by Lucy Score
“Oh, look,” Bristol said, nodding to the door. “Customers.”
The early morning crowd was slower on Sundays, but word about Freddy’s near death experience had clearly spread, and everyone wanted to get her firsthand account of it. Even Sue Ann Perkins, in her long skirt and matching purple sweater set, swung by on her way to church.
“I heard you’re a real life hero,” she said, wrapping her strong arms around Bristol and dragging her in for a hug.
Bristol shook her head. “I was just in the right place at the right time,” she said, embarrassed. Was this what Hope had felt every time someone recognized her for a good deed? she wondered.
“Your sister would be really proud of you.”
“I sure hope so,” Bristol said, giving the woman an affectionate squeeze. She and her sisters had known Sue Ann their entire lives. On the day of Hope’s funeral, Sue Ann had shut down her own café and showed up with her staff to open up Early Bird so all of Bristol’s employees could attend the services. The woman’s generosity still brought a lump to her throat.
“Now, before I forget, Kelly mentioned there was a man that stopped by the café yesterday asking where he could find you.”
“Did she say who?” Bristol asked.
Sue Ann shrugged her shoulders. “Her exact words were a ‘hot, hot, hot stranger.’”
Kelly King was a part-time server at Sue Ann’s café and about as pleasant as a cactus. She had an eye for anything with a penis and considered every woman under fifty a competitor for said penises.
“Her description of him lined up with everyone else’s description of the equally handsome stranger at the rink yesterday afternoon,” Sue Ann continued.
Beau. He must have tried to find out who she was after he left the rink that afternoon. Maybe it wasn’t a coincidence that he’d shown up at the pond during her pathetic night skate? She felt a little thrill run through her. Could Beau actually be interested in her? How long had it been since she’d been the object of interest or felt any interest herself?
“Honey?” Sue Ann was snapping her fingers in front of Bristol’s face. “Where’d you go?”
“Sorry, Sue Ann. It must have been Beau. He’s in town on business. We met when he helped with Freddy yesterday afternoon, and then we ran into each other again that evening.”
“Hmm.” Sue Ann looked as though she had a lot more to say on the subject, but the jingle of the front door bell interrupted her.
Beau walked in, looking just as good as he had yesterday. He took in the controlled chaos, the crowded tables, the shouts of orders up, and shrugged out of his grey wool coat. He wore jeans and a burgundy Henley that fit him like a second, well-toned skin.
“Well, that must be our mystery man,” Sue Ann said, eyeing him up. Beau spotted Bristol then and smiled that heartbreaker grin. His eyes crinkled.
“Oh my.” Sue Ann sighed turning back to Bristol, who was sure she’d just set her own hairline on fire with the blush that scorched her face.
He ambled over, moving with grace and power packed into every inch of his hard body. It did nothing to cool her cheeks.
“Morning, Bristol,” he said.
“Hi, Beau,” she said, wondering why her stomach was suddenly fluttering. Sue Ann stepped on her foot and smiled expectantly. “Oh! Uh, sorry. Beau, this is my friend Sue Ann Perkins. Sue Ann, this is Beau. He’s in town for the yoga convention,” Bristol said, hastily making the introductions.
Beau offered his hand to Sue Ann. “I’ve heard a lot about you,” he said with a wink in Bristol’s direction.
Sue Ann’s laugh reverberated throughout the café. “Well, that puts you one up on me. I’ll have to catch up. Where are you from?”
“Chicago,” Beau answered, but he was looking at Bristol.
“Uh-huh. You have family there?” Sue Ann continued down the list of her questions. Bristol had heard the interrogation often enough that she knew the next six questions by heart. But judging from Beau’s stricken expression, he wasn’t prepared to play two hundred questions with Sue Ann.
She was wondering if she should step in and rescue him or not when Maya waved frantically from the counter and pointed to the register.
“If you two will excuse me, I have to fix something.”
––—
Beau felt something akin to panic climbing up his throat as he watched Bristol retreat behind the counter, leaving him with the town busybody. He’d been interviewed before, hundreds of times. But that was his past life, and he wasn’t prepared to relive it at the hands of a nosey Sunday school teacher. He had an objective, and that objective wouldn’t be met if his identity became public knowledge.
“Okay, she’s gone now,” Sue Ann announced. “Let’s get down to business.” She pulled him over to an empty two-top table by the coffee station and sat. Not knowing what else to do, Beau sat down across from her. She took a dainty sip of her coffee and eyed him up. “I’m going to guess that you’re not in town for a convention.”
Before he could argue or deny it or outright lie, she held up a hand. “I happen to know that you stopped in to my café yesterday morning to ask some questions about Bristol. And that was before you even met her.”
He opened his mouth, but she shook her head at him. “I further know that you went to the arena looking for her that afternoon, and my dear friend Mr. King also reported seeing you in the parking lot that evening when Bristol was skating.” The woman leaned in. “Now, you don’t look like a serial killer to me, but you sure as heck aren’t a yoga teacher either. So I’ve gotta ask you, do you mean Bristol any harm? Because I can start screaming bloody murder right now if you are.”
What was it with this town and thinking every stranger was out to chop them up into pieces? Beau wondered.
He shook his head hard. “No, ma’am. I’m just here to make sure Bristol is… who I think she is.”
Sue Ann narrowed her eyes and leaned in. “I have no idea what that means, but Bristol and the rest of the Quinns have been through the wringer this year. I won’t stand for anyone trying to cause them any trouble.”
Beau put his hands up in a gesture of peace. “I can’t tell you what I’m doing here. But I promise you, Ms. Perkins, I won’t cause Bristol any trouble.”
Sue Ann nodded briskly and stabbed a finger at him. “I’ll be watching you. You just remember that.”
“Yes, ma’am. I appreciate that.”
Satisfied, Sue Ann hopped out of her chair with the energy of a woman half her age. “Good. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to make my rounds before church.” And with that, she left Beau to sag with relief into his chair.
It was barely seven o’clock in the morning, and he was already exhausted. His little mission was turning out to be more complicated than he’d thought it would be. He felt the weight of a gaze and looked up. Bristol was grinning at him from behind the counter. She crooked her finger at him, and he felt himself standing as if on autopilot.
At least Sue Ann hadn’t sprinted up to the front of the line to warn her, Beau thought consoling himself.
“Are you ready to order now that your interrogation is over?” Bristol asked with a teasing smile.
She looked even prettier today than yesterday. Her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, and under the pendant lights that hung above the counter he could pick out all the shades of blue in her eyes. She was wearing gray leggings and a black tunic top that dipped low in the back. The yellow apron with huge red flowers somehow made her even sexier.
“Does everyone in town have to face Sue Ann?” Beau asked, leaning over the glass display case that housed a circus of colorful pastries and baked goods.
Bristol nodded. “No one’s a stranger for long in Hope Falls. Now, what can I get you for your complimentary breakfast?”
Beau read over the handwritten menu boards hanging on the wall behind her and whistled. It was quite the eclectic collection of breakfast foods. “I could use a recommendation.”
“H
ealthy or artery clogging?” Bristol asked.
“Healthy, but I still want it to taste good.”
“I find your lack of faith deeply offensive,” she said, wrinkling her nose.
“My apologies. I’ll bow to your expertise,” he teased.
“One soy patty with tofu relish coming up,” she quipped, her fingers flying over the screen. “To drink?”
“Coffee. And,” he read over the juice list. “How about the Immunity Booster?”
“Good choice.” Bristol handed him a mug and pointed him at a table. “Grab some coffee and have a seat. When you hear me yell your name that means your food is up.”
“I don’t suppose you could eat with me? I mean, so we can talk about your lessons.” He was researching, he told himself. Not flirting. He needed to get to know her, and the only way he was going to do that was to spend time with her.
“I might be able to spare a few minutes,” she said.
He spotted the dimple when it appeared next to her mouth and felt something warm spread through his gut. Okay so maybe he was flirting a little bit, but it couldn’t do any harm. Could it?
“I’ll save you a seat,” he promised. He filled his mug with the French roast and settled back at the table Sue Ann had confiscated for their little chat. This time he didn’t have anything distracting himself from the view.
Bristol moved with speed and efficiency, dancing around the younger barista with the hipster glasses and tiny nose stud while greeting customers by name. Her kitchen crew rotated out front sliding plates of hot food under the tiered heat lamps and shouting out names. No one waited more than a few minutes for their breakfast, and Beau was no different.
His meal, however, was delivered by the very attractive owner. Bristol slid his plate to him and handed over a glass of green juice that he eyed suspiciously. In training, he’d been known to down whatever concoction his nutritionist put in front of him. But now he had freedom of choice, and he enjoyed exercising it.
“Don’t look at it like that,” Bristol said, sensing his hesitation. “It tastes like apple juice, but if it’s too scary for you, I can get you a juice box or a chocolate milk.”
“You’re pretty snarky for someone who depends on happy customers for her livelihood,” he teased her, admiring the omelet artfully arranged on his plate.
“It’s all part of my charm,” she said airily, taking a sip of coffee. “So did you enjoy your chat with Sue Ann?”
“Did she, by chance, ever work professionally as an interrogator?” he asked, digging into the eggs.
“Maybe in a past life,” Bristol laughed.
Beau took a forkful of omelet. “Oh, my God. This is good.”
“Of course it is,” Bristol said, rolling her eyes. “You don’t have to act so surprised.”
“Sorry, but I thought your mad skills on the ice could possibly translate to your culinary expertise, and everyone in town loved you so much they didn’t want to hurt your feelings, so they just keep showing up every day and shoveling down terrible food.”
She blinked. “Har har. I should have served you the tofu,” she fired back, reaching for his plate.
He slapped her hand away. “Uh-uh. Mine. What’s the spice in here?”
“Jalapeños. Try it with a bite of the beans on the side. Lots of protein, low fat, and pretty damn delicious.”
“My compliments to the chefs.”
The dimple was back when she wrapped her slim fingers around the snowflake mug of coffee she’d brought for herself. “So what time tonight?”
“Pick you up at seven?”
“I can just meet you at the pond,” she said.
“Now who’s being a baby? We’re going to the same place at the same time.”
“I’m not being a baby. I’m being a responsible adult. I don’t know you. I don’t even know your last name.”
He glanced down at his coffee. “It’s French.” The lie rolled off his tongue awkwardly. He offered her his hand. “Beau French.”
“Why is it I feel like everything you tell me isn’t entirely accurate?” Bristol asked, grudgingly accepting his handshake.
“Beats me. Maybe the high crime rate and unusual number of grifters per capita in Hope Falls make you suspicious?”
“That must be it.” She tugged her hand from his grasp.
“Look,” Beau said, leaning forward. “Sue Ann already vetted me. I’m officially not a serial killer. I’m just offering you some pointers on skating… and hockey. And eating free breakfast.”
“Okay, but if you try to murder me and dump my body in the woods, I’m going to be pretty pissed off.”
“So noted.”
CHAPTER FIVE
“What’s this about you and some hot guy named Beau saving lives and having breakfast together?”
“Well hello to you, too, Vanna,” Bristol said dryly into her phone. She held up the sweater in front of her and frowned in the mirror.
“I’m serious. The entire town is talking about you. Your name came up in a staff meeting this morning,” Savannah said.
Bristol tossed the sweater on top of the growing pile of discarded clothes on her bed. “You lawyers are so funny. Always cracking jokes.”
“Swear to God,” Savannah insisted. “I don’t know if everyone’s more excited about you saving Coach Tubs’ life or having a hot guy chasing you around town.”
“He’s not chasing me,” Bristol grumbled, reaching for a red turtleneck. “He just happened to be at Vi’s game and basically saved Fred’s life. Then I ran into him later that night when I was skating.”
“Hold it. Why were you skating?” her sister demanded, zeroing in on the answer like a trial lawyer picking apart witnesses.
“Oh, haven’t you heard? I’m the Polar Bears’ new hockey coach.”
The peal of laughter on her sister’s end had Bristol yanking the phone away from her ear and then pulling it back when she realized how long it had been since she’d heard Savannah laugh like that.
“I’m glad you find this so amusing,” Bristol said dryly.
“You can’t even skate. You don’t even know what the penalty box is!”
“I know that! But every other parent on the team flat out refused to take over, and without a coach, their season would be over, and Vi would be devastated.”
“Why can’t Nolan coach her? He’s Mr. Outdoorsy.”
“No, he’s Mr. Outdoorsy Sales Guy,” Bristol corrected her. “There’s a huge difference. Plus he’s traveling a lot right now. He’s hitting up a bunch of snowboarding competitions for work. Anyway, Beau is teaching me to skate and giving me some hockey pointers. I can do this. It’s only until Christmas.”
“Uh-huh. Well you can be sure that I’m coming to the next game.”
“I’m going to pretend that you’re showing up to support Violet, not laugh at me.”
“I can multitask.”
“Don’t you have a wedding to plan?”
“I’m a Type A attorney. The wedding has been planned down to the napkin rings since about six seconds after Vince put a ring on it.”
“You’re such a hopeless romantic,” Bristol teased.
“Stop deflecting. And tell me more about this Beau guy. Rumor has it he’s gorgeous.”
It had been a hundred years since she’d gossiped about boys with her sisters. She felt rusty but good.
“Let’s just say the rumors, for once, aren’t completely overblown. He’s big. Tall, broad shoulders, muscles. And he has these bright green eyes that look like they’re looking right into you. Did I mention he’s got a beard?”
“He sounds very lumbersexual,” Savannah sighed.
“I haven’t seen him in a flannel yet. I honestly can’t get a read on him. He’s funny and smart. But every time I talk to him, I go into the conversation determined to find out more about it. And then I get dazzled by his smile or his butt, and I walk away with more questions than answers.”
“If I weren’t a cold-hearted bitch, I’d
say you’ve got quite the crush.”
“And since you are a cold-hearted bitch?”
“I’d say you’re lusting after a hot guy. When’s the last time you got laid?”
“Savannah Quinn!”
“What? Just because you’re a mom doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to see any action. In fact, you should be contractually obligated to have hot sex every once in a while.”
“I’m not a nun!” Though it had been a while… quite a while. “Quick question, totally unrelated. How long can you go without sex before you’re a virgin again? Asking for a friend.”
Savannah laughed again, and Bristol let the sound light up the dim corners of her heart.
“Take some advice from your legal counsel. Go get laid. Enjoy it. And then go back to momming and businessing.”
“Does Vince know what a lucky man he is?” Bristol asked.
“I remind him a dozen times a day. Sooner or later it’ll stick. But seriously, it’s nice to see you feeling something.”
“Back at you,” Bristol sighed. The whole family had been numb for so long, the past twenty-four hours had felt like a bit of a thaw. “It’s nice to hear you laugh.”
“Yeah, well. If we’re not laughing, we’re crying. And I’m sick of crying.”
“Hey, do you want to come over and get super drunk on Black Friday?” Bristol asked. It had been their own holiday tradition since they were both of drinking age. Violet would be traveling with Nolan and Lissa to Lissa’s parents’ house for their family celebration, and without Hope, the apartment would feel too empty.
“That depends. Can we steal desserts out of Early Bird’s bakery case and watch Christmas movies?” Savannah asked.
“Duh. It’s tradition.”
“Count me in.”
The clock on her nightstand caught Bristol’s eye. “Crap. I have to go. Beau’s picking me up in ten, and I’m not dressed yet.”
“Consider staying that way and forgoing the skating lessons,” her sister suggested.
“How about I get to know him first and make sure he’s not an insane axe murderer?”