Weaver's Needle

by Caroll, Robin;

  “Nothing new. I just thought …” He paused, feeling a bit like a high school sophomore asking a girl out on a date for the first time. “I was wondering if you were hungry and wanted to go get something to eat.”

  She stared at him with those sultry eyes of hers. They widened and her mouth stayed clamped shut.

  “I mean, I heard you tell the police you were going to ask Stan if he wanted to grab something to eat, but then everything went crazy.” Now he really felt like a boy with his first crush, the way he was stumbling over his own words. Not that Landry Parker wasn’t attractive, she was more than just stunning, but … “I think maybe it’s time we got to know each other a little better. More than just sizing up our competition. Don’t you think?”

  “Yes. No. Hang on. Give me a second, okay?” She shut the door before he could answer.

  He could make out her muffled voice as he stood on the sidewalk. Waiting.

  This was a bad idea. He should just grab a sandwich and head back to his room, go over what he knew about the case. Try to figure everything out. He didn’t—

  The door opened and Landry stood there. She’d changed into a different shirt. “Sure. Let’s go. Where should we eat?”

  He hadn’t gotten that far because he hadn’t really thought the whole thing through. He hadn’t really even considered that she’d agree to go with him. His mind went over all the flyers he’d found in his motel room. Nothing too fancy. Simple so they could talk. “Um, I heard the Handlebar Pub and Grill has some really good burgers and an outdoor patio.”

  “Okay.”

  He led the way to his truck as several other guests in the parking lot slammed trunks, car doors, and motel room doors. Bursts of laughter filled the air. The parking lot was fuller than before, probably because the marathon ran in the morning.

  Nickolai approached the passenger side of his Ford, moving to open Landry’s door for her. He shut it after she climbed in, and moved to the driver’s side. Maybe he should’ve just unlocked it with the remote and let her get in by herself? This wasn’t a date. Oh, man … did he mislead her into thinking it was?

  Opening doors for ladies was just habit. His mother had taught him that no Southern gentleman would ever allow a lady to open a door in his presence.

  But he didn’t want her to get the wrong idea.

  He gave himself a mental shake as he slid behind the steering wheel. She knew this wasn’t a date. If she’d thought that, there was no way she would’ve agreed to come. Nickolai cranked the truck’s diesel engine.

  The restaurant wasn’t far, but the strained silence thickened the air. Loose gravel in the parking lot crunched under the truck’s tires. The side of the building had lively cactus plants painted on the side. Landry burst out of the truck as soon as he parked.

  Maybe she didn’t like having doors opened for her, but most Southern ladies did. If she resented it, that was her problem. His momma raised him right.

  He missed her and Dad so much. Every. Single. Day.

  Nickolai followed Landry into the Handlebar Pub and Grill. They were immediately greeted by a young lady who, following Landry’s request, sat them at a table on the patio. As was a habit from his law enforcement training, he took stock of his surroundings.

  The temperature had dropped a little, so it was cool and quite comfortable. The bugs seemed to leave the patio alone. White Christmas-style lights draped from various pergolas created a “ceiling” in the area that was larger than he’d imagined. While other patrons sat at several of the glass-top tables with cushioned chairs, there was good spacing between the tables. Plenty of semiprivacy in order to talk, but not too intimate.

  Perfect.

  A waitress came immediately with menus, welcomed them, and took their soft drink orders then left. Nickolai studied the menu in silence.

  “Oh my. The grilled mahi fillet sounds amazing. I didn’t realize how hungry I am.” Landry probably didn’t even realize she smiled as she read the menu.

  She was even prettier when she smiled, and totally unaware of how beautiful she looked in the soft glow of the lights overhead and curling around the pergola posts.

  Nickolai’s mouth went dry in that moment. Luckily, the waitress returned with their drinks to take their order. Landry quickly ordered the fillet and handed her menu to the waitress.

  “And what’ll you have, sir?”

  “What do you recommend?” He didn’t even remember what he’d seen on the menu that sounded good. Landry Parker distracted him, and suddenly, more so.

  “I’m partial to our green chili burger. That’s an eight-ounce, freerange beef patty with two strips of thick-cut bacon, roasted green chilies, pepper jack cheese, and chipotle aioli on a fresh bakery bun. We cook just about everything on an outside grill, and much of our food is smoked with pecan wood. It really adds a lot of flavor to all our entrées.”

  “That burger sounds perfect. That’s what I’ll have.” He handed her the menu.

  “Um, the pecan wood?” Landry asked the waitress. “It’s just used for smoking, right? I have an allergy to tree nuts, but it’s only if I ingest any.”

  “Yes, ma’am. It’s just used for smoking. Will that be okay?”

  “That’s fine. Thank you.”

  Alone again, Nickolai stared at Landry across the table. He’d have to start the conversation sometime. “So, I just thought it would be a good idea to sit down and get to know each other better. More than as competition or as an adversary.”

  “I’ll be honest with you, I wasn’t too keen on coming, but I happened to be on the phone with my friend who thought it was a good idea.” She took a sip of her soda.

  Thank goodness for her friend, then. “Well, I’m glad you came. So how did you get into the recovery business?”

  “I was in the army. Military police. I was good in the investigation parts of my job. Really good.”

  “So why would you leave? I mean, couldn’t you have re-upped?”

  “I could have, but my mother became ill suddenly and died soon after her diagnosis. It took us all by surprise.”

  “I’m so sorry. I lost both my parents without warning. I still miss them every day.”

  She nodded. “After Mom died, I finished my current obligation to the army then went back to New Orleans to be with my dad. He was in the recovery business. Insurance recovery.” She stared into her glass, stirring her straw absentmindedly.

  “I’d heard he was good.” Nickolai wasn’t making that up.

  “He was the best. Everyone said so.”

  Nickolai knew bits and pieces of the story … her dad was a recovery specialist for a large insurance company and was well respected in the field, but something happened and Landry took over the reins of the business. There was a lot of speculation as to what happened, but either way, everyone knew the insurance company was very upset and her father lost his job. Probably a lot more personal information than what Landry would be willing to share with him right now. He could understand.

  “I was New Orleans PD for nine years before I left.” He changed the subject to give her time to compose herself and not push himself as prying. “Earned my gold shield and loved it.” His mouth quirked. “Had some success with investigations, too.”

  “So why’d you leave?”

  Even after four years, talking about it still put a lump the size of a mountain in his throat. “I was shot.”

  Her eyes went wide. “You were shot?”

  He nodded. “My partner and I were chasing a suspect in an alley behind the French Quarter. A shopkeeper had been robbed at knifepoint. I made sure to keep enough distance so he couldn’t turn and stab me, but when he was cornered, he turned and shot me. I never even had time to draw.”

  “You were expecting a knife, not a gun.”

  “I should have expected anything and been prepared for everything.”

  “Yeah.” She nodded and took another sip. “How bad was it?” Her question came out softly … caring and gentle.

&nbs
p; It’d been a long time since he talked about this to someone outside of Chris and the medical team. Longer still to discuss it with a woman.

  “I’m sorry. That’s too personal.”

  Surprisingly, he wanted to share this with her. “No, it’s okay.” He pointed to the knot of scar tissue that wedged hidden in his right shoulder area. “Here.”

  She winced. “Not a through and through.”

  He shook his head. “I wish.” That she understood warmed him. Then again, she was former MP. There were a lot of parallels between them. He sighed. “It was deep enough that even with more PT than I would wish on my worst enemy, I know I’m never going to be back to one hundred percent.”

  Unfortunately, that gunshot not only marked the end of his law enforcement career, it also marked the end of everything normal in his life.

  The waitress arrived with their supper. The amazing aroma hit him as she set his plate in front of him. His stomach growled in response. After making sure they had everything they needed, the waitress refilled their drinks and rushed off.

  “If it tastes even half as good as it looks and smells, this is gonna be good.” He smiled at her.

  “Oh yes.” She smiled back. “Would you like to pray?”

  What? He shook his head.

  “Okay. I will.” She ducked her head. “Dear Lord, thank You for this meal and the hands that prepared it. Use it to nourish our bodies, and use our bodies to Your will. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Oh, this does taste as good as it smells.” Landry savored the fillet, the rich flavors filling her senses. “The pecan wood really adds a whole other level of zest. This is wonderful. Do you want a bite?”

  He shook his head. “This burger’s out-of-this-world good, and it’s huge. I might not be able to finish it all.”

  That burger did look great. “Can you cut me off a little bite, just so I can taste it?”

  He nodded, but not before she’d caught the surprise on his face. Perhaps she’d made this too personal. She hadn’t meant to, but considering the information they’d shared, she hadn’t thought twice about it coming off as too familiar with him.

  Now she felt awkward. This wasn’t a date, for goodness’ sake, but she’d made it feel like one. God, what am I doing?

  Nickolai cut off a piece of his burger and slipped it onto the edge of her plate.

  “Thanks.” Landry could barely get the word out. She should’ve stayed with her gut instinct and said no when he asked her to come. But no. She’d had to listen to Marcie tell her this was a good idea. She hadn’t taken the time to really think it through.

  She needed to walk them back to the zone where they belonged. Back to even footing. “I guess you probably heard that soon after my mom died, my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. That’s the most horrible disease.” She swallowed the bite of burger, which despite being amazing, caught in the back of her throat. Landry took a long drink of her soda.

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “It wasn’t so bad at first. He’d forget little things like leaving the stove on. Or forgetting where he left the cup of coffee he’d just poured. I’d tease him and we’d laugh.” She paused and forced herself to finish the fillet. The memory of her dad’s day-to-day loss of memory would haunt her forever.

  “I’ve heard how awful it is, not just for the victim, but for the family as well.”

  “It is. Soon he started forgetting work stuff. Like not remembering what to fill out on a form he’d actually helped create. Forgetting where to find the case worker’s information in the file. Not knowing what job he’d already accepted.” She could never explain how she felt like she died a little every day when she saw her dad and witnessed him struggle to remember. That was the worst of it—that he knew he was supposed to know something but couldn’t yank it from his memory bank.

  “I can’t imagine.” Nickolai wiped his mouth and set aside his now empty plate. “And I’m sorry I keep apologizing. I hated everyone’s sympathy after getting shot but knew they just didn’t know what else to say.”

  “I know. It’s hard. You want to reach out to someone and let them know you care, but you don’t know what to say. ‘I’m sorry’ seems so insignificant because when it’s said to you, it feels flat.” She clamped her hand over her mouth. Had she really admitted that? Out loud? To him?

  He chuckled. “Don’t get embarrassed. That’s the truth. I feel the same way. But when we tell it to someone else, we don’t mean it to be trivial.”

  She nodded and smiled, grateful. Then it struck her—Nickolai Baptiste wasn’t quite the arrogant monster she’d made him out to be in her mind. To tell the truth, she’d actually been enjoying tonight. Yes, the food was amazing and the restaurant ambiance and service was outstanding, but the company and conversation was just as welcoming.

  She didn’t know whether that was a good thing … or bad. Oh, Lord …

  Time to change the subject. “If I’m not being too nosy, after you were shot, you couldn’t stay on the force?”

  “They offered me a desk job while recovering, but it was too frustrating to watch my best friend partnered up with someone else and getting to do the job I loved.”

  “So you left.”

  He nodded and took a drink of his soda. “I did the whole feeling sorry for myself bit for several weeks; then my dad kinda kicked me in the behind. Told me I’d wallowed around long enough and it was time for me to find something else to do with my life instead of moping and making everyone around me miserable.”

  Landry chuckled. Her dad would’ve done the same thing.

  Nickolai laughed, too. “I was being quite pitiful. My mother felt sorry for me, but my dad had had enough.”

  “My dad was the same way. He’d let me pout and kick the couch for a day or so, but then tell me to get over it. No matter what it was.”

  “Yep.” He ran a hand over his beard that he kept trimmed and neat. “So, I saw a notice in one of my law enforcement magazines about a recovery specialist online course. I figured I’d take it just to get Dad off my case.” The corners of his mouth lifted, just a hint.

  His smile could be quite disarming. Landry reached for her glass.

  “Ended up really enjoying the course. When it was over, I talked to Dad and a couple of other people who knew about business plans and the like, and well, one thing led to another, and that’s how We Find It was born.”

  “Cute name, by the way. Always wondered how you came up with it.”

  “I didn’t. My little sister did.”

  The waitress appeared at the table with their check. Both of them reached for it. Nickolai tugged a little harder. “I asked you to come, remember?”

  “But …” That sounded way too much like a date. While the thought didn’t cause her to shiver as it would’ve before they’d eaten and talked, she still didn’t want that to be misconstrued.

  “How about I get this one, and you can get the next?”

  She nodded, surprised how the implication that there’d be another shared meal warmed her.

  The waitress grinned at Landry as she took Nickolai’s credit card and rushed away.

  Landry’s cell rang. Even without the special ring tone, she knew it was Marcie. “I’m sorry, but if I don’t answer this, she’ll send out the SWAT team.”

  He nodded.

  “Hello, Marcie.”

  “Why didn’t you call me when you got back?”

  “We’re waiting on the check and then will head back to the motel.” Landry pushed the button to lower the volume. She had a pretty good idea what her best friend’s response was going to be.

  “You’re still with Nickolai Baptiste? You left over two hours ago!”

  Had it really been that long? The time had flown by. “Oh, the food is delicious here. I had the mahi fillet, and it was out of this world.” She smiled at Nickolai and made a she’s-going-on-and-on gesture. He smiled back.

  “You’re still right there with him
?”

  “Yes. I’ll call you later. Bye, Marcie.” She disconnected the call, her cheeks burning.

  The waitress appeared with Nickolai’s receipt and card, thanked them, and then waggled her brows at Landry before leaving again.

  “I’m guessing that was your best friend on the phone?” Nickolai signed the receipt before slipping his credit card back into his wallet.

  “Yes. Marcie. She’s like a mother hen, always worrying about me.” She dropped her phone into her purse and stood.

  He motioned her to lead the way. “It’s nice to have someone like that. My partner worries about me.”

  She couldn’t imagine a guy calling Nickolai and giving him grief over being out with her for over two hours. She snorted a little at the thought.

  “What?” Nickolai stepped around her to open the door.

  “Just having a hard time imagining your partner being the worrywart Marcie is.”

  “Chris isn’t a worrywart so much as just being there for the hard stuff.” He stopped at the passenger side of the truck, unlocked it, and opened the door for her. “I went through a lot of hard stuff, and his logic and reasoning really helped.” He shut the door behind her.

  Landry fastened her seat belt and took a quick second to check her reflection in the visor’s mirror before flipping it up. It’d been a long time since a man had opened doors for her. Her daddy had always done that, but since he’d died, no one. Then again, she hadn’t really given anyone the opportunity to, either. It was nice. She’d kind of missed it.

  Nickolai slipped behind the steering wheel. “And your friend is the one who convinced you to come tonight, so she has that going for her. In my opinion, of course.” He chuckled as he waited for the diesel’s light to go off.

  “Oh, Marcie’s the best. Sometimes her worrying can be trying, but for the most part, I love that about her. It’s nice to know someone’s thinking about me and worrying about my happiness and safety.”

  He cranked the engine and then cracked the back windows. He turned and faced her. “Speaking of safety, I’m being one hundred percent honest with you, Landry. I didn’t have anything to do with your tire or that note.”