Every Breath You Take

by Jay Zendrowski

  Chapter 22

  "Scot, they're beautiful. You didn't have to do that," Shauna said as she took the bright yellow potted tulips Pepper had brought for her.

  "It's just a little housewarming gift. If they survive, you can plant them once the weather breaks," he said as he slipped off his coat and draped it over a chair in the living room before following her into the kitchen.

  "I'll just give these some water," Shauna said, holding the plant under the tap. "And then they'll go right here." She set the plant on the corner of the raised breakfast bar, the pendant lights making the sunny flowers gleam.

  "This place doesn't look anything like I expected for a house this old," Pepper said, standing and taking a look around the century-old cottage style house. It surprisingly had an open concept, the kitchen, dining area and living room flowing together to create one attractive space. The wide-plank hardwood floors shone brightly, with the kitchen area done with a bronze-coloured quarry tile that looked great with what appeared to be hickory hardwood in the living room. The kitchen had a sizeable island with light-coloured countertops, including the raised breakfast bar with three cozy stools in front of it. The cupboards were a dark wood done in the Craftsman style, which perfectly suited the old house.

  "I know, it's nothing like what I expected either when I saw the outside," Shauna said. "The owners had it fully renovated about two years ago. Apparently it was a number of smaller rooms, and they opened things right up. I love the kitchen, and of course, it has a gas stove, which is something that was definitely on my required list."

  "What's this countertop," Pepper said, running his hand over the smooth surface. "Is it quartz?"

  "Yes, it's so nice to work on. Not as brittle feeling as granite, and it just looks warmer."

  "The place looks great, and I see you've added your own touches," Pepper said, looking at the interesting pieces of artwork on the walls. Her furniture seemed cozy, and fit well with the style of the house.

  "Yeah, I'm really liking it. It's much bigger than my apartment in Toronto, but not too big for me to take care of. And I love having a yard for a change. I can't wait to start barbequing."

  "It won't be long now. When the sun comes out like today, you can almost feel spring in the air."

  "I know. Once we get past the chance of frost, I'll plant this baby," Shauna said, touching the base of the plant he'd brought her. "Shall we have a glass of wine?"

  "Sure, that'd be great. I wasn't sure what you were going to make, so I brought both red and white."

  "Well, we're having pasta with shrimp, cherry tomatoes, and spinach. So I think the white is probably the best choice."

  "Okay, white it is. Do you have a corkscrew?"

  "Yes sir. One corkscrew coming up." Shauna dug out the corkscrew and grabbed the two glasses off the small dining table she'd already set for dinner. As Pepper opened the wine, she busied herself in the kitchen preparing the food. "Oh, I almost forgot." She reached to the counter behind her and set a tray on top of the breakfast bar. "Here we go. A little appetizer to get started."

  After filling their wine glasses, Pepper reached forward and took one of the crostini topped with goat cheese, smoked salmon and capers. He bit into it, feeling the combination of the flavours and textures hit his taste buds. "Mmmm, that's so good."

  "Thanks, I'm sure your mother has given you things like that before," Shauna said as she took a bag of marinated shrimp out of the fridge.

  "Yes, but not nearly as good as these."

  "Liar," she said playfully as she rapped his knuckles with a wooden spoon.

  "All right," Pepper said, smiling back at her. "But these are very good. So good in fact, that I'm going to have another."

  He perched on the stool and sipped from his wine glass and watched as she worked. Pepper was impressed by how smooth and effortless she made everything look as she moved from one thing to another in the kitchen. She seemed perfectly in control, checking on the water for the pasta as she got the frying pan going for the rest of the ingredients, the delicious aroma of warm garlic quickly filling the air in the tiny house. He watched her hands, moving like an artist as she worked with the food, her knife working its magic as her slender hands moved from one thing to the next.

  He had to catch himself from staring at her. She was wearing jeans and a black ribbed turtleneck sweater that fit her shapely body, the sleeves of her sweater pushed up to her elbows. As she worked, her hair moved from side to side as she turned her head this way and that, the gorgeous red tresses looking beautiful against the jet black of her turtleneck.

  He asked her more about her family, and her previous job in Toronto. She asked him what had made him decide on police work, and what it had been like growing up with Joanie and Grandma Dot as his mother and grandmother. He could tell how much she cared for them already, and it made him feel good that they had managed to find her to help them with the business. And the more he looked at her and talked with her, he was glad for himself too.

  "All right, you grate the parmesan while I dish out the pasta," Shauna said, passing him the cheese grater. She carefully twirled the pasta into two deep pasta bowls and made sure the edges were spotless, just as any good chef would have. Pepper lit the candles she had on her little table and re-filled their wine glasses as they took their seats, Shauna setting the two steaming plates of pasta in front of them.

  "Oh my God, this is fantastic," Pepper said, savouring the first couple of bites.

  "I'm glad you like it," Shauna replied, a smile on her face as she watched him enjoy his food.

  They continued to talk about everything under the sun, the conversation flowing freely and easily. When they were done the main course, Pepper helped clear the table as Shauna brewed a pot of decaf. She'd made a small caramel cheesecake for dessert that melted in his mouth.

  From start to finish, they had talked, smiled and laughed all through dinner. Pepper realized it had been a very long time since he'd had these feelings towards someone. Her smile set him at ease and made his heart flutter at the same time. When they finished their meal, they just kept talking as he leaned back from the edge of the table, sipping his wine as he looked across at her, those deep green eyes holding his gaze-finding himself feeling totally spellbound.

  There was a pause in the conversation and he couldn't stop himself from saying what he was thinking. "You know, I have to say, I don't think I've ever met anyone who has such beautiful hair."

  She paused, a warm smile coming over her face. "Well, thank you so much. I am happy to say that it's all me-not anything out of a bottle."

  "It's gorgeous, it really is."

  "Yours isn't so bad either."

  "What, this mop-top?" Pepper said, grimacing as he ran his hand through his hair.

  "Yes. I like it. I like that it's kind of curly, but not, you know, buggy curly."

  He leaned back and made a face as he looked at her. "Buggy curly?"

  "I don't know-buggy curly just popped into my head. You know, those tight little curls that bug you, or that bugs would crawl into and live in, you know-buggy curly."

  "Buggy curly-got it."

  "But I like that yours is not like that. It's got those kind of wavy soft-looking curls that girls just want to run their fingers through." She gave him a coquettish smile and a naughty wink that made him laugh.

  "Uh yeah, I can see them all lining up around the corner to run their fingers through my hair."

  "Come on, wise guy," she said as she got up from the table and stepped over to the sink, "bring your dishes over here."

  Pepper carried his plate and cup over and set them in the dishwasher with hers as she put the cream back into the fridge. She turned and faced him as he looked at her, neither one of them moving. She held his gaze, and Pepper saw her green eyes flicker with interest.

  "Would it be alright if I kissed you?" he asked.

  "Yes, I'd like that."

  He stepped forward and took her in his arms, her hands coming up to slip
around his neck as he lowered his mouth to hers, finding her lips warm and inviting. Her lips were velvety soft as he kissed her and held her close, her curvy body pressing against his. He pulled back slightly and they looked into each other's eyes. He could see a spark of desire in those emerald pools. He kissed her again as his hands slid down to the small of her back, drawing her against him, feeling the warmth of her firm body beneath his palms. She let out a warm purr as they kissed, her fingers running through his hair, just like she'd said all the girls wanted to.

  Shauna's phone rang, startling both of them. They pulled back from each other, both of them breathing raggedly as they looked at the phone on the counter beside them, buzzing loudly. Pepper let her go and she took a step back, smoothing her hair back as he shifted around and perched on one of the stools.

  "It's your mother," Shauna said with a smile as she looked at the call display.

  "Perfect timing, Mom," Pepper said as Shauna leaned back against the counter and answered the phone, waving her finger at him to keep quiet. "Hi, Joanie."

  Pepper couldn't hear what his mother was saying, but it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out.

  "Yes, I made sure the eggs, cream, and cheese are going to be delivered in the morning." Shauna winked at him. "Uh huh, yep?that's all taken care of?.uh huh, got it. Dot told me there was going to be about eighty people. Yep?Yep?we've got enough for that? Okay, good? Okay Joanie? Great? Oh, well, I just finished having dinner actually. I know it's late but I had a guest." Pepper made a face as there was a pause in the conversation. "Of course you know who it is, it's your son." Shauna winked as Pepper slapped his forehead in dismay. "Yes, he ate everything. Yes?Yes,he was very polite?Yes, he brought some wine and a lovely plant for a housewarming gift." Pepper started drumming his fingertips on the countertop as his mother continued to yack. "Okay, I'll tell him. Good night, Joanie."

  Pepper arched his eyebrows. "Tell me what?"

  "You're supposed to do the dishes." Shauna said, taking the dishcloth from the edge of the sink and tossing it to him.

  "Hey," Pepper said as he came around the counter, "when it comes to washing pots and pans, I'm a professional, you know."

  "Well let's see some of that professionalism at work, buster," Shauna said playfully. "The dish soap is under the sink."

  Shauna cleaned up and put things away as Pepper washed. With his soapy hands busy in the sink, she stood next to him and reached up, running her fingers through his hair. "See, I told you girls like to run their fingers through hair like yours."

  "Hey, I'm trying to concentrate here," Pepper said, flicking a few suds at her.

  Shauna grabbed a tea towel and dried as Pepper asked what the call from his mother was all about. He loved to hear her talk, her warm voice flowing over him. He dried his hands when he was done, and put away a few things for her on the top shelf. He stepped back as they looked at each other, both happy, but knowing the intensity of that moment they'd shared was gone-for now, anyways.

  "Well, okay then," he said, "I guess I better get going. It's later than I thought."

  "All right. Thanks for the tulips, and the wine."

  Pepper made his way to the door as she handed him his coat. "Thanks for dinner, it was fantastic-and I'm not just talking about the food. Everything was wonderful."

  "I thought so too."

  "Do you think you'd like to get together again sometime soon?"

  "I'd love that." Shauna stepped up and put her hand on the front of his jacket as she raised up on tiptoes, tilting her head up to his. He lowered his mouth to hers and they kissed again, a kiss of a promise.

  "Whew," Pepper said as she finally stepped back, the taste of her lips lingering on his.

  Shauna smiled and took his arm, turning him towards the door. "Good night, Scot Pepper."

  "Good night, Shauna Keegan."

  Pepper drove home, not feeling the chill of the cool night air at all. He'd loved the feel and taste of Shauna's mouth against his-lips like sugar. The spell was broken as he remembered those were the same words The Sandman had sent in the text message they'd got from him the night before-the words from the Echo and the Bunnymen song, Lips Like Sugar.

  The smile left Pepper's face as he thought about The Sandman still being out there, probably watching all of them-watching and waiting.