by Zee Irwin
“Or, maybe books for your girlfriends? We have a lovely new candle Maddie might like.” I didn’t recall him mentioning anyone in his life other than his cat, and he didn’t wear a ring.
Daniel nodded. “Maddie’s birthday is coming up. If you have any ideas for her, I’ll take them.”
I looked expectantly at Jace. He carried himself stiffly, and adjusted the tie around his neck as if it choked him.
“Actually, we stopped by to talk to you. Do you have a few minutes?” He sounded grim.
“What is it? You sound worried?”
“No, no. Just something we need to discuss. Do you have an office or somewhere we can chat privately?” Daniel’s voice came across a little gentler than Jace’s.
“Sure, follow me.” So much for my cheery mood. I led them back to my office, then shut the door behind us.
“Have a seat. Why so gloom and doom fellas?” My attempts to make light of their visit didn’t seem to work.
Jace and Daniel exchanged glances. “I don’t want to alarm you, but have you heard about the robberies in the area? I’m in charge of the case and chasing all leads.”
Daniel leaned his arms on my desk. “Lily, Jace’s department suggests the shop owners set up a community program, think neighborhood watch type of thing. We wondered if you might cooperate and take the lead?”
Jace cleared his throat. “With a few businesses on our side, we could do more to watch for suspicious activity. Anything to catch these criminals. We could plant some people as employees. Install surveillance equipment on the street, cameras and such. Even overnight stake outs are possible. With the community behind us, we could catch the perpetrators faster. Would you be interested? Or know of any other businesses in the area we could approach?”
I straightened my glasses. “Hold on. First, I sell books. So I’m not sure my business is the right place criminals would target. Would they?”
“Criminal elements have no boundaries. Just when I think I’ve seen it all, there’s something new coming at me.”
“And second, oh my gosh, Daniel—are these the same crooks who tried to attack Maddie? And you want me to be involved? I have enough to deal with between Simon and the shop. I can’t take part in this.”
“I get that you’re scared, Lily, but trust me, I wouldn’t let anything happen to you,” Jace implored, directing his eyes right at me. The steel in them accompanied something a little softer.
The detective had a job to do, an honorable intention, and I couldn’t blame him for doing it. But could I really trust him? We hardly knew each other.
“Maybe you don’t understand because you get a steady paycheck. I don’t. This store is my livelihood. It seems too dangerous to put my store in the middle of this. And it’s not only me and my store, but I support my brother, my employees, my cats . . . What if these bad guys hear I’m involved and attack me? No, sorry. I wish you luck. Maybe try Frank at the pizza shop down the block.”
Jace stood abruptly, and Daniel followed. “If you hear of anything, call me. Thanks for your time.” Jace tossed his business card on the desk, and he held out his hand to shake mine as if finally finding his professional manners.
“Sure.” I put my hand in his and then caught his eyes. Not only did the gold flecks in his brown eyes invade me with a warm fire, but holy hell, did he have a grip of heat melting my hand? For a moment, he caught me off guard, not expecting such a surge to hit me. Did it hit him too? Was this what a first touch between fated lovers was like? And we weren’t even lovers. Or fated. Or anything. But wow.
It was such a jolt; I gasped. My eyes tore away from his and landed on the scars on his neck. I removed my hand quickly and backed away. The electricity was too much.
Jace’s brows creased, matching his disgruntled frown, then he tore out of the office.
“What was all that about?” My voice came out shaky. My hand held to my chest, still ungrounded by the shock of what Jace did to me with one simple handshake. I quaked down to my shoes at Jace’s heat. What would the feel of his other body parts do to me if given more time? I didn’t agree with the way he shot out of here like an angry person, as if teetering on the edge of a war I didn’t deserve.
Daniel looked at me apologetically, yet perturbed. I wasn’t sure I liked the accusation in his eyes. “Did you look at his scars?”
“I-I might have glanced, yeah, so?”
“He’s sensitive about it. An old military injury. Maybe next time you could try not to stare.”
“Was I staring? Besides, I doubt he’ll ever set foot here again the way he tore out.”
“He’s a good guy, Lily, and deserves a break. Unfortunately, most women are like you and don’t get past the outside.”
My lungs expanded as I felt my body return to my control. “Wait a minute. You can’t lump me in with ‘most women.’” I air-quoted with my hands. “It was a glance at best, but I wasn’t judging. I know we haven’t known each other long, Daniel, but I can’t believe you would judge me like that.”
An uncomfortable silence passed between us, and I was glad when Simon poked his head in, asking if I needed anything.
“No, I think we’re fine, right Daniel?”
“Sorry. Guess I get a little protective of people I care about. I know Jace seems tough, but he’s one of the best guys I know.”
“Maybe over time I’ll be able to agree with you. Now, about Maddie’s present . . .”
Perhaps I was still perturbed at Daniel and wanted him to spend some dough to make up for it. Maybe I wanted the best for Maddie. Either way, I made sure he spent a ton before he left. I sold him on special edition tea imported from England, wrapped up an entire set of our latest candles, plus upsold the candle of the month club. I sold him the first five books on Maddie’s wish list, and for good measure, I tucked in the book Tantric Sexology.
“I think you both will enjoy that one. Maddie will love this gift, trust me.” I’d celebrate later for bringing in the biggest sale of the day.
George was insistent on hanging around the legs of Daniel’s Brooks Brothers suit and expensive leather shoes. He grimaced at the fur left behind. I laughed and handed him a travel sized cat fur tool.
Daniel brushed at his pant legs. “Look, what Jace is doing isn’t like what you see in the movies. The criminals wouldn’t suddenly descend on your shop and have shootouts or anything. If you change your mind, call him, or call me. We’ll make sure you’re taken care of and protected, no worries.”
I made no promises. After he left, Simon rolled up to me with Molly acting like a white fur baby in his arms. “Who was the guy with Daniel? The one with the scars?”
“He’s the detective investigating the burglaries around the city.”
“Did you see the way he was looking at you? That guy was hot and bothered.”
“At me? Get real. He tore out of here and will never come back.”
“Hm. Are you sure about that?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, someone got under his skin. If he comes back, it’s more than business. Trust me, I know how men think.”
I blushed because Simon had me thinking about Jace’s firm hands, and the latest Kennedy Fox cover model came to my mind. I imagined a big man like Jace exactly like the model with two more than the usual six pack and a perfect V-shaped happy trail leading to—I jolted and Simon was looking at me with a silly grin. “What?”
He handed me Molly, who wheezed with a cough, a sound beyond the normal fur ball upheaval. “Lost you there for a minute, girl. Maybe tell your hot daydreams to come back tonight. Whew, you even have me feeling flushed.” Simon pushed himself away, fanning his face with one hand.
My face grew hotter, with good reason. It’d been awhile since I’d been with a man after all. A memory of me practically dry humping a random guy on New Year’s Eve outside of O’Brien’s pub was my latest embarrassment on my journey to find a man to love.
Later that night, thinking of Jace, I could see
how we were alike. His scars probably stopped most women from looking deeper into him. My clothing preferences did the same with men. I wasn’t the woman who would let looks stop me. Was I? Then again, the only man in my life at the moment was online, where he couldn’t see me.
Maybe I was taking the chicken way out of being judged in person, hoping Blue92 would fall for me before seeing me. If I could ever get him to meet in real life. A big gamble in a game of online dating charades. An infusion of self-confidence came over me. It was time to put up or shut up.
Flower65: Hey, Blue92, are you there?
Flower65: I miss our chats. I know it’s been awhile.
Blue92: Hi. Miss you too.
Flower65: I won’t give up hope, but if we don’t meet soon, then I feel like we aren’t progressing, and that would leave us as only friends. Or is that all you want out of this?
Blue92: You’re right. We should meet.
I almost dropped my laptop, bolting straight up after his reply.
Flower65: Really? Okay, when, where?
I wasn’t letting him off easily this time. If he didn’t commit to a plan for meeting by the end of this conversation, I’d move on.
Blue92: How about the Fifties Diner on Main? This Friday?
How did he know that was one of my favorites? Their burgers and milkshakes were to die for. I knew the workers there by name. They loved when I stopped by dressed in my vintage clothes and even talked about having me photographed for their ads and social media.
Flower65: Yes, I know the place. 7pm?
He hesitated. I prayed. Come on, Blue, commit already.
Blue92: Yes. Okay.
Flower65: Okay? Are you really going through with this? Not standing me up?
Blue92: I’m going through with this. I mean it this time.
Flower65: How will I know you other than brown hair and brown eyes?
Blue92: I’ll be wearing a black turtleneck. How about you? How will I know you?
Black turtleneck? All kinds of images of a strange guy in a black turtleneck came to mind, but I quickly erased them. A million outfits passed through my brain at once until I landed on the one that would be perfect for a romantic rendezvous.
Flower65: I’ll be the lady in red, the one with the red rose in my hair.
Could someone pinch me? This was really happening. Maybe. I wanted to trust this was it, the final countdown to our meetup. I wouldn’t get up my hopes until I saw him step foot in the diner's door.
First Name Basis
Jace
What a mess. I’m an asshole and kicking myself now for leaving Lily’s store the way I did. I shouldn’t have reacted so harshly when she looked at my scars. Fuck me. Her hand in mine created a storm. It took everything I had to put her out of my mind.
The next day, scheduled to walk down Prince Street again, I took a different approach. I wore my Boston P.D. turtleneck, as if it would hide the scars, and I practiced smiling in the mirror.
On the street, visiting shop after shop, the owners and workers were polite and concerned. I had a few interests in a community watch program, but no one committed to it. They offered plenty of notes about suspicious cars they saw or people they worried about. All good leads to work on.
The last stop on my list, Betto’s Pizzeria, had a crowd of people waiting to be served. The smell of Italian spices infiltrated the store as I stood in line to order. I took in my surroundings.
Details stood out to me, like the security gates at the windows and door, the camera above the counter, and the alarm system set up. For such a small pizzeria, it seemed to have all the bells and whistles for guarding against theft. It was a busy place, too. Every table inside occupied, and plenty of workers in the kitchen kept the pizzas baking. I’d guess the owner was making a bundle off this place.
The line moved forward. I ordered and waited, when I heard a woman talking who sounded a lot like Lily. How did I already know the sound of her voice, a mixture of sweet determination, often lilting in some sort of song-like pattern? I turned in her direction to find her talking with a man at a table near the kitchen with their heads close together in conversation.
My first impulse was to run and duck out of there without my pizza, but she noticed me and called my name, waving me over to the table.
“Detective Delfino, this is Frank Betto, the owner of this place. I told him about your visit yesterday.”
Frank held out his hand. “How you doin’, detective?” He spoke in a loud, confident voice with mild Boston and Italian accents. I sized him up immediately. Handsome, but a player. Dressed to impress, down to a fancy gold watch on his wrist, like he was all for show. Something in his eyes set off my instinct not to trust this guy. I was usually never wrong.
“Good thanks. I don’t know how much Lily told you, but here’s my card. If you have any information pertaining to the cases, call me. I just stopped for a pizza on my way home. I’ll let you two get back to your date.”
Frank covered Lily’s hand. “Yeah, thanks.”
Lily jumped up. “Oh, it’s not a date. We’ve been friends for a long time. Join us? Frank, grab another chair.”
I watched Frank bristle at Lily’s command, but he did so anyway. “Yeah, have a seat, detective. Say, that’s some scarring there. Police accident?”
“Frank! It’s none of our business.” Lily’s eyes widened, and she tried to hush him.
It was my turn to bristle. “It’s okay. Military. Afghanistan.”
“Shit. I hope you gave the other guy holy hell before that happened?”
“I did my best.” I suddenly found myself in a staring match with this guy.
“Bet you have a hard time with the ladies looking like that.”
“Frank! Don’t be so rude. I’m so sorry, Jace.” Lily’s face pinked.
“I didn’t realize you and the detective were on a first name basis?”
“He’s a friend of Daniel’s.”
I rubbed it in this guy’s face. “Lily and I met up at Daniel’s, then I visited her shop and we spoke for a time. She thought you were the guy to talk to around here about starting up a community watch program with the shop owners.”
“Really?” He questioned Lily. “It’s a good idea. As you can see, though, I have my hands full. I turned this place around after my father died last year. It leaves little time for anything else.”
His arm flexed and landed across the back of Lily’s chair as if warning me away from his territory. I shouldn’t feel so protective of Lily, but there was something about the way she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. His advances seemed unwelcomed.
It was a good thing they called my name to pick up and pay for my pizza. Besides, I was probably reading more into the situation than there was. Like Frank, I have enough going on. I didn’t need to add worries about Lily to my list.
“You have my card. If you hear or see anything suspicious, call me.”
Frank called out to his employees behind the counter. “Hey, Jimmy. That pizza is on the house for the detective here. Have a good night, Jace.”
The way he said my name was irritating.
“Thanks. Appreciate it.” I nodded at Lily as I left with my pizza, noticing that Frank still had his arm on the back of her chair. I couldn’t stand guys like that, probably because I used to be an arrogant prick like him before the accident. Back when the world was mine, and I thought I knew everything. I was looking in the mirror at my younger self. It’s amazing how much scarring can knock a person down off their high horse a few notches.
Meeting up with Frank and Lily capped off a rough day. The pressure of interacting with so many business owners and personnel as I walked the neighborhood around Lily’s shop meant dozens of stares and looks at my scars. At one point, two kids pointed and laughed at me. I didn’t dare shrink back. They were kids who didn’t know better.
All the strangers, trying to be nice, probably felt sorry for me. I was on vulnerable overload by the end of the day. I didn’t need thei
r pity. Don’t judge me, let me do my job. But who cared enough to empathize with someone like me? Finding myself in a familiar state when spending too much time in public—by nightfall, I mentally and physically shut down.
Once home, I ignored the pizza. I fed Sammie, then landed on my couch. Didn’t bother taking my clothes off, just my shoes, grabbed the blanket at my feet and pulled it over me.
I turned on the sports channel to zone out, but Sammie wouldn’t let me lay there. He brought over his stuffed mouse and laid it on the floor by the edge of the couch, proud as could be, with his chest fur bristling out. A loud Yowl spent out of his throat declared his war victory over it. I shut my eyes for a moment. A nap would do some good . . .
The sun blazed on us as we bunkered in holes in the desert. We received word that all the U.S. Marines would pull out of Afghanistan for good, finally. The guys celebrated, but the heat zapped that energy right out of us. We were too hot to move, too hot to celebrate, but able to persist knowing the end was near.
Pew! Pew! A few shots fired, flying over my head, landing in the dirt embankment across from me. The enemy let us know they saw us and they’d still fight us until the second we left the country.
“Did somebody forget to tell the other side the fucking war is over?” My buddy Travis put a few drops of water onto a rag, then tied it around his neck.
Corporal Lewis started in, “First thing I’m doing when I get home is going to the nearest ice cream parlor and buying a triple cone of chocolate.”
Travis couldn’t stop himself from teasing, “Come on Lewis, we all know the first thing you’re doing is fucking your husband when you get home.”
“Shit, he can wait in line. You boys don’t understand how hard it’s been on me the past year. You try being on your period in the desert with no chocolate around—”
We all grumbled at her. “Please don’t start on that tangent again,” I implored on behalf of the guys. Six of us were in the bunker, and she was the only woman. There were three others in our unit, but Lewis was the coolest of them all. A tall black woman who took no guff from any of us. She earned respect from the very first day. None of us wanted an ass whooping from her because she’d probably win.
