That Night on Thistle Lane (30 page)

*

Noah looked out at the San Diego skyline from his corner office suite at NAK, the company he’d founded, built and taken public. He’d had the kernel of the idea for it at twelve. It had grown from there, so that now NAK was a leader in the convergence of technology and entertainment. It was an exciting company, with people clamoring to work there.

“We did a good job,” he said, knowing that Dylan had entered the office.

“You did.” Dylan joined Noah at the windows. “I just helped you so that you could put your skills to their best use.”

“You had my back. Who has yours, Dylan?”

He shrugged. “You do. You tapped on my car window four years ago. Where would I be if you hadn’t?”

“You’d have figured something out. You could have gotten into adventure travel with your father, or gone on treasure hunts with him, instead of keeping the jerks at bay so that I could do my thing. Now your father’s gone—”

Dylan interrupted him. “Noah, my father and I had our chances to do things together. I have a chance now to fulfill some of his dreams, the dreams we shared. Think I’d have that if I hadn’t thrown in with you and made all this money?”

Noah smiled. “That is one way of putting it.”

Dylan looked out at the city they both loved. “Olivia’s family and friends in Knights Bridge watch out for her. She didn’t know that at first. When her friend in Boston betrayed her and she moved back home, she let her pride get in her way. Now she knows.”

“She’ll do anything for her family and friends, and they’ll do anything for her.”

Dylan glanced sideways at Noah. “It’s that way with the O’Dunn sisters, too.”

Noah watched a U.S. Navy ship far out on the Pacific, just a gray blip on the blue water. “Phoebe doesn’t realize that it’s not just her protecting her family and friends. They’re protecting her, too.”

“Maybe too much so,” Dylan said.

“They think what she wants is to live alone in her little house on Thistle Lane for the rest of her life.”

“What if it is what she wants?”

Noah didn’t take his eyes off the ship. “They don’t want to see her heart broken again, so they tell themselves she’s given up on love.”

Dylan was silent a moment. Then he blew out a breath. “Noah, you and Phoebe—”

He turned sharply away from the view and smiled at his friend. “Never mind. I’m talking out of my hat. I’m no good at figuring out people. I’m just glad we figured out that Julius Hartley was protecting Daphne Stewart and had no particular bone to pick with either of us.”

Dylan seemed unwilling to change the subject, but finally he sighed. “He and Loretta are going to L.A. to talk to Miss Stewart. You’re going with them, aren’t you?”

Noah shook his head. “Loretta and Julius are already in L.A. You and I, Dylan my friend, are meeting them at Daphne’s house in Hollywood Hills.”

Dylan scratched the side of his mouth. “We are, huh?”

“And Olivia, too. I’ve already talked to her. She wants to be back home in time for the fashion show. I’ve arranged for a flight from L.A., after our visit.”

“You never fail to surprise me.”

“Likewise,” Noah said. “How long have you known it was Phoebe in that Edwardian dress at the charity masquerade?”

“Olivia didn’t recognize her—”

“Olivia doesn’t have your objectivity or experience with people. Design and colors, yes.” Noah followed Dylan out of the office. “When, Dylan?”

“When you danced with her,” he said when they reached the hall. “I didn’t tell Olivia because she didn’t ask. She didn’t tell me when she found out because I didn’t ask. Worked out just fine.”

“You two have a great life together.”

“I like how you put that. We have a great life together now. It’s not just in the future.” But Dylan’s eyes were serious as he and Noah stopped at the elevators. “Noah, I don’t want you worrying about Olivia and me if you and Phoebe…if you two…” He grimaced. “Hell.”

Noah grinned. “Not going to have my back with this one, are you?”

“I don’t need to. You’re a smart guy. You know what you’re getting into.”

As the elevator dinged, Noah could see Phoebe’s turquoise eyes, her smile, her dark strawberry hair against her creamy skin. Yes, indeed. He did know what he was getting into, but what was going on between Phoebe and him was for them to sort out on their own—without Dylan McCaffrey, Olivia Frost, Phoebe’s three younger sisters, her eccentric mother, her brother-in-law, the rest of the Frosts, the rest of the Sloans or the rest of Knights Bridge.

The elevator doors opened and he and Dylan got in. “Sometimes we hold on to an image of ourselves because we’re convinced it’s what we’re supposed to be. It’s what we want, what other people want from us.” He was hardly aware that he was speaking to Dylan. “I was supposed to be the techie rich guy with a babe on each arm.”

“Maybe Phoebe is just who she is, Noah.”

“She has a great life and a great job. I don’t intend to mess that up for her.”

“From what I saw in Boston…” Dylan paused, glanced at Noah with a smile. “I’m not sure Phoebe O’Dunn’s given up on having a man in her life as much as she wants everyone else to think.”

“Come on. Let’s go to Hollywood.”

Twenty

Phoebe had been involved in countless library and other town events since she was a kid, but tonight she was nervous. The vintage fashion show was special. Different. Not just because it was a first for Knights Bridge but because of the hidden attic room and the woman who’d created it, and why. The lasting impact of Debbie Sanderson’s brief time in Knights Bridge, on herself, on the people she’d encountered here.

On Phoebe’s own family. Her mother, her father.

She slipped into the rich brown sequined Edwardian gown. She’d debated whether to wear it to host the fashion show or just to model it. Wearing it to host had won out. She’d walk to the library and meet her mother and sisters there. No word from Olivia yet, but she and Dylan had planned to be back from California in time for the show.

And no word from Noah…

Phoebe adjusted the dress. She’d skip the matching hat tonight. She wasn’t trying to conceal her identity from anyone, as she had at the masquerade ball. Now that Noah was back on his home turf, did his short stay in Knights Bridge seem completely unreal to him?

It almost did to her, she realized. Tonight would help get her refocused. Then she planned to take a week off. She’d stay home, work on her garden, help Olivia and Maggie with Carriage Hill, her mother with the goats and her freezing and canning. After that, she’d be into her fall routines at the library. She couldn’t wait, really.

So why do I feel out of sorts?

She made herself smile in her bedroom mirror. As host tonight, she had to be happy and cheerful.

Vivacious. That was the word she was looking for.

She didn’t feel vivacious.

She carried her sandals by the straps in one hand and headed downstairs barefoot. No black wig, mask or heavy makeup tonight, either. She’d found instructions for an updo on the internet and managed to follow them, if imperfectly. A few wisps of hair were already out of the pins. The do just had to last a couple of hours. Maggie was catering the post-show wine and cheese party, but then she, the twins and Phoebe would meet back on Thistle Lane and celebrate with a couple of bottles of white wine already chilling in the refrigerator. Phoebe didn’t know if Olivia and Dylan would join them.

How much had Noah told his best friend about his stay in Knights Bridge? How much had Dylan guessed?

Phoebe shook off the question. She couldn’t change what had gone on between her and Noah. She knew now that she wouldn’t even if she could. Any selfconsciousness, embarrassment or awkwardness she might feel had to be endured.

Was worth it, she thought as she stepped out onto the porch. She didn’t know what was next in their relationship but she had no regrets so far.

She set her sandals on the porch floor. The evening was warm and clear, perfect for the fashion show. She couldn’t have ordered up one better. They’d have a good turnout. She looked forward to telling people how Daphne Stewart had gotten her start as a Hollywood costume designer in their town.

A sleek black sedan eased to a stop on Thistle Lane. A uniformed driver stepped out, went around and opened the back door. Noah got out, and the driver returned to his position behind the wheel.

As the car turned around in Phoebe’s driveway and headed back up Thistle Lane, Noah crossed the yard, his movements as smooth and purposeful as she remembered from the first time she’d seen him. He wore an obviously expensive black suit this time. No cape, no mask, no sword.

Phoebe watched him, her heart hammering. Her attraction to him wasn’t going away. If anything, it had deepened, becoming not just physical, not just a fleeting connection to liven up a quiet summer. She loved hearing his voice, loved talking to him, listening to him. It didn’t matter that she’d known him such a short time. She’d never felt like this about anyone. Her sisters, her parents, her nephews. She loved them with all her heart, but this was different.

It’s too fast. Too crazy.

Maybe so, but she couldn’t deny the rush of emotion as he mounted the porch steps.

“Olivia and Dylan are right behind me,” he said. “I wanted to see you first.”

Phoebe steadied herself. “My sisters are at the library already. Ava and Ruby are helping Maggie set up for the party after the fashion show. I’m meeting them there.” She realized Noah couldn’t possibly care about these details but she couldn’t stop herself. “Maggie’s serving a merlot from your winery. She thought that was fitting. She says it’s excellent. She knows more about wine than I do.”

“Probably more than I do, too. I bought the winery for the view.”

“And to help a struggling friend,” Phoebe added, then smiled. “I read about it in an article.”

He stepped up onto the porch and gave her one of his slight, enigmatic smiles. “I also liked the idea of wine.”

“That’s how you operate, isn’t it?” She felt his gaze on her and remembered she was in her Edwardian dress. She ignored a tingle of awareness and continued. “You get an idea. Then you take action.”

“It’s hard to get anything done if you just think about it.” He touched an errant curl that had flopped from her updo onto her cheek. “You look beautiful tonight, Phoebe. I like the dress even better with your natural hair.”

“I’m hosting the fashion show tonight. It seemed fitting to wear this dress.”

“It’s perfect. Tonight’s special in a number of ways.”

“Yes, it is.” She felt calmer, steadier, even as she recognized that her head was spinning at having him back in Knights Bridge. “Thank you for being here. I haven’t talked to Olivia, so I didn’t know you were coming.”

“I asked her not to say anything. Things have been happening fast.” He glanced back at Thistle Lane, then turned to her again. “I appreciate all you and your sisters did to help figure out what Julius Hartley wanted.”

“You’re the one who put us in touch with Daphne Stewart.”

“Through Hartley.”

Phoebe nodded. “It’s really exciting. I knew the hidden sewing room was special but I had no idea the woman who created it ended up in Hollywood. I haven’t told anyone. I’ve just said it’s okay to use the dresses—that won’t give Miss Stewart away, if she wants to stay anonymous.”

“I don’t know that she does,” Noah said quietly. “Olivia and Dylan will be here soon. They have Loretta Wrentham and Julius Hartley with them, and a guest.”

Phoebe stood straight. “Noah?”

His eyes seemed so blue in the evening light. “We met Daphne Stewart in Los Angeles. Hartley had told her about the fashion show, and how you’d discovered her old sewing room. She said she wanted to be here tonight, if it’s all right with you.”

“She’s here in Knights Bridge? Noah…”

“I’ll let her explain everything.”

“She really is George Sanderson’s great-great-granddaughter, you know.”

Noah smiled, visibly more relaxed. “George Sanderson, the intrepid founder of the Knights Bridge Free Public Library.”

“I wonder if being here inspired her.”

“Or maybe his ghost did.”

Noah tucked another curl back into Phoebe’s pins, then stood back as Dylan’s car pulled in front of her house. He and Olivia got out. She gave Phoebe a quick wave, as if to say everything would be all right. Then the sleek black sedan returned, parked behind Dylan’s car.

Julius Hartley emerged from the backseat while a tall, slender woman in tight black pants, a belted white top and red heels stepped out from the front passenger seat. Julius helped another woman out of the back. She was petite and elegant, with copper hair in a pixie cut. She wore a simple rust-colored dress with a teal-and-rust scarf and sparkly gold flats.

The tall woman glided up the walk to the front porch. “I’m Loretta Wrentham,” she said, coming up the steps. “Phoebe, right?”

Phoebe nodded, aware of Noah standing even closer to her. “It’s nice to meet you,” she said. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“I’ll bet,” Loretta said. “Cute place. I like wicker.”

“Me, too,” Phoebe said with a smile.

Noah frowned at Loretta. She shrugged. “Well, I do.”

He said nothing.

The copper-haired woman crossed the lawn with Julius Hartley at her side. Phoebe started down the porch steps. Noah took her hand and walked with her. Loretta followed them. Phoebe thought she heard the older woman sigh.

The copper-haired woman left Julius’s side and went to the trellis, tears glistening in her deep green eyes as she touched a pink rose. She lowered her hand and turned to Phoebe and Noah. “I never thought I’d ever see this place again.”

Julius cleared his throat. “Daphne, this is Phoebe O’Dunn, director of the library here in Knights Bridge. Phoebe, this is Daphne Stewart, or, as she was known when she was living here, Debbie Sanderson.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Stewart,” Phoebe said, aware of Noah, silent, still, next to her.

“Likewise, Phoebe, and you must call me Daphne—although standing here, seeing this place…” She smiled through unshed tears. “I feel like Debbie Sanderson again.”

Phoebe returned her smile. “I can imagine. I’m glad you’re here.”