Mitch loosened his tie. “Are you gossiping too?”
Reece raised a brow in an expression of indignation. “It’s not gossip. This is news.”
“Right. Right. News.”
“You want to know or not?”
“I’m not even sure what you’re talking about, but feel free to keep rambling.”
“Heard from Luna that Daisy is interested in the empty bakery shop.”
“That’s old news.”
Reece shook his head. “Patience. That was my warm-up information. Daisy asked me if I knew someone who could help her with painting and minor reno work on the inside. Apparently, her loan was approved and she’s eager to get started.”
“Where’s this story going?”
“I introduced her to Scott Turner. He does small reno jobs in the area.”
“You aren’t talking about Smooth Move Turner, are you?”
“Yeah, Scott Turner.” Reece looked at Mitch. “That was a high school nickname.”
Mitch knew he was scowling, but couldn’t help himself.
“You have a problem with Scott?”
“I’m just saying that Daisy is one of our own now. If anyone’s going to help her, it ought to be someone from Rebel. Scott is in Hominy.”
“He grew up here,” Reece said.
“He doesn’t live here now,” Mitch quickly returned, his annoyance growing. As he recalled, Scott Turner was way too tall, dark and handsome. Probably couldn’t paint worth a hoot either.
“If you say so.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Mitch asked.
“It means that I’ll tell Luna you volunteered for the job. I told her you would.”
Mitch blinked. He turned slowly and stared at his brother. “You set me up.”
“Think so?” Reece burst out laughing.
“I do,” Mitch muttered.
“You fell for it, buddy. Hook, line, sinker and a couple of rubber worms, as well.”
“Unbelievable,” Mitch said with a laugh. “You’re quite the matchmaker, aren’t you?”
“I try, since I seem to be able to see what you clearly do not.”
“I see more than I let on. Your day will come, little brother. When that happens, I’ll be first in line to watch you fall.”
“Nope, not me. I let the right one slip away a long time ago. My advice to you is not to repeat my mistake.”
At that very moment, Daisy turned her head. The curtain of strawberry waves moved and settled on her shoulders. When she met his gaze from across the room, her face lit up. She smiled, slow and sweet. Mitch found himself stunned silent, his chest tight.
“Would you look at that? That smile was just for you,” Reece said. “Your days are numbered. Women like Daisy don’t come along in Rebel every day.”
“That much I can agree with.”
Reece set down his soda and dusted off his hands. “All right then. My work here is done.”
Mitch shook his head, his gaze following his brother as he left. When he turned back, Daisy began to cross the room toward him.
“Ready to go?” he asked.
“You don’t mind that I didn’t dance?”
“Confession. I’m a really terrible dancer. Dancing in public is something that I should avoid.”
Daisy laughed.
Mitch placed a hand to the small of her back and escorted her to the double doors, holding them open for her.
Outside he could still hear the soft refrain of the band. He stopped and turned to Daisy. “Hear that?”
“Uh-huh. I love that song.”
“Let’s dance badly to the music, right out here where no one will know.”
Her eyes sparkled with mirth. “I love that idea.”
Mitch held out his hand and she placed hers in his. He wouldn’t have believed ten weeks ago that he’d be dancing with Daisy beneath the stars to the muted sounds of a band while occasionally stumbling, and then giggling like a kid. He didn’t believe it now.
When the music stopped, Daisy smiled up into his face. “That was wonderful. Thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
They were silent as they walked toward the truck. The evening breeze brought a welcoming warmth after hours in air-conditioning. He unlocked the passenger door of his truck and offered his hand once more.
Settling her inside, he closed the door carefully and got in on his side of the vehicle.
“So what’s the verdict?” he asked as he started the truck. “Successful event?”
“Yes,” Daisy said. “I even had people asking when we were going to start up our safety classes again.”
“That’s good, right?”
“It is, and I thought once a quarter would be good for the classes. We can hold them at the community center when it opens in September.”
Mitch nodded slowly. “I heard your loan was approved.”
“Yes. I should have told you, but it’s been such a busy week and I only found out a few days ago.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” She looked at him across the dark truck cab. “You’re still okay with it?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Maybe you think it’s a conflict of interest with my day job.”
“Not at all. It’s only one day a week.” He could live with one day a week. Mitch glanced over at her. “So what’s next?”
Her voice became excited. “The walls need patching and paint, and I’d like to add shelf space.”
“Paint ought to be easy.”
“Yes. Luna said she had someone in mind for that.”
“You’re looking at him.”
Mitch pulled the car into Daisy’s drive.
“What? No. You’ve done enough, and I can afford to hire someone now.”
“I offered.”
He parked and came around to open her door and help her down from the truck.
“When do you want to get started?” he asked.
“Mitch, only if you let me pay you for your time.”
“In pies.”
“Pies again. I’ll need you to make a list of everyone I owe pies.”
“Fair enough.” As long as Daisy was in Rebel making pies, he’d be a happy guy. Truth was, he’d miss the pies if she left, but he’d miss her more. That was a recent revelation he was adjusting to. He followed her to the back door, where she searched in the little silver bag for her keys.
“Um, Daisy?”
She glanced up at him.
“Tonight was fun, wasn’t it?”
Her purse fell to the ground and the contents scattered, rolling over the porch floor. Mitch reached for a tube of lipstick headed for grass.
“Sorry. I’ve got the clumsies tonight.” She had managed to grab everything else and shove it back in her purse before he could. Daisy raised her head. “Found the keys.”
“Did you hear me?” He repeated the question.
“Yes. Yes. I enjoyed myself.” The keys jangled as she unlocked the door.
He frowned. Daisy’s response wasn’t quite what he’d hoped for. Now he found himself uncertain of his next step. Shake her hand? Kiss her cheek? What was the protocol here?
“I need to relieve the babysitter,” Daisy said, her gaze darting toward the house.
“Sure.”
“Um, Mitch?”
“Yeah?”
Her hand lifted, and she lay her palm on his cheek. “You’re a good man.”
Mitch couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak while she touched him.
Then, as if in slow motion, Daisy stood on her tiptoes and gently pressed her lips to his. “Good night.”
She slipped into the house and Mitch turned away, dazed, feeling like a boy again with his heart on his sleeve. That certainly he
lped his protocol decision.
She kissed him.
She kissed him, erasing all doubt that he was in love with her.
He stopped walking as the realization slammed into him. He was in love with Daisy and he couldn’t tell her, because, well, he was her boss.
He’d broken all his rules. Not only had he fallen in love with Daisy, but he’d fallen in love with every last one of her children.
Chapter Ten
Daisy wiped the sweat from her brow and glanced at her dash clock. One p.m. on a Friday. Soon, the dog days of summer would be over. The heat sizzled and rose in waves from the streets of Rebel. She didn’t know hot could be this hot.
Two weeks, and she’d take the kids for the promised excursion to Tulsa to shop for school clothes. Mitch asked if he could go with them. Although she was pretty sure Seth had suggested that, she was all in. She’d been demoted by an eight-year-old who wanted a guy to help him pick out clothes. Mitch seemed eager for the adventure, and even suggested a visit to the Tulsa Zoo while they were in town. Daisy nearly fell over when he brought it up.
She hadn’t planned for someone like Mitch to come into her life, but there it was. Every single day she thanked God for his friendship, and whatever dance it was they were doing toward a future.
The man had even stopped by the house the last two Saturdays to help her bake pies. Said he owed it to her for promising so many people. They were quite a baking team, although once she was so distracted by the sight of him in an apron she burned an apple pie.
First time ever. Daisy didn’t burn pies, as her grandmother had pointed out numerous times since.
There wasn’t even a breeze as she sat in the patrol vehicle at the corner of Main and Second Street, hoping for an uneventful end of shift. Daisy closed all the windows of the vehicle, and turned on the engine to give herself a short reprieve and blast the air-conditioning.
Once again, she checked the clock. The paint she’d ordered was ready. By evening she’d be assisting Mitch as he painted the bakery walls Happy Valley Yellow. She could hardly wait.
When the traffic light changed from yellow to red, car horns blared as a Toyota Camry sailed through the intersection, oblivious to the red light.
Daisy knew she’d jinxed herself with all her thoughts of getting off work on time.
With a sigh, she hit the lights and siren, and reached for her radio button.
“Eighteen-zero-two. In pursuit. Red Toyota Camry. Four-door. North on Main Street. License plate...” She repeated the plate number as she typed it into her laptop with her right hand.
“Roger that, 1802.”
The vehicle was compliant and pulled over in response, allowing Daisy to review the results of her database search. Expired registration. Multiple outstanding warrants for moving violations.
“Eighteen-zero-nine is en route.” Henna’s voice came over her radio. “Wait for backup. Eighteen-zero-nine is en route. Repeat. Wait for backup.”
Wait? There was no reason. She could certainly handle a simple traffic stop.
Daisy got out of the car and cautiously approached the Toyota from the back driver’s side. The female driver was apologetic and cooperative. Daisy took the license and returned to her patrol vehicle to run the information, then she ordered a tow truck.
Before she could finish her paperwork, another Rebel PD vehicle appeared, lights and siren engaged. The driver screeched to a halt behind hers.
Mitch.
Daisy got out of her vehicle in time to see him jump out of the Tahoe.
He strode up to her, his eye on the Camry.
“The guy has half a dozen outstanding warrants. You should have waited for backup.” His voice was cold, his eyes steely.
“The warrants are on the owner. The driver is clean. I’m going to site her for failure to yield at the red light and impound the vehicle.”
“Officer Anderson, I’m not suggesting. I’m telling you that you did not follow departmental protocol.”
Daisy flinched at his unexpected tone. “Could we talk about this later, sir?”
“Three p.m. My office.”
“Yes, sir.”
Mitch got in his Tahoe and left the scene. Daisy found herself rattled by his tone. It was her first serious altercation with him as the Rebel police chief. His reaction was over the top. Daisy kicked at a stone in the road. Everything seemed to be blown out of proportion all because of a simple traffic stop. She knew Mitch and this wasn’t going to end well.
It took another hour for the tow truck to show up, and by then she was hot, tired and cranky. A little after 3:00 p.m. she headed into the station. Henna pulled her aside in the back room.
“He’s furious, Daisy. What happened?”
“Maybe you don’t want to know.” Daisy splashed water on her face and redid the clip holding her hair in a tight knot on the back of her head. When she looked at Henna, her friend stood next to the lockers with concern in her eyes. “Hen, it’s okay. It was simply a difference of opinion.”
“Sure. Okay. Except, um, Daisy I have to tell you. I’ve known Mitch a long time, and I’ve never seen him mad. Annoyed, yes. Never mad.”
“I’m not sure if I should be proud or ashamed of that dubious honor. Though this really isn’t that big a deal.” She said the words to reassure her friend, and prayed she’d believe them by the time she got to Mitch’s office.
Henna offered a weak smile. “That’s the spirit. Go in there with your head held high. You’re a good officer, Daisy.”
“Thanks, Hen.” Daisy stood outside Mitch’s office, determined not to be devoured by the lion. Removing her ball cap, she tapped on his door.
“Come in.”
Daisy stood at attention in front of his desk as he flipped through a calendar. Her eyes focused on a spot to the right of his head.
“Have a seat, Officer Anderson.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You broke departmental protocol today.”
“Sir, I used my best judgment in the situation knowing the department is short-staffed.”
“I’m patrolling, Anderson.”
“Sir, you are when you are available.”
“All the same. Regs clearly state to wait for backup in a warrant situation.” He paused. “Any warrant situation. Period.”
Daisy said nothing, fighting the desire to shoot back a dozen responses justifying her actions. Nine years on the job and she’d never been written up. Until now. No. She would not stoop to insubordination.
Mitch got up and closed the door.
“Off the record here, Daisy. You have a family to consider. You can’t just go off headlong into potentially dangerous situations anymore.” This time he stood as he addressed her, his tone softer.
“Seriously?” For the first time since she walked in the office, she met his gaze. “That’s the card you’re playing? Everyone has a family. Gallegos, Davis, they’ve got children. Henna is an aunt. You’ve got two brothers and a sister. We all have family.”
“You’re the mother to five kids who lost their parents.”
“With all due respect, Mitch. You’re letting your past color your decisions.”
“Yeah, and I’m the chief so that’s my prerogative.” He took a deep breath. “I know from your side of the desk it seems like I’m prejudiced against you because you’re female. If I’m being prejudicial, it’s because of your parenting situation and our friendship. Not your gender. What will happen to those kids if you are killed on the job? Alice is seventy-three. What happens if she’s unable to care for them? PJ is a baby. Will they all go into foster care?”
His words slammed into her on a heavy wave of emotion, and she couldn’t speak. Every nightmare of every night since her sister died crashed through her mind. The grief of that horrible day when she lost Deb once again came at her like a vicious punch to the
gut, and she flinched.
Her brain countered. This was her job. She didn’t have the luxury of choices.
Or did she?
They were both quiet for a long time, until Mitch cleared his throat. “This was a bad idea. I can’t do this.”
“Do what?” she implored, searching his dark eyes.
“Us. I can’t do us.” He rubbed his sternum with his fist, as though in pain. “I take care of this whole town. That’s my job. I don’t have room in my life for a relationship. I can’t be responsible for one more thing.”
Daisy crossed her arms. “I never asked you to be responsible for me. I’ve taken care of myself all my life. If you recall, I’ve gone out of my way to not ask for favors or help.” She swallowed. “This is why.”
“Daisy, it’s not you. It’s me. If I get distracted, I can’t do my job.”
She inhaled sharply. “Are you blaming me for distracting you?”
“What I’m saying is that wherever you and I were going, it has to stop.” He inhaled. “You didn’t follow protocol today, but I am willing to admit that I overreacted.”
“What you’re saying is that you’re afraid. Maybe you need to ask yourself why. Then deal with whatever it is that’s holding you back from having a real life.”
“You don’t get it. Levi. His accident was my fault.” Mitch focused on the antique fishing reel on his desk.
“Mitch, your brother was T-boned by a drunk driver. It was an accident.”
He jerked his head up to meet her gaze. “How do you know that?”
“I went to the library and looked it up.”
“There are details that were not in that article.”
“So tell me. Help me understand,” she pleaded, unwilling to let him call an end to what seemed only the beginning a few hours ago.
“He needed tires. I should have bought him tires or ticketed him for the bald ones and impounded his vehicle. If I had, his car wouldn’t have slid across two lanes after it was T-boned only to be hit by oncoming traffic.”
Daisy gasped softly. “That’s awful. But none of it is your fault. You can’t control everything and everyone around you. You certainly cannot control me.”
“Yeah. I know that now. And I can’t protect you either. I can’t keep you safe, which is killing me.”
Finding the Road Home Page 18
