McCormick's Creek Sweet Romance

by Jen Peters

  They loaded the tools into the back of Brandt’s pickup and headed down the fire road to the highway. Javi breathed in deeply and then choked. “Don’t know what your evening holds, amigo, but I definitely need a shower before the uniform goes on!”

  Brandt chuckled. “While you’re being Super Cop, saving the town of McCormick’s Creek from all those thieves and murderers out there—”

  Javi snorted. “Pre-Halloween pranks is more like it.”

  “—I’ll be trying to get my website up to date. Trailhead Bikes won’t be around long if I don’t get some more business going.”

  He dropped Javi off, then dragged himself through the doors of Sam’s IGA, filthy, sweaty, and not fit to be seen in public. Still, he needed a few things before he could settle down to work, even if all he’d like to do was veg in front of ESPN. He grabbed some chips, a frozen pizza, and some red licorice twists, then stood in an unexpectedly long line to check out.

  What was up today? Shouldn’t all these ladies be home with their families by now?

  Because it was ladies. There wasn’t another guy in the store except for Sam himself, who had opened up another register lane. But all the women, no matter whose line they were in, had their eyes glued to a new cashier.

  He stepped sideways so he could get a better look. Luscious light-brown hair, not a strand out of place. A full mouth with bold pink lipstick. Perfectly applied makeup and manicured nails. And a smile that didn’t match her stiff body language.

  His eyes went back to her very kissable mouth. He had to admit a flicker of interest, but when he took in the whole package—no thanks. Been there, done that, with too many “perfect princesses” in his past, none of whom could think much beyond themselves. Every one had been shallow, manipulating, even devious. That type of woman was definitely not what he needed in his life right now.

  Still, there was something about this one. He watched her lift her chin as she answered someone, proud and not backing down, but not fighting back, either.

  And they were fighting, even if nobody moved out of their personal comfort zone. People didn’t like her, but he was pretty sure he hadn’t seen her around before. And if she was new, how could she raise people’s hackles so soon?

  It didn’t matter. He really didn’t want anything to do with her type.

  She finished with Mrs. Emerson in front of him, took a deep breath, and turned those green eyes his way. “How are you? You look like you’ve been working hard,” she said brightly.

  As filthy as he was, she didn’t even bat an eye. Score a few points for her. “I’ve got everything, thanks.” He watched her scan his pizza. “Are you new in town?”

  She paused, then said, “Not really. I’m from here originally, just came back a few days ago.”

  He nodded, knowing there was more story there, and he was curious despite himself. Then he recognized her—she was the woman on the trail the day before. The silly one who had been standing out of sight in the middle of a bike trail.

  He opened his mouth to say something then remembered his dad’s old saying: discretion is the better part of valor. He’d known what it meant and usually ignored it, but not this time. There was no need to remind her of her fright and maybe have her yell at him again. Besides, she seemed to be having a rough enough day.

  He forced himself to only nod goodbye, to not say anything that would encourage anything else.

  * * *

  Raine stared after the grimy customer. She’d seen him somewhere before, but couldn’t place him. He had a strong face, although not a pretty one—stiff jaw, bumpy nose—maybe he’d broken it sometime—and a firm mouth. And tired eyes.

  And then he’d opened his mouth to speak, closed it again, and left. Weird.

  “Ahem.”

  She turned back to her next customer. “I’m sorry, my mind was wandering.” Then she looked closer. “Diana?” Of course, it was one more high school “friend.” If she had to face anyone else today, she’d scream, which wouldn’t be good on her first day at work.

  Diana shrugged. “So you came back, huh? Thought you were so much better, and now look at you. Check-out girl at Sam’s.”

  Raine remembered Diana as a sarcastic snob, always wanting into a group but never quite making it. She’d been smart, though, and had gotten a bunch of scholarships. So why was she still in McCormick’s Creek?

  Raine put on her perky face and refrained from clamping her lips. “And how are you today? Did you find everything you need?”

  Diana didn’t say anything else, just popped her gum and looked down her nose as she paid.

  Raine sighed and turned to the next person—Amy, who had hung out with Chelsea’s group with her.

  “Raine!” Amy said. “You’re back!”

  She smiled and nodded. “I am, and happy to be here.”

  “Are you married? Kids? What brought you home?”

  “No to both. I just needed a change in my life.”

  “The old gang’s still around—we ought to get together sometime.” Amy waved and left.

  Raine looked after her, wondering. They’d had fun, but it was high school fun. Had anyone else moved on, or had their social life just moved up to adult-style partying?

  The next customer cleared her throat and Raine turned back. “I’m sorry, I—”

  It was Robin. Robin, whom she hadn’t spoken to since the beginning of their senior year in high school. Robin, who’d had a terrible time while Raine was getting in with the popular girls. Robin, who… No, she wouldn’t go there. Water under the bridge, and years ago. Surely her friend had gotten over it by now.

  “Hey, Robin, how are you?” she asked brightly.

  Robin just looked at her and blinked, her brown eyes wide but not showing anything. “Fine,” she finally said.

  “Did you find everything today?”

  Robin nodded.

  “I hear you’re starting an animal shelter.”

  She nodded again.

  Okay, then. Evidently forgiveness wasn’t on the menu. Raine scanned her few items, accepted payment, and watched Robin leave.

  The elderly Beaumont twins were next in line. Miss Lily leaned forward. “You really did hurt her, you know,” she said in a loud whisper.

  “But it was so long ago!” Raine blurted.

  Miss Rose snorted. “Not for her, it wasn’t.”

  Raine flushed. Back in high school, she had ignored her conscience and done one underhanded thing. She’d never dreamed that Chelsea would take it far beyond putting jokes in Robin’s presentation and into true bullying. But Raine hadn’t joined in on what followed at all, and she’d thought that Robin would realize that.

  Miss Lily, again in a stage whisper, said, “She’s only just now moving past it, mostly because she fell in love with a man who believes in her. Cliff’s the first one she’s really trusted with anything since, you know.”

  Raine had never dreamed that she’d hurt her friend so badly. Robin was such a gentle soul, and now she had to deal with Raine’s presence to remind her.

  Raine’s heart ached with regret—regret she should have felt years ago and had been too clueless to realize. She’d been clueless, or just plain stupid and selfish, about a lot of things back then.

  She blinked back tears as she scanned the Beaumont sisters’ canned vegetables. Her long string of bad decisions probably began with this one with Robin, but it was appalling to realize just how badly she had hurt her friend.

  “I’ll make it up to her somehow,” she promised the elderly ladies. She didn’t know how, but she would.

  The rest of the customers didn’t bring such emotional repercussions, but by the time the rush cleared, Raine felt like she’d been poked, prodded, and examined within an inch of her life. And judged, over and over and over. She’d put on a fierce smile and walled off her emotions, but it left her completely drained.

  With a sigh, she wiped the counter and conveyor belt and went to do some straightening. Candy bars and potato chips ne
ar her register, snack bars in the next end cap.

  She needed to apologize to Robin. Go to her house? Meet her somewhere? Her mind envisioned a sincere apology and a tearful hug of acceptance.

  She re-arranged magazines and realized she would more likely get a door slammed in her face before she could get an apology out. But she had to try.

  Cereal boxes and lunch treats were next. The more time passed, the farther she got from her register, but nobody had even come in the store. It wasn’t all that late in the evening, and she’d thought it would be busier, being the only grocery store in town.

  Sam’s IGA wasn’t going to last long at this rate. Or at least not succeed well. It would last, simply because it was a long drive down to the valley for the big box stores. But if they could find a way to keep customers up here…

  She mused as she worked, releasing thoughts of Robin and letting her mind center on business problems. She didn’t know much about profit margins and how deeply sale items could be discounted, but wouldn’t there be ways to get people to buy more? And what about something fun to bring people in?

  No, she was just a cashier. It wasn’t her job. She needed to focus on herself, changing her own life and fixing past mistakes, not giving unsolicited recommendations to other people.

  But as she straightened shelves, she took some steak sauce bottles over to the meat counter, and put some stew seasoning packets near the potatoes. If marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate bars could be put together in the summer, why not other things?

  She rang up three other customers through the evening, one of whom had both steaks and steak sauce in her basket. It had worked!

  “Lorraine DiMarco! I didn’t think you’d dare show your face in this town again!”

  Raine whirled around—it was Ree Swanson, the third of their 3Rs from school, and obviously still Robin’s best friend.

  Any emotional strength she’d had was long gone, and her defenses rose quickly. “Look, Ree, that’s between me and her. Besides, it was all a long time ago.”

  Ree pinned her with a fiery look. “No one gets over bullying like that easily. And Robin’s such a gentle soul that it was even worse. If you couldn’t see that six years ago, you ought to at least be ashamed of yourself now.”

  All of Raine’s emotions flooded back in. Ashamed, yes. And regretful, remorseful, repentant…a thesaurus wouldn’t have all the words she needed. Her shoulders sagged as she thought about Robin. “Actually, I am. I’ve made a whole lot of bad decisions, and I’m really sorry.”

  Ree frowned but didn’t say anything.

  “I’m trying to change some things—”

  “I’ll believe that when I see it.”

  “—but I don’t know how to go back and fix things.”

  Ree pulled her mass of black curls off her shoulders and crossed her own arms. “You can’t.”

  Raine shook her head. “I need to at least try.”

  Ree’s face was stony. “You know that old story about how to take back a lie? The one where the liar has to put a feather on everyone’s doorstep and then try to gather them the next day, after they’d been blown all over and were irretrievable? The answer is that you can’t.”

  “But—”

  “Just go back to Portland or Seattle or wherever, and let the rest of us get on with our lives. You’re not wanted here.” She stormed off, waiting impatiently for the automatic doors to open.

  Raine slumped against the counter and closed her eyes. Going back wasn’t an option. But could she really stay in McCormick’s Creek?

  * * *

  Click here to continue Raine & Brandt’s story!

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