Holding his gaze, she sat up straighter and said, “Well, the Reader’s Digest version of the last thirteen years, is that while you left for the Army, I went to college at Old Dominion. I majored in Hotel Management.” Hesitating for a moment, she added, “I’m not sure why, but helping grandma with the Sea Glass Inn was my favorite thing to do. I never imagined I would be doing it here, but I liked the idea of working with people on trips or vacations. I ended up at a couple of hotels in the Richland area and, by then, I was married, so I settled for jobs I wasn’t real happy with.”
Mitch visibly startled. Married? She’s married? He looked down at her hand and observed no wedding ring. His eyes jumped back to hers and found her gaze directly on him.
Lifting her hand, wiggling her fingers, she grimaced. “As you can see, I’m no longer married.”
Unable to think of what to say, he stared numbly at her.
“I landed a job at the historic Virginia Beach Hotel.” Giving a little shrug, she admitted, “By then I was newly divorced, moved to Virginia Beach and had a really nice job in a prestigious hotel. I had only worked there for a year when grandma became ill.”
“So you came here to work?”
“Not at first…she was able to keep working for a long time with the help of some friends who provided the breakfasts for guests and did the cleaning. But when her health went down, it went down fast. I was here at Christmas and knew she didn’t have long.”
Her eyes dropped to where her fingers played in the sand. Sighing, she said, “Grandma told me that her will had been written a long time ago and that she was leaving the Sea Glass Inn to me entirely. She had some money set aside for my sister, but considering Vanessa never visited after graduating from high school…and well, some other things, um…grandma left it to me.”
Clearing her voice as the emotion of the moment threatened to take over, she smiled tremulously, declaring, “And that sums up the last thirteen years of Tori Bradford.” Hoping Mitch would reciprocate, taking the spotlight off her, she turned her expectant face to him.
Instead, he just sat. “Wow, that’s quite a tale.”
“I hardly think it compares to your story,” she prompted. “Won’t you tell me more about you?”
Making a decision, he shook his head, standing. “Nope, not now.” Before she could protest, he added, “I’ll take you to dinner tomorrow…then I’ll share.” He held his hand out to her, waiting for her to place her smaller hand into his. She did not disappoint.
Standing, leaning her head back to keep her eyes on his, she placed her free hand on her hips. “That’s kind of like coercion.”
Laughing, he agreed. “Yep. I’ll pick you up at six o’clock. I’ll take you to the Sunset View Restaurant for dinner.” Leaning over, he placed a kiss on the top of her head, saying, “Glad we’ve got a chance to re-connect, Tori.” With that, he walked back toward his jeep parked on the street, leaving Tori to stare at his delectable backside.
Oh, lordy…what have I agreed to, she wondered.
Chapter 7
Mitch headed in to the office to try to get some work accomplished, even though he was not on duty. With four officers underneath him, they worked a rotating shift of four ten-hour days on and two days off, always having two to three officers on each day. Mitch worked Monday through Friday, but knew that he would spend most of his weekends checking in with his staff. Mildred also worked the weekdays and the town paid for a weekend receptionist to handle the non-emergency police, fire, and rescue calls.
The office was quiet as he moved past the staff room, seeing Ginny eating lunch. Stepping back, he greeted her.
Smiling, she said, “Sam’s down at the beach and Grant’s patrolling through town, so I thought I’d grab a bite.”
“No problem,” he replied easily, deciding to sit with her for a few minutes. “So, can I ask, informally, how you think things are going with me in charge?”
Chuckling, she said, “Well, for starters you’ve gotta know the townspeople are thrilled to have their golden boy back.”
“Jesus, I hate that label,” he growled.
“Hey, don’t knock it.” Seeing his incredulous expression, she continued, “Look, Mitch. The Evans have filled police and Chief roles here for fifty-five years and have done so without a bunch of drama or problems. That’s given the town stability. From what I hear, you were a good kid, a good athlete, wasn’t a troublemaker, and then you went off to join the Army.”
Her eyes flashed dark, before shuttering, and she continued. “So, you come back, giving up a job with the FBI and, face it…the town sees you as a returning hero.” Kicking his leg under the table, while grinning, she said, “Don’t fight it…just live up to it.”
“Damn, you lay it out, don’t you?”
“Life’s too short not to be real all the time,” she explained, the specter of darkness flashing once more.
“Anything else?” he queried.
“The town seems to love the new uniforms and well, we officers are thrilled with the choice. It’s more laid back, while still being professional. I thought the older townspeople might not like it, but they seem to.” Standing, she tossed her sandwich wrapper in the trashcan, but turned at the door and chuckled. “Of course, rumor has it that the mayor thinks we look too casual.”
Grinning at the idea of the pompous mayor hating the casual uniforms, he realized that maybe the title golden boy would keep the mayor off his back. Making his way to his office, he spent a couple of hours reviewing cases, signing off on reports, and working on statements due to the state. Finally looking at the clock when his stomach growled, he decided to see what was at Finn’s.
He walked the four blocks to the bar, greeting people as he went. Several townspeople who had not had a chance to meet him stopped him to chat. He appreciated the goodwill, but with his stomach continuing to growl, he was glad to step inside the cool interior.
Right away, he saw Aiden and Brogan behind the bar, as well as Zac and Callan, two more of the original Baytown Boys, eating lunch.
“Damn, man,” Zac called out. “You’ve been back a week and I’ve hardly seen you!” The two man-hugged before Mitch grabbed Callan in a hug as well.
“Good to see you all. It’s been way to long.” Looking up at Katelyn walking over, he said, “Can I get a burger and fries?”
“Coming right up,” she grinned.
“So how’s the new job going?” Callan asked, cutting to the chase.
Nodding, Mitch replied, “My dad left some big shoes to fill, but I’m finding my way.” Eyeing Callan’s uniform, he added, “I see you’re still with the Coast Guard.”
Callan opened his mouth to answer, when his radio alarmed. Hopping off the stool, he said, “Fuck, I gotta run.” His eyes viewed his half-eaten burger longingly.
“You free tomorrow?” Mitch asked. “If so, be at my place at about two. Beer and steaks.”
“Hell, yeah, I’ll be there!”
Katelyn ran over with a box and scooped up his leftovers, including fries, and put them in a bag for him. “I threw in a couple of cookies as well,” she added.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her forward over the bar, kissing the top of her head. “You’re the best, babe,” he called out as he ran out the door.
As Mitch dug into his meal, he said to the others, “You all too. Beer and grilling at my place.”
“You thinking about trying to start an American Legion?” Brogan asked, cutting straight to the chase.
“Figured it was time for the Baytown Boys, all grown up, to do something worthwhile together. What better than something that’ll benefit us and other Veterans in the community?”
Nodding, Brogan offered a slow smile. “You got it.”
*
Jillian and Katelyn arrived at the inn at almost the exact same time. Looking at each other, Katelyn asked, “Do you know why Tori needs us?”
“No idea,” Jillian admitted, “but I’m curious.”
Before they cou
ld surmise any more, the front door opened and Tori welcomed her friends inside. “Come on back, girls,” she invited, leading them to the covered private deck behind the kitchen. This was one of her places that guests did not wander to. The deck overlooked the back yard, full of landscaped flowerbeds while broad trees provided the shade. Tall, sweating glasses of sweet, iced tea and a platter of small, sugar cookies sat on the small table in the middle of the chairs.
After sitting and serving the tea and cookies, she took a huge breath and said, “I have something to share with you two…something no one else knows.”
Jillian and Katelyn, eyes wide, leaned forward hanging on her every word.
“I…I have a date this evening with Mitch.”
Silence. Except for the distant sound of children playing on the beach and the birds in the trees. Utter silence.
“Um…didn’t you hear me?” Tori asked, her eyes darting between the two.
“Oh, my God!” Jillian exclaimed. “I thought you were sick or something!”
“I thought you were going to say you were selling the inn and moving away!” Katelyn accused.
Blinking, Tori said, “Why would I sell the inn?”
“That’s not the point,” Jillian huffed. “Anyway, a date with Mitch? Jesus, it’s about time!”
“Definitely!” Katelyn added. “I’m surprised it took almost a week of him being back in town to find you and ask!”
Leaning heavily back in her chair, Tori appeared stunned. Before she could speak, Jillian spoke up.
“Tori, Mitch has been sweet on you since you were six years old! He’d never let the other boys tease you about having red hair or freckles. He’d always be the one to find you when we played hide and seek. And, as we got older, you were the first to get boobs and believe me, he noticed!”
“I…I…just thought…well,” Tori stammered.
“I’m surprised he didn’t ask you to wait for him when he left to join the Army!” Jillian said. “He was completely over the moon for you, even back then.”
“No, no, you’ve got it wrong. It was my sister Vanessa he liked.” She hesitated before adding, “I…we were childhood friends and I was really into him, but um…well, I guess Vanessa won out.”
Snorting, Jillian rolled her eyes. “What gave you that idea? I mean, hate to be rude, but Vanessa? She was the biggest bitch to all of us, and honestly? The boys hated her!”
Katelyn observed Tori closely before leaning over to place her hand on Tori’s arm. “Did Mitch tell you that or did Vanessa?”
Her gaze bouncing between the two women, she said, “Vanessa told me they slept together.”
Breaking out in a hoot, Jillian snorted again. “Now I know she was a bitch! Believe me, the boys may have had their hound dog ways back then, but I can promise you, Mitch never slept with Vanessa.”
Sighing, Tori shook her head slowly, a new reality crashing into what her old reality had always been. “I should have known. Vanessa never could be satisfied with having the attention taken away. Some things never change.”
Now, it was Katelyn and Jillian peering at her in curiosity. “Why do I get the feeling there is more to this than just a teenage Mitch?” Katelyn asked, her comforting hand still on Tori’s arm.
Her face twisted in a grimace, she sat silent for a moment. Finally, she admitted, “I knew something was wrong in my own marriage. I got with Thomas when I was working in Richland and we married after only dating six months. I thought we were in love, but he was always after the next big deal, sure that his happiness rested on making more money.”
“So what happened?” Jillian asked, her voice now soft with empathy.
“I caught him cheating. He tried to hide it, but I found the hotel receipt that he left in his suit pocket.” Blushing, she said, “Actually, I didn’t find it. The dry cleaner did and when I went to pick the suit up, they had the receipt taped to the plastic bag. God, how embarrassing!”
“Oh, my God,” Katelyn breathed. “What did you do?”
“I hired a PI who had no problem giving me proof. I then surprised him with the proof, moved out, and filed for divorce that week.”
“Tori,” Jillian said gently, now leaning forward like Katelyn, her attention completely on her friend. “You said ‘some things never change’. What did you mean?”
Licking her lips nervously she pierced them with her gaze and answered, “The other woman was my sister, Vanessa.”
*
Tori stood nervously in the entryway of the inn, checking her appearance in the mirror time and time again so that when the knock on the door occurred, she jumped, almost in relief. Opening the door, she was once again stunned into silence at the tall, muscular frame filling her doorway. His beard, closely trimmed, made her fingers itch to reach out to touch him. Instead, she stood rooted to the spot as though her feet had grown into the old wooden floor.
Mitch grinned, noting her obvious appreciation as much as he viewed the vision in front of him. The green sundress of the morning gave way to a flirty black dress, with her reddish hair piled on her head with sexy tendrils framing her face. Stunning…just stunning.
Cocking his elbow out, he said, “May I escort you, Ms. Tori?”
Laughing, she took his arm and, making sure the door locked behind her, she allowed him to walk her to his jeep. He assisted her inside, making sure she was buckled safely.
Raising an eyebrow, she said, “I could have buckled myself, you know?”
“And take away my chance to be even closer to you?” he smiled. Adopting a joking seriousness, he added, “And how would it look for the date of the Police Chief not to be buckled in properly?”
“Oh, my, they’d run you out of town in disgrace!”
The two laughed together as they drove the few miles to the upscale restaurant and, upon entering, were escorted to a corner table overlooking the bay with a perfect view of the sunset.
He kept his hand lightly on her back as they walked to their seats but she felt each fingertip as it burned against her dress. Assisting her into her chair, she could not take her eyes off him as he sat across from her, his long legs touching her knees.
After their drinks were placed on the table in front of them and the waitress took their order, they talked, finding the years falling away.
“Do you remember climbing the apple trees over on Milligan’s orchard and how he’d come out and yell at us to get away?” Mitch began.
“Yes, and how you’d dare me to climb higher each year,” Tori accused. “And then the one year I went too high and got scared and started crying.” Chuckling, he nodded, but she kept going. “What I remember most was how you came up to calm me before helping me down.”
“I would have always helped you,” he said. “Even when I was a goofy kid.”
He held her gaze until they were interrupted by the waitress bringing their food. Moaning orgasmically, she dove into the delicious seafood. “I haven’t been here yet, so this is a real treat.”
“Me either,” he commented, then, catching her eyes again, he added, “And I’m glad it’s with you.”
“You still haven’t given me the Reader’s Digest version of your last thirteen years,” she accused with a smile.
“God, I feel as though everyone in town knows what’s gone on. Since being considered for Chief, I feel like I’m an open book.”
“Maybe I’ve heard the newspaper version, but I want the real Mitch.”
“The real Mitch,” he repeated, touched by her interest. “Okay, well, I did join the Army after high school. And no, I wasn’t anything special. Just regular Army. Did a tour in Iraq and one in Afghanistan and then called it quits.”
“You say it wasn’t special…just regular Army…I don’t know what that means.”
“I was with the Military Police. I’m not downplaying what we did…our asses were on the line every day, but Hollywood loves the tales of Special Forces, snipers, Navy SEALs…so a lot of people start thinking that’s what we all did
.”
Nodding slowly, she tried to imagine what his Army life had been, but before she could ask more, he continued.
“Most of the time, we were hot, tired, dirty, moving around. And I longed for the peace of home. When I got out, I went to a community college to earn a degree in Police Science, then got on with the FBI. I did the training at Quantico and became an agent. I was based out of Charlestown where I spent the last six years.”
“And now? Was your job hard to give up?” she queried softly, reaching out to touch his hand.
He turned his hand up and she linked fingers with his, unable to tear her gaze away from his.
“Nah. Granddad died last summer and when I came home, it was…nice. It no longer seemed the small town I escaped from.” Laughing he said, “Don’t get me wrong. Baytown is still tiny, but it held familiarity and comfort that my life in Charlestown didn’t have. Plus…well, I needed a change.”
“What kind of change?”
“The FBI is such a large agency, change comes slowly. And I got so angry when the left hand didn’t know what the right hand was doing. Anyway, I was already thinking about quitting and joining a private investigation company that I worked with. Good men, every one, and I was looking forward to joining them.”
Understanding dawned on Tori and she squeezed his fingers. “And then your dad’s heart attack.”
“Yeah, but don’t think that coming back to Baytown was a bad thing. The timing was perfect. I have a chance to give back to the town that gave me so much. A chance to make a difference. A chance to reconnect with old friends and help mom and dad. So it’s all good.”
Tucking a wayward strand of hair, she asked, “Old friends?”
Giving her hand a little pull, he leaned his face closer, holding her gaze. “Yeah, Tori. I came back having no idea you were here. You’re like icing on the cake.”
Leaning the rest of the way in, he placed a whisper-soft kiss on her lips. Desperately wanting more than just a taste, he forced his body back, willing to wait for a more private place to delve into her warmth.
Coming Home: Baytown Boys Series Page 6
