by Wendy Vella
“I can stand back there,” she tried to protest. Fin ignored her. Finally, he stopped when they reached the very front. Bailey looked at the people standing behind her, some four deep. “Maybe I should just—”
“This is Cindy, Bailey.”
She nodded to the tall, leggy brunette who wore the shortest shorts she had ever seen. Her top looked like it had been sprayed on, and Bailey wondered if it restricted her breathing in any way.
“Hi.” Cindy flicked candy-pink nails at her, and skimmed her eyes over Bailey’s simple lemon shift dress. No competition here, Barbie , Bailey thought, and then felt ashamed. Jealousy was an ugly thing. “So, Bailey, how are you enjoying your time back in Ryker so far?”
“Good, thanks. A lot has changed, but all for the good.” She’d given up wondering how people knew so much about her. Small towns were like that. News spread like wildfire.
She let her eyes roam up and down the street. There were people lined on both sides. Kids chattered in excitement; parents tried to keep them in check. It was close to dusk, and someone had strung up yards of fairy lights that were starting to twinkle, along with the old-fashioned streetlamps. It was a beautiful setting, Bailey thought, especially when you added in the quaint shop fronts.
“There is no place quite like Ryker Falls,” Fin said. “You want a soda?”
She looked at the cooler bag at his feet and shook her head. “I’m good, thanks.”
“I made it.”
Bailey looked at Maggs as she arrived. Her usual smile wasn’t in place, and she seemed flustered.
“Hi, Maggie, you okay?” Bailey asked.
“Sure, just a busy day.”
Beautiful as always in an off-the-shoulder top and short skirt, teamed with a pair of high wedge sandals, Maggie looked her usual glamorous self. Bailey wasn’t sure why she thought something wasn’t right with her friend, but she did.
“Hi, Cindy, Fin,” Maggie said.
“You want a drink?” Fin waved at his cooler again, but Maggie shook her head.
“It’s starting now.”
Bailey turned at Fin’s words, and looked up the street.
“They start from the school,” he added.
“So the head ranger doesn’t have to be on a float?”
Fin shuddered. “Hell no. They’ve tried, but I pulled rank and told the others to do it.”
“He’s thinks he’s too cool,” Maggie said.
“No I don’t, I just don’t want to do it.”
“The others don’t have a problem.”
“Well, I do.” Fin’s eyes narrowed as he frowned at Maggie. Maggs was doing the same. Interesting . There was definitely some tension there, but as she didn’t want people prying into her life, she didn’t say anything.
“Where’s that loser you’re dating?”
“Fuck you!” Maggie snapped, and then she turned away to watch the parade.
Bailey shot Fin a look; he was staring at the back of Maggie’s head.
The music started to increase in volume then, so talking became difficult as the first float arrived. Bailey pushed her friend’s behavior aside until later.
“Look,” Cindy said, “it’s the police department.”
“The one with padding down his front and dressed in black and white stripes—which, if you didn’t already guess, means he’s a criminal—”
“No, I got that, actually,” Bailey said.
Fin nodded. “Nice work. Well, he’s Harry, one of the deputies. He wasn’t on duty the day we went in to report the shooting. His wife is Gail Pedderson, and she designs the float, much to the distress of the entire staff.”
“I’ve met her, actually.” Bailey remembered the small birdlike woman with bright eyes who seemed to never stop talking.
“Harmless enough, but not someone I’d want to be stuck in an elevator with.”
“Right, got it.”
Fin explained who was who on the floats, and Cindy added comments about personalities that had Bailey laughing and revising her opinion of the woman. Don’t judge a book by its cover . Maggs however, stood silently and watched the parade. Bailey shot her looks, but her friend didn’t return any of them.
“Cindy’s a biochemist.”
“Congratulations, that can’t be easy,” Bailey said, now well and truly ashamed.
The woman shrugged. “I was gifted with a good brain, I like to use it.”
Bailey liked her more and more with every word she spoke.
“Would you look at the Tea Total float this year,” Fin said, laughing.
The Robbins sisters were sitting inside a big yellow teacup. The saucer had large scones with jam and cream around it, and Mandy, their niece, was dressed as a spoon. Miss Marla and Miss Sarah were tea leaves.
“That’s their best so far,” Cindy said. “Last year it rained, and their float disintegrated.”
“Hello, Bailey!” Miss Marla threw a small bag at her. Fin caught it and handed it to her.
“Is that tea?” Maggs leaned over Bailey’s shoulder to look.
“It says, calming, rejuvenating blend.”
“Well I certainly need that,” Maggs said, taking it, and turning back to watch the parade.
“Now there’s a surprise,” Fin drawled. “Mr. Goldhirsh is in his exercise gear.”
A group of people, all middle aged or older, were jogging alongside the floats. All wore green shorts, and white T-shirts with the words Ryker Roadies in red across the front. They were throwing candy to the kids.
“I want some,” Maggs moved to the front.
Fin caught several pieces and handed them to her. Bailey then watched her open two at once, and stuff them into her mouth. Something was off with her friend, Bailey just didn’t know what.
“And here’s the float I’ve been waiting for, along with half the female population. Although we weren’t sure they were going to run it without Jack. But apparently the hospital let him participate, as long as he sat in a comfortable chair.”
“I’d say the whole the female population have been waiting for this float,” Cindy said, puffing out her ample breasts. “You know the deal with them, don’t you, Bailey?”
“Who?”
“The Trainer males.”
Bailey shook her head.
“A Trainer male is for a good time, not a long time. So remember that and you won’t get your heart broken like some of the other silly women in this town.”
Too late. She wasn’t sure why the words slipped into her head, so she chose to ignore them. Obviously they weren’t true.
“That goes for most men in this town,” Maggie added, sending Fin another dirty look.
“Ignore them, Bailey,” Fin said. “Jack refuses to date Cindy, and she’s pissy about it, and your friend Maggie... well, she’s just pissy.”
“Am not,” Cindy said, but there was no animosity in her voice.
Maggie just raised her middle finger.
“The Trainer float has all of them on it. Jack is a cowboy because of the trail rides, Piper is the barista, and Joe sits at the piano, and Luke dresses in his fireman gear, even though there’s a fire float. Never fails to get the crowds going,” Fin said. “Especially as Buzz is on there too. All the eyelash fluttering nearly causes a mini tornado.”
“Should Jack even be out of hospital? I mean, it’s only been ten days since the shooting.”
“He’s tough, but not stupid. He won’t do anything that is a risk to his recovery.”
Bailey stood on her toes, eager to see the Trainers. The float stopped beside them, as the ones before had come to a halt, so she was able to have a really good look. Joe wore a cap with A.S. on it, and looked sexy as hell in a black button-down shirt. Piper looked cute in a white shirt, with her hair loose, standing behind a chrome coffee machine making it steam. Jack wore a cowboy shirt, hat, and carried a rope in one hand. He sat in a big comfortable chair and smiled, which only amped up his level of handsome. Luke was leaning on the piano in his uniform, smiling
also. Bailey giggled as the two women to her right started waving and calling out his name. Buzz had a black silk ribbon around his neck, and lifted a paw to acknowledge people.
“Damn, that is a fine-looking family,” Cindy sighed, and Bailey had to agree.
“I’m not gonna lie, I’ve had a crush on Jack for years,” Fin drawled.
Joe found her then, and his smile grew. She lifted a hand in acknowledgement, and told herself she was waving to Luke, Jack, and Pip. He was just so male in every way, and even if she was pissed with him for his behavior, he had once been her friend.
“Oh lord, not another one.”
“What?” She looked up at Fin after he whispered those words into her ear.
“You. I can see that look on your face, I’m just not sure which Trainer it’s for.”
“Don’t be silly, they’re my friends.”
“Of course they are.” He winked at her, so she rolled her eyes and looked away, and of course straight back at Joe.
He talked, dressed, and walked like he was comfortable in his skin, something so foreign to Bailey she couldn’t fathom the concept. Everything about him seemed comfortable. She just bet he got out of bed and knew instantly what he wanted for breakfast, unlike her, who struggled with that decision daily.
“Joe wants you to join him.”
“What?” Bailey shot Fin a look. “No way.” She started backing up, but as there was a wall of people behind her, there was no escape.
“It’ll be good PR for the bar.”
“I’m not working in that bar anymore,” Bailey lied quickly.
“Sure you are, we just discussed it.”
“She doesn’t want to go up there, Fin,” Maggie snapped.
“I definitely do not want to go up there!” Horrified, Bailey shook her head at Joe. He simply nodded, then looked at his friend. The next minute, Fin had her in his arms and was lifting her onto the float. Bailey squealed, the crowd roared, and there she was standing with hundreds of eyes on her.
“So for those of you who have been living under a rock, and have not heard her play at Apple Sours, this is the wonderfully talented Bailey Jones,” Joe said into a microphone. “Cheer if you want her to join me!”
Bailey felt hands nudging her to where Joe sat. Looking left, she found the smiling eyes of Luke Trainer.
“Sit right there, honey, and make him look good.”
She sat, because she was too numb to do anything else. One of the reasons she’d left her life behind was the lack of control she had over anything, plus she’d often suffered from crippling stage fright. People were always making decisions for her, from her clothing to what she ate, and where she’d play next. Bailey had decided to wrestle that control back when she’d recovered from surgery.
She’d vowed never again to let anyone tell her what to do, or take choices away from her. This was minor, the rational side of her knew that, and in fact it should be fun, but Bailey had never been good with surprises, or losing control, and this had both elements. Plus, it was Joe. She wasn’t rational around him either.
Her hands shook as she placed them on the keys beside Joe’s. She’d play, because she could do that without thinking, but when it was done, she’d tell him what she thought of him, then she’d hand in her notice and leave Ryker. Coming here had been a mistake. It was time to go. Time to get away from all the emotion this place was stirring up inside her. Time to run away from Joe, and this time she wouldn’t come back.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Joe felt the tension in Bailey, and realized he’d made a mistake by having Fin lift her up here. It had been an impulse, and he’d thought she’d find it amusing. It seemed he was wrong. She wasn’t happy with him, and he guessed this business with Angie still had her pissed.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to upset you by getting you up here.”
Her eyes turned briefly to lock on his, and he had a feeling that when the parade was done, he was going to hear just how pissed she was with him.
“It’s just a bit of fun, Bailey.”
“It’s not my kind of fun.”
“Performing in front of people is not your kind of fun?” He tried to tease her out of her mood. She ignored him.
For now, he’d just enjoy having her thigh pressed to his. Enjoy the contact with this woman who could make his body hum with a single look.
She was a dream to play with, following wherever he led, her hands flying over the keys in perfect harmony with his. Joe had to admit to leaning into her every now and then to touch her, or inhaling her perfume.
“Jack’s just lassoed a woman,” Joe said as they finished a song, drawing Bailey’s eyes up from where they’d been focused on the keys.
“I’m sure that’s not what the doctors meant by taking it easy.”
“He’s all right, Bailey. I wouldn’t let him do anything to hurt himself further. He needs the release.”
“A Trainer male is for a good time, not a long time.”
“Pardon?” Joe leaned closer, sure he’d heard that wrong.
“I was told that a Trainer male is for a good time and not a long time. Considering your behavior, this is accurate, I’m guessing.”
“Who the hell told you that?” Joe felt his anger rise.
“Can you deny kissing me while you are in a relationship with Angie?”
“Yes, because we’ve never had a relationship, me and Angie. We went out casually a few times, nothing more. Angie and I are done. Which I would have told you if you’d let me the other day while you were talking to my washing machine.”
She didn’t speak again, just launched into another song, and he followed, frustrated and angry again. He’d been even-tempered before Bailey arrived in Ryker; now he was anything but.
When he’d seen Bailey in the crowd beside Fin, dressed in that shift that floated round her body and rested midthigh, he’d felt his pulse spike. Her hair wasn’t in its usual messy bun, but hung over one shoulder and down her back in golden curls, He wanted to thread his fingers through it, preferably while he was kissing her senseless.
The more he learned of Bailey, the more intrigued he was with her. The small insight she’d given him into her life, when she’d told him she hadn’t learned life experiences, little things he took for granted, like cell phones and washing machines, had only made his curiosity climb.
She’d also possibly saved his brother’s life, and that had shown courage. Bailey Jones was a complex mix of so many things, and Joe wanted to know her better. Know the woman his thirteen-year-old Bailey had become.
“You play well, Bailey.” He thought he’d get her talking by flattering her. He was wrong; she ignored him, so he tried something else.
Joe placed and arm around her and played.
“What are you doing!” She stiffened; the crowd cheered.
“Stop it!”
“Relax, Bailey, I won’t hurt you. It’s just a bit of harmless fun for the crowd.”
“I-I d-don’t....”
He watched her suck in two deep breaths.
“Please remove your arm.”
He did as she asked, because that stutter told him she was upset, and he had no right to do that to her. He’d always vowed never to frighten or intimidate this woman.
Joe didn’t say anything further. Now wasn’t the time. He left her alone until the float finally stopped at the hospital, behind the others. His siblings were laughing and slapping each other on the back, talking about the fun they’d just had. Jack greeted the hospital staff who had come out to check on him. Joe got to his feet, and turned to help Bailey. She ignored the hand he held out to her, and got to her feet. She then made for the edge of the float, and jumped down.
“The street party starts now, Bailey.”
“Thanks, Luke.”
She waved at his little brother, then started walking. Joe followed, catching her when she rounded the building away from prying eyes.
“It was a bit of harmless fun, Bailey, wh
at’s the problem?”
She jerked out of his grip, and stepped back away from him.
“I-I don’t like surprises, nor do I like people making me do things I don’t like.”
“Sorry. I didn’t realize the great Bailey Jones couldn’t stoop so low as to play on a float in a town parade with her old friend.” He shouldn’t have said the words, they were ugly and uncalled for, but his anger had begun to climb right alongside hers, and he’d spoken without his usual filter.
“Is that what you believe this is?”
“What the hell do you expect me to believe? You won’t let me explain about Angie, and then tell me that shit on the float about Trainer males. You expect me to just sit there and take that?”
“You think I was angry you got me on that float, because I wasn’t playing to a crowd of my choosing? That I would b-be s-so indulgent I c-couldn’t lower myself to play for those people?”
He reached for her as she stuttered, but she slapped his hands aside.
“Maybe you’re right and it was harmless fun, b-but all my life people have judged me, and told me what I should think or feel. Maybe I was just angry you took my choices away by not asking me, not because I c-couldn’t lower myself to perform in front of your hometown.”
“You’re judging me!” He roared the words. “You thought I kissed you while I was committed to Angie.”
“I don’t care if you have five girlfriends! You and I are oil and water, and what we once shared is d-dead and buried.”
“Because I’m not good enough for you?” His old insecurities rose, and with them stupidity. He knew she wasn’t like that, but the words came spewing out of his big mouth anyway.
“And that comment just confirms how little we know or mean to each other now.” She gave him a final look that he felt to his toes, because her face was tight with the emotion she was trying to shut away, and then she turned and ran. He followed with Buzz on his heels, but soon she’d reached the crowds and he lost her.
“Fuck!”
“Problem?”
“I’m an idiot, Fin,” Joe said as his friend appeared at his side.
“Am I supposed to be surprised?”
