Perfect Night

by Laine, Terri E.

  He folded his arms over his chest like my father used to do when I was about to get reprimanded. Heading that off at the pass, I said, “I called Bess and she said things were quiet. I covered things by getting Wyatt to switch with me.” I was repeating myself, but it was worth it.

  “I don’t know how they do things in the city, but here I’m the sheriff. I know I’ve chosen you as my replacement, but that doesn’t give you authority over me. I expect to know what’s going on in my station.”

  “Sorry, sir. I didn’t have your number.”

  He rattled it off. “Now you do. So tell me, what was so important that you couldn’t be here on your first official day at eight a.m. like we discussed.

  “I was helping out Emma.”

  “Emma Hawkins?” he asked.

  I bobbed my head.

  “Helping her with what?”

  “Not my place to say, sir.”

  He sighed. “I’ll give you a pass. Lord knows that girl has been through enough and with both of her parents gone, she needs all the help she can get. Do you know what she’s going to do with the bar?”

  That should have been a strange question, but I chucked it to small town gossip. “No. Why would I?”

  He shrugged. “She called you for help. Isn’t her fiancé in town?”

  “Not my business.”

  “Fine. I just thought she might have told you. Jack’s making claims Doug said he’d sell him the business.”

  That annoyed me. “Doug’s gone. It’s up to Emma what she wants to do with the bar.”

  The sheriff cleared his throat. “Anyway, we were set to have a meeting with the mayor this morning and you weren’t here. I made an excuse and rescheduled it for later.”

  “Sorry about that.”

  “Yeah, well, since you’re here let me pass this on to you.” He picked up some papers from his desk and handed me one. “This BOLO came in this morning.” As I read it over, he explained. “Apparently there is a brothel on wheels. A van fitting that description is said to be going all over the state offering good times for cash.”

  “Is prostitution a problem around here?” I’d never heard about it when I’d been in school and that was something guys would talk about.

  “Not really. What we’ve got is a few women who trade sexual favors in return for helping them out with their rent or groceries.”

  “Is that prostitution?”

  “Not when she doesn’t specifically ask for a certain amount of money and just phrases it like she needs a little help without being specific, or so I hear. Most guys head a few towns over to the Lap Bar for a titty show and who knows what else. But it ain’t my town, ain’t my problem.”

  “Names of the women who skate the line in town?”

  He grinned. “I’ll let you find that out. Trust me, single guys like you will find out. Besides, if I told you, they’d see it in your eyes. This way, if they aren’t skating the line, you can arrest them.”

  Great. That wasn’t my idea of a good first assignment.

  “Is that all?” I asked.

  “One more thing. Rumors are going around town you hit the bar last night.”

  It was my turn to sigh. “I had a Coke. I bought a bottle so it was clear what I was drinking.”

  “Some are saying Rum and Coke. In fact, at first when you weren’t here, I thought you might be nursing a hangover.”

  I groaned. “It was just a Coke.”

  “Why not get it from Java Jitters?”

  “For the same reason, someone spreading rumors. I plan on buying a lot of coffee there. Since I was in the mood for Coke, I didn’t want anyone thinking I was making excuses to see Jessie.”

  “The same can be said about you ending up at the bar. Someone else said they saw Emma in your truck last night.”

  I didn’t think I would get used to the busy body nature of our town. I gritted my teeth, hating I had to explain myself. “Emma needed a friend. I invited her for Sunday dinner, nothing more.”

  “People are going to talk. Be careful. Not a lot of single women in town. These boys around here get territorial. You should remember that.”

  I was too disgusted to say anything about that. “Anything else?”

  He handed me the other paper in his hand. “We got two BOLOs this morning. This is the second one. A missing girl down in Billings.”

  “Do you think they are related?”

  “Could be. The state boys just want us to keep our eyes open.”

  I nodded and left. I sat behind my desk and hoped Emma wouldn’t get backlash for being seen with me while being engaged. My detective hat was fully engaged. I had to put Emma’s father’s investigation on hold. The sheriff was too shrewd. In fact, it was looking as if I might have to go around him to get answers to my questions. In the meantime, I searched the database to get more information about the BOLOs until it was time to see the mayor.

  An hour later, we drove over to the town hall. We arrived at his office in time, but his admin kept us waiting another ten minutes before we were ushered inside. He was setting his phone down when we walked in. He stood. “Aiden Faulkner. I never thought you’d be a cop. I thought you’d be playing in the MLB.”

  “I turned it down. It wasn’t for me.” I’d been drafted into the minors with a strong chance I’d end up in the pros.

  “Really, I heard you didn’t get into the pros.”

  “I didn’t. But even if I had, I wouldn’t have gone.”

  “Then, why enter yourself in the draft?”

  “No regrets. I didn’t want to look back and wonder. When I got there, I realized that wasn’t what I wanted in life.”

  He laughed. “If I had your arm, I would have taken it and all the pussy it would have gotten me.”

  “That makes us different.”

  Malcolm narrowed his eyes and then straightened. “Why don’t we get to the point. Though it’s Sheriff Moon’s choice on whom to hire and fire, I thought it important we understand each other. This isn’t LA. Folks around here aren’t all bad.”

  “I never thought so.”

  “Good.”

  The sheriff remained quiet. Different was the man I saw now and the one I’d looked up to when I was growing up. He’d been part of the reason I’d wanted to become a cop.

  “The sheriff also tells me you’ve been spending time with Emma Hawkins. How is she?”

  I gave the sheriff the side eye before plastering a brittle smile on my face. “Good as can be expected seeing as she buried her father only two days ago.”

  “True. Can you tell me what her intentions are with the bar?” Malcolm asked.

  Why was everyone asking? Then again, small town. But something was niggling at me. I couldn’t put my finger on it.

  “Jack Riddle has a real interest in buying the place. It would be good if you convinced Emma to do the right thing,” Malcolm said.

  “Right thing?” I asked, unable to hide the bite of my words.

  “You know she’s engaged to the city guy. Last thing this town needs is his father’s company gobbling up businesses in town. We like our way of life here. Folks don’t want a Starbucks on every corner. Do you understand?”

  I nodded because I did. I didn’t want Mason Creek to become more like a big city either. That didn’t stop this conversation from grating on my nerves. “If she asks for my advice, I’ll give it,” I said without specifying what that would be.

  “Good. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have another meeting.”

  As we left, a beautiful brunette I’d never seen before was out in the hall and went in after us.

  “Who’s that?” I asked the sheriff.

  “Probably someone from the county.”

  He didn’t explain further. Considering I hadn’t liked the intrusiveness of their questions, I let it go.

  For the next few days, I also stayed away from Emma. She hadn’t called either. I had gotten the chance to talk to Wyatt about me taking the chief deputy sheriff position. It turned o
ut he had a side job as a handyman that kept him busy. He was cool with me getting the job as he didn’t want the added responsibility with everything he had going on.

  When the doorbell rang Friday night, I went to the door thinking it might be Emma.

  When I opened it, it was Darcy with a Sauce It Up pizza box. I didn’t know my smile had disappeared until Darcy asked, “Expecting someone else?”

  That was when I remembered telling Darcy she could come over Friday to help me redesign the house. “No, just you.” Because I hadn’t been expecting Emma. I’d just hoped it would have been her.

  Darcy sashayed into the kitchen where she put the delicious-smelling pizza on the counter. I wondered if across town Emma was eating pizza with her fiancé. Had he come back to town? I could have asked Darcy because in the past she seemed to know all the gossip, but I decided not to.

  I was pretty sure I’d given Emma enough hints about my feelings for her. It was up to her what she wanted to do.

  Chapter 9

  Emma

  Days had passed and I heard nothing from Aiden. It wasn’t like he owed me anything, but I’d gotten used to seeing him and I hadn’t seen his face the last few days.

  The bar was unusually quiet even for a Thursday. I let my waitresses go, leaving me to wait tables.

  Sadie, Justine, Leni, Laken, and Anna all sat around one of our bigger tables. I walked over. “Hey ladies, what can I get for you?”

  They all looked at each other before Leni piped up. “Something for us to celebrate.”

  I grinned because their excitement was palpable. “How about champagne?”

  “I can’t,” Justine announced.

  “Me either,” Sadie said.

  The rest of the girls waited for either of them to say more when it hit me. “You’re pregnant.” There were rumors but I never wanted to assume. Both women nodded. “I’m so happy for you.”

  Sadie and Wyatt had finally gotten together, something I saw coming. Justine was blissfully happy with Tucker. She was there every time he did a set on my stage. Boy, could he sing.

  “It looks like everyone is finding their man,” I said, feeling a little bad for myself. I wore a ring, but I wasn’t happy like I expected.

  “Not everyone,” Leni said. “I’ve sworn off men.” She looked at Sadie and Justine. “But I’m excited for you two.”

  Laken spoke up next, “The only guy I’ve ever wanted, I can’t have.”

  I could have said something similar. Though Aiden was back, he’d only ever treated me like a friend.

  “How about I get you a round of cocktails and virgin one’s for you too?”

  They all nodded, and I left them. Was it wrong to feel envious? I’d thought I had it all until I didn’t. Still the encounter with the girls helped make my decision.

  The next day after spending a long time cooking, I took matters into my own hands. I gave hours to the waitresses I’d sent home earlier yesterday, which left the bar covered with Jack there.

  It was probably a bad idea to show up at Aiden’s unannounced, especially when I could have called him any day this week to express my gratitude. I hadn’t. I’d also been avoiding Evan’s repeated calls and texts.

  What had I done instead? I made a pot of chili and drove the long way to Aiden’s hoping the nosy folks in town wouldn’t know where I was headed.

  I sat in my car for a second before I got out. I lugged the pot to the door. The closer I got, I heard giggles. Female laughter. I bypassed the door to take a quick peek inside. I didn’t want to bother Aiden if he had company.

  There, leaning against the counter was Aiden with his arms folded. Darcy Williams had her hands braced on his chest as she moved in for the obvious kiss. I pulled back before they saw me. I only noticed then Darcy’s car was parked a little way down. It wasn’t in front of his house as if she didn’t want people making the assumptions I was standing on the porch.

  I backed away and left silently. I didn’t want to be caught for reasons unknown. I had a fiancé. Aiden was single and free to do whatever he wanted with whomever he wanted.

  Just because it felt like he was sending me signals, clearly my addled brain had read more into it than there really was. For the millionth time, I thought I might cry. I sucked it up and used anger to stop that foolishness.

  If Aiden wanted to hook up with the former homecoming queen, his ex, that was totally up to him. Just because he didn’t know what she’d been up to since he left town didn’t make it my business to tell him.

  I drove to Java Jitters hoping to convince Jessie to commiserate with me. Only Miles was there sitting at a booth likely waiting for her to finish her shift.

  I waited in line.

  “Is everything okay?” Jessie asked when I reached the counter.

  “Yeah. Just need my coffee fix.” I kept the rest to myself. If I’d told her, she would have come with me. But the good doc looked like he’d waited all day just to spend some time with her.

  “To go?” she asked.

  “Yes, please.” Coffee for one, I thought miserably.

  When I stepped to the side so the next person could place their order, I caught sight of Alana. I moved in her direction.

  “Taking a break?” I asked. Like me, she was taking online classes.

  “Yeah. I need the caffeine to keep my eyes open.”

  I gave her a conspiratorial smile because I had an exam coming up in my accounting class I should be studying for. “Me too. How about some chili to go with it?”

  “You made chili?”

  “I did and I need someone to share it with.”

  “Sounds like heaven and I won’t have to cook. I can’t stay all night. I’ve got a paper due.”

  After we got our coffees, I asked, “Your place or mine?”

  “A break means a change of scenery. Besides, you cooked.”

  “It’s in the car. I’ll explain.”

  I waited until we were back at my place before I did. I got the pot from the backseat where I’d placed it to give Alana room. She followed me into the house. “Sit here,” I said, waving toward the sofa. I needed a change of scene too. I wasn’t ready to eat at the table or the kitchen island like I’d done with Dad. I set the pot down and went to grab us bowls.

  “So who’s the unlucky person who didn’t get your chili? Jessie?”

  I walked back in with bowls, spoons, and a couple of beers. The coffee had been an excuse. “Not exactly. Don’t get mad, but I made it for your brother.”

  Her eyebrows shot up. “Are you and Aiden a thing?”

  “No. Just friends. He’s helped me out with a few things. I went to give it to him as a thank you, but he wasn’t alone.”

  Her brows rose even higher. “Damn, he works quick.”

  “I don’t think he had to.”

  She laughed. “Darcy?”

  “Exactly.”

  “Stupid boys. They’re like dogs wanting to be leashed. But something tells me there’s more. Are you and Evan on the outs?”

  Alana and I didn’t talk every day. She didn’t know the latest. “I sent him home. He was being an insensitive jerk. Jury is still out on if that’s a character flaw or foolishness.”

  “A little bit of both, I gather. He’s easy on the eyes, but…”

  “But what? You’ve never said a but before.”

  “It’s your business. I don’t know. There’s just something not right about him. He’s a little too cocky. A little too city slick for me.”

  “You like your men a little rough around the edges like Cory.”

  She let her head fall back. “Don’t mention his name. For all his promises, he broke every single one of them.”

  “Does Aiden know?”

  She shrugged. “Maybe some, not all or he would have kicked his ass. Last I heard, Cory still considers him a friend.”

  “Would you ever go back to Cory?”

  “No. Do you still have a crush on my brother?”

  Boy, she’d spun that tab
le fast, leaving me a little dizzy. “If I did, that would give me my answer as to what to do about Evan.” I glanced at the two-carat diamond ring on my finger.

  “Not that I don’t think it’s gross that you like my brother, but Aiden couldn’t put a ring like that on your finger.”

  “I wouldn’t want him to. Hungry?”

  She nodded and we dove in. Alana caught me up with rumors around town she’d heard. I filled in with the little I knew because that’s what you did in Mason Creek. You speculated on other peoples’ lives. There was nothing else to do. Then, I drove her back home.

  This was one of those times I wished l lived in the city. There would be places I could go, like the mall or the movies. Instead, I went to the bar and hung out in Dad’s office working on a final paper for my business law class I needed for my business degree.

  The door was closed and locked. Anyone wanting to see me had to knock.

  I got up and was surprised to find Aiden behind the door.

  “Don’t be a stranger,” he said with a wide grin. I couldn’t give it back to him.

  “Can I help you with anything?” I said, holding the door handle.

  “I could use your help,” he said, hesitantly. Easily picking up my no bullshit vibes.

  I exhaled and opened the door a little wider, giving him space to come into the small room. Aiden was a big guy. Bigger than my dad who hadn’t been small himself.

  Though I had no right to be angry with him, the simple fact was I was. He’d also done me several kindnesses. I owed him more than one. “Sure, come in.”

  He shocked me with his request.

  Chapter 10

  Aiden

  Darcy turned to face me with mischief in her eyes. She was one of those women who was well aware of her looks and knew how to use them to get a guy’s attention.

  I’d been with enough women to know what I wanted at this stage in my life, and I was prepared to wait as long as it took to get it. Giving into temptation wasn’t an option. It would only give me regrets I couldn’t take back.