Mitch held the door and smiled at a familiar looking girl as she passed through the opening. He was surprised when Chris ran ahead and tugged on her hand.
“Tina,” he shouted. “I’m getting some ice cream.”
The girl stopped and smiled down at the boy. “Hey, Chris, I didn’t see you. Are you here with your mom?” She searched the room, briefly meeting Mitch’s gaze before glancing away.
“No.” Chris waved his hand at them. “I’m with my dad’s friends. My mom’s going to a party.” The touch of pride in his voice when he mentioned his dad put a lump in Mitch’s throat.
“I’m going to get in line,” Kyle said. “You got him?”
Mitch nodded. He strode over to introduce himself and realized why she seemed familiar; she was Jack’s daughter.
There’d been a time when he and Jack Garrett had done damn near everything from hockey practice, homework, and hanging out, to chasing women, drinking, and football, together. And then April Montgomery came into their lives and nothing was ever the same. Tina had her face and the promise of her mother’s killer body, but it was Jack’s friendly brown eyes smiling innocently at him right now.
“Hi, Mr. Taylor. My dad’s told me a lot about you,” she said, her gaze curious as it rested on him.
So Jack talked about him, did he? Interesting.
“Your father and I go way back,” he said, and frowned when some boys jostled her as they hurried past to grab a table. “I better let you go, this place looks pretty busy.”
Her smile shy, she nodded and ruffled Chris’s hair. “I’ll see you at the shop, sport.” And then she was gone in a cloud of sweet-smelling perfume and long blonde hair. Jack was going to have his hands full in a couple more years.
“She works for my mom,” Chris offered in the silence, his gaze pensive as he watched her flirting with the boys.
Mitch well remembered his first crush so he diverted the kid’s attention. “Looks like Kyle’s ordering without us, we better get up there.” He turned, ushering the kid ahead of him and came face to face with Jack.
Kyle better be grabbing him a double scoop.
Chapter Five
Mitch nodded a passing acknowledgement, and placed his hand on Chris’s shoulder to guide him along. There’d been too much water under the bridge for either him or Jack to ever be comfortable in one another’s company. And sadly, it was all due to a stupid misunderstanding.
“Mitch, I need a word.” Jack halted him in his tracks. “You got a minute?”
Mitch wasn’t sure what this was about but he didn’t plan on being the afternoon’s entertainment either. They were already drawing attention.
“Yeah, sure, Chief. Just let me get my buddy here settled and I’ll meet you out front.”
Jack nodded and turned away to greet his daughter. His big body dwarfed hers even though she was fairly tall for her age. Mitch placed her at around fifteen or sixteen. Funny, how much time had passed by without him realizing it. She’d been around young Chris’s age when her mother left town. Dark days those were. That woman had done her level best to destroy anyone in her path. Even though it cost him his career and his best friend, Mitch celebrated the day April Montgomery left Tidal Falls.
Chris’s squirming body under his hand reminded him of what he was supposed to be doing. A quick search found Kyle surrounded by a group of too-young-for-him girls all vying for his attention. And he was soaking it up, a come-to-papa smile on his lips.
“There he is, kid. Let’s go catch up to our ice cream before he gives it away.”
Kyle shrugged when they drew near, laughter turning his eyes a clover green. “’Bout time. I thought you said you were buying.”
Mitch pretended to check his pocket. “Sorry, mate, next time.” He grinned, unrepentant, and snagged the smallest and the biggest dishes from the counter. “Here you go, kid.”
Chris’s eyes grew wide at the sight of his treat topped with chocolate and candy pieces. “Wow, my mom never lets me have this much.”
Kyle’s brows lowered. He reached for the bowl but Chris yanked it away. “Hey.”
“Well, if you’re going to get into trouble…”
Chris shoved a heaping spoonful into his mouth and the girls giggled.
“He’s cute.”
“Aw.”
“My brother’s just like that.”
“Hey look, there’s Tony Secora.” A young teen with a mouth full of braces, pointed excitedly toward some newcomers. And just like that Kyle became yesterday’s news as they took off in hope of catching the jock’s attention.
“You know you’re old when…” Mitch joked.
“A bunch of simpering girls gives you a headache,” Kyle finished, and both men grinned.
“What’s so funny?” Chris wanted to know, glancing back and forth between them, ice cream dripping down his chin.
Mitch grabbed a napkin and gave him a swipe. “You’ll know when you get to be dinosaurs like us, kid. Now we’re all roar and no action.”
“Speak for yourself, Dino,” Kyle mumbled around a scoop of banana and whipped cream. He lifted a maraschino cherry by its stem and deposited it on the lopsided mountain in Chris’s bowl.
Mitch noticed Jack leaving and his mood sank. What the hell did the sheriff want, unless this had something to do with the school incident earlier today?
His mouth tightened. If Becky was in trouble he wanted to know about it. The ice cream felt like it was curdling in his gut and he pushed the half-full bowl away.
Kyle eyed it and then him. “Not your flavor, or what?”
Mitch snorted. “How can you go wrong with vanilla?” He pressed away from the counter. “I’m just going to step outside for a minute—be right back.”
Kyle’s gaze followed Jack’s departing back. He frowned. “You sure, man?”
Mitch shrugged. “He wants to talk.”
Kyle cursed under his breath. Chris’s head swiveled back and forth like a bobble-head as he tried to keep up with the conversation.
“I’m here if you need me, dude, but don’t hurt his pretty face. He’s family now,” Kyle warned.
Mitch gave Chris a fist bump and started back through the ever-growing crowd. Now that school was out it seemed as though every teen in town was here. Kyle didn’t need to worry, he and Jack had come to an understanding long ago. If the two of them were going to remain in Tidal Falls—and they were—it was necessary. They’d even sat at the same table for Kyle’s twin sister’s wedding to Jack’s brother, Ty, last fall. And if the occasional barb passed between the two men, it was still very civilized. No spilled drinks or anything. He figured he’d done pretty fricken good considering Jack’s date for the night was none other than Rebecca. His Becky.
The door slammed open with more force than he intended, banging against the stopper and rattling the glass. Great, might as well announce his antagonism to the world and get it over with.
Jack stood a few feet away, his face impassive. His arms were crossed over his chest and his hat was tipped back on his head in a show of two-buds-havin’-a-chat. Nothing to see here.
“Tough day?”
Mitch hated that cool exterior, and itched to ruffle the man’s composure. Instead, he shrugged and dug a toothpick out of his pocket. The sharp bite of the peppermint-flavored stick calmed his temper before he got himself in shit. He needed to remember this was the sheriff, not his nemesis.
“It was alright. What’s up, Sheriff?”
Jack nodded toward the parking lot where his vintage flat black ’stang sat at the far end, away from possible fender-benders. “Let’s go over there where we won’t be overheard.”
Those words did nothing to ease Mitch’s anxiety, but he played nice and strolled through the mixture of four-by’s and cruisers kids preferred to drive these days. He came to a stop near the Mustang’s back fender.
“Okay, we’re here. What’s going on?”
Jack took his hat off and rubbed a hand through his short nut-brown
hair before replacing the ivory Stetson on his head.
“I heard you were at Cascade Elementary today.”
Mitch stiffened. “Yeah. Is it against the law?”
Jack kicked at a few loose rocks, sending them skittering across the top of the pavement. “Don’t be an ass, Taylor. I only mentioned it because Rebecca Sorenson dropped by the office today and she was understandably upset over an incident I believe you were a witness to, am I right?”
Mitch propped a hip on the back fender and ignored Jack’s lowered brows. “Yeah, I was there. She tried to help a kid and ended up getting reamed out by some old drunk for her trouble.”
“Did you get a good look at either one?” Jack tapped his shirt pocket and pulled out a coiled notepad and a girly looking pink pen.
Mitch smirked. “Nice pen.” Then he straightened and got serious. “The kid had dark wavy hair, brown eyes, about four foot tall, and wore threadbare clothes on a too-skinny frame.” He waited for Jack to jot down the information. “The guy acted like a guardian or something. He stunk of booze and B.O., and drove a faded red pickup that’s seen better days.” Again he waited for Jack to finish writing before he dropped his bombshell.
“I’ve been thinking about it all afternoon and I think I know who that guy is.”
“Well?” Jack asked pink pen poised.
“I’m almost positive it’s your brother-in-law, Jack.”
Chapter Six
The entire time Rebecca, Laurel, and Katy were setting up for the evening’s events, Becky couldn’t get the afternoon out of her mind. She laughed and joked with the caterers and teased Laurel on her obsession with a certain burly sheriff, but continually replayed the abject fear on Tommy’s face when he’d been manhandled by that creep. She should have done something more to control the situation. It worried her what might have happened after Tommy got home. The signs of abuse, at least mental if not physical, had been there and she’d let him go. But it had happened so fast there’d been no real response time until it was too late.
She sighed and rearranged the cutlery for at least the tenth time. Hopefully Jack would do as he said and look into the child’s home-care condition for her.
“You’re going to wear the silver right off that knife soon,” Laurel said from behind her shoulder.
Becky smiled and set the piece down before turning to her friend. “Oh, you look gorgeous.” Laurel had switched from her workday clothes to a shell pink sequined party dress that should have clashed wildly with her red-gold hair and fair complexion. Instead, it brought her to vivid, runway model perfection.
Laurel blushed and ran nervous pink-tipped nails down her hips. “Do you think it’s too much? I know this is Annie’s night, but I saw this dress and fell in love.”
Rebecca shook her head and grabbed her friend’s hands. “You look amazing. Jack’s not going to know what hit him.” The two shared a smile. “Don’t worry about Annie. If I know her, she’s going to show up in something incredible and knock Jared flat on his butt.”
Laurel laughed and Becky was pleased to see the doubt vanish from her eyes. They’d clicked right from the moment they met in college. Laurel had come to town just before Christmas for a temporary job and ended up engaged to the sheriff. Becky was happy for them. No one deserved a second chance more than Jack did. He was everything a father should be for Tina. The whole town had stood behind him after the accident and the subsequent loss of his football career.
“Where’s Katy?” Laurel glanced around the newly decorated backroom of Duke’s Bar.
“She just went to check on the kitchen.”
It was a huge stress-reliever to arrange flowers and lay out tablecloths after the day from hell she’d just endured. Duke had offered the space to them pro bono and it worked out perfectly for their plans. The attached Rendezvous Hotel hosted a well-organized kitchen willing to cater the event, there were even rooms available for those who over-imbibed. The decorating had gone smoothly and Duke agreed to supply the alcohol and entertainment.
Becky glanced down at her own black velvet dress. Mitch would have liked it; he was a very tactile man. The mink-like texture would appeal to him. A ghostly sensation of calloused fingers feathered across her torso and made her shiver. Damn him. Five years later and he still occupied way too many of her thoughts. After this wedding chaos with Annie was finished she needed to find a lawyer and quietly end their marriage. It was time to move on.
She took a big gulp of the white Zinfandel she’d been sipping on for the past couple hours and promptly choked. Coughing and sputtering, she felt like an idiot as she waved away Laurel’s concerned attempt to pat her back. By the time it settled her eyes were teary and her face burned with embarrassment.
“Classy, hey?” She used a mauve monogrammed napkin to dry her lips leaving a blot of bright red lipstick behind.
Katy entered from the far set of doors before Laurel could comment, her lemon slip dress glowing under the track lighting. “Okay, the kitchen’s ready. I think we have us a party, girlfriends.” When she drew closer she noticed the tears and her brow creased with concern. “What’s going on? What did I miss?”
“Just me not able to hold my liquor, no worries.” Becky hurried to assure her best friend. Tonight was about having a good time, dammit, and no six-foot pain in the ass was going to ruin it for her.
Katy smiled, relieved, and lifted her flute in a toast. “To love, ladies.”
They clinked glasses and took a sip just as the first guests began to arrive. To love, wherever it may be.
Mitch straightened his tie for what felt like the hundredth time and gazed around the crowd of partygoers. He wasn’t sure what drove him to come here tonight. His plan had been to hang with Kyle and the kids, but when asked he’d jumped on Jared’s invitation like a dirty shirt. Speaking of which… He looked down and made sure his tie covered the small grease stain on his dress shirt.
This so wasn’t his kind of thing.
He should just go. It wasn’t like he’d be welcomed anyway. These were Jack’s friends, Jack’s family. And besides, this night was for Jared and Annie. They didn’t need him around causing dissent.
He’d just turned to make his way back to the bar when a hand clapped him on the back.
“Mitch Taylor, it’s been a long, long time, son.”
Mitch swallowed hard and swung around. Jack’s grandfather stood before him, older, stooped, but with the same kind eyes and warm smile he’d always had for his grandkid’s friends.
“Mr. Garrett. It’s great to see you, sir.” He stuck out a hand and was instead engulfed in a surprisingly strong man-hug.
“No need to stand on formality with me, young man. I’ve known you too damn long for that.” Mr. Garrett leaned back but kept hold of his shoulders in a firm grip. “Neil, call me Neil.” He waited until Mitch nodded before letting him go. “Now, what say you and I head over to the bar and get ourselves a drink?” He winked and nodded behind him to the server surrounded by guests in the corner of the room.
Without waiting for a reply, the elder Garrett began to make his way through the crush of people. Mitch sighed. He couldn’t leave now, someone might plow the old man over by accident. He had to follow.
“Mitch, glad you could make it.” Neil’s sister, Tess Garrett smiled as she leaned in and kissed her brother’s cheek. “Neil, don’t forget you owe me a dance.”
Neil grumbled but it was easy to see the affection between the siblings. As if on cue, the overhead lights dimmed and a four-piece band that had been setting up on stage strummed a few preliminary chords.
All eyes turned to the dance floor, the spotlight picking out a vision in gold lame as Annie glided onto the floor. But Mitch couldn’t take his gaze off the stunning beauty holding her hand. Rebecca wore a heart-stopping, thigh-hugging, breath-stealing dress that made him want to rip out every guy’s eyes from their skulls. And that was before she laughingly turned to dance with her friend and made his mouth run dry. There must have bee
n a shortage of velvet material because there was no damn back on that thing. He could almost see down to the top of her ass for crying out loud. How the hell did it stay up?
He was on the move before the opening notes died away, peeling his dinner jacket off his shoulders as he went. His temperature rose with every step. What was she thinking? A dress like that meant one thing only. If she wanted sex then it was damn well going to be with him and no one else. She was his wife. Maybe it was about time he reminded her of that fact.
Annie looked startled when she caught sight of him stomping towards them. Then her eyes lit with satisfaction and she performed a twirl worthy of a score of ten to bring Becky’s gaze around to him. She stumbled to a halt, a hand going defensively to her breast.
“Mitch, what are you doing here?” she hissed.
More than aware he was making a spectacle of himself, he stepped forward and threw his coat around her shoulders. Holding the ends together under her chin, he tipped her wide-eyed gaze to his and stole Tess’s line. “I think you owe me a dance.”
Her cornflower blue eyes flickered with anger and something else—despair? Before he had time to ponder the significance she turned away and apologized to Annie. “Do you mind?”
Annie shot him a you-better-treat-her-right warning glare over Becky’s head before giving a reassuring smile to her friend. “Of course not. You go ahead. Besides,” she nodded to the handsome man pushing his way through the crowd, “I think our party is officially crashed.” She didn’t seem too upset by that as Jared swept her up in a searing kiss that turned up the temperature in the room by several degrees.
With a last wistful look at the happy couple, Becky turned to Mitch and the contrast in her expression was like a slam to the gut.
“Shall we?” she said, her tone anything but welcoming.
Summer Lovin': A Wounded Hearts Novella Page 3
