“Ellis Books and Bites, this is Tim.”
“Hi, it’s Gwen—”
His voice immediately changed, excited. “Oh my god! Go-Go, what the hell are you doing here in Rapid City?”
“Here? I thought you lived in Laguna Beach?”
“Long story, I’ll tell you later. Where are you? You have to come see me!” She gladly agreed. It would further stall her departure from Rapid City. She could claim she lost track of time and spend one more night there. “Where are you staying?” When she told him, he sounded shocked. “Oh, hell no! You pack your bags, right now, and get your sweet tush over here. You’re staying with me tonight, girlfriend. That place is a dump. You come over here, spend the night, and my boyfriend and I will take you out and treat you to the best steak dinner you ever had, guaranteed. Anyway, I owe you coffee, if I recall.”
She couldn’t refuse that offer. Besides, didn’t that now put her trip into the deductible business expense category? Bonus.
He gave her directions and hurried her off the phone. “Get packed, check out, and I’ll be waiting here for you. I’ll play tour guide and oh. My. God. I cannot believe I finally get to meet my buddy face-to-face!”
When she got off the phone, she knew she had a smile on her face. At least the trip wasn’t a total loss.
She’d wait to call Liam and tell him that. He’d know exactly what she was doing.
Stalling for time to avoid flying again.
Less than an hour later, she pulled into the bookstore parking lot. When she walked through the door, her eyes landed on a tall man, not quite as tall as Deputy Dickhead that morning, but just as good looking.
They grow ’em cute in South Dakota.
He finished ringing up a customer. When he spotted her, he let out a decidedly unmanly squeal that didn’t seem to fit his hunky bod. “Gwen!”
She nervously smiled and nodded. “Tim?”
He raced over to her and, before she could say anything else, he picked her up and swung her around. “Oh my god! Girl, you’re here! In my store! My favorite author!”
She felt heat race to her face. He had shaggy blond hair and sweet blue eyes. She knew Tim was ten years older than her, but he didn’t look it.
And he’s gay. Fuck. My dumb luck.
“I’m sorry you thought I was mad at you,” she apologized. “I didn’t mean to make you think that.”
“Oh, hey, it’s okay!” He grabbed her hand and led her to the back of the store, to his office, and pulled her up a chair. “Okay, so spill it. What’s up?”
It spilled out of her, all right. With the stress of not finding Amy and having to fly home alone finally catching up with her, she burst into tears as she told him the story. She concluded with her literal gut-wrenching terror of air flight.
Tim handed her a tissue and hugged her, gently patting her back. “Hey, sweetie, it’s okay, it’s all right. I don’t know who that asshole is you dealt with this morning, but my boyfriend’s a detective with the police department. He’ll help you.” He looked at her. “I wouldn’t feel right putting you on a plane in this state of mind anyway.” He hollered through the open door for someone while she blew her nose.
A young woman appeared a moment later. “You bellowed?”
“Celia, meet Gwen Oxford. You know, Gwenna Olmsford.”
The other woman’s jaw dropped. “Holy cow! Nice to meet you.”
Gwen nodded and tried to smile even as she sniffled. Jesus, my first real, on-the-road live appearance outside of Ohio, and I’m a damn basket case.
“Hey, can you watch the store for me?” Tim asked Celia. “Call in one of the gang to work extra and help you out. I need to take care of Gwen.”
“Sure.”
Gwen’s phone rang “Silent Lucidity.” As soon as Liam heard her voice, he asked, “What’s wrong, Gee? Why are you crying?”
That started her crying again as she tried to explain she was now sitting in Tim’s store and acting like a total douchebag.
Liam tried to soothe her. “Gee, sweetie, it’s okay. Calm down. Let me talk to him.” She’d told Liam about her ongoing e-mail “relationship” with Tim.
She handed him the phone. “It’s my brother, Liam. He wants to talk to you.”
Tim took the phone. “Hello, Liam?…Yeah. That’s an understatement…I understand. Seriously, as long as she needs, I’m not letting her go anywhere this upset. And you’re welcome to stay as long as you want. Let me give you my numbers…” A minute later, he hung up and returned her phone. “Big brother gave me my marching orders to keep you safe and sound under threat of emasculation. He’ll fly out tomorrow and take you home after the two of you spend a few days here at Casa Ellis while looking for your sister.”
Another bout of guilt hit her, along with a renewal of her tears. “Thank you!” When he hugged her, she tried not to think about how good his arms felt around her. “Big brother saves me again.”
“What?”
She sniffled and sat up. “He had to drive from Ohio to Florida and back once to bring me home after spring break. Jesus, he shouldn’t have to fly out here for my sorry ass.”
“He obviously loves you very much. And trust me, your ass isn’t sorry. Besides, the two of you will be our guests for a couple of days. Maybe you can find your sister and get this stuff sorted out.”
“You don’t understand. Liam’s got MS. He shouldn’t have to fly any more than necessary. He’s just getting over being sick a couple of weeks ago.”
“From the way he sounded, I don’t think anything will keep him from his baby sister. Let’s get you back to my place. Come on.”
Chapter Seven
Gwen stepped out of her car and listened to how quiet it sounded. Tim lived in a nice house about fifteen minutes south of town, on a wooded hillside overlooking a small valley. Beautiful country. When Tim noticed her reaction, he turned and pointed to the west.
“Black Hills National Forest is that way. We’re right on the edge. You haven’t made it to Mt. Rushmore yet, have you?”
She shook her head.
He clapped his hands together. “Oh. My. God! I get to play tour guide!” He grinned. “You’re going to have a blast! Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, the whole nine yards.” He grabbed her suitcase and led her into the house, down a hall to a bedroom with an attached bathroom. “This room shares the bath with the other guest bedroom,” he explained, flipping on the light. “I’d give you the other bedroom, but that’s where Jack’s mom sleeps when she stays with us and it’s better equipped.”
“I know I’m stressed, but that made no sense.”
He laughed. “Sorry. You said your brother has MS. The other bedroom’s larger, set up so a wheelchair can move around. See? Bathroom’s converted, too.”
She rubbed her arms when a chill ran up them despite the warm afternoon. How perfect was this? The bathroom was totally accessible. No doubt even if Liam didn’t need it, he’d still bring his wheelchair rather than risk busting his ass.
And now she wussed out and he’d have to come get her.
Tim spotted her face and pulled her in close for a hug. “Have you eaten anything today?”
“No,” she admitted.
“You look horrible. Let’s get you some food.” He led her to the kitchen and sat her down at the small breakfast table. “What’s your poison? Sandwich? Omelet? Salad? Kitchen’s open and if I have it, I’ll make it for you.”
She couldn’t get over how cute he was. The only picture she’d seen of him was his Facebook profile pic, and that hadn’t been a very good one, just a lousy cell phone image. “Surprise me.”