“More visitors, more fishing, more business for Seaside.” Wyatt grinned. “At least that’s what Manteague’s Mayor is always telling me.”
“I know, and I agree,” Dylan nodded, scrubbing his hand over his face, finding a few whiskers he had missed when shaving that morning. “I’m just partial to knowing all the people in my town who are coming and going. Visitors bring in business, but they can also bring in trouble.”
She looked between the two. “Specific trouble?”
“I can answer that since I was just getting ready to send a memo to you all.” Everyone’s attention swung back to Liam. “My counterpart in Maryland has kept me apprised of drug gangs using the Eastern Shore as their thruway between Florida and New York, bypassing Washington D.C. and Highway 95. The only way they get caught is if they’re speeding and pulled over, but it looks like the word is out that we closely monitor the speed.”
“As much as I hate them going through our counties, I hate it even more when they stop here,” Colt added. “We don’t need their drugs.”
“Some are using boats in smaller harbors to transport, also,” Liam added. “I know this hits Mitch, Dylan, and Wyatt specifically since you three have harbor towns.”
Hannah looked around at the faces of the men at the table, their frustration clearly visible and matching her own.
Alert, Dylan sat up straighter. “Shit. What’s their MO?”
“They have someone waiting when the boat comes in,” Liam explained. “They’ve gotten smarter. Instead of just young punks trying to get into the gang performing menial tasks, they send someone who can blend in. Might be someone who’s spending a night in a hotel. Out of state car tags that don’t necessarily say Florida or New York.”
“What about the Coast Guard?” she asked. “Are they able to board?”
“Yeah, but usually small fishing boats get passed by. Not enough manpower to check everything coming and going.”
They continued discussing the various needs of their towns and counties, Hannah carefully checking each item off the agenda. Just as they were about to break for lunch, Colt said, “Got one more thing. We’ve been advertising for a jail medic to work alongside our nurse.”
While each of the small towns’ police stations contained a few holding cells, the main jail area was housed in Easton. Colt’s Sheriff’s Department was responsible for the 250-bed facility that served both North Heron and Acawmacke counties as well as taking prisoners from other districts if the room was available. Housing both men and women, it had its own kitchen, laundry, and medical clinic.
“As you know,” Colt continued, “our nurse, Margaret Anderson, is getting on in years. With a jail medic assisting her, it would serve the population more efficiently.”
“Have you hired someone?” Hannah asked.
“It took a while to find the right candidate, as you can imagine.”
She grinned. People generally did not move to the Eastern Shore for job opportunities, especially for a part-time jail medic position.
“Luke Perdue has just been hired. His background checks out. Army medic. Served in Afghanistan. Originally from Hope City, but said he wanted to live somewhere smaller. He started this week, and so far, Margaret says he’s settling in well. He’s a big guy but quiet. She said she’s noticed no problem between him and any of the prisoners.”
“Well, good,” Dylan said, his smile wide. “Anyone up for lunch at The Diner?”
“I’ll never turn down Joe’s cooking!” Mitch said.
Hannah nodded before casting a gaze toward Dylan, finding his eyes pinned on her, a lopsided smile playing about his lips. She couldn’t help it… her lips curved upward in response.
7
Dylan hustled to get to the door of The Diner before Hannah, pulling it open and waving her in with a flourish of his hand. She sailed past, and just like every time he’d ever been around her, all of his senses were firing.
The delicate vanilla scent of her shampoo and body wash wafted by, a siren’s call that was stronger than any expensive perfume. He’d seen her dark hair down, flowing about her shoulders in a silky wave, and now his fingers itched to pull the offending bobby pins from her tightly controlled bun that she always wore when on duty. Tough, strong, he’d watched her expertly take down a much larger man. But now, his eyes followed her every move and knew exactly where the top of her head came if she was standing next to him. Tucked just under his chin, as he remembered.
Hannah was everything he’d ever wanted in a woman and time hadn’t changed that feeling. Following behind her into the restaurant, he plastered the well-worn smile on his face, the one everyone expected.
The bell rang as the door swung closed behind them. Joe waved at them from the back and Mavis nodded toward a large table near the center. Dylan settled into the seat across from Hannah, the others filling the chairs around the table. He smiled as Carrie walked over, and Colt immediately stood to kiss his wife.
Carrie turned to greet the others and said, “I’m glad you came in today. I’ve got a new server that I’m training. Here’s Jolene. She used to waitress at Stuart’s Pharmacy diner in Baytown but is working here now.”
The pretty blonde’s gaze held a mixture of awe at the five people in uniforms and badges sitting around the table. He remembered her working at Stuart’s Pharmacy as a teenager, and now that she was an adult, it just made him feel old. Shoving that thought down deep, he caught her eyes on him and pretended a great interest in the menu even though he always ordered the same thing.
Jolene giggled, pulling out her pad and pen. “What can I get y’all?” Her question was directed toward everyone at the table, but her eyes stayed pinned on Dylan.
He rattled off his order, then shifted his gaze, seeing Hannah’s eye-roll and lips quirk.
“Damn, am I getting old, or are the women just getting too young?” Wyatt grumbled, putting into words exactly what Dylan was just thinking.
Hannah laughed and Wyatt turned his attention to her. “Does the same thing happen to women?”
“What?” she asked, her head cocked to the side.
Curious, Dylan twisted to see what Wyatt was asking.
Wyatt chuckled. “Well, for men, it’s okay to appreciate younger women, but then there comes a point where they’re just too young.” As though needing to clarify, he hastened to add, “Not jailbait younger… just too young.”
She laughed and shook her head. “Well, Colt and Mitch already have their wives, but for the rest of you, here’s a little tip about women.”
Dylan leaned forward, his attention pinned on her, barely aware that Liam and Wyatt were leaning forward as well.
“While looking at young man-candy is fine for a while, most women prefer someone more mature. There is nothing sexier than a confident man who’s happy with his life, his choices, and what he’s doing. Add to that a man who’s no longer after an easy conquest but is willing to pursue a woman who adds to his life, not just look good in a bikini… well, that’s what a woman wants.”
“Damn straight, Hannah,” Carrie said, coming up behind them. “You got that right!”
Their conversations continued, and he was glad he’d chosen the seat across from Hannah. It made it easy to continue to admire her without being obvious. Carrie and Jolene soon arrived with their plates. As he ate, he stole glances at Hannah as she relaxed, smiled, and chatted. Her words resounded through his mind. No longer after easy... willing to pursue a woman who adds to his life… well, that’s what a woman wants.
As the meal came to an end and they were all tossing cash onto the table, he tried to figure out a way to exit at the same time as Hannah, but she received a call and said quick goodbyes. Her gaze hit him for a few seconds, and he could swear she was sending him a message, but he wasn’t sure what it was.
His eyes followed Hannah as she walked out the door. There was nothing sexy about her uniform, especially with body armor worn underneath. But he couldn’t help but stare as he’d always d
one. Hannah Freeman was gorgeous.
“I have no idea when you’re going to get your head out of your ass,” Mitch said, shaking his head. “For years I’ve watched you stare at Hannah when you think she’s not looking.”
Swinging his head around, he looked at the other men, their lips all quirking upward. “What?”
Mitch stood to leave, still shaking his head. “You’ll have to figure that out on your own.” Tossing his hand upward in a wave, he followed Hannah out of The Diner. Colt grinned, then stood and moved toward the back of The Diner to say goodbye to Carrie, leaving Dylan with Wyatt and Liam.
“You two got anything to say?”
“Come on, Dylan. She’s an amazing woman,” Liam said as they walked to the parking lot.
“You think I don’t know that? I just don’t know that she’d be interested in me.”
“Don’t know either,” Liam joked, a wide grin on his face as he climbed into his Sheriff’s SUV after a final wave goodbye.
Standing outside the diner, he looked over at Wyatt. “I feel like I’m in fuckin’ middle school.”
“Nah. I think everybody’s just tired of seeing you pine for something that you could so easily have.”
“I’m not fuckin’ pining over anyone!”
Barking out a laugh, Wyatt tossed his hand upward in a wave as well. “Keep telling yourself that, man!”
Before he knew it, he was standing all alone outside The Diner, his fists on his hips as his chin dropped to his chest. Studying his boots for a moment, they offered no answer to his predicament because the truth that he couldn’t tell anyone was that he did want to be with her. Finally climbing into his SUV, he drove back to the tiny town of Seaside.
By four o’clock, he waved goodbye to Barbara. “I’m wiped. Heading home. Call me if I’m needed.”
Ten minutes north of town, he turned between two trees onto the sandy driveway that led to his house. Unlike other places that faced the Atlantic Ocean where waves rolled in and white beaches covered the coastline, the barrier islands that lay to the east created a completely different topography. The coastline was marshy, and the lots of land did not attract expensive prices, keeping most visitors and homeowners on the bay side.
His grandfather had deeded the plot of land to him when he turned eighteen, just as he’d done for his older brother. Dylan didn’t doubt that if his grandfather had known he would never follow in his fishermen’s footsteps, the old man would’ve kept the land for himself out of spite.
His phone vibrated in his pocket and he jolted, realizing he’d been sitting in his driveway staring at his house. Recognizing the caller ID, he said, “Hey, Ma.”
“Barbara said you left early since you had to work with David yesterday.”
Dropping his chin to his chest, he closed his eyes slowly. “Why the hell is my receptionist telling you what hours I keep?”
“Maybe because she’s been my best friend for the past fifty-five years! Anyway, she did say you looked tired. Would you like to come by for supper?”
“Thanks for the invite, but I’m gonna take a rain check. Right now, I just need a shower and my bed.”
“Are you sure? I’ve got a roast in the oven.”
That enticement was real. His mom’s roast beef could rival a meal at the finest restaurant. “Hate to turn you down, but really, I’m wiped.”
“Well, how about if I bring leftovers to you tomorrow?”
“That’d be appreciated.”
They disconnected and he climbed from his SUV, walking toward his house. Even on the coastal side, he rarely had flooding, but he’d built his house above the ground anyway. Eschewing a modern look, he had gone for an old-style weathered cedar plank house with shutters that could be closed to protect the windows in an oncoming storm. The two-bedroom, open living and kitchen area house was simple in design but eased his soul at the end of the day. A porch ran the full length of the back, part of it screened in. If it was raining, he sat with his morning coffee or evening beer inside the screened area, choosing the open deck when the cooler weather kept the insects at bay.
Showering off the sweat and fatigue, he grabbed a beer and sat on his deck. Herons wandered in the marsh, graceful on their stilt legs, quickly diving for small fish and crabs. Gulls called overhead, and he leaned back in his chair with his feet on the rail and closed his eyes.
The peace of the evening stole over him, but the face that appeared in his mind was that of the dark-haired, beautiful Hannah. Their paths crossed several times a week, and not always just professionally. He saw her at the American Legion meetings and the AL events. He occasionally ran into her at the grocery store. Always polite. Always friendly. And yet, a bit aloof.
“Yoo-hoo, Dylan! Are you around here?”
His feet dropped from the rail to the deck, and he pushed himself out of the chair, seeing his mom walking around the corner of his house toward the steps leading to the deck. Grinning, he caught a whiff of her roast beef. “You just couldn’t resist, could you?”
“Well, I haven’t seen you all week, and knowing you were tired, I wanted to get this to you. I won’t stay long. Plus, your dad will be off the boat soon.”
“He helping David today?”
‘Yes. I’ll be so glad when your brother can get—and keep—a full crew.”
He took the plate from her hands and bent to kiss her cheek. Selma Hunt had been a beauty when she caught his dad’s eye as a teenager, and the years had been good to her. Her dark blonde hair, now streaked with silver, was cut to just above her shoulders. Her figure was still trim, helped by the long walks she took each day. His father had given Dylan his height and build, but his eyes were his mother’s.
He waved to a chair and said, “Stay as long as you can, Ma.”
They sat together, both staring out over the water at high tide with the barrier islands in the distance. For several minutes they chatted about the weather, what the ladies at her church were doing, and the newest gossip in town.
She continued sitting, and he finally chuckled. “Ma, I can tell something is on your mind. You might as well just spit it out.”
“Hmph,” she groused, rolling her eyes. She remained quiet for another moment, then said, “Caroline Jackson has a niece that’s going to be moving here from Virginia Beach. She’s got a job at Baytown High School, and Caroline thought it would be nice if someone could show her around.”
He rolled his head to the side and stared at his mom’s profile. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Now why would I be kidding?”
“Show her around? Ma, this town consists of about fourteen roads. I hardly think it’s going to take anyone very long to find out what’s here.”
“Don’t be obtuse, Dylan. I think Caroline would like her niece to meet someone her age.”
“Not interested.”
“And why not? You act so laid back, but you don’t fool me. You might do some running around, but you’ve never introduced a woman to us. That tells me you’re not serious about anyone.”
“I might enjoy the occasional company of women, but as the Police Chief, I’m not going to parade a bunch of women through my house or have them come to dinner at your place. But I also don’t want my mom to fix me up with someone.”
Her face softened, and she held his gaze for a long moment. “What about Hannah Freeman?”
Startled, he blinked. “What about her?”
“Is Hannah someone that you’d bring around?”
“Sure,” he answered easily. “I don’t mind any of my friends or colleagues being here.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
He sighed, rolling his head back so that his gaze was pinned to the ocean vista in front of him.
“She seems like a lovely woman, Dylan.”
“She is, Ma.”
“And you’re not interested?”
“I’d have to be deaf, dumb, and blind to not be interested,” he admitted. “But trying to date someone in this profession c
ould prove difficult. If something went wrong…” His words drifted away but the meaning was clear.
“Oh, I see. It could be awkward.” Lifting her shoulders in a shrug, she added, “Then just start slow… keep it secret… then, when you’re sure, you can let people know.”
A grin slipped across his face as he shook his head slowly. His mother had no idea how close she described what he and Hannah had years ago. “Ma, you have a solution for everything, don’t you?” He sighed as he looked back over the marsh. “Anyway, she’s law-enforcement elite and you know what gramps always said—”
“That old coot! I love my father-in-law, but the way he acted when you came back from the Navy… well, I told him on more than one occasion to keep his opinions to himself!”
Chuckling, he could well imagine his mother standing up to his grumpy grandfather.
Selma shook her head. “Don’t take his words on, Dylan. Don’t sell yourself short. Hannah has certainly shown the naysayers who didn’t think a woman could handle the job, but then, so have you.” Throwing her hand up quickly, she said, “I’m done interfering.” Standing, she started to walk down his deck steps when she stopped and looked over her shoulder. “For now.”
His laughter followed her as she walked toward the front of the house. He headed inside where he enjoyed the roast beef she’d brought. Fatigue was pulling at him, but he grabbed another beer and went back outside to watch as the sky darkened and the moon began to rise in the distance.
Is willing to pursue a woman who adds to his life… that’s what a woman wants. He thought about the way Hannah stared at him when she said those words. Maybe the message she was trying to convey was that she was interested in him pursuing her. Maybe, after all this time, he was now the kind of man she was ready for.
8
The small police department building for Easton had a holding cell, but Hannah processed those arrested with the Eastern Shore Jail. Luckily for her, it was practically next door, unlike the other officers over the two-county area who had to travel there with their prisoners.
Shielding You (Baytown Boys Book 13) Page 7