And Never Say Goodbye: A Town of Destiny Novel Read online

  Mallory stood and, with a slow gait and shyness, she took the letter from Jennifer, giving a small smile. She hated attention on her like this. “Thank you, Jen. These letters do mean a lot to me.”

  The whole group clapped as she returned to her seat—Gallagher clapping and whistling the loudest. He winked as she met his gaze before she sat back down, grinning down at her letter.

  His breathy voice sounded in her ear, “You’ve earned every single word in that letter, McShane.”

  She gave a side glance and a smile before returning to the letter. This was the part she loved about her job—the gratitude of life through her hands. She cleared her throat and put the letter into her purse.

  “I’ll meet you downstairs after I grab some things,” he said, again close to her ear in his deep throaty voice.

  She nodded.

  When the meeting finally ended, she started down the hall with her cart, a thin, motherly arm wrapped around her. “Mallory, how’re feeling? You must be exhausted.” Ellen never acted the CEO she was. Her short silver hair and bright blue eyes gave her a sophisticated aura. A wisdom emanated from deep within, making her miss her own mother.

  “I’m okay…hanging in there.”

  “Why don’t you take some time off? We need you around here, and those dark circles are not helping.” She slipped her arm through Mallory’s.

  Mallory snickered. “Time off? What’s that? No, I’m fine, really. I need to be at work more than ever these days,” she said, patting the older woman’s hand.

  “Well, you’ve always been needed, my dear. Just a few days, maybe a week. We can handle things around here without you for a short time.”

  “Tell that to Jen. She’s already asked me to help out later.”

  “Yeah, well…we’re talking about Jennifer here. She thinks you’re all robots. That’s where I come in. I would’ve overruled if you had agreed.” She waved at one of the managers walking down the hall. “I’ll be right with you, Bob. Wait in my office.” She returned to me. “So, a few days?”

  Gallagher approached them, dragging both their carts and holding his keys. “Hey, Ellen.” He then turned to me. “Ready?”

  She tried to grab her cart, but he yanked it closer to him, a soft smile playing on his lips.

  “Hello, Lawson. I’m telling your sidekick to take some time off.”

  Mallory corrected the usually wise woman. “Uh, he was my sidekick last night. Let’s not get it twisted,” she said, laughing but not really joking. Her ego was a little bruised.

  He gave a wicked grin and nodded to Ellen. “Time off? Yeah, I guess we can do it without you, McShane. Although, we’ll miss that…”

  “Don’t say it, Gallagher. Just don’t,” she said, knowing he was looking at her hair.

  “That doll face I was going to say. Jeez, McShane. Take it easy,” he said, grinning between the women. “Louise especially will. Think she has a woman crush on McShane here.”

  Ellen tried to keep her mouth straight and serious, mirth showing in her eyes. She always wanted to appear professional and not joking with the rest of them. But they knew what was underneath all that steel façade. She was a mush.

  Mallory distracted him by pointing down the hall before she grabbed her cart’s handle. “Okay, let’s go.” She looked at Ellen. “Jim left me behind so I needed a ride with my…sidekick.”

  “Oh, I think he’s back if you still need him…”

  “It’s fine, Ellen. She’s on the way. I don’t mind,” Gallagher said.

  “Oh, what about your…”

  “Let’s go, McShane. You need your sleep. See ya, Ellen.”

  “Bye, Ellen. And thanks for the time off. I might enjoy it,” she said, waving at the concerned looking woman.

  “Bye…Wolf,” Ellen said in a stern tone.

  They both turned to her and gave a nervous laugh. He said, “I think she might be trying to protect you from me…the big, bad wolf.”

  “Too funny and sweet,” she said, pulling her cart behind her, still feeling victory over her cart.

  “Yeah…sweet.” His jaw seemed hard and set, a seriousness taking over.

  The sun lanced right through her, forcing her to cover her eyes. They hopped inside the silent truck. She normally would enjoy that, but this bugged her. “You’re not mad about what I said, are you? I mean—”

  “Nope. I guess a bad reputation can follow you forever. Better get you home before the wolf shows his fangs,” he said, starting the engine and pulling out.

  “Look, Gallagher, Ellen’s only watching out for me. But I know I’m safe with you.” She touched his shoulder, bringing his eyes to her hand. “I know I’m like a sister in your eyes, one that you hate at times, so don’t let it bother you. I’ll even tell her that the next time I see her, so no more comments come out of her like that again, okay?”

  His jaw hardened again and he gunned the accelerator. “Sure.”

  It was futile. She closed her eyes more to hide from the glaring sun. This was ridiculous. He was actually pouting. He drove down I55, or more like flew, zooming around cars in the passing lane or making it part like the Red Sea. She yanked on the belt to be sure it was tight.

  “Don’t worry. You’re safe with me, McShane.” He turned on his iPod and blasted Luke Bryan. “Sorry, no AC/DC or Reo Speedwagon. I’ll work on it, though,” he said, giving her a side grin.

  She laughed and shook her head. “Not mad anymore?”

  “Never was…just a little surprised. Ellen knows me better than that. She knows I have the utmost respect for you.” He crossed lanes and held his hand out in front of her.

  Respect? Her eyes nearly bugged out of her head. He actually admitted his respect for her? That was new. He used to avoid her any chance he got. Maybe last night did that to him. Just maybe. And maybe it was all about respect back at the office, not flirting. Her heart sank.

  He looked over and chuckled. “Why do you look like you saw a ghost?”

  “I’m just not used to you saying things like that, Gallagher. You feeling okay?”

  “I was proving a point, McShane. That I’m not Wolf with you. That pissed me off when she said that.”

  “Oh, so you were mad?”

  He rolled his eyes and huffed. “Okay, fine. Yes, I was mad. I’m over it now. I’ll be having a little meeting with Miss CEO about it. That was wrong.”

  “So who are you Wolf with?” She knew a couple, but heard there were many more.

  “As I said before, I hate that name. Maybe when I was younger, in my twenties and even early thirties, but now not so much. I’d like to think of myself as more mature from that little horn dog I used to be.”

  “So you have a preference now? Like Tina?”

  “And how did we get on my sex life, McShane?” He stopped abruptly, holding his hand in front of her again, blaring his horn. “Asshole!” He glanced at her. “Sorry…ignore that.”

  “No, he was an asshole the way he cut over. I’m not Mary Poppins here.”

  “Never thought that. But you have to admit you’re a little…”

  “What? What am I, Gallagher?”

  He grinned. “Uptight?”

  She glared at him.

  “I mean that in a good way. Some women are too loose and do whatever a man tells them. Not you. Nothing wrong with that, McShane.”

  She gazed out her window, absorbing his words yet ignoring them. Beautiful old homes whizzed past in the southwest suburbs until nothing but rows and rows of cornstalks, a farmer on a tractor, dozens of cows fielded off by white three-slatted fencing, and horses grazing on grass near a barn. Country life. This was the part of Illinois she loved, not the crazy cabs ready to plow pedestrians down, but a simple way of life to slow a fast-paced mind. Tall stalks loomed on either side of them, leading them to her little corner of the earth.

  He glanced her way at a stop sign. “You like that, don’t you? You like having that reputation of owning the ORs when you walk into them.”

  Sh
e barely nodded and dropped her voice to a scratch. “It’s the only thing I own, Lawson.”

  His eyes widened before turning onto her property hidden beyond a canopy of brush. He shifted into park and turned to her. “Need help with your…”

  Her stare stopped him cold.

  “Sorry, forgot. Can I ask you something personal, McShane?” he asked as he turned towards her.

  “Depends.”

  “What’s your story? Why no man in your life? Our office is filled with so many rumors, and I don’t listen to them, but I am a little curious.”

  More of those rumors he referred to were that she was gay and hated men or that she was so cold no one would come near her, giving her the nickname ice, or that she was having a secret affair with one of the doctors at Memorial. It went on and on. Oh, she knew of those rumors.

  “Let’s just say none of those rumors are true. Other than that, you don’t need to know anything else.” She unclipped her seat belt and grabbed her purse.

  “Oh, come on, not even a little? I promise I won’t say a word.”

  “Why do you need to know?” She tried to hold the wall up, but his dark head leaned against his seat, so vulnerable looking, as he gazed into her face. It felt too…intimate.

  “I just don’t get it. You know how you…look. I just don’t get it is all.”

  “You know, some nuns are pretty, but do they need a man? Looks have nothing to do with someone’s choices. Thanks for the ride, Gallagher,” she said, snapping him out of his trance. She opened her door and jumped out.

  “Wait—you saying you’re a nun? Is that your secret, McShane? Damn, never thought of that one.” His grin stretched his handsome face wide apart.

  “Ha-ha.”

  “You’re definitely a mystery, McShane. One I’d like to solve one day.”

  She sighed, not understanding her next question. If anything, she needed to send him away…far away. “Would you like to come in? It’s a little dusty, but I can make a mean cup of tea.”

  “I’d love to, but I need to get home to my dog. She’s been locked up all day and needs to eat and get out, but thanks.” He smiled.

  “Why don’t you hire someone to help?”

  “I did until they got the wrong idea. See, I’m not the wolf you presume me to be.”

  She feigned a gasp. “You turned a woman down?”

  He laughed. “She was married. I do have some principles. I’m not the pig your pretty little head has me out to be.” He reached out and pushed an escaped curl back behind her ear.

  “Oh.” She didn’t blush easily, but she sure was now. Could feel the blood rise in her face.

  “Yeah…oh.” He looked at her house and then the darkening sky. A strike of lightening crossed it.

  As he watched the light show, she studied his profile—his strong jawline, the dark stubble already poking out, ready for a tickling romp with some lucky…er…victim. A vision of him rubbing his face against some girl’s bare belly gave her a shiver, brushing the thought away.

  “She’s scared of storms. I better go.” He met her gaze, holding it.

  Wanting to break the intensity of his stare, she said, “What’s her name?” Not a usual lover of dogs, more afraid of them, she wondered about this particular dog that was special to this burly man.

  “Sadie. She’s a Golden Retriever and the only one that ever worries over me.” He flashed a grin, a very sexy grin.

  “I never knew you could be so…”

  “What—tender?”

  “Human.”

  He guffawed. “Gee…thanks, McShane.”

  Thunder boomed following multiple switches of light. Thick clouds advanced across the sky, casting a black mass. Willow trees bent in the opposite direction of the strong winds. Birds journeyed to a safe haven beyond the impending storm.

  She bit her nails, feeling the queasiness settle inside her as she trudged to his side, peering into his window. Droplets of rain hit her head. “Can you call someone for Sadie? I don’t think you should try to drive in this and…” She glanced at her house.

  A smile touched his lips. “You don’t want to be alone in this, do you?”

  The winds whipped strands of her hair around her face, unleashing her bun. “Or I can come with you. Lived here all my life and still can’t get used to these storms. Should be a storm warrior by now, but I’m not. My parents even built a shelter in the ground.”

  He nodded. “I’ll call my neighbor and ask her to bring Sadie to her house. She trusts her.”

  “Not the married woman, right?” And why did she care who watched his dog?

  He smiled, pushing her hair out of her face. “No. But she is married for probably fifty years. Let’s get inside.”

  He jumped out and grabbed her hand as the rain turned into hail pelting down hard. They raced to the porch. Under the awning, still clutching hands, they gaped at the truck as small ice balls banged against it. Releasing his hand, she stuck her key in the lock and slammed the door behind them.

  He turned to her. “I don’t think it’s necessary to go down to the shelter. This should pass fairly quickly.”

  Nodding, she turned on the lamp, brightening the darkened room. “Tea?” She retreated to the kitchen. Tea always helped her nausea during these times.

  “Sure. I’ll just call Mrs. Blackhill real fast. May I?” He gestured to her living room.

  “Go ahead. I hope Sadie’s okay.”

  “Thanks.” He searched through his cellphone for her number and then sat.

  Hail hammered the rooftop, railing against the windows. Through the window, she watched the magnificence of what Mother Nature could do while the water brewed. She was almost grateful Gallagher drove her home. Would have been weird to ask Jim, the driver, to come inside. Usually, she wore headphones and read a book in her bedroom until the storm passed, sometimes by the light of a candle if the power went out.

  This house could be eerie when it wanted to be. Storms gave it an even more ominous feel. Yeah, she felt grateful for Gallagher’s presence. A paper bag flew past the window. The wind chimes tinkled with a furious clash, needing to be untangled when the storm would end.

  Lost in her thoughts, she screamed when he touched her shoulder, the same sound as the whistling kettle. She held her hand to her racing heart.

  “Sorry, but I called you a few times.” He turned the gas off, shaking his head.

  “Like I said, hate storms. Sadie okay?” Hating feeling vulnerable especially to Gallagher, she grabbed two mugs and dropped a tea bag in each.

  “She is. Mrs. Blackhill already had her since she knew I wasn’t home.” He sat on the wooden chair at the matching blue table, surveying the kitchen.

  “Oh, she has a key?” She carried the mugs to the table and sat across from him.

  He nodded, sipping his tea. “Yes.”

  “That’s all you’re going to say?”

  “She has a key.”

  She laughed. “I got that part. Do all your neighbors have your key or just friendly old ladies?”

  “Do you have any honey?”

  “Oh, sorry.” She scrambled to the counter and grabbed the bottle as well as lemon juice and brought them to the table.

  He squeezed the thick honey into his mug. “Well, I used to date her daughter.” His eyes flickered up at hers before returning to add the lemon juice.

  Her eyes grew wide, hiding a smirk. “I knew it.” After fixing her tea, she stirred it and drank, flinching at the blast of thunder. The lights dimmed and then burned brightly again.

  “Knew what, McShane? That I date like a normal man?”

  “No, that you had some other connection to this woman.” She grinned.

  “Think you know men, huh?” He shook his head, trying not to laugh.

  “Yep.” She sipped her tea, giving a smug look.

  His narrowed eyes hovered above his mug. “Or do you think you know me?”

  She searched his eyes before setting her mug down, shrugging. “Th
at’s the thing, Gallagher…I really don’t know you. I hear all these things, but…”

  “Yeah, well I hear things about you, too. We’ve already established that.”

  “Right.” The heat of the tea burned her insides, making her shift in her seat. At least she told herself it was the tea.

  “So, what are these things you hear?” He rubbed the rim of the mug with his thumbs.

  She smiled. “I’m not throwing anyone under the bus. No way, buddy.”

  “Okay, fine. Just tell me what they’re saying. I have a right to know.”

  “You’re worried about your reputation? Come on, Gallagher. These can’t be things you’re just hearing now. Why do you want to hear them from me?”

  He took a moment before responding. “Maybe because I worry more about what you think of me.”

  Definitely feeling the burn of the tea hit her. She felt flush. “Well, no need to be. I really don’t care what you do in your spare time. It’s none of my business.” She caught his stare, holding her gaze before speaking.

  “We work together, so it does mean something.”

  “You work with others, too. Do you care what Lance or Dave think? What about Sarah or Vicky? Or better yet, Ellen? She should be the one you’re really concerned with.”

  “I should but I’m not.”

  She sat back, stunned.

  “Only because Ellen knows the real me.”

  “Is that why she didn’t want you near me?”

  He shook his head. “Look, the storm seems to have passed. I’m gonna get going. Thanks for the tea, McShane.” He stood and strode to the door with her following behind.

  “I’m sorry, Lawson. I shouldn’t have said that.”

  After opening the door, he said, “But it’s what you wonder about, what you believe about me. It’s okay. We’ll go back to barely speaking in the halls and the office again. Probably prefer that without all this uncomfortable itching between us.”

  “I’m not uncomfortable.” But he was right. It felt strange to have this niceness.

  He smiled. “Get some sleep. There were a few cases pending on the board.”

  “I’m off for a couple days, remember?”

  He stopped and looked at her. “Oh yeah, forgot. Guess it’ll just be me.”