional brown and deep orange. I love the intensity of the color.”

  “It’s a modern twist on a traditional fabric.”

  “Exactly. And these are the French lace samples I told you about the other day.” Emily picked up another book. “They’ll look amazing on the evening dresses I’m going to make.”

  Hayley ran her hand along the edge of one of the samples. Tiny pearls had been stitched into the lace, adding a glamorous touch to the delicate design. “They’re beautiful. Have you thought about what the dresses will look like?”

  “I have some ideas, but I’m focusing on some other designs at the moment.”

  Hayley lifted her camera and took a photo of the workroom. “What was the hardest part of starting your own boutique?”

  “Establishing a strong client base was incredibly difficult. I needed to show the bank that my business model was viable. I couldn’t do that without new and repeat customers. Even with my family’s support, there were times when I thought I’d never be able to afford my own boutique. It takes a lot of courage and determination to start a business.”

  Hayley took photos of the shelving on the far side of the room. It was an Aladdin’s cave of fabric, beading, thread, and colorful buttons. Anyone working here couldn’t help but be inspired by what Emily had achieved. “You’ve created a fantastic business.”

  “It was hard work but worth every minute.”

  “Your new collection is going to be lovely. Thank you for letting me interview you.”

  “You’re welcome. If you need more information for your assignment, give me a call or come and see me. I’m happy to help.”

  “I will. Have a great day.” With one last glance over her shoulder, Hayley walked downstairs. She would give almost anything to work in a fashion boutique like Emily’s, but she still had three years of design school ahead of her.

  But one day, if everything worked out how she wanted it to, she would own her own boutique.

  ***

  Tank parked his car and took a box off the seat beside him. His last assignment had taken longer than anyone expected but, ten days later, he was back in Bozeman. He’d talked to Hayley each day he’d been away. She told him what was happening in town and at her work, making him laugh when she compared her life in Chicago with Bozeman.

  He was happier than he had been in a long time.

  The front door opened and he stared at Hayley. She was wearing a pumpkin costume.

  She walked toward him, laughing at the idiot expression that was probably plastered across his face. “Tell me I’m not hallucinating.”

  She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. “You’re not hallucinating. What’s in the box?”

  He put the box with a big red bow behind his back. “First tell me why you’re dressed like a pumpkin.”

  “Have you forgotten what day it is?”

  “It’s October 31.”

  “And?”

  He looked at her mailbox. A nylon spider’s web, complete with at least a dozen plastic spiders had been wrapped around the post and over the frame.

  “It’s Halloween.”

  “Congratulations. Can I look in the box now?”

  He dodged her arm as it shot toward him. “Not so fast. That still doesn’t explain why you’re dressed like a pumpkin.”

  Hayley gave a dramatic sigh before patting her large, round, body. “Pastor Steven organized a not-so-scary Halloween party at the community center. Tess called to see if Sophie and I wanted to help decorate the hall. She needed people to hand out treats, too, so we volunteered. The party starts in an hour.”

  “How are you going to drive to the community center?”

  “Oh ye of little faith. Watch this…” She reached into the collar of he
r costume and pulled a cord. The pumpkin, after a little wiggling, collapsed around her.

  Tank laughed. “You look like an orange umbrella, now.”

  Hayley pulled the cord again and up popped Ms. Pumpkin extraordinaire. “It’s the cleverest costume I’ve ever worn. I thought you might like to join us.”

  “I won’t fit into a pumpkin costume.”

  Hayley nudged him with her round body. “I’ve got something else in mind for you.”

  He started getting worried. “I don’t do ghosts or clowns.”

  “What about dinosaurs?”

  Tank didn’t know whether to laugh or start running. “Dinosaurs haven’t featured in any Halloween stories I’ve read.”

  “It’s a not-so-scary Halloween party. Dinosaurs are cute and cuddly.”

  “Haven’t you heard of the T-Rex?”

  Hayley waved away his worries about the one and only sharp-toothed dinosaur he knew. “This dinosaur is everyone’s friend. If you show me what’s in the box, I’ll show you your costume.”

  Tank’s eyes widened. “You’ve already rented a costume?”

  “I wasn’t sure whether you’d want to come. Just in case you said yes, I brought it home with me.” She stepped sideways, closer to the box he was holding. “More than eighty children will be at the party. They’ll love you.”

  He put the box in his other hand. “I’m six foot tall.”

  “I know.” She grinned and his heart did a funny flipperty-flop.

  “I don’t do fancy dress.”

  “I guessed that, but I also know you’ve worked with Pastor Steven before. It’s time to stretch your comfort zone. Come on, it will be fun.”

  When he didn’t say anything, she linked her arm through his. “At least look at the costume. If you wear it, I’ll buy you an ice cream afterward.”

  “Who else will be in fancy dress?”

  “I don’t know everyone’s names, but John and Rachel will be there. So will Tess and Logan, and Dylan, Jeremy, and someone else from your support group whose name I can’t remember. And Pastor Steven will be there with his wife.”

  He couldn’t believe that John, Logan or Dylan had been talked into wearing Halloween costumes. Jeremy, on the other hand, would wear anything for a laugh.