WindSwept Narrows: #21 Charlotte Bell & Natalie Templeton

by Diroll-Nichols, Karen

  “Don’t go there. He was polite, nice. My point I’m trying to understand is…I’ve talked to you guys about it. More than once,” she pushed the salad around the plate. “But it didn’t…I mean, it was…it helped. It felt validated. It felt like you understood the anger and the…the fear…”

  “Are you afraid to tell him some of the stuff?”

  “I don’t want to be broken,” she blurted out, lowering her voice. “I hate feeling like a victim but sometimes it just…just sweeps through me and I get so pissed off.”

  “Stay away from your folks,” Faith said softly. “I love you like a sister, but they’re jerks with a mindset where females are concerned that belongs back in the dark ages.”

  Natalie sighed heavily. “I know. Believe me, I know. I don’t understand why talking to him made it feel…it’s like a little of the pain was taken away.”

  “Kind of like you’re healing. Maybe it’s because he’s a guy,” Faith met the confused look, lips pursed as she considered her answer. “It’s easy for us to commiserate. To sympathize. We’re females. We know the frustrations and discrimination first hand. It’s different with Tre. You haven’t talked to any guys about that idiot, have you?”

  “The attorney. The judge. My…my attorney,” Natalie continued eating but didn’t really taste her food.

  “Who was your brother and also…jerk,” Faith rolled her eyes. “None of those people count. The judge might be different, but the other two? They don’t give a crap about you. About what you were going through and what they continued to put you through. But Tre is male and he does care. Not only cares, but if he’s like Dominic or the others…wants to seriously kick some righteous ass on your behalf,” she grinned at the little laugh from her friend. “And it’s kind of like his understanding and sympathy erases a little of the bad treatment from the others.”

  Natalie stared and chewed.

  “Because they aren’t all the same,” she said softly. “But I knew that, Faith.”

  “But now you have it in physical form. And it doesn’t belong to someone else,” she said with a wink. “And he’s not empathizing to get into your jeans. Okay, so maybe that thought is in his mind eventually, but…”

  They both laughed and talked through the rest of the meal.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Cecily Thorne wandered into the large bay where the emergency vehicles were housed, her eyes quickly locating her son. She watched a friend get his attention and his eyes sweep from the friend to her. His smile was as infectious as when he was three, she mused, so bright and happy.

  Her hands came out to him as he closed the books he was reading and was up and across the open bay to kiss her cheek.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I’ve been here before,” she returned, looping her arm in his. “Free for lunch, handsome?”

  “I’m on call, but we can eat right there,” he gestured to the well-known sandwich place across the street.

  “Perfect,” she wore comfortable jeans, low boots that clicked on the concrete and a thick sweater over the pale silver blouse. Her hair was a silver blond and barely touched her collar in a sweeping smooth cut that fell from the side part and betrayed a pair of sparkling gold hoops when the breeze caught her hair.

  Tre placed their orders and went to join her at the table.

  “Having fun with your party planning?”

  She wrinkled her nose at him. “I love planning parties for you. You’re such a challenge. As it happens,” she said loftily. “I’ve got a wonderful ballroom at the resort all reserved, a delicious looking cake being prepared as well as fantastic food. I’ve sent out invitations most of the morning.”

  “The Templeton’s?”

  “An interesting family,” Cecily watched her son, those bright eyes behind his lenses as familiar as her own in the mirror. But she’d heard something new when he spoke to her the day before and it was a good something she wanted him to have forever. “I’ve spoken to some friends who…straddle the middle, shall we say,” she grinned at the arched brow and interest on his face. “Between far left and crazy right. I think they like baiting the right, but who am I to deny them their fun.”

  She waited, watching Tre rise and retrieve their lunch when his name was called out. She lifted one of the fries between two fingers, waving it thoughtfully.

  “Your Natalie has an impressive record with the police department and extremely loyal and varied friends,” she told him, biting down and organizing her thoughts.

  “You’ve been snooping?” No censure, amusement, the corner of his mouth lifted as he bit into his sandwich. He knew she would. He also knew she’d be his best source for information.

  “Really, darling…snooping? Please, I have a wide range of friends through this city,” she chuckled at his teasing, her expression sobering the next minute. “They won’t make your life easy, Tre. They haven’t made her life easy.”

  “What do you know about this trial thing? I know you have sources all over and I’d bet you have a novel of information,” Tre asked the question, even as he argued against wanting the answer. “And I know you’ll be honest with me.”

  His feelings were confirmed when he watched his mother close her eyes and slowly push a long breath between her lips.

  “She was married to him less than four months,” she began quietly. “That was almost three years ago, Tre. I’m told she did not want to prosecute,” she watched his face tense up, his eyes darken. “I also know she was arrested for assault.”

  “Natalie? Against who?”

  “The ex…charges were dropped almost before the ink was dry, Tre,” she said quickly. “She hit him with a phone book. One of the really thick ones,” she took a slow breath. “He tried to rape her. He also made her case amazingly easy. He was stone cold sober and shouting repeatedly in the emergency room that a man had a right to fuck his wife whenever he felt like it, whether she wanted it or not.”

  Tre felt his stomach turning, his sandwich down and hands wrapped around the cold drink.

  “She told me she didn’t know if she could ever talk about that time, mother, now I know why.”

  “She’s spoken about it to you?”

  “A little. I think it makes her angry to feel like a victim. It’s not her style, but…even working the ER, I’ve seen how rape victims are treated…penalized over and over for the actions of another against them,” Tre drained half the cup and set it down.

  “Information is, her family was extremely furious with her when she went behind her attorney’s back and accepted the plea bargain to end it. Miriam says Natalie had lost weight because of it,” Cecily ate silently for a few minutes. “She’s very well respected, Tre. Among her co-workers and with the people in the DA’s office. She works hard to get justice, not just to close a case.” She reached across the table, her fingers curling around his.

  “She loves her job. Just as much as anyone,” his fingers tightened on hers. “Only a fool would try and take that from her. Have they responded to your invitation?”

  He didn’t have to be specific. She knew who he was asking about.

  “They accepted. But I have heard hints that they’re not happy with their son finding you in her apartment bright and early on Sunday morning,” she grinned at her son.

  “I made breakfast and took it over there. Along with a vat of coffee,” he told her with a laugh. “She’s had a wall around her since that whole thing began. It’s time she had some fun.”

  “How did you meet her?”

  Tre winced slightly. “I stitched her up when she was shot Friday morning.” He watched the single arched brow. “On her arm.”

  “What you fix…your repairs…are a lot easier than what she’s been searching for since she was betrayed, what any woman would need to heal,” Cecily gripped his fingers, willing him to understand. “He hasn’t left the area, Tre. Be careful. Please.”

  “He’s still here? Do you know if he’s been in contact with her?�
� The hard edge of his voice held the anger just barely inside.

  “I know there’s a court order that he stay away from her,” she sighed. “But we both know those are useless if he decides to ignore it. He can’t be in law enforcement in this state. That was ordered by the judge. He still faces charges of theft and a few other things from the department, but that doesn’t involve Natalie, though it would explain why he hasn’t left the area.”

  “I’d forgotten about the civil suit with the department. She said he was stealing from evidence,” Tre finished his sandwich, lifting a fry from his mother’s plate and eating absently. “She’s been bounced around other departments because they didn’t want them working together. She goes back in a week or two, I think she said.”

  “He’s finally on unpaid leave,” Cecily told him, the satisfaction in her son’s eyes evident. “She’s very lovely.”

  “And she can dance,” Tre looked up and grinned. “She knows a lot of the same people I do. Mac’s wife and others…and they’re in a dance troupe.”

  “Is that why you insisted no old folks band at your congratulations party?” She laughed, her head shaking. “I’m sure it will be a lovely party. Are her parents aware of her promotion?”

  “They are. I’m not sure she wants to take it, not the way it’s been given to her,” he cleaned up the remnants of their lunch. “She would have earned it on her own. Why didn’t you fight for better rights for women?”

  “Who says I didn’t?” She asked with a wink. “It’s the hardest prejudice in existence because there are people in our own gender who fight against it. She has the eye of the right people, though, and moving to the new unit with the resort is a good place for her,” she nodded in approval. “She’s fair and good at her job and she really doesn’t care what people think of her, personally. I like her already.”

  “Because of all that?” Tre laughed and stood up, his palm out for hers.

  “Because she makes you smile. It’s in your eyes,” she went to his side and kissed his cheek. “I’ll be in touch, darling. I’m off. Party stuff to do…” she offered a backwards wave and headed to her car.

  Natalie was sitting on the third step from the bottom outside her apartment when the motorcycle glided into the parking lot, the visor lowered until the bike was shut down. She continued working the laces on her shoes and when she looked up again, she found him staring at her, the helmet hooked on the front handlebar.

  For the first time in what seemed ages and ages, she looked at him.

  Seriously looked at him.

  The muscled thighs and strong shoulders; the shank of dark blond hair falling over the corner of his glasses and those full lips that seemed to touch all of her mouth and not enough of it at once when he kissed her.

  “You’re staring, Tre,” Natalie stood up.

  “What’re you doing?” He wasn’t sure how much of his brain was still capable of functioning at the moment, but obviously the part that came up with speech was faulty.

  “Hmm…let’s see…running shoes…running tank…running shorts…”

  “Okay, okay…dumb question.”

  Feeling in a mood to tease, she turned around and bent over. Just ever so slightly. She swore she heard a growl.

  “We could stitch your name across my ass and you could be my sponsor…or trainer.”

  “Lady, you are seriously playing with fire,” Tre watched her straighten and face him, those damn long legs executing just the slightest bit of a swagger as she came next to him.

  She heard it again when she reached into the well in the center of her tank and pulled out the keys.

  “You seem to have some kind of growling thing going there, doc,” she held up the keys, his palm closing around them. “Back in thirty minutes. Get some juice. I’ll be good for that throat thing…” She laughed and took off running along the road and into the hills.

  Even as he swore he was not going to look, his body swiveled. The growl she’d heard definitely rumbled low in his chest as he watched the long legged run, the dark ponytail swinging with each step until she vanished around the corner. Only then did he realize he’d been holding his breath and his body was so hard he had to seriously rearrange his jeans just to be able to swing his leg over the bike.

  He opened the back case and lifted out the containers holding their dinner. With his helmet in the other hand, he climbed the wide stairs and went into her apartment. He tossed the comfortable leather jacket to the chair with his helmet and carried their food to the dining room. By the time he heard her pounding up the stairs, he had glasses of ice and plates on the table, along with silver, napkins and ready to serve food.

  Natalie smelled the aroma before she opened the door. Her eyes went to the hook beside her door, her keys in place and then to the man standing on the patio, looking out over the collection of backyards, houses and apartments. He turned to greet her, that funny hitch in her breathing happening when she was treated to that sexy, innocent grin of his.

  So what was it that made a woman glistening from a run so sexy and alluring? Tre decided he’d pose that question to some scientists and see what their reaction was. He chuckled to himself and came back inside, closing the screen behind him.

  “Did we have a date and I forgot?” Natalie wasn’t sure why she asked. Something told her his memory was selective.

  “It’s called a surprise,” Tre returned smoothly.

  “I come armed. Surprises aren’t always a good idea,” she volleyed, bending forward and untying her shoes, toeing them off and aligning them next to the door. She swore she heard that growl again and straightened with a little frown. “Are you alright?”

  “Never felt better. Had lunch with my mother and got to hear all about the progress for the celebration. She has one of the ballrooms at the resort,” he lifted one of the glasses of ice water and took a deep drink. Hoping it went all the way to the hardness between his thighs.

  “Somehow I got the idea you’d handle it better than this,” Natalie laughed, placing an empty water bottle on the counter and looking over the table. “I’m starving but I should go…”

  “I think you’re fine,” he pulled the chair out for her, his head tilted and smile urging her to the table. “Mrs. Yang made a great meal…” He teased.

  “How do you know what I like?” She could smell the thick cheeses and sauce, a little groan breaking free as she gave in and sat down.

  Tre laughed. “You’ve got a network of friends falling all over themselves to help me. You might as well give up now and save us both grief.” He lifted the lids from the still hot food and sat down to serve up the lasagna. He poured the balsamic vinegar and olive oil over the bowl of salad and took some into his plate while she lifted a thick piece of the pasta to her plate. “Food is always the best way to get to know someone.”

  “Philosophical,” she said, anxious to dig into the melting cheeses, sauce and pasta.

  “And I’m relieved you’re eating something besides junk,” his head shook at the things he found inside her fridge.

  Natalie looked up at him through half lowered lashes.

  “Now who squealed on me?”

  “Your fridge. Your clothing,” his voice was soft, his eyes watching without backing away. “I think that court thing was pretty stressful to you, Natalie.”

  “I’d be lying if I even tried telling you it wasn’t, Tre,” she took another bite of the pasta and sighed. “This is delicious. I love extra cheesy lasagna. Stuffed pasta shells…god, I’m doomed,” she spooned salad onto her plate and took a combined bite. “I take vitamins. I drink protein drinks,” she shrugged. “I haven’t had much of an appetite for a while. Stupid things…I wake up at night because I’m positive I heard someone coming through my door. Or I think someone is following me…the middle of downtown traffic, and I’m seeing a tail.”

  “Have you talked to anyone about it?” But Tre already suspected he knew the answer to that one and he wasn’t wrong.

  “Like who?
My parents have always believed I exaggerate everything or I’m too stupid to know what’s best for me. Jerry has so many friends at the department, that I was automatically assumed to be lying through my teeth.” Using the tips of two fingernails, she pulled a long, thick strand of cheese from the plate and dangled it over her mouth, eating with a little laugh. “Thank god for security cameras.”

  “Your friends have become your family,” Tre said softly, soothingly. “Sometimes we have to form our own family because what we got through DNA just isn’t right for us,” he met the startled look on her face. Not only startled, grateful. Relieved.

  “Why does that thought feel…”

  “Disloyal?” Tre filled in the blank for her. “Because we’re taught to believe that DNA is all.”

  “You don’t believe it.”

  “I’m contrary by nature,” he returned, winking and enjoying the little laugh she let free. “Bonds can form from a couple different directions. There’s nothing scientific to suggest that DNA makes a bond between you and anyone else.”

  “The old nature verses nurture argument,” she scooped the last of the salad to her plate and smiled at him.

  “More like Dr. Phil,” he said with a smile, collecting plates and carrying things into the kitchen. “Give yourself what you’d wish others had given you,” he took the plates she held out to him, his gaze meandering down over her running clothes. “About that tattoo on your ass with my name…”

  Natalie blinked and straightened stiffly. “I’m pretty sure those weren’t the words I’d used.”

  “Hmm…shame…that’s what I heard. Gotta get that hearing test,” he murmured, taking the things from her and loading the dishwasher, her unmistakable chuckle making him smile.

  “Every now and then that polished boy next door image slips just a little,” she commented, straightening the table and going to stand at the patio, the neighborhood spread out far in all directions.