Stacking the Deck (A Betting on Romance Novel Book 2) (38 page)

“Not much. Waiting for Liz.”

A muscle twitched in John’s cheek as he glanced behind Carter at the house. “I thought she’d gone back to Chicago already.”

“She decided to stay a couple extra days.”

John’s eyes flicked down the drive as he pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it. “When is she coming back?”

“Not sure. Could be any time.”

“You going out?” John’s eyes slid over Carter’s suit.

“That was the idea.”

John chewed the corner of his lip as he held the smoke in his lungs then looked down the drive again. Exhaled.

“Expecting someone?” Carter asked.

John shrugged noncommittally. “Just a friend. Said he might be stopping by.”

Before Carter could reply, another car pulled into the drive. He hadn’t seen this particular vehicle for a while—not since quitting the fire department. “You still hang out with Rick Mercer?” he asked, swallowing his distaste.

“We see each other now and again,” John hedged.

Rick closed his door, his eyes twitching in surprise and recognition as he spied Carter. He cocked his chin. “Hey, Carter. How’s it hangin’?”

“Good.” Carter flashed the easy smile he’d worked a lifetime to perfect. He didn’t trust Rick as far as he could throw him, but he’d be damned if he’d walk away now. “So, what’s up? You guys have plans for tonight? ”
Any chance I can help you on your way?

“Uh, I’m kind of on a schedule here, John,” Rick prompted. His car keys jangled in his hand.

“Schedule’s changed,” John replied. “My sister’s on her way.”

Rick swore crudely. “I don’t have—”

“Relax. We’ve got company.” John said, his eyes glancing toward Carter.

“Him? He’s cool. Could have turned me in a few months ago, couldn’t you, man? Took the rap for me. He won’t bother us.” Rick gave Carter what he could only assume was a grateful smirk.

“But my sister—”

“Then make it fast. I need—”

“Oh crap.”

Carter couldn’t have expressed his own thoughts any better as Liz pulled up in an unfamiliar sedan that stopped at the end of the drive. His heart clenched in his chest as he watched her lean over and kiss the driver on the cheek, then step out.

Now who the hell was
that
guy?

She paused when she spotted him, her cheeks pink as she walked toward him.

Carter caught the end of a murmured exchange between John and Rick.

“I’m not taking it back,” Rick muttered under his breath.

“I’m telling you
, it’s no good
,” John replied.

“And, I’m telling
you
if it’s opened I can’t—”

“What’s going on?” Liz asked, stepping up to them.

Carter shook off any questions about the man in the car for later and focused on the moment. He had to divert Liz.
And fast
. Clearly things were getting ugly. He didn’t want any of their mess to spoil his evening.

Rick glared at John. “What’s this? A convention? I thought you wanted this on the Q.T., Beacon.”

Carter stepped between Liz and Rick and took her arm. “John just, ah, stopped by to see the new walkways. His landlord was interested in re-doing their front walk, and he thought he might put a good word in for me. Right, John?”

“You have a new place? That’s wonderful! Carter, did a beautiful job, don’t you think?” Liz asked.

“Great,” John said. “Thanks for showing me, Carter.”

“No problem. But, if we’re going to make our dinner reservation, Liz, you’ll have to run and get changed.”

She looked down at the skirt and cardigan she wore. “What’s wrong with this?”

“It’s fine, but I’m sure you’ll want something fancy. Let’s go have a look. Love to stay and chat, guys, but duty calls.” Carter steered Liz toward the house.

“What the—?” She frowned as Carter shoved her through the door and into the house. He shut the door abruptly behind her then peeked through the transom.

“Would you mind telling me what’s going on? Who’s that other—?
Oh,
isn’t this beautiful!”

Carter turned to see her holding the little glass bird he’d meant to surprise her with later. Its cool, clear green reminded him of a new spring leaf. Made him think of Liz. “I thought it’d look nice on your windowsill. It would remind you of home. I mean, here, when you’re in Chicago.”

Her eyes were bright as she smiled at him. “That’s so sweet of you.”

He shrugged. “I meant it for later. After.”

“You mean there’s more?”

He nodded, noting with relief that John and Rick were no longer standing out front. Hopefully they had the good sense to take their business elsewhere. “Yeah, there’s more. Now go get changed. You can wear that purple number you wore to the reunion.”

Her eyebrows lifted uncertainly even as her hand clutched the newel post. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“Why not? The evening can’t turn out any worse than the reunion, can it? We’ll make new, better memories in it.”

She grinned and hurried up the stairs.

Carter looked out the transom window again then swore to himself. Their cars were still in the driveway. Which meant they were probably in the shed. Would they notice the tarp had been disturbed? He hadn’t taken care to replace it, had simply left it as it had fallen not wanting to touch it again.

Damn
.

“Where are we going for dinner?” Liz called from upstairs.

“It’s a surprise!” he hedged as he watched yet
another
vehicle enter the drive. “No need to hurry, though. We’ve got time if you need to fix your hair... or makeup...”

What the heck?

“Hey, Liz, I’ve got to get something from the car. I’ll be right back,” he said.

“Okay, but when you get back, I’ll need you to zip me!”

Carter blew out a quick breath of relief.
Good.
That would keep her upstairs—and out of the way for a few more minutes while he got rid of John and Rick. And, whomever had just arrived and parked on the road. What the hell was going on?

“
Bailey?
” Carter said, intercepting her on the front stoop. “What are— Is that Trish and the kids?”

“Probably,” Bailey replied. “So, what’s going on?”

“That’s what I’d like to know!”

“Didn’t Liz’s mom call you, too?”

“No.”

“Huh. I got a message to be here promptly at 6:45 for some big surprise.”

“I’m skyping now, Mom, can’t you see?” Trish bustled up the walkway, the twins fake-tripping each other, the baby swinging from her seat in the crook of Trish’s arm and her tablet held out in front of her.

“Oh, this is amazing!” Liz’s mom yelled from the tablet screen. “Hello, Carter! I’m a mobile hotspot!”

Carter waved at the tablet. “Hi, Mrs. Beacon.”

“Is everyone here? I mean there?” Mrs. Beacon asked, craning her neck, as if she’d get a better view from her sofa in Florida.

Trish looked around. “Not quite, but we’re a couple minutes early.”

“Early for what?” Carter asked again.

“The big surprise!” Mrs. Beacon yelled. “
Shh!
” she said, putting a finger to her lips. “Trish! Put me somewhere I can see the apple tree! I don’t want to miss a thing!”

“I can do it,” Ben said. The boy stood at Trish’s elbow and reached for the tablet.

Carter couldn’t believe the transformation in the kid. For one, he was standing relatively still.

“Okay, but be careful!
No
running!” Trish said automatically, but Ben was already walking, albeit quickly, toward the side yard where the apple tree was.

“Is that the same kid?” Carter asked.

Trish set the baby down and rolled her shoulders as more cars entered the drive. “Yes, I’m happy to say. Hey, Aunt Claire!”

Carter’s gut roiled as yet another unwanted guest arrived. Pretty soon… yup. There was Jeff Dayton, and Ted Seamans, the Fire Marshall, and… who the heck
was
that guy?

A slick-looking metro-dude stepped out of the same sedan Carter had seen dropping Liz off twenty minutes ago. The guy ran a hand through his product-enhanced hair and glanced around at all the cars. He looked nervous as he wove his way toward them.

“Excuse me,” he said, approaching the cluster of people on the front walk. “Does anyone know how I might get in touch with Mrs. Beacon? Liz’s mother?”

“And you are…?” Bailey asked.

“Grant Blackerby.”

The interoffice-guy?

“
Grant!
” Liz said from behind Carter. She stood at the front door, gawking, the back of her dress flapping in the breeze. “What—? What is everyone doing here?”

“Liz, I’m sorry,” Grant said, peering around her relatives. “I—”

“
Jeff?”
John said, rounding the corner from the side of the house. “And Ted? What are you doing here?”

“I was chatting with Ted at the station when he got a call from Carter. It sounded interesting, so I thought I might come and take a look, too.” Jeff raised one dark eyebrow at Liz’s brother.

“Look all you want. I haven’t done anything wrong,” John said.

“If things are so up and up, why is Rick here?” Jeff pressed.

“I didn’t want anyone asking questions. It’s a surprise. Or, was. Plans have changed.”

“What’s a surprise?” Liz asked from the stoop.

“It’s good you’re here, Officer Dayton, because this guy is trying to shaft me.” Rick hooked an accusatory finger at John.

“Just return it all,” John mumbled.

“They don’t
take
returns,” Rick shot back.

“Actually, Rick, we have some questions for you,” Jeff began. “You’re not in any trouble, but we—”

And, that’s when they heard the cyber-screaming from the side yard.

“Mom!
Mom!”
Ben yelled, running toward the grown-ups, the tablet held in front of him as Mrs. Beacon screamed ‘
fire!’
hysterically from the seven inch screen.

“
Fire! Fire!”
Mrs. Beacon yelled again.

“Mom!” Trish said, grabbing the tablet from her son. “Call 9-1-1!”

“No
you
call 9-1-1!” Mrs. Beacon screamed back.

“No
you
have to!” Trish yelled at the tablet. “And, get out of the house!”

“I’m not the one that’s on fire!” Mrs. Beacon yelled back.

“What?”

Everyone looked at each other for one stunned moment, and then all hell broke loose as they started babbling at once.

Carter shoved Liz toward the house and bolted for the side yard, the others hot on his heels. He skidded to a stop. Bright yellow and orange flames raced up the side of the storage shed, fueled by the dry old lumber, licking at the branches of the apple tree nearby.

“Get a hose!” someone called from behind him.

“
Get back!”
Carter yelled, turning and gesturing wildly as Liz’s relatives poured around the corner of the house and ran around excitedly. “Get back! Get back!
John! Get them all BACK!”

John met Carter’s gaze across the yard, recognition dawning, and screamed at everyone to
run
,
goddammit, RUN!

Carter charged forward as the first explosions hammered out the shed door and whizzed by his ear. A brilliant rocket of color exploded in the bushes above a black silhouette of kissing children. A second rocket flattened the silhouette as a third whizzed through where they’d been.

Screams and a handful of startled curses colored the air along with the wild explosions of dozens of fireworks let loose. They shot by him, exploding on the ground, in the trees, zinging toward the driveway and all their cars, popping all around like toy guns run amok.

He saw Jeff Dayton hunkered down by his squad car, yelling into his radio.

John screamed, “Valerie? Valerie! Get
down!
” across the yard at the same time Carter charged toward the front of the house… and ran smack into Liz.

“What the hell are you doing?” he cried, pulling her upright off the lawn.

“We need to put out the fire!” she yelled, as she stood in the grass in bare feet, her dress flapping open, working frantically to uncurl the hose from its reel.

“We need to get the hell out of here!” he hollered back as another rocket exploded mere feet from where they stood. Why the hell weren’t they going off all at once, for Christ’s sake? Carter grabbed her elbow and shoved her toward the front door where the others were taking refuge even as John, foolishly, bolted across the front lawn toward the driveway.

Liz stubbornly turned on the spigot anyway and started spraying around Carter at the cinders on the front lawn. She shot him in the chest.