by Lee Rose
“I told him friendship was all I had to give him,” Alana admitted as they stood in line. “I need to concentrate on getting myself put back together. I have let myself fall into a slump for months now.”
“You’ll figure it out, Alana.” Alicia squeezed her hand in encouragement. “We’re here to help you. Meanwhile, let’s have some fun.”
Fun sounded good, so Alana gave her sister a smile and agreed. The lights of all the carnival rides were beautiful to Alana. The laughter and screams made her feel energized. She hadn’t felt this good in a long time.
Chapter 9
“Don’t you want to dunk Sheriff Romeo?” Alana teased her sister the next afternoon. Alicia had been calling Noah that for years. She loved it, knowing that Noah hated the nickname.
Her sister thought about it with an evil grin and finally gave in. “I am going to dunk him in that cold water and cheer when I do.”
Alana ignored that small voice inside that told her she just wanted an excuse to see Noah again. Logically she knew it was pointless to pursue any relationship with him unless she wanted to keep getting hurt, but it was so hard to just cut off her feelings for him. She tried accepting dates, but nothing worked. Noah owned her heart.
It was hot outside, and the two girls wore cotton shorts and tank tops. Alana had her hair up in a ponytail and off her neck. The sun was hot on their skin as Alicia parked her car and they walked down the block.
There were booths filled with arts and crafts and homemade snacks. They strolled through, greeting those they knew. Everyone wished Alana well and told her they were glad she was okay. It wasn’t as traumatic as she thought it would be. People were kind and just a little worried about crime rising in Red Hook. She assured people the sheriff thought it was an isolated incident. No other robberies had taken place.
“Are you two back together? I drove by your house and saw you two lovebirds sitting on the porch,” Mary Denison, the owner of the bakery, asked with curiosity. “I don’t think the sheriff has dated anyone in months.”
“No, ma’am. It was business.” Alana didn’t go into details. Alicia pulled her away.
They finally reached the dunk tank. Helen, Noah’s secretary, sat behind a small table with sunglasses and a big straw hat. She was collecting the money.
She smiled at them. She stood up and hugged Alana. “I am so glad to see you out and about, sweetie. I was so worried about you.”
“Thanks, Helen. I got your get-well card, and I loved it.” Alana hugged her back. She had always liked the older woman. She ran the station with a tight fist and kept those men in line. Alana admired her for that.
“Here to dunk the sheriff?” Helen asked knowingly, pointing her thumb at Noah.
“You bet we are.” Alicia spoke up with a happy smile. “Alana can’t do it, so I am doing it for her.”
Alicia bought a handful of tickets. “He is going down.”
Helen laughed and handed her a basket filled with tennis balls. “This ought to be fun to watch. I’m recording this on my phone. It could come in handy when I want a new coffeepot.”
Alana waved to Noah, who was sitting inside the tank on a small plank. She couldn’t help herself. She was weak when it came to this man. He grinned and smiled back until he saw her sister. Drake laughed at the look of determination on Alicia’s face.
“I think you are in trouble, Noah,” Drake said loudly. He wore his uniform and stood outside the dunk tank. His hair was wet, so Alana assumed he had just finished his turn. Noah glared at Drake.
Alana stood near Drake, and he immediately hugged her. He had been hanging out with her brother for years. She felt comfortable around him. Drake kissed her cheek.
“Feeling okay, sweetheart? It’s a hot day.”
Alana nodded, leaning against him. “I don’t plan on staying long. Alicia is excited to dunk your boss, and I couldn’t resist watching. Ray would be here, but he is too busy.”
Drake laughed and watched Alicia give Noah a mean look.
Noah laughed. “Your arms look kind of puny there, Garcia. I am not worried.”
Alana groaned. She tried to get Noah to look her way, but he was concentrating on Alicia. “Oh no. He is in so much trouble now. We might be here for hours.”
Drake laughed. “This ought to be good.”
Alicia threw the first ball and missed.
Noah laughed and said, “I told you so.”
A small crowd gathered around to watch. A few women cheered Alicia on.
Alicia missed the second ball. On the third ball, she hit the bull’s-eye, and Noah went under. The crowd cheered, and Alicia high-fived Alana and Drake.
“You’re supposed to be on my side, Drake,” Noah muttered, standing up in the waist-high water.
Alana had to admire his firm, bare chest with water dripping down his tanned skin. His black swimming trunks rode low on his hips, and Alana had to look away for a minute, or she just might have attacked his sexy body. She was going to need a cool drink after this.
Alicia dunked him twice more before getting bored. Noah stepped out of the tank and stood in front of Drake and Alana. He glared at Drake until Drake removed his arm from Alana’s shoulder.
“Um, I should go patrol.” Drake smiled. He winked down at Alana and kissed her cheek again before walking away.
Alana did her best to hide her smile. It felt good to see that Noah was jealous. She had experienced plenty of that emotion over the years.
Noah’s narrow eyes focused on her, but she would not let herself squirm under his gaze.
“Thanks for bringing your sister to dunk me,” he said with a bit of an attitude. “Are Ray and your parents next?”
“If they could get away, they would be here. But at least I didn’t go up to the target and push it,” she answered, looking innocent.
Noah shook his hair, and cold, wet drops landed on her bare arms and neck. Alana shrieked and slapped his arm. He laughed and tried to hug her. She playfully pushed him away.
Alicia walked up to them, looking happy with herself. “I got you good, Sheriff Romeo. Admit it.”
Noah frowned and grabbed a towel. “You did good, kid.”
“I’m not a kid, old man,” she retorted but without any heat.
“I need a glass of lemonade,” Alana interrupted before the two started bickering like kids.
“Yeah, then I have to get to work,” Alicia agreed. She turned to wave good-bye to Helen.
“Thanks for the advice, Helen,” Alicia yelled out.
“No problem.” Helen laughed, ignoring Noah’s betrayed look.
Noah sighed and muttered the word “women” under his breath. He looked down at Alana.
“You look good, baby. You have some color in your cheeks now.” He caressed her hair with his hand. His smile was so sexy and personal, it melted her determination to stay away from him.
Alana softened at the word “baby.” She should have reprimanded him, but she didn’t. “Thanks. Every day I feel a little bit stronger. We’d better go, but good luck, Noah. Hope you make lots of money.”
“I’m sure there are plenty of brokenhearted women in this town willing to dunk Sheriff Romeo,” Alicia snorted and walked away with her chin up. “I’m getting us some lemonade, Sis.”
“Will she ever stop hating me?” Noah sighed with a sad shake of his head as Alicia walked over to a booth across from them and got in line.
“You hurt me and humiliated me, Noah. Alicia and Ray picked up the pieces,” Alana explained. She didn’t like all the tension either, but of course her family would stick by her side.
“I know I did, Alana,” he admitted sadly. He wiped his face off. “I wish I had done everything different, but I can’t rewind time. All I can do is promise to do better from now on.”
Alana swallowed her tears. Part of her wanted to throw herself into his arms and beg him not to let her go. Another, more vulnerable part, hesitated to put her heart on the line again. Is this what Noah had been feeling six mon
ths ago? Wanting her but afraid because his heart had been broken in the past? She understood him a little better now.
“I know, Noah. We’re friends again. That is better than enemies. I didn’t like the bad feelings between us. It felt horrible.”
Noah caressed her hot cheek with his cold hand. Alana shivered, but she had the feeling it was from Noah’s touch and not the cold. “Fair warning. I am not giving up on us, Alana Garcia, so watch out. Your family and I will work things out. It is not for you to worry about. You concentrate on getting back your health.”
Alana smiled up at him. She felt flustered and tongue-tied. She gave him a flirty wink. “See you later, Sheriff Romeo.”
He grinned and leaned down to kiss her lips lightly, surprising her. They were out in the middle of a very crowded area. What if people saw him kissing her? What would they think?
“See you later, my Juliet.”
* * * *
Alana almost smiled at her father’s shock. You would think she just asked for a million dollars.
“I’ll clean the tables for now, Papa. I’m not ready to talk to people yet, but I want to do more than sit around all day sleeping. I feel much better.”
Her father, Raymond Sr., agreed to her request. His black hair was sprinkled with gray strands. He had laugh lines around his eyes. He had been worried, but he let her recover at her own pace instead of pushing. She was lucky to have such a good family. She had surprised her parents by accompanying Alicia to the restaurant once they were done. Alicia was telling everyone about the dunk tank with glee. She was encouraging people to dunk Sheriff Romeo.
“Only if you are sure. You do move around much better,” he stated, looking at her pink cheeks. He sat across from her in the booth. He had made her a taco salad and insisted she needed more meat on her bones.
“The stiffness is going away,” she swore, and it was. Every now and then if she moved too fast, she felt a small pinch but no pain.
Raymond kissed his daughter’s cheek. “Get an apron, and get busy. We have been swamped all day with hungry festivalgoers.”
Alana nodded happily. It felt good to have something to do all day other than think.
Chapter 10
The next day Alana was proud of herself. She had worked four hours yesterday and three today. Not one panic attack. She could feel the stares of people, and she knew they wanted to ask her questions about what happened to her. She did not want to talk about it or become the subject of the latest gossip. Alicia helped interfere if people got too nosy. David and Marissa, two other employees, also helped keep the nosy people away from her. Her story had been in the paper, so people already knew the details. They just wanted inside information to add to the gossip.
She was taking a break when Alicia called her over to the hostess station.
“The phone is for you.”
Alicia had that sour look on her face, so she figured it had to be Noah calling. She didn’t have any close friends besides her sister. Her stomach did a somersault as she grabbed it. Did he have good or bad news?
“Hello?”
“Don’t sound so scared, baby. I’m not calling to arrest you, unless you want to come and sit with me. Then I can make up something dreadful.”
Alana had missed his playful manner. Once she would have laughed and said something suggestive to him. Now she felt tongue-tied and nervous.
“This is my second day of work. Getting arrested would not be cool.”
Noah chuckled and agreed with her. “Listen. I have a craving for some chicken tacos but don’t feel like making the twenty-mile drive into the next town. Will you order them for me under an assumed name? I can pick them up outside in fifteen minutes. I will give you a huge tip.”
She looked at her sister, who was already making faces. She obviously had overheard. “Of course, Noah, no problem.”
“Just don’t tell Ray. He will cover my food in hot sauce.”
“Okay.” She laughed. She hung up and looked at Alicia’s accusing look.
“What? He is being so nice to me, Alicia. How can I be mean?” Noah was making a real effort to repair things between them. Alana had to give him credit for that.
“I can do it for you,” Alicia promised.
A couple came in the door, and as soon as Alicia turned to help them, Alana made a dash for the kitchen. Ray and her dad were busy cooking and looking at tickets. They had been swamped all day.
She grabbed a takeout carton. She filled it with beans and rice and tortilla chips. She looked at Ray. “I need two chicken tacos.”
Ray made them and placed them on the carton without asking questions.
Alana nervously sat outside on the bench waiting for Noah. He pulled up to the curb in his police cruiser and parked. He got out, and she admired how well he filled out his uniform. He had dark sunglasses on, and she felt her pulse speed up. Desire ran through her veins like fire. Too bad he didn’t have a faithful bone in his body. If she was a good-time girl, things would be so much easier.
“Hey, baby. I didn’t mean for you to sit out in the hot sun.” He smiled.
“I’m on break. I need the color,” she replied. “Everyone remarks on how pale I look.”
He sat next to her on the bench. It was a close fit. “Want me to arrest the jerks?”
She laughed and handed him the takeout carton. “For what crime, Sheriff?”
“For insulting you.” He opened the carton and took a big, loud whiff.
“Heaven.” He sighed. “Ray and your dad sure can cook.”
He bit into a taco and looked at her. He put his thumb up, letting her know he liked it.
She smiled back at him, feeling peaceful. The huge tree gave them some shade. Alana scooted closer as he ate and leaned on him. Before she knew it, her eyes were closed, and her head fell against his shoulder.
She felt his arm go around her shoulder, and she sighed. She wasn’t sure how much time passed before he shook her awake.
“Hey, Sleeping Beauty. I like the idea that you’re taking a nap, but I don’t want the sun burning your skin,” he whispered, kissing her head.
She yawned and sat up feeling a little confused. Her eyes widened. “Oh my God, I fell asleep on you. That is so embarrassing.”
“Why? I am honored you trust me enough to relax,” he assured her, moving her braid out of the way. “Alicia came out here, gave me a dirty look. She saw you were asleep and headed back inside. I expect Ray to come out and kick my ass any minute.”
“How long was I out?”
He looked at his watch. “Twenty minutes. Best lunch I have had in ages. I got tacos and the most beautiful girl in the world in my arms.”
Alana touched her hot cheeks. People walked up and down the sidewalks going to different activities. She could hear music coming from the town square, where a band was playing.
“Great. I probably snored and drooled all over you. It will be all over town by evening. Shoot me now, Noah.”
He hugged her and tilted her face toward him. He kissed her nose. She had been hoping the kiss was for her lips, but she did tell him she only wanted friendship. She felt so torn. She desired him, but could she trust him?
“You didn’t snore or drool much, and if anyone says otherwise, they will have to answer to me.”
Alana gave him a playful shove. “I guess it is safe to say my break is over.”
“How much do I owe you for the food?” he asked, standing up and pulling her with him.
“My treat,” she assured him. Suddenly she felt shy and didn’t know what to say. “Thanks for letting me rest, Noah. I already feel better. I’m sorry you got banned from here. It was just too painful for me. I never stopped to think what my bitterness was doing to you and Ray. I owe you both an apology for that.”
He pulled her into his arms for a huge hug. “You can rest in my arms anytime, Sleeping Beauty. Don’t worry. Ray and I will eventually work things out. You had the right to your feelings, Alana. I never blamed you. Now get those
frown lines off your face.”
Alana couldn’t help but smile at him.
He waved as she walked back into the restaurant with that same smile on her face. Her mom was at the hostess station instead of her sister. Alana prepared herself to hear a long lecture.
Lucy sighed and smiled gently at her daughter. “He is still the one?”
Alana nodded. She could not lie to her mother.
“He has been so sweet to me, Mama.” Alana confessed that he had brought her coffee and books and forced her to sit on the porch. “At the fair he hugged me when I got all emotional. I feel safe with him, Mama. I know what I am risking, but I can’t be mean to him or ignore him. I’m sorry if that disappoints you.”
“I know, baby girl.” Her mama gave in. “He is a good man. Drake told us he had never seen Noah so scared as when he got the news about you. He questioned Drake every day about your condition, so I know he does care for you. Sometimes men need a good kick in the behind to know what is important to them. If you want to date him again, I won’t interfere, and I’ll make sure the rest of them don’t either. Ray and Alicia are not his fans, but this is your life, not theirs.”
Alana hugged her mother. “I’m not sure if I’m ready for romance yet. I’m scared to open up to him again. He offered his friendship, and I like knowing he is there for me. Maybe in the future.”
Alana got back to work feeling happier. The possibilities were dancing in her head. And it felt better than the usual fear that lingered inside her mind.
Chapter 11
Noah felt the sweat trickling down his neck and onto his shoulders. His muscles burned with his running in place. The treadmill beeped and made noises letting him know how long he had been running. He finally flipped the switch to stop. He slowly stopped and stepped off. He grabbed his water and took a gulp. He always liked to work out before his shift at the station started. It energized him and prepared him for whatever came his way. Adam and Liam joined him when they could. Today he was alone, but he didn’t mind. He had been thinking of Alana as usual. He felt hopeful for another chance. He was thankful she was even alive to give him a chance to fix his mistakes.
