Chapter 8

CHAPTEREIGHT

“Whitney has definitely beento a dance class before,” Ginger remarked. “Given how graceful and flexible she is, my guess is she’s been dancing since before she could walk.”

“Seriously?” Paige asked. “You can tell that by just observing her playing ‘Ring Around the Rosie?’”

Ginger, Paige, and Kate looked on as seven little girls were skipping and twirling around the wood floor of the Tiny Dancers ballet studio. There was nothing tiny about the space, however. Twenty-foot ceilings gave the room a cavernous feel. It didn’t help that two of the room’s walls were mirrored, making the studio appear never ending. Soft sunlight streamed in through the high transom windows leaving shadows on polished floors. A row of folding chairs lined the back wall.

Yet, Whitney didn’t seem intimidated at all. She moved about the room with graceful confidence, her chin held high. Her supple body seemed to be primed for the lesson.

“Because Ginger was born into the ballet world,” Kate said. “Like recognizes like.”

Paige turned to the petite blonde. “Really? How did you go from being a ballerina to a soap opera actress?” The soap opera ‘Saints and Sinners’ was her guilty pleasure after school. Ginger starred on the show for several months a while back.

“Now there’s a story,” a male voice announced from the doorway.

The little girls all squealed when the golden retriever, Midas, raced into their circle.

“Uncle Gavin!” Emily skipped across the room and into the man’s arms.

The studio was housed inside an old torpedo factory along the banks of the Cape Fear River. The offices of McAlister Construction and Engineering took up the other side of the building’s first floor. From what Paige could tell, it doubled as the district office for Congressman Miles McAlister.

Upstairs, Gavin McAlister converted the top floor to a swanky loft apartment similar to ones he designed for his New York City clients. Second to the Tide Me Over Inn, this building seemed to be ground-zero for the McAlister clan. Although Paige was beginning to think she couldn’t swing a cat in this town without hitting one of the McAlisters. Or someone related to them.

Gavin had his mother’s hazel eyes and the same laugh lines fanning out from them. His hair was brown and wavy like his sister Kate’s. He also had a wicked dimple when he smiled. That smile was presently directed at his niece.

“You do realize I just saw you yesterday?” he teased.

“I know,” Emily said. “But I just wanted you to know you are my favorite uncle.”

Kate sighed.

Gavin loosened his grip on his niece. He let her nearly drop to the floor, before catching her and setting her on her feet. “Spit it out. What do you want from me?”

Emily pressed her little fists to her hips. “Henry says I won’t like anchovies on my pizza. I told him you always get them on your pizza and he dared me that I couldn’t eat a whole slice tonight. Please, can I have a slice of your pizza at dinner?”

Ginger made a gagging sound at the mention of anchovies. “Oh please, no,” she whispered before hightailing it to the bathroom. Gavin raced after her.

“What did I tell you about trying to one-up boys?” Kate admonished her daughter. “You don’t have to do everything Henry says.”

“Yeah. What your mom said. And who says you have to eat the anchovies?” Paige added. “How do we even know Henry is telling the truth about liking them himself? Or if he’s even had one.”

Emily narrowed her eyes. “Yeah. How do I know he’s not trying to trick me?”

“It’s hard to tell with boys,” Paige said. “They’re sneaky that way. They’ll do and say anything to get what they want. If I was you, I’d stay away from them for as long as I could.”

The girl threw up her hands. “Ugh. Boys,” she said before stomping back toward the other girls.

Kate cocked her head to the side. “Sworn off men, have we?”

“Something like that.” Especially ones who publicly humiliate you and rob you of your career.

“Huh. That should make it easy to resist a particular golfer with a smoking hot bod and a sexy accent, then.”

Paige slammed her eyes closed. “When you’ve been burned as badly as I have, it’s easy to resist any man. Even the sex-on-a-stick ones.”

Kate was quiet beside her. Paige slowly lifted her eyelids to find the other woman wearing a fierce expression.

“Whoever he was, he doesn’t deserve someone as special as you, Paige.”

The unexpected kindness of her words made the breath catch at the back of Paige’s throat rendering any kind of response impossible.

“And I hope his penis shrivels up and falls off,” Kate continued.

Paige choked out a laugh that had Kate pounding her on the back.

“I know we barely know each other,” Kate said. “But your dad has been so good to our mom when she needed it the most. Just know that I’d be happy to return the favor if you ever want to talk.”

The back of Paige’s eyes burned. “Thanks,” she croaked. It would be nice to unburden herself to Kate. Paige suspected she’d be a sturdy shoulder to cry on. But in doing so, the other woman would know just how gullible Paige had been. How downright stupid. It was a relief to be free of that embarrassment these past couple of days. To be treated with respect once again. She didn’t dare risk it.

Ginger returned, looking a little less green. Gavin hovered beside her. When he spotted Paige, he stuck out his hand. “You must be Paige. I’ve got the keys to your car. I parked it out front. The sheriff installed the booster seat to the manufacturer’s specifications.” He wrapped an arm around Ginger. “No need to go to the fire station to check to see if our baby seat is secured properly now that we’ve got our own law enforcement in the family.”

Gavin whistled for Midas. “Come on, you. Let’s go for a run. If I tire you out, maybe you won’t go snooping in all the baby’s things.”

The girls chorused their goodbyes to the dog.

“I’m looking forward to chatting more, Paige. I’ll see you tonight for pizza,” he said.

“Pizza?” Paige asked.

“Once a week, we all try to get together for a family dinner,” Kate explained. “As much as mom loves to entertain, we’d rather she take a night off to enjoy herself. So, we meet at the pizza place most weeks during the winter. I have to warn you, though, it’s not Chicago deep-dish, but it’s pretty darn good, anyway.”

Paige sank her teeth into her bottom lip.

“Face it, girl.” Kate slipped her arm through Paige’s. “You’re a part of this family whether you want to be or not.”

And there it was again. The mention of the word “family.” As hard as Paige tried to resist the McAlisters, the more they kept sucking her in. They were part of her father’s life, though. Paige wasn’t. She didn’t want to like them.

Except it might be too late for that.

“Come on,” Kate pleaded. “We only have a week to get to know you. Did I mention they serve the best wines?”

“Sure, torture the pregnant chick why don’t ya?” Ginger groaned.

Paige smiled at both women. Any day now, they’d find out the whole sordid story about her bad choices and they would feel differently about her. Why not enjoy an evening out with them before then?

“You had me at wine.”

* * *

Tanner leanedagainst the bar of the Slice and Sip nursing a beer. The pizzeria was a favorite from the first week he had relocated from Europe back to the States. The restaurant’s space was long and narrow with brick ovens lining the back wall, the bar running lengthwise along the side, and a cluster of long tables that forced diners to eat family style. During the summer months, Tony put out bistro tables under the red and white awning outside for added seating.

Tanner wasn’t sure what the hell he was doing crashing a McAlister family dinner except that the sheriff invited him. That and Whitney was here. And she was only here because Paige was here.

Paige.

Whitney’s nanny.Who was right now accepting a glass of wine from Deputy Dog, Hayden Lovell. The deputy said something to Paige making her laugh. Tanner’s teeth clicked in the back of his mouth. Women were constantly fawning over the deputy with his square jaw and rippling muscles. Tanner suspected the guy’s prosthetic leg was some sort of chick magnet, as well. Women were natural care givers. And who better to care for than a good-looking guy with a Purple Heart for losing his leg to an IED in Afghanistan.

Congratulations, Tanner. You win the ‘asshole of the night’ prize for being jealous of a disabled veteran. Shame on you.

Try as he might, he couldn’t keep his eyes from trailing Paige as she wandered over to where Whitney sat beside Emily. Both little girls were coloring on their kid’s menus. Paige seemed more comfortable around the children. She was a kindergarten teacher, so it made sense.

Except the McAlisters were a warm welcoming bunch who never met a stranger. Yet Paige wandered around the restaurant as though she was trying to keep her father and his new family at arm’s length. Her guarded demeanor piqued his interest. What kept her from announcing herself at the wedding New Year’s Eve? Why did she still have her guard up?

“You’re moving too well for it to be your back that had you backing out of this week’s tournament.”

Tanner turned to see Dr. Jane Sheffield standing beside him.

Christ, how long had she been there?

The physical therapist worked at one of the more prestigious sports rehab centers in the South. Luckily for Tanner, it was located right here in Chances Inlet. She’d been treating him for on-and-off-again bouts of back spasms over the past two years. She was also a de facto member of the McAlister clan, being Kate’s best friend and now Ryan McAlister’s girlfriend.

“The back’s fine, Janey.”

She studied him while she sipped her wine. “The only other explanation for you cutting out early is what’s being reported on social media. They’re saying it’s the yips.”

Tanner tilted his head back. “Jesus, even the word sounds ridiculous.”

Jane pressed her back against the bar. “But the condition isn’t. It’s very real. And it’s curable.”

“Sure it is. Just alleviate all the stress from my life.”

“Now that is ridiculous. Not to mention impossible.” Jane swirled her wine around in her glass. “But we do have some visualization techniques we can try, if you’re interested.”

“I’m hoping it won’t get to that point.” Tanner took a pull from his beer while his gaze involuntarily continued to follow Paige. She made her way back to where Deputy Dog waited for his to-go order. Tanner willed the brick ovens to cook the pies a little faster so Lovell would scram.

“She’s cute,” Jane said.

“Yeah,” he replied, absently.

Jane chuckled beside him. “You do realize I was talking about Whitney?”

Tanner whipped his head back to where Whitney, Emily, and Jane’s son, Henry, were crowded around the restaurant’s two arcade games. He slowly shifted his gaze to the woman beside him.

The physical therapist had the nerve to grin. “Sex is another great stress reliever. Although, you might not want to mess with the sheriff’s daughter. Just sayin’.”

A skirmish between Emily and Henry saved Tanner from responding.

“Ugh.” Jane drained her wine glass. “Here we go again with those two. Excuse me while I go attempt détente over anchovies.”

Sheriff Hollister took Jane’s spot at the bar.

“I heard you were throwing my name around in Las Vegas,” he said with a teasing glint in his eyes. “I’m glad you interviewed both the private investigators I mentioned. Let me know if you choose either of them. My friends in law enforcement are happy to share whatever they’ve got.”

Tanner liked both investigators the sheriff recommended. He’d already decided to go with the female P.I. He wasn’t sure why, but he figured it would be easier for a woman to locate another woman.

“Appreciate it,” he replied. He braced himself for the keep-your-hands-off-my-daughter speech, but it didn’t come. Instead, the man surprised the hell out of him with what he said next.

“This is quid pro quo, Tanner. I’m happy to help you out, but I need your help in return.” The sheriff’s gaze landed on his daughter who was helping Whitney navigate the claw machine. “She’s been hurt. Badly by the looks of it. If she tells you anything at all, I want to know.”

“You’re not planning on putting a horse’s head in the guy’s bed, are you?” Tanner joked.

The sheriff’s steely gaze sent a shiver up Tanner’s spine.

“I don’t like it when someone hurts one of my own.”

Shots fired.

Tanner acknowledged the sheriff’s words for what they were: a warning. The man had a unique way of delivering it, that’s for sure.

“Understood.”

“Nice talk,” the sheriff said before moving toward Deputy Lovell. Hopefully to give the man the same damn speech.

“It just takes some good, old-fashioned hand-to-eye coordination,” Sonny was saying to Whitney. “We’ll get you a prize.”

Tanner wandered over to where his caddy stood with Paige and Whitney. “The claw giving you trouble, Whit?”

“Ah ha.” Sonny handed Tanner some game tokens. “Here’s the guy with the best hand-to-eye coordination in the room.”

Any other day, Tanner wouldn’t have disputed that claim. Tonight, however, was a different matter. He gave his caddy the stink eye. Sonny hiked up a bushy eyebrow in challenge. Whitney gazed up at Tanner with a hopeful look on her face. Sighing, Tanner sank down into the game’s seat.

“Won’t your bunny get jealous if you get another stuffed toy?” he asked.

Whitney shook her head and pointed at Paige.

“You want me to win one for Paige?”

The girl nodded.

Tanner looked up at Paige. Was it his imagination or were her eyes a little misty?

“What’ll it be, Miss Hollister?”

She gnawed on her bottom lip as she sized up the options. “I’ve always loved panda bears.”

He studied the stuffed animals in the case before swearing beneath his breath. “You do realize the panda is at the bottom of the pile?” He shouldn’t have bothered asking. Of course, she did.

Paige aimed a serene smile at him. “Then it’s a good thing you are the best.”

Whitney clapped her hands together and bounced up and down on her toes. It was the first time he’d seen her so animated. So delighted. She wanted to make Paige happy. Truth be told, Tanner wanted to make them both happy.

“I’m gonna need a co-pilot, Whit.” He tapped his thigh. “Climb aboard and I’ll teach you how it’s done.”

Her hesitation was barely noticeable. She crawled up into his lap. Tanner took her little hands in his and wrapped her fingers around the joystick controlling the claw. Whitney’s tiny body shook with excitement. Tanner smiled at the back of the child’s head. The joy she felt in giving a gift to a woman she barely knew made him proud to be her uncle. Her mother raised her right. He just hoped he found her soon so he could tell her that.

“Okay, Whit. Time to go bear hunting.”