Love's Truth Page 2

  Chapter 3

  Barb watched the tour boat full of passengers glide across the water. She wanted to take the tour, but she didn’t really want to do it alone. It seemed like everything she did these days outside work, she did alone. The few friends she had were either married or too busy with their lives to have much time to spend with her. Then there was the fact that her idea of fun was trekking through the woods or relaxing on the water with a fishing pole. She’d found most single women wanted more out of a date. She’d enjoyed the short time they’d spent together and sensed a connection she hoped Lynette had felt, too, although she didn’t want to come across as some kind of creep. Lynette seemed very private and shy, and Barb hoped she could break through her reticence. She perused the many pamphlets highlighting the area’s events and enjoyed the peaceful view for a few minutes before she headed to the dining area for breakfast.

  “Good morning.” Barb smiled at Lynette as she folded Barb’s omelet onto a plate.

  “Good morning. Did you have a pleasant sleep?”

  “I did. I love being anywhere near water, and the room was peaceful and quiet. Did you sleep well?” Barb glanced at the line behind her and realized she couldn’t take as much time as she’d like to talk to Lynette.

  “I’ll stop by your table after I’m done here and we can talk, if that’s okay?”

  “Sounds great. See you when you’re done.” Barb enjoyed her omelet and sipped her coffee while she waited.

  “Hey. Sorry it took so long. I had to put the leftovers away, but I’ve got a ten-minute break now.” She set four muffins on the table and settled in the seat across from Barb with her coffee.

  “Thanks for the muffins.” Barb chose a blueberry and smiled at the thoughtful gesture. “I want to ask you something.” She set a pamphlet on the table between them. “I want to take this sunset dinner cruise while I’m here, and I really don’t want to go alone. What do you think?” She pushed the brochure toward Lynette.

  She glanced at the leaflet and smiled. “I’ve been before, and it’s nice.”

  “Great. When would you be available?”

  Lynnette bit her lip and stared at the brochure for a long moment. “I have to stop home to feed my dog first.”

  Barb heard the hesitation in her voice and wondered if she’d made a mistake asking. “I’ll see if I can get tickets for tonight. It’ll be fun.” She waited, expecting her to decline. Lynette took a deep breath and seemed to wrestle with a decision.

  Finally, she nodded slightly. “Shall I meet you back here?”

  “Sure. I’ll get the tickets. Do you have a cell?”

  “I do.” Lynette paused. “But I don’t actually give the number out. I’m sorry.”

  “No problem. I totally get it.” Barb was careful who she gave her number to, so she understood Lynette’s reluctance. “But I’ll give you mine, just in case you can’t make it.” She wrote it on a napkin and Lynette tucked it in her pocket.

  “I should be back in plenty of time.”

  “Come hungry. Surf and turf is on the menu. I’ll see you later. And, Lynette?”

  “Yes?”

  “I’m looking forward to spending the evening with you.” Barb gently touched Lynette’s wrist before leaving. She walked along the river for a few minutes before getting their tickets. Was it her imagination, or had Lynette stiffened a little at her touch? Some people didn’t like casual touch, but Barb often reached out to people. She liked the contact and thought touch often conveyed what words sometimes couldn’t. Still, Lynnette had agreed to come along, and that was something.

  Barb relaxed in her balcony chair with a novel, enjoying the breeze on her face. The thought of having Lynette’s company tonight made her smile. It had been a long time since she’d relaxed with someone over dinner, and there was nothing wrong with a little vacation romance, if it came to that. And even if it didn’t, it was still nice to have something to look forward to.

  She set her book aside, then took a shower and dressed before heading downstairs to find Lynette. She paused outside the hotel dining room to appreciate the view of the river before entering the room.

  “Hey there.” Lynette smiled, but her eyes darted here and there, like she was watching for something.

  “Hi. Are we ready?” Lynette had changed into white slacks and a royal blue blouse that highlighted her beautiful eyes. She was gorgeous.

  “Yes. Let’s go cruising.”

  “Did you have enough time to get home and feed your dog?”

  “Yes. She’ll be fine for a while now.”

  “Good. I love this walk along the water.” Barb jammed her hands in her pockets to keep from reaching for Lynette’s hand as they ambled toward the dock. “Have you lived near here long?”

  Lynette took a long minute to answer. “A few years.”

  Barb rested her hand on Lynette’s lower back as they walked up the ramp onto the boat, but took it away immediately when she felt Lynette stiffen under her touch. “Do you mind if we sit on the west side? I’d love to watch the sunset reflect off the wake.” Barb pointed to an empty table.

  “I like the side seats, too,” Lynette said.

  Barb squelched a tingle of desire as she watched the blush creep up Lynette’s neck to her cheeks. She was lovely. She sat opposite her and sipped from her plastic water cup. “I’m glad you agreed to do this with me.”

  “I’m glad you asked me. I told you I’d been once before, but it was only a short trip, and I didn’t have dinner. I’m looking forward to the surf and turf.” Lynette rested her forearms on the table and wrapped her hands around her water cup.

  Lynette’s delicate hands and long fingers distracted Barb so that she missed what she said.

  “Is that okay?” Lynette tipped her head and smiled.

  “Sorry. I missed what you said.” Barb could feel the heat rise up her neck.

  “I asked if you were going to have a glass of wine. I’d like one, if you are. I’m not one to drink alone, though.”

  “Sounds good.” Barb sipped her wine after it was delivered and decided to try to get Lynette to open up to her. “So, you have a dog, you work at the hotel, and you like coffee. Do you live nearby?”

  Lynette took a sip of her wine before speaking. “Not too far. I have an apartment a few miles south of here.”

  Their conversation was interrupted by the server. The plates set before them were piled high with lobster and filet mignon along with corn on the cob and biscuits, and the side salad looked fresh. “This is a lot of food,” Barb said.

  “It looks great.” Lynette spoke around a mouthful of lobster.

  Barb smiled, pleased at Lynette’s enthusiasm. “It does.” She took a bite of her steak. “This is delicious.” She swallowed before speaking again. “Do you have any family in the area?”

  Lynette set her fork down and stared at her plate. “I have an aunt not far from here, but that’s it.”

  “No brothers or sisters?”

  “Nope. Just me.”

  “Have you always lived in Wisconsin?”

  “My whole adult life. I lived with my aunt for a while until I started my job at the hotel.”

  “Do you like to read?”

  “I do, but I don’t usually take the time to. I never got into the habit, I guess.” Lynette shrugged and took a bite of her food.

  Nothing more was forthcoming, and it felt like she was grilling her with questions, so she remained quiet and concentrated on the meal and the view along the river. Barb watched Lynette set her fork aside, take a sip of wine, and take a deep breath before picking up her fork to continue to eat. She wondered if she wasn’t enjoying the meal. “Is everything good?”

  “It’s great.” She looked down at her plate then up. “I tend to eat way too fast. As a kid…well…I had to or it would be taken away.” She continued to eat. “So I try to slow down now.”

  Barb made a mental note to revisit that piece of information at a later date. She moved on to lighter topics and
told a few anecdotes about work that had Lynette laughing. It was a lovely sound and reminded Barb just how long it had been since she’d wined and dined a beautiful woman. And although Lynette clearly had boundaries, it was still a fantastic evening. When they parted at the hotel, Barb had hesitated, wondering if she could lean in for a kiss, but Lynette had backed up and waved, and that was that. It didn’t stop her from smiling all the way back to her room, though.

  Chapter 4

  Lynette couldn’t remember a time she’d spontaneously broken into a smile, but she found herself smiling as she drove home after her dinner date with Barb. She pulled into her carport, shut off the car engine, and rested her head on the headrest. She closed her eyes and allowed the comfort being with Barb evoked to wash over her. She could still feel the heat of her hand on her back as they’d boarded the boat. The casual touch had felt strange at first, but when Barb pulled her hand away, she’d missed the feeling. She allowed herself a brief memory of the last woman she’d trusted with her heart. She’d never do it again. Barb seemed tender, kind, and compassionate, but Lynette needed to be vigilant. She’d worked too hard to heal to allow anyone to upset her serenity. Something told her Barb wouldn’t be dangerous, but she couldn’t take a chance. They’d shared a pleasant dinner cruise and it gave her an opportunity to practice her conversation skills. An enjoyable evening was enough. She climbed out of her car and locked the doors, content with her decision and grateful for a chance to be with someone who made her laugh, even if it was temporary.

  “I’m home,” Lynette called out. Her chest constricted with fear for the few seconds it took Starr to appear from around the corner and greet her. She might be healing from her past, but she still needed her therapy dog. Starr was her second one, and she’d never be without one. “Hey, you lazy bump.” She dropped to the floor and hugged her while Starr rested her head on her shoulder. When her heart stopped thumping, she stood and opened the door to let Starr outside to take care of business while she made a cup of hot chocolate.

  “Hey, girl. I have a new friend.” Lynette sat on her couch with Starr curled next to her. She rarely allowed herself memories of her life before the cult and was unsure why they arose now. But there was no question they were lurking in the back of her mind, and images of that time kept popping up like evil clowns. She was twelve when her parents moved them to the compound in the desert. She’d had a couple of friends who had been neighbors and fellow home-schooled kids, and she often wondered what they thought about her sudden disappearance. She sighed away the memories and hugged Starr, who had sensed her discomfort and rested her head in her lap.

  “It’s bedtime, sweetie.” Starr hopped off the couch and Lynette let her outside before changing into her pajamas. She closed her eyes and meditated away more unpleasant memories, but not before they’d already drained the energy from her body. Starr returned, and Lynette welcomed the dreamless sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

  Lynette woke to the jiggle of the bed as Starr jumped off. She glanced at her alarm clock and followed her to the back door. “How do you always do this two minutes before my alarm goes off?” She set up her coffeemaker, let Starr in, and went to get ready for work.

  She enjoyed her job at the hotel. People came and went, and they rarely really looked at the people who worked there. Anonymity had kept her safe all these years, and it made life calm. Cooking was therapeutic, too, and she barely gave most guests a cursory, polite glance throughout the day. That was her life, and although Barb had found a crack in the wall, she couldn’t let that crack go any further.

  “Good morning.” Her boss met her at the entrance to the kitchen, looking as harried and grumpy as he usually did. “I need you to cover for Claudia this morning. She won’t be in until noon.” He turned and disappeared into the storage room off the back of the kitchen without another word.

  Lynette shrugged off his abruptness and concentrated on her routine of preparing the room for the guests. Her life experience had taught her to keep her head down and expect the worst. She walked the perimeter of the room, confident everything was ready, and settled in at her station to wait for the first omelet order. She had a job to do and she’d do it to the best of her ability.

  “Swiss cheese and spinach, please.” Barb held her plate out in front of her.

  “Morning. One omelet coming up.” Lynette smiled, unaccountably happy to see Barb.

  “Will you be able to have coffee with me later?” Barb asked.

  She should say no. Put a stop to this now before she slipped up. “I’m not sure. My coworker will be in late today, and I’ll probably have to start the lunch buffet.”

  “I’ll check with you later, then.” Barb took her plate to her table.

  It was good that she hadn’t pushed, and she was able to relax and concentrate again for the rest of her shift. Lynette waited for the few stragglers to finish before she began to put away the breakfast food. Barb’s request to share a coffee made her smile, and she put two blueberry muffins in a take-out bag. She noted Barb wasn’t at her table and the stab of disappointment surprised her, even though she knew it was better this way. She finished prepping everything for lunch and waited for Claudia to arrive while squelching her desire to go in search of Barb.

  Lynette waited until the last minute before giving up on Claudia’s arrival. She refilled the coffeepot and prepared the warming pans for the lunch menu. She finished as her boss called her into his office.

  “I got a call from Claudia. She’ll be off for a few days. You’ll be working all three shifts.” He bent over his laptop, clearly dismissing her.

  Extra shifts meant extra pay, but it would leave her less free time. It would upset her routine, and she hated that. And her desire to spend at least some time with Barb surprised, and worried, her.

  She worked steadily and refilled pans as they emptied. She readied the dinner menu between refilling the coffee urn, grateful for Claudia’s organization. She followed her recipe for chicken and dumplings and put water to boil for potatoes. Thoughts of Barb only interfered a few times, and she buried them under the dirty dishes. There was no room for complication in her life.

  Chapter 5

  Barb propped her feet on the railing of her balcony and reviewed the brochure highlighting the attractions in the area. She decided the day’s adventure would include the Cave of the Mounds, and she hoped Lynette would go with her, although she’d seemed distant when she’d asked her to join her for coffee. Maybe she was busy. She said the hotel was shorthanded, and while Barb was on vacation, it wasn’t like she could expect Lynette to drop everything to hang out with her. She watched the water for a while before going to lunch.

  “Hi there.” Barb smiled at the unexpected presence of Lynette standing at her table. “Are you working?”

  “Yeah. Claudia, my coworker, will be off for a few days, so I’m the backup.”

  “Ah. Will you have any time for a break later?”

  Lynette sighed. “I’ll take a break after I clean up from the lunch, but I’ll have to be back to cover the dinner buffet.”

  “Sounds perfect. What shall I get for your break on my balcony?” Barb hoped Lynette would agree.

  “There’s usually leftovers from lunch I can bring, if that’s okay? I probably won’t have time to eat until then. And if you have hot chocolate, I’ll be content.”

  “Hot chocolate it is.” The Cave of the Mounds could wait. She looked forward to spending time with Lynette. She finished half a sandwich to hold her over and a cup of coffee before she went to search for hot chocolate and wait for Lynette.

  Barb watched the boat filled with people cruise slowly on the river tour below her. She sipped from her bottle of Coke and relaxed. This was the perfect place for her much-needed vacation, and Lynette agreeing to spend time with her made it special. She’d found hot chocolate after checking several stores, and she looked forward to Lynette’s company. She perused the magazine with the area attractions listed and wondered what L
ynette might enjoy. She’d enjoyed the sunset dinner cruise. Would she like the riding stables? Or maybe one of the renowned water parks? Barb didn’t care about the zip line tours, and her impression was Lynette wouldn’t either. Wondering about it all frustrated her. Lynette still seemed like she’d run away if Barb pushed. She’d have to take things slowly and hope she could gain Lynette’s trust. She checked the time before filling the small coffeemaker in the room with water. She didn’t know how long a break Lynette had, so she planned to have the hot chocolate ready when she arrived. She settled on a chair and chuckled at herself. She knew very little about Lynette except that she was attracted to her. She could be a friendly hotel worker with a couple of kids and an ex-husband, but Barb doubted the husband part. She’d said she lived in an apartment with her dog. Surely she would’ve mentioned children if she had any. The best thing to do would be to ask her directly and not push for more than Lynette wanted to give.

  “Hello,” Lynette called as she knocked on the door.

  “Come on in,” Barb said. “I’m out on the balcony.” She’d propped the door open a crack for her.

  Lynette set a bag of leftover lunch food on the small table between the chairs. “I brought turkey sandwiches and coleslaw.”

  Lynette smiled and Barb lost herself in the sparkle of her eyes. She shook herself and rose to retrieve the hot chocolate.

  Lynette took a sip and set the cup down. “Yum. I got hooked on it the first time I had it ten years ago.” She took the sandwiches out of the bag and placed them on napkins on the table.

  “Thanks for all this.” Barb took a bite of her sandwich. “I didn’t eat a big lunch in anticipation of eating with you instead.” This was the second tidbit of information she put away for review. Food taken away as a child and hot chocolate only discovered ten years ago. Lynette intrigued her, but she sensed she’d flee as fast as a jackrabbit if she pushed for information. “How long can you stay?”