Love Lost & Found (Surfside Romance Book 2) Page 5

  Teena pointed out the attic, which Alexa knew only too well, having played up there with her high school friends, reading teen idol magazines. Still under the illusion that the mother and daughter were prospective clients, Teena led them to the deck Joe had built. Alexa noted the small patch of dirt where they had a small garden. The cherry tree still stood proudly. When she was little, Joe had affixed a tire swing. Part of the frayed rope was still visible high above their heads. The sun was bright, the day was unseasonably warm, and Alexa was close to tears.

  Teena ushered them back through the sliding door. She secured it. “I have some flyers with the specs. What did you think? Truthfully, it’s perfect for the two of you—or three, if you’re married or planning on it. I’m being much too nosy. It’s none of my business.”

  Alexa said nothing as Hannah piped up, “We’re just looking.”

  In the kitchen, Teena reached into a folder with the realty office logo and withdrew two sheets on glossy paper. The asking price was quadruple what Sari and Joe had paid. Alexa swept the room with her eyes once more. She wanted to imprint everything, commit it to memory when she spotted something wedged between the refrigerator and the wall. She moved toward it, bent down, and plucked it out.

  “What’s that?” asked Teena, visibly annoyed. “We had this place professionally cleaned.”

  Alexa didn’t hear a word as she stared at the photo. Hannah peeked over her shoulder and said, “That was my tenth birthday.” She vaguely recalled mailing a copy of the photo to Sari, but her mother had never mentioned receiving it.

  “Grandma Sari sent me a skirt and sweater set that year. Remember? It was too small and I gave it away.”

  “Wait a minute,” Teena hesitated. “You’re not here to buy the house are you? You’re looking for the owner.”

  She turned to Hannah. “That must be your grandma.”

  And to Alexa, she said, “Sari’s your mother, isn’t she?”

  Alexa nodded.

  “Come with me. I’ll lock up and we’ll get into my car. I’ll bend the rules a bit and give you some information.”

  Outside, they got into the SUV.

  “I’m not sure why Sari Conklin left town,” she said. “But she told me she was going to Arizona. Wait.” She consulted her notes. “Sedona, yes, that’s it. I wish I could be of more help.”

  Hannah said, “Let’s just hope she hasn’t joined some weird cult that worships toads or rattlesnakes.”

  Teena walked around to the driver’s side as Hannah scooted into the front passenger seat. Alexa slid in the back.

  “Let’s go downtown” she said, firing up the engine. “I’ll show you the sights.”

  “Yes lets.” Hannah liked being with Teena who could easily be the older sister she never had. At last, someone who spoke her language and didn’t harp about sun block or curfews. A tour of Portland by someone who “got” her was an excellent idea—a chance for an escapade with a super cool girl who knew her way around without using the GPS. Hannah kept her camera phone handy as Teena pointed out various attractions in a voice that sounded like ice tinkling in a glass. Teena so entrancing, so beautiful with her honey hair and flawless skin, that all thoughts of Doc vanished. Who cared about snow when she was in heaven?

  Downtown, Teena angled the car into a parking space as Alexa piped up from the back seat, “I remember that clothing store over there. I can’t believe they’re still in business.”

  “They’ve been there since before I was born.”

  “But everything else seems so strange I feel as though I never lived here.”

  “Here we are. The best kept secret on the planet.” Teena winked at Hannah.

  From the outside, Mojo Doughnuts looked like a small bakery set into a gray brick wall. Inside, the sweet bouquet of cinnamon and maple sugar wafted up her nose like exotic perfume. Drunk on sugar, Hannah surveyed the extravaganza of edibles in glass display cases, past bacon bars and gingerbread girls and boys, past doughnuts with rainbow sprinkles, crullers topped with popcorn, marshmallows, M&Ms, chunks of chocolate, nuts, and gumdrops. The variety was never-ending as Hannah doubled back, still undecided. Her mouth watered as her endorphins spun wildly, even before the sugar began rushing through her veins.

  “How does anybody decide?” she asked. “It’s like being in the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory. I’d gain a zillion pounds if I lived here. What are you getting Teena?”

  She pointed to a crème-filled puff with vanilla icing and pastel sprinkles. “It’s my fave. How about you?”

  “I’ll try the maple-bacon one over there.”

  “Alexa? It’s my treat.”

  “Coffee and a plain cruller, thanks.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Hannah cocked her head and frowned. “Spoil sport.”

  “You grew up here didn’t you?” Teena asked Alexa.

  “I graduated from Beaverton High.”

  “Me too. And so did my half-brother.”

  “Really?”

  She asked Teena. “What’s your brother’s name?”

  “Rick.”

  “Jacoby or Harlow?”

  “Harlow.”

  Teena took Hannah’s hand, pulling her toward a case in the back where the co-conspirators found a raspberry-glazed cinnamon cruller with a smiley face and added it to their order. Teena sent a message to someone while Hannah took photos of the culinary bonanza and texted them to her friends back in Florida.

  Alexa watched Teena and Hannah, amazed at how quickly they’d bonded. She wondered if Sari had left a forwarding address with the post office. Would they tell her? Obviously, she wanted to be alone or she would have said something.

  Hannah took a bite, her eyes rolling back with the exotic mix of flavors. “This is to die for. Mom, try it.”

  Alexa took a small taste and nodded. “Delicious.”

  Alexa had just taken a sip of coffee, when a tall strapping figure strode toward them. The shit-kicking grin on his rugged face left no doubt about this unexpected surprise. Hannah watched as her mother glanced up at the man in the red plaid shirt, frayed Levis and work boots, and began choking, unable to catch her breath. Hannah jumped up and patted her on the back.

  Rick Harlow leaned over and kissed the crown of Alexa’s head as Hannah stared in disbelief. She nudged Teena. “What’s going on?”

  “Just watch.”

  CHAPTER 14

  THE AROMA of pine and resin filled the air as Alexa rose from her seat and took a step toward him, drifting into a warm and familiar embrace while tumbling back in time. At that moment, melting into him, she felt safe and protected as her heart thrummed. She could barely breathe.

  Time had been kind. Rick was sturdy, like a tree and ruggedly handsome. He pulled up a chair and straddled it. Although they were half-siblings, Teena and Rick could have passed for brother and sister with their flawless good looks.

  “Sorry to barge in on your party,” he said to Hannah.

  She wiped away a spot of icing in the corner of her mouth, her eyes dancing over his trimmed reddish-blond beard. “I’m Hannah.”

  “Pleased to meet you.” He extended a callused paw. She shook it. “I heard Alexa had a teenage daughter.”

  “I’m nearly fourteen.”

  “I thought you were at least sixteen.”

  She blushed violently.

  Rick winked at Alexa. “How the heck’ve you been?”

  The paper cup trembled in her hand. She set it down. Her head was spinning like a top. Certainly she’d explode into little fragments of forbidden desire if he tried to kiss her, or die of a broken heart if he began talking about his wife and kids. Although he was so familiar—his breath, his voice, his hands, his touch—the door of their romance had closed when she left town. He was part of her history. Not the life she was now living.

  She recalled the expression, You can’t go home again.

  Yet here she was, not only back home, but with Rick Harlow, her high school sweetheart. His voice filtered into her
ears, as though from a distant planet. With their knees almost touching and sparks of energy bouncing between them, she fought against the magnetic pull drawing her toward him.

  “I work for a logging company,” he said in a voice so familiar she would have known it anywhere. “Good thing it’s Sunday or I couldn’t have come. But holy cow, I’m glad I’m here.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek, then picked up her coffee container and took a sip as though they were an old married couple.

  “Are you busy later?”

  Alexa shrugged her shoulders. The visit to Sari’s for Christmas had come to a screeching halt. They were in free fall. Since Luke Prescott had bought the tickets, she didn’t know if it would be kosher to spend a fun-filled afternoon with hunka-dunk Rick. She glanced over at Hannah. Her eyes rolled up, as though saying he’s a snack. But the man sitting next to her was more than a snack, he was a whole meal.

  “We came here looking for my mom,” she said. “You must remember her?”

  “Yes, of course. Who could ever forget? She always made me promise to get you home by eleven. Sorry to hear about your dad, he was a heck of a nice guy, always had your back.”

  Alexa nodded. “Thanks.”

  “I heard you got married.”

  “Yes, right after college. Divorced last year and moved to Florida.”

  Hannah piped up. “We were going to surprise grandma for Christmas.”

  “But the surprise was on you.”

  “Some families carry a curse.”

  All eyes turned to the teenager who had pulled the bacon strip off the doughnut and dangled it over her open mouth. Alexa asked, “Where did you hear that?

  She put the bacon down. “Zelda told me some people carry bad luck. They’re marked by their family history.”

  “Well, I don’t believe it,” said Rick. “I say we enjoy the moment and have some fun.”

  “Let’s get weird,” Hannah suggested.

  “I like the way you think.”

  I like the way you look, thought Alexa, her face glowing. “Sounds like a plan.”

  “So we’re in agreement?” asked Teena, as the wheels of fate began grinding in a new and completely unforeseen direction.

  CHAPTER 15

  IT WAS late when they returned to the hotel.

  “Best day ever,” gushed Hannah, unlacing her boots. “I’m glad grandma wasn’t here.”

  Alexa made a funny face.

  “I mean, we never would’ve met Teena and Rick.”

  The dynamic duo knew Portland inside and out. After attacking the doughnuts, they piled back into Teena’s SUV for a tour that included the Grotto, Washington Park, the arboretum, and the Japanese Garden before heading to Portland Brewing Company where they dined on burgers and fries. The grownups ordered a variety of Belgian-style ales and Hannah had a raspberry-sarsaparilla soda.

  She took a sip. “Wow, it’s like a party in my mouth.”

  As they ate dessert, they made plans for Monday. “I’ll take Hannah on the tramway and check out the Pearl District if it’s okay,” said Teena.

  “Do they sell pearls?”

  “It’s really neat,” she said. “Like the SoHo of Portland.”

  “Teena’s right, you’ll love it.” Rick sat near Alexa, his arm around her shoulder. “And if it’s okay with you, Hannah, I’ll take your mom for a hike.”

  The smile on Alexa’s face faded. Not only had she agreed to let her daughter go sightseeing with a virtual stranger in a town she barely recognized, she would be alone with Rick. If her hormones went crazy, she’d be in serious trouble. Rick was as intoxicating as Hannah’s exotic and fizzy drink. If she wasn’t careful, he could easily bewitch her into doing something she shouldn’t. But with the events for Christmas Eve day set in motion, there was nothing she could do but let it all play it out

  After showering and changing into cozy pajamas, Hannah texted Doc and her friends back home as Alexa let the hot water run over her naked body, unable to get Rick off her mind. Luke was so far away physically, he might just as well have been in China. She changed into flannel sleep pants and raggedy T-shirt.

  “I’ll turn out the lights in a sec; I just have to call Luke.”

  “Maybe a text is better,” Hannah cautioned. “The less said the better.”

  “You may be right.”

  “Besides, what if he’s in bed with someone?”

  “Cripes, why do you want to say that?” Alexa turned down the covers. “Stop messing with my head.”

  Hannah grinned impishly. “But it’s so much fun.”

  Alexa sent a text: Had a blast today, gorged on donuts, wickedly good. She attached a photo of the smiley face doughnut she’d eaten earlier. She’d tell him about Sari’s disappearance over the phone and omit the part about running into an old drop-dead gorgeous friend. Why stir up trouble?

  —––—––

  Luke was still at work. It was nearly one-thirty in the morning when Alexa’s text dropped into his phone. He’d been going nonstop for fourteen hours straight, getting ready for the company’s relocation to Florida. He was fried. The remaining computers and hard drives would head south right after Christmas. Then he’d finish packing up his things before leaving his brownstone for the recently purchased Boca Raton condominium.

  He shut down the lights, set the alarm at Data Systems, locked the door, and jogged to his BMW sports car in the deserted parking lot as a flurry of snowflakes blanketed the ground. He’d deliberately left it under a vapor lamp. Looking up into the night sky, the tiny flakes drifting down made it seem magical, as though Santa could fly overhead any minute with his sleigh of toys, shouting: “Ho-ho-ho.” Hitting the car fob, it beeped it open. He slid in and let the engine idle until it was toasty. He loved this time of year with the embarrassment of twinkling lights, frozen lawns covered with kitschy decorations, and icicles that dripped rainbow colors.

  When he was a kid, his Great Aunt Zelda took him downtown to see the window display at Macy’s and go skating at Rockefeller Center. His mother had died when he was young and he barely had any recollection of her. Zelda Kendrick, his dad’s sister, had stepped in to help. Luke felt awful not spending the holiday with her. But he would have a belated Christmas in Florida soon enough. He grinned and yawned.

  Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

  The refrain ran through his mind as he thought about Alexa’s text, wondering why she’d neglected to mention her mom. He turned on mellow jazz. At least it would be a white Christmas. He hit every green light on the way back to the narrow brownstone where his second-floor walkup was now on the market.

  Earlier in the day, his realtor, Esperanza Liu, a stunning woman of Asian and Latin descent, had called. “A Japanese businessman has put in a serious bid. We could go to contract in a day or two.” Her voice was eager with the anticipation of a hefty commission.

  “That’s great. Let’s hope it happens.”

  “He wants the furniture,” she said. “Will that be a problem?”

  “No problem. He can have it all.”

  That was six hours ago. He hoped he could unload the property and not pay two mortgages, or take a financial beating because he wanted out. He found a spot on the street, locked up, and trudged up the slippery front steps. Christmas would be spent drinking brandy, watching TV, and packing the rest of his things.

  In nine days he’d leave Fairfax for good.

  He opened the front door of his unit, tossed the keys on the curved granite shelf attached to the wall. It made a small ping as he shrugged out of his down jacket. His weary body ached to hold Alexa, to kiss her deeply and passionately. He recalled every delicious second of Thanks-giving night, the sensuality of her soft skin. Automatically, he responded to the images of her firm round breasts, hazel eyes locked with his, and the glow of sexual passion on her face. Now the hot blood of excitement was again coursing through him.

  Leaving his wet shoes on the rug in the foyer, he padded in socks to the kitchen, pulled out a bottle
of Stella Artois, uncapped it and reached in for a hunk of Gouda cheese. He stood with his back against the counter, sipping cold ale and eating sliced cheese on Ritz crackers: a bachelor’s dinner. The quiet apartment was littered with half-packed moving boxes. He placed the empty bottle in the recycling bin, brushed the crumbs off the counter, and walked down the hallway using the glow of the night light, although he could easily find his way in the pitch black. A shower could wait. Bone-weary and bleary eyed, he stripped to his boxers, pulled back the heavy comforter, and climbed in. An arm wrapped around his chest. A bare leg brushed against his groin. A voice purred in his ear.

  “Hey big boy.”

  The voice was familiar, but he was so aroused his brain had stopped functioning. Alexa was in Portland. He wasn’t seeing anyone else. There was only one person who had a key and she had not been invited into his bed.

  Esperanza, the real estate agent, was naked, jet black hair splayed across the pillow. Dark almond-shaped eyes held his gaze in the grainy gray light. Could he sleep next to her without having sex? Could he kick her out into the cold night? Was there another alternative?

  “What’s the matter?” she asked, pearly teeth glowing in the muted glow of the streetlamp. “I won’t bite.”

  “I’m not worried about you, Esperanza, I’m worried about me.”

  “Just once before you leave.” Her soft, melodious voice was like a siren to a lonely sailor. “My Christmas present and I’m already unwrapped.”

  She sat up and pushed the covers down, exposing her small, perfectly shaped breasts, nipples erect. His brain said no, but his body said otherwise. Luke’s moral compass was pointing at Alexa, but the magnetic pull from Esperanza was undeniable. And on this cold, dark, and snowy night, staying in bed with her seemed the honorable thing to do.

  CHAPTER 16

  MONDAY MORNING dawned crisp and clear. Alexa could not have ordered up better weather. As she stood at the hotel window surveying the landscape, Hannah said, “I’m stoked. Thanks for letting me go with Teena.”