Prince Charming Wears a Badge

by Lisa Dyson

  The two men exchanged pleasantries for a minute or two before diners began entering the building. Business was steady as people moved down the line for nearly an hour before it slowed.

  “Looks like stragglers now that the initial rush is over,” Jim commented to Tyler.

  Tyler nodded and scooped up green beans to serve to the next person in line. “Green beans?” The words had barely come out of his mouth when he realized Wendy Carter, Callie’s stepsister, was holding a plate of food and waiting for him to put beans on it. “Oh, sorry.” While he emptied the spoonful of beans onto her plate, he said, “Is that you, Wendy?”

  She nodded.

  He hadn’t seen her since he’d been back in town. She’d certainly changed since high school, and not for the better. Her hair was clumpy, as if it hadn’t been washed or even brushed in days. She was slightly hunched and didn’t meet his gaze, as if embarrassed to be seen getting a free meal.

  He didn’t know what else to say and she remained mute until she reached Callie and her potatoes. Tyler watched the exchange between the two women. At first Callie didn’t notice Wendy and Wendy hadn’t looked up to see that it was Callie serving her.

  “Wendy?” Callie mimicked his surprise at seeing Wendy.

  Wendy raised her head and as soon as she saw Callie, the expression on her face turned to anger and something else. Hatred was the only word he could come up with.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Wendy’s vitriolic question was barely loud enough for him to hear. She didn’t let Callie speak before going on in an angry whisper. “You always thought you were so much better than us. I guess there’s no denying that now.”

  “Wendy—” He shut his mouth when Callie put a hand on his upper arm. She met his gaze with eyes pleading for him to let her handle it. He barely nodded and she turned to face Wendy.

  “Would you like potatoes?” Callie held a spoonful of potatoes out to Wendy as if nothing had happened. Wendy accepted the potatoes and moved down the line.

  When she was out of hearing range, Tyler asked Callie, “Why is she so angry at you?”

  Callie shrugged. “Who knows? She’s been angry at me since she and her mother moved in when I was three and she was two.”

  “Really?” He had a hard time computing that information. Wendy had always been nice to him, especially when they were teenagers. In fact, he’d always thought Wendy might have had a crush on him, but he hadn’t been interested. At the time, Callie was the only one who’d interested him.

  And now he was finding that interest in her renewed.

  *

  THE KITCHEN AND dining areas were nearly cleaned up a few hours later when Riva came up behind Callie. “Some of us are going to Abbott’s when we’re done here. You want to join us? You’re welcome, too, Tyler.” He’d been drying the large catering dishes that Callie had washed.

  “I don’t know—” Callie was still pretty shaken up after her run-in with Wendy and didn’t feel like going to a pub.

  “Come on, we haven’t seen each other in years,” Riva reminded her. “Just come for one drink so I can hear what you’ve been up to. It’s Friday night, for heaven’s sake.”

  “We’ll be there,” Tyler answered for her.

  “Great. See you there!”

  As soon as Riva stepped away, Callie turned on Tyler and spoke more calmly than she felt. “What was all that about? Saying I’d be there? You have no right—”

  He held up a hand, palm out. “Hold on. You obviously need to unwind. All work and no play will put you in the hospital with a nervous breakdown.”

  She tilted her head and scowled at him. “Not likely.”

  “Then what if I say that for every hour you spend having fun, I’ll count it toward your community service?”

  Her eyes widened. “You can do that?”

  “I can do whatever I want. I was given authority over you and your service hours. I just need to sign off to say you completed them.”

  Callie quickly looked around to see if there was anything else to be washed. She pulled the plug to drain the water from the sink, rinsed and dried her hands, and untied her apron. “Then, let’s go.”

  The clock in the nearly empty dining room said almost nine, which meant she’d worked a twelve-hour day. No wonder she was tired.

  But she was also anxious to catch up with Riva, so she headed out the door ahead of Tyler.

  “We can drop your car off at the house and take my truck if you want. No need for two cars.”

  Abbott’s was a few miles from Poppy’s and his suggestion made sense. So why was she hesitating? “Sure. Thanks.” Probably because she’d noticed that being close to him brought back all the old feelings she’d had for him when they were teenagers. The feelings she’d been forced to keep hidden or face the wrath of her stepsister who’d thought Tyler belonged to her. But Wendy no longer had any power over Callie and any feelings she might have for Tyler were grown-up feelings that had grown-up consequences.

  She had nothing to worry about as long as she kept her thoughts to herself. Which shouldn’t be too difficult since she was pretty sure he considered her a nuisance that he was saddled with for the next few weeks.

  When they reached the house, they each went to their own bedroom. Callie would have liked a shower, but didn’t want him to wait for her. She merely washed her face and put on fresh makeup. At least she hadn’t been doing manual labor today, just cooking and cleaning up afterward. She released her hair from the bun she’d worn all day and fluffed it enough to make her reasonably happy with it. She donned fresh skinny jeans with a white tank top and canvas wedge sandals before heading to the front door.

  Tyler was waiting for her, looking extremely appealing in his dark jeans and deep navy T-shirt that hugged his torso as well as his biceps.

  “You look great,” he said to her before she could say it to him.

  “Thanks. You, too.” His hair was damp, as if he’d taken a shower. The scent of his manly soap was intoxicating as she got closer to him. Riding in his truck was going to be pure torture. “I hope you haven’t been waiting long.”

  He held the screen door open for her. “Absolutely not.” He looked at a pretend watch on his wrist and then winked at her. “At least not more than an hour or two.”

  Her mouth opened and her eyes narrowed. “As long as I didn’t make you wait too long.”

  He chuckled at her comeback and then put a hand to her lower back to usher her out the front door. “You know, you’re not so bad when you relax.” He was so close behind her that his warm, fresh breath tickled her neck.

  She ignored the goose bumps he raised. He had a good sense of humor and that went a long way with her. Until just now, she’d only witnessed it with his daughters and others. She was beginning to think being around him tonight wouldn’t be so bad. Especially when he opened her truck door and assisted her in.

  Sitting that close to him on the drive to the bar made her acutely aware of him. The combination of his natural scent and the soap he’d used were enough to make the short trip a cruel form of torture.

  “There you are!” From the table Riva and a few others had taken over at Abbott’s Pub, her old friend saw them as soon as they entered. She waved as she came to greet them at the door. “We’ve got a couple of pitchers going,” she told them over her shoulder as she led them to the table. “One’s a wheat and the other’s an IPA. Way too hoppy for me.” She said the last almost under her breath.

  When they reached the table, Callie recognized a few people she hadn’t seen since high school. Riva introduced everyone, although it was difficult to hear because the bar was so noisy. While everyone shifted seats to make room for Tyler and Callie, Tyler poured them each a glass of beer. “Wheat?” he asked close to her ear, holding the glass out to her.

  She took the cold glass, noting he’d poured it perfectly without too much foam. “Thanks.” She took a sip, wondering how he knew her preference of beer. “How did you know I wanted this
one?”

  His lips curved slightly upward. “I poured one of each. If you wanted the IPA, then I would have been happy with the wheat beer.”

  “Oh.” She had nothing else to say. He could be quite the gentleman when he wanted to be.

  She took a minute to finally look around. Like the drugstore, Abbott’s had also remained the same. The dark brown Colonial-style tables and chairs were marred with scratches, the paneled walls had numerous illuminated beer logos covering them, and the long, aged bar was lined with patrons quenching their thirst. Since it was Friday night, the small corner stage had a three-piece band playing classic rock.

  Callie had left town at eighteen, too young to be served a drink here, but she and her friends had come many times for the food. They made the best onion rings, perfect with a burger after a high school football or basketball game.

  Before she knew it, Riva pulled her close to speak to her privately. “So what’s up with you two?” she said in a stage whisper so as to be heard over the live music and conversations going on around them. “I saw you walk in together. Did you finally get the guy you lusted after back in high school?”

  “Shh!” Callie looked over her shoulder to see if Tyler had overheard. “No, we’re not together. We just drove in his truck because we’re both living in the same house.”

  “The same house!” Riva’s voice was definitely louder than a whisper that time.

  Callie reached out to squeeze Riva’s forearm. “Be quiet!” She felt like she was back in high school again. “We’re both renting rooms from his aunt.”

  “You’re not staying with your family?”

  Callie shook her head. Riva knew some, but not all, of the details about her former home life and now was not the time to fill her in. Riva only knew how mean Wendy was to her when she’d seen it firsthand at school or out in public.

  “I prefer having my own place,” Callie told her. “And this way I’m not inconveniencing anyone.” She needed to move the subject away from such a depressing topic. “Tell me what you’ve been doing. I didn’t realize you were living here in Whittler’s Creek.”

  Riva nodded. “I moved back about a year ago. Chuck and I divorced.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “My mother broke her ankle and I came back to help her. Once she recovered enough, I realized I had nothing to go back to in upstate New York where I kept running into Chuck and his girlfriend of the month.”

  Callie didn’t know what to say. Her life before coming back to Whittler’s Creek had been comparatively good, with little chance of running into her ex. As long as she stayed out of the courthouse.

  She took a long drink of her beer and realized her glass was nearly empty. She needed to slow down, even if she wasn’t the one driving. At least she’d gotten dinner when they ate leftovers at the community center after everyone in need had eaten their fill.

  As if reading her mind, Tyler came up behind her with a pitcher. He poured the rest of its contents into her glass, making it come up to halfway. “Thank you,” she said. “You’re better than a server.”

  He grinned then said to Riva, “I’ll get us another pitcher and be right back with it.”

  Riva held up her glass that was three-quarters full. “I’m good for now.”

  He gave her a thumbs-up and left them alone again as he headed to the bar.

  Riva leaned in. “He’s so hot!” She sounded breathless. “If you’re not interested, then at least let me take a shot.”

  Callie was caught off balance. Luckily, she didn’t need to reply because Riva was pulled away by someone else in the group.

  “Need more?” Tyler appeared with a full pitcher, interrupting her thoughts about him and Riva.

  She shook her head, covering her glass with her hand. She wondered why she had even hesitated about giving Riva the go-ahead when it came to Tyler. “I’m okay. I drank the first glass pretty quickly.”

  He shrugged. “I’m driving.” He showed her the glass of soda in his other hand.

  “I know. I’m just a lightweight.” And she didn’t like to be out of control. She reached for her purse. “I need to give you some money. How much was the pitcher you bought?”

  “Seven bucks, but don’t worry about it.”

  She’d forgotten how much less expensive things were in this part of the state. “I can pay my own way.”

  He stared her down. “I’m sure you can.” His look dared her to say more. “If you insist on making everything fifty-fifty, then you can buy more beer for Poppy’s. The fridge is in the basement.” He named a local brewery that he liked. “But feel free to buy whatever you’ll drink, too.”

  “That seems like a fair deal.” She sipped her beer because she suddenly felt tongue-tied. He had a way of looking at her. As if he could see right through her skin to her core. As if he recognized her inability to talk about her past and her close-to-insane need to be in control.

  And now she was pretty sure he could see how attracted to him she was.

  CHAPTER SIX

  “DINNER WAS DELICIOUS,” Gino told Poppy when they sat in her living room long after Alexis and Madison were settled into bed. “Your lasagna was even better than I remembered.”

  “Thank you.” She took the glass of wine he’d poured her and sat on the opposite end of the couch from him. Her face heated at the compliment. She knew she was a decent cook, but somehow hearing it from Gino made her feel both proud and a little embarrassed.

  Unlike Tyler and Callie who’d stayed behind and eaten leftovers at the community center, Poppy had planned ahead and made lasagna. She and Gino had been eating a late dinner when Tyler and Callie had come home to change before going out.

  “Those girls are very well behaved,” he said, setting his wineglass on a coaster on the coffee table. “I can’t imagine how difficult it’s been on them and Tyler. Being a single parent isn’t easy. My daughter did that for a while when her husband was deployed, and with three kids under five, it took a lot out of her.”

  Poppy nodded. “Tyler’s a good father. Everything he’s done has been for them.”

  “So tell me, what made you decide to run a boardinghouse after Jeffrey died?”

  Gino and her husband had been good friends. When Jeffrey died five years ago, Gino had been nearly as grief-stricken as Poppy.

  She shrugged. “I guess I needed people around me. I was in my midfifties at the time and I thought if the house was full again, like when the children were growing up, then I’d survive on my own.” Her breathing accelerated and her hands shook. She placed her wineglass next to Gino’s on the coffee table. “You never told me why you’re back in town.”

  Gino picked up his glass, took a long swallow, and set it down again as if delaying his answer. “It’s a business deal I’ve got going on. If it works out, then I’ll settle down here for good.”

  “That would be nice,” Poppy told him. “We haven’t seen you much over the years.”

  He looked directly into her eyes. “You have to know that it killed me coming back and seeing you and Jeffrey so happy.”

  A huge lump formed in Poppy’s throat. She’d dated Gino before Jeffrey. They’d even talked about marriage and their future together. “You made choices,” she reminded him. “You chose to leave me behind.”

  “And I’ll never forgive myself for that.” He’d moved to Canada for a business opportunity instead of staying with her. Poppy couldn’t leave her mother at the time because she’d had terminal cancer.

  “You should. It’s all in the past. You and Maura were happily married for a long time. And you have three wonderful children.” She didn’t bring up that Maura had taken her own life a year before Jeffrey died. She’d battled depression since the birth of their first child.

  “I’d like another chance, Poppy.” His statement caught her by surprise. “Tell me it’s not too late for us.”

  “I don’t know—”

  He quickly rose from his seat and sat next to her on the c
ouch. He took her face in both hands and stared into her eyes. Then he placed his lips on hers.

  For the first time in decades, she felt truly wanted.

  *

  TYLER WAS GLAD he’d agreed to go to Abbott’s. He’d spent very little time with anyone outside of work besides Poppy and his daughters since he’d returned to Whittler’s Creek. Tonight he was enjoying catching up with old friends and getting to know the others at the table a little better.

  A few minutes ago Riva had pulled Callie away from him. The group’s conversations had divided into women at one end of the long table and men at the opposite end. He couldn’t help himself when he was tempted to watch Callie. Every once in a while she would look his way and catch him. He’d give her a smile or a wink or a little wave. Her embarrassed expression at getting caught looking at him made her all the more sexy.

  After a heated discussion about the looming baseball trade deadline, Tyler realized the women were getting up from their seats. He caught Callie’s eye and they nodded to each other to indicate they were both ready to take off.

  “It was great seeing you guys,” Tyler told the group.

  Pete, an old high school buddy, said, “You should join us more often. In fact, we’re all meeting at the park on Sunday for a cookout. It’d be great if you came, too. We’re each bringing our own food and drinks.” He gestured in Callie’s direction. “Feel free to bring someone with you.” He waggled his eyebrows. “She’s always welcome.”

  Tyler decided to ignore Pete’s obvious interest in Callie and asked, “Will there be kids there?”

  “Sure. Several of all ages.” Pete pointed around the table, listing the adults who had kids. “That’s right. You have a couple of kids, too, don’t you?” Pete not only had no children, but no wife or girlfriend, either.

  Tyler nodded. “Two daughters, six and four.”

  “Bring ’em along. The kids all have a great time together. We like to organize games with them.”

  Tyler said his final good-night to everyone and he and Callie left together. He waited until they were in his truck to broach the subject of Sunday’s get-together.