“Is there a lesson here?” She turned to face him and sat cross-legged. She picked up another leaf from the ground and ran her fingertips over the raised veins.
“No lesson. Just an observation.” He tossed the leaf aside.
“I’m observant too. We’re not talking about leaves and trees here, are we?”
He liked her. She was funny and kind and open, despite what he knew about her. This morning he’d taken another look at the information Mark had gathered. While there wasn’t much, he knew she’d come out of a marriage that should have offered her untold wealth and opportunities, and yet she’d moved to Aspen Cove, a small town with little to offer. Her house was run-down, the siding peeled, the paint faded. The lawn hadn’t been watered in years. The only thing that made it look occupied and alive were the plants he’d put in her garden.
“I’d love to hear your story.”
“It’s not all that exciting. Quite a common tale, I’ve been told.”
He leaned against the trunk of the tree. “In all fairness, I need to tell you that my deputy ran a check on you.”
Her eyes grew large and then narrowed to thin slits. “Is that standard practice?” She backed up several inches. “Do you spy on everyone who moves to town?”
Aiden hated that she put extra space between them. “No, and I didn’t ask him to do it, but I’m glad he did. You want to tell me about the restraining order?”
She exhaled like a popped balloon. “Not really.” Her shoulders tightened, her hands fisted. The mention of the restraining order obviously took her back to an awful place. Her body language was a perfect indicator.
“You’re safe here.”
She laughed. Not the ha-ha laugh that followed quick wit or easy banter but the laugh that came with disbelief. “Safe is not a word in my vocabulary.”
He moved closer, watching her intently to see if she’d move away again. Relief surged through him when she didn’t. “It is now. I can’t imagine what you went through being married to a member of the Caswell family.”
“You know them?”
He smiled. “We don’t share meals. I wouldn’t plant them a garden. I know of them, and I’ve had some run-ins with Chief Caswell and his brother Conrad. I’m not a fan.”
She seemed to relax. “Me either.”
“I won’t press any further except to ask how bad was it, and should I be concerned?”
She yanked a few blades of grass from the ground. “It was terrible. I’d be lying if I told you it was over. As long as Craig is around, it will never be over.”
Aiden filed that information away and risked another question. “What about the family? They couldn’t help?”
Marina stretched her lips thin. “Oh, they could have, but they turned a blind eye. To help meant to acknowledge there was a problem. The Caswells have no problems. They are perfection personified.”
“How did you get away?”
Her face lit up. “I learned how to play their game.”
“Should I be worried about you?”
“No, I’m no threat to anyone unless they try to hurt me or my daughter.”
He understood the need to protect. It was why he had become a police officer. A ladybug landed in her hair and he reached forward to let it walk up his finger. He expected her to flinch, but she didn’t. Not that she was comfortable with his movements. The way her body stiffened told him she was debating between fight and flight. He showed her the happy little bug.
“I love ladybugs. It’s what I call Kellyn.”
Aiden held his hand against Marina’s, and the little polka-dotted bug moved from him to her. “Such happy-looking little things.”
“That’s my wish for her. I want her life to be free of worry. She’s had it tough.”
“Tell me about her?” While he would have liked to ask her pointed questions, he didn’t want to risk the chance she’d stop talking to him.
He could tell she was unequivocally in love with her child. It seemed a no-brainer that a parent would be fully committed to their kid’s happiness, but that wasn’t always the case. He’d seen many parents not want the responsibility of nurturing and caring for their children.
“She’s so smart. While I’m partial because she’s mine, I’d put her at genius level.”
He wondered how she judged the intelligence of a child who didn’t speak. “Has she ever talked?” He leaned back until the bark bit lightly into his shirt.
“I’ve never heard her, but I’m told she has the sweetest voice and used to be a chatterbox with an advanced vocabulary.”
That stumped Aiden. How could a mother not hear her child’s voice? “I’m confused.”
She nodded. “It’s a long story, and it’s complicated.”
“I’d love to hear it.” He glanced down at his uniform. “Why don’t we have coffee tomorrow and you can tell me not as the sheriff but as your friend.”
Her hand raised to her chest. “Wow, I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes to the coffee and to friendship.”
Marina pinned her upper lip between her teeth for a moment and then nodded. “Coffee and friendship sounds good.”
“Perfect. How about the diner?”
She brushed off her jeans and stood. “How about the backyard? I don’t want to talk in front of Kellyn. She needs to be protected. We can have coffee on the back porch while she plays in the garden.”
Aiden thought about the yard and how little Kellyn had to entertain herself back there. An idea came to him. He’d have to sneak over again while they slept, but he liked his clandestine trips in the twilight hours. Seeing the looks on Marina and Kellyn’s faces was worth the lack of sleep.
“It’s a date.” When he saw the concern in her eyes he continued. “Figure of speech. I’m not expecting anything but coffee.”
She offered him her hand and tugged him to a standing position. She rocked back and forth on her heels. Seconds later she lunged at him and gave him a quick hug.
“Thanks for being a good guy.”
“My mom wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
She walked away, but before she got to her SUV, she turned and smiled. That was all it took to make his day.
Aiden stopped at Bishop’s Brewhouse. With so many people in town, the bar seemed to be the place people congregated. Poor Cannon had opened at noon to accommodate his patrons’ needs. He’d hired a few townsfolk for the busier days like karaoke Friday or days he wanted to spend time with Sage.
“Hey, are things quiet?” He wasn’t asking about the number of customers but the amount of trouble. With growth came the usual problems. There were more fights, more thefts, and more idiots. While crime didn’t have an address, it seemed to move where opportunity was abundant.
Cannon stocked the back bar with bottles of liquor. “Yep, things are good. No drunks or fights, just idiots.”
The few men at a corner table looked harmless. Dressed in camouflage, they were too early for hunting season, which didn’t start until late August, so he figured they were here to fish. Aiden turned back to the bar, where Cannon had put a cup of coffee in front of the second stool.
Sitting on the end stool was Mike. The one-eyed cat was more of a mascot than anything else—a good mouser according to his owner. Aiden had heard that Cannon found the cat in a dumpster and brought it home. That seemed to be the way of the people who lived in Aspen Cove. They were rescuers, nurturers, and downright good folks. Aiden hoped that the growth wouldn’t end his sweet, made-for-television life.
The door opened and a group of construction guys came in. They sat at a table in the center and ordered a pitcher of beer.
Cannon delivered and came back to stand in front of the sheriff. “What’s new?”
He couldn’t help the goofy smile that found its way to his face. “Got a new neighbor.”
Cannon wiped down the counter. “Marina, right? Sage is practicing her parenting skills. She’s got Sahara and Kellyn today.”
&nb
sp; Aiden leaned back. “Are you guys pregnant?”
Cannon let out a laugh that shook the wineglasses hanging above him. “No, no, no, no. I can’t even get that woman to the altar.”
“Doesn’t take a marriage license to make a baby.” Aiden sipped his coffee and watched the group behind him in the mirror. They’d come in rowdy and beer would not help.
“She likes to practice everything first.”
“Practice is good. Practice makes perfect.”
Cannon threw the damp towel into a nearby bucket; the water inside splashed over onto the counter. “We’re so perfect, we could give lessons.”
“What’s the problem then?”
“You know her. She’s got to plan it out a thousand times in her head.”
“Don’t wait for her. Set a date. Make sure she doesn’t cook for the reception.” While Sage was an excellent nurse, she couldn’t cook a thing. Even microwaving was a challenge.
“Nope, I’ve already told Dalton he was on deck for the reception. It’s great having a chef as one of your best friends. As for the date, I’m thinking Valentine’s Day. It’s super cliché, but deep inside, Sage loves all that romantic stuff.”
“I’ll put it on my calendar.” Aiden took another drink of coffee. “What do you know about Marina?”
Cannon ran his hand through his hair before he shook his head. “Not much except she’s shown up in town a few times looking like the loser in a prize fight. Be careful, man. She’s got baggage. I’m not talking about a carry-on. That one has a steamer trunk full of problems.”
“We’ve all got baggage.”
The guys at the table lifted the empty pitcher and asked for another.
Cannon frowned. “You gonna be around for a bit?” He refilled Aiden’s coffee mug and pulled another pitcher of beer.
“I’ve got your back for a while.” His shift ended early today. Mark was coming in soon to take over.
He spun his seat around and gave the five men at the table a stern look. It was the one he used that said don’t mess with me.
“Sheriff,” one idiot said. “Do you choose to wear shit brown clothes or is that the standard uniform?”
Aiden pushed himself from the stool and walked over to where they sat. “It’s standard issue. Brilliant choice really. You see…when I kick the shit out of idiots, it hardly shows. What about you? You look good in orange?” He stared straight at the mouthiest of the bunch. He knew from experience if he silenced the loudest man, there wouldn’t be a problem. It was herd mentality.
“Orange?”
Aiden pulled up a chair and straddled it, leaning his muscled arms on the back. “Yeah, it’s the color we have at the local penitentiary.” He moved his eyes from man to man. “I find that color doesn’t go with many complexions. Shall I call ahead and reserve you a room and a uniform?”
Four of the men shook their heads and looked to their leader.
“We ain’t done nothin’ wrong.”
Aiden stood. “Of course not. Are you planning to? I like to be prepared.” He stood in front and looked down at the one guy he knew could turn his night into a nightmare.
“No, sir.”
Aiden patted him on the back with more than friendly force. “Good to hear. You finish your beer, pay your tab, and we’ll see you at the firehouse on Monday.” It was his way of telling them he knew where they worked.
He returned to the bar. Mike had vacated the seat next to him. He looked around for the cat but he’d disappeared. Probably because a one-eyed cat had the sense to leave when trouble was brewing.
“Thanks. Sage would be upset if she needed to patch me up as soon as I got home. Although, after she finished, she’d spend lots of time loving me.”
Aiden emptied his coffee cup and put a few bucks on the counter. “You want me to give you a black eye?”
“Nah, I think I’ll just stop by The Corner Store and pick up flowers. That’s effective and less painful.”
Aiden walked to the door and turned back to his friend. “You’re a smart man.”
“I’m still in training.”
Aiden chuckled. “Smarter because you know that and don’t fight it.”
He walked into the afternoon sun. After a quick check-in at the office, he drove to Copper Creek to get a long length of rope and a piece of wood.
Chapter Nine
Her stomach fluttered as if a kaleidoscope of butterflies raced through her insides. When was the last time she’d experienced anything remotely like this? What was this? Nerves…excitement… She didn’t know how to gauge her reactions and responses. All she’d known in the past two years was fear and relief. This was not that.
Marina stood in front of her closet and thumbed through her clothes. She’d donated most of her things to the shelter because every outfit came with a memory and rarely a pleasant one. She’d never forget the day she took Kellyn to the thrift store. Her eyes lit up like she’d been invited to a party. A place where everything from toys to tennis shoes was available and affordable. It was where she got her collection of books, Legos and puzzles.
The only thing they took from the house were her safety blocks and Mrs. Beasley. A person couldn’t move into the future if they were living in the past.
A tug on her nightshirt brought her eyes down to her little girl, who held out two dresses, one yellow and one red.
“You choose. You look pretty in both.”
Kellyn looked between the two and pointed to the ladybug on the yellow dress.
“That’s the perfect choice. Don’t forget Mr. Cooper is coming over for coffee this morning.”
Kellyn gave her a thoughtful look and then nodded before she skipped back to her room. It was amazing the changes that were happening with her in so short a period. Weeks ago, she stayed in the shadows. She never spoke. She rarely engaged either. Marina was the only person she’d relax around. The only person who could touch her and yet she spent an entire afternoon with Sage and Sahara.
While Marina knew being around baby Sahara had influenced her decision, she was proud that her daughter was showing signs of life. Signs that she was indeed a four-year-old child despite her wise and weary eyes.
She pulled a pale blue sundress from the hanger and slipped it over her head. She checked herself in the mirror twice before she rolled her eyes. It’s coffee, not a date. The thought of a date terrified her. She couldn’t trust her instincts when it came to men. However, Aiden Cooper wasn’t like most men. What made him different she couldn’t figure out, but he was.
Maybe it was because his smile always reached his eyes. Could be that he took his job to serve and protect seriously. Probably was because he understood that when a four-year-old little girl planted a dead daisy into the ground, she expected it to grow, and he made that happen. They hardly knew him, and he’d shown more kindness than her ex ever had.
Marina slicked on some gloss and walked to the kitchen. She’d wanted to do something special in the garden like set up a table, but she didn’t have the resources, so he’d have to settle for coffee on the steps. Just as she was getting ready to pull the curtains open to peek into the garden, a knock sounded at the front door.
Was he always early?
Kellyn stood in the hallway, peeping around the doorframe. She wouldn’t come out unless she knew it was safe.
Even Marina took extra precautions like checking the peephole to confirm identity. While her ex-in-laws had promised Craig wouldn’t be a problem, Marina knew there was no way they’d be able to watch him all the time. Hell, they’d known what was going on and did nothing until she threatened to go public, which would have ruined the mayor’s run for re-election. That was her godsend. She shook the thoughts from her mind and opened the door to Aiden, who was so darn handsome in simple jeans and a T-shirt.
“Hey, you’re early.”
He shrugged. “Old habits die hard. My mom used to tell me that early was on time and on time was late.” He lifted a B’s Bakery bag. “I brought breakfas
t if you haven’t eaten. A snack if you have.”
Where did this man come from? “Come on in. I was making the coffee when you knocked.” She stepped to the side and allowed him to enter. A huge step for her. By the smile on Aiden’s face, she knew he understood what a big deal it was for him to be in their home.
“Where’s the little bug?” He looked around and saw her tiny face peeking around the corner. “Good morning, Kellyn. I have a surprise for you.”
Marina led him into the kitchen. “What have you been up to now?”
He chuckled. It was a warm sound that seemed to come straight from his heart.
She glanced behind him to see Kellyn slipping along the walls to get closer.
“I’m ashamed to say more trespassing, but I do know the sheriff, and he can vouch for my character and motives.”
Marina had no idea what else the man could have done. He’d planted a full garden for her and a daisy garden for Kellyn. She started the pot of coffee and pulled the curtains above the sink open. Her heart danced when she saw what he’d done.
Tears sprang to her eyes as her chest tightened and twisted. Not the kind of pain that came from fear of anxiety, but the kind that came from an overflowing heart. Hanging from the big oak tree out back was a swing for Kellyn.
She tried to speak, but the words caught in her throat, so she did something unusual. She threw her arms around Aiden and hugged him tightly. He tentatively wrapped his around her and pulled her into a friendly embrace.
She felt safe. Safe enough to stay there for a minute too long to enjoy the feel of his hands on her back. Take in the smell of his cologne. Soak in the heat of his body. It wasn’t until she felt a tug at the hem of her dress that she realized how long she’d let the hug last.
She glanced down at Kellyn and smiled.
“I’m so sorry, but I’m so moved.” She swooped Kellyn into her arms and pointed to the tree. The little girl’s eyes grew as big as baseballs as she wiggled out of Marina’s arms and raced to the door. Her hand had barely reached the brass knob when she turned around and bolted to Aiden, throwing her arms around one of his legs. Her impromptu squeeze lasted a second before she took off again for the door and the swing.
One Hundred Excuses (An Aspen Cove Romance Book 5) Page 6