by Deanna Chase
“Drew,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “That might be the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me.”
He slipped his hand in hers and said, “I just hope I have an opportunity to top myself.”
She glanced down at their entwined hands. “You’re being very sweet. But there are a few things I need to say, too.”
“Okay. Shoot.”
“I’ve already told you I have trust issues,” she said.
“Yes, you did.” He met her gaze, staring intently. “I’m a patient man.”
“It would appear, Andrew Baker, that you indeed are. But if we’re going to move forward, there’s something I need to make clear.”
“Lay it on me, Noel,” he said, ready to accept whatever it was she had to say.
“I just don’t think I can do this if I’ll always be playing second fiddle to Charlotte.”
Drew jerked back, momentarily stunned by her words.
“Drew, I—”
“Do I make you feel like you’re my second choice?” he asked, a little bit hurt and a lot confused. He hadn’t spoken about Charlotte in a long time.
She was quiet for a couple beats and finally said, “No. Not now. But I’ve been here once before.”
“Noel… that was a long time ago.”
She nodded. “You’re right. It was. And I’m probably not being fair, but I can’t help being cautious.” She grimaced and glanced away. “I’m sorry. This isn’t how I wanted the night to go.”
Drew brought their hands to his lips and kissed her fingers. “I’m not.”
“Not what?”
“Sorry. This night has gone exactly as I’d hoped.” He gave her a gentle smile. “I have no problem reassuring you that you, Noel, don’t come second to anyone. Not now. Not ever. All those years ago when we were friends, I just needed to heal. I won’t deny I have a few scars, but who doesn’t?”
She tightened her fingers around his but didn’t respond.
“If you’re ready to move forward with this thing, if you think you can trust me, then I’m all-in.”
“All-in?” she asked.
He nodded. “All-in. You. Me. Daisy. Buffy. And the rest of your giant family.”
She pressed her hand to his cheek, her eyes bright with something that looked a lot like love, something he hadn’t seen reflected back at him in a very long time. Then she said, “I’m in, too.”
He let out a breath he hadn’t known he’d been holding and covered her mouth with his, pouring his entire heart into making sure she knew he was hers. He’d meant it when he’d said he was all-in, and there wasn’t any going back now.
“Whoa,” she said when they finally broke apart. “That was some kiss.”
“There’s more where that came from,” he said, moving in again.
She just laughed as she stood and pulled him up off the bench. “Take me home, Drew.”
Disappointment crashed through him. He wasn’t ready for the date to end, not by a longshot.
Her smiled widened as she shook her head. “Don’t look at me like I just stole your puppy. I want to take you home with me.”
“Oh, I see.” Then he grinned down at her and said, “I can’t wait to see what’s under that dress.”
“I just bet you can’t.” She winked at him, and taking a few steps backward, she started to lead the way home.
Chapter 21
Noel made her way up the path to Abby’s house with two cups of coffee and a bag of pastries in hand. She hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before, but despite that fact, she still had a pep in her step. There was no way to know if her newfound energy was a direct result from her night with Drew or the supplements she was taking, but if she had to bet on it, she’d say she was energized because of Drew. Finally taking that next step with him and waking up in his arms had left her not only content but oddly settled. As if everything about them was just right. She’d loved Xavier when they’d been together, before he’d imploded their lives, but even with him she hadn’t ever felt that peaceful.
Before Noel reached the stoop, Abby flung the door open and said, “Thank you, sweet goddess of heaven. We ran out of coffee, and I’m dying for my caffeine.”
Noel laughed and handed her sister one of the cups. “I have coffee cake, too.”
“You’re an angel. Save a piece for Yvette. She’s on her way over. Now get in here out of the cold.” Abby tugged her inside the warm house. Olive and Daisy were playing cards quietly in the middle of the living room with Buffy and Endora curled up next to them.
“Um, what did you do, give them a calming potion?” Noel asked and waved at her daughter. “Hi sweetie. Did you have a good time?”
Daisy nodded and went back to her cards, seemingly uninterested in the fact that her mother had arrived.
“Apparently so,” Noel said and followed Abby to the bright kitchen in the back of the house.
“Okay, so first off, I’m dying to hear how the date went.”
A huge grin spread across Noel’s face as she said, “It went well.”
“How well?” Abby asked, eyeing her with suspicion. “Like, if I would’ve driven by your inn last night, I’d have seen you making out on your front porch well? Or that I’d have found Drew’s car parked out front this morning well?”
Noel’s face flushed, and her insides turned to mush as she remembered how Drew had woken her this morning with hot passionate kisses. “Um, his car was parked out front.”
“Yes! It’s about time you had a little fun,” Abby said, a wicked gleam in her bright blue eyes. But soon enough her smile faded, and she added, “I’m really happy for you, Noel, and I don’t want to spoil your good mood, but I need to fill you in on a few things.”
Noel sat at Abby’s counter and pulled out the coffee cake, trying not to give in to the sudden fear that gripped her. “Is it Dad?”
Abby shook her head. “No. His ankle is still sore, but otherwise, he’s fine.”
Noel let out a sigh of relief. Everything else was manageable. “Okay. I’m ready.”
“Last night was a little rough,” Abby said, sitting next to her sister. “I gave Daisy her calming potion like always, but just after midnight, she woke up crying for her dad.”
Noel sighed, frustrated. “Yeah. That happens sometimes. Not as often as it used to, but it happens. Did she calm down?”
“Yes, but she was crying for him to not leave her again. She said it over and over again as if he’d come back. I think she might’ve overheard you or someone else talking about him being nearby, because this just felt… different. More intense.”
Since Abby had moved in with Clay, Daisy and Olive had become close, and Daisy had slept over with them two or three times in the last month. This wasn’t Abby’s first go-round with the nightmares. Noel bit down on her lower lip. “It’s possible, but I’m very careful to not talk about him when she’s around. Do you think she might’ve overheard you and Clay?”
“I hope not,” Abby said with a frown. “We’re pretty careful as well. We don’t even talk about him when Olive is around.”
Noel nodded. “I suppose if he really is hanging out in Eureka, chances are high we can’t keep his presence a secret anyway. I just hope he stays the heck away. She doesn’t need that kind of heartbreak again.”
“Neither do you,” Abby said, giving her a sympathetic smile.
Noel waved a hand. “He can’t hurt me. I’m over him. I’m just worried about Daisy. How did you calm her down?”
“I gave her some more potion. She calmed down, but she couldn’t get back to sleep and kept asking for Buffy. I finally caved and let them share a bed. She was asleep within five minutes.”
Noel smiled. “Those two… I should’ve remembered to tell you that Buffy sleeps in Daisy’s bed now. That might have saved you waking up to a nightmare. She hasn’t had one at our place since the first night we brought Buffy home. She’s turned into Daisy’s comfort animal. And she’s such a good puppy. For all my angst at
Dad for forcing her on us, I should really give him a huge thank-you gift.”
“Like a puppy?” Abby laughed.
“That would serve him right.”
“Abby? Noel?” Yvette strode into the kitchen clutching a large Manilla envelope. Her eyes were dry, but they were red and puffy as if she’d just had a good cry.
“Hey,” Noel said, jumping up to wrap an arm around her big sister. “What’s going on?”
She sucked in a deep breath. “I just need some sister time.”
“You got it,” Abby said. “Can I get you anything? Tea? Wine? A shovel?”
Yvette let out a startled laugh and plopped down on one of the barstools. “The shovel and anything with sugar in it.”
“Coming right up.” Noel slid a piece of the coffee cake in front of her. “Abby will have to handle the shovel. Now what’s going on?”
She tossed the envelope on the counter. “Isaac filed for divorce. He kindly hand-delivered these to me this morning.” Her lips twisted into a grimace. “He said he wanted to explain and that he never intended to hurt me. It’s all because of that stupid gym membership I got him.”
Noel and Abby shared a knowing glance. They both knew where this was heading.
“Who is it?” Abby asked. “That woman who runs the yoga classes? Or the one who tortures people in spin class? I know, it’s the receptionist. She’s always touching everyone a little too much.”
“I doubt it’s her,” Noel said to Abby. “She has a girlfriend.”
“Oh.” Abby frowned. “Probably not likely then.”
“It’s his accountant,” Yvette said, sounding completely defeated. “They met in a spin class.”
“Wait,” Noel said, confused. “I thought his accountant was Jake Jackson.”
“That’s right,” Yvette said, her eyes full of sadness.
“Isaac is leaving you for Jake?” Abby blurted. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Isaac says he didn’t mean for it to happen.” Yvette tore off a piece of the coffee cake but didn’t eat it. “What does that even mean… he didn’t mean for this to happen? Did he just black out one night and end up in bed with another man? I just… how could he do this to me?”
Noel soothed Yvette’s untamed dark hair and said, “I’m so sorry, Vette. I’m sure he just means he didn’t want to hurt you. It doesn’t make it okay that he cheated on you or fell in love with someone else, though.”
She sat on the stool staring straight ahead. “How could I have not known?”
“Known what, sweetie?” Noel asked. “That he was interested in men or that he was having an affair?”
She turned and stared Noel in the eyes. “Both.”
“Because he hid it from you,” Abby said. “This isn’t your fault. You did nothing wrong, okay? Do you understand, Yvette? Maybe Isaac really did, and even still does, love you. I know you don’t want to hear this right now, but if his interest is in men, then he’s doing you a favor. A huge one. You deserve someone who is all-in, crazy in love and lust with you and only you.”
“But I gave him eleven years. Eleven years!” she cried. “I don’t deserve this. I was a great wife. I hope Jake stomps all over his heart.”
“Oh, honey,” Abby said and wrapped her arms around her. Noel did the same, and the pair of them held on to Yvette, trying their best to keep her from breaking apart.
Chapter 22
Drew sat at his desk going over some notes. He’d spent the last three days trying to track down Xavier. They’d gotten a hit off the partial license plate in the system and now had an alert out that the person who’d rented the Honda was a person of interest in an ongoing case. They’d gotten four tips in the last few days, and Drew had spent most of his time following up over in Eureka.
Despite checking out a movie theater, a fish shack, a laundromat, and a drug store, so far Drew had turned up nothing. According to their respective staffs, Xavier hadn’t been back to either the Moon River Inn, the Sunshine Hotel, nor Pies, Pies, and More Pies. Now Drew was staring at a map, trying to pinpoint a central location where Xavier might be holed-up. So far he wasn’t having any luck.
He got up and started to pace. It didn’t help that he couldn’t get Noel out of his mind. The night they’d spent together had rocked him to his core. He’d told her he was all-in and had meant it, but after they’d spent the night together, he knew he was a goner. She couldn’t get rid of him if she tried. He’d never wanted a woman the way he wanted her. The past few nights, he’d spent an hour or two with her in her porch swing. And both nights, he’d loathed to leave. But she had Daisy, and they’d just started officially dating. Neither thought subjecting her to sleepovers was appropriate.
He glanced at the clock. It was just before noon, and he had a lunch date to get to. He was meeting Noel at the brewery during her break. But just as he was getting ready to step outside, his phone buzzed. It was the Eureka office. “Baker.”
“Deputy, we’ve got a sighting of that vehicle again. It’s parked down at the Pacific Cove Boat Rentals. So far no one matching Anderson’s description had been spotted.”
“Thanks. I’m on my way.” He informed Clarissa he was on his way out and then called Noel. When she didn’t answer, he quickly sent her a text and jumped into his SUV.
Twenty-five minutes later, Drew pulled into the Pacific Cove Marina parking lot and spotted the Honda almost instantly. It was sitting right next the exit. And damn, if he didn’t get lucky. Xavier was in the driver’s seat, and he was staring right at Drew. Drew stared back. When Xavier didn’t take off, Drew inched his SUV right up alongside the Honda and pressed the button to lower his window.
“Xavier,” Drew said. “I’ve been looking for you.”
The other man paused before saying, “Looks like you found me.” He raised one eyebrow and added, “Think you can keep up?”
Then the Honda peeled out of the parking lot, cutting off an onslaught of traffic.
“Dammit!” Drew stepped on the gas, his backend fishtailing as he made the turn, doing his best to keep close to Xavier’s bumper. The Honda took off, weaving in and out of traffic, taking turns too quickly, and recklessly cutting off other cars.
Drew kept a tight hold on the steering wheel, determined not to lose him this time. But then the Honda took a sharp left turn, and Drew got stuck waiting as a half-dozen big rigs barreled down the road in the opposite direction, cutting off his access. The moment they passed by, Drew gunned it, knowing he’d likely lost Xavier. But to his surprise, the Honda was three streets down, idling at a stop sign.
It was then Drew got suspicious. Why had Xavier been waiting for him in the marina parking lot? And why was he making sure Drew had ample opportunity to follow him? He wasn’t seriously trying to shake the deputy sheriff. If he was, he’d have been long gone after making that left turn.
That sixth sense kicked in, and Drew just knew someone was in danger. He didn’t know who; all he knew was it was someone he cared about. It was the same feeling he’d had the night Charlotte died and the night his mother had almost lost her life in a car accident.
He glanced over at his phone and said, “Call Noel.”
The Bluetooth kicked in, and the sound of her phone ringing blasted from the vehicle’s stereo system. She picked up on the second ring. “Hey, Drew. I thought you had to run down a lead in Eureka. Did you learn anything?”
He hesitated. He didn’t want to worry her, but he also knew she was skittish in the trust department. “Actually, I’m following him right now.”
She let out a gasp. “On foot?”
“No. We’re headed south on 101. I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s like he wants me to follow him or something, like he’s baiting me. He’s had ample opportunity to ditch me.”
“Drew, be careful. Call backup. If he’s in any way mixed-up in that murder—”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be cautious. I’m just going to see where he ends up, and then I’ll call backup if needed.”
“Drew—”
“Listen, Noel, I’m actually calling because I just have this feeling that something isn’t right back home. I want to make sure you and Daisy are all right.”
“I’m fine. Daisy’s still at school. I’m sure she’s fine too, otherwise they would’ve called me. I pick her up in twenty minutes.”
Relief rushed through him, but the uneasy feeling was still there. “All right. Just call me after you pick her up, okay?”
“I will. And Drew?”
“Yeah?”
“Make sure you stay safe. I’m not going to tolerate Xavier upending my life again.”
“You got it, love.” He pressed a button, ending the call, and continued to follow Xavier off the highway and down the back roads of Humboldt county.
Eventually the Honda made it back to town, and after forty-five minutes of driving, Xavier pulled into the parking lot of Pies, Pies, and More Pies.
Drew didn’t know what to make of this new turn of events. He parked his SUV near the exit and continued to let the vehicle idle as he waited to see what Xavier would do. The driver’s door opened, and Drew tensed. If Xavier had a weapon, anything could happen.
As Xavier’s feet hit the asphalt, Drew’s left hand tightened around the door handle while his right hand palmed his stun gun. Xavier slammed his door shut at the same time Drew threw his open. Drew jumped out of the SUV, aiming the stun gun in Xavier’s direction while using the door as a shield.
He was ready to pull the trigger. But when he peeked over the door at Xavier, he was stunned to find out the driver wasn’t Xavier at all. His skin was a few shades darker, and his hair was jet-black.
“What the hell?” Drew glanced at the license plate of the Honda, quickly confirmed it was Xavier’s, then ran over to the guy, stopping him just before he walked into the restaurant. “Where the hell is Xavier?”
“Who?” the guy asked in confusion.