by Tia Louise
Lifting my foot off the brake, I turn the wheel so the cruiser rolls slowly, keeping pace with her journey on the shoulder of the road. Her chin is lifted, and we continue a bit farther, her giving me the silent treatment.
Teasing her seems to come naturally to me. “You should wear tennis shoes if you need exercise.”
She gives her feet a passing glance. “I wasn’t planning to walk when I got dressed this morning.”
“What happened?”
“I still can’t find my driver’s license.” Her tone is impatient, but at least she’s talking now.
“I’m impressed, Miss Green. You do obey the law.”
She takes a deep breath, causing those perfect breasts to rise. I look away, to the road ahead.
Her reply is pure sass. “If I didn’t obey the law, Deputy Tucker, I wouldn’t have made it this far.”
“Call me Chad.”
She stops abruptly, putting a hand on her hip. “Isn’t there some law against stalking private citizens?”
“Stalking is a pattern of behavior. I’m trying to be a Good Samaritan. This road isn’t designed for pedestrians. You’ll turn an ankle.”
“Is that any of your business?”
“Actually, it is. I’ve sworn to keep the people of Oceanside safe.”
“So you’re just going to drive along the shoulder at one mile per hour while I walk?”
“It’d be easier if you’d let me give you a lift.”
Her green eyes narrow, and she studies me a moment. She looks down at her feet then ahead at the town. Finally, with an exasperated exhale, she stomps around the front of the car, jerking the passenger door open. I bite back a grin as she climbs inside and fastens her seatbelt.
She keeps her face turned to her open window, and the cool breeze pushes her dark hair behind her shoulder, exposing the fair skin of her neck. We don’t speak for a minute, and I consider making a turn around the block to give us a little more time. Her presence fills the space, and my awareness of her is electric.
She breaks the silence, looking up and around the car. “I’ve never been inside one of these before.”
“Really?” I don’t hide the surprise in my voice.
That gets me another annoyed glare. “How bad do you think I am, Chad?”
Even with that tone, my name sounds good on her lips. “Hopefully, just bad enough.”
Her cheeks flush pink again, but the ride is over. I stop at the corner of Main and Elm, and she doesn’t give me a chance to open the door for her before she’s out and heading down the row to Emberly’s bakeshop.
Betty’s pack-n-save is first in line followed by Wyatt’s hardware store. Emberly’s bakery is next, and down a bit is Daisy’s antiques store. A smile lifts the corner of my mouth as I watch her go, that ass from my dreams swaying side to side.
The bell over Betty’s door rings as I pull it open, and the aroma of café au lait and beignets hits me.
“Right on time,” a rumbling male voice calls from behind the counter.
André Fontenot is Oceanside’s best-kept secret. He’s got a pop-up sandwich store in Betty’s place, and he makes coffee and poboys to rival anything you’d find in the French Quarter in New Orleans. He and Emberly recently combined forces to add her pastries and launch a breakfast menu. They’re determined to draw tourists up from the beach and back into town, and so far it’s working. Once the word starts to spread, people are going to be lining up.
“Morning, Dre.” I hand him the cash and take the paper cup, giving it a quick puff before taking a sip. Rich, dark coffee surges through my veins, and all is right in the world.
“Saw Tabby getting out of your cruiser just now.” Dark eyes are worried beneath the brim of his Saints ball cap. “Everything okay?”
I lean back against the bar lining the window and nod as I take another sip. “Lost her driver’s license.”
“Shit.” A bright smile splits his dark lips. “I was worried for a second.”
Tabby’s website development has been a big part of their plan, and her penchant for getting into trouble would keep me on edge as well.
“I think I’ve found her Achilles heel.”
He cocks an eyebrow, and I lower my voice. “Making her go to church.”
That earns me a loud laugh. “Is that legal?”
“She hasn’t questioned it yet.”
André nods, seeming impressed. “Not bad, Tucker.”
“They don’t give those badges out to just anybody.”
He’s still chuckling as he passes me a small paper bag. “Emberly made beignets. Take a few for the road.”
“Thanks.” I put the plastic lid on my cup. “I’ll be around. Holler if you need anything.”
He shakes his head. “If you’d told me this time last year I’d ever be glad to see a cop, I’d have called you crazy.”
It’s a compliment I’ll take, and I tip my coffee at him before heading out the door. I’ll stop in and check on each of the stores along Main Street before I head out to the beachfront strip to finish my rounds. It’s the off-season, so our days are gradually slowing down.
From now until spring break, my job is pretty quiet. Wyatt is busy helping a guy with toilets and plumbing supplies when I stick my head in to say good morning. He’s tied up, so I move along, down the row to Emberly’s shop.
Again, a little bell rings as I enter the store. Emberly is at the large table in the back, her chestnut hair gathered on top of her head as she rolls out what looks like white paste. Tabby is at the counter, pecking on a calculator with a pen in her hand.
“Morning, ladies.” Her head snaps up at the sound of my voice, and she frowns again.
“How long does the pattern of behavior have to occur before it’s considered stalking?”
“Just doing my job, Tabitha.” I take a few steps inside when Emberly, looks over her shoulder and gives me a friendly smile.
“Good morning, Chad! Did you try the beignets today?”
I hold up the small brown bag. “André hooked me up. I’m finishing my coffee.”
“They go with the coffee!” She waves her hand over to where a carafe stands in the window. “We’re combining forces. He gave me some of his coffee.”
She takes my cup and crosses the large, open space to get me a refill, and I stop at the counter where Tabby is suddenly very focused on number crunching.
“Web design and accounting?” I lean over, looking down at the notebook in front of her.
Straightening, she slaps it shut. “You might be surprised to learn girls can do math and computer science. Even if they don’t wear glasses.”
“I’m not surprised.” My eyes flicker to her red lips before returning to those fiery green eyes. “I bet you can do whatever you want.”
That melts her. I don’t know why I have a one-track mind toward this girl all of a sudden, but I just go with it. What the hell? “I’ve got Friday night off. I’d like to cash in that rain check if you’re free.”
“What rain check?” Her voice is quieter, defiance gone.
“From lunch yesterday. Go out with me on Friday.”
“I told you no.”
I confess, her immediate rejection stings a little, but I see the fear in her eyes. It eases the blow somewhat. “Really?” I can’t wait to hear her excuse this time.
“I… I promised Emberly I’d keep Coco.”
“Tabby!” Emberly is with us again, handing me the fresh coffee. “Coco can stay at Mom’s Friday night.”
Tabby cuts her eyes at her friend. “But I promised—”
Emberly shrugs. “It’ll be a good reason for me to call it an early night. Besides, you haven’t done anything fun in—”
“I do what I want to do.” Tabby cuts her off, glancing at me before turning on her heel and going to the coffee carafe.
“I don’t want to cause any problems…” I start.
“It’s not a problem at all.” Emberly gives me an encouraging smile coupled with a li
ttle wink. Then she tilts her head toward where her friend is standing.
I look from her to where Tabby is pouring coffee. I don’t like causing conflict, but I’m encouraged by the unexpected support. “What do you say?”
Tabby turns to face me. “You’re barking up the wrong tree, Deputy Tucker. I’m not looking for anything right now.”
“Then we should do just fine. I’ll pick you up at seven.” Crossing the space, I’m headed for the door when her voice stops me.
“But… What are we doing?”
I go to where she’s standing by the small table. She straightens as I approach, as if preparing to defend herself.
“May I have your number?” I catch her eye and smile in what I hope is a friendly manner.
It only seems to fluster her. “I guess so.”
“Here.” I reach for her phone, which she hesitates before putting in my hand. Quickly, I type in my number and send myself a text. “Now we’re connected.”
“You’re going to keep me in suspense?”
“Seems you like surprises.” I start for the door again, but pause before leaving. “You’ll need to wear something you can move around in…Something you don’t mind getting dirty. I’ll text you more later.”
Her brow furrows, and I grin as I head out the door.
I do love knocking her off balance.
Five
Tabby
My phone buzzes at eight a.m. with a text from Chad, Do you have full use of your arms and stomach muscles?
Sitting up in the bed, I rub one eye as I text back, What the hell kind of question is that?
A pretty easy one. Do you?
My nose wrinkles. As far as I know.
Any issues that would limit the use of one arm and both legs?
Is this about tonight?
Maybe.
I have no special needs.
Time change. Okay if I pick you up at five?
Pressing my lips together, I contemplate replying about how he clearly assumes I’m sitting around waiting to go out with him. I don’t. What the hell are we doing?
Wear something you don’t mind getting dirty.
You already told me that.
He doesn’t respond, leaving me antsy all morning.
Since Monday, Chad hasn’t stopped in the bakery at all. At his usual, morning check-in time, he only peeks in the window and gives us a wave. He grins, and that damn dimple pierces his cheek, causing my insides to clench. If our eyes meet, it’s like a bolt of lightning.
I remind myself I’m not doing relationships now. I’m working on my business, and once I’ve saved enough money, I’m taking a trip around the world. I’ve got my American Airlines credit card to buy all my gas. I’m racking up the points every time I go to the station, and I’m a third on my way to 120,000 points—the magic number to book a round-the-world flight.
I got the idea from my newest client, Travel Time. They’re a travel agency, and I’m setting up a streamlined, elegant site for them, directing travelers to packages based on where they want to go, categorized by location, duration, price, and star rating.
In the evenings I search for blog posts, photographs, and travel diaries to accompany the different packages they offer. Many nights, I have my dinner reading them and dreaming of seeing the sites up close in personal. Maybe I can add to the photographs and travel logs…
So while Chad Tucker is an interesting diversion, he is not distracting me from my goals. Cheater Travis Walker was the last man ever to do that to me. I plan to be financially independent and to see the world.
My best friend used to say she’d go with me, but having my gorgeous goddaughter and launching this bakery have put her travel plans on hold for now. I watch as she carefully guides the frosting bag around the edge of a three-layer chocolate cake, creating perfectly shaped purple flowers.
“He’s not giving you the chance to change your mind.” Emberly straightens, putting one hand on her lower back and giving it a stretch before returning to her work.
“He’s wasting his time is what he’s doing.” I pick up a fruit tart and carefully lower it into a cardboard box.
“Spending time with people isn’t a waste.” She gives me a wink.
“You know what I mean.”
“Give me five more minutes, and you can take this one, too.”
Checking the clock, I see it’s almost eleven. “The tart is for the Ladies’ Auxiliary First Friday luncheon, and the cake is for…”
“Betty Pepper’s Sunday school class is having a birthday party for her.”
“You made it awful early.” Emberly usually makes her cakes closer to the time they’ll be eaten to keep them fresh.
“She said they might have the party tomorrow if Roxanne is going out of town.”
Shaking my head, I assemble another box. “I can’t keep track of all these old biddies. I thought you slowed down as you got older.”
Emberly shrugs, finishing the final purple rose. “Roxanne Philpot isn’t slowing anything. Since her husband died, I heard she has a profile on Hookup4Luv dot com. Donna said her mystery trip is to Hedonism.”
“No way!” My jaw is on the floor. “If that old lady has a better sex life than me—”
“Whatever.” Emberly cocks an eyebrow at me from where she’s finishing Betty’s cake. “Your sex life is as good as you allow it to be.”
“I don’t know what that means.” It’s bullshit. I know exactly what it means.
The bell over the door rings, and in waltzes Jimmy Rhodes like some kind of living visual aide. He’s dressed in his usual—dark skinny jeans and a tight black tee. What I now recognize as a homemade tattoo peeks down his lined bicep. I cringe. Good lord.
“Afternoon, ladies.” He leans on the counter, giving me a wink.
“What do you want, jail bait?” Turning my back, I carry the box to the table where Emberly is finishing up.
“Aw, come on, Tab. That was a whole year ago.” A cocky grin curls his lips, and he hooks a thumb at his chest. “I’ve aged a lot since then.”
“To what? Seventeen?”
“No.” He acts offended. “Eighteen.”
“Did Wyatt have that bulb?” Emberly pushes past me, wiping her hands on her apron and inspecting the box Jimmy is holding.
“Yes, ma’am.” He pulls out a small, oddly shaped bulb. “He said it should fit that old refrigerator, but he’s not sure how much longer he’ll be able to stock them. Says they’re getting harder to find.”
My friend’s face pales. “What does that mean?”
Jimmy shrugs as if it’s an easy math quiz. “Time for a new fridge?”
Emberly rubs her stomach, and I know full well she can’t afford an expense like that. Daisy helped her find this old commercial-grade heap through one of her antiques dealers.
“That it, kiddo?” I’m ready for this bad flashback to be on his way.
“Almost… Go out with me again. I’ve got Uncle Milt’s Lincoln all weekend long.”
“No, thank you.” I do a full-body shudder. “I’ve got a car.”
I finally found my driver’s license in the clothes dryer at Uncle Bob’s house. It’s probably been there a month. He doesn’t check these things very well. He raised me without a strong female role model, and I’ve been improvising ever since.
“Come on, Tabby. Things were just getting good when—”
“Thanks for the delivery. You and I are never happening.”
His shoulders droop, and he starts for the door.
“I’ve heard everything changes once you start college.” My best friend is too kind-hearted for her own good.
Jimmy only shrugs. “I’m not going to college.”
“Well, either way, there are lots of fish in the sea!”
I’ve heard enough. “See you Monday.”
A quick air kiss, I stack the fruit tart on top of the cake box. Walking past my car parked out front, I mentally note Deputy Tucker hasn’t even pulled me over to be sure I
’m not breaking the law since I started driving again on Tuesday. It makes me feel a bit uncomfortably predictable, but I don’t have time for that. I’ve got to get these pastries delivered.
André grins at me like he knows something when I push through the door of Betty Pepper’s pack-n-save.
My eyes narrow. “What?”
He shrugs. “Nothing.”
André is in the middle of bagging up poboys for a customer, and I decide to let it go. He and Chad are always joking around, and I’m sure it has something to do with tonight. Those mysterious texts are on my mind as I approach the door at the back of the store. It leads to a storage room that doubles as the office where Donna does her bookkeeping for Betty.
“Hey, Tabby!” Donna White is a mousey girl, timid but sweet. “I was planning to walk down and pick this up. You didn’t have to bring it all the way over here.”
“It’s not that far.” I put the large box on the end of her desk. “We should probably put it in the cooler so it doesn’t melt.”
“Is it ice cream?” Her brows furrow as she lifts the lid.
“No, the frosting will melt in the heat.”
Donna’s frown instantly transforms into delight. “It’s beautiful! Oh my goodness. Emberly is so talented.”
I lean over to check out the deep chocolate cake topped with beautiful purple roses and little white dots of baby’s breath. The happy birthday message is inscribed in perfect calligraphy.
“She’s got the talent. It’s the customers she needs. There aren’t enough birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and… well, reasons to have cake in this little town.”
Donna nods as if she knows exactly what I’m talking about. She’s probably never thought about it in her life.
“I hope I can help bring in a little extra business.”
“You’re great. Thanks, Donna.” She closes the lid, and that’s when I see it sparkling like a drop of water on the third finger of her left hand. “What’s this?”
I snatch it up and turn her hand side to side as the light hits a small emerald-cut diamond. The girl starts to giggle, covering her nose with her right hand.
