by Jill Sanders
“He’s back. I ran into him at the hospital.” He sighed and set down his slice. “The kid looks so much like Robert.” Her dad’s eyes grew unfocused. “It seems like just yesterday we were in school together.” Her father glanced at her and shook his head, then brushed a hand down her cheek. “I’m proud of you, baby girl.”
She felt her eyes grow misty. “Don’t make me cry.” She wiped her eyes and hugged her father.
“If you two are done crying,” her mother said as she stepped into the room, “there’s someone out here who has a question I can’t answer.” She eyed the pizza.
Suzie chuckled and stood up. “Back to work.” She turned but looked over her shoulder. “Since I’m the boss…” She wiggled her body and turned around. Her dad laughed. “Mom, take a break and grab a slice.” She nudged her mother towards the pie, then turned to help the customer.
Chapter 2
Aiden stood over the hospital bed and frowned down at his father’s bruised and broken body. His mother, Amelia, sat next to him on the edge of the bed, holding his hand while his sister, Carrie, stood in the corner of the room crying into her husband Josh’s arms.
“It’s not as bad as it looks,” his dad said in a strong voice.
“Really?” Aiden replied. “Because it looks like you got run over by a truck.”
His father chuckled. “It feels like it, but it’s just a broken leg and collarbone.” He shifted to sit up, and Aiden saw him wince with pain.
He rushed over and handed the bed controller to him. “Use this,” he said.
“Right.” His father relaxed back and hit the button until he was sitting up. “Are you sure you are up for filling in for me?” his dad asked him.
Aiden chuckled. “I was born for it.” He rolled his eyes. “Besides, how hard could it be compared to what I’ve been doing in Portland?”
His father’s dark eyebrows shot up. “You think my job is easy?”
Aiden smiled. “It has to be. They’ve let you do it for thirty years.”
His father chuckled, then winced. “Don’t make me laugh.” He sighed. “One week,” he said. “I give you one week to change your tune.” His father rested his head back.
“You’re on.” He smiled down at him. He was looking tired and like he was in pain. “You need to rest.” He touched his mother’s shoulder. “I’m going to grab something to eat. Want anything?”
“No.” She shook her head, but his father stepped in.
“Eat something. Go with him. I’m going to rest my eyes for a while.” His father glanced over at Carrie and Josh. “All of you go. I’ll be here.” He smiled weakly.
“Are you sure?” his mother asked softly.
“Yes.” His father raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “I’m not going anywhere.”
When they all stepped out into the hallway, three other police officers stood up across the hall. Aiden had known David, Simon, and Tom his entire life.
“How’s he doing?” David asked.
“He’s resting,” Aiden answered. “He’ll make a full recovery.”
“Lacey mentioned that you’ll be taking over for him until he recovers?” Tom asked.
Aiden hadn’t even thought that one of these men might want to fill in for his father and instantly wondered if he’d stepped on any toes.
“Yeah,” he said, frowning at the trio.
“Good,” Simon said with a chuckle. “Don’t worry, kid, none of us old timers want to step in that pile,” he said as he slapped his shoulder. “We’ll happily take orders from you.”
“Heard you completed your courses in Portland?” David asked.
“Yes, a few months—”
“Perfect,” David broke in. “We’ll give you a day or two to make sure your dad gets settled. The place is waiting for you when you’re ready.” They all glanced towards the door.
“Think he’d mind if we poked our heads in for a moment?” Simon asked.
“I’ll check.”
A few minutes later, after showing the trio into his father’s room, he caught up with his mother, Carrie, and Josh in the cafeteria.
They were all talking about the new flower shop in Pride that had opened earlier that day.
“Pride has a flower shop?” he asked as he sat down.
“Yes, Suzie just opened it this morning. I was going to head down there for opening day when I got the call about your father,” his mother answered.
“Suzie?” he asked, frowning into his food. The last time he’d seen little Suzie Jordan she’d been in pigtails still. Well, okay, she’d been eighteen, but still, she had literally been wearing pigtails. Sexy ones that made those shorts she’d been wearing look sexy instead of cute.
“She opened her own business?” he asked.
“Yes.” His sister nudged him. “Women can run businesses.”
He rolled his eyes. “It’s not that, it’s just… I guess I don’t think of her as old enough to run a business.” He shrugged as he bit into his sandwich.
“She’s, what?” His mother sighed and thought about it. “Twenty-four now?”
He coughed on the bite he’d taken. “She is not.” He thought about it and realized she was only a few years behind him in school. Since he’d known her his entire life, it was hard for him to get the image of her in pigtails and skinned knees out of his head.
Even his last encounter solidified that picture in his mind.
“Good for her.” He shrugged and finished his food.
When they were heading back up to his father’s room, he bumped into one of the girls he’d dated in high school. He’d known she worked at the hospital as a nurse and had been trying to avoid seeing her while he was there.
It wasn’t as if things had ended badly with Elizabeth, but he wasn’t looking to continue anything with her while he was in town. He didn’t even know how long he was going to be home. If all went well, he figured a month or two.
“Aiden?” Her smile grew brighter when she noticed him.
“I’ll see you up there,” he told his mother and sister.
“Sure.” Carrie rolled her eyes at him.
“Hi, Elizabeth,” he said easily.
“I thought that was you,” she said, a little breathless. Even though she was wearing scrubs, he knew instantly that she was pouring on the charm. It wasn’t as if she looked bad in scrubs. With curves like that, she could probably wear a burlap sack and still be hot.
“Yeah, my dad was in an accident this morning.”
Worry crossed her eyes. “Oh no.” She frowned. “Is he okay?”
“Yeah, broken leg and collarbone,” he answered quickly.
“Oh, that’s too bad. Tell him I said hi and hope he has a fast recovery.” She moved closer to him. “So, does that mean you’ll be in town for a while?”
“Yeah.” He kicked himself for falling into her trap.
“We’ll have to have some fun while you’re here,” she whispered as her hand ran up his arm.
“I… can’t.” He shook himself free. “I’m, um, filling in for my dad.”
“Wow.” Her eyebrows shot up. “Sheriff.” She chuckled and then purred as she moved closer. “I just love a man in uniform.”
He groaned inwardly and tried to shake her off again. “I won’t be here for long,” he said. “Listen, I have to get…” He motioned towards the elevators.
“Sure.” Elizabeth smiled again, unfazed by him brushing her off. “Call me. You still have the number,” she said to him as he stepped away.
“Sure,” he said and rushed to catch the elevator.
“Dodged that one,” Josh said when he stepped into his father’s room.
Aiden rolled his eyes. “Tell me about it.”
“Elizabeth was always… pushy,” he supplied.
“How would you know?” Carrie asked, her eyes narrowing at her new husband.
Josh laughed. “I have eyes. The woman was always all over your brother.”
“True.” He sighed. “She is if
I let her.”
“Oh?” Carrie asked. “Why don’t you?”
“I don’t want any reason to keep me around town. I’m here only to help dad out, then I’m gone.” He touched his mother’s shoulder. “Sorry.”
His mother shrugged. “Just as long as you come back for holidays.” She smiled up at him. “You know your father and I support whatever you do.”
“Yeah.” He glanced down at his father’s sleeping form. “I’m going to head out.” He glanced at his watch. “I’ve got to check in—”
“You can always stay at our place,” his mother said.
“No.” He shook his head. “I called ahead and got a cabin at the Jordan’s. It’ll be easier. I can come and go without bothering either of you.”
He bent down and kissed his mother’s cheek. “Call me if you need anything.”
“No. They’re probably going to kick me out of here soon.”
“We’ll take her home. We rode here together.” Carrie gave him a hug.
“The doctor said he could go home tomorrow, if he’s up to it,” his mother added. “I’ll need your help getting him settled.”
“Of course.” He nodded. “I’ll be here in the morning,” he said as he left.
He made the fifteen-minute drive from Edgeview to Pride on roads he knew so well he could map them out in his head.
The early morning rain that had caused his father’s patrol car to slip off the road had turned to even heavier ran, causing him to drive the twisted roads more slowly than normal.
By the time he drove into Pride, it was just past eight at night. He’d spent the entire day in the car or at the hospital.
As he drove through his hometown, he wondered where the new flower shop was. Not many exciting things happened in the small town. He imagined that a new store would be the highlight of the year.
He could still remember when the pizzeria, Baked, had opened. Then, shortly after that, Riley and Lilly, the two Jordan cousins, had opened their little boutique, Classy and Sassy. He didn’t visit the place often, but he’d stopped in a few times for gifts for his mom or sister.
He’d heard about the other two sisters who had recently moved into town, Kara and Robin. The duo had turned an old warehouse along the waterfront into a full-blown wedding venue.
Since he figured he had time to kill that evening, he drove around the small town until he found the old stone building just off Main. The old place had housed a few businesses in its time. The flower shop sat between the hair salon and an old store that he doubted had opened in the past ten years. The place had at one point rented movies and games. He slowed and parked out front to get a better look at the remodeled store.
Since the lights were still on inside the new shop, he could see everything Suzie had done. Outside, a well-lit sign that read ‘All in Bloom’ in bold letters hung above the brightly colored blue glass door.
He smiled at the old building and figured it was a good addition to the town.
The lights inside flipped off, and he frowned as a dark figure opened the door and stepped out into the night. He watched as she juggled a large box of items and her umbrella while she tried to lock the door.
He couldn’t make out anything about the figure other than it was a taller woman who was about to spill the contents of the box.
Sure enough, before he could open his door to rush and help, the box tipped over and a bunch of papers flew out as it fell to the wet ground.
Since the wind had been blowing all day, several papers took flight.
He raced across the street and snagged three of them out of the air. The rest either flew away or landed in the water and immediately became soaked and glued to the pavement.
“Oh no!” she cried out as she bent on her hands and knees, dumping her umbrella and purse as she frantically tried to salvage the documents.
“Here,” he chuckled as he bent to help out. “Let me help.”
For the next minute, they both worked quickly to salvage what they could, but she lost about ten percent of what had spilled out.
“Sorry,” he said when she finally glanced up and looked into his eyes.
His heart skipped as his eyes connected with sea-green ones that seemed to sparkle in the light from the sign hanging above the door.
His eyes moved slowly over her face and, for the first time in his life, he really saw her. The soft, perfect skin. The large green bedroom eyes that held secrets. Those plump pink lips that called to be kissed. She was more than he’d ever thought. Why hadn’t he ever looked, really looked, at her?
He hadn’t registered anything she was saying.
“Earth to Aiden?” Her voice finally broke through the fog in his mind. She was laughing up at him, and her eyes had changed to a lighter green with her humor. He instantly wondered what color they would change to if he kissed her.
“I think I have it now.” She motioned to the piece of paper he still held in his hand. The one she was trying to tug from his fingers.
“Oh.” He dropped his hand quickly. “Sorry,” he mumbled and then quickly moved to help her stand up, his hand going to her elbow. He tried to take the box from her, but she yanked it back from him and put the lid back on it.
“Thanks, I’ve got it now.” She glanced around for her umbrella, which had caught the wind and was halfway down the block.
“Crap.” She sighed. He held up his hand. “Hang on.” He rushed after it and heard her laughing behind his back as he chased the damn thing another block.
When he came back to her, he was winded and soaking wet.
“Thanks. I thought you were going to blow away there for a moment,” she joked, taking the umbrella from him.
Since everything had already gotten wet, she’d put the box into the trunk of her car and stood under the awning waiting for him to return.
“I should have known better than to try and carry too much.” She took the battered umbrella from him and closed it since they were now tucked safely under the awning.
He nodded and realized he didn’t know what to say to her. What could he say? Gee, sorry I never realized how hot you were before now? Shit, he was a moron.
“So, this is your place?” he said instead, nodding to the store.
“Yes.” Her smile brightened, causing him to catch his breath. Hell. Where had this come from? “Do you want to see it?” She nodded to the door.
“I don’t want to keep—” he started, but she was opening the door again.
“It’s no bother,” she threw over her shoulder. “I’m too excited not to show it off.” She chuckled as she flipped on the lights. “My last customer left about ten minutes before I closed up.” She motioned around the store. “I’m already having to double my next stock order.” She sighed and wrapped her arms around herself.
He pried his eyes away from her and glanced around the shop. “Wow.” He walked over to a row of pink flowers. “I guess my mom will be expecting flowers more often now.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Dad’s excuse that he didn’t have time to drive to Edgeview won’t cut it anymore.”
She chuckled. “I can’t tell you how many men told me that today.”
He frowned slightly and turned away. Was that her way of telling him she was seeing someone? Why was he even thinking about it?
He’d just turned Elizabeth away. Why would he be thinking about Suzie’s dating life?
“What made you decide to come back here?” he asked as he touched the petals of a white rose.
“I’d been saving up for this since school,” she said as she looked around.
He turned on her. “You… wanted to come home?”
She laughed. “Sure, why? Don’t you?”
“No.” He frowned down at the roses. “I’m back to help my dad.”
“That’s right,” she said. “I heard your dad was in an accident this morning. How’s he doing?”
He turned to her. “Fine. He’ll get to go home tomorrow. Of course, with the broken bones, he’ll b
e laid up for a while.”
“My dad said you’ll be filling in for him at the station?” she asked, her eyes running over him.
“Yeah. I took all the necessary courses in college. I’d just been hired on at the Portland PD.” He shrugged, not wanting to tell anyone that he was nothing more than a paper pusher instead of an investigator like he wanted to be.
“That’s great.” She smiled. “I bet you’re good at it. I mean, second generation and all.” She shrugged. He watched the slight movement and realized it wasn’t just her face that drew him in.
She’d always been tall. Taller than her sister, Sara. Her long legs were encased in dark slacks and she wore a soft pink rain jacket that hugged her body, thanks to a belt wrapped around her tiny waist.
The front of the coat was left opened, and he could see a crisp white blouse that buttoned up the front. Several buttons were loose at the top, showcasing a perfect pair of breasts.
His eyes snapped back to hers.
“Why a flower shop?” he asked, wanting to take her mind off the fact that he had just been ogling her breasts.
“Pride didn’t have one.” She shrugged. “I’ve always liked flowers. My mother and I used to work in her garden all the time. She always said I had a knack for making things grow.” She smiled. “So, I mixed this with my other passion” He waited, and she leaned closer and whispered, “Business. I just love to crunch numbers.” She chuckled.
He shook his head. “Yeah, I seem to remember you helping me out with math a few times.”
She laughed. “I remember you flunked out of algebra.”
“Twice.” He held up his fingers. “But Mrs. Carley had it out for me since I was a jock. She hated football players.”
“Right.” She chuckled. “So, can I get you anything while you’re here?”
His mind instantly returned to the thought of kissing those plump lips.
“No,” he answered quickly. “I’m good.”
“Mother’s Day is only a month away,” she reminded him as she motioned to the potted plants.
“I’ll come back beforehand for some fresh cut flowers instead,” he promised.
“If you’re sure.” She chuckled and started walking towards the door again.