“Hey, guys,” I whispered, pressing my hand against the stone.
“It’s been a while.” My nose began to sting and tears welled in my eyes. “I’m sorry about that. I’m sorry about a lot of things, honestly. I’m sorry for every time I acted like a little brat and gave you attitude. I’m sorry for that time I tried to give all my Barbie’s a haircut and ended up making them look like escapees from a mental institution.” A single tear broke free and slipped down my cheek as I continued. “Mom, I’m sorry for taking your favorite pair of jeans without asking when I was sixteen, then getting that big stain on the left thigh that you could never get out. And Daddy, I’m sorry for trying to wash your truck with a steel wool scrubber.”
I stopped on that one, unable to hold back my laughter as I thought back to that day. I’d been seven at the time, and Dad had just gotten a brand new truck. He’d been so damn proud of it. I wanted to do something special for him, so I decided to go out and wash his new baby. Like, I said, I was only seven so how was I supposed to know.
Fortunately, I’d been caught before I could get past the driver side door, but the damage there had already been done... and it was immense. I remembered Dad’s face turning so red I thought his head was going to pop, but before he could rage, Mom came out of the house, saw what I’d done, and promptly burst into hysterical laughter. My mom’s laugh had always done wonders to calm my father’s anger, and by the time she was finished, I’d barely gotten into any trouble at all.
The lightness of that memory faded, and my smile fell as I confessed in a quiet voice, “But mostly I’m so, so very sorry that I wasn’t there that night. I’m sorry I couldn’t do something to help.” The tears started anew, falling faster and harder as a painful lump formed in my throat. The cold of the stone seeped through my glove and sank into my palm as I pushed harder against it. “I hope you both know how much I love you, how proud I am to have been your daughter. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think of you guys and miss you like crazy.”
I gave their stone a kiss the same as I had Reenie’s. “I love you all so much. Take care of each other, okay? And I promise I’ll come to visit more often.”
With that, I stood, brushing the dirt and dried leaves off my jeans before heading back to my car. I wasn’t sure if my visit would help burn away the rest of the hold that my earlier nightmare still had on me, but it had been worth a shot. And I was glad I’d finally found the courage to make that visit.
Turning my car into the parking lot, I found a spot, pulled in, and shut off the engine. The Tap Room might have been a bar, but they served a pretty decent lunch so the doors opened around eleven, and judging by the number of cars in the lot, it was easy to see that business was steady. After the morning I’d had, I was in desperate need of some time with my best friend to shake off the dark cloud of melancholy still hovering over me.
I climbed out of the car and made my way to the front door of the attractive brick building. “Hey girl,” Rory greeted, smiling brightly the moment I stepped inside. Nona was sitting on a stool across from Rory who was standing behind the bar, and quickly swiveled around to wave at me.
Moving to the stool beside her, I hooked my purse and jacket on the back and took a seat.
“You okay, doll?” Nona asked, her face scrunching in worry. “You look like you’ve been crying.”
Propping my elbows on the counter, I rubbed at my cheeks and let out a heavy sigh. “Yeah, I’m okay. It’s just been a rough morning.”
Rory rested her forearms on the bar top and leaned in. “Wanna talk about it?”
“I went and visited my families’ graves,” I admitted to my friends. “I had this nightmare about my parents....” I stopped and gave my head a shake to clear it of the god-awful images from that terrible dream. “It messed with my head, so I went to the cemetery to talk to them. It was good, but super emotional.” I looked to Rory, my expression dead serious as I said, “And now I need you to get me the biggest freakin’ cheeseburger you make, because emotional breakdowns require copious amounts of wine, but seeing as I can’t just sit around getting day drunk, the next best thing is grease and cheese.”
She let out a laugh and replied, “Gimme just a sec and I can definitely do that for you,” before moving to the kitchen to put my order in.
“Does that happen often?” Nona asked, and I turned my head to look back at her. “The nightmares about your parents.”
“The nightmares, yes. They aren’t always about my folks, but they always have something to do with that night.”
She gave me a sympathetic smile and reached out to place her hand over the top of mine. I appreciated the gesture, and it just went to show how incredible these women were. “Have you talked to someone about them?”
“I saw someone for a while back in Chicago. She helped me learn to cope with them, but as far as getting them to go away....” I gave her a defeated shrug. “I don’t think there’s a cure for that.”
“All right, babe,” Rory broke in, rejoining out klatch. “Burger’s on the grill, and I added extra cheese, plus bacon, because I’m an awesome best friend. Shouldn’t be long, and we’ll get you all greased up and taken care of.”
“Have I told you lately that I love you?” I asked, my mouth watering and my stomach grumbling at the thought of my lunch to come.
The corner of her mouth kicked up in a smirk. “Not today, but I swear to god, if you bust out in Rod Stewart, I’m kickin’ your ass outta my bar.”
After that, the three of us fell into easy conversation, and as the minutes ticked by, I found myself relaxing more and more. This was exactly what I needed to pull me out of my funk so I could start feeling normal again.
Rory was in the middle of throwing her head back and laughing at something hilarious Nona had just said, and I was halfway through my burger when a rough, gravelly, “Rory,” was spoken from behind me.
Suddenly, it felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room as the color leached from my best friend’s face and her eyes went blank.
Nona gave me that wide-eyed eek look as I spun on my barstool to see a large, extremely good-looking man standing about a foot away. I did a slow full-body scan, taking in everything about him, but what I noticed most was the fact that his unwavering, penetrating gaze was firmly pinned on Rory. “Can we talk?” the sexy mountain man asked.
Nona and I jerked our head back to Rory, both of us fully engrossed by what was happening. That was when I saw that my friend’s eyes were no longer blank. They were filled with an incredible sadness she was trying to mask beneath a bland, emotionless expression.
“Now’s not a good time. I’m at work, Cord.”
Hmm. So mountain man’s name is Cord. Very fitting.
We swung our heads to Cord, “Well, when I call or text you never answer. Didn’t leave me much of a choice.”
Then back to Rory. “Then maybe you should take the hint,” she volleyed back.
Then to Cord. “I told you there was more that needed to be said, but you haven’t given me a chance.”
And to Rory again. Christ, it was like watching the most intriguing tennis match ever. “Again, another hint you’ve let go right over your head. You and I have absolutely nothing to talk about.”
“Honey, please.”
Oh my god! He called her honey? He called her honey while looking at her like she was a very large, very important piece that was missing from him, and he couldn’t function properly until she made him whole? What the hell had I missed during my time away?
Rory’s jaw clenched and her lips pulled into a tight line. I knew that look. I’d seen it a million times growing up. It was Rory’s stubborn look. It was the look she made when she was digging her heels in and refusing to budge on something.
“No,” she replied bluntly. “I’ve got tables to see to. You found your way in, I’m sure you can find it out.”
With that, she turned, grabbed a tray, and scurried from behind the bar. The man aptly
named Cord gave Nona and I a chin lift before exiting the bar the same way he came in, just as Rory had ordered. I turned my attention back to Nona, and she gave me a shrug, seemingly as confused about the exchange we’d just witnessed as I was.
Rory returned to the bar a minute later. “Nope,” she said when I opened my mouth to begin grilling her. “That topic of conversation is most definitely not on the table, so don’t even ask.”
Well okay then.
Having been properly warned, Nona and I both worked to ease the tension until we got our sweet, easy-going Rory back a few minutes later.
But as I left The Tap Room shortly after, I couldn’t help but wonder about the mysterious Cord, and what he could have done to hurt my best friend.
Chapter Fifteen
Temperance
The night of my date with Hayes had finally arrived, and I’d spent the past several hours feeling like a nervous school girl.
When the knock came on my front door, I nearly jumped out of my skin, but all thoughts of nerves and freak-outs quickly fled my mind when I finally pulled it open. My jaw nearly dropped to the floor as soon as I caught my first glimpse of Hayes. I’d seen him in a suit at Aunt Reenie’s funeral, but that had been at a distance.
Now, seeing it up close and personal, it was a wonder I didn’t swallow my tongue. The suit he was wearing was a simple black with a white button-down beneath, however, the way it fit his body made it look anything but simple. I wanted to run my hands along the fabric, feeling all those strong, defined muscles beneath. I wanted to lean in and taste that small patch of skin at throat exposed by the two open buttons at his collar. I wanted to fist the material of his shirt in my hands and rip it open, sending the buttons flying along my floor.
“Damn.”
At his whispered word, my eyes shot up to his. The brown in them had gone even darker, and I could practically see fire dancing in their depths as he scanned the length of me, making my skin break out in goose bumps.
It was the exact reaction I was feeling at the sight of him, the very reaction I’d been hoping for when I decided on this dress.
The material was a deep red that clung to my body like a second skin. The front came up high, stopping just below my collarbone, and was held up with two thin straps that circled my shoulders. While it may have seemed like a conservative choice from the front with its high neckline and hem that reached an inch or two below mid-thigh, the view from behind was a totally different story. It was completely backless, exposing every inch of skin from my neck to the very small of my back. I’d bought it on a whim a year earlier after walking down the street and spotting it on a mannequin in a storefront window. It was one of those impulse purchases that you usually end up regretting, and that was exactly how I felt almost immediately after shelling out a small fortune for the scrap of fabric. But once I’d tried it on, I just had to have it.
And seeing Hayes’s eyes now, I knew the purchase had not been in vain.
I slowly turned, making sure to brush my hair over one shoulder to give him the full effect as I opened the closet to grab my coat.
At the new view, a deep, gravelly growl rumbled from his chest.
Turning back to him, I offered a smile and asked, “So I’m guessing you like my dress?”
His gaze lifted to meet mine. “Hell yeah, baby,” he said, his voice thick like honey. “I fuckin’ love that dress.”
I had to clench my thighs against needy ache building in my core. “You don’t look too bad yourself, honey.”
He took the coat from my hands and held it open so I could slip my arms into the sleeves. Once it was in place, he moved his hands to my shoulders, leaning in and pressing a kiss to that spot on my neck that always drove me crazy. His lips brushed against my skin as he declared, “Just a warning, angel. I totally intend on fuckin’ you in that dress tonight.”
A tremble worked its way up my spine and a flood of arousal soaked my panties.
I couldn’t freaking wait.
“Holy shit,” I breathed as Hayes divested me of my coat and handed it to the hostess. “Who knew a place like this was tucked away in these mountains.”
Hayes’s warm palm pressed into the small of my back as we were led to a cozy booth. “Just wait ’til you taste their steaks. Best you’ll ever have.”
My stomach let out a loud rumble in anticipation as I slid into one side. Instead of taking the other bench, Hayes slid in next to me and extended an arm along the back. His fingers sifted into my hair, twirling it around softly as the hostess passed us each a menu and offered a polite smile before taking off.
I used to see couples sitting just like this and make fun of how ridiculous they looked sharing the same side of a booth. Same Side Sitters, I called them, and I always imagined I’d hate eating a meal like that. But as Hayes’s strong, warm body caged me in, I suddenly couldn’t imagine ever wanting to sit any other way.
Dinner progressed, and we lost ourselves in quiet conversation and soft, intimate touches as we enjoyed our evening. The wine was delicious, and the steak really did melt like butter in my mouth. Hayes was calm and relaxed as he recounted me with stories of his time in the Marines, stories I’d desperately wanted to hear but hadn’t felt it was my place to ask before we got back together.
He went on to tell me about his time serving with the police department, sticking with the lighter stories, such as heading out on a drunk and disorderly call to find Old Man Wilson dancing around his front yard completely naked with a mostly empty bottle of Jameson in his hand. I told him about some of the wild, crazy things I’d seen in my time as an emergency room nurse, and we both spent the majority of our dinner laughing our asses off. I was having an incredible time, and I knew he was too.
“Do you know a guy named Cord?” I asked after we gave our waiter our dessert order? “He’s a big guy. Like, really big. Kinda has the look that he could snap a tree in half?”
Hayes looked at me with a curious grin, and chuckled. “Hope to hell none of the cases I work ever hinge on you needing to give an ID, angel.”
“Shut up.” I gave him a playful smack and tried again. “Do you know him or not?”
“Only one Cord in town, and yeah, sweetheart. I know him. Full name’s Cord Paulson.”
Pulling my bottom lip between my teeth, I bit down gently before asking, “How well do you know him? I mean, is it like a lot, or just a little?”
Hayes twisted to face me, lifting his draft glass to his lips and taking a pull of his beer before answering. “I know he’s one of Linc’s men. I know he was in the Army for a while, moved his way up the ranks and eventually became a Ranger before he retired from the service. He was part of Eden’s security detail a few months back. Took three bullets to the chest and gut tryin’ to protect her when she was taken and nearly died.”
“Holy shit,” I gasped.
“Not exactly best friends with the guy, but I know him well enough to know I respect the hell outta him, and that he can hustle most anyone at pool.”
“Do you know if he’s a good guy?”
His forehead pulled into a frown and his head tilted to the side. “As far as I can tell. Why are you askin’ me about Cord Paulson, Tempie?”
I pushed out a sigh and picked up my wineglass, taking another sip of the delicious red. “He came into The Tap Room yesterday when I was visiting with Rory and Nona, and lets just say, the interaction between him and Ror was... strained.”
“Ah,” he stated with a curious nod of his head.
My eyelids narrowed into slits as I studied him. “You know something, don’t you?”
He faced the table once more, his teeth flashing with a quick grin as he took another pull of his beer. “I know I’m not gonna sit here and gossip with you about the two of them.”
“Hayes!” I cried, giving him another smack. “You have to tell me. It’s the very first relationship commandment. “Thou shalt always tell your woman any gossip you find out!”
His loud, rich laug
hter filled our booth and made a warmth bloom in my chest. “Relationship commandments, huh?”
“Yep,” I returned with a big smile. “Now spill.”
“Sorry, angel, but that’s not gonna work on me. All I’m gonna tell you is to stay out of it and let whatever’s gonna happen happen.”
My mouth sank into a frown. “But she’s my best friend,” I argued petulantly.
Hayes’s fingers sifted into my hair until his palm came to rest at the base of my skull, his eyes going gentle as he said, “And she’s a smart woman. She’ll figure it out. You just have to let her do it on her own.”
I wanted keep pushing, but Hayes’s stubborn streak was even worse than mine, and I knew I didn’t have a shot at getting it out of him.
“Fine,” I relented, albeit grumpily.
He chuckled again and pressed his lips to mine in a soft kiss that heated my blood. I was just about to suggest we take our desserts to go when a man I vaguely recognized stopped at the end of our table and interrupted us.
He was an older gentleman, well into his sixties, and had a hardness to him that you could just tell was ingrained in not only his expression but his entire demeanor.
“Detective Walker,” the man said in a flat, unpleasant greeting.
Hayes’s entire frame locked tight as he turned to the man. “Mr. Mayor.”
My ears perked at Hayes’s return, and I turned my full attention to the man standing over us.
“If it’s not too inconvenient, I’d like to have a word with you about the encounter you had with my daughter at the Evergreen Diner the other day.”
Oh shit. Recognition hit like a lightbulb flicking on above my head, and I suddenly remembered where I knew this man from. He was Harley Madison’s father. Crap. The mayor of Hope Valley was Harley freaking Madison’s father. Something told me this conversation was not going to be pleasant.
Come Back Home Again (Hope Valley Book 2) Page 13