by Casey Dawes
It seemed like only a minute after he’d gotten there, but the bell rang indicating time was called. They might have squeaked through, but it was touch and go whether or not they’d hit the time they were required to meet to get certified.
With the team, he packed up the gear and headed back to the squad room. The men were quiet, and he knew they were doing what he was—reviewing every move they’d made to see where they could have picked up time to meet the exacting federal standards.
“Sorry,” he said to some of the men who drifted into the squad room. “I should have been there sooner.” His gut clenched. Here we go again. He’d just made inroads with the team and now, like the team in Denver, they’d be pissed at him for messing up the drill.
“What do you mean ‘sorry’?” Pat asked. “You were on patrol at the edge of the airport. There was nothing you could have done about it.”
“Yeah,” Jim chimed in. “We have to come up with a better way to cover situations like that. Not your fault at all, man.”
Really? He hadn’t screwed everything up?
“Thanks, guys, but...”
“Aw, can it,” Jim said. “We’re a team. All for one and one for all and all that rubbish.”
They really meant it.
He opened his mouth to say something else, but a warning glance from Pat made him shut it again.
Right before his shift ended, the captain called a meeting to review the drill.
“We passed,” the captain said. “But barely. We missed some of the critical things we needed to do because we were initially down one man.”
“Zach was on patrol at the far side,” Jim said.
The captain nodded.
“Things like that are going to happen,” Pat said. “How can we plan for it?”
“We could go up an extra man each shift,” another squad member said.
The captain shook his head. “The budget would never handle it.”
“How about we each have a backup?” Zach said. “You know, cross-train. Then stick up a patrol board in the squad room. If we get an alert, we can look at the patrol board and see who we need to cover until they get here.”
“That might work,” the chief said. “Good idea.”
“Thanks.” Zach’s chest loosened a little more. He let his jaw relax, and his lips turn upward.
“One more thing. With the way the weather patterns are changing, I’m afraid we’re in more danger of fires here than we used to be in the past. Not necessarily plane fires, but ordinary wildfires and lightning strikes. I got a grant to send two of you to Dallas this year for extra training. I’ll be making my decision next month, so stay sharp, men. That’s all.” The captain turned expertly on his heel, demonstrating the marine training everyone knew he had.
Dallas. That extra training would be just the thing Zach needed. How long would he be expected to stay here if he was lucky enough to meet the chief’s criteria? Training like that would be perfect to get back into a large airport in an area like California—maybe even LAX.
“I can see you salivating, man,” Pat said, giving him a light punch in his upper arm. “I’m up for it, too, but as low men on the totem pole, do you think we have a shot?”
“I don’t know.” Zach stood and stretched, the tension of the day making his backache. “But it’s sure worth going after.”
He was going to make sure he was at the top of his game. That meant keeping Sue Anne just where she was—as simply a friend, no benefits included.
That should satisfy his mother.
Chapter 13
“I declare Sweets Montana officially open.” Sue Anne cut the ribbon with fake scissors, while others tugged the pink satin apart for the ceremonial ribbon cutting. A camera light popped, and the small crowd clapped.
Jaiden, the redheaded boy who frequented the shop as often as his mother would let him, tugged on her jacket. “Are the free samples ready yet?”
“Jaiden!” A young woman with equally red hair, who had to be his mother, chastened him. “Let the poor woman alone. It’s her day.” She held out her hand to Sue Anne. “I’m Melissa, Jaiden’s mother. I hope he isn’t too much of a bother for you.”
“Not at all.” Sue Anne laughed. “In fact, I’m thinking of giving him a job when school’s out. He’s quite the helpful young man.”
Jaiden stood a millimeter taller.
“That’s good to know.” Melissa squeezed her son’s shoulders.
Sue Anne smiled. It was nice to have kids at her opening. A pang seared inside her chest. Having someone beside her on her big day would have made her feel less alone. Zach had been scarce since their movie date. They’d had coffee a few times, but that had been it. Even then, he’d seemed distant, not the man she’d dumped on about Christmas.
Maybe he wasn’t who she thought he was, and when he left, it would be good riddance.
She pushed the thought from her mind. This was her day to celebrate. She looked at the small crowd and smiled.
“Come on in, everyone. We have free samples of fudge, truffles, and chocolate shakes. And we’ll take 10 percent off your purchase price today!”
She pushed aside the doors and latched them open to let the warm spring air enter the shop and make the tables on the porch seem more inviting. Soon the place was filled with the small crowd, including people she recognized from the neighborhood. Her soft opening had built solid relationships.
“What a lovely shop,” Melissa Anton, the president of the woman’s group, said. “I’m so glad you let us know on Facebook. Several other women said they’d stop by, too.” She held up a small sample of fudge. “This smells divine. You’re going to do quite well, I think.”
“Thanks!”
Several more people came up to compliment her. Then the air seemed to shift a bit as several strong-looking men came into the shop, Zach in the lead.
A thrill went through her entire body as she settled her gaze on him, followed by a crashing realization.
She wanted so much more than friendship.
His grin widened when he spotted her, and she made her way through the crowd.
“I brought a few of my buddies to see where the magic happened,” he said. “This is Pat, Jim, and Tony. The others would be here, but someone needs to keep the airport safe for people who misplace their cars.”
She groaned and then held out her hand. “I remember you, Pat. We’ve introduced lots of fudge with no nuts. Nice to meet the rest of you. We have tons of samples, so help yourself.”
“Will do, ma’am,” said the one Zach had called Tony. “And who is that young lady?” He pointed at Julie.
“Julie. She’s my friend and employee.” She leaned closer to Tony. Zach had mentioned once that his teammate tended to be a bit of a ladies’ man. “And doesn’t need her feelings messed with,” she whispered.
“Got it.” Tony grinned before making his way to the counter, a smile on his face and a swagger in his hips.
“I don’t think your warning is going to stop him,” Zach said.
“Well, I’ll have to warn her later.”
“Aw, Tony’s not so bad,” Pat said. “He just hasn’t found the right girl to settle him down. Are those chocolate shakes over there?” He pointed to a tray filled with small paper cups.
“Yes. We have dark chocolate, mint chocolate, and huckleberry.”
“Huckleberry doesn’t have chocolate,” Zach said.
“Huckleberry shakes are a requirement for anyone selling sweets in Montana in the summer.”
“Got a point.”
“Whatever,” Pat said. “They look great.” He headed off in the direction of the tray.
Sue Anne was left with Zach. For a moment, she was caught in a spider web of changing emotions—glad he’d brought his friends to support her, annoyance that he’d been avoiding her for weeks, and a yearning for something more that the fates were withholding.
The murmur of happy voices asking about ingredients and plans surrounded her. The small
space vibrated with sounds like “Mmm,” “Yum,” and “Ooh.”
A stout man in a suit approached. “You the owner?”
“Yes,” she said cautiously. He had “lawyer” written all over him.
“I wanted to let you know these are really good. One of my assistants brought them to the office a few weeks ago, and I had to try them myself.” He shook his head. “Only thing is your prices are way too high.”
She wanted to strangle him with his two hundred dollar silk tie. Instead, she plastered a smile on her face. “As a businessman, I’m sure you know the cost of top-line ingredients and the importance of using them. We handcraft our candies for a unique experience you’ll find nowhere else in Montana. I’m sure you agree.”
The man nodded.
“Have you tried the chocolate-dipped Flathead Cherries? They’re right over there.”
He nodded again and scurried off.
“Well done.” Zach’s voice was warm in her ear. “You are a good businesswoman. But I knew that already.”
“It’s great to see all these people,” she said. “Thanks for bringing your friends.”
“They were eager to see the place where all the goodies are born.”
She laughed.
“This is so wonderful!” Liz, another lady from her networking group, came up to greet her. “These are sooo good.” She held up a small square of fudge, then frowned. “Can you make it work, though? I mean, the food industry is tough. Will you be able to make a living with this small place?”
“Oh, she’s got bigger dreams than that,” Zach said. “I think she’s planning on taking over the state one city at a time.” He draped an arm around Sue Anne. “She shipped some chocolates to Alaska for my buddy, and I hear they’re a big hit. That state will be next to fall to Montana Sweets.” He gave her a light squeeze before dropping his arm.
He heart warmed. He had been paying attention to her after all.
The traffic during the entire day was steady, keeping Julie and her busy refilling trays and ringing up sales. Reps from Made in Montana, Rosauers, and Missoula Fresh Market left their cards, inviting her to stop by to discuss resale.
With a sigh of relief, Sue Anne locked the door at six o’clock. Paper cups and doilies were strewn on the small tables around the room. The floor, counters, and display cases all needed a good cleaning. The stock in the cases was depleted.
Behind the cash register, Julie totaled up the day’s receipts. When she finished, she gave a thumbs up.
Success.
“C’mon back,” Sue Anne said. “I’ve got some champagne chilling and some chips and dip. Let’s reward ourselves.”
“But what about...?” Julie gestured to the messy room.
“It’ll still be here in the morning. “I’d rather tackle it then.”
“If you’re sure...”
“I am.”
Soon they were settled into the porch chairs Sue Anne had scored at a local yard sale, each with a glass of bubbly in her hand. Wrens, robins, and finches twittered in the nearby bushes, and hummingbirds buzzed the feeders that she had hung. Sugar scampered around the small yard, glad to be free of the apartment’s confines.
Contentment filled her. She was creating something and building a life for herself. Maybe it was time to start looking for the right man.
• • •
Zach waited for Sue Anne at the bend as they made their way up the Bear Creek Trail. The warm weather had infected him with the urge to hike, like it had so many other Missoulians. It had seemed natural to call Sue Anne to accompany him.
After all, they were friends, weren’t they?
That was the problem. He could tell himself they were friends all he wanted, but he suspected his feelings went deeper than that. He didn’t want to examine his emotions too closely, in case they interfered with his plans.
“Catch your breath?” he asked her when she caught up.
She nodded and took a sip of water from her CamelBak. While they were both in shape, an elevation gain of over a thousand feet, especially when starting at a high altitude, took its toll. Still she made no complaints and even stopped occasionally to shoot pictures of the valley laid out below them.
“It’s good to be on the trail again,” she said. “Let’s do more of this.”
“Sure.” It seemed natural to put his arm around her as they stared into the standing deadwood. A fire had swept through the area a few years earlier, scorching the earth more than necessary because of debris buildup. Forest Service policies suppressing fires for most of the 1900s had prevented nature’s cleansing.
What the fire had taken away in terms of living trees allowed new growth and opportunities for some birds and animals to find new homes.
Sue Anne grabbed his arm. “Look!” She pointed to a large shape at the top of a hefty snag a few hundred feet away.
He pulled out his binoculars, while she focused her lens on the white-headed bird peering down into the brush below. The eagle moved its head from this way to that, fierce yellow eyes staring steadily, ignoring their presence.
After a few moments, he squeezed her hand. “Looks like he’s going to be there for a while. Want to keep going?”
“Okay.” Her face was lit up with the wonder of excitement, drawing him into her orb of happiness.
His lips were on hers before he had a chance to think about it. As he pulled her close, the peacefulness of the mutual experience touched a place that hadn’t been reached in a very long time.
What the hell was he going to do with her?
• • •
“Damn it. Look at this, Julie,” Sue Anne said a few weeks later. She pointed to a white discoloration on the huckleberry-chocolate bear paws she was ready to put out in the cases. “The sugar separated from the chocolate. We’ve got bloom.”
“How did that happen?” Julie asked. “We were really careful.”
They’d gotten the new molds in the previous week, and Sue Anne had been anxious to get them on the floor. Grizzlies were the city’s main symbol, and huckleberry anything was an obsession.
“When did we pour these?” Sue Anne asked, trying to remember. With all the chocolate they were making, the days were beginning to blur.
“Monday, I think.”
Monday. That was the answer.
“Remember? Monday night that big storm came through. It didn’t rain, but boy it got humid during the day. Moisture causes bloom, so that must have been how it happened.” She frowned. It was a typical loss for most chocolatiers, and she’d built the cost into her budget, but still it was hard to take.
She wanted everything to be perfect. It wasn’t realistic, but she wanted it anyway. Just like she wanted her life to follow the plan she’d mapped out for herself: build a successful business, find the right man, and raise chocolate-addicted kids.
That was in the future. Right now, she had to salvage the bear claws.
“Okay, let’s make another batch. I need to get these on the shelves before the weekend. University graduation is this Saturday, and I want to have something unique on hand. There are a lot of college students in this neighborhood, and I’ve given them a special discount coupon for their parents.”
They were on the second layer of chocolate coating when her phone rang.
Mother.
“Go ahead and take it,” Julie said. “I can handle this.”
She punched the talk button.
“Mom, I’m in the middle of making chocolate. Can I call you back later?”
“You always say that, but you never do.”
Guilt hit her. She’d intended to call her mother more often, but life was moving too fast.
“Okay, Mom. I can spare a few minutes.”
“Good, because I wanted to discuss my trip to visit you. Do you know how long it takes to get there? And how much it costs?”
“When are you planning on coming?”
“Why, next week. Remember, you told me you would have time for me in May, after
your big opening.”
Sue Anne groaned. “I forgot, Mom. I have to go to a convention.”
“Why didn’t you remember earlier? I’ve been looking forward to being with you.” There was actual longing in her mother’s voice.
Inspiration struck.
“Mom, the chocolate convention is in Chicago next week. Why don’t you meet me there?” A little buzz of happiness hit her. This might not be a bad idea. “You could get an idea of what I’m doing and take in the sights while I’m working. We could have dinner together every night.”
“I guess so. We’d share a room, right?”
That was going to be a major problem, but she couldn’t afford to get a separate room.
“Yes, sure.”
“That sounds good, then! Chicago is civilized, at least. And I don’t have to stop anywhere else before I get there. I don’t know how people stand nondirect flights.”
Her mother was a spoiled traveler who never flew coach.
Maybe she had the right idea. One downside of living in Montana was the need to change planes at least once before getting to a destination. She’d often found herself running from one end of the Denver terminal to the other or whiling away hours at the bar in Salt Lake.
“Okay, then. I’ll e-mail you the details,” Sue Anne said.
“Can’t you give them to me now?”
“Sorry, like I said, Mom, I’m in the middle of things. I’ll get back to you later today. I promise. See you next week, Mom. Love you.”
“What was that all about?” Julie asked.
Sue Anne told her.
“How are you going to survive your mother for three days?”
“Lots of chocolate. And red wine.”
Julie chuckled.
“Are you going to be all right while I’m in Chicago?” Sue Anne asked as she washed her hands to get back to work.
“Yes. We’ve been over this already. It’s important that you go. We’ve got enough sweets for the traffic we’re getting. I can handle being here all day. It will give me a chance to review inventory and make lists of anything else we need to have before the summer season.” Julie looked at her and grinned. “Stop worrying. I’ve got it under control.”