by Seana Kelly
“You’ll protect me, right, Chaucer?” And then I realized that my baby wasn’t in the bathroom with me. I opened the door, and he trotted right in. “You gotta stay with me, buddy. We’re traveling behind enemy lines here.” I assessed my pup’s abilities. “Unless you were on a reconnaissance mission...” I leaned forward and kissed his head. He gave me a sweet doggy grin before rolling to the floor to wait me out.
I turned on the shower and peeled off the clothes I was wearing. I’d left my suitcase up here, figuring this is where I’d be dressing. Hopping from foot to foot, icy tiles leeching away precious body heat, I decided a carpet was needed in here. Slippers would be good, too. Some of those big, wooly jobs.
I leaned into the shower to test the temperature. Gran, or perhaps Mr. Cavanaugh, had kept up with repairs because the water quickly became hot. It felt heavenly. It pounded into my tight, sore muscles. I used supermarket shampoo and conditioner I’d purchased on the road, nothing salon tested to straighten curly hair. And I wasn’t going to blow it straight, either. Screw Justin and his hatred of curls. You know what I hated? Cheating bastards.
I’d canceled my last hair-straightening appointment, the result of a combination of being distraught and a fairly pathetic attempt at rebellion, considering my friend Christine, who I’d been staying with at the time, couldn’t care less what I did with my hair.
After getting dressed and toweling off, I made my way through the house in my stampiest walk—screw those snickering marmosets! Chaucer assumed we were playing, and kept darting forward, lunging at my feet.
“Come on, buddy. Lots to do today. Mommy needs to figure out how to pay for your food.” Screw Justin, too! I didn’t need him. I had Gran’s house, and I was going to find a great job to support us.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Aiden
THANK GOD, I had that duffel bag in the trunk. She would have stroked out if she’d seen the opossum I pulled out of the bedroom closet. I’d need to stop at the hardware store and pick up long, thick work gloves. I wasn’t interested in contracting rabies.
I’d also need to go up every morning until the traps were empty. I should’ve called Harv, the exterminator, but she appeared to be living lean. I was not going to think about that pantry, empty except for a huge bag of dog food. She was taking care of the dog, but who was taking care of her? I shut that thought down. Not my problem.
Driving down Main Street, toward the station, I saw Chuck’s food truck back where it shouldn’t be. We’d received yet another complaint about it from the woman who ran the cupcake shop near Agamont Park. They didn’t sell the same type of food, but regardless, the food truck wasn’t allowed to park and do business within two hundred feet of a food-based business. Trudy, the cupcake lady, and Chuck, the food truck guy, had been arguing and measuring for years. I sent Mikey to answer a call yesterday, but he’d come back saying the truck had moved before he got there.
I pulled up behind the truck and got out.
Trudy rushed out of the cupcake shop. “Chief! Are you finally going to do something about that idiot? He knows he can’t park—”
“I can park anywhere I damn well please, and you know it!” His muffled voice issued from the open panel of the truck.
Trudy marched over to the open but empty panel. “Don’t you cuss at me! You know you need to park seven more spaces away from my shop!”
I wasn’t positive, but it sounded like Chuck had told her to get an effing life. Trying to head off another blowup, I stepped in front of Trudy and turned her back to her shop. “Let me handle this. I’ll be in to pick up a cupcake in just a minute.”
“Humph. That man does this on purpose! I don’t know how his wife puts up with him. She’s a saint!” She marched back into her shop, bell dinging over the door.
Stepping up to the open panel and customer counter, I peered into the dark recesses of the truck and saw nothing. “Chuck? Are you in there?”
He staggered to his feet, looking rough. “’Ey, yeah, I’m here. Just avoiding that one.”
“Everything okay?” He smelled like stale beer, but that could have been from last night.
Shuffling items on the prep table, he avoided my face. “I’m not breaking the law.” Gesturing wildly around the kitchen, he said, “Does it look like I’m cooking in here?” He reached down, twisted something open and tipped his head back, downing a whole bottle of water. A drawer slid open and slammed. “I can’t find the damn aspirin.”
“If you’re not planning to cook, why did you open the customer panel?” He looked as though he’d slept in the truck last night.
He gestured at the ceiling, eyes still down. It sounded as though he was going through every drawer he could find. “I needed the light from outside to find the aspirin. Bulb blew and I don’t have a spare. I need to see, don’t I?” He glanced out of the truck, toward the cupcake shop. “Then that one comes tearing out, yelling to wake the dead.” He shook his head, finally looking at me. “Then you show up.”
“Have you been home, Chuck? You don’t appear to be in any condition to be driving this behemoth and cooking on that grill. Maybe we should give Myra a call to pick you up.”
Making a derisive sound, he turned away and walked to the front of the truck. “Good luck with that. She’s been at her sister’s for weeks.” The engine started. I jogged around the front of the truck cab, knocking on the closed windows. He stared ahead, pointedly ignoring me. When he reached for the gearshift, I pulled my badge out of my pocket and tapped that against the window instead.
“Turn off the engine and open the damn window, Chuck.”
A long-suffering sigh was emitted before he leaned forward to turn off the ignition. He took another moment before opening the window. “What?”
“You know what? You smell like the floor of a bar. Your eyes are bloodshot and light sensitive. I need to know that you’re okay to drive.”
He grumbled as he opened the door and slid out. “I ain’t drunk. And excuse me for not lookin’ as pretty as you.”
If Myra had left him, I understood the drinking. I kept my face blank, and pulled the Breathalyzer from the back of my belt. “Take a deep breath and blow for seven seconds.”
He coughed at the end, but the readout was almost clear. He wasn’t inebriated—at least not anymore. “Okay,” I said, as I placed the machine back in its holder. “You’re clear.” I nodded my head toward the back of the truck. “You should close that back panel, though, before you drive anywhere.”
“I’ll risk it,” he grumbled, as he started up the engine.
I stepped back, but needn’t have worried as he rolled forward exactly seven parking spaces, before cutting the engine again.
Walking back to my cruiser, I saw Trudy duck her head out of the shop. Damn. I forgot I said I’d buy a cupcake. I changed direction and followed her into the store.
“That man! He is going to be the death of me.” She waved her hand, shooing away thoughts of Chuck. “Now, Chief, what would you like?” She walked behind the display case. “The white chocolate raspberry turned out especially well today. Or the chocolate ganache—it’s one of my most popular.”
I studied the perfectly iced, pastel-colored desserts, and remembered that I didn’t have much of a sweet tooth. Trudy looked so pleased, though, I could hardly walk out empty-handed.
“I’ll get a dozen. Mix ’em up any way you want.”
Her eyes got big, but she quickly folded up sheets of cardboard, creating small bakery boxes. I didn’t understand why she didn’t just use one big box. It’d be a hell of a lot easier to carry than little ones sliding all over the place. My gaze wandered to the menu board behind her. What the shit? Cupcakes were $4.50 each? No wonder she was so happy.
Driving back to the station, I thought about Katie’s empty pantry. No. Not my problem. Still...in the end, I
left three of the bakery boxes in my car, taking the other three into the station. Sap.
“Morning, Chief.”
I walked to my office, nodding at Heather, the coffeepot foremost in my thoughts. Damn, I would have to apologize to Bear today. I grabbed a cup of coffee and sat at my desk. I’d get through some paperwork first. I was not looking forward to that conversation.
An hour later, I finally found my balls and called him.
He picked up after one ring. “Hey, if it isn’t my friendly neighborhood cock blocker.”
He was not going to make this easy. “Yeah, about that. Where are you?”
“In bed with Katie. Shh, I don’t want to wake her. Poor thing, I really worked her over.”
In the silence following that statement, my stomach turned. I knew he was screwing with me, but my body reacted just the same. Bear laughed, and I decided I’d need to kill him before I apologized.
“I’m at the diner. Why?” His voice had a strange echo.
I wanted to get this over with. “Just needed to apologize and I’d rather do it in person.”
Bear laughed. “Good. Get over here and grovel. Bring my cock a present. He likes porn.” He hung up.
I put on my jacket, grabbed my phone and hat, and made my way back through the station. Nancy was in, chatting with Heather. I almost turned and went out the back door but something she said caught my attention.
“...arrested?” Her voice was gleeful with the prospect of someone being arrested.
“No, not arrested, Nancy, and you know I can’t talk about that kind of thing.”
It was Heather’s voice that had first caused me to stop. She’d sounded annoyed, even in hushed tones and across the station, which was unusual for her.
“You don’t have to say anything. I’ve already been hearing stories. I think her husband must have thrown her out.” She leaned into Heather, who shifted away. “LaraBeth told me that she had two cards confiscated at the market. I don’t know if they were stolen or in default, but they weren’t just declined. They were taken from her.”
“Oh, now, I don’t know anything about that, and I wouldn’t want to speculate. She seemed real nice when she was here. Her dog was real well behaved.” Heather shuffled papers around on her desk.
Nancy leaned down farther. “I also hear she’s been dating, still married but dating.” She tilted her head, knowingly. “Probably why her husband threw her out. She always was a wild one. I’m not the least bit surprised to learn she hasn’t changed a bit, always the center of attention, always flirting—”
I cleared my throat and Heather jumped. “Chief! What did I say about sneaking up on me?”
“Didn’t sneak,” I said, patting Heather’s shoulder, staring at Nancy.
“Chief, it’s so good to see you. I was just telling Heather how I needed to steal you away for lunch. You’re looking too thin.” She put her hand on my arm and leaned in, smiling.
I brushed her hand off. Why had I never seen the meanness before? Did I have my head so far up my ass I didn’t know that the woman throwing herself at me on a daily basis was a stone-cold bitch? Where the hell had my instincts gone?
“That didn’t sound like what you were talking about.”
Nancy waved her hand and gave a breathy laugh. “Oh, that was nothing, just some girl talk. So, how about lunch?”
“What it sounded like was you trying to spread rumors, trying to convince Heather to divulge confidential information, in short, trying to stir up trouble. Katie Gallagher is none of your business, Nancy. She’s a friend of mine. I’d think it would behoove you to show her welcome, not gossip about things you don’t understand.”
Nancy’s smile was sharp, predatory. “Oh, I think I understand just fine.” She looked me over lazily. “A friend, is she?”
I stared at Nancy as I spoke. “Heather, we’re not going to be needing Nancy’s help around here anymore. Unless she reports a crime or commits one, she has no reason to be in this building. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Chief,” Heather answered.
“Wait just a minute. You’re making a mistake. I have been helping you for a year. Now she’s back and I’m out?” Nancy’s voice had become strident.
“Nope. It’s got nothing to do with Katie. It has everything to do with my realizing exactly who it is that’s been coming in and out of this station. If I can’t trust you, I can’t have you here. It’s as simple as that.”
“Well—”
I held up my hand. “Stop. Not interested.” I pointed. “There’s the door, Nancy.” I stared at her, waiting. She sputtered a moment before giving up. Good to know my hard stare still worked. A moment later she spun, her heels clicking on the floor as she made her way out.
I shook my head. “Heather, I’m running up the block to talk with Bear. If you need me, call.”
She wore a secret smile that was all Bear’s. “Tell him I said hello.”
I said I would, and then rolled my eyes as I walked out. Fucking Bear.
A few minutes later I walked into the diner and headed back to the kitchen. The door to the cold storage room was open, so I ducked my head in. Sure enough, Bear was standing on a ladder, his head through an opened panel in the ceiling.
“Bear.”
His voice was muffled. “Just a minute. I’ve almost got it.”
I leaned against the wall and waited. He came down the ladder a couple of minutes later, wiping his hands off on a rag before stuffing the grease-stained cloth into his back pocket.
I motioned up. “What’s the problem?”
“Not sure, yet. Motor’s working fine. Now I need to check each of the cooling units to see if there’s a short.” He looked me over. “I don’t see a bouquet of porn.”
I took a deep breath. “I’m sorry I was such an asshole last night.” I shook my head. “I don’t know what the hell that was.”
“Don’t you? I never thought you were stupid, Aiden.” He just stood there and waited for me to explain myself. Bastard.
I shrugged. “It was just residual adolescent crap. I had a huge crush on her when I was a kid. She’s back now, and my brain is responding to her like it used to. It’s stupid and doesn’t mean anything. I haven’t seen her in fifteen years, and it’s not like we were ever friends or anything.”
I shook my head, trying to dislodge the image of her looking so sorrowful over that baby raccoon. “Seriously, it was just a weird chemical reaction, and it’s out of my system now.” Except that it wasn’t. The small room was making me claustrophobic, so I walked back out to the main kitchen.
Bear followed me, leaning against the cold storage door frame. Nodding slowly, he studied me. “I see. So, you’re not interested in her anymore, is that right?”
I shook my head. “No, not interested. Not interested in dating. Period.” If I said it enough times, maybe it would be true.
Bear grinned. “So, if I was to continue seeing her, you wouldn’t have a problem with that?”
I shook my head again.
Bear stepped forward and put out his hand to shake. I took it. “Well, that makes me really happy, because I got to tell you, Aiden, that is one fine woman. You know how redheaded women get my engine revving. And her ass!”
My hand jerked involuntarily.
“Ow!” He pulled out of the handshake.
“Sorry.”
Bear shook out his hand. “No problem. Listen, I’m really glad this isn’t going to be a problem for you because I am in serious lust.”
“You know she’s still married, right?”
“I can work with that. She’s in the process of a divorce, so I’m in the clear, ethically speaking. Hell, this works to my advantage. If he’s been an asshole, she’ll be more receptive to kindness and compliments. I can work with that, too. I kis
sed her good-night, and she all but melted in my arms. Trust me, I’ll be hitting that very soon.”
I don’t know what happened. I wasn’t thinking. One minute, I was standing there, listening to Bear, and the next, my fist was in his face. I never made a conscious decision to punch him. My fist was working on its own.
Bear staggered back a couple of steps, tough bastard, rubbing his jaw. “What the—”
“Leave her alone.” Enraged, it took all my self-control not to punch him again.
“What is with you? I’m supposed to keep my hands off her just because you had a crush on her when you were ten? Screw that. You don’t date. I do. And I cannot wait to sink into that one.”
I was very close to beating him. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt this angry. I shook out my arms and turned my back on him, leaving before I did something that’d get me arrested. “Don’t talk about her like that. And leave her alone!”
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen, but thanks for stopping by, Chief.”
As I slammed the front door, I heard him laughing. Bastard.
It was a testament to how much Katie messed with my head that it wasn’t until I made it back to my office and slammed the door that I realized Bear had just been baiting me. Damn. I had it bad. And Bear knew.
I tried to put Bear, Katie and that punch out of my mind so I could work, but I kept hitting a wall, a Katie-shaped wall. The attraction was still there, but that was all it was. I barely knew Katie, then or now.
I needed to get my head screwed back on right. I wouldn’t go down that road again. All I had to do was think about those people who’d come to town for the wedding, staring at me with sympathetic eyes, to put it back in perspective. No more damn rings and caterers, designer dresses and reception halls. It was bullshit, and I’d already been burned once. Katie wasn’t mine and never would be. If it wasn’t Bear, it would be someone else, and as much as I hated to admit it, Bear was a good man who would treat her well.
