Page 34 of Tangled Memories
Stormy put her hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “You and Janelle go get washed up, okay? I want to hit as many yard sales as we can today.”
Her face pink with elation, Stormy slid onto one of the stools vacated by the girls. “I got a table right in the middle of the aisle. I know how I can make it appealing— there’s an old high chair in the attic. I can—” She stopped, noticing that Tyler was watching her with a guarded expression. “I’m sorry. I got carried away. I’m sure how I earn a living doesn’t interest you at all.”
“Sad to say, everything about you interests me.”
His tone said he wanted to pick up where they’d left off before being interrupted by the children. Stormy told herself she could not afford to pursue an affair. Particularly not with this man.
No matter how tempting his kisses. No matter how good they made her feel. Her heart begged her to chance it, to reach for the happiness that might be within her grasp.
“You’d better go,” she told him, but her voice held little conviction.
He reached for her hand and turned it over. With a fingertip, he began to trace the lines in her palm, causing treacherous sensations to skitter up her spine. “Let’s hit those garage sales together,” he said.
“No. Absolutely not.” She reclaimed possession of her hand and placed it in her lap.
“What do you expect me to do?” he said, obviously enjoying the interesting play-by-plays, even though the sensations roiling within her made her feel vulnerable and uneasy. “Sit on my duff while you make up your mind? Do you have any idea what’s happening between us? Do you have any idea of the—”
“Sure I do,” she said, not allowing him to finish, taking refuge in the obvious and evading the implied. “You’re looking for the bank’s money.”
He made a sound of disgust, then looked away and fell silent.
Stormy managed not to leap into the quiet.
“The ground rules are changing,” he said. “Are you certain that’s the way you want it?”
“I haven’t the slightest notion what you’re talking about.”
“Woman, you have never in your life been that dumb.” When she made no reply, he moved away from the counter. “Okay, have it your way. The money was stolen. I aim to find it, collect it, turn it over to its rightful owners, and that will be that. End. Final.” He regarded her. “Of course, you’ve kept something back from me, held it in reserve. I’ve spent hours trying to figure it out. I’ve pored over the transcripts of your hearing, your trial, and Wilson’s. No luck. So I guess the only way I’ll find out what it is and be able to leave you in peace is if you tell me.”
She met his gaze head-on. “Well, I’m not going to tell you anything, so don’t hold your breath.”
His eyebrows went up. “Aha,” he said victoriously. “I was right.”
Stormy felt the blood drain from her face. “That was a trick.”
“Nope. We’re playing for high-stakes, and you aren’t paying proper attention.”
So angry her voice barely rose above a whisper, she said, “You made me think—”
“If there’s any single thing I know about you, my good woman, it’s that you do your own thinking.”
“Get out. Get away from me and stay away, or I’ll call the police.” She wouldn’t, of course. She didn’t trust them any more than she trusted Nina or Tully. Or Tyler Mangus. She felt betrayed on every front.
Tyler rubbed his hand over his jaw. “Guess I’d better get along to the motel and shave, it being Sunday and all. You don’t do church?”
“Used to, but it’ll have to wait.”
He stopped at the table on the deck and peered at the newspaper fluttering in the breeze, his finger tracing the garage sales Stormy had circled.
“Snooping won’t do you any good,” she called with disdain.
“Can’t hurt,” he tossed over his shoulder.
But she knew it could. The question was… Who would be hurt?
7
Tyler arrived back at Stormy’s home with less than seconds to spare; she was just backing out of the driveway.