Imperfect Heart

by Tarina Deaton

  Their audience returned to their lunches. Except for the tall man standing in the back corner…next to the beautiful woman she’d seen leaving his house two days ago.

  The universe was a bully. What had she ever done to deserve such bad luck?

  April bounced on her toes, still excited by Zoe’s surprise appearance.

  “Calma. I’m happy to see you too, caro.”

  “April, don’t you have orders to put in?” Elba took her by the shoulders and pulled her away from Zoe.

  “Mom,” she whined.

  “No ‘mom.’ You wanted to work. This is part of working.”

  “Ugh.” April’s shoulders drooped and she dragged her feet but trudged to the computer behind the counter.

  “Sorry. I’ve been slammed. Sabrina, my waitress that was sick? Morning sickness, but the kind that lasts all day. You know a man came up with that phrase, right? Morning sickness, my ass.”

  “Mmm. I was nauseous twenty-four hours a day for sixteen weeks with all three of my boys. I finally told my husband if he didn’t get the doctor to snip him, I was going to do it myself.”

  Zoe sighed. At least Gabby came by her nickname naturally. “Elba, my sister Gabby. Gabby, Elba.”

  “It’s so nice to finally meet you!” Gabby pulled Elba into a hug and then kissed her on both cheeks.

  “Oh! We’re kissing,” Elba said.

  “Claro. In Brazil, we kiss.”

  “I don’t remember you ever kissing anyone like that,” Elba said to Zoe.

  “That’s because the first time I tried to do that a girl called me a spic dyke, so I never did it again.”

  Gabby and Elba both gaped.

  “You never told us that,” Gabby said

  “Oh my god. How old were you?” Elba asked.

  “I was twelve, probably.” She looked at Gabby. “We had just moved to the States. I didn’t want to cause any trouble.”

  Gabby clucked her tongue. “You should have told us.”

  “It was a long time ago. Can we eat? I’m starving.”

  April skipped up next to them. “Is the reserved table for them? It’s back here.”

  She led the way to their table without waiting for an answer. It was right next to Tim and his friends. Of course it was.

  Elba stopped short. “Oh, hey. Your stripper-gram is here. I didn’t even see him come in. Tim, right?

  “What’s a stripper-gram?” April asked, timing her questioned perfectly with their arrival at the table.

  “Tim is a stripper-gram? I thought he was a police officer,” Gabby said.

  If she looked in the mirror right now, her hair would be flaming red. It would have to be, judging by the intense heat trying to burst from her skin. She’d never blushed so hard in her life, not even when she’d been teased in school.

  “Stripper-gram? You moonlighting, big brother?”

  Even if he hadn’t addressed Tim as brother, the resemblance pegged them as family. Whereas Tim’s hair was lighter and he was more clean cut and lean muscle, his brother was bulkier and wilder around the edges.

  “Zoe, this…person is my brother, Jase. His fiancée, Bree—I have yet to figure out what she sees in my brother—and this is Denise.”

  He didn’t put a label on Denise. Because she didn’t have one or because she didn’t need one?

  “Everyone, this is my new neighbor, Zoe, and her sister, Gabby. I stopped by after work one day to see how Zoe was settling in. I was still in my uniform and some assumptions were made.”

  The fiancée, Bree, leaned an elbow on the table and rested her chin on the palm of her hand. “Oh, yeah. I can totally see that.”

  His brother covered her eyes. “Quit seeing it. Now.”

  Bree moved his hand from her face and held it to her chest as she whispered something to him. He pulled back and looked at Tim.

  “Bree wants to know if I can borrow one of your uniforms.”

  She hit him on the arm. “Don’t ask him that!”

  “You just told me to.”

  “Not here!”

  “The answer’s no,” Tim said. “Even if you soaked it lye and bleach before you had it dry cleaned, I would still have to burn it and those things are expensive.”

  Zoe didn’t understand the dynamic that was happening. Her family had never joked around like that—even when they were kids. They’d fought and argued, but hardly ever teased in such a fun and light-hearted manner. Her ex had never been that way either. Not with her anyway.

  “Well, we’ll let you get back to your lunch,” she said.

  “You should join us,” Bree said.

  “Oh, no. We wouldn’t want to intrude.”

  “You’re not intruding,” Denise said. “We’ll pull the other table over and there’ll be plenty of room.”

  Of course she would be nice. Tim was nice. Why wouldn’t his girlfriend be nice as well? Would it be too much to ask that she have a flaw? Bitchy was a flaw.

  Mentally slapping her forehead, Zoe told herself to snap out of it. She wasn’t looking for romance and especially not with someone who was taken.

  Tables and chairs scraped across the poured concrete floor and before she could voice another objection, she was seated across from Tim and Denise.

  Perfeito.

  “Baby Jesus hates me,” she mumbled in Portuguese.

  Gabby picked up her water glass. “Don’t let mama hear you blaspheme and baby Jesus doesn’t hate you.”

  “Pretty sure he does.”

  “Well, if he does it’s because you make him cry.”

  Denise choked on her water and pressed her hand to her mouth.

  “Tu fala português?” Zoe asked. What were the odds of that?

  She shook her head and cleared her throat. “No, but I can understand Spanish pretty well. Not a great speaker though.”

  “Where did you learn Spanish?” Gabby asked.

  “My dad was stationed in El Paso, Texas when I was younger—before we moved to North Carolina. I picked up more when I was in the Army.”

  “Zoe was in the Air Force,” Gabby said.

  Bree leaned around Jase and held up her hand. “Go Air Force!”

  Jase leaned back as Zoe leaned around his other side and slapped her palm against Bree’s. “What did you do?”

  “I was a med tech, then I was on a Cultural Support Team.”

  “Oh, wow. Really?” That was pretty badass. She’d met a few on her last deployment. That was not an easy job.

  “Yeah. What about you?”

  “Contracting. Not nearly as exciting as CST, though.”

  “When did you get out?” Denise asked.

  Zoe turned her attention across the table and felt the full force of Tim’s gaze. “I’m still on terminal.”

  “Nice. Where are you coming from?”

  “What’s terminal?” Tim asked.

  “Luke Air Force Base in Arizona.” She looked at Tim. “Terminal leave. I’m technically still on active duty, but I had almost seventy days of leave saved up, so I’m burning that until my actual separation date.”

  “How long were you in?” he asked.

  Gabby leaned forward. “More than thirteen years. She only had seven more years until she could retire.” She switched back to Portuguese and looked at Zoe. “A waste.”

  “Can we not go through this again? Please?” she pleaded in English.

  “When it’s time, it’s time,” Denise said with a shrug. “Sometimes you don’t have any more to give.”

  Zoe’s shoulder’s sagged. She really didn’t want to like Denise, but it was hard not to like someone who immediately came to her defense.

  “Did you guys grow up in Brazil or the U.S.?” Tim asked.

  Whether he asked out of genuine curiosity or as a way to change the subject, she didn’t care. She could kiss him for it—in a completely platonic way of course. Her gaze unwillingly dropped to his lips. Not the thoughts she should be having.

  Before she could answer, a well-built, tatt
ooed guy with a buzz cut stopped at their table and poked Tim in the shoulder. “Dude. You’re in my seat.”

  Tim stared up at him. “Am I? I didn’t see your name on it.”

  “I can make you move.”

  Holy cow. They were going to fight. Right here in Elba’s restaurant.

  Chapter 10

  Denise smacked Tim on the upper arm with the back of her hand.

  “Ow.” He grabbed his bicep as if it had it hurt.

  “Quit antagonizing him,” she said.

  “But it’s fun.” He pushed the chair back and stood, slapping Chris on the shoulder. “Nice of you to show up.”

  He took a chair from a neighboring table and sat at the end of theirs, putting Zoe on his left. Too bad Chris had shown up—Tim’d had a great view of Zoe. If he could only figure out why she’d avoided looking at him. Was she still embarrassed that he’d witnessed her sister spilling coffee on those shirts?

  She looked between him and Chris with a look of confusion.

  “Zoe, this is my husband, Chris,” Denise said.

  “Husband? I thought…” She glanced from Denise to him, a faint blush staining her cheeks.

  “Oh, God no!” Denise said.

  Tim clutched his chest. “Oh! Straight to the heart.”

  “Whatever.”

  He could actually hear Denise roll her eyes.

  The young girl, who he’d figured out was April from their earlier conversation appeared with another menu, followed by Elba.

  “I know most of you have ordered. I was going to use Zoe and Gabby as guinea pigs for some new menu items. Would y’all be interested or would you prefer to stick with what you ordered?”

  Everyone glanced around the table at each other.

  “I’m game,” Bree said.

  Denise shrugged. “Sure.”

  “One question,” Tim said.

  Elba raised her eyebrows. “Shoot.”

  “Does it include dessert?”

  “It’d better,” Zoe said. “That’s the only reason I agreed to this.”

  Elba poked her in the shoulder. “Shut up. You love my food. I’ll put some platters together.” She looked at April. “Can you get them plates and then go check on the other tables?”

  “On it.”

  Tim watched mother and daughter retreat, then shifted his attention back to Zoe. “So back to my question before we were so rudely interrupted—did you grow up in Brazil or the U.S.?”

  Gabby set her water glass on the table. “Both. Our birth father passed away when Zoe was five. Our mom worked at the American Consulate in São Paulo and met our step-father a few years later when he was assigned there. He adopted us after they married.”

  “You didn’t take your step-father’s last name when he adopted you?” He hadn’t felt comfortable asking the one and only time he’d met Brian and Marianna in person.

  “Our mother wanted us to keep a part of our father,” Zoe explained. “Brian, our step-father, understood.”

  “I’m so sorry to hear about your father,” Bree said. “I know how hard it is to lose a parent.”

  Jase kissed her temple.

  “Thank you,” Zoe said. “I think it was harder for Gabby and our older brother. I only have vague memories of our father.”

  Trying to change the subject from the depressing turn it had taken, Tim asked, “Are you going to be working at the base?”

  “No, I’m opening my own business,” Zoe said.

  Gabby said something in Portuguese. Zoe closed her eyes and took a deep breath, blowing it out through pursed lips. This must be a contentious topic between the sisters.

  “What kind of business?” he asked.

  “A bookstore.”

  Bree set her glass down with a thud and leaned around Jase. “Did you say a bookstore?”

  “Yes?”

  Pushing her chair back, Bree stood and tapped Jase’s shoulder. “Switch seats with me.”

  Shooting Bree an amused look, he obliged and took her seat against the wall, switching their water glasses as he sat.

  Denise pushed back her chair, dislodging Sprocket behind her. Walking around Chris and Gabby, she waved her hand at Tim. “You too.”

  “But I like my seat,” he said. “And I’ve already had to move once.”

  “Timothy,” she said with a warning in her voice.

  “Fine.” It was anything but fine. He wanted to stay in his seat next to Zoe where he occasionally caught a whiff of her soft floral scent. Chris probably smelled like…

  “Why do you smell like motor oil and fish?”

  “I was checking out a boat.” He glanced at Bree and Denise, crowded around Zoe. “This is how I lose my wife. She’s going to leave me to go live in a bookstore now that she knows someone who owns one.”

  Elba and April returned, and Elba explained what each dish was as she set the large platters down in the center of the table. “Does anyone need anything else?”

  “I’m good. This looks so delicious.” Bree looked up from the spread. “Thank you.”

  Elba grinned. “Let me know how you like everything.”

  “Does she cater?” Bree asked after Elba had moved to another table. “Because if the food tastes as good as it looks, I might need her to do the food for our reception.”

  “I don’t know,” Zoe said. “I know she wants to expand into dinner service, so she may.”

  “I thought you were grilling,” Tim said.

  Jase’s eyes bugged out and he mouthed, you are dead. Bree sat up straight and slowly turned her head to look at Jase.

  “Oh boy,” Denise murmured.

  “Country wedding does not translate to redneck backyard barbecue.” Bree’s voice rose at the end.

  “Babe, it was just a suggestion to help save money.”

  Bree pointed her fork at him. “Don’t ‘babe’ me. We’re already saving money by having it at the house. And Gran is paying for the reception.”

  “You know how I feel about that,” he said.

  “Feel free to discuss your misgivings with her.” Bree picked up a mini quiche and ate it while staring him down. She stopped glaring at him to look down at her plate. “Oh my god. This is so good. I really hope she caters.”

  She closed her eyes and moaned as she chewed. Jase leaned closer, whispered in her ear. She glared at him for a moment, then kissed him. “I’m still annoyed.”

  Zoe cleared her throat. A deep blush covered her cheeks—she must have overheard whatever Jase had said to Bree.

  “Denise, if you’re looking for new book recommendations, you should follow Mr. Romance’s blog.”

  Tim frowned. “Is it really a guy?”

  Zoe’s gold-flecked gaze met his. “Yes, he’s a librarian in New York.”

  “Huh.”

  “Why do you say it like that?” Her voice carried an edge of annoyance.

  “I don’t know any guys that would admit to reading romance.”

  “Maybe you need to meet better guys.” She took a sip of water while staring at him.

  He made a note to himself not to make any disparaging remarks about romance books.

  “I’ve read a couple of romance novels,” Chris said.

  “Really?” Gabby asked.

  “After I woke up to Denise bawling her eyes out one night, damn straight.”

  “Seriously?” Denise asked. “You couldn’t have said you read them out of curiosity?”

  “I was curious why you were crying about a book. Getting some pointers from the sex scenes didn’t hurt.” He took a bite of food and smirked as he chewed.

  “Are you always like this?” Gabby asked.

  “Like what?” Bree asked.

  “Pretty much,” Tim said at the same time.

  Someone’s phone pinged and everyone glanced at their screens. Gabby swore under her breath and shoved her phone back into her purse. “I’m sorry, I need to go. My adult husband is apparently incapable of handling the duties of parenthood by himself.”

&nb
sp; She stood and eased out from between Chris and Tim. Swinging her purse over her shoulder, she walked around the table to Zoe and kissed her on the cheek. They had a short conversation in Portuguese that made Denise choke into her hand and Gabby left.

  Zoe pursed her lips and looked under the table. “Tim, can you hand me the bag of t-shirts she left under her seat?”

  Sure enough, Gabby had left the bag of shirts on the floor. He handed her the bag. “Did she pay you for them?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Did she do that on purpose?”

  “There’s no telling with Gabby. She was always the one causing the trouble but never getting into trouble when we were growing up.”

  Tim looked at Jase. “Sounds like someone else I know.”

  Jase pointed his fork at him. “I got my butt spanked plenty, big bro. Don’t even try it.”

  “I should probably be going as well,” Zoe said. “I still have some boxes to unpack and I want to have the house ready before I have to start on the store.”

  “I still can’t believe I know someone who’s opening a bookstore,” Bree said. “I’m so excited!”

  “Let us know if you need any help, especially if you need recommendations for books to order,” Denise added.

  Zoe laughed. “I will. Thank you for the offer. I’m going to say goodbye to Elba. It was very nice meeting you all.”

  “Wait!” Bree picked up her phone from the table. “Let me get your number.”

  “Me too,” Denise said.

  They exchanged numbers and Zoe left after talking to Elba and hugging April. All of a sudden, the afternoon seemed less exciting. Less bright. As if an overhead light had been turned off, dimming the room slightly.

  His phone pinged. Hoping for a call for work that would give him an excuse to follow after Zoe and catch up, he looked at the screen. Denise had shared Zoe’s phone number.

  “What did you do that for?”

  “Just helping out.”

  The dog lifted her head, looked at the back door, and barked once. Laying her head back on the dog bed, she shifted her eyes and stared at Tim as if to say, “Are you going to take care of that?”

  Her excess movement was unusual enough to pique Tim’s interest. He pushed up from the couch and opened the sliding door to the backyard.