Chasing Tail

by Roxanne St Claire

  The comments came, along with another noisy round of applause as Connor stepped away from his podium at the same time Sadie did. They both reached out and slid into the most natural embrace. He turned his head just to make sure no one could see the emotion on his face, while Mayor Wilkins used the gavel and formally ended the debate.

  Mitch was grousing into the mic and finally gave up, marching off the stage. As he realized Connor had left the podium, Frank stood to trot over to them, and Demi followed, letting Sadie scoop her up.

  “Damn, Ear Girl.” He ran his thumb along the side of her cheek, lost in the not-quite-shed tears that dampened her eyes. “You came to win.”

  To win the debate, to win the day, and whether he liked it or not, to win his heart. Because he’d never been more ready to give it away.

  Chapter Eighteen

  For the entire time Sadie had lived in Bitter Bark, Ricardo’s had been the pinnacle of dining in town. Maybe it wasn’t the hippest eatery she’d ever been to, but it was authentic and unique with red leather booths and a menu that might look ordinary at first glance, but was full of surprises and delights.

  Across the table sat a man who was just as authentic and unique, and definitely full of surprises and delights. The post-debate celebration dinner had been everything Connor promised for their first official date, at least as far as conversation that kept them both laughing and the constant hum of electricity that zinged between them.

  Sadie hadn’t expected the date to include a dozen locals stopping by their table to congratulate them on their engagement, show them the home page of the town website—featuring Frank and Demi, dubbed Fremi—and ask to take pictures, even though Frank wasn’t there.

  Despite all the interruptions—maybe because of them—Sadie was thinking about how much she didn’t want the evening to end when the server brought them tiramisu and cappuccinos to end their meal.

  “So, I think my mom’s voting for you after that story you told about my dad,” Connor said as they took their first bites of the shared dessert.

  Sadie laughed. “She told me that after the debate. But I’m pretty sure you’re getting the Mahoney-Kilcannon-Santorini vote, which alone might be enough to win.”

  “Frank is getting the vote,” he corrected. “I kinda miss him tonight. I hope those two are okay alone at your place.”

  “Well, you can’t bring a cat to a restaurant, even in Bitter Bark, and Frank wasn’t about to leave her when you came to pick me up.” She held her fork midbite, looking over the little mound of creamy sweetness. “It wasn’t a ‘story,’ you know. I didn’t…make that up.”

  “Oh, I know that. Anyone who ever met Joe Mahoney knew he was the king of the motivational quote, and they’d be surprised he only gave you an umbrella. Most of the time, it was the shirt off his back and whatever money was in his pocket.”

  “It’s just that you haven’t mentioned it tonight, and I wondered if you thought it was, like, a political gimmick.”

  “Come on, Sadie. I know you better than that.”

  She smiled, glad that he did. “I was so stunned when I saw his picture,” she said. “It was on my mind from the minute we started the debate, the unbelievable coincidence that it was him that day. Your father coming out of a bookstore.”

  “He loved to read and passed that on to Braden,” he told her.

  “With it on my mind, I couldn’t resist sharing when Blanche asked me to tell a personal story…” She reached past the dessert to touch his hand. “What a kind and wonderful man he must have been, Connor.”

  He nodded. “Very…motivational.”

  “You think he’s the reason you hate to lose?”

  “Oh, he is. Losing was weakness. So was negativity and fear. He despised weakness of any kind, at least in Declan and me. He mellowed out with Braden. And with Smella?” He snorted. “He was just mush with that little girl.”

  She stared at him for a long time. “Obviously, you know him better than I do, since I met him for thirty seconds. But think of the lasting impact he had on me.”

  “Amazing,” he agreed.

  “I don’t think he just instilled in you a fear of losing.” She squeezed his hand. “I think he also made you a man who cares a lot—deeply, in fact. You crack jokes, and you have this outward appearance that everything is easy and fun and not serious, but inside? You are truly one of the most caring people I’ve ever met. And I would give a lot of credit to Joe Mahoney for the molding of that man.”

  He stared at her for a long time, his expression softening. “No one has ever accused me of being…” He swallowed. “Thanks, Sadie. Thanks for taking the time to see that in me.” He turned his hand over and threaded their fingers. “No wonder everyone in this town is crazy about you.” He winked. “And I do mean everyone.”

  She smiled at the compliment. “I think they’re crazy about us. Bitter Bark seems a little enchanted by the mayoral engagement.”

  He laughed. “We’re good together.”

  “There’s our next mayor.” The booming voice of Ricardo’s owner made them both turn to see the handsome Italian chef coming to their table.

  “Which one of us?” Connor joked.

  “After today? I’m thinking you should just run as a team. No one is talking about anything else tonight.”

  “Well, at least they’re not talking about Mitch Easterbrook,” Connor said, keeping his voice low.

  “Mitch who?” Ricardo joked. “You buried him today, if I can make that really bad joke.”

  They both laughed, sharing a look.

  “We feel good about the debate,” Sadie said. “And are loving celebrating here.”

  “Good, because the meal’s on me.” He put his hands lightly on the table and leaned over to whisper, “I have to say, I didn’t quite buy what you were selling at the Election Committee meeting that day you announced this, but after watching you two today? All I can say is congratulations to the future Mr. and Mrs. Mahoney, Bitter Bark’s first power couple. This entire town is cheering for you two and will be dancing in Bushrod Square on your wedding day. More tiramisu?”

  Sadie and Connor both just stared at him, then she managed to shake her head. “No, thank you. We’re good. And thank you for dinner.”

  “My pleasure!” He moved on to another table, leaving them in stunned silence.

  “I think I underestimated how much people like a good romance,” Connor mused.

  “They sure do,” Sadie agreed, trying not to think about how all those people would react if they knew the truth.

  When they finished, Connor pulled out his wallet and laid down a few twenties as a tip, then guided Sadie through the restaurant and out into the chilly March night, automatically getting closer as they walked and talked.

  Ambrose Avenue was nearly empty, but the lights glimmered on the many trees in the square, where a few people strolled along with some dogs.

  “So I guess we fooled the town, Ear Girl. They believe us.”

  “They believe in us,” she said. “And that’s a little scarier.”

  “Scary because only one of us can win the election?”

  “Scary because…amicable breakup, remember?”

  “Oh, that. I don’t like to think about it,” he said, tugging her even closer. “All that rioting in Bushrod Square instead of dancing.”

  “I didn’t think we were building up such…expectations,” she said. “It was just supposed to be a way to stay in the race. And now…”

  “Now…” He stopped in front of the tall statue. “There will be dancing in Bushrod Square, according to Ricardo.”

  She tipped her head back as he slid his arms around her and pulled her closer, circling once in an easy dance move, making her laugh.

  “It’s almost as if they think we really like each other,” he whispered into her ear.

  “Can you imagine that?”

  “Uh, I do. Frequently.”

  “Connor.” She sighed his name. “It makes things so complicated
.”

  “How so? You like me. I like you. The town likes us. Sounds pretty uncomplicated to me.”

  “Until it isn’t.”

  “You know what your favorite football coach and umbrella donator would say?”

  “Complications make you strong, and defeat is for the weak?” she guessed.

  He guided her to the bench that had become one of their favorite spots. “He’d say the guy who doesn’t go for what he wants is the one sitting on the sideline watching the guy who got it.”

  She studied him for a moment, a flashing memory of his father in her mind’s eye, but then it was gone, and all she could see was a handsome, kind, funny, wonderful firefighter who liked her a lot. “What is it you want to go for?” she asked.

  “You.” He breathed the word and placed his free hand on her cheek, gliding it back to thread his fingers in her hair. “Like I said, we’re good together. And I want to be together.”

  “That’s a big step for you, isn’t it?”

  “Not with you.”

  The simple, honest admission rolled through her, warming her more than any wine or coffee. He closed the space between them completely, raising her face to kiss him. His lips were so tender and gentle, but still melted her. She could taste vanilla and nutmeg, and a man who knew exactly what he was doing with a kiss.

  Heat ribboned through her, tightening everything and making her reach up to wrap her arms around his neck and pull him closer. He moaned softly, the sound making his chest vibrate against her as he deepened the kiss.

  She felt her back bow, the need to get her whole body closer to him taking over all her thoughts and leaving her with one: more.

  Parting her lips, she let their tongues touch, that sweet sensation stealing her breath and making her heart knock hard against her ribs.

  “Steady there, Ear Girl,” he murmured into the kiss. “We could ignite.”

  “Mmm.” She let her fingers coast up and down his strong neck and the corded muscles of his shoulders, aching a little to have no sweater or shirt or anything else blocking her from the feel of him. “Good thing I know a firefighter.”

  He chuckled into the kiss, then took a breath and intensified everything, pulling her so close she was practically on his lap, his hands slowly traveling over her throat and skimming her shoulders, heating everything with need.

  Some voices floated their way, coming from behind, forcing them to separate.

  “Let’s get home,” he murmured. “Before a picture of this bumps Fremi from the home page.”

  They stayed arm in arm in the shadows, stopping once, then twice, then a third time to kiss again, both of them silently surrendering to the fight. They laughed a little, kissed some more, and by the time they neared Jessamine Court, Sadie knew Connor wasn’t leaving her tonight.

  Suddenly, he stopped walking two houses from Nana and Boomie’s yard. “Do you hear that?”

  She closed her eyes to listen. “Dog barking?”

  “That’s Frank.”

  “Are you sure?”

  He didn’t answer, but let go of her shoulder to take her hand and hustle them both closer to the house, and the barking definitely got louder.

  “Let’s go around the side,” she said. “There’s a faster way to the house through the trees.” She tugged him in that direction, a sharp worry growing with each frantic bark she heard. What was wrong with him?

  “Maybe we shouldn’t have left them—”

  “Shhh.” He stilled her in the shadow of a huge oak tree. “Look.”

  Following his gaze, she spotted a tiny light in the garden. No, not a light. A phone screen, carried by a man.

  “Damn it,” she murmured. “Why do people think they can walk right up to my house and take pictures?”

  “That’s why Frank’s barking. Stay here, I’ll—”

  The light flashed and illuminated the man’s silhouette, making her blink like she might be seeing things. She saw shoulders, a head tilted in a familiar way, short, dark hair, and glasses. Was that…

  No. It couldn’t be. It couldn’t.

  The light dimmed again as the man lowered his phone and walked toward the street, away from them. As she watched that far too familiar gait, Sadie tightened her grip on Connor’s arm for no reason except…she had to hold on to something.

  What is he doing here?

  “I’m going to go put a stop to this.”

  “No, wait.” She clung to him.

  “It’s media, Sadie. Or someone Mitch sent. Doesn’t matter, but it’s late, and you deserve some measure of privacy.”

  Just then, a sedan pulled up and slowed down, but the lights made Frank bark again. And then the car beams shined right on the face and body of a man she knew all too well.

  “Let him go, Connor.”

  “Why? We can’t let people think that’s okay.”

  The man opened the back door of the car and climbed in with the familiarity of someone who’d gotten into a thousand taxis and Ubers. “Just let him go.”

  “Sadie.” He tried to shake her off so he could go after the car before it left. “Some guy is lurking outside your house at eleven o’clock at night. I’m not going to—”

  “He’s not…some guy.”

  He turned and looked at her, a question in his eyes. A question she had to answer.

  “That was Nathan Lawrence.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  What the hell? As far as Connor was concerned, her ex skulking around in the dark wasn’t just a good reason to go after the guy, it actually warranted a call to his buddy at the sheriff’s office to go stop one of the few Ubers they had in Bitter Bark.

  But Sadie didn’t agree, and Connor wasn’t at all sure how he felt about that.

  “So it’s perfectly okay for him to stalk you?” he asked after they got Frank calmed down.

  “No, it’s not okay.”

  “Then what’s he doing here?”

  “I don’t know. He didn’t call or text to warn me, so I really don’t know. Or care. He probably wants to apologize. We never even had another conversation after I found out, so he never really had a chance to say he was sorry, but he doesn’t need to be pulled over by the police like a common criminal.”

  “Then he should call and say, ‘I’m sorry.’ And hey, trespassing on private property is a common crime, so he qualifies.”

  She blew out a breath, curling Demi against her chest and stroking the cat’s head in her go-to stress-relieving move. “Nathan is a lot of things, not all of them nice, but he would never, ever hurt me.”

  Connor stared at her, not sure she actually heard her own words.

  “Physically,” she added. “He obviously did plenty of emotional damage.”

  “I’m going to take Frank out,” he said, grabbing the leash he’d left on the table. “While I’m out there, I’ll be walking the perimeter to make sure it’s clear.”

  “Okay, thanks.” She turned to look out the window, her shoulders sagging a little as her strokes on the cat’s head increased in speed.

  “Hey.” He walked to her, sliding his arms around her waist. “Sorry for going full-on bodyguard.”

  “It’s fine. It’s who you are.” She turned to him, a storm of hurt in her eyes. “I just thought I was done with him.”

  “Then let me have my friend Deputy Carter pull the Uber over and be done with him. Scare the crap out of him and maybe mention that your new boyfriend is an overprotective firefighter.”

  She blinked at him. “My new boyfriend?”

  He lifted her left hand. “Sadie. How you forget.”

  “Connor. It’s not real.”

  “The engagement, maybe. The way I feel? Totally real.”

  She looked up at him, that storm in her eyes kicking up to a Cat 5. Demi crawled out of her arms and leaped to the ground, but Sadie didn’t shift her gaze from its lock on Connor’s. “Totally real,” she repeated on a whisper.

  “For me. How about you?”

  Taking a deep bre
ath, she wrapped her arms around his waist and dropped her head on his chest. “Don’t leave tonight.”

  He pressed a kiss on her head. “I have a twelve-hour shift that starts at five a.m. And I intend to spend every minute until then right next to you, and if anyone who doesn’t have four paws and fur thinks they can come near you, they’ll be sorry.”

  He felt her surrender in his arms, giving him a nice surge of satisfaction.

  “Lock the door while I’m out there,” he said as he left to take Frank all around the property.

  Out there, her grandparents’ house was totally dark. While Frank sniffed around, Connor scanned the yard, the garden, and the quiet street where Nathan Lawrence had just disappeared.

  What the hell had he been doing here? Other than the obvious—he wanted to win her back. Just like Jane, the boss. The two of them, cheaters both, who obviously couldn’t live without Sadie.

  But could she live without them? Was it possible she could rebound to her old boyfriend…her old job and her old life? If she lost the election, she might leave.

  He didn’t want that, he realized. If he had to fight for her, he would.

  It was a risk, but he had to take it. Yes, he could lose, and lose hard, by falling for a woman who was fresh out of a relationship that hadn’t had closure. But she was worth that risk.

  He made one more slow walk around the yard, then knocked, and she let him in. He blinked as he stepped into the dim light, surprised to see the sofa bed open and made neatly, with two pillows. And one orange cat stretched out over one of those pillows. Demi rose and arched her back, meowed noisily and possessively, then slithered to the other pillow, somehow managing to drape her body over two at once.

  Sadie had changed into a T-shirt and sleep pants, her thick mane up in some kind of a loose knot that left a few strands of hair falling next to her cheeks.

  “I had to get out of that dress.”

  “I could have gotten you out of that dress,” he said, unclipping Frank’s leash. “Where are my pj’s for the sleepover?”

  She laughed. “I thought firefighters slept in their clothes.”