Imperfect Heart

by Tarina Deaton

  “Are you coming?” he asked the dog.

  She groaned and sighed at the same time, a good indication that she was not going to go out with him. She’d done her part to alert him to whatever was out there, the rest was up to him.

  “Bree was not kidding. You are the laziest dog that ever lazed.” Shaking his head, he stepped out on the small deck and scanned the yard.

  His house backed up to a copse that hid the houses behind his and provided a semblance of privacy. One of the upsides of buying a house in a more established neighborhood, which was realtor speak for ‘old’.

  “What do you want?”

  He glanced sharply to his left and saw Zoe standing in almost the exact spot in her backyard that he stood in his. She was staring at something in the yard just beyond the weak pool of light cast by the bulb near the door. She really needed a couple of floodlights for the backyard.

  “I don’t care. I got stuck in a window because of you. Do you know how embarrassing that was?”

  “Who are you talking to?” he asked.

  She shrieked and something ran into the trees.

  “Puta merda!” She leaned forward with a hand over her chest. “You scared the shit out of me. Why are you lurking in the dark?”

  “I’m not lurking. I’m standing outside my house.” He crossed the yard so he could talk to her without yelling. “What were you doing?”

  She stared into the darkness behind the house. “Yelling at the raccoon.”

  “The key-thieving raccoon?”

  “Yes.”

  “How do you know it was the same one?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t, I just assumed it was the same one and it had come back to taunt me. Or beg for food. Maybe both.”

  “If you feed it, it’ll keep coming back,” he said.

  “I know, which is why didn’t give it any food.”

  Tim held his hands up. “I’m just saying. They look cute, but they are a nuisance.”

  “Yes, I got stuck in a window because of one.”

  He grinned and crossed his arms, wishing he could see more of her legs, but Zoe was wearing loose pajama pants. “You’re blaming your bad decisions on a raccoon?”

  “It’s was the raccoon’s fault. If it hadn’t stolen my keys, I wouldn’t have been locked out, and been forced to try to climb in a window.” She braced her hands on her hips. “In fact, I think Lifetime should do a special on the dangers of being led astray by devious raccoons.”

  He had no idea what she was talking about. The t-shirt she wore pulled against her breasts, highlighting the fact that she wasn’t wearing a bra. He quickly came to the conclusion that he was a very weak man. The outline of her breasts under the thin material was going to be seared in his mind all night long.

  “What?”

  “Nothing. Never mind. I’m going to…” She pointed at the sliding door. “Go inside. Good night.”

  Before he could form a thought or ask her to dinner, she disappeared into the house and he heard the lock click.

  “‘Night.” He was talking to a closed door. Smooth. Real smooth.

  Chapter 11

  Tim turned out of the parking lot of the retirement home where he and Kevin had finished a courtesy call.

  “How often do you do this?” Kevin asked.

  “I try to stop by at least a couple times a month.”

  “Why?”

  He glanced at his young partner. “My grandfather had to go into a home after my grandmother passed away. He had mobility issues and wasn’t able to take care of himself. It was really depressing seeing all the other people who didn’t have anyone visiting them, so I started spending as much time with other residents as I could. I kept doing it after he died.”

  “That’s really cool. Both sets of grandparents passed away when I was young, so I never knew them very well.”

  Kevin’s cell phone rang. Glancing at it, he sighed but answered. “Officer Moore…I told you I wasn’t able to today…Call 9-1-1 and let them know you think he’s there…I don’t know if we’ll answer the call…All right, I’ll see what I can do.”

  He hung up and looked at Tim. “Do you remember that girl from the domestic disturbance a few weeks ago? The one I gave my card to?”

  The hairs on the back of Tim’s neck stood up. “Yes.”

  “She’s been calling non-stop. I haven’t encouraged her and I keep trying to put her off, but she won’t stop calling. Somehow she found out what gym I go to and she got a membership there. I’ve even seen her a few times in the grocery store. She swears it’s coincidence, but it’s too random.”

  “Okay…” Tim wasn’t sure where Kevin was going with the conversation.

  “That was her. She said she thinks her ex is outside her apartment and she doesn’t feel safe.”

  “What do you think?” He glanced at Kevin who shrugged and shook his head.

  “I don’t know. I told her if she really felt unsafe to call 9-1-1, but what if she’s telling the truth and he does something?”

  Tim understood Kevin’s frustration. “It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Call dispatch and let them know we’re heading over there. See if she called the non-emergency line since nothing has come over the radio.”

  Kevin picked up the handset and called in to the station as Tim turned in the direction of the apartment complex. Dispatch confirmed they hadn’t received a call from that address or number. Kevin was tense in the seat next to him, rubbing his palms up and down his thighs.

  “This is why you told me not to give out my personal number, isn’t it?”

  “It’s one of the reasons.”

  “What should I do?”

  “Let’s see how she acts when we arrive. You may not have to do anything. You may have to be blunt and tell her you’re not interested and not to call you anymore.”

  “Man, I hate confrontation.”

  Tim’s lips quirked up. “Kevin—you’re a cop. Confrontation is kind of your job.”

  “Exactly. It’s my job and I can be confrontational with a suspect if I have to be because that’s what I’m supposed to do. I hate personal confrontation. I don’t like disappointing people.”

  “Can’t make everyone happy, especially if you’re not happy.”

  “Maybe…but I can pretend to be happy if everyone else is happy.”

  Tim glanced at his young trainee out of the corner of his eye as he pulled into the apartment complex. Was something else going on in his life that he needed to be concerned about? Personal issues and depression could affect cops on the job, skewing their reactions to certain situations. He’d have to remember to talk to Kevin’s next training officer.

  He put the car in park and shut off the engine. “Ready?”

  Kevin inhaled. “Yeah. Let’s get this over with.”

  They exited the vehicle and followed the path up to the apartment. Kevin followed and Tim understood he didn’t want to take the lead. He knocked sharply on the door. Ashley opened it slowly, revealing that she wore a short slinky robe and a lacy bra and panties. As soon as she saw Tim, she straightened up and pulled the robe around her.

  “Oh!” She took a step back and glared accusingly at Kevin. “I thought you’d come alone.”

  “I told you I was on duty,” he said.

  “I know, but all the other cops ride around by themselves.”

  “Ma’am, Officer Moore is still in probationary training status. You called him because you were concerned your ex followed you. Can you point to where you think he is?” She’d tried to set Kevin up with the call and he was damned if she was going to get away with it without a warning.

  “Well, I don’t think he’s here anymore,” she said sullenly.

  Right. “Just to be sure, do you mind stepping outside while we check your apartment?”

  She glanced down. “I’m wearing my robe.”

  “I understand that, ma’am, but to be sure he didn’t find a way to break in, I think we’d both feel better after we check yo
ur apartment. For your safety.” He paused. “Unless you made the call with the intention of luring Officer Moore here to seduce him in some way, in which case I’ll be forced to issue a citation for calling in a false police report.”

  Her mouth fell open. “I didn’t call 9-1-1!”

  “Ma’am, you called a duly sworn officer of the law, which is the same as prank calling 9-1-1 and carries the same penalties and fines.” He was laying it on thick, but it was the least she deserved.

  She huffed. “Fine.” Holding her robe closed, she shouldered past him onto the walk. “Kevin can wait here with me.”

  “Actually, Officer Moore needs to accompany me into the apartment.” He didn’t give her a chance to answer and gestured for Kevin to go ahead of him. “We’ll only be a moment.”

  Closing the door behind them, he grinned.

  “Duly sworn officer of the law?” Kevin asked.

  “Aren’t you?”

  “Yes, but who says that?”

  Tim shrugged. “Cops on T.V.”

  He glanced around and walked over to stand next to the small table set with wine glasses and freshly lit candles. “Looks like she had a nice dinner planned for the two of you.”

  Kevin lifted a lid from a pot on the stove, then covered it back up. “Spaghetti. That would have been a problem.”

  “You don’t like noodles?”

  “I’m allergic to tomatoes.”

  “We can always take her in for attempted murder,” Tim said.

  Kevin grinned for the first time since he’d answered his phone. “I’ll keep that in my back pocket in case she doesn’t get the hint.”

  “Your call. Think she’s stewed enough?”

  “Let’s find out.” He took the lead this time and opened the door to a very angry woman.

  “What took so long?” she asked. If she’d been wearing shoes, she might have stamped her foot.

  “We had to make sure the apartment was secure and that there was no intruder inside.”

  “Oh my god.” Still clutching her robe closed, she pushed past them into the apartment. “No one is hiding in my apartment.”

  She closed the door partway and stood half behind it. “You can stay for dinner if you’d like,” she said, looking at Kevin.

  Tim spoke before Kevin could. “We appreciate the offer, ma’am, but we’re still on shift and need to get back to real police calls. Next time, if you think your ex is hanging around and you’re worried about your safety, call 9-1-1 directly—they will ensure an available car is here quickly.”

  She glared at him, then shifted her gaze to Kevin. Her eyes and the corners of her mouth softened. “Maybe you could come back after you’re done with work.”

  Kevin cleared his throat. “There’s a mandatory briefing after our shift is over and it’s going to run really late.”

  If Tim hadn’t been watching so closely, he might have missed the almost imperceptible twitch in the corner of her left eye.

  “Tomorrow then.” Her voice dripped with annoyance.

  “Look, while I’m in training, I don’t know how much free time I’m going to have. This really isn’t a good time for me.” Their radios crackled, followed by a call from dispatch. “We need to go. Have a good evening.”

  He turned, glanced at Tim, then headed to the patrol car with purpose while talking into the radio mouthpiece on his shoulder.

  “Ma’am,” Tim said. She slammed the door in his face. He waited until he’d turned his back to the door and couldn’t see his face before he smiled.

  He slid into the driver side and pulled his seatbelt across his shoulder. “Why didn’t you tell her you weren’t interested?”

  Kevin didn’t look up from the department laptop. “I didn’t want to hurt her feelings. I just don’t want her to keep calling me.”

  “Hate to say it, but I don’t think you’ve heard the last from her. She seems to have taken a liking to you.”

  “Yeah…well…she’s going to have to find someone else to like.” He finished typing. “Store owner reported some vandalism on the back of their building on Market Street.”

  That was just down from Elba’s cafe. His sweet tooth kicked in thinking about the delicious napoleon pastries he’d had the other day at lunch. “Tell you what—after we’re done with this call, I’ll treat you to a coffee and a pastry.”

  Kevin rested his elbows on the window ledge and grabbed the oh-shit handle. “Is that a euphemism for a donut?”

  “Absolutely not. I never euphemism my pastries.”

  Chapter 12

  “He’s definitely worth putting on a to-do list.”

  Zoe hadn’t been able to get Denise’s words out of her head for the past three days. She’d overheard Gabby tell her in Portuguese she should make a move on Tim. When Zoe had replied she had enough on her to-do list already, Gabby had told her a man was not something you put on a checklist. Denise had caught the gist of what they’d said. When she’d hugged Zoe goodbye, she’d taken the time to whisper, “Tim is a great guy. He’s definitely worth putting on a to-do list.”

  The bell over the door tinkled as it opened. Zoe slid the tray of fresh caramel eclairs onto the shelf of the display case and stood. “Welcome to the Cafe. I’ll be— Are you following me?”

  It was as if her thoughts had conjured him into Elba’s cafe. He really did look good in a uniform. The dark short sleeve shirt hugged his broad shoulders and the utility belt sat perfectly on his lean hips.

  A smile tugged at his lips. Damn, why was every encounter she had with him in some way awkward and embarrassing?

  “I came in for coffee and pastry. Are you working here now?” He stepped closer to the counter.

  “One of Elba’s waitresses has morning sickness so I offered to help out for a couple of weeks. I can’t do anything with the bookstore until the inspector signs off and it’s better than sitting at home staring at my to-do list.”

  Why the hell had she mentioned her list? Now all she could think of was adding Tim’s name to it.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “Yes. Why?”

  “You looked flushed.”

  She picked up a napkin and waved it in front of her face. “I just came out of the kitchen. It’s hot.”

  His look was skeptical. “Okay. Zoe, this is my partner Kevin. Kevin, this is my neighbor Zoe.”

  The younger officer was cute in a very clean-cut, all-American way with his short blond hair and blue eyes. He filled out his uniform almost as nicely as Tim. He was much too young for her—maybe not young enough to be her son, but young enough to be someone she would have babysat in high school.

  “It’s nice to meet you, ma’am,” he held out his hand.

  Taking it, she glanced at his name tag. Kevin Moore. No… “Did you used to go by Kev Kev when you were little?”

  His eyes widened. “How did you know that?”

  “Did you live on Wisteria Place?”

  “Yeah. My parents are still there, actually.”

  “Holy cow! I babysat you in high school.”

  “Oh wow! I thought you looked a little familiar, but I never would have figured it out.” He walked around the counter and pulled her into a big hug. “How are you? Did you move back to the area?”

  She stepped out of his embrace. “I’m good. I just moved back. I’m opening a bookstore next door.”

  He glanced over his shoulder at Tim, flinched a little, and walked back around the counter. Zoe looked at Tim questioningly, but his expression was blank.

  “I’ll have to let my mom know—she loves to read.”

  Zoe grinned. “I’m glad that hasn’t changed. She was my source for most of my romance novels while I was in high school. So…are you guys staying for coffee and pastry or do you want them to go?”

  Kevin looked at Tim.

  “We have some time. We can eat here,” Tim said.

  The door to the kitchen swung open behind them. “Zoe, sweetie, I cannot read your handwriting for the life of m
e. I know you’re a hot Brazilian babe, but I don’t read Portuguese.”

  Rob stopped at the edge of the counter and looked at her expectantly.

  “It is not that bad,” she said.

  He cocked an eyebrow and held the order slip out to her. “Translate, please.”

  She took the piece of paper from him, held it close, and then moved it farther away. Maybe it wasn’t her best penmanship, but she’d been in a rush to get the order in so she could go to the bathroom before her bladder burst.

  “Grilled ham and cheese, brioche bread, side salad.”

  She shoved the order back at him, but his attention was not on her. It was on Kevin and Tim, still standing at the counter. More specifically at Kevin, who was staring equally as hard back at Rob.

  “Rob, this is Kevin and Tim. Kevin and Tim, this is Rob—he’s the cook.”

  Rob held out his hand to Kevin. “It’s a pleasure to meet one of Haven Springs’ finest.” His wink was almost comically exaggerated.

  Kevin’s cheeks were bright red and he had a hard time looking directly at Rob, but he managed to mumble a “Nice to meet you.”

  “Rob,” she said.

  “Huh?” He hadn’t let go of Kevin’s hand and barely turned his head in her direction.

  “Food.”

  “Oh. Right. Ham and cheese. Got it.” He took the order and pushed through the swinging door to the kitchen.

  “Why don’t you guys grab a seat and I’ll get you some coffee? Is regular coffee all right or would you like a latte or cappuccino?” she asked.

  “Regular for me,” Kevin said.

  “Same here.” Tim led the way to a two-seater table against the back wall.

  The back view was as nice as the front view. Jeez, she was as bad as Rob. Taking two cups from the rack, she grabbed the carafe of freshly brewed coffee and took them to their table. Pouring their coffee, she asked, “Do you know what you guys want?”

  “Are there any of those napoleon things?” Tim asked.

  She glanced over her shoulder at the display case. Elba had been baking that morning before retreating to her office to work on invoices, but Zoe wasn’t sure what she’d made. “Let me check in the back. Do you have a backup in case there aren’t any?”