Slowly, he walked over to the sole window in his new office, overlooking a grassy field, with the mountains in the distance. He could see the edge of town, off to the right, and he smiled, taking a deep, cleansing breath.
Peace was exactly what he'd found in Holiday Junction. Over the past week since he'd arrived, there's been no shootings. No domestic violence calls. No meth lab explosions. The most action he'd seen was a dispute between two neighbors over a branch that fell onto the fence between their homes.
Some would call it boring. Gage called it heaven.
He had just sat down, propping his booted feet up on the desk, when Mark Andrews knocked on his door frame.
“Chief?” he said, bowing ever so slightly. Andrews was tall, and forever bending over to avoid bumping his head. “Someone's here to see you.”
“Oh, yeah?” Gage sat up, tucking his legs under the desk. He wasn't sure who it might be, but he wanted to look professional, after all. He smoothed a hand over the front of his uniform shirt. “Who is it?”
Andrews stepped back, motioning whoever it was into the office. A young woman entered, and Gage's police experience immediately kicked in, taking in the details. Average height, about a head shorter than Andrews, so maybe five-five, five-six. Slender—about one-twenty, lithe with graceful limbs and a long neck, like a dancer. Long brown hair and—yep, brown eyes. No distinguishing marks. But then she smiled at him and he spotted dimples.
Cute. But that was obviously not a professional opinion.
“This is Lena McKenna,” Andrews said. “She runs McKenna's Creamery on Main Street.”
Gage got to his feet and held out a hand. “Ms. McKenna. Gage Turner. Nice to meet you.”
The woman smiled again, dimples flashing, and shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, too,” she said. “I guess there's a new sheriff in town.” She said it with a slow drawl, John Wayne-style.
“Well, Chief, actually, but . . .” He realized he was still holding her hand, shaking it slowly, and released it with a jolt.
“I'll leave you to it,” Andrews said with a smirk. “I'll just be out at my desk if you need me.”
Gage nodded at him, before turning back to the woman. “What can I do for you, Ms. McKenna?”
“Please, call me Lena,” she said. “Everybody does.”
“Lena, then.” He waved toward the chair opposite him. “Please sit down and tell me how I can help.”
He waited until she complied before taking his own seat, his hands folded on the desk before him. She fidgeted a little, her gaze drifting around the room, before she finally focused on him.
“It must be difficult coming to a new town,” she said.
Not what he expected, but he nodded slightly. “I suppose.”
“Getting to know everyone. How things work. How we do things around here.” She ran a finger along the edge of his desk. There was a crack in the laminate, he noticed.
Gage leaned back in his chair, eyeing her carefully. What was she getting to? “Are you referring to something specific, Ms. McKenna?”
“Lena.” She tucked a lock of brown hair behind her ear, dimples making a brief appearance. He had the sneaking suspicion she was trying to charm him, although he wasn't sure why.
“Lena,” he repeated. “Are you referring to something specific?”
“Well, yes. You see, there's the matter of this.” She placed a pink piece of paper onto his desk and slid it toward him, keeping one finger on the corner.
He glanced down at it briefly. “A parking ticket,” he said flatly. Seriously? She was trying to get out of a parking ticket? Gage's jaw tightened.
“Three, actually,” she said, finally releasing the ticket and crossing her arms.
“Three?”
“You've written me three parking tickets over the past week,” she said. “For parking in the alley behind my shop.”
“Ah, I see,” Gage said. He opened his desk drawer and pulled out a town map, smoothing it out on his desk. “Main Street, you say?”
“Yes, Main and Chamberlain,” she said, leaning forward to point out the shop on the map.
“Well, Lena, these areas marked in red are No Parking Zones.” He tapped the spot with a finger. “That includes the alley behind your shop, I'm afraid.”
He heard a hissing sound and realized Lena was inhaling deeply and blowing it out between her teeth. “I'm aware that technically it may be a No Parking Zone—”
“There's no technically about it,” he said with an apologetic shrug. “It is a No Parking Zone, so I'm sorry, but you'll have to find another place to park.”
Lena clutched her hands together, fingers twisting in her lap. “But I've been parking there for years. My parents—my grandparents always parked there. It's easier to unload supplies into the kitchen, and it leaves the spots in the front open for customers.”
Gage was starting to get irritated. “That may very well be, but the fact remains, parking is not allowed in the alley.”
“But that's ridiculous!”
“You're welcome to take up the issue with the town council,” he said. “Perhaps you can get them to change the zoning.”
Lena snorted. “That would take forever. They only take up zoning requests once a year!”
“I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do,” Gage said abruptly. “It's the law.”
Lena jumped to her feet and planted her hands on the desk, looming over him. “The law is stupid!” she snapped. Then she closed her eyes and breathed in deeply once again. When she opened them, she smiled, dimples creasing her cheeks. “Couldn't you make an exception? I mean, nobody goes back there anyway.”
“Lena—”
“And I'll keep my car out of sight of the street. No one would even know.” She widened her eyes, pouring on the innocence. “I promise.”
Gage got to his feet, smirking a little when she had to look up at him. “I'm afraid not,” he said. “The law's the law.” The idea that she thought she could manipulate him with big, brown doe-eyes and dimples was ludicrous. Gage would not be manipulated. Lena McKenna wasn't the first to try, and he was certain she wouldn't be the last.
Lena's eyes narrowed, her jaw twitched. “You're new in town, so I understand you're still making your way, but we tend to look out for each other around here. Help each other out. Couldn't you help me out with this?”
“There's nothing I can do.”
“Oh, you could,” she said. “You won't.”
“Look, Ms. McKenna,” he said, rounding the desk, his temper rising. “I understand that you think the law doesn't apply to you—”
She gasped. “I don't—”
“—but things are going to be different around here, starting now,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest. “The law will be enforced equally, for everyone, including spoiled, privileged girls who think they're above it.”
“Spoiled!” she sputtered. “How—Who do you think you are?”
He stood over her, eyes narrowed. “Like you said, there's a new sheriff in town.”
Lena stared up at him in shock, and Gage immediately felt bad for letting his temper get the best of him. “Look, I'm willing to forget the tickets you already have. Just don't park there again and we'll be good, okay?”
She glared at him. “Don't do me any favors,” she spat, grabbing up the ticket and crumpling it in her fist.
Gage shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He went to the door and opened it, waving her through. “Now if you don't mind, I have a lot of work to do.”
Lena huffed as she headed toward the door. “Oh, yes, I'm sure you do. So much crime in Holiday Junction. I'm sure you have hundreds of parking tickets to write!” She stumbled on the carpet and fell forward with a cry.
She crashed into him, and Gage caught her by the elbows as she fell into his chest. The scent of sugar and cream clung to her hair, soft against his neck, and his fingers tightened on her arms in reflex. Then, he gently pushed her away, holding her as she regained her balance.
“Sorry,” she muttered.
“Are you all right?”
“Fine, thank you,” she said, shaking off his hands. The next time she met his gaze, her eyes were hard. “Just because I'm a little clumsy, don't think I'm weak,” she said.
“I didn't—”
“Because this isn't over.” She walked out into the hall, and whirled to glare back at him. “Not by a long shot.”
He arched a brow at her. “Are you threatening a member of law enforcement?”
She reddened, flustered. “No! I mean, not with anything illegal or anything—”
“Like parking in a No Parking Zone?”
She propped her fists on her hips, the parking ticket crinkling even more. “I'm simply saying that this is a small town. And it's nice to have friends. And it's hard to make them when you're kind of a jerk!”
He leaned toward her, hands on his own hips. “I have enough friends.”
Lena's eyes narrowed even further, but she said nothing. Instead, she turned on her heel and stalked out of the station. Gage watched her go, an amused smile on his face.
“Well, I'd ask if you got everything straightened out with Lena,” Andrews said. “But from the look on her face, I'd say the answer is clear.”
Gage laughed. “Yeah, that probably could have gone better.”
“Too bad for you,” Andrews said, shaking his head.
“Why do you say that?” he asked. “She have some big connections in town, or something?”
“Worse,” Andrews replied, swiveling in his chair a little. “She makes the best ice cream in the state. And it looks to me like you'll never get to taste it.”
“It can't be that good.” Gage leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. “It's just ice cream.”
“You keep telling yourself that, Chief,” Andrews replied. “But people come from miles around for her Colossal Sundaes.”
“Huh,” he said. “Well, I'm sure it will all work out, eventually.”
“I hope so.”
Andrews went back to work, and Gage walked back into his office, chewing on the inside of his cheek. To think he'd first thought Lena McKenna was cute. That woman was no kitten. She was a mountain lion.
“I have enough friends,” Lena said in a low voice, mimicking Gage Turner. “I mean, who says that?”
“You're right. He's horrible,” her friend, Violet, agreed, stirring some sweetener into her coffee.
The two of them were seated by the window at the Daily Grind, the coffee shop next door to the bookstore owned by Vi's mother. Lena had sent Vi a 911 text after leaving the police station, and was now indulging in a good, long, rant.
Vi was listening attentively. That's what friends are for, after all.
“I mean, I tried to be nice.” Lena gathered up her long, brown hair, then let it fall. “I tried to reason with him. But there is no reasoning with a guy like that. Can you believe he called me spoiled?”
“Did you use the dimples?” Vi asked, licking the foam off her spoon. “The dimples are a potent weapon.”
Lena frowned at her. “You're not taking this seriously.”
Vi sat back and crossed her arms, blue eyes wide and serious. “Of course I am. But do you think . . . maybe . . . you might be taking it a tad too seriously?”
Lena crinkled her nose, unwilling to admit her friend might be right. She knew it was only some parking tickets. But the smug way he told her she'd have to find someplace else to park? The way he'd just come in and made himself at home in Holiday Junction? It aggravated her to no end.
“It's just so annoying,” she said, definitely not whining. “What right does he have to come in and make changes?”
“Well, he is the Chief of Police.” Vi tucked a blonde curl behind her ear.
“Whose side are you on, anyway?”
“I'm on your side, Lena,” Vi replied. “But I don't understand what you can do about any of this. He has the law on his side.”
Lena slumped into her seat. “I know. Which makes it even more annoying.”
Vi took a sip of her coffee and eyed Lena thoughtfully. “Are you sure that's all it is?”
Lena broke off a piece of her cranberry scone. “What do you mean?” She popped it into her mouth and chewed, the sweet-tartness making her feel a little better.
Vi shrugged. “I haven't met the Chief yet,” Vi replied. “But I've seen him. He's pretty hot.”
Lena choked on her scone. “What?” She reached for her coffee and swallowed a lukewarm gulp. “That's—”
Well, it was true, actually. Gage Turner was tall and muscular, with a strong jaw and piercing green eyes. Yes, she'd noticed, especially when she'd tripped and practically fallen on top of him.
But she wasn't going to admit that. Not even to Vi.
“Oh, come on, you can't deny it,” Vi prodded.
Lena shrugged. “Okay, so he's kind of okay looking,” she said.
“Don't hurt yourself,” Vi said wryly.
“Why are you checking him out, anyway?” Lena asked, dying to change the subject. “You have a boyfriend.”
Vi smirked. “Doesn't mean I'm dead.”
“Shameful,” Lena said on an outraged gasp.
Vi laughed and shoved up the sleeves of her bright yellow sweater. Lena was kind of jealous that she could carry off that color. It would make her look like a corpse.
“All I'm saying is you could do worse,” Vi said with a shrug.
“And now you sound like my mother.”
Vi snorted. “Well, he has a good job. He's responsible. Law-abiding, obviously.” Her lips twitched. “And add a good dose of hotness on top of that? A recipe for success, if you ask me.”
“Well, I didn't ask you,” Lena grumped. “Besides, I've been there, done that with guys like him. It never turns out well.”
“Guys like him? What do you mean?” Vi asked.
“Good looking, Alpha males who turn out to be controlling jerks,” Lena replied. She'd always been attracted to strong, powerful guys . . . until they decided they wanted to use that power on her.
Never again.
“Well, like I said, I don't know the guy,” Vi replied, cradling her cup between her hands. “But I think you might be judging him a little harshly.”
“I'm not judging him,” Lena said. “I'm making observations based on recent experiences. Besides, Gage Turner's dating potential is irrelevant.” She waved a hand. “He’s not interested in me, and I'm definitely not interested in him, or anyone else, for that matter. I'm not giving someone that kind of control over my life.”
“Wow, cynical, party of one?” Vi said, sitting back and crossing her legs as she tapped a finger on the table. “Is that what you think about me? About Kade?”
“No,” Lena said quickly. “You and Kade are an exception to the rule. But Kade's one in a million. Most guys aren't like him.”
Vi studied her for a moment, her eyes sad. “I think you'd be surprised.”
Lena looked away, watching the street outside, but not seeing anything. “It's not worth the risk,” she said quietly. “Not for me.”
It had taken her so long to get over it, the last time. So long for her to regain any semblance of self-esteem, of self-worth. Therapy and support from her family were the only things that got her through, and there was no way Lena would go backward. To once again become that person who had crawled home, heartbroken and alone, a shadow of who she once was.
“Hey.” Vi reached out and touched her hand. “Are you okay?”
Lena blinked away the first prickle of tears. “I'm fine.” Vi was an old friend, but this wasn't something Lena felt comfortable sharing. Not yet, and definitely not in public. “Just trust me. Not everyone gets a happy ending.”
Vi opened her mouth, like she was going to say something, but then closed it, frowning slightly.
“Anyway, what are you doing
this weekend?” Lena asked, taking another bite of her scone.
Vi's eyes narrowed, and Lena thought for a moment she wasn't going to let the change of subject fly, but then she sighed. “Big party at the Shamrock tomorrow night. To welcome the new police chief.”
“Ugh.” Lena knocked her head against the window. “I totally forgot about that.”
“Are you going?”
“Well, I can't go now, can I?” Lena asked, tugging at her hair a little. “I can't be in the same room with that man.”
Vi's lips quirked. “You belong in one of my drama classes.”
“Shut up,” she muttered. “I don’t know if I can get out of it. Braden made me promise I'd come and bring the ice cream for the Guinness floats.”
Vi grimaced. “Guinness floats? Really?”
She shrugged. “It's actually pretty delicious. You'll have to try one with my salted caramel.”
Vi looked skeptical, but she didn't argue the point. “So, you are going then.”
Lena chewed on the inside of her cheek. “Maybe I could stop by and put the ice cream in Braden's freezer without him noticing.”
“You really think your brother is going to let that fly?”
“I could say I have the flu.”
“Only if you want your mother showing up on your doorstep with a pot of chicken soup,” Vi pointed out.
Lena crossed her arms on the table and flopped her head down on top of them. “I'm doomed.” She felt a poke and peered up at Vi.
“You're both adults,” she said. “Just do the adult thing and go to the party. Nothing says you have to talk to him.”
Lena sat up. “You're right. Why should I let him chase me away from my own brother's bar?”
“That's the spirit!”
“Besides, maybe we just got off on the wrong foot,” she said, a plan forming. “Maybe it's not too late to turn this whole thing around.”
“Exactly,” Vi said, pointing at her in agreement. “Lena McKenna is no quitter.”
Lena’s Lucky Charm: Love in Holiday Junction, Book 2 Page 2
