"I'll probably leave most of the furniture up there until the renovations are done.” She grabbed a box and headed for the main staircase. “I should get the chairs down and find out who in town can do upholstery work. Once I pick out fabric, I can send them out to be done."

"Sounds like a plan.” Shamus's boots were heavy as he followed her down the stairs. “I've been meaning to ask—” He broke off as he walked down the hall and into the kitchen.

"Meaning to ask what?” She laid her box on the counter and watched as Shamus did the same.

Dusting off his hands, he leaned against the counter. “You checked with city hall about the zoning for this, didn't you? I know that you know what you're doing when it comes to running a B & B, but I wasn't sure how much you'd had to deal with town bylaws and things of that nature."

She smiled, not at all offended. She knew that he wasn't questioning her intelligence, but he was honestly concerned. “Don't worry. That's not in question. This has been James land for about a hundred and fifty years. When the town was incorporated, it was agreed that this land was zoned for whatever the James family wanted to do with it. I searched through my father's records. Even if the town doesn't have it on file, I've got it here. But I do plan to hit city hall on Monday to check and to get the necessary permits for the renovations."

"Got it all figured out, do you?"

Cyndi smiled at the look of pride and satisfaction on his face. “I wish.” Her smile disappeared. “I just wish that the rest of life was as easy to figure out."

"It'll come.” Shamus pushed away from the counter. “Give it time.” He headed to the door. “I'll get the other three boxes. You start the coffee."

"You sure?” Like he couldn't carry three boxes down the stairs himself.

"Positive.” He paused in the doorway. “Do you still have that cheesecake I brought last night?"

"Hungry, are you?"

His eyes darkened to a stormy blue-gray. “You have no idea, but cheesecake will do. For now.” With that parting shot, he left.

Cyndi could only stare after him. He'd done it again. With nothing more than a look and a few words, he had all the nerves in her body jumping. Her limbs felt like jelly, and her breasts ached.

The pounding of his booted feet going up the stairs shook her out of her daze. “Girl, you are in such trouble,” she muttered to herself as she hurried to start the coffee and pull the cheesecake out of the refrigerator. Still, she couldn't hold back the smile that bloomed on her face. She might be in trouble, but she figured she was up to the challenge.

Chapter Fifteen

Shamus held the door open for her and she stepped into the shop. This was her first real foray into town since her arrival in Jamesville. Yes, she'd visited the diner and the grocery store her first day here, as well as her lawyer, but this was different. Now, folks knew who she was.

She had no idea what to expect from people, but she squared her shoulders. She wiped her sweaty palms against her dark brown, corduroy pants as she glanced around. Shamus had told her this was the best place in town to get paint and supplies.

"You okay?"

She knew she'd been acting strange since they'd cleaned up and left the house. Shamus had suggested the trip into town after they'd had their coffee and cheesecake, and she'd unpacked all the china they'd found in the attic. She would have been content to stay at home, but Cyndi was smart enough to know she had to do this eventually.

She'd questioned his assertion that he wanted to go with her, reminding him of the problems he'd face if he were associated with her. He'd gotten a stubborn look on his face and told her to get cleaned up.

She'd known he had an iron will, but this was the first time she'd really seen it in action. No, that wasn't really true, she thought. He'd exhibited his strength of will from the very first moment she'd met him when he insisted on changing her tire. Usually, he laughed and went about doing whatever it was he felt needed doing. Cyndi had a feeling that most folks didn't even realize they'd been steamrolled because he did it in such a good-natured way.

She thought about pleading a headache and going on another day, but she had a feeling that he'd know what she was up to. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt him. She was damned if she did and damned if she didn't. Being seen with her would hurt his reputation, but if she didn't allow him to go with her, she sensed it would hurt him even more deeply.

The man occupying her thoughts was now staring at her with concern. “I'm fine,” she hurriedly reassured him. He didn't look totally convinced, but he left the subject alone, for which she was grateful.

"This way.” He led her toward the back of the store and the colorful display of paint chips.

She searched the aisles as she followed him, pleasantly surprised by the quality and variety of merchandise available. She was ticking through a mental list of what she needed versus what seemed to be available here. Today was all about paint, but she could barely contain the excitement flaring inside. She was itching to get on with the renovations.

"Afternoon, Shamus. What can I do for you today?” The booming male voice came from the right. Cyndi turned to find a rather large man with a handlebar mustache and a bald head bearing down on them.

"Afternoon, Barton. I'm looking for paint today."

"You've come to the right place.” He slapped Shamus on the shoulder with his huge hand.

Another man would have toppled over, but Shamus didn't move an inch. Come to think of it, Shamus was even bigger than the other man was.

The man noticed her standing behind Shamus and squinted in her direction. “Who do we have here?"

"Cyndi Marks.” She stuck out her hand.

The smile disappeared from Barton's face and was replaced by a scowl. “I know who you are, Ms. James."

Feeling stupid with her hand left hanging, she returned it to her side. “My name is Marks."

"Whatever your name, doesn't change who you are, or who your family is.” The man looked as if he were grinding his teeth to keep from saying something worse.

"No, it doesn't,” she said softly. Cyndi was who she was, but she was beginning to doubt the people of this town would ever let her move beyond the past. Nor would they ever forget who her father was and the way he'd all but ruled Jamesville for so many years. Cyrus James hadn't been well liked by anyone. Respected, certainly. Feared, definitely. But nobody had liked him.

"I don't think you'll find what you're looking for here.” Barton rocked back on his heels, his hands on his hips.

"That's enough, Barton. Cyndi is with me.” Shamus's hard tone cut through their conversation. It was almost comical how the older man's expression changed from anger to one of disbelief. “We can take our business elsewhere if you're not interested."

Cyndi could tell the man wasn't quite sure what to do. Shamus's company probably did a lot of business with him. He didn't want to risk alienating a partner in B & O Construction, yet at the same time, he obviously didn't want her in his store.

"That's okay, Shamus.” She laid her hand on his arm, not surprised to feel the tension in his muscles. “We can go somewhere else.” She kept her voice low and calm.

"No, it's not okay.” He glanced at her, but returned his stare to the proprietor.

The older man was starting to sweat, beads of perspiration dotting his forehead. He glared at Cyndi before looking back at Shamus. “Stay if you want.” Turning, he stalked back to his front counter.

"Such a gracious welcome,” she murmured as she watched him retreat.

"Barton's not so bad. Not usually.” Shamus tucked her beneath his arm, his face stormy. “I'm sorry about that."

"Don't be. It's what I expected."

"It's not right.” She could tell that Shamus was truly upset by this. “Barton McGinty moved here after you left, but I know he had dealings with your father over at the bank."

"That explains a lot.” She sighed. “It's only going to get worse, you know.” She took a step away from him, ignoring his scowl. “If you want to get out, now is the time to walk away. He's watching and it would be a very public venue for us to have a fight and falling out. It would be all over town before the supper dishes were cleared away tonight."

His large hand clasped her shoulder and pulled her back beneath the shelter of his arm. “I'm not walking away. The sooner you get that through your head the better. It's just going to take people time to get used to seeing you in town again. Once people get to know you, they'll change. You're not your father, nor are you the same woman who left here fourteen years ago."

Sighing, she gave in. She was no match for Shamus and he seemed bound and determined to be with her. A part of her actually liked the fact that a man like Shamus not only wanted to be with her, but would also defy an entire town to do so. Another part of her knew that this would only stir a pot that was close to bubbling over.

"Let's look at paint chips.” The quicker they could pick out paint, the sooner they could get out of here.

It didn't take long for Cyndi to put the man watching them from the front counter mostly out of her mind. The array of paint chips held her attention. There were so many choices, but she quickly narrowed them down to certain color palettes.

The downstairs would be first, so she concentrated on finding colors for those rooms. The formal living room would go a pale lemon and the front parlor a robin's egg-blue. The library was also going in a shade of yellow, or perhaps green, to brighten up the dark area. In the dining area, she definitely wanted green, but she couldn't decide which shade. She was leaning toward a light sage color, but wasn't sure.