Spitfire (Puffin Cove) (7 page)

She was glad that it was finally a sunny day, although those first rainy days had been good for her
. They had eased her in to her new found freedom without allowing her to run amok, darting from pillar to post and trying to do too much at once. The place had a way of slowing her down a bit. Relaxing.

For too many years she had raced through her life, never stopping to smell the proverbial roses
. Well, that's what this was all about, taking each day and living it to the fullest her heart desired. And today, she desired to spend it with a new friend and her adorable little chatterbox.

She pulled in behind
Jill's car and parked. Some cottage. It wasn't overly big, but the stonework was rich and old. The gardens, although just coming awake from their long winter's slumber, were obviously well looked after and would be pretty spectacular once they came into season. Laura could see herself living here. It would be the type of place that would be perfect for her. She really should be starting to make some decisions, she supposed.

She couldn
't stay at Puffin House forever. She needed some roots, even though she had planned to see and do as much as she could on the island before she set them down. It's just that she hadn't really gotten the urge to move along just yet. Everything in Puffin Cove had been so…homey. Made it surprisingly hard to take the next leg of her journey. Probably every small town in Newfoundland was like that. She just needed to discover which one would be hers.

Shannon
grabbed Laura's hand as she opened the car door.

"
Come'n see my room first! I gots a big girl bed now, and dollies and a kitchen and Tess! This is Tess, my dog. She's even older than me," she babbled, eyes wide with wonder.

The lovely german s
hepherd greeted them in the lane with a happy doggy grin, winter fur flying from her joyously wagging tail.

"
She's way bigger than Lola, but she won't hurt her. She's real gentle, Momma says. Momma says I'm too hard on her, but Tess don't mind, do you Tess?"

Laura
's head spun from the constant chatter, but it was genuine and it was infectious. She just didn't know if she could take more than an afternoon at a time of it.

Jill
shooed Shannon onto the path to the front door. "She does wind down after awhile. I don't know how she's going to cope in the fall when she goes to school. Not sure how I'll cope either." She shrugged with a grin, huffing the hair from her eyes.

Laura
spent an hour being introduced to Shannon's dolls, ooh-ing and ahh-ing over her crayon portfolio, and falling in love with her. She had no idea that four year old girls were so different than four year old boys. When they were sick in hospital they were alike, but happy and healthy? Totally different breeds. She hoped that one day she would have a granddaughter to dress in frills, bake with, do crafts with. One day in the very, very far distant future. While Laura and Shannon kept each other occupied, Jill made supper and set her bread to rising for tomorrow's batch.

They sat together at the
kitchen table, the three new friends. Leaning back in her chair, Laura groaned, "Lord. I'm going to be as big as one of those whales in your books, Shannon. Your mommy sure is a good cook. Jill, I can't thank you enough for today. I feel like I've known you forever already. Is that weird?"

"
Nope, I feel the same way. Even though our lives are totally different and we're like maybe ten years apart in age. How old are you, anyway?"
Laura chuckled at the girl's guilelessness. "Almost thirty-nine," she admitted with a wince.

"
Shut up! Really?" At Laura's amused nod, Jill continued, "Okay, so twelve, whatever. I don't generally offer to bring a stranger home the first time I meet them, but I can read people really well. It's gotten me into a fair share of scraps over the years. My mother says I pry too much. But I can't help it. I'm perceptive. And in you I perceived friend. So, there ya go."

Laura
didn't think she had ever met a more genuine girl. And she was glad, so very glad to have met her.

Shannon
had been unnaturally quiet. She had been holding court. Tess sat on one side of her chair, Lola on the other. She had been surreptitiously rationing out her brussels sprouts, a whole one for Tess, a small bit for Lola, and none for Shannon. No. Thank. You.

"
Shannon, what a good girl. You ate all your sprouts." Jill praised her daughter….and shot a wry glance across the table to Laura.

Shannon
puffed up, looking proud as punch, but wilted quickly. "No, Momma, the doggies ate them."

"
Shannon, what happens to little girls who don't eat their vegetables?" Jill gently chided her daughter.

"
They get the scurvy and shrivel up and die a ugly death," she pouted.

"
They do not! Oh, for heaven's sake! Shannon, your grampa should be ashamed. Filling a little girl's head with such muck. You won't grow big and strong, and you'll get more sniffles is what. Here, you can have some of mine."

"
Aw, nuts," Shannon groaned, then lightning fast, brightened up with a thought. "Kane gots kitties! Momma, can we go to Kane's and show Laura the kitties?"

"
Nice try, squirt. Eat your sprouts. Laura can see the kitties another time. Besides, Kane's not home."

Shannon
grumbled her way through her now cold, mushy sprouts as Jill seized the opening. "So...tell me about your meeting with Kane."

Laura
hmph'd. "Wasn't a meeting really. The night I came to town I landed at Sweeney's. That's where I got so lucky to have met Moira and George. Kane and Landon were there, too. Landon made a pass at me, although he obviously wasn't serious, and Kane went up one side of me and down the other for almost hitting a moose. Then he lit out. End of story. Pretty crusty dude."

Laughing at
the mental image, Jill commenced countering Laura's poor first impression. "He's really not, you know. He kind of comes across that way at first, but once you get to know him he's actually pretty sweet. He's been really good to me and Shannon since he moved here."

"
He's not a local, then? I got the impression that everyone here was."
"Nope, came here almost four years ago. From Ireland."

"
Ireland! And he was on at
me
about being a mainlander. He's not even from the same frickin' continent! Asshole."

Oh, her dander was up
. And then, horrified, her eyes bugged out and she slapped a hand over her mouth.

"
Shit!" she hissed.

Her eyes bugged out further
.

"
Sorry! Shit! Agh!"

She had momentarily forgotten about
Shannon at the table, the tow-head looking at her with a calculating stare.

"
Four quarters," Shannon pronounced levelly.

Laura
peeled her hands off her red face. "Huh?"

"
You gots to put four quarters in the swear jar. We don't got one here, but Gramma does. She says it keeps her in saloon money the way Grampa goes on."
"Sal
on
money," Jill laughed. "Lordy, maybe my daughter's spending too much time with her grandparents."

"
Oh, man." Laura laughed, both at Shannon and herself. "I am sorry, Jill. I'm usually a lot more in tune. I was a paeds nurse. I never swear in front of kids. The thought of mister know-it-all got me wound up I guess."

"
It's okay. I know the feeling. But Kane, he wouldn't hurt a fly. He's a sweetheart. You'll see."

Watching
Jill's eyes soften, Laura saw where the wind blew. Message received. Hands off, sister.

Chapter Six

"
Come on, girl! Let's get our party on!" Jill blasted through the phone. "Mother and Dad have Shannon, and I've got a sweet new dress that needs a test run!"

Laura
's stay in Puffin Cove had somehow drifted from that first week into a month. She just couldn't shake the dust from her boots and high-tail it to the next adventure. Every day she woke up thinking
this will be the day I see what's beyond the next hill
. And every night she would lie in her Puffin House bed, reliving the sights and sounds and smells of the town she had come to love.

But really, this had to end
. Living in a bed and breakfast had its merits. Wonderful ones. No cooking, no cleaning. She didn't even have to scour her own bath tub.

But iceberg and whale season was about to begin, and Moira and
George were booked up solid until October. They approached her about it a few days before.

"
We are so sorry, deary. We'll do everything we can to help you find a new spot. Everything public will be booked up all through the season, but we have some feelers out for friends who might have rooms to rent."

Moira had twisted her hands,
clearly beside herself. She told Laura that they would have done anything not to have to put her out. But their rooms were booked sometimes a year in advance, frequently to repeat customers. Laura certainly understood why. She had reassured the clucking Moira that she was a big girl and would find just the right thing. After all, her life had been charmed since the moment she had landed in St. John's.

One last fling, she thought, before she got down to brass tacks
. "When and where, my girl?"

Jill
's infectious lilt had her getting excited. The whole time she was here she had been hoping to come upon an honest to goodness kitchen party, but it just hadn't happened.

"
Landon's parents' place. I'll pick you up in an hour."

An hour
! Holy Dinah!

She hurried a quick
"See you then," and disconnected the call.

The house was lit up like a Christmas tree. It seemed as though half the town was there, everyone basking in the solid settling-in of the warmer days that had finally come, eager to shake the winter cobwebs out of their craniums.

The music drifted to them through the open windows of Jill
's old car as they parked half-way down the street in the nearest available spot. Jill's summery dress billowed and flipped in the almost warm evening breeze. Laura felt like the ugly step-sister in her faded jeans and green linen blouse, but it couldn't be helped. She had never been particularly interested in fashion, and shopped for clothes only when absolutely necessary. Besides, she'd had no warning. Apparently these parties blew in as fast as a nor'easter.

Everyone brought something
. Moira had poo-poo'd her worrying over what she could contribute, pressing a crock pot of home-made baked beans into her hands. Laura had pecked a kiss on the wonderful woman's face. "Moira, I love you!" she had called, as she skipped off the porch to Jill's waiting car. She could have sworn she heard Moira calling back through the door of the house, "George, are your dancing shoes polished?"

Laura
tried not to notice the black Z3 as they made their way to the Bloods' house. No problem. She tossed her hair. He would probably cut and run as soon as she hit the door anyway. Apparently not all islanders were kind and hospitable, she thought. Sexy as hell, but not very nice. She remembered that brief meeting at the pub. Her eyes had momentarily locked on to the vivid Celtic blue of his, and in an instant they brought to mind skies of cloudless summer blue, the deepest tropical sea, two rich, sparkling sapphires. God, but that sizzle of electricity felt like it had burned right through her. His black, curly hair bordered on feminine, and her fingers had twitched involuntarily. She had clamped down on the bizarre desire to reach down the bar and run them through those curls to see if they were soft or coarse. And God, that sexy mouth as he sipped his foamy beer, then ran his tongue around his lips. Holy.

The girls elbowed their way through the front door, barely able to turn around to hang up their jackets. The place was tuned up and jumping. She could feel the floor boards thrum under her feet with the stomps and claps of the revellers. Musicians were scattered all about the great room, playing guitars and mandolins, fiddles, harmonicas and bodhran drums, penny whistles, accordions and spoons. Someone was plucking a beautiful bass and there was a washboard player, his two hands rasping up and down to the rhythm of the jig with thimbles on his fingers. Laura was as enchanted as she had just known she'd be.

She was whisked into the room, her crock snatched from her, a beer shoved into her hand, and planted on the sofa before she could catch her breath
. Jill got sucked to the other side of the room, shrugging and smiling as Landon's apprentice, Brook spun her out, twirling her around to the music.

Eyes dancing, smile wide,
Laura's delighted gaze scanned the room, taking in the joyful gathering. Then what could only be described as a sizzling
power
slammed into her as her eyes simply locked with Kane's. Moments, hours? went by. Then he nodded, and winked.

Oh, Lord
. He really is spectacular.

She felt her heartbeat skip and her breath hitch sharp and quick, and she a
dmonished herself to grow the heck up. Landon headed over, breaking the spell, as he expressed his pleasure at seeing her out at the ceilidh. She had seen him earlier chatting briefly with Jill. It didn't look like a very warm conversation. Yeesh. Funny these two didn't get along. They were both so open and friendly with Laura herself. Meh, whatever. Must have some old history there. She shook that, and her inexplicably strong reaction to the surly Irishman off, and settled in to enjoy the festivities.

She
sat up to the edge of her seat, sipping her beer and tapping her feet. The songs drifted from fast to slow, from traditional Irish jigs to modern east-coast favourites. Her bottle never seemed to be empty. After a time she got up in search of a bathroom.

Kane was surprised that the city-slicker was still in town. He figured she would have lit out for more up-scale surroundings by now. Ah, well. Her business. He was also surprised to see that she wasn't all decked out for the party. Her type usually had fancy duds and polished nails. He didn't even think she was wearing make-up. The soft denim hugged her in all the right places, and her billowy green top accentuated the flash of her eyes and the luscious curve of her breasts. She looked clean and fresh, made him want to muss her up. And for some reason, he resented the hell out of it. Something about her just set his teeth on edge. She was so bloody sexy. He hadn't had a reaction to a woman like this in…well, not since his university days when he and Fiona had first started ripping up the sheets. He just didn't know what to do about it or how to deal with it. Talking to Landon would be no good. His advice would be completely predictable. Nail her. Scratch that itch for as long as it bugs you.

Kane had no intention of following in his young friend
's footsteps. Promiscuity wasn't his style. And if he did decide to bark up her tree, he didn't think he would like the consequences. His life was fine just the way it was. A romantic entanglement was not something that he cared to get involved in just yet. And there was the rub.

Shite
. What the hell do ye want, Downey?

Until
Laura Spencer blew in to town there wasn't a question to be answered. And now he had an issue. At least for tonight. He wouldn't mind seeing what made her tick. Everyone else seemed to like her just fine. Then again, she might move on by tomorrow. No point in trying to peel away her layers if she might disappear with the morning light. Dragging his hand through his hair, he mentally cursed again.

Shite, nothing but a bloody irritation.

Across the room, Kane caught Jill widening her eyes at his tell-tale gesture, then shrewdly squinted them at him.
Well, fuck me. Just what I need.

Laura made her way back down the hall from the bathroom, noting that the food was being laid out. She was delighted to see that George and Moira had come. They were moving around the make-shift dance floor in a beautifully choreographed two-step. She leaned against the kitchen door jamb to watch, her eyes going dreamy, envying the ease with which they moved together.

It was a treat
Laura hadn't had in a long time. There was nothing like watching the older set dance. His hand on the small of her back, hers on his shoulder, a large left hand clasping a smaller right. Their bodies in perfect harmony with each other and the music, their feet seeming to barely touch the floor. Laura had always loved watching her parents dance at weddings and family reunions the way George and Moira were dancing now.

One song moved on to the next, and so did
George, spinning Jill out onto the floor.

Moira huffed into the kitchen, fanning her face with her hanky
. "Lord tunderin! I haven't danced like that in ages!" she laughed. "A body gets too old to be stompin' around like that."

"
You and George were an absolute pleasure to watch, Moira. Do you think he'd teach me the two-step sometime?" Laura asked. She had always wanted to learn to dance like that. She had a quick flash-back of dancing with her dad, her little feet standing on his big ones as he waltzed his little girl around the room, and her eyes suddenly stung.

"
I'm sure he'd be delighted, me ducky. We'll feed him up and get him back out on the dance floor after the luncheon."

Laura
helped set out plates and slice Jill's crusty loaves of bread. The musicians were called to eat first, and gradually everyone else filled a plate and sat. Hungry bodies were fed on chairs, perched on counter tops, leaning against walls, sitting up the first three or four stairs to the house's second level. Even with mouths full, the noise level didn't dim much. Conversation swirled around her.

There were many familiar faces, and some she hadn
't had the pleasure of meeting yet. She wondered how she was going to leave this place, or even if she should. Tipping her head to listen to something Jill was telling her, she caught sight of Kane again. He was sitting on the arm of a couch, chatting to a lady seated in it. He seemed very easy-going and animated with her. Maybe it was just Laura herself he didn't like.

Well, dammit, what the heck did she do to piss him off
? She didn't actually hit his precious moose, for heaven's sake. She wished he wasn't so obstinate. She wouldn't mind taking a turn on the dance floor with him. Might be rather nice to have those long, manly arms around her, their bodies swaying to the music. She attributed the sudden flush of heat to the closeness of the house.

The musicians had started up again, and
Laura helped some of the other women gather plates and wash dishes. She was chatting with Landon's mom, drying and stacking, when she was grabbed from behind and dragged onto the dance floor.

A square-dance kind of reel was being stomped out
. She didn't have a clue what she was doing, but was tossed and twirled from one man to the next. Landon had her by the waist and muttered something in her ear about wanting to take her upstairs to his old room. She snorted out a laugh as she was swung into the arms of Kane.

A zing of electricity ran up her spine and her laugh died in her throat
. Blue eyes locked with green. And he smiled.

Oh
.

My
.

Her knees turned to jelly and she missed her step
. He caught her tight as she teetered, and the band rolled into the slow, sweet waltz of an Irish ballad. He folded his big arms around her as they began to sway. His scent was intoxicating. Warm cedar and amber and musk swirled through her senses. Her arms crept up around his neck, and that curly hair brushed her fingers.

Soft
. Oh, it was so silky soft. Her breath quickened, and she blamed it on the dancing. She rolled with the music, with the sway of his hips.

"
Any moose sightings lately, Spitfire?" His breath moved through the hair at her ear, she shivered, and hoped he hadn't noticed.

He did.

This was worse than he had expected. Her luscious body fit so right with his. He had hoped it wouldn't. She smelled better than he remembered. He wanted to bury his nose in all those glorious auburn curls and just…inhale.

He didn
't.

He felt her breasts brush against his chest
. And his heart sped up. He hoped she didn't notice. He felt the stirring of his sex, and prayed that she wouldn't feel it.

She pulled her head back and looked into his eyes again
. And smiled, a wicked glint sparkling in her emerald eyes. Her husky, sexy voice rocked him, and caused his groin to tighten.

"
Not since that first night, thank goodness. I had no idea they were so big."

Nonplussed, he started to speak, but had to clear his throat
. He struggled to figure out what she was talking about. Surely not… Then he remembered his question. "Aye, they can do some serious damage. Glad that ridiculous car o' yers didn't get mussed."