Love Gone to the Dogs (14 page)

Shane tried to interject some rationality into the situation. "It could simply be the man's name. I think our town librarian, Rose Smith, would object to what you just said." Ned Shiplock would have the mob stirred up so that he would never be able to talk any sense into them. Shane stood in the doorway to his living room and surveyed his neighbors, who normally were friendly, warm people.

"Rose is different. She hasn't set out to disrupt the peacefulness of this town. I think we should have the police look into Harold Smith, AKA no telling who."

Ned's declaration, followed by several yeas, propelled Shane forward into the middle of his neighbors. He held up his hand, palm outward, as if he were a cop trying to stop a stampede of protesters. He hoped he never had to find out what it would be like to stand between a surging mob and its intended target. "Let me have everyone's attention, please."

For a few seconds the noise level rose, and Shane wasn't sure what to do next. Crowd control hadn't been covered in medical school. He brought his two fingers to his mouth and let out a loud whistle. His neighbors grew quiet and stared at him as though he had sprouted a second head.

"Thank you," Shane said quickly before he lost the moment. "I think we need to discuss this in a sane, rational—"

"There's nothing sane and rational about that man," Ned interrupted, gesturing toward the front window. "He's a public menace and should be forced to leave this town before something worse happens. A blackout one day, a disaster the next. Do your job, Mr. Mayor."

A few people nodded. Luckily, most turned their attention toward Shane, as if he had an answer to the problem. "You can't force people to leave Shady Oaks. This is America."

Ned put both fists on his waist. "Yeah, we all know why you don't want them to leave town. You've got the hots for Mrs. Taylor. I saw you two coming across the street right after the blackout. Pretty cozy, if you ask me."

"I didn't ask you," Shane said, his jaw clenched, his eyes narrowed. He was a healer, but right now he had a strong urge to knock some sense into Ned. Shane suspected he would derive a great deal of pleasure from the act.

"Shane, you have to acknowledge the incidents that have happened since they came to town." Mr. Calvert moved between Shane and Ned. The older man held up a finger. "First, there was the Betsy scare, then the fire, and now the blackout. They haven't even been here two months. That's quite a record."

"Nobody has been hurt."

"Excuse me." Ned pushed himself in front of Mr. Calvert. "What about my daughter? She may be permanently scarred."

The only thing that might permanently scar Betsy was having Ned as a father. Shane refrained from making that comment to the man, who stood dangerously close to him, his beer belly protruding like a beach ball. Visions of poking Ned's stomach and releasing his hot air filled Shane's thoughts until he realized the man was arousing the mob again.

Shane stepped back, not relishing Ned's blast of coffee-laced breath. "I think everyone needs to go home and calm down," Shane finally said in what he hoped was a soothing voice.

"What are you going to do about them?" Ned demanded, closing the space between them. "After all, you are the town mayor. You wanted the job. Now do something."

The muscles in Shane's stomach tightened into a huge knot. He knew that if he opened his mouth he would say something he would regret. He clamped his lips together and stared Ned down. What this situation called for was diplomacy. Too bad that hadn't been covered in medical school, either.

"I think Shane is right. We should go home. I'm sure when he has time to think it over, he'll come up with a solution that will satisfy most of us."

Shane was thankful for Mr. Calvert's calm reassurances. He wanted everyone gone from his house before Leah got wind of the impromptu meeting in his living room.

"Fine. He has a week to come up with a solution," Ned said as he stomped to the front door and slammed out of the house.

Left hanging in the air was an "or else." Shane knew that Ned wouldn't let it rest until he was satisfied, which didn't necessarily mean anyone else would be. The neighbors wanted to run the wrong family out of town. Ned's middle name was disaster.

Slowly Shane's house emptied of people with whom he had grown up and he was left alone to face Mr. Calvert, who had stayed behind.

"You know Ned won't wait a week," the older man said when the door closed after the last person.

"Patience has never been a strong suit of Ned's."

"No, but I'll work on him. I'll make sure he gives you the time you need to come up with a solution."

"What the man needs is a job." Shane ran his fingers repeatedly through his hair.

"Yeah, I must admit things were quieter when he had to go to work every day."

"Maybe if he had won and been mayor we wouldn't be in this mess. He's been on my case ever since he lost."

Mr. Calvert snorted. "You don't believe that. It would have been worse if he had won. Ned loves running things and people. If we had given him even a small bit of power, we would have had a tyrant on our hands, and where would your Mrs. Taylor be then?"

Your Mrs. Taylor
. Shane liked the sound of that. "Railroaded out of town that first week. Thank goodness we live in the twenty first century." He forced himself to relax. Everything would be all right when the people of Shady Oaks had time to calm down. All he needed to do was wait and let some time pass. Then the town would be ready to listen to reason. After all, they had elected him, not Ned, as the mayor.

"Would you like some coffee? You haven't told me why you wanted to talk with me last night." Shane started for the kitchen.

"No coffee. I'm already wired as it is. It's about your mother."

Tension whipped down Shane's length as he turned to face his neighbor. "What's the problem?" He had thought Mr. Calvert had wanted to see him about Ned or the Taylors.

"She withdrew a large amount of money from her account yesterday, and since your name is on the account too, I thought you might want to know."

"How much?"

"Ten thousand."

"I'm sure she has her reasons, but thanks for the tip."

"Also, Mr. Smith was with her at the time. Maybe Ned is right about the man, the family. Have you considered that, Shane?"

"You, too, Mr. Calvert? I didn't think you would judge someone by what Ned says."

"Do you really know anything about them? By their own admission they move around a lot. What if they have a con going?"

Stunned, Shane couldn't think of a reply.
Leah a con artist?
Never. This whole situation was getting crazier and crazier by the minute, and Ned Shiplock was the reason. "I'll have a talk with my mother."

Mr. Calvert nodded, then ambled to the front door and let himself out. Shane realized he should have walked with the man as a courtesy, but he was still in shock from what Mr. Calvert had said. What in the world would his mother do with ten thousand dollars? And if she were going to do something, why didn't he know about it? They were not only mother and son, but partners in the clinic as well. She didn't keep secrets from him, did she? Obviously she did, he acknowledged. He was avoiding the other question Mr. Calvert had raised. There had to be a perfectly good explanation about the money, nothing to do with the family across the street. Shane began removing his shirt as he hurried toward his bedroom. He needed to get to work and have a word with his mother.

The second he entered the room his gaze fastened onto the bed where he and Leah had almost made love the night before. She was just a casual fling, he told himself, but nothing could convince him that what was happening between them was casual. It was hot. It was sizzling. It was emotion-filled. And that was what had him worried. He didn't want his emotions involved. They had been once, and that was enough for him.

But he couldn't take his gaze off the rumpled sheets. Her smell had still lingered long after she had left the night before. When he had finally fallen asleep, he had been surrounded by her scent, by the memory of him kissing her, holding her close to him. His thoughts stirred with sensations that left him weak and frustrated.

Before he went to work, he needed a cold shower.

* * *

"She wants to go on a month-long cruise with your grandfather!" Shane paced the length of Leah's kitchen. "My mother is sixty-six years old."

"And?"

He paused in his pacing and faced Leah. "And she is too old for that kind of thing."

Leah really tried not to smile, but it was so hard. She knew her eyes sparkled with silent merriment. "What kind of thing?"

"This is my mother we're talking about."

"And my grandfather. What's your point?"

"They intend to do more than hold hands and watch the sun set."

"I should hope so."

"They're going to share a cabin. They aren't even married."

The sides of her mouth turned up, even though Shane was glaring at her. She brought her hand up to conceal her grin, but he saw it. His scowl deepened. "People have been known to make love without the benefit of marriage. Should I refresh your memory about what we almost did?"

"She has only known him seven weeks."

"So?"

"That's hardly long enough."

"How long is enough?"

"Maybe seven months. Maybe longer."

"It would have been okay if we had, after having known each other only seven weeks, but not your mother?"

"It's not the same. She's—"

"Serious, and you aren't."

"That wasn't what I was going to say."

"She's your mother?"

Shane ignored her sarcastic comment and began to pace again. "She hasn't considered the scandal."

"And you have? Have you forgotten that our names were mentioned in the newspaper linked with the most popular make out place in Shady Oaks?"

"She's never done anything like this. She's a pillar of society in this town."

"And she's your mother."

He whirled about to send her another look meant to freeze her. "I don't think you understand the serious nature of this situation."

Leah came to stand in front of him and placed her hands on his shoulders. "No, I don't think you understand. Shane, your mother is a grown woman who will make her own decision, regardless of what you want. Your dad has been gone eight years. I suspect your mother is ready for another relationship."

"But a month-long cruise?"

"Sounds divine to me. And frankly, with my grandfather away, maybe the town will cool off where we're concerned." His tense shoulders relaxed beneath her fingertips. "Now, would you like some lunch before you start helping Joey with the hang glider?"

"In a moment." His eyes seemed on fire as he leaned down to taste her lips.

She allowed him a brief sample, then pulled back. "What would the town think? You don't want to cause a scandal. I think one in the family is enough." She spun away to put distance between them, but his hand on her arm stopped her escape.

He bent forward and whispered into her ear, "This is not the town's business."

She glanced over her shoulder, his lips so close she felt his breath wash over her mouth. "Exactly my point. It isn't anyone's business who sleeps with whom. That includes your mother."

His eyelids slid half closed as his gaze locked onto her lips. "It may take some getting used to."

"Well, they'll be leaving in a few weeks. I suggest you adjust soon. I don't want anything to spoil this for Gramps." Somehow she managed to step away, even though her whole body quivered from memories of the night before, when those lips of his had fastened onto hers and drawn a response from her that she hadn't thought possible. "Now, would you like something to eat?"

"Yes, please."

She busied herself making some sandwiches for Shane and her family. She realized her hands were shaking. He did something to her when she was in the same room. She needed to get a grip on her emotions. He had made it perfectly clear that there could be nothing serious between them, and she had agreed. But why did it have to feel so wrong?

"You know, I'm glad you're going to be working with Joey today. Sam is so upset that I couldn't do anything about his little brother being in the same class. I think the less time they spend together for the next several days the better for everyone. Once school starts on Monday, Sam will calm down, I hope."

He whispered close to her ear again, "You're chattering. Do I make you nervous?"

She jumped, surprised at his nearness. She hadn't heard him move. She brought her hand up to cover her pounding heart. "My goodness, you do know how to scare a gal."

"My question stands. Do I make you nervous?"

She drew in several deep breaths, but her heart continued to hammer a quick beat "No—I mean, yes." She tried to move away, but he caged her against the counter.

"Why, Leah?"

"The first time I made love was on my wedding night to the only man I've ever been with. I almost made love to you last night," she said the only thing that popped into her mind. "Everything is moving too fast for me." It was the truth, but not the complete truth. She couldn't tell Shane that what he made her feel scared her. "How am I supposed to act around you?"