by Annie Rains
The corners of his mouth lifted just a touch.
“I love you,” she added as her breath suspended in her chest, waiting and hoping this time he’d return the words.
Instead, a teacher in the car pool line opened the passenger-side door for him to exit.
“Good morning, Theo,” Allison Winters said, helping him step down onto the school’s curb.
To be fair, Theo didn’t respond to her either. Instead, he waved to Halona and headed off. Halona watched him until the car behind her sounded its horn. Then she pressed the gas pedal and drove to the Little Shop of Flowers on Main Street. There was usually an uptick in business in the winter months heading into the holidays. People were more generous during this time of year. They looked for ways to say I love you, and what said it better than flowers?
She unlocked her shop and headed inside.
She knew better. Nothing replaced those three little words, not even roses. What she wouldn’t give to hear her son whisper them again. These days, the only time she heard his voice was when he was having a nightmare.
She walked to the shop’s back room, poured water and grinds into the coffee maker, and flipped it on. After a moment, the machine started funneling its dark brew into the pot. The coffee next door at the Sweetwater Café was far better but that would require running into half the people in town, including Chief of Police Alex Baker, who appeared to have a small addiction for Emma St. James’s brew. Or maybe for the café owner herself.
When the coffee was done, she poured a cup. No sooner had she taken her first sip than the bell above the door rang with an incoming customer. Halona dutifully put on a smile and approached the front counter from the back room. Her breath stumbled along with her feet as she came face-to-face with Sweetwater Springs’ own chief of police. So much for avoiding him by settling for mediocre coffee.
Alex cleared his throat. “Hey.”
She had so many conflicting emotions every time she saw him. Halona had always had a thing for Alex but he’d only ever looked at her as a little kid when they were growing up. That was preferable to how he’d looked at her lately though.
“Hi,” she answered. “To what do I owe your visit? Business or personal?” she asked. Maybe he was getting flowers for a special someone. Maybe for Emma next door.
“A little of both, I guess. I need an arrangement for a fellow officer’s wife. Mary Beth Edwards.”
“Yes. She just had surgery, right? That’s nice of you to think of her,” Halona said.
“Well, it’ll be from the whole department.”
“I’ll get that arrangement for you right away,” Halona said.
Alex gestured behind him. “Thanks. I thought I’d grab a coffee from next door while I wait. Would you like some?”
“No thanks. I’ve got a machine in the back.”
“Not the same,” he coaxed. “Let me grab you a coffee. How do you take it?”
She hesitated. This was another of his attempts at peacemaking. She guessed Alex still felt guilty for arresting her husband two years ago, even though she’d begged him not to. Alex didn’t have all the facts, still didn’t, and probably never would. Alex was the reason Ted had left her and Theo, and now her ex was dead. Yeah, coffee from the café next door wasn’t going to fix that.
Alex stared at her from the other side of the counter.
“Three raw sugars and a splash of cream,” Halona finally said, deciding that he probably wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“You got it. I’ll be back in a bit.”
She watched him walk out of her store. While her mind held tight to her past grudge, her heart still clung to that girlish crush she’d had on her brother’s best friend growing up.
* * *
Alex’s blood felt electric, and it had nothing to do with the smell of fresh coffee and the promise of its jolt of caffeine. When was he ever going to stop reacting to Halona Locklear this way? She was his buddy’s sister. He’d known her before she had curves and when she’d been a tomboy irritating him and Tuck.
She wasn’t boyish in any way these days though—that was for sure.
“Hey, Chief Baker,” Emma St. James said as he reached her counter. She always smiled a little wider when he was around. Why couldn’t he have a thing for someone sweet like Emma? The only thing the beautiful café owner stirred for him, however, was his coffee. Halona stirred a variety of unsettling emotions: attraction, need…confusion. He didn’t understand her choices or why she was so upset with him for helping her two years ago.
“Your usual?” Emma asked.
He gave a nod. “And a medium dark roast with a splash of cream and three raw sugars.”
Emma lifted a pale brow. “That’s the way Halona takes her coffee.”
He sighed. “Do you know how everyone in town takes their drinks?”
She laughed and turned to start pouring. “It’s my job to know,” she called over her shoulder. A moment later, she exchanged two coffees for his debit card. She swiped it and handed it back. “Tell Hal I said hello.”
Alex didn’t respond. Instead, he said a polite goodbye and started toward the door just as Mayor Brian Everson was pushing through in his wheelchair. Alex held the door as a courtesy, not that Brian needed help. Brian had more strength and endurance than most men with two able legs.
“Thanks, Chief,” Brian said. “You’ve been dodging my calls. I figured I’d run into you sooner or later.”
Alex nodded. “I’m actually in a hurry this morning,” he lied. He liked Brian but he knew what the Sweetwater Springs mayor wanted to discuss. Apparently, Alex wasn’t the social butterfly that some expected a guy in his position to be. He focused on his job, and just the job. Heck, he’d turned the guys down for drinks at the Tipsy Tavern the last few times they’d asked because he was too busy working. Who had time for making appearances and doing volunteer work?
Brian angled his wheelchair to pin Alex with an assessing glance. “Call me. Better yet, stop by my office. This is your friend talking, not the mayor. You’re good for this town, and we need to make sure everyone knows it.”
Alex shifted the carrying tray of coffee in his hands. “I’ll be in touch.” Right after he talked to Gary Hardesty about breaking parole again and solved that cold case that had been in his desk drawer haunting him since he was nineteen years old. One day.
Stepping out of the coffee shop, Alex breathed a little easier as he walked back to the Little Shop of Flowers. Halona looked up from the counter as he entered her store, and Alex’s lungs constricted.
“Here you go,” he said, clearing his throat as he laid the cup of coffee in front of her.
“Thank you.” Her gaze flitted to meet his briefly. Yeah, she was still mad about him hauling Ted off in handcuffs on that domestic call two years ago. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to regret it. That’s what her brother, Tuck, would’ve demanded if he knew. But Alex had respected Halona’s wishes and hadn’t told anyone. Instead, Alex had handled Halona’s ex on his own.
“Um, your arrangement is over there on the table. No charge. Send Mary Beth my best wishes.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Alex said.
“I want to. For her,” she clarified, and then reached for the coffee. “Thank you for this. Emma’s brew is so much better than the stuff I have.”
“I like to tell people I go so often because I’m secretly investigating her. Her coffee is too addictive to be legal.”
Halona’s face contorted with a small laugh that punched him as forcefully as a gunshot into his bulletproof vest. “I’ll see you around.”
“See you,” she said.
He headed toward the arrangement of flowers and heard a cell phone ring behind him.
“Hello,” he heard Halona say. Her sharp intake of breath made Alex whirl to face her. “Yes. Is he okay…? I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Everything all right?” Alex asked once she’d disconnected the call.
“No. Theo thre
w up at school. I need to close up shop and go get him.” She hesitated. “I have a customer coming in anytime to pick up an arrangement I promised her.” She nibbled her lower lip and then pulled her phone back out of her pocket. “Maybe Mom can come watch the store,” she said to herself.
“Not necessary. I’ll watch it for you,” Alex heard himself say.
Halona looked up with surprise in her eyes. He was a little shocked at the offer too. At the Sweetwater Café, he’d just been mentally telling himself all the reasons he didn’t have time to play nice in town and take on extra work. Yet here he was doing exactly that for Halona.
“I don’t need your help,” she bit out.
“No, you don’t. I know that. But you could get to Theo’s school a lot faster if you let me do this for you.”
Her rigid posture softened. “That’s true, I guess. Are you sure?”
“Positive. Go get Theo. I’ll try not to burn the place down while you’re away.”
Halona smiled. “Thank you.”
He watched her grab her purse and keys and hurry out. Then Alex looked around the store, completely perplexed at how the chief of Sweetwater Springs’ police had suddenly gotten himself into running a flower shop.
* * *
It wasn’t even two hours ago that Halona had dropped Theo off. Now here she was again, picking him up. He’d been having stomach pain a lot lately. His therapist believed it was anxiety induced, and Halona had to agree. In his short life, Theo had been through a lot. Too much.
Now he’d stopped talking and was having regular nightmares. At the parent-teacher conference last month, his teacher reported that Theo didn’t have any friends. She’d described him as a good student who kept to himself.
Kids were supposed to have friends though. They were supposed to act up and get in trouble. She certainly had. She’d prefer to get called to the principal’s office because Theo was misbehaving than because his emotions were eating away at him little by little.
She opened the door to Sweetwater Elementary and stepped inside, hearing the cacophony of school-related sounds: the buzzing overhead lights, the sound of children’s voices and laughter, the intercom calling for a custodian.
Veering into the front office off to her right, Halona straightened her shoulders and put on a smile. Masking her feelings was something she’d come to do well. She wasn’t sure if that was an attribute or a character flaw.
“Good morning, Ms. Locklear,” the front office secretary said. “Theo is in the nurse’s office.” She pointed to a room down the hall but Halona knew her way.
“Thank you.” Halona took quick steps until she was standing in the doorway.
Theo looked up. He was holding his little hands over his belly, his face scrunched up.
“Hey, buddy. Not feeling well?” She walked over and kneeled in front of him.
“He’s been moaning and holding his stomach,” Nurse Johnston said. “No fever though.”
Halona could’ve guessed that much. He had been fine when he was eating Cheerios at breakfast.
“His teacher said he threw up?” Halona asked.
Nurse Johnston nodded. “Just a little bit. Could’ve been something he ate or maybe a little bit of nerves.” She winked. “I hope he feels well enough to return to class tomorrow.”
Halona stood, keeping her gaze on Theo. “Yeah, me too. Want to come work at the flower shop with me today, buddy?”
Theo’s face relaxed, and a smile touched the corners of his mouth. Nerves it was. Halona almost would’ve preferred he had a virus that she could treat. At least then she would know what to do for him.
Grabbing his hand, she walked Theo back to her SUV, buckled him in, and cranked the engine. “School is important, you know. You can’t keep coming home just because you’re not happy.”
He didn’t look at her. The only sign that he’d even heard her was the stubborn lift of his chin. With a sigh, Halona backed out of the parking spot and directed her vehicle back to Little Shop of Flowers. Despite her worry, a little flutter of anticipation batted around in her belly at the knowledge that Alex was there waiting for her. But hot or not, nice or not, he was enemy number one.
Theo hopped out of the car as soon as it came to a stop and darted into the store. He froze at the sight of Alex behind the counter.
“Hey, buddy,” Alex said.
After a moment’s hesitation, Theo took off running toward him, making Halona’s heart kick hard. Theo had been too young to remember Alex coming to their door, first for the domestic call and then a few months later to break the news of her ex-husband’s skiing accident and death.
“Give me five, little man,” Alex said after giving Theo a big hug.
Theo gave the hit everything he had.
“Down low.” As Theo tried to hit him again, Alex yanked his hand away. “Ohhh, you’re too slow.”
Theo giggled happily.
“As you can tell, he’s sick,” Halona told Alex, approaching the two of them.
“Oh yeah.” Alex’s face turned solemn. “Guess you better stay in bed all day then, buddy. And eat nothing but chicken soup. That’s what my mom used to say.”
Theo’s eyes widened. He was no longer smiling.
She redirected her attention to Alex. “Thanks for watching the store. Did anyone come by?”
Alex shook his head. “I had it easy. Just me and the flowers. They’re good listeners, you know.”
Halona gave him a curious look. “You talked to my flowers?”
“Told them all my secrets. They promised not to tell.” Alex winked at Theo, whose cheeks puffed back up into a small smile.
“Well, I’ll see you later.” Alex grabbed his flower arrangement for Mary Beth Edwards and headed out the door.
Halona reminded herself to breathe. The flowers knew his secrets, and Alex knew hers. Some at least.
About the Author
Annie Rains is a USA Today bestselling contemporary romance author who writes small-town love stories set in fictional places in her home state of North Carolina. When Annie isn’t writing, she’s living out her own happily ever after with her husband and three children.
Learn more at:
http://www.annierains.com/
@AnnieRainsBooks
http://facebook.com/annierainsbooks
PRAISE FOR ANNIE RAINS AND HER SWEETWATER SPRINGS SERIES
“Top Pick! Five stars! Romance author Annie Rains was blessed with an empathetic voice that shines through each character she writes. Christmas on Mistletoe Lane is the latest example of that gift.”
—NightOwlReviews.com
“The premise is entertaining, engaging and endearing; the characters are dynamic and lively…the romance is tender and dramatic…A wonderful holiday read, Christmas on Mistletoe Lane is a great start to the holiday season.”
—TheReadingCafe.com
“This first installment of Rains’s Sweetwater Springs series is cozy and most enjoyable. A strong cast of supporting characters as well as expert characterizations and strong plotting will have readers looking forward to future installments.”
—Publishers Weekly
“What a sweet Christmastime romance! Christmas on Mistletoe Lane was a fun series starter, and I am looking forward to see where the Sweetwater Springs series goes!”
—The Genre Minx
“Settle in with a mug of hot chocolate and prepare to find holiday joy in a story you won’t forget.”
—RaeAnne Thayne, New York Times bestselling author
“Annie Rains puts her heart into every word!”
—Brenda Novak, New York Times bestselling author
“How does Annie Rains do it? This is a lovely book, perfect for warming your heart on a long winter night.”
—Grace Burrowes, New York Times bestselling author
“Annie Rains is an author to watch. I can’t wait for more!”
—Sidney Halston, USA Today bestselling author
“Annie Rains writes books t
hat don’t just pull on your heartstrings, they yank out all the feels in the best way possible! A fantastic, fresh voice in contemporary romance.”
—Codi Gary, author of Hot Winter Nights
For a bonus story from another author that you’ll love, please turn the page to read “Last Chance Bride” by Hope Ramsay.
Stone Rhodes has always been the quiet one in his family but now he’s got the whole town talking. He and his longtime high school sweetheart Sharon McKee are crazy about each other but suddenly they can’t agree on their future. Sharon thought they were going to go to college and then get married. But Stone has other plans—plans he hasn’t shared with anyone.
CHAPTER ONE
Wednesday, August 1, 1990
Sharon Anne McKee, you quit your wiggling now, you hear?” Mother looked up at Sharon with a gleam in her dark eyes. “I’m not about to let my daughter show up as this year’s Watermelon Queen with an uneven hem.”
Sharon redoubled her efforts to stand still as Mother fussed with the yards of pink and green tulle that comprised her Watermelon Queen dress. She didn’t need Mother going ballistic today of all days. Sharon had too much to do. And besides, when Mother got upset, the world tipped over on its side. It was easier to suck it up and do what Mother wanted.
Sharon stood there for five minutes, until she couldn’t stand still anymore. She put on her sweetest voice: “Mother, I really appreciate your helping with the dress, but please remember that I’m chairing the bake sale and blood drive for Crystal Murphy this afternoon at city hall.”
“I’m going as fast as I can,” Mother huffed.
Which wasn’t fast enough to suit Sharon. But she held her tongue, because if she said anything else, Mother would purposefully slow down. Sharon anxiously watched the minutes tick away on the kitchen clock. Mother always made her late.
Finally Sharon’s patience broke. “Mother, you pinned that section already. It doesn’t have to be perfect, you know. It’s not like it’s my wedding dress.”