Secrets

by L. A. Fiore

  His mom dismissed his question when she rushed out, “Oh, yes, we’re fine. So, I was talking to Joanie Severs, you remember her, right?” But she didn’t wait for an answer. “Anyway, her granddaughter is in town and I thought it would be nice if you took her to dinner. She’s a pretty little thing.”

  Hank had just reached the bottom of the stairs when his steps halted. He blew out a breath. He knew Joanie Severs, even knew who her granddaughter was. Hank would agree that she was a pretty little thing, but little was the key word. “Ma, she’s in her early twenties, come on,” he grumbled as he started toward his kitchen. He took the phone from his ear, tapped the speaker on the screen and laid the cell on the counter before he put his shirt on.

  “I realize that but there’s something to be said about a young wife. They get older and get ideas.” She paused then added, “Not to be insensitive, but remembering what happened with Phoebe…” She huffed out a breath. “I’m just going to say it. I know you’ve got your eye on the new woman in town, but she’s Phoebe all over again. And it would just break your mama’s heart watching you go through that again.”

  Hank was lucky for the counter behind him because he fell into it, his lower back hitting the granite. He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. “Ma,” he started but couldn’t seem to find the right words. Silence hung in the air for a beat before he said, “I appreciate your concern, I do, but you gotta let me live my damn life. As for having my eye on the new girl, I don’t have just one, I got both. Not gonna pussy around it, Ma, she’s with me and I like that, a fucking lot. So I need you on board with it.” He hung his head, laid a hand to the back of his neck and rubbed it, trying to ease the growing tension. He didn’t want to hurt his mom, never would. But it was time she cut the cord.

  A long pause before his mom said softly, “Whatever makes you happy, Hank. That’s all I want for you and if this woman makes you happy then…” Another pause. “I’m on board.” She didn’t miss a beat when she added, “You should bring her to dinner.”

  Hank took a deep breath and said, “Thanks, Ma, I’d like that. I’m sure Arissa would too.” He moved from his spot and went to the fridge to tag a beer then realized it was still morning so settled on a cup of coffee.

  “Yes, well, that would be delightful to actually sit and talk to her about her fancy job. Exciting.” But there was a note off in her tone. “You let me know when she can pencil me in.”

  Hank didn’t miss the snarkiness in her voice but he didn’t water it. “Sounds good, Ma. I’ll let you know when.” He watched the dark liquid fill the mug. Today it seemed like it was taking hours to brew one simple cup.

  “Your father and I are looking forward to getting to know her. You want to stop over, I’ve baked brownies,” she said, then added, “Just like Dehlia makes.”

  “Gotta say, Ma, you’re the only resident of Summerville whose recipes are uncannily similar to Dehlia’s secret recipes.” He chuckled.

  “Great minds, Honey.”

  “Mmm Hmm,” Hank hummed then his phone chimed with an incoming call. He saw the name and said, “Rain check, Ma, gotta go, okay?”

  “Yes, okay. Be safe. And call me about dinner.”

  “Will do, love ya.” And for the first time he didn’t wait for his mom to reply before he tapped the screen to connect the incoming call. “Talk to me so I can hear your voice,” he said in greeting.

  Arissa leaned back against her counter and grinned, loving that he missed her as much as she had him. He’d only just left. “Pie, what flavor am I making? Is infinity really all there is? Do you believe in aliens because I think I‘ve actually met a few.”

  He grinned. “As for flavor, yours. I’m not a scientist and the last, that’s classified info I cannot share.”

  Her voice was a little breathy when she confessed, “I missed everything after flavor, yours.”

  “I’ve missed you,” he said in a whisper. “I know, fucking corny but I do.”

  “Why do you think I’m calling you, Sheriff? I’ve already got the ingredients for the pie.”

  Hank’s cock twitched at the same time his grin spread wide before he ordered, “My house.”

  “I’m leaving now,” she said but added softly, “Is it crazy? It’s only been a month, but I’ve never felt like this.”

  Hank’s voice was low when he replied, “If so, then call me crazy.”

  “Good answer,” she said softly. I’ll see you soon, Sheriff. You’re gonna need to ticket me because I intend to exceed the speed limit. Fair warning.”

  His voice grew husky when he said, “I’ll give you a fair punishment for it.”

  “Definitely speeding now. I’m walking out the door. See you in eight minutes.” She disconnected the call, a big smile on her face because it was at least fifteen minutes from her place to his. At the thought of his fair punishment, she could probably make it in five.

  10

  “That look, looks good on you, Boss,” Jo said as Hank reached for the handle on the station’s door.

  He turned his head, gave her his eyes. “Come again?”

  She jerked her head in his direction. “That.”

  “What?” he asked perplexed and dropped his hand from the handle.

  Jo huffed, “Do I have to explain everything to you. The look…happy.”

  Hank nodded, and drew his top lip between his teeth. He was happy. Fuck, he was happier than he’d ever been. It’d been a week since that night and he had it…bad. They spent every night together; rotating whose bed they slept in. They’d already made their appearance at Moe’s and it was as if Arissa had always been by his side. Anytime they ate at Dehlia’s, she always sent them off with a piece of apple walnut crumb cake because she knew it was Arissa’s favorite. They even showed their faces at the garden center without any whispers. The only fail of the week was when his mom called to tell him she had made stew for dinner. Hank never missed his mom’s stew… until now. He heard the disappointment in her voice but to him she claimed it was all fine. He knew it wasn’t.

  Hank ran a hand through his hair and asked, “Can I go meet my girl for lunch now?”

  Jo shook her head and spoke to the air. “Man can’t even take a compliment.” She waved a hand in the air, the hot pink on her nails leaving streaks of color in the air. “Go.”

  Hank was just through the door when she yelled, “Tell my friend I said hi and she missed knitting night… again!”

  Hank flicked his hand in the air as the door shut behind him. He walked down the street, the memory vivid of what Arissa and he had been doing on the night she was supposed to be at Hya’s. A smile coasted over his face when he remembered Arissa riding him in the bathtub, tossing her phone to the floor expressing how he should arrest them because they had uncanny timing and then teased if they only knew how she was spending her time. Hank even chuckled out loud remembering that he told Arissa to shut up cause he wasn’t coming with thoughts of Hya in his head.

  “Okay,” Sal expressed as he jumped from his spot in front of Dehlia’s. “Instead of a wet t-shirt contest, how about bobbing for apples in mini skirts?”

  “Yeah, Sheriff, come on, that’s a good one,” Elmer chimed in, coming from down the street, buttoning his shirt, before dropping down in his chair taking a gulp of the sweet tea Sal ordered him.

  Hank only answered in a few words. “Hya in a miniskirt.”

  “Jesus.” Sal fell back into his chair. “Warn a man next time,” he grumbled.

  ‘Well, shit, Sheriff,” Elmer hissed but slid his eyes toward Sal before he shifted in his seat. “Yeah,” he muttered convincingly. “Maybe no miniskirts.”

  Seconds later, Bertha came barreling down Main Street, the woman in question behind the wheel, looking a little disheveled. Seeing the men, she smiled at Hank and flipped the other two the bird.

  Hank was walking into Dehlia’s when
he heard Sal say to Elmer. “Don’t ya think it’s about time the town votes on putting Hya down?”

  “Come on,” Elmer grumbled then lifted his glass. “We ain’t that mean.”

  “We aren’t?” Sal questioned.

  Hank zeroed in on his woman sitting in their booth, her focus on the menu. She was chewing on a nail as she studied it, but he knew her thoughts weren’t on what was in front of her. One of the many quirks Hank picked up on about Arissa, when something was on her mind, she chewed on her nail. He said a few hellos as he walked toward her.

  He reached the booth and her eyes lifted to him as an easy smile spread over her face. “What’s on my girl’s mind?”

  She didn’t answer right away, her eyes drifted down his body. It was a uniform, one that countless law enforcement officers wore, but the sight of Hank in that cotton went right to her clit. She pressed her thighs together to ease the ache. When her gaze returned to him, he knew exactly what she was thinking.

  He leaned into her before sitting and said, “I expect to see that look on your face later.”

  Lust made her lightheaded thinking about later but she pulled herself back to his original question, her voice a little hoarse when she said, “I like that you can read me so well.” She blew out a breath. “First, Elmer and Sal asked me to talk you into apple bobbing with miniskirts.”

  Hank grabbed for the glass of water sitting in front of Arissa and told her. “Don’t worry I squashed that by leaving the image of Hya in a miniskirt in their heads.” He drained the last of it.

  Her face twisted at the visual. “You can’t unsee that,” she muttered but teasing turned serious. “I’ve been meaning to ask you about the man that showed up that first night. I haven’t really let myself think about it because I’ve had something so much sweeter on my mind, but it’s kind of there in the back of my head.” The truth was she was happy, happier than she’d ever been but that man…something about him bothered her. And him asking Hank about Phoebe, coupled with her conversation with Catherine about Phoebe, she felt like the other shoe was going to drop. “Did you get that settled?”

  Even though it was Marty’s section, Dehlia always came out from the back to wait on the sheriff. Before Hank had a chance to answer Arissa, Dehlia appeared. “What can I get my favorite couple today?” She smiled.

  Arissa absently looked up at Dehlia, her thoughts hadn’t been on food. She fell back on her usual when she said, “The chicken salad sandwich and sweet tea.”

  Hank studied Arissa as he spoke. “I’ll have the same.”

  Dehlia was an old wise woman so when she felt something in the air between Hank and Arissa, she didn’t linger, leaving them to it.

  Hank put his elbows on the table, folded his arms and leaned in. “Baby, if this was bothering you this much, you should have asked sooner.” He laid a hand on hers and didn’t let her talk as he went on. “I had Mike look into him. Seems there’s not much on him. Thinking she wanted to get shot of him and made shit up.” Hank didn’t hold back the information about Phoebe for any reason other than there was nothing to tell.

  “She being Phoebe,” Arissa said.

  Hank’s thumb caressed her fingers, trying to give her as much comfort as he could. “Yes, Sweetheart.”

  “Do you mind if I ask you about her?”

  “You can ask me anything,” he told her and stopped when Marty dropped off their sweet tea. “Hi, Sheriff,” she said before pulling her bottom lip between her teeth.

  Hank nodded. “Marty.”

  Then she was gone. Marty wasn’t a fan of Arissa and Hank together because she’d had a crush on him since high school.

  Arissa watched Marty walk away before her focus turned back to Hank. “Asking anything, that goes both ways. You know that right?”

  Hank reached for his tea. “I do.”

  She glanced down at their hands before her gaze lifted and she asked, “How did you and Phoebe meet?”

  He put pressure on her hand when he told her. “I met her at the South Carolina Policeman’s Ball.”

  That surprised her because her image of Phoebe was more model and Hollywood. “Did she work in law enforcement too?”

  “No,” he started softly. “Her friend was dating a detective and she tagged along. She was actually between jobs when I met her, which made her move to Summerville an easy one.”

  “I imagine you became friends with the detective since you met Phoebe through him, so to speak, and you’re both officers of the law.”

  Hank tilted his head and blinked his eyes. “Actually, I didn’t. If I recall correctly, Phoebe stopped talking to them shortly after she moved to Summerville. I asked why, but she always diverted the conversation.” Hank shrugged. “Guess, chick shit.”

  Serious chick shit if she was close enough to the woman to be a third wheel. Arissa didn’t linger on that and instead asked what she really wanted to know. “So what happened between you two? Why isn’t she still here, in your house, in your bed?” She felt the heat creep up her neck to settle on her cheeks but she forged on. “I’m being blunt, but only a month with you and…I don’t understand how anyone could walk away from you.”

  Hank gave her a small smile. “If we’re being blunt, I came home from work one day to an empty closet and a dear John letter. Said she missed the city, couldn’t handle the small town life or being on the arm of the man that ran said town. That it drew too much attention she didn’t want.” Hank watched Arissa’s expression change but he carried on. “You’re the only one that knows those details. Everyone thinks she just up and left for a life in the city. And I kept it that way.”

  Arissa wasn’t sure what she thought had happened between them, but hearing she left him the way she had, the back of her eyes burned. “She did not,” she whispered but as she sat across from him, thinking about him coming home to that, anger brought color to her cheeks. “What a fucking shitty thing to do. For you to come home…” she bit back the words she wanted to say. “I’m sorry. That’s just…Jesus, Hank, that was really fucking shitty of her.”

  “Stop,” Hank said over the last of her words. “It’s fine, Baby. Yeah, it was a dick move but it is what it is. The small town life isn’t for everyone. But she wasn’t the only dick when it all went down cause I didn’t go after her.” He watched Arissa’s beautiful face soften. “She called a few times, left multiple texts saying she needed to explain her actions but I ignored them all.”

  Marty appeared at the edge of the table with their food. Hank and Arissa moved their connecting hands and leaned back for Marty to place their plates in front of them. “Thanks,” Hank said.

  “Can I get you anything else?” Marty asked, her eyes trained only on Hank.

  Marty knew very well what was missing but Hank had to tell her every time. “Mayo and hot sauce for Arissa.”

  Marty quickly glanced at Arissa and said as if she was an afterthought, “Oh, right.” Then she disappeared.

  When Arissa was done casting darts to the back of a retreating Marty and brought her gaze back to Hank, he offered, “Don’t worry, Baby, I’m your biggest fan.” He chuckled and tossed a fry in his mouth.

  It took her a second, but the smile was genuine. “Good. I’d like to say I’m your biggest fan, but I’m not so sure that’s true in this town.”

  Hank smiled at her. “You’re the only one I need.”

  She looked down, shook her head because the man had an uncanny ability of cutting through the shit to what mattered. When her gaze lifted again, she didn’t hide what she was feeling. “I need you too…” She smiled and added more softly, “Sheriff.”

  His eyes flew to her right when his cock twitched. He was about to take a hefty bite of his sandwich when his hands halted, letting the sandwich lay an inch from his mouth when he grated out, “Thought I told you about saying that shit in public?”

  She lifted her sandwi
ch, held his hot eyes and said, “Oops. I suppose I should be punished.”

  Hank took the bite and twisted his wrist to glance at the time and spoke around a mouthful of food. “Better eat fucking quick woman so I can fuck you on my desk before I gotta head out to Fred’s.”

  Arissa’s hand shot in the air as she shouted, “Can I get a doggy bag?”

  Hank shook his head and told her. “Woman, eat your food.”

  “Fine,” she said, grinned then took a big bite.

  * * *

  Hank had his mouth between Arissa’s parted legs. Her hands fisting his hair as her orgasm grew closer. He had come home that day to Arissa in his house taking pictures of his home. He liked seeing her there. Walking around like it was her own. But he loved coming home to her. So much that he threw her up on his island, lifted her sundress and ripped her panties from her before his tongue tasted the only sweetness he ever craved.

  When her fingers laced in his hair, pulling at the roots, he sucked her clit deep into his mouth.

  She moaned, her grip on his hair painful.

  Only seconds after he felt the convulsions of her pussy on his chin. He let her throbbing clit go and drove his tongue deep inside tasting everything she had to offer. Her body began to lax when he licked her clean.

  Hank stood, his finger going to the corner of his mouth and catching the drop of juice that lay there and sucking it off his finger. “Coming home to that…” He got Arissa’s half-lidded gaze. “I could never tire of.” It was then that Hank unclipped his holster and laid his gun on the counter behind him.

  Arissa couldn’t tear her eyes from him. He was still in his uniform, had been carrying his gun, a chill moved down her thinking about an evening greeting like that every night. It wasn’t lust, though, that fueled her words when she said softly, “You take my breath.”

  “As do you, my dear.” He told her then patted her knee. “Come on, I’m gonna grab a shower before we head to my mom’s for dinner.”