by Amy O'Neill
In spite of the tension in the room, she laughed. “No Sir. I mean there are some who think I am, but nuthin’ medically proven.”
The officer smirked at her and motioned for her to turn around. She understood that he had to handcuff her, but she still had to protest some. “This really isn’t necessary, ya know.”
He leaned toward her and she could feel his breath against her ear. She got shivers again, but this time the tingles seemed to rush to her heart and femininity. She clinched her teeth to fight off the feeling. That was the last thing she needed.
His voice was low as he whispered. “Yeah, I know. But my partner, Kindergarten Cop over there, does everything by the book. Personally I wouldn’t handcuff you, at least not like this.”
Noelle jerked her head around to look at him. She stared, open-mouthed, “You didn’t just hit on me, did you?”
The officer grinned. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
He led her to a chair and turned to his partner. “Happy now?”
The other officer lowered his gun and put it back in the holster. He took out a notepad and walked over to the drunk to get a statement.
Noelle scoffed. “Why don’t you ask me what happened first? He’s not gonna remember a damn thing in the mornin’.”
The other officer glared at her. “He is the one that called in the B & E.”
She huffed. “I didn’t break in! I got the wrong room number. Go look in my duffle bag, there’s a master room key. I just got a job working here and the owner is letting me stay here too. I thought this was my room, number 6.”
Officer Torres looked at her and then went to the door and opened it. He tapped the metal number on the door and it swung back and forth on the single screw. He shrugged and looked at his partner. “Makes sense to me. What do you think Fitzer?”
Officer Fitzer stared at Officer Torres, then Noelle, then the drunk, then back around again. He looked at the man sitting on the bed, “Can you look and see if any of your things have been tampered with?”
The man got up and opened the dresser drawers and riffled through his clothing. “Everything is fine here.”
He walked into the bathroom and came out with the semi-damp bathrobe. “She wore my robe.”
Officer Fitzer turned to her. “Is that true Ma’am?”
Noelle nodded. “Well yeah. I thought it was something the hotel offered. It was an honest to goodness mistake.”
Just then, Delphine appeared in the open doorway. “What the hell is going on in here?”
Noelle’s face turned red and she lowered her head. She’d had a job for a few hours and already she was gonna lose it. She took a deep breath and looked at her boss. “I’m sorry Delphine. I got mixed up and went to the wrong room. I swear I wasn’t tryin’ to cause any trouble.”
Delphine put her hands on her hips and eyed everyone. Finally she nodded. “I’ll have to fix the door number in the morning, I forgot that needed tightened. Just don’t go into another room again unless I tell you.”
Noelle kept the relief inside and nodded. “Thank you.”
Delphine waved her off and pointed to the drunk. “Ol’ Charlie here needs to pack his crap and get out of my motel. Drunk bastard is a pain in my ass.”
“Now Delphine, what the hell have I done to you?”, the drunk asked through slurred words.
Delphine rolled her eyes and looked at the officers. “Did you see how he parked out there? Yesterday he sideswiped my car when he came roaring in at three in the morning. I called it in but your donut buddies never followed up.”
Noelle’s eyes got wide and she tried not to crack a smile. That only lasted until Officer Torres let out a chuckle and nodded. “Fitzer, go check and see what’s in the system.”
Officer Torres walked over to Charlie and made him turn around to be handcuffed.
Charlie began to swear. Noelle caught snippets of “Last damn time I give my money to that bitch … flea bag hole in the wall … should be condemned.”
Delphine calmly walked over to the dresser and got an armload of his stuff. She turned around and walked out the door, before heaving everything over the balcony railing and onto the hood of his Cadillac below.
“What the hell was that for?”
Delphine smiled sweetly at Charlie and batted her eyes. “Well I wouldn’t want you getting your crap all flea infested now would I?”
Noelle really did laugh then. Working with Delphine was going to be quite an adventure. Delphine nodded to her, winked, and called out as she walked away, “See you in the morning. Go get some sleep.”
Noelle stood and turned around so Officer Torres could remove the handcuffs. Once he did, she rubbed her wrists and reached for her bag.
His gentle hand blocked her from picking the bag up. “I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name.”
She turned to look at him. He was grinning again and she noticed how straight and white his teeth were. He really did have a nice smile. His eyes were warm brown eyes and the corners crinkled when he laughed.
She steeled herself before her fantasizing could take a steamy turn. The last thing she needed was to get all gooey over a guy, especially a cop!
“I didn’t give my name.”
Officer Torres continued to watch her, expectantly waiting. Noelle wouldn’t budge, though. She grabbed her bag and stood up. “If you’re all done with me I’d like to go to my real room now.”
Officer Fitzer came in and confirmed the hit and run Delphine had reported the day before. He read Charlie his rights as Noelle headed for the door.
Officer Torres followed her out. “Were you at the beach earlier?”
Noelle swung around and nearly knocked into him. “What the hell, are you following me for a reason?”
Officer Torres looked out to the parking lot and pointed to the U-Haul. “That was you, wasn’t it?”
Noelle wanted to tell him to get lost, but something told her he’d just continue to badger her. “Yeah, what about it?”
He shrugged. “Nothing at all. My friend’s wife was the bride you were talking too.”
Noelle felt her guard go down a bit. “She was really nice.”
He smiled. “Yeah, Avery’s a sweetheart.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Trent.”
She stared at him and debated telling him her name. No way would she give her last name, but didn’t see the harm in telling him her first. “Noelle.”
“Noelle?” He gave her a prodding look like he wanted more info.
She shook her head. “Just … Noelle.”
Trent nodded, “Well, ok Just Noelle. Nice to meet you. From the accent and the U-haul is it safe to say you are new in town?”
She rolled her eyes and turned to continue walking to her room. “What gave your that clue, Sherlock?”
He laughed behind her and she liked the sound, the corner of her mouth twitched up just a bit.
“Ay, Dios mio! Are you always so feisty?”
She unlocked her room and opened the door. Noelle turned to look at him as he leaned against the door jam. He was at least six feet tall with strong, muscular arms. His dark brown hair was damp, and curled slightly at the nape of his neck. She was willing to guess he’d just started his day.
Noelle nodded. “My momma always said I was.”
He smiled again and she really wished he would stop that. She also wished she would stop having such a physical response to it. She took a deep breath to slow her racing heart.
“I’m gonna close the door now, but you have yourself a good day.”
He winked at her. “It’s looking good so far. How about I …”
Noelle closed the door before he could say any more. She leaned against it and swore she could feel electricity zap through to connect with him on the other side.
After another moment, she heard his footsteps retreat. Noelle stepped away from the door and dropped her bag on the table. She fell onto the bed, but knew there would be no sleep.
Even if she closed her eyes, there woul
d be a certain officer waiting to tease her in her dreams.
Trent gawked at the closed door and shook his head. Never in his life had a woman slammed a door in his face. Well, at least never on the initial meeting. Yet here he was staring at the chipping red paint on the door of Room 6 at Seaside Escape Motel.
He didn’t like the feeling he was having at the moment. It felt too close to rejection and left a bad taste in his mouth. Normally when a woman threw up so many walls he gladly walked away, but for some reason with this Noelle woman he wanted to get closer.
Trent rolled his eyes at himself and walked back to assist his partner, Todd Fitzer. He looked out to the parking lot and noticed the Arkansas license plate on the front of the U-Haul. He stopped long enough to write it down in his notepad.
For the moment he didn’t know what he would do with that piece of information; it wasn’t as if she’d done anything to warrant him running the plates through the system.
There was something more to her. Sure he could chalk it up to the investigative instincts associated with his job, but what he wanted to know about her had nothing to do with upholding the law.
CHAPTER THREE
Noelle straightened the bedcover and stood up. Her back was aching. It had been a long time since she’d done such physical work. For the last few years, her job had been catering to Lenny, and though it was demanding, it was nothing like this.
She actually enjoyed this work. The smell of the floor cleaner, the sound the crisp sheets made as she unfolded them, there was something beautifully poetic about the ordinary tasks of cleaning hotel rooms. There was something comforting in the mundane repetitiveness.
Three days had passed since her run in with the police. Already she was falling into a routine of working in the morning, sightseeing in the afternoon, and watching the sunset at the beach in the evening. Noelle loved her new life, even if it wasn’t anything extra special … it was hers.
Delphine knocked on the door before walking into the room. “Looks great. How are things going?”
Noelle smiled. “They’re good. I made ten bucks in tips from the old couple who stayed in the honeymoon suite.”
Delphine nodded. “Yeah, once in a while you’ll find people are considerate enough to tip you. Most people don’t think twice about it. Don’t spend it all in one place.”
Noelle laughed. “No worries there. I got enough food to get me through until the weekend. For now I’m saving everything to get my own place.”
After a second she held up her hands. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to sound like I don’t like it here, I do, it’s just …”
Delphine waved her off. “It’s just not a real home. I know, I get it.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. And for the love of God, stop saying you are sorry.”
Noelle smiled again. “My momma always told me that.”
Delphine smiled at her, “Your momma is right.”
“Was.”
Delphine looked at her. “What?”
Noelle stuffed the dirty laundry in the bag on her cart and kept her eyes down. “My momma was right. She died last year.”
Delphine let out a sigh. “I’m sorry to hear that. What about the rest of your family?”
Noelle looked up at her and debated on making something up, but she was used to the reality of it. “I ain’t got any.”
Delphine nodded. “So you don’t have your mom and my daughter took off. Well ain’t we a pair?”
Noelle nodded. “I reckon so.”
Delphine laughed again. “Well how about I look out for you and you look out for me?”
Noelle smiled. Delphine’s no nonsense attitude reminded her of her mother. Even when her father left, her momma had never let on like it bothered her, she just did what she had to do to get through every day and take care of her child.
“I like that idea,” Noelle said. “But I’m pretty sure I won’t be looking out for you so much. I think I’m gonna learn a thing or two about sticking up for myself from you.”
Delphine smiled again. Noelle had noticed that as the days went on, she was doing that more. That, and smoking less.
“Well I imagine you stick up for yourself just fine. After all, you left that asshole boyfriend of yours. Some women can’t do that because they are too scared.”
Noelle nodded in understanding. “Oh, I was scared all right. But after awhile I got more worried if I’d survive to care about what he would do.”
Delphine swore. “I guessed as much. Your bruises are all gone now. That must make you feel better.”
Noelle absently touched the corner of her eye where the skin was back to its normal creamy tone. “You noticed them?”
Delphine laughed, but there was no humor there. “Honey, I know the ball cap-and-glasses look better than some. I have so many damn ex-husbands because I kept running from them. Sure they seem all sweet, but my radar for a real good man broke a long time ago.”
Noelle shook her head. “I don’t have radar, nor do I want any. I think I’m going to enjoy just being alone for a while.”
Delphine followed her out of the room and along the sidewalk to the next room. “Are you sure? I saw Trent eyeing you the other night.”
Noelle could feel the blush creep across her face. She kept her head down and unlocked the door. “I don’t know what you’re talkin’ ‘bout.”
Delphine snorted. “What the hell ever. Those rosy cheeks are a dead giveaway.”
Noelle looked at Delphine and shook her head. “He was okay. But I’m not interested. And really, I think he’s more about the chase than anything.”
Delphine shrugged, grabbed the window cleaner, and opened the curtains. “Girl, when someone is that damn cute you let yourself get caught. Even if he’s gonna let you go in the morning, you enjoy the night.”
Noelle stripped the sheets off the bed and laughed. “Maybe I’m gonna have to keep an eye on you after all!”
Trent stared at the license number he’d written in his notepad. It was becoming almost an obsession to stare at it, by this point he knew it by heart - Y67 BZ8.
He drummed his pen against the paper and swore. Unable to stop himself any longer, he typed the identification into the computer and waited as it was run through the system. It finally came back as being registered to a rental company in Batesville, Arkansas.
Trent leaned back in his chair and rested his hands across his chest. Well, he thought, explains the cute accent.
His desk phone rang and he picked it up. “La Jolla Police Department, this is Officer Torres.”
“Hola, mi niño. Como estas?”
Trent smiled. He was thirty-two years old but his grandma, his abuelita, still called him her niño – little one. “I’m good abuelita. How are you?”
“Estoy bien. When are you coming over? It’s been weeks, niño. I need to see you. No queros tu abuelita?”
He laughed. “Of course I still love you. I’ve been busy with work and Damien and Avery got married last weekend. I promise I’ll come see you Saturday.”
His grandmother scoffed on the other end. “No, no. I could be muerto by then.”
Trent tried not to laugh. “Abuelita, you have been saying that for years, yet you aren’t dead. And knowing you, I’m pretty sure you will still be alive Saturday.”
“Lo sé.”
“I know you know. What are you up to? You never call me at work unless you’re up to something.”
He could almost see the innocent face she was giving on the other end. “Mijo, why do I have to be up to something. Te quero.”
“I love you too, Abuelita. I’ll see you in a few days. Behave yourself.”
She laughed and Trent smiled brighter. He loved making her laugh. “Siempre, mijo.”
Always, my ass, he thought. Trent hung up and rolled his eyes.
His grandmother had been one of his primary caregivers growing up. Sure his mother was around, but she’d worked all the time to support the extended fa
mily so he and his sister, Marisol, had stayed with his grandmother, and his aunts, and his uncles. He loved his extremely large family, but more and more he felt like the odd man out. They all had families of their own now and he had … himself.
Fitzer slapped him on the back and Trent was knocked off his train of thought.
“What’s up?”
Todd nodded toward the screen. “What are you working on?”
Trent closed the program and turned off the monitor. “Nothing, was just looking up something.”
Trent really didn’t like Todd, but he’d drawn the shortest stick on who got the newest recruit from the police academy. He hated rookies. They were black-and-white thinkers, but everything wasn’t always that way.
Trent also disliked Fitzer because he was so Type A it was sickening. He’d never seen a man be so methodical on how he did everything – he ate everything on his plate clockwise, his desk had nothing on it, and he was more metrosexual than him – and that was saying something considering the amount of money Trent spent on hair care products alone.
“So are you ready to head out or are you going to sit at the desk all day?”
He really did have to fight the urge to call Todd ‘Kindergarten Cop’. The kid couldn’t be more than twenty, so not only was he a rookie, he was practically a baby.
Trent stood up and grabbed his hat. “Yeah, we can go. I want to stop back by Seaside Escape just to check in with that lady from the other night.”
“Oh really?” The smirk that Todd gave him made it really hard not to reach out and deck him.
Trent walked out the side door and headed for their patrol car. “Yeah, really. I consider it to be gentlemanly to make sure she’s ok. I imagine it must have been scary to wake up in a strange place with some drunk screaming at her.”
Todd shrugged and got in on the passenger side. “With as many calls as we’ve been on in the last few months, I don’t ever remember going back to check up on any of them.”
Trent put the key in the ignition and barely waited for Todd to buckle up before he pulled out of the police lot. He wasn’t going to justify his actions.
