CHAPER TWELVE

 

“MAYBE YOU NEED to confront the jerk,” Marcie said after Randi told her what had happened.  Marcie looked at Trevor.  “Maybe you need to rough him up.”

“That’s all I need,” Randi exclaimed as she set three cups of coffee on the table.  “Assault charges on top of the child custody situation.”

Marcie laughed, covered Randi’s hand.  “I’m just kidding, you know.”

“I know, but I’m mad too.  Who does he think he is to have a private investigator following me?  Like I asked Trevor, what does he hope to gain?  Some dirt?  I’ve been the responsible parent.  How many men have you seen in my house?”

“Does Harriet know about this?” Marcie asked.

“I’m not sure, but I will certainly give her a call this afternoon.  Wait a minute,” she paused, “I think she’s interviewing Tim and Miriam today.”

“Do you have her cell number?  Maybe you could text her and she could ask him.”  Marcie smiled.  “Wouldn’t that look good in her report?”

Have you given any thought to Harriet’s suggestion about a get-together?”  Marcie asked after Randi texted the GAL.

“No.  Yes.  Maybe,” she sighed.  “I just don’t know what to do.  Are you available?” she looked from Marcie to Trevor.  “I just don’t want to do it by myself.  I need reinforcements.”

“Why don’t we talk to Ginny and Cliff about doing a picnic at Spicer Meadows?  That way they will be outnumbered.  Could even invite Brad since he is handling your case.  And his assistant, Stacie.  I like her.”

“Good idea,” Trevor said.  “I’m pretty flexible. Planning to keep my schedule open till we get this project finished.  Supposed to have a conference call with the Atlanta people later this afternoon.”

“Ginny seemed receptive to it when we talked last night.  I’ll give her a call when she gets home from school.”  Randi said.

Marcie stayed after Trevor left and couldn’t help but chuckle when she watched Randi lean forward as if to kiss Trevor, then caught herself.

“Sit down, girlie, we need to talk.”

“Talk about what?” Randi asked.

“Talk about you sitting at the kitchen table with a certain hunk in the middle of the morning.”

“Oh.  He, he happened to be with Duane when dispatch relayed my call.  Then Duane had to get back to work, and Trevor said he had a couple questions about the job.”

Marcie chuckled.  “Hmm.  And what were these questions?  I thought you and Brina had pretty much decided everything.”

“Well, you know,” Randi shrugged a shoulder, “there are always little things that come up.” 

“Hmm,” Marcie repeated.  “You know I had a few seconds to observe you two before I knocked.  Looked a little intense, if you ask me.”

“Oh, all right, yes, things were a little intense.  I got upset after Duane left and Trevor helped calm me down.”  When Marcie remained quiet, she continued.  “I was pacing and venting and suddenly he grabbed me and kissed me.  One of those hot, sizzling, melt your bones kind of kisses.”

“Wondered when he was going to make a move.”

Randi looked down and smiled.  “That’s not the first time he’s kissed me.  He kissed me at Snowridge. When we realized Tim and Miriam were watching us across the soccer field.  He did it more to rile Tim so it wasn’t as consuming as the ones today.”

Marcie smiled.  “Consuming, huh?  And more than one?  Better watch out, you know what comes next?”

Randi laughed.  Marcie always knew how to relax her.  “He had pretty much said as much before you knocked.  Can’t help but wonder what we’d be doing if you hadn’t stopped by.”

“Sorry.  And with everything that’s going on, it would probably be good for you to focus on something else.”  Marcie laughed.  “Can’t think of anything more exciting than planning a seduction.”  She grabbed Randi’s hand and tugged her.  “C’mon.  Let’s go check your wardrobe.”

After a thorough search, Marcie said, “grab your purse.  We need to do some major shopping.”

 

Three hours later, Randi was in a much better mood.  She and Marcie had hit one of the malls and she now had a couple new gowns and some sexy underwear.  Lunch had relaxed her and her purchases excited her.  While she waited in the car for the boys to come out of the school, she found herself planning a big seduction scene.

She’d have him over for brunch.  Pick up some bubbly for mimosas and make her egg casserole.  Add some Danishes and she’d be set.  All she needed was the nerve to do it.  Suppose he couldn’t come?  Suppose it was too soon?  Maybe he wasn’t ready yet.

She jumped when Sandy opened the door and climbed in his car seat.  “Hey Mom, can we stop by the firehouse on the way home?”

“Yeah,” Scott buckled himself in.  “We did pictures today and drew our avengers.  Maybe Trevor can come over for dinner tonight.”

“I’ll ask him,” Sandy added.  “That okay?”

Randi smiled.  “Sure.”  Her boys were obviously as smitten with him as she was.

They jumped out of the car as soon as she pulled up to the building and raced inside.  “Trevor,” they both hollered, “look at our pictures.  Can you come over for supper tonight?”

Trevor was looking at their pictures when she caught up with them.  Aaron, the foreman was smiling when he left.

“Hey, pretty good guys.  You need to frame them.  Hang them up.  Maybe your mom will put them in her new office.”  He looked at Randi and smiled.

“Can we Mom?” Both boys asked.

“Sure.  We’ll work on it when we get home.”

“Can you come for supper?” Scott repeated.

“Depends on your Mom.  I do have to come back to the job later but should have enough time for dinner with a hot Mama and her ducklings.”

“Are you sure?”  Randi asked.  “Not everyone likes meatloaf.”

 

Trevor brought a bottle of merlot to drink with the meatloaf.  He hoped there would be enough left over, he liked meatloaf sandwiches.

After those kisses this morning, he hadn’t been able to think about much else all afternoon.

He’d stopped by the White Rose and arranged to meet Hal at the garage at eight instead of seven.  When he delivered the cot by the garage, Stanley said he had a county vehicle that needed work on it and he’d be knocking off about then. Hal could set it up in the office and should have a good view of the back of the firehouse.

Scott and Sandy snagged him for a battle until dinner was ready.  They had also drawn pictures for him to take to the cottage.

“I take it you’re feeling better than this morning?”

Randi smiled.  “Yes, as a matter of fact.  Marcie and I had a good talk and then spent the afternoon at the mall.”

“What is it about shopping that is supposed to make women feel better?  My sister’s always spending my brother-in-law’s money.  Used to drag me with her when we were younger.”

“It’s an escape, Trevor.  Gives us a chance to focus on something other than what’s bothering us.”

“And were you successful?  Were you able to put the private investigator out of your mind?”

“As a matter of fact, I did.  Harriet texted to say she had an interesting visit and would call me tonight. Also texted that Miriam was excited about having a get-together.  I thought I’d give Ginny a call this evening.”

“I’m sure there’s enough to do at Spicer Meadows.  I see something new every morning when I jog.”

After dinner, Trevor helped clear the table then played with the boys while she did the dishes.

“Boys, why don’t you tell Trevor good night so he can make it to his meeting and you can start getting ready for bed.  You’ve had a busy day today.”

She walked Trevor to the door while the boys dashed upstairs.

“I have a full day tomorrow, need to meet a client.  But if you’d like, you could come for brunch on Wednesday.  Unless you have other plans.”

“Would like that.  I also have a busy day.  Need to run back to the resort for an inspection and to do a little research on the project in Georgia.”

“You’ve made a decision?”

“Still working on it but things sound more promising.  Just need to check out a few things first.  Might talk to you about it on Wednesday if that’s okay.”

He reached for her hand.

“You know, I might need a boost to help me through my busy day tomorrow.”  He tugged her closer.

Randi smiled.  “Oh? What kind of boost?”

“This.”  He pulled her in his arms.

“A hug?”  Randi laughed, wrapped her arms around his neck.  Smiled when Trevor hugged her closer.  “Sure, I don’t mind helping out.”

She saw a sparkle in Trevor’s eyes as he moved his hands up and down her back, pressed her breasts against his chest.  “I’d appreciate it,” he murmured, stared at her lips.  “Oh, and there’s something else you could do.”

Randi bat her eyes at him.  “Really?  What?”

“This.”  His lips covered hers, gently at first, then passionately.  He took a deep breath, smelled her perfume, tasted the wine, felt the curves of her body against his.  He ached for her.  Kiss followed kiss and she met him with each caress.

Trevor realized he could stay here all night but knew he needed to meet Hal.  Tomorrow would be a long one but he looked forward to Wednesday.  Would set aside the whole day for her.  Somehow or other, he intended to get her in his or her bed soon.

Randi’s heart pounded and her head spun.  She’d never been romanced.  Tim had never courted her.  Simply swept her off her feet then married her before she could have second thoughts.  Trevor was so different.  Didn’t push himself on her but enjoyed tempting her.  And she was certainly tempted.

Her plan to seduce him on Wednesday excited her.  They would spend most of the day in bed pleasuring one another.  She intended to feed him, charm him, then enjoy him.

Trevor raised his head, gazed at her enticing mouth while his hands massaged her back.  “Tomorrow will definitely be a long one.  Believe me when I say I’ll be looking forward to that brunch on Wednesday.”

He would have kissed her again, except he heard the giggles from the hall.  Scott and Sandy peeked around the corner.  He smiled, decided to take what he could get.  “Okay boys, do I have your permission to kiss your mom good night?”

“Yeah,” they both exclaimed between giggles.

Randi smiled, gave him a quick kiss then handed him his meatloaf sandwich for tomorrow.  She laughed when she opened the door and he moaned.  “Until Wednesday.”

 

Trevor met Hal and Stanley at the garage.  It was a big building with a large waiting room and two sizeable bays for working on the vehicles.  The waiting room boasted storefront windows that faced the street.  Across the street was a parking lot and the back of the old firehouse.

Four chairs were arranged in front of the windows, faced the big counter that ran across the back of the room.  There was a small office to the left of the counter.  “Don’t get in there much, Stanley said.  “Wife usually comes in once a month to do the bookkeeping.”

Posters of car inspection reminders, oil and transmission advertisements, and hot rod cars were attached to the cinder block walls.  A bulletin board full of fliers reminding everyone of community events hung on the wall next to a coffee station.

“You’re welcome to help yourself to the coffee.  I think there are some Danishes in the office.”

Hal thanked him.  “I’ll set the cot up in front of the counter so I can keep an eye on things but will move it and be gone before you get here in the morning.  Wouldn’t look good for people to see me in here.”

“Don’t worry about that.  You might want to lay low till after nine.  People sometimes bring their cars by and leave their keys in the night box.  Everybody wants to be first in line.”

“I appreciate your working with me,” Trevor said.

Stanley smiled.  “Looking forward to having something better to look at than the chipping white paint on the back of the firehouse.”

“Yeah,” Trevor smiled.  “Focusing on the inside now but I have some ideas in mind.  Thinking about a small patio with a mural across the back.”

Stanley led them into the big bay area.  He pointed to the windows in the garage doors.  “You’ll also be able to watch from here.  Won’t be as noticeable.”

Trevor looked out the window.  “Duane Peterson said the deputies routinely drive by so we should be covered.”  He turned to Hal and handed him a disposable phone.  “If you see anything, don’t hesitate to call or text me.  Don’t try taking them down by yourself.  I’ll be at Snowridge tonight and tomorrow but will be back on Wednesday.”

“Will do.”

 

He stood in the dark and watched from the window at the back of his office.  It helped that he could keep an eye on things.  It also reminded him every day why they couldn’t finish that project.

It was after eight and the contractor just couldn’t stay away.  He’d watched him pull up, go inside, then leave.  Obviously, they didn’t heed his warning.

He hadn’t been inside the building but heard that they’d painted over the graffiti.  Everybody was talking about the problems and wondering if the project was jinxed.  He snarled.  If they only knew.

He reached in his pocket and pulled out the key.  The foreman had been careless the other day and he had paid Josh a good fee to have a duplicate made.

He smiled.  Now he could get in any time he wanted.  Maybe he’d go now.  Check things out.

He stepped outside and walked across the lawn behind his office.  He had just crossed the street and headed down the sidewalk towards the firehouse when one of the deputies drove by.  He waved, slowed his pace till the car turned the corner.

He hurried across the street, unlocked the door and stepped inside.  It was dark but he used his small flashlight to walk about.

They’d taken out some of the concrete walls and added new ones.  He looked at the freshly painted wall.  Guess they didn’t want any reminders.

Hammers, lumber, sheetrock and tools were scattered about each room.  Can’t get too much done if they’re missing a few of their tools, he thought as he reached for a cordless screwdriver and nail gun. 

Maybe if their tools started disappearing, they’d give up.

 

Hal turned one of the chairs around and settled back with a cup of coffee.  It was starting to get dark and soon the traffic would die down.  A deputy had just driven by.

He took a sip, then sat up straight.  It was dark and the windows on the back of the building were small, but he could have sworn he saw a light.   He continued to watch and thought he saw it again.  But after ten minutes, there was darkness and he wondered if it might have been the headlights on the front of the building.