The Years Between Us Read online

  “We all need a jumping off mark,” she tells me. “I wish David would put some hours in here, but I think he imagines it’s not manly enough or some such nonsense. But at least he’s in school and hasn’t been arrested for anything, so I’ll take what I can get.”

  I definitely can’t picture David working behind the counter of his mother’s shop. He just seems too full of himself, but I don’t tell Rhonda that.

  “Well, I really do appreciate the chance. Hopefully you won’t regret giving it to me.”

  “Of course not,” she says, putting a gentle hand on my shoulder and smiling.

  I fill out some paperwork in the back, then learn the register and watch Rhonda as she helps some customers out. I take note of the way she welcomes everyone into the store, lets them know that she’s available for any questions and can provide any samples they might like. She’s so friendly, charming and helpful, and I hope I’ll learn to carry myself with that same sort of grace.

  But as she said, everyone has to get their start somewhere, so in addition to watching how she interacts with people, I study her catalog of products as if I were going to be tested on it and look up and down the shelves in the store, noting where things are so that I’ll be able to properly direct customer queries.

  “I think you’ve been here for almost four hours. Can you believe it?” Rhonda says after my first successful transaction using the cash register.

  “Not really. It’s gone so fast. I thought I’d be bored, but it’s been really fun.”

  “And it’s been a pleasure having you. I think I’d like to take a look at my calendar and see when I’m going to need you most—perhaps I can text it to you?”

  “Sure… and I’m pretty much available whenever, so long as it’s only part-time.”

  “And not beyond two months?” She looks at me with raised brows.

  “Not that I can commit to, but maybe my parents will let me stay until schools starts back if they see things are working out.”

  “Based on today, I’m sure they will. Now, are you going to need a ride home?”

  “Oh, yeah. I’ll just text Danielle.”

  Back in Pullman, everything had been so close that I could just walk everywhere. But Danielle and Mr. Prescott’s house is at least a five to ten minute drive from Echo Ridge, and I’m not sure I’d feel all that safe walking along a quiet road in the middle of the forest.

  “Take your time. I’m just going to open up a few packages in the back.”

  I text Danielle, but when I don’t get a response, I call her.

  Still nothing.

  I give her a few more minutes, then try again, but all I’m getting is her voicemail. I’m about to let Rhonda know I can’t get a hold of her, but I’m afraid she’ll just give me David’s number or call him herself. And if he’s not still with Carlos and Danielle, I might get stuck alone in a car with him.

  “Is she on her way?” Rhonda asks, coming out of the back room.

  “Umm, yeah,” I lie, then find Mr. Prescott’s number, the one I’d texted to my parents, and I call him.

  Chapter Nine

  LUKE

  It’s been a hell of a day, half of it spent on the phone and in video meetings with clients all over the world. When I finally get off of the last video conference with some developers in Silicon Valley, men and women who will have to fight some of the worst traffic in the country, I’m grateful for the peace and quiet I have up here, a house surrounded by nature and the opportunity to really unplug from everything.

  I push out of the chair in my office and stretch, figuring I still have time to head out for a decently long hike before Dani and Claudia get back, whenever that might be. I haven’t heard from Dani since she left this morning, so they might just be out all day. I love my daughter’s independence, but I do miss her, hope that we can have a decent amount of time together before she heads back to school in the fall.

  And no matter how much I’ve tried to push thinking about Claudia out of my mind throughout my day, I haven’t really been able to. After she came into the kitchen this morning, I’d smelled that same sweet, fruity scent I’d gotten a whiff of in the elevator yesterday, some kind of signature scent, maybe just a favorite lotion or perfume. Whatever it is, it seems to match her perfectly, as did the flowered dress and sweater she wore, innocent and sexy all rolled into one. I get hard just thinking about her, which isn’t really a good thing. What I need is to get out of the house and focus on something entirely different.

  I’m already slipping into a pair of socks and hiking boots when I remember the text I’d gotten this morning from Emily and how I’d told myself I’d at least give her a call back. Without a lot of excitement at the prospect of speaking to her, I grab my phone and am about to look up her contact info when it rings.

  I don’t recognize the number that pops up with a Seattle area code, but I don’t ever let calls to go to voicemail, not with a business and a kid and an ex-wife who is often in need of my help.

  “Luke Prescott here.”

  “Mr. Prescott? It’s Claudia.”

  My ears perk up. “Everything all right with you and Dani?”

  “Yeah, of course. Everything’s fine. It’s just that I got this job in town, and I can’t get a hold of Danielle to pick me up. I’m sure she’s fine, but I might need a ride?”

  I smile at the meek way she’s asking. “Not a problem, but did Dani mention where she might be going?”

  “She’s with Carlos, so I’m sure they’re just out enjoying the good weather or something.”

  Or something. Carlos is a good kid, but I can imagine that if he’s with my daughter, they aren’t passing time having a picnic.

  “All right. I can be on my way and get you picked up in maybe ten? Where did you get the job at?”

  She laughs. “The Nut Monger.”

  I laugh right along with her. “Ah, yes, The Nut Monger. Terrible name, but great shop. I’ll be on my way, Claudia.”

  “Thanks, Mr. Prescott… crap. I mean, thank you, Luke.”

  There’s a sense of satisfaction in hearing my name come out of her mouth, makes me feel like I’m not almost twenty years older than her. After I muse on that for a few seconds, I pull my hiking boots and socks off and put on some sneakers, going through the garage and deciding to take the truck into town instead of the Tesla. The latter is still pretty flashy, and I generally don’t drive it too much unless I’m heading into Seattle for something. The truck definitely fits into the vibe of Echo Ridge better.

  Claudia seems to be fitting into town as well if she’s already gotten a job. Must have been hired right on the spot by Rhonda, which is a smart decision. A girl like Claudia will make any man that walks into the place want to buy something just to please her. Damn. Even I feel like I want to please her.

  “You need to chill,” I tell myself as I near town. The last thing I want to do is walk into The Nut Monger and give off the same vibe a hormonal college kid might around Claudia. And for the hundredth time, I remind myself that she’s Dani’s best friend and under my care, and the last thing she needs is any unwanted attention.

  I try Dani when I park just outside of Rhonda’s shop. She doesn’t answer, so I send her a quick text, tell her she needs to check in. I’m not going to worry about her just yet, but that will change if I’m not able to get a hold of her in the next couple of hours. I jump out of the truck and head into the shop, the small bell above the door ringing as I do.

  “Well, hey, Luke!” Rhonda greets me. She’s behind the counter with Claudia, the two of them looking like they’re going over paperwork.

  “Hey, Rhonda… Claudia,” I say walking up toward the counter.

  “Hi, Mr.—” Claudia was just lifting her hand in a wave when she shakes her head and laughs. “It’s really hard to call you Luke, but I’m trying.”

  Damn, she’s gorgeous.

  “You’ll get it,” I tell her. “Just like you got this job. I think you picked a winner here, Rhonda.” />
  “She’s such a fast learner. David was the one that brought her in, was already singing her praises like he’d known her for years.”

  “David? I didn’t realize the two of you knew each other.” I hate the twinge of jealously the mention of a guy Claudia’s own age brings to me.

  “He was with Carlos at the diner,” Claudia tells me like she’s downplaying meeting him. “I mentioned I wanted to find a job, and he said his mom might be interested.”

  “It all worked out then,” I say.

  “Hopefully I won’t be stealing her away from you and Danielle this summer,” Rhonda says to me, and when I look back at her, I swear there’s some small part of her that is reading my thoughts about Claudia. “I’m not sure what you all have planned.”

  “You have to talk to Dani about that. I’m just the dad.”

  “And a good one. I would have gotten a hold of David to drive her back to you if I’d known Claudia couldn’t get in touch with Danielle. They were together when they left, but Claudia didn’t want me to ruin their fun. Still, I’m sorry you had to drive all the way into town.”

  “It’s nothing,” I say, starting to feel uncomfortable around Rhonda. “Always good for me to get off the property. You ready, Claudia?”

  “Yeah, of course.” She slips the apron she’d been wearing off, thanks Rhonda again and says something about her texting a schedule. Then she’s up in front of the counter, looking amazing and looking up to me like I shouldn’t be just standing here staring at her and that we should maybe actually leave.

  “See you later, Rhonda.” I’m just turning toward the front door, extending my hand for Claudia to go first, when the woman whose text I’d failed to reply to comes walking in.

  Emily Wells.

  “Well, what are the odds?” she says, closing the door behind her, waltzing up to me and fully ignoring Claudia.

  “Hello, Emily.” I take half a step back. “I didn’t get a chance to call you yet and thank you for last night… for dinner.”

  “Well, no you didn’t,” she says with the faintest hint of annoyance.

  “Claudia, Dani and myself really enjoyed it,” I push on, “but you didn’t have to put it on the house.”

  She laughs, that playful laugh of hers that had started to wear on me toward the end of our relationship. “I heard you left a giant tip, so you pretty much paid for the meal anyway. But regardless, I was glad to do it. I owe you so much… and I’d still like a call every now and then.”

  “Of course.” I’m not sure what she means about owing me other than me having spent plenty of money at her bar and grill since she’d taken it over and opened it back up again, but I’m not feeling like I need clarity at the moment. “I hate to cut this short, but I need to get Claudia back to the house.”

  It’s as if she finally notices the beautiful girl standing next to me. “Oh, Claudia. That’s right. Luke giving you a tour of our finest establishments?”

  “She’s actually working for me,” Rhonda says with a smile for Emily. Those two are pretty friendly, and part of me wonders if Emily walking in hadn’t been so coincidental. “I hired her part time after David recommended her.”

  “David recommended her?” Emily asks.

  “He sure did,” Rhonda replies.

  “Didn’t take long for the two of you to meet then, did it?” Emily tacks on, turning to Claudia.

  Claudia just smiles, uneasily I think.

  Not much else is said, just some small talk, and eventually we extricate ourselves from the shop, and I’m relieved. When we reach my truck, I open the passenger door for Claudia and can’t help but enjoy the view as she climbs in.

  “She likes you,” she tells me when I join her in the cab.

  “Who likes me?” I ask, turning on the ignition and looking behind me before I back out.

  “Emily. The woman that owns the restaurant and the hotel. It’s sort of obvious, Mr. Prescott… crap. Sorry… sorry. It really is going to take me a while to get used to it. I’m not trying to be funny or anything.”

  I sneak a quick look over at Claudia who is looking forward, her hands neatly folded in her lap, the shortness of her dress apparent with the hem riding up her thighs. “Call me whatever you feel comfortable with, Claudia. And as for Emily, she’s a friend. That’s small town living—you get to know your neighbors and call them your friends.”

  “Hmm.” She lets the noise out just loud enough for me to hear, and when I look back at her, stopped at the one stoplight in town, she’s looking out the passenger window.

  “So, you don’t think Emily just wants to be my friend?” I ask her, not exactly sure discussing my love life with Claudia is appropriate, but I’m not opposed to hearing whatever insight she might have. Women are just better at that kind of thing.

  She turns to me. “My parents are lawyers, so they’re always noticing things about people, stupid things, but stuff they use to tell whether or not people are lying, like a way to trip people up? I mean, it’s a lawyer thing and kind of annoying, but it sort of rubs off. And I can just tell Emily… or Ms. Wells or whatever, really likes you.”

  “Huh,” I offer, hitting the accelerator when the light turns green.

  “I guess I’m only mentioning it because I don’t think Danielle likes her, and it’s probably not my place—actually, I know it’s not my place. Maybe just forget I said anything?”

  Catching another glance at her, I offer her a smile. “No, I appreciate you telling me. I didn’t realize Dani had an issue with her, but it doesn’t matter. Nothing is going to happen with her and I.”

  Nothing further would be more accurate.

  “Okay,” Claudia says and turns back to the window.

  There are a couple of minutes of silence, not especially uncomfortable, but I decide to fill it nonetheless. “So, this David character. He do something to make you not want to call him for a ride?”

  She turns right back to me. “No… look, I am sorry about calling you. I know you’re busy—”

  “It’s not that, not at all. Rhonda was making it sound like you and he got off to a good start, so it might have made sense for you to call him. The fact that you didn’t just made me wonder if he’d done something… to make you feel uncomfortable?” I admit to myself I’m asking because I want to know if she likes the guy, but in putting forth the question, I do start to wonder if he did something that might deserve an ass kicking.

  “No, I just didn’t like him very much.” She lets out the smallest laugh before going on. “I feel terrible about it because Rhonda is really nice, but David just seems like one of those guys who… well, you know?”

  I shake my head. “I’m not sure I do. You’ll have to fill that blank in for me.”

  “Maybe I’m being too hard on him, but he seems like the kind of guy who’s used to girls falling all over themselves to get his attention… and he likes it, and he doesn’t deal at all well with rejection.”

  “And you gleaned all this from being the daughter of two lawyers, right?”

  Another short laugh. “I guess. He’s nice enough, and I don’t mean to disparage him, but sometimes you just know if you like someone or not that way, and he’s just not it.”

  “And the male population of WSU breathes a sigh of relief,” I tell her before I can think better of it.

  She takes a moment, and I can feel her eyes on me before she says, “They aren’t any better. I think what I want from a guy and what they in turn want from me is unrealistic, at least from any of the guys my own age.”

  There is something implied in her words, but she doesn’t continue, just leaves it at that, and I do my best not to read too deep into it.

  “I’m going to try Dani again,” I tell Claudia once I pull into the driveway. “And then Carlos if that doesn’t work, and I might even need David’s phone number if you happen to have it?”

  “I don’t actually.” She shrugs. “But I could call Rhonda and get it.”

  “Okay, we’ll figur
e it out.” I park, turn off the ignition, then run around to the other side of the truck to open the door for her, something I don’t generally do for my own independent daughter, but somehow it comes naturally to do it for Claudia. She’s already out when I get to her, and she just smiles at me.

  “She’s not in trouble or anything, is she?”

  “No, not at all. Once we find out where she’s at, we’ll order some pizza later to celebrate your new job and make an evening of it.”

  We walk together to the front door, and I let her in first after I’ve unlocked it. I pause for a moment after I shut it behind us, scrolling through my phone to make sure I’ve got Carlos’ number. Then I look up at just the right time to see Claudia stop and turn ever so slightly, her face caught in the filtering light, looking almost like a portrait, beautiful, innocent and sexy all at once.

  It’s a moment like this that won’t allow me to deny how attracted I am to her and how immediately I’d felt that when I’d first seen her. I actually yearn to know her better and to one day feel that beautiful body of hers underneath mine.

  But of course that can’t ever happen.

  For so many reasons, it can never be.

  Chapter Ten

  CLAUDIA

  “We were at the falls,” Danielle explained when Carlos had finally dropped her off at the house. “And cell reception out there is the worst. I’m so sorry, Claudia. You must feel like I totally deserted you.”

  I didn’t feel that way, but it was still nice that she genuinely was sorry for it.

  “You were making up for lost time with your boyfriend,” I told her when Mr. Prescott was ordering the pizzas he’d promised. “It’s not a big deal. I just had your dad pick me up.”

  Danielle had been thankful for that, even more thankful that neither he nor I were upset with her. Her only punishment was Mr. Prescott telling her that if she was going out to the falls where she knows cell reception sucks, then to let him know so he’d at least have an idea of where to find them if there was some kind of accident.