by Liz Kelly
An hour later, she was elbow deep in flour when her phone rang again.
“Hello?”
“Piper, this is Genevra DuVal.”
“Well, what a pleasant surprise,” Piper said, smiling as she rolled out dough. “How are you?”
“Just as good as good can be,” Genevra said in that sweet southern style that reminded Piper of her momma. “I’m just a tiny bit frazzled at the moment with all the wedding preparations. Which is why I’m calling. To ask a huge favor. You see, I’ve ordered our wedding cake from the one woman in town who makes them, and although her cakes are truly delicious, she can only make it so big. And when I asked that she make two, well, she looked at me like I’d gone and lost my mind. She’s about a hundred years old,” Genevra said in a conspiratorial tone, “and her one cake will never feed everybody unless we cut it up into itty bitty pieces.”
Piper laughed.
“So, Lolly suggested a groom’s cake. Well, you know I just fell in love with the idea because if there was ever a groom who deserved a cake, it's Hale. So I went on the Internet and, Piper, you cannot believe the brilliant, creative, whimsical ideas people have come up with for groom’s cakes. And now…well, I can't make up my mind. But that's okay, because with this crowd, it wouldn't hurt to have three or even four different groom's cakes rounding out the dessert table.”
“I love the idea,” Piper said.
“Yes, but to pull that off I’m going to need your magical powers in the kitchen. Please say you’ll help me.”
“Oh, Mrs. DuVal, I think you know I’d be more than happy to bake cakes in that kitchen.”
“Piper, thank you so much. And please call me Genevra. You and I are already bonding in the trenches, aren't we? Now is there any chance you'd be able to drive over here and let me take you to lunch? We could meet at Henderson Country Club and put our heads together. I’ll bring my computer and show you what I’m thinking.”
“What time?”
“Noon?”
“I’ll be there.” Piper smiled as she hung up.
***
Vance propped himself up on Brooks’ desk and swung his legs back and forth beneath him, waiting for his buddy to get his head out of the Sunday paper and acknowledge his presence. It only took two fingers reaching for one of three remaining Krispy Kreme donuts to get Brooks to growl.
“Jesus Christ, you’ve already had three.”
“Get your own damn donuts,” Brooks said into the paper.
“Well, how ’bout buying an entire dozen next time? Bring in a few to share with your coworkers.”
Brooks took a deliberate look behind him at the completely empty police precinct.
“Goddammit, you know what I mean.”
Brooks folded the paper as he sat up. “I do indeed. But what I don’t know is why you are here trying to get your hands on my donuts when they should be coasting over Tinker Bell’s mighty fine lady parts.”
“I…uh, actually…I don’t have a good answer for that.”
Brooks’ brows shot up.
“I don’t,” Vance admitted. “There was a time last night when all I wanted to do was rush her into my truck and…you know, get ’r done. But she’s Piper, and she’s….”
“Your hologram,” Brooks finished.
Vance smirked.
“Yeah, yeah…she’s the one that got away, twice,” Brooks said as he yawned.
“As it turns out, she’s the one that got away about five damn times,” he told Brooks, regaling him with the stories of Piper being close enough to touch when Vance didn’t know it.
“Fucking A,” Brooks said. “She was in Omaha? For the World Series win?”
Vance shook his head along with Brooks because he still couldn’t wrap his brain around that one. “Oh, and guess who her best friend was in grade school. Tansy…Langford.”
“Tansy?” Brooks spit out, clearly shocked.
“I know. Seems their parents are still close friends, although Piper hasn’t seen Tansy in years.”
“Okay, that is just plain weird.”
“Don’t I know it. So, listen.” Vance made the tone of his voice as easy and natural as possible. “I’m going to head to New York City tomorrow. I thought you might want to come with me.”
“You’re kiddin’ right? Why would I ever want to set foot in New York City?” Brooks squinted at Vance like he didn’t recognize him. “And why the hell would you? Our mission is to make Henderson great in every way that New York City is not.”
“Yes, that’s our plan and that’s what we’re gonna do. However, there are a few things you can buy in New York that you just can’t find in Henderson. And our buddy Lewis has a contact in the Diamond District, so I’m going to set up a meeting.”
Brooks blinked several times. “You can’t be serious.”
“I am perfectly serious.”
“Third Base,” Brooks said real slow. “I’m gonna need you to give me a urine sample.”
“What? Why?”
“Clearly you are on a drug that’s making you impotent and insane all at the same time.”
“Oh, like you don’t want to put a ring on Lolly’s finger before she heads back to grad school.”
“We aren’t talking about me. We are talking about you. And you’ve known Piper for…what?” Brooks consulted his desk calendar. “Ten days? And you weren’t speaking to her for five of them.”
“Well, I’m not a complete idiot, for crying out loud, I’m not actually going to ask her to marry me for…you know, some reasonable amount of time yet. But let’s face it. I love her. I always have. So I just want to be prepared for the unlikely moment she decides she loves me back.”
“You love her? You love Piper? And I’m not talking about little fourth-grade Piper. I’m talking about the cop-hating lawyer.”
“Me…loving Tinker Bell…surprises you?”
“It’s darn quick.”
Vance shrugged. “She picked my truck over the Rolls. What kind of girl picks a beat-up, piece-of-shit pickup over a goddamn Rolls Royce?”
Brooks sighed. “Your kind of girl.”
Vance spread his arms wide as if saying, “there you have it.”
“Still,” Brooks cautioned.
“Look, Piper cared for me more than my own mother did when we were ten. Four years later, she came back to Henderson and asked me to dance, where I promptly blew her off because no one was paying me to dance with her. Four years after that, she came to watch us win State and got an eyeful for her trouble watching me rub up against Molly DuVal. And still four years later, she showed up in freaking Omaha, Nebraska, which was more than my guilt-ridden father even managed to do. Then, after leaving her standing all alone in The Charlie Horse five years ago, and without one word of apology from me for any of it, she dropped everything she was doing, got in the Mas, and drove to Henderson without asking one question.”
“Fucking A.”
“I won’t find another girl like Piper. And I certainly am not waiting another four years to make her mine.”
“You haven’t even taken her to bed yet.”
“Oh, and like that’s bound to be a big disappointment.”
Brooks laughed. “Well, hell. What are you waiting for? Get the damn ring, put it on Tinker Bell’s finger, and drag her ass to the altar. But why go to New York, for God’s sake? We have a perfectly fine jeweler here in Henderson.”
“Trust me,” Vance said. “What I plan to put on Piper’s finger cannot be found in Henderson.”
“Jesus Christ.”
“So are we going to see you out at the Club this afternoon?”
“To watch you and Lolly celebrate another championship win? No, thank you. However, as Chieftain, I am sending my military leader, Annabelle Devine, over to make sure there is no monkey business this time.”
“Great, because I need to talk with Annabelle.”
“About what?”
“I want Piper to take some time off work and spend it in Henderson. So sh
e can fall back in love with this place.”
“And you?”
“Hey. What’s not to love?” Vance teased, spreading his arms out wide and looking down at his physique. “I’ve got Genevra in on the deal, and I need Annabelle in on it too.”
“What about Lolly?”
“Lolly can’t keep her mouth shut.”
Brooks’ big grin spread from cheek to cheek. “When you’re right, you’re right.”
“Piper’s having lunch with Genevra at the Club at noon. She'll make sure she stays to watch the end of our golf match. Then I'll get her to hang in for whatever The Ninja and The Outlaw have planned at The Situation tonight.”
“What the hell is that anyway?” Brooks asked.
“I have no idea, but they’ve asked us to be there and bring friends, so we’re gonna do it. Duncan is showing up too.”
“It’s a Sunday night, for God’s sake.”
“Jesus, dude. It’s summer time, and how old are you anyway?”
“Says the guy who doesn’t have a shift until Thursday.”
“I’ve got three other jobs and a covert mission to run. And with all the ground work the S.H.I.T.s are doing on your campaign, it will not kill you to show up for them and drink a beer on a Sunday night. Ah—you know what? Don’t bother. I’ll get Lolly to show up instead. Since I’ve been helping Pinks toss off his cloak of nice, safe, and boring, I’d like to see what Lolly thinks of him now—since she’s his age and can still handle a good time on a Sunday night.”
“Fucking A.”
“You’re dating a young one. You can’t get old.”
“You know what’s making me old? Your father…marrying Lolly’s mother…is making me old. Because now Lolly’s not just consumed with creating fashions for NC State’s Fashion Week, but she’s also creating her momma’s wedding gown and whatever the hell she’s planning to wear to that gala event. On top of that, Annabelle is making me old because she and Lolly aren’t waiting to start The House of DuVal and their debutante gown business until after Lolly graduates. They are doing it now. Business cards, brochures, advertising—the works.”
“So you’re blaming my father, Lolly’s mother, and Lolly’s business partner for making you old.”
“I am.”
“Because you can’t blame Lolly.”
“Exactly.”
“And you’re not really getting old, you’re just tired. Tired of waiting around for Lolly’s free time.”
Brooks stared at him like he wanted to knock some of his teeth loose.
Vance leaned in close and quieted his voice. “Remember the night Lolly found out she was illegitimate? Remember how wound up she was about all that and how she wanted to get a little tipsy and dance it off? Remember how she started taking her clothes off and you had to sling her over your shoulder and drag her out of the bar and into your truck?”
Brooks nodded.
“Well, she might be feeling a little wound up right now, don’t you think? Might need to let off a little steam. Sunday night or no, this could turn out to be one of the best nights of your life.”
Brooks rolled his head and loosened up his shoulders right before he said, “I’m in.”
Chapter Twenty-five
Davis stood at one end of Henderson Country Club’s pool and lowered his sunglasses to the bridge of his nose. The long, tall, blond thorn in his side was all stretched out on a lounge chair twenty-five feet away, decked out in a navy blue bikini with gold trim. Bossy, mean, pit bull of a woman who he couldn’t get off his mind.
Nice, safe, boring Pinks wanted to walk over there and douse her with water. But The Ninja…The Ninja wanted her every which way but loose.
“Goddamn women,” he muttered to himself as he started walking in her direction.” Can’t live with ’em, can’t live without ’em. Apparently.”
He stood at her side, blocking her sun just for the fun of it.
“Step aside, little man,” she said after opening her eyes.
Yeah. Not happening.
He sat his preppy ass down on her lounge chair, forcing her to move her fabulous legs over. Then he grabbed the opened paperback off the little table next to her and looked at the cover. “Worth the Weight by Mara Jacobs,” he read. “Now this book looks like fun.” He pointed to the naked male and female feet gracing the cover. “I had you pegged for more of a dark, sad memoir kind of girl.”
“Why? You don’t think I like to have fun?”
“I think if I poured water on you, you’d melt.”
She smirked. “So I’m a wicked witch.”
“Somethin’ like that,” He put her book back, clapped his hands together, and looked around the pool.
“Isn’t this a members-only club?” she chided.
“Not if you know the right people,” he said. “You busy tonight?” he added not looking in her direction.
“I’m busy having a family dinner here. It’s my grandmother’s birthday.”
“Okay, then.” Davis got up to leave.
Tansy reached out and grabbed his arm. “Wait. What’d you have in mind?”
Davis stood above her liking the feel of her hand on his arm. He cocked his head in a gesture of nonchalance. “Jesse James and I are planning a little something at The Situation. You should drop by when you finish eating cake.”
“I should?” Her voice sounded dubious.
“If you’re…interested.”
She dropped her hand. “Interested in what exactly?”
“A little fun,” he said before he walked away.
***
After their lunch, Genevra and Piper stood beneath the shade of a large oak tree in their lady-like sundresses, watching Lolly and Vance hit their approach shots on the tenth fairway. Genevra explained this was the finals of the Club's King and Queen Golf Tournament and it had taken six victories to gets them into this match. Piper noticed that Lolly looked focused and tense, while Vance sauntered up the fairway with an easy loose-limbed grace.
“I don’t play sports,” Genevra said quietly, leaning toward Piper. “Lolly’s ability and competitive spirit came from her father. He was the proverbial captain of the football team. Only he wasn’t captain for long.” When Piper looked at her questioningly, Genevra whispered, “Too many missed practices, missed curfews, and general misbehavior.”
“I see. Was Vance like that?”
Genevra shook her head in the negative. “I’ve been told he was a rule follower when it came to academics and sports.”
“But not women.” Piper smiled.
“No, no rules when it came to women.” Genevra grinned. “But it’s no secret he’s been fairly straight-laced this summer.”
“I understand that has a lot to do with Lolly.”
“She’s helped him see a different side of things.”
After a long silence, Piper admitted, “It’s not like he hasn’t laid a hand on me, but he’s definitely not rushing me into bed either.”
Genevra turned her head to look at her directly. “Then he’s treating you differently. Which makes you special.”
“Special in a good way or special in a…you know…delicate way?”
Genevra laughed. “Special, as in you are far more important to him than any other woman has ever been. He tried to seduce Lolly the first time he met her.”
“And she resisted all that?” Piper was amused.
“Only because she had a date with Brooks lined up that night.”
“Well, I haven’t been able to resist all that since I was ten. But Vance seems to be having no trouble resisting all this.” She pointed a finger up and down her body.
“Don’t kid yourself. If he’s anything like Hale, he is simply trying not to make a wrong move—afraid you’ll walk away. The first Mrs. Evans really did a number on those two.”
“Hmm.”
Genevra took a deep breath and sighed. “So is it wrong that I silently thank her every day? Because if she hadn’t walked out, I would never have Hale.”
Piper gave a short laugh. “Well, I don’t know whether to thank her or curse her. My lifelong obsession with Vance has done nothing but knock me around.”
“Luckily, at twenty-nine you have time for things to improve,” Genevra assured her. “It took me until I was forty-three to find Hale, and now I’ve got this precious bonus gift too.” She patted her belly.
Piper looked at Genevra’s little tummy and felt a terrible yearning inside her own. “I want kids,” she whispered.
“You’ll have them,” Genevra said, patting her arm.
The sound of approaching footsteps turned their attention as Vance came up on them, smiling. He kissed Piper on her lips as he took both of her hands in his. “Hello,” he said quietly.
“Hi.” She smiled up at him.
“Lolly and I are up two with eight to play. Stay and watch us win.”
“I—I wouldn’t miss it,” she said.
“Great. And, there’s something big happening in town tonight, so you’ll stay for that too.” He squeezed her hands before dropping them and heading off toward the next tee.
Piper watched him go.
“Was that a little bossy?” Genevra asked with a smile. “That seemed a little bossy.”
“Yeah.” Piper licked her lips. “If he’d simply asked, I would have told him I have to get back. But…apparently…bossy works for me.”
Genevra expelled a long breath. “Lord, don’t I know it.”
Two hours later, as Lolly and Vance were one up with one to go, a crowd had gathered in golf carts and on foot. Duncan and Annabelle were snuggled up in a cart. Annabelle looked like she was heading to a cover shoot, and Duncan seemed unable to keep his hands off her. Clearly they were fans of Lolly and Vance, not golf fans in general. Vance's grandmother, Emelina, was decked out in flowing attire, driving her own golf cart with a drink in her hand. Brooks walked along with Piper and Genevra—Genevra whose hand was now held tightly in Hale’s. Pinks and Jesse James kept to themselves as they followed the action along with a couple of dozen curious club members.
The mood was friendly, the crowd responding with shouts and applause. Vance’s demeanor had tensed up considerably, and Lolly was continually focused on her next shot. It was obvious the two of them wanted to win, badly.