by Croix, J. H.
Eric’s face flushed an even deeper shade of red. He sagged against the car, appearing resigned to having to suffer through this event.
“Nice to meet you,” Risa replied to Shannon’s back. “It’s okay. All he did was bump me. Don’t even worry about the insurance thing right now. How about you let me get an estimate first?” Risa asked.
“Are you sure?” Shannon asked.
Risa nodded. “It’ll probably be less than your deductible.” She paused and glanced at her car. It wasn’t even dented, just scraped. “I’m Risa, by the way.”
Shannon came back around the car and brushed her hair out of her face with a sigh. “That would be great if you don’t mind. He’s only seventeen, so you can imagine how much the insurance will be if we have to report this.”
“Oh shit,” Eric said.
“Eric! Do you have to swear so much?” Shannon said, her tone sharp as she glared at him.
Risa followed his eyes to see a police cruiser headed their way. Her heart instantly lurched, wondering if it was Darren. This followed with a sigh when she realized if it were him, this was accident number two for her in the last few weeks, which only reinforced her ‘bumbling through life’ image. The police cruiser got close enough that she could see it was Darren. She’d texted him this morning to let him know her schedule for the day, but they hadn’t confirmed anything.
Darren pulled into the parking lot through another entrance with their cars blocking this one. Risa reconsidered her ability to control herself as he approached them. He was all sexy cop. Damn if that uniform didn’t just make everything about him better. She wondered whether they designed the uniforms to be so fitted. His muscled shoulders, chest and arms were accentuated by the navy shirt that hugged him like a glove. He’d been on his phone when he approached and only when he was a few feet away did he look up. As soon as he saw her, he grinned. She swooned inside and had to force herself to focus because she had to keep up appearances in front of poor Eric whose face was neon red at this point.
“Hey there, what happened here?”
Shannon began talking rapidly. “Eric took the corner too quick and scraped her car.”
Risa decided an interruption might be good about now. “It’s nothing. We’ve already sorted it out.”
Darren met her gaze, his chocolate brown eyes almost melting her on the spot. She tried telepathy, but he didn’t seem to be getting her message when he arched his brow. “Let me check…”
Risa stepped to his side. “There’s nothing to check. Don’t give Eric a ticket. He barely bumped my car. Let’s call this one a pass. If it happens again, then you can give him a ticket.” She had no idea why she was so determined to make sure Eric didn’t get a ticket, but he looked so genuinely remorseful that she wanted to cut him a break.
Darren eyed her for a long minute and then shrugged. “Fair enough.” He turned to Eric. “You ran into a nice person today. Count yourself lucky and remember that I will know if you make a habit of this. Here’s the deal: no ticket for you if you promise you’ll mow the lawn in front of the station for the rest of the summer. We’ll pay you, and you can immediately turn the money over to your mom to go towards your car insurance.”
Eric, his face still bright red, pushed away from the car. “Yes sir,” he said barely above a mumble. “When should I come do the lawn?”
“How about next week? And honestly, we’re headed into fall, so you’re only going to have to mow for a month or so.” Darren looked to Shannon. “That work for you?”
Risa was awash in silly joy for a moment at Darren’s easygoing response. This was instantly followed with the realization that she didn’t know if she could measure up to him. But damn if she didn’t just like him. On top of everything, he kept showing her he was as good as he seemed on the surface. Flustered, she tried to keep from grinning like an idiot and forced herself to look away from him.
Shannon beamed. “Absolutely!” She turned to Risa. “Call me when you get that estimate. You want to put my number in your phone?”
They quickly exchanged numbers before Eric and Shannon climbed back in the car to park and head into one of the sports shops.
A gust of wind blew Risa’s hair wild. Darren leaned against her car, his eyes trained on her. “That was nice of you.”
She shrugged, brushing her hair out of her face when another gust blew by. “He’s only seventeen. If he gets a ticket, they’ll be paying through the nose for years on insurance. He barely scraped my car. He looked so sad about it, I couldn’t help it. Not to mention that in a town this size, you’ll know if he’s careless again.”
Darren nodded. “He won’t be. He’s a good kid. That’s why I went along with you,” he said with a smile, his eyes darkening.
“Do you usually get kids to mow the lawn at the station?” she asked with a grin.
Darren chuckled. “Yep. The last kid finished his duty last week, so the timing was perfect.”
Quiet fell between them. Gulls called nearby. An eagle swooped to land on a piling by the corner of the parking lot, gazing right at them. Risa suddenly felt self-conscious and then thought she must have lost her mind if an eagle made her feel that way.
Darren caught her eyes and nodded toward the eagle. “It’s their eyes.”
She flushed, realizing he had picked up on her feeling. “They’re so, I don’t know, intense. It’s like they can see through you.”
He grinned before his gaze sobered quickly. In a flash, a current came to life between them. Darren’s eyes made her feel…alive, uncertain, desired, and so much more.
“So how did the store hunting go?” he asked, his mundane question belying the way she felt.
“Out of four, I found one good possibility.” She pointed to the gallery nearby.
“Ah, that place went up for sale last month. They stay busy, but it’s small stuff, so I doubt it’s enough to keep them afloat.”
“Exactly what I thought. We’ll buy it as is and rework the inventory. Ethan and Jack will be down in a few days to meet with the realtor.”
He nodded. His eyes searched her face, and heat spiraled through her. Trying to marshal her composure, she looked out over the water. The wind had picked up, churning small whitecaps across the bay. Rather than calming, her pulse raced. Just being near Darren and she was grasping for control. The feeling was alternately thrilling and terrifying. She liked to feel in control and to be left grasping at a tenuous thread of it was unsettling.
“So how long will you be here?”
His voice drew her back. Turning to look at him, she swatted away thoughts of how amazing his mouth felt against hers. “I’m here for at least a week right now. After that, I’ll get busy figuring out the move.”
“You’re really moving here?”
She flushed and nodded. “The only thing that might have kept me in Anchorage was the fact that I love my job. With Ethan and Jack handing me the job here on a silver platter, there’s no way I’d say no.”
Darren nodded, his eyes inscrutable. He pushed away from her car, coming to stand right in front of her. Heat emanated from his body, or so Risa thought. It was either that or her off-the-rails imagination when it came to Darren. “So, uh, when can I see you?” he asked.
“You’re seeing me right now,” she said with a grin.
He rolled his eyes. “That I am, but that’s not what I meant and you know it.”
“How about dinner tomorrow? I have a nephew who would be very disappointed if I wasn’t at dinner there tonight.”
He nodded, his eyes holding hers for a long moment before he stepped back. They were in a busy area with tourists milling around on the beach and at the shops, and traffic all around. Much as Risa wanted to reach out and tug him to her for one of those incredible kisses, she knew it probably wouldn’t do for the chief of police to be making out in downtown Diamond Creek. She savored the sight of him walking back to his police cruiser before climbing in her car.
Chapter 10
Darren woke abruptly sitting bolt upright and then sagging back against the pillows. His heart was racing. He rarely remembered his dreams—just flashes of motion, sound, and the echoing sense that he’d lost something. He lay still in the dark as his heartbeat slowed. An owl called softly from the yard. Risa filled his thoughts, a welcome respite from his usual mental meanderings in the night. He’d almost laughed when he pulled up and realized she’d managed to get in a fender bender through no fault of her own. Her insistent kindness to Ethan only increased his interest in her. And just what the hell do you plan to do about it? You can’t hide this mess if you plan to do something other than have a fling. He kicked the covers off and headed to the shower.
Hours later, he strode across the parking lot toward the station. Cool wind blew in gusts. Though it was still technically summer, fall weather had made a few appearances with today the coolest yet. The brisk air blew the door wide when he stepped through. He headed straight for the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee, savoring the warmth. Before he managed to get to his office, his radio went off, reporting a domestic disturbance. As he turned to head back out, Sylvia came down the hall and grabbed his coffee right out of his hands.
“Hey, what…?” he asked her back as she kept walking into the kitchen.
With a shake of his head, he briefly stepped into his office and grabbed a fleece jacket hanging on the door. He hadn’t bothered to pay attention to the weather before leaving his house this morning. By the time, he stepped back in the hall, Sylvia stood there with a travel mug.
“I can’t let you walk out of here without this,” she said with a warm smile while handing him the travel mug.
He chuckled. “What would I do without out you?”
She shrugged. “You’d get by just fine, but you might miss out on coffee when it’s too busy.”
She followed him as he moved to the door. “The call is for a domestic disturbance right on Main Street.”
Darren nodded. “Let me guess, it’s the Moulton’s.”
Sylvia rolled her eyes. “Most likely. I’d bet you on it, but they live at the apartment complex, so could be anyone there.”
He hit the door with his shoulder and pushed through, lifting his travel mug as he turned away. “Thanks for getting my coffee to go.”
Within the hour, Darren climbed back in his patrol car with a sigh. As predicted, the call was from Rick and Lisa Moulton’s apartment, a young couple with a penchant for late nights, heavy drinking and arguments that escalated out of control. They were so predictable, he and the other officers could practically schedule visits to their apartment every few weeks. Charlie Brooks, his usual partner who’d heard the call on his way in and headed straight there, had joined Darren at the call. Charlie had left a few minutes earlier with Rick in handcuffs and headed for a brief stay in jail. Lisa usually declined to press charges and often refused to cooperate with interviews, which tended to leave Darren with few options. This time was different since the neighbor was a witness.
Darren headed over to Misty Mountain Café, his favorite local bakery. He rarely bothered with breakfast and was downright starving. The café was crowded when he entered. He threaded through the cluster of tourists and snagged a few ham and cheese savories before making his way to the back of the line.
He felt a nudge on his shoulder and looked back to find Travis.
“As usual, I find you here,” Travis said by way of greeting.
“Could say the same to you.”
Travis grinned. “Well, they have the best bakery in town and damn good coffee. How’s it going?’
“Started the day out with a visit to the Moulton’s.”
Travis shook his head. “The usual, I’m guessing.”
“Only difference today was a neighbor happened to be outside when he saw Rick haul off and punch Lisa, so we actually got to arrest him.”
Travis merely shook his head again. “It’s sad when I think that’s good news. I’m about ready for summer to wind down. It’s been a busy fire season.”
“I know. This has been one of the rougher years—too dry. With all the beetle kill, dry years are a nightmare.”
Travis nodded as they stepped forward in the line. He nudged Darren’s shoulder again. “Hey, it’s that woman we helped after her car accident the other week.”
Darren followed Travis’ eyes to see Risa seated at a table with Emma Holden, her sister-in-law. A glance at Risa and his pulse kicked up a notch. Her dark hair fell loosely around her face. He’d yet to see her in anything other than bright colors and today was no exception. A bright red blouse topped a pair of fitted jeans. When she laughed at something Emma said, her head went back, eliciting the memory of her neck arched back the other night. Just like that, lust surged through him. This near obsession with a woman was…unusual. He couldn’t stop thinking about her.
Travis cleared his throat. Darren tore his eyes away from Risa, glancing back to Travis who arched a brow.
“What?” Darren asked.
“You were seriously staring, that’s what.”
Darren flushed and opened his mouth to deny it before grinning. “You caught me.”
“What’s her name again?”
Darren couldn’t believe Risa hadn’t seared herself into Travis’s memory as she had his, which only reinforced the reality that he appeared to have temporarily lost control of his faculties when it came to her. “Risa, her name’s Risa.”
Darren stepped to the front of the line to order his coffee and pay. Travis stepped away with him. “Catch you later,” Travis commented. He followed Darren’s eyes to Risa. “I suggest you walk over and say hello, seeing as you can’t keep your eyes off of her.” Travis cuffed him on the shoulder before walking away.
Darren took a breath and reminded himself he’d follow this feeling out with Risa, and it would wear off. That’s how it needed to be. He wasn’t ready for more, not when he knew she’d see him as broken if she got too close. In the meantime…
“Hey there,” he said stepping up to the table where Risa sat with Emma. Emma and Trey’s baby daughter, Janet, was napping in a car seat tucked by Emma’s chair on the floor.
Risa looked up, her rich velvety brown eyes meeting his. She looked surprised. “Oh, hi.”
Emma smiled widely at him. “Darren, so good to see you.” She tucked her long dark hair behind her ears. “How are you?”
“Pretty good. Just stopped by to say hi.”
Emma nodded and started to say something when her phone, which sat on the table, rang loudly. “Oh sorry, I have to get this.” She stood quickly, gesturing to Janet.
Risa nodded and waved her off. Quiet fell between them, the hubbub of voices around them filling the space. Risa looked up at him. He wanted to lean over and feast on those decadent lips of hers. A flush stained her cheeks. Darren realized he must have been staring again.
He cleared his throat and drew on the manners his mother had drilled into him. “How are you today?”
She rewarded him with a smile and a small shrug. “Pretty good. I was hoping to see you tonight,” she said simply.
Darren’s pulse, which was barely in check, rocketed again. He nodded. “No family plans tonight?”
She shook her head and took a sip of coffee. “Nope. Tell me when and where,” she said, her eyes shifting away.
He followed them to see Emma heading back in their direction, pocketing her phone. “How about you meet me at my place?”
She nodded quickly just as Emma reached the table. “How did she do?” Emma asked, glancing down at her daughter.
Risa tilted her head and rolled her eyes. “Seriously Emma, you were gone for less than five minutes. She didn’t even open her eyes.” Risa glanced up at him. “Janet’s only three months old and Emma’s first baby. She worries a bit much,” she said with a grin.
Emma appeared entirely unfazed. “Tease all you want,” she retorted. “You just wait until it’s your turn.”
Darren’s mind instantly started goi
ng down a road he’d barred himself from—wondering what it would be like to be the man at Risa’s side when it was her turn to start a family. The desire to be that man was so visceral it shocked him. His gut churned as he shook his head to get the image out of his mind. Not a dream he could have.
***
Risa flew through her day. Ethan and Jack had already scheduled to meet later today with a local realtor to view the one possible location she’d identified. Meanwhile, she spent most of her morning and early afternoon updating the inventory in their online database and visiting the town offices to get permits in place.
Late that afternoon, she walked out of the gallery with Ethan and Jack. “Well?” she asked, turning to them.
Ethan nodded firmly. “This is perfect.”
Jack tilted his head, his short silver hair glinting in the sun. “It’s not exactly perfect, but it’s flawed enough that we can get a good deal, which makes it perfect,” he said with a sly grin.
Ethan chuckled. “Precisely.”
Two pair of blue eyes looked back at her. “So how are we doing on everything else?” they asked in unison.
Risa never failed to be amused at how alike they were. They’d been together so long, they often spoke simultaneously. “All the necessary paperwork has been submitted. The town office said we’d have the license to operate by the end of this week. What did your realtor say about the timeframe? I missed that part of the conversation.”
“Apparently, the sellers are moving out of state, so they’re happy to hand over the reins as soon as they legally can. We’ve asked for a fast turnaround on the appraisal, so hopefully it will be by the end of this month. In the meantime, we’re thinking we’ll head back to Anchorage to keep hands on deck on the gallery there, and you can do the rounds here to scope out our competition. Let’s try to get a sense of what we can offer that won’t be more of the same,” Jack said.