Cattle Valley: Fool's Gold Part 10

Mel rolled her eyes, giving an exasperated look in response.

The phone rang, and Addie smiled. "Saved by the bell." She removed her fingers and put a small kiss in their place before going to answer it. "Apple Valley Inn, such as it is."

A deep chuckle came across the line. "Good morning, Addie. It's Gill. I finished your car. Thought you might be ready to have some wheels again."

"Oh, hi, Gill. Yeah, sure, thanks." She knew her voice sounded hesitant and tried to project gratefulness. "I appreciate it. I've got a lot going on here right now but I'll be by to pick it up sometime."

"I could have someone drop it off, if that would be easier."

"Heavens, no. Please, don't bother. I'm getting along just fine. I'll be by as soon as I can."

"All right, then. Talk to you soon."

"Bye." She hung up the phone and glanced at Mel, who had joined her in the front room.

"Your car is ready?"

"Yes." Addie waved a hand nonchalantly, or at least that was the impression she hoped for. Inside, her heart pounded wildly because of the deception. "Like I told Gill, I'll get it sometime. No rush."

"We can pick it up on my way to work. I'll drop you off."

Addie stared at her. She was so cute, so innocent about problems outside the little hamlet of Cattle Valley. Addie absolutely loved Mel's naivete. Chloe had been pessimistic and jaded from the first day they'd met. "Sweetie, listen. I can't get my car right now because I don't have the money. Gill's going to have to wait."

Mel's eyes lit up. "Let me do that much for you. I can-"

"No." Addie moved closer, slipping her arms around Mel. "I guess the only way to shut you up is to kiss you." She forced their mouths together, her tongue tracing the seam of Mel's lips. When they parted, she drove deeper, enjoying the taste of her lover more each time.

Mel returned the kiss and groaned, leaning back. "I have to get to work. Wish I could stay here and neck a little longer."

Addie reached around and cupped Mel's a.s.s. "We wouldn't be necking for long. In another minute, I'd strip those clothes right off you and bury my face between your legs."

61.

"Mmm." Mel squirmed against her. "Maybe I should be late."

Chuckling, Addie released her. "Or maybe you should go to work and come back here as soon as you're through. Better yet, stop by your place and pack some clothes so you can stay awhile."

Mel's dark eyes twinkled. "I will, thanks. I've got a short s.h.i.+ft today, so I won't be late.

We'll get some dinner."

"Sounds good." After leaning in for one last kiss, Addie watched her go. She walked around, thinking about the inn. It was eerily quiet being there by herself. She wasn't sure she'd ever get used to that.

She locked both front and back doors securely and headed upstairs. Mel's inquisitiveness had gotten her wondering what was in the boxes in the attic. No time like the present to find out. Returning to the dark, closed-up room, she pulled the chain, and the bulb lit up.

Addie knelt by the first stack and opened the top one. A cloud of dust rose, causing her to sneeze. She dug into the box and hauled out a covered piece that looked like it might be a dish of some sort. Removing the paper and cardboard wrapping, she found a lovely, ivory plate with a rose pattern. It appeared to be old, fine china.

She set it aside and picked up another piece. It was similar to the first, and several more lay beneath it. The other boxes held plenty of the same-cups, saucers and bowls, all intact.

Addie unpacked them all to check their condition, then rewrapped each piece carefully and put them all back where she'd found them. She kept the first plate out, deciding to take it downstairs with her.

The other boxes were half-filled with junk or empty, pretty much what she'd expected to find in all of them. The china was a real surprise. Maybe she wouldn't need to buy new dishes after all. Addie closed up the attic and strolled down to the dining room.

She'd found twenty-four place settings of china, plus two of each of the serving bowls and plates. Will that be enough? If the inn were full, she could have up to twelve occupants.

The china might just do it.

That thought buoyed her spirits through the rest of the morning, and she decided to tackle the furniture refinis.h.i.+ng again. She was elbow deep in paint stripper when Mel returned. "What are you doing back so soon?"

62.

"Whew! Can I get some air? That stuff is strong." Mel opened two windows in the front room.

"Yeah, and it's not going well, either. Look at this headboard. It looks like c.r.a.p." She pointed to the piece she'd tried to strip.

Mel bit her lip. "That doesn't look right. Are you sure you're using the right stuff?"

"No," Addie admitted and dropped onto the sofa. She peeled off her rubber gloves and exhaled a breath that ruffled her bangs.

"I brought you a sandwich from the diner. Naomi was at the store, so I decided to leave for my lunch hour today."

Addie glanced at her accusingly. "I have food, Melissa. I'm not going to starve."

"I know. So what if I just wanted to see you?" Mel sat next to her and nudged their knees together. She handed one sandwich over and unwrapped the other for herself.

"You're up to something. I recognise that look in your eyes."

Mel grinned. "Uh oh. Am I that transparent? Okay, maybe I am. Listen, Gill has this friend, Hal Kuckleman. He's a contractor and, from what I've heard, a good one. I'd like to call him to come look at the inn. You know, doing the floors is too big a job for you to handle."

Addie chewed and thought. Perhaps the man would work with her on the payment, until the insurance and her finances were settled. The only way to get money coming in was somehow to fix up the inn. She had to start somewhere. "You're right." She nodded as she ate. "I can't do the floors. h.e.l.l, I can't even do the furniture. I need professional help."

"So I can call Hal?" Mel asked excitedly.

"Might as well. Thanks for thinking of it."

"You bet." Mel picked over her sandwich. "I had another idea. Maybe, while Hal is here, he can take a look at the attic. I'd love to see about getting it turned into another room to rent."

"Mel." Addie shook her head dejectedly. "I can't afford that right now, and you know it. I hate that I'm starting to sound like a broken record."

Mel squeezed her arm. "Just let Hal shoot us a price. That way, we'll know. For the future, I mean."

63.

Addie gazed at the sweet expression on her face. Why do I know it's going to be hard to tell her 'no' about anything? She was getting entirely too comfortable in their relations.h.i.+p and knew, with her future so uncertain, she should back away or at least slow down. She found Melissa Danes too enticing to do either. She sighed. "Do you always get your way, or is it just me you have wrapped around your little finger?"

"It's just you." Mel smiled and leaned in for a kiss. "Thank you. I'll call Hal when I get back to work."

Addie stole another quick kiss before they finished their sandwiches. In the kitchen was.h.i.+ng up, she noticed the piece of china on the counter. "Oh! You'll never believe what I found in the attic!" She unwrapped the plate and held it up.

"Hey, that's nice." Mel took it and inspected it. "Are there more?"

"A lot more. Twenty-four place settings plus serving pieces. I couldn't believe it! I guess I won't need dishes after all."

"Yeah, looks like it." Mel studied the plate intently.

"What?"

"Hmm? Oh, nothing. Can I take this? Naomi likes old dishes. She'd love to see it."

"I suppose." Addie shrugged and rewrapped it.

Mel clutched it to her chest with one arm and hugged Addie's waist with the other.

"Have a nice afternoon. I'll see you later, you s.e.xy thing."

"Come 'ere, you tease." Addie kissed Mel, a thrill of excitement zipping down her spine. Just hearing the words 'I'll see you later' was enough to get her motor running.

Perhaps she'd be waiting for Mel in the bedroom after work, wearing nothing but a smile.

She cupped Mel's a.s.s and squeezed. "Later."

Mel wiggled her b.u.t.t, smiled sweetly and hurried off.

64.

Chapter Eight.

Mel stopped at Bronwyn Antiques before going back to the bookstore. The small shop was a block down Main Street, and she knew the owner, Ryan Bronwyn, did a good business because he was fair and reputable. She took the plate inside, where a small bell on the door announced her arrival.

"h.e.l.lo, Ryan." She smiled at her business neighbour. She'd always been particularly fond of him. His light brown hair, gla.s.ses and tall, lean, frame reminded Mel of her father.

While Ryan was younger, probably mid-thirties, he still carried that same air of wisdom and confidence that she loved about her dad.

"Hi, Mel. How's it going today?"

"Not bad. I have a plate I wondered if you could check out. It looks old to me, but I'm no judge of antiques." She set it on the counter.

"Let's have a look." He unwrapped the china and studied the back carefully. "I haven't seen this mark before, which surprises me. I'd like to investigate this further. Could you leave it with me? I'll write you a receipt."

"Sure. I don't need a receipt."

"I insist." He wrote out the slip and handed it to her. "Can I call you when I know something? It might take a day or so."

"No problem. Thanks, Ryan." She left his store and went back to Booklovers.

Naomi was stocking a new t.i.tle when Mel rushed in, speaking breathlessly. "Hi, sorry I'm late."

"Not a problem." Her pretty, red haired employer glanced back at Mel, an amused expression on her face. "I remember those days, hurrying home for a quickie at lunchtime."

Mel feigned shock. "We did not have a quickie! We ate sandwiches and talked about china. Addie found a whole set of it in the attic. It's real nice stuff."

Naomi placed the last of the books on the shelf. "Why would Tia leave a set of china?

That sounds odd. If she couldn't take it, wouldn't she have sold it?"

65.

Shrugging, Mel shoved her purse under the counter. "Maybe she forgot about it. The attic is dusty as h.e.l.l. Doesn't look like anyone's been up there in a c.o.o.n's age."

"I've always wondered exactly how long 'a c.o.o.n's age' was. I should get on the internet and look that up." Naomi made a funny expression at Mel as she pa.s.sed, carrying an empty box to the back room.