Catching Her Heart

by Marquita Valentine

  “They’ll be here soon.” She turned to Tommy. “When you’re done, I’ll have a list for you.”

  He nodded, his mouth full of biscuit and gravy.

  The door opened again, and she cranked her head around. Her shoulders sagged in relief as one of Holland Springs’ deputies walked inside.

  “Kayla,” Daniel said, striding their way. “I came as soon as I could. Joe Stancil said that there was no rush.”

  “He had a gun,” Bryce said from behind her, and she started. “It was a fake, but still a gun, and he aimed it at Kayla.”

  Daniel’s lips thinned. He glanced around her and Bryce. “Tommy Boone. Damn it, son.” He shook his head. “That kid has been in more trouble lately.”

  “His family’s hurting—his mom’s laid off and his dad’s still fishing whenever there’s a chance the fish are running,” Bryce explained in a no nonsense voice. “They need money for rent, and he’s under the impression that it’s up to him to get it.”

  Daniels’s brows shot up. “He told you that? I can barely get the kid to talk in complete sentences.”

  “CIT training,” Bryce said.

  Kayla scrunched her nose. What was sit training? But before she could ask, Daniel broke in again. “Impressive. What’s your name?” Daniel moved past her, gesturing for Bryce to follow as he continued his line of questioning.

  “Bryce Fitzpatrick.”

  “Great to meet you, Bryce.” The men shook hands. “Daniel Hazen. What’s your unit?”

  “NYPD.”

  Kayla trailed after them. Although she shouldn’t want to know more about the man, she couldn’t help but hang on every word.

  “Nice,” Daniel remarked. “Guess you see a lot of action.”

  “Some. I’m in homicide.”

  “Seriously? Were you are part of the sting on the sex-slave scandal last month? That headlined even down here.”

  Bryce’s entire body tightened, and he froze so suddenly in the middle of the restaurant that she almost ran into him. “I was the lead detective for the murder investigation.”

  “Must have been hard. I can’t imagine dealing with...yeah,” Daniel said quietly. “Thanks for taking care of this. I owe you a beer.”

  “I’ll hold you to it,” Bryce said, his tall, lean body once more in motion.

  “Uh, guys?” Kayla piped up. “This is my business. Shouldn’t you be questioning me and not the detective? At least, not at first.” You know, before you get all bromancey and decide to go on a date later.

  Both men turned to look at her, and she crossed her arms over her chest. Bryce held her gaze longer than was necessary and then said, “You’re right. I’ll be over there if you need me.”

  Daniel gave her an expectant look, pulling out his pen and paper. She quickly relayed what had happened, including the part about Bryce suggesting that Tommy work to pay off his food.

  “Really could use someone like Detective Fitzpatrick here. Really, Kayla. Do you know how many kids we could help?” he asked.

  “A lot.” While the beach was amazing for tourists and even for locals, the lack of activities for kids in the winter made it hard on them and easy to get in trouble. But the town didn’t have the money or the manpower to fund any programs beyond what they’d already started. And the residents were more concerned about a much-needed hospital being built in the village.

  “I’ll go talk with Tommy. Will you press charges?” he asked.

  “No.”

  “You still want him to work off his breakfast?”

  She considered the kid, his large, bony frame and unkempt hair. The way he shoved the food on Bryce’s plate into his mouth. “No,” she said with a sigh. “I’ll comp it instead. Maybe you can find out how much he needs for rent, and I’ll see if I can gather some funds from church.”

  “You got it. But...your dad’s going to be pissed when he finds out.”

  She made a face. “Can’t you scrub it from your report for the day or something?”

  “Yeah, because that’s entirely legal,” Daniel pointed out.

  “Fiiine. At least he’s on vacation right now.”

  Daniel smiled at her, and her stomach dropped. She knew what was coming next. She hated telling him no because he was such a nice guy, but—

  “We’re having couples’ night down at the bowling alley tomorrow evening, and Shea has a friend of a friend’s brother, who would be—in her words—‘perfect for you’. He’s a doctor or DJ.”

  “Wow, Daniel. Your attention to detail is astounding. Doctor or DJ,” she mused. “I can see how those would be hard to tell apart.”

  Daniel rolled his eyes and gave her a light slap on the back. “See you for Sunday dinner.”

  “Yes, see you then.” She strolled up to Tommy. “Anything else?”

  He shook his head and wiped his mouth. “I’m ready for your list.”

  She cocked her hip to one side and studied him. “I’m not ready to give you a list. Today’s on me, but I want you to come back tomorrow, after school, and do a few chores. I’ll pay you. Do a good job and we’ll see about you coming in a couple of times a week. And don’t worry about the rent—Deputy Hazen and I will take care of it. ” She was almost a hundred percent sure who their landlord was, but it wouldn’t be too much trouble to verify.

  His watery blue eyes widened. “For real?”

  “For real. But you have to go to school,” she said firmly. “I won’t have your momma mad at me for keeping you away.”

  His face broke out in a big smile. “Yes, ma’am.” He jumped to his feet so quickly that his chair toppled over, but he righted it. “I’ll be back tomorrow.” He ran out of there, like the devil himself was on his heels.

  Kayla took a deep breath for the fiftieth time that day and plopped down in the nearest chair, dropping her head into hands. She massaged her temples, eyes closing as she tried to get herself together.

  A warm hand covered one of her shoulders and squeezed before letting go. “You okay?”

  She lifted her head, giving Bryce a wan smile. “Not exactly the type of excitement I want in life, but all’s well that ends well.”

  He hooked his leg around a chair and pulled it to him, flipping it around so that he straddled it. “You handled everything like a real pro. Most people wouldn’t have been so calm.”

  “I screamed.”

  Bryce shrugged. “He caught you off guard.”

  “He did,” she agreed with a little laugh. “Oh God, why am I laughing?”

  “Better than hysterics,” he said quietly. “Why don’t I go lock up so you can take the rest of the day off?”

  She looked over Bryce’s wide shoulders, watching as Joe Stancil walked outside with Daniel. The café was empty but for her and Bryce.

  “That sounds like an excellent plan.”

  “Then I can help you bus the tables and whatever else you got,” he offered with another one of his charming smiles.

  “My savior,” she murmured.

  “And then tonight, you’ll let me take you out to dinner so you can thank me.”

  “Yeah—what?” she all but shouted. “Uh, no. You are not tricking me into a date.” Jumping to her feet, she grabbed the dirty dishes from Bryce’s table and strode to the kitchen.

  “No trick. I asked you straight out. Just thought I’d help my odds out for a yes, by adding the last part,” he said.

  Dumping the plates into the sink of hot, soapy water, she whirled to face him, surprised to find he was so close. She had to lift her chin to look him in the eye. Something she’d always loved to do with a man because it made her think he could lift her up for a kiss or against a wall...

  She blinked. None of that now. “You tricked me by associating your request with all the nice things you’re supposedly going to do for me.”

  “There’s no supposedly to it.” He gave her a crooked grin. “I already saved your life.”

  “From a water gun,” she drawled out. “I mean, what would you have demanded as
thanks if he’d had a sling shot—my firstborn?”

  Bryce laughed. “Damn, I knew I liked you, but that sassiness—it’s a real turn on.”

  “You don’t waste any time, do you?” Although, it was nice being told she turned anything on other than the oven. Or stove. Or fryer...or the flat screen during college basketball season.

  “Nope.” He tucked a stray curl behind her ear, making her shiver. “C’mon, Kayla, just one date. It can’t hurt. Besides, I’m only here for thirteen more days, and you won’t ever have to see me again.”

  “That’s your best pick-up line?” She shook her head in amazement. “Let’s hook up. Oh, and by the way, I’ll be gone before the sheets cool.”

  His gaze turned hot. “Who said anything about sex?”

  “Ah...” Her cheeks flushed. “I did? No, wait. You did when you gave me that ridiculous line about me turning you on.”

  “Touché.” He bit his bottom lip. “How about this—one date, no sex. See where it goes from there?”

  “One date, no sex?” The thought of hot, sweaty sex with Bryce made her thighs clench. Still, she wasn’t about to get involved with anyone, not after her ex shredded her heart. “How can a girl resist a pick-up line like that?”

  He smiled confidently. “What’s your address?”

  “I was being sarcastic, Detective.”

  “I was being serious.” He stroked his jaw. His scruffy, kissable, lickable jaw, and said, “I’ve already made arrangements for the Boone’s rent to paid for the next six months.”

  He had?

  “You can call Deputy Haven to confirm it.”

  Oh, she was weak, so weak. This man had helped a kid in need and taken care of their rent, without demanding anything in return. Well, except a date with her. But he had helped her. And if that gun had been real, then he would have saved her life. The least she could do was go out for dinner. Nothing more, nothing less.

  Besides, it beat couples’ night at the bowling alley with a doctor/DJ.

  “15 Sand Dune Lane.”

  A triumphant grin flashed. “Be there at seven.” Then he bumped her out of the way and started washing dishes. “Go take a load off. I’ll take care of everything.”

  Chapter Three

  Kayla really shouldn’t have liked spending the rest of the morning with Bryce. She really shouldn’t have. She really shouldn’t like eating an entire chocolate layer cake by herself either, but that hadn’t stopped her from doing that when he-who-should-not-be named left her high and dry.

  Come to think of it, she only wanted things she shouldn’t when Big Life Events happened. Attempted robbery, even at fake gunpoint, was a pretty darn big life event.

  So, it stood to reason that she was entirely within her rights to eat Bryce if she wanted to. Or lick him...maybe start at his forearms, trace the veins that stood out with her tongue. She bit down on the tip of her finger and stared at him while he mopped the floor.

  “Oh yeah, baby, wash those hardwoods down,” she whispered. Nothing like a man who saw cleaning All. The. Way. Through. It had to be a pretty good indication of his stamina in bed, or his attention to detail. Either way, she couldn’t stop staring.

  Crap, she had to stop staring. No good would come of her staring.

  He glanced up at her. She snatched her finger out of her mouth and looked at it, as if examining a nail.

  “Anything else before I go?” he asked.

  “I think that does it,” she said with a smile. She shoved her hands into her pockets and moved closer to him. “Listen, about tonight—”

  “You’re not getting out of it,” he insisted, handing her the mop. “Because I refuse to eat alone when there is a beautiful woman who’s already agreed to accompany me.”

  She rolled her eyes as she hauled the mop and bucket to the back. “What if I show up like this?” she called out, shoving them into the cleaning closet.

  “Cute.”

  “No, seriously. What if I showed up for our date looking like this?” she asked, approaching him cautiously.

  He shrugged, and then held up his hands. “I’m not going to make you have dinner with me.”

  I’d like to see you try, buster. “Good to know.”

  “Buuut. I really think you should reward me.”

  The nerve. She glared at him. “For doing your job, Detective?”

  He laughed. “I’m not on duty here. In fact, I could have kept right on eating,” he tilted his head to one side, “once I figured out the gun was fake. Just like Joe Stancil.”

  She crossed her arms. “For your information, Joe Stancil had already called the cops.”

  “The same cop who took twenty minutes to get here...hardly a fact I’d bet my case on.”

  “I’m not a lawyer, and this isn’t a case.”

  “Thank God for that,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair. “Seriously. Dinner. You. Me. Food. Again, it’s the very least you can do for the guy who saved you.”

  “You saved me so you can blackmail me into dinner?”

  “No. I’d never break the law like that.” His silver gaze roamed her body. “Though I wouldn’t be opposed to using my handcuff on you.”

  Just get it over with and he’ll leave you alone, she told herself. It wasn’t like she’d never been propositioned before by an out-of-towner. Most men who came in here asked her out because they were looking for a good time, and thought she must be, too. By what logic, she didn’t know. Only, she wasn’t sure if she wanted him to leave her alone.

  Besides the obvious attraction she had for him, and vice versa, she actually enjoyed flirting with him. He didn’t get all huffy or pissed, resorting to calling her names when she refused. Honey and baby inevitably turned into cocktease and bitch with all the others.

  Bryce watched the play of emotions on her face while he waited, and he was going to wait until the sun went down if he had to. Normally, he wouldn’t have pursued a woman this hard, or cleaned for her, but there was something about Kayla.

  Something sweet, sassy, and vulnerable. He hadn’t been lying when he praised her for being so calm when Tommy burst in. That was a real point in her favor. He dealt with hysterical (justifiably so) all the time in his line of work, so tended to avoid people who had that as their default setting during a crisis.

  Besides, she’d had a traumatic experience, and he didn’t see what good would have come from leaving her alone. No friends or family showed up, beyond the deputy who was trying to set her up on a date. She hadn’t called anyone while he cleaned.

  It was odd, and maybe a little sad. He had a big family, mostly an extended family of cousins, aunts, and uncles, but still, it was a family he could count on.

  “Pick me up at seven,” she said finally, though they had already agreed to a time. But if this made her feel in control, then she could rattle off any number she wanted.

  “I don’t know if I can get ready in time. My hair requires a lot of product. Maybe seven-ten?” he deadpanned.

  She giggled, her hand covering her mouth. He wanted to take that hand, move it out the way, and tell her that no one should cover lips as full as hers because they were entirely kissable.

  When her laughter subsided, she glanced at his head and asked, “Sure that’s late enough for your hair?”

  “Yeah, I’m sure.” He stepped closer to Kayla, her breasts nearly brushing his chest. “See you tonight.”

  She nodded and crept to one side, just a little, but it was enough that he noticed. Then again, he noticed everything about her, more than he should.

  Leaving the café, he whistled for no other reason than he had a date with a hot woman. It was childish, really. But it felt good. And he hadn’t felt good in a long damn time.

  Being a detective was, at times, a thankless job. One with pitfalls and burnout rates that would scare off most of the population. Hell, it did scare off most of the population.

  Which meant they were the sane ones, and he needed to be locked up.

  ***
*** ***

  That evening, Bryce drove to Kayla’s house and arrived promptly at seven, flowers in hand. Maybe he was laying it on a little thick—again—since this date was supposed to be about her thanking him, but the sweet-smelling bouquet he’d purchased from the farmer’s market on the opposite side of the village couldn’t hurt.

  He surveyed the cottage. It was a coastal style like many of the others with a low roofline, cedar-shake siding, and a tiny front yard. As he strolled to her front door, he could make out the multiple piers that jetted off the backyards into the sound. Boats were tied off at the ends. Here the streets were quieter, less traveled unlike the main thoroughfare of the village. He could tell that this side of the beach was where the locals made their homes.

  All in all, a pretty nice set up.

  One he wouldn’t mind visiting.

  Not that he would be visiting Holland Springs any time in the foreseeable future.

  The front door swung open and Kayla appeared, damn near taking his breath away. She wore her hair down in loose curls that flowed over her shoulders. Her dress was something out of a do-me-now fifties housewife style, with a fluffy skirt and a belted top.

  But he could be persuaded to change his mind.

  He dropped his gaze to her shoes. Flats.

  Well, shit.

  Even if he’d allowed the barest hope to convince the tiniest portion of his brain that he could get lucky tonight, those shoes said ‘keep it in your pants, buddy’.

  “You look stunning.” He wasn’t lying. She really did.

  She gave him a sunny smile, one that rivaled the view of the sun setting behind her. “You clean up very nicely yourself.” Reaching up, she lightly patted the top of his head. She smelled...delicious, all feminine and floral—his favorite combination. “Hmmm. Not as hard as I thought it would be.”

  That was because she had her hand in the wrong place. “I really could have used that extra ten minutes.”

  Those beautiful lips of her widened. She laughed. “Your hair will survive.”