“That doesn’t sit right with me, Elka.”
My teeth ground together in impatience and I struggled not to roll my eyes. The sheriff was a good man who only wanted to help; it wasn’t his fault his sense of right and wrong was straight out of the Old West. “That’s too bad, sheriff. You chose to barge in on my schedule and I do appreciate the help, but I’m not eating just to make you feel better.”
“What do you need to do down there? Maybe I can help.” Deputy Vargas wore a knowing smirk that made me want to smack him as hard as I could. I was pretty it was illegal to strike an officer, and since he was looking for a reason to put me in jail, I crossed my arms.
And glared at him. “I don’t need your help.”
“That’s what you said before.”
My chin notched up another inch in defiance and my glare intensified. “I didn’t need your help. I would have gotten in on my own but when two men with guns show up and refuse to go away, you accept the help.”
It wasn’t entirely true, but I knew I couldn’t let Deputy Vargas bully me.
The sheriff gasped and pushed his chair away from the table. “That wasn’t the intent, Elka.” And now he was doing that whole southern gentleman thing, all out of sorts because he took my words the wrong way.
“I know, sheriff. That’s why I invited you to stay for lunch. I made too much and I thought it would give you a nice reprieve from the heat.” Now I was rethinking the whole good manners part of my upbringing because, once again, it caused more problems than it solved. “You know what? Fine, let’s eat.” I grabbed another of my colorful Fiestaware bowls and took a seat. Right across from Deputy Vargas.
“I don’t like this.”
I let out a long sigh and stared at the handsome sheriff. “Eat. It’s a fair trade and now you’ve got me eating even though I don’t want to. So eat. Please.”
“If you insist,” he said and flashed a boyish smile as he pulled his chair back to the table and dug into his big bowl of chili with gusto. “Damn, this is some good chili, Elka. We might make a Texan out of you after all.”
Doubtful, but I smiled at his compliment. And then I made the mistake of looking at Deputy Vargas who wore an indecipherable look that could have been contempt or suspicion. It was probably both. “Is chili a Texas specialty?”
He snorted and shook his head. “You’ll have the answer to that when the chili cook-off rolls around later this month.”
A chili cook-off sounded perfectly quaint and small town, and exactly like something I never would have gotten to do even if such things existed in Washington state. “I’ll have to mark my calendar.”
“What calendar? It seems you don’t keep a regular schedule.” Deputy Vargas’ dark eyes were so intense, it felt like he could read my thoughts.
“I’ll do better to make it look like I’m a productive citizen since the law is watching,” I told him and stabbed at my chili with a spoon, picturing myself gouging out his stupid hazel eyes.
“We’re not watching anyone.” Sheriff Henderson stepped in to reassure me, but his words did nothing of the sort. “Tulip is a small town and we all know everyone’s business, even when they don’t want us to.” His gaze slid to the deputy and I wondered what that was about, but not enough to ask.
Sick of the pretense, I pushed my chair back and stood. “Well, the people who actually care to know me, know what I do and what kind of schedule I keep. Just leave everything as it is when you leave.” This time, I filled a tall glass with tea and walked out of the kitchen with my head held high.
It didn’t mean anything that one surly police officer didn’t like me. I had my work and I had a few friends. For now, it was enough.
Antonio
I woke up on my day off with a smile and decided to start the day right: with a five-mile run. It wasn’t my favorite way to stay active, but it was the only way to get exercise where half the town wouldn’t be able to stop and chat. It helped that I chose a path that was mostly on the outer edges of Tulip. I had plenty of thoughts to sort through and they all started and ended with Elka. I couldn’t stop thinking about that damn kiss or the way her curves had pressed up against me during it, just like they had in the stairwell of her basement.
I also couldn’t forget the look in her eyes right before she left her kitchen, too disgusted and too angry to finish eating in my company. It was a real blow to my ego. It also led to two lectures from Tyson. The first was as my boss. He told me my behavior did not reflect on the professionalism of the department. The second was as my friend. “Maybe if you learned how to treat a woman, you might stop scaring them off.”
It hadn’t been my finest afternoon as an officer, interrogating a woman who’d offered to feed me in exchange for my help—even though it was help she hadn’t asked for and didn’t want. Needless to say, I was happy to have a day to myself. As I made my way towards the center of town, I thought about driving to the city for the day. Some time away from the people I loved and swore to protect might do wonders for my shitty disposition. Maybe I’d even find a woman to waste a few hours with.
The final leg of my run took me near Tulip’s Tribute, still looking sad and rundown. The flowers still grew, bright and colorful, which only made the statue and fountain look worse by comparison. Right there, in front of the statue of Tulip, was a familiar figure in a bright-pink catsuit that hugged every one of her curves. The sight was mouthwatering. The closer I came, the more tempted I was to run in the other direction. But that wasn’t who I was as a man.
“Elka.” Her body was contorted devilishly and I could hardly concentrate on the reason I’d stopped in the first place. That round tight ass was high in the air, making my fingers twitch to grab it again, while her head was practically on the ground. Her hands were flat on the ground behind her. “What are you doing?”
“Yoga,” she answered softly, not moving an inch.
“You can’t perform in the park without a permit.” My eyes snapped shut as soon as the words left my mouth, and I wanted to turn tail and run. I wasn’t that much of a dick—the guy who would harass a woman in the park.
She snorted but otherwise remained still. “I’m not performing, deputy. I’m doing yoga. The only audience here is you, and I was here first.”
“That’s not good enough, Elka. I don’t know where you’re from.”
Like someone had pulled a pin, she snapped back into a normal position on her feet, angry gaze settled on me. “That’s right, deputy, you don’t know me, and you don’t know a damn thing about me. Yet you seem to have all the pertinent information without any facts.”
“Who’s fault is that?”
She reared back like I’d struck her. “I don’t recall asking to be your friend, deputy, which means I don’t owe you any details about my life.” She crossed her arms, a move that pushed her breasts up even more. My mouth grew even more moist.
“You still can’t perform in the park without a permit.”
With a grunt and a professional-grade eyeroll, Elka stepped off her purple mat, rolled it up, and tucked it under her arm before she turned and marched away without another look back.
I enjoyed the sight of her walking away far more than I should have. My gaze was riveted to the swing of her hips until she was out of sight.
“You’re a real asshole. You know that, right?”
I turned at the sound of Nina’s sarcastic statement and was met with the angriest glare I’d ever seen. “I’m just doing my job, Nina. Something I think the citizens of Tulip appreciate.”
“Yeah, I think they would all love to know that you stopped Elka from doing yoga in the park because you like her, but you’re too much of a nutsack to say so.” She shook her head, hair falling around her shoulders in soft waves that were a sharp contrast to the hell shining in her eyes. “I’m sure you’ll get the Citizen of the Year award for running a small-business owner right out of town.”
Run Elka out of town? The thought had never even occurred to me. “You ca
n’t perform in the park without a permit.”
She stared at me for a long minute, her expression serious as hell. Then Nina threw her head back and laughed loud and long and hard. It was too early in the morning for such noise but she, as always, didn’t give a damn. “That’s a stretch, even for you, Antonio. Maybe just admit you like her before you do or say something you can’t take back.”
“She doesn’t need you to fight her battles, Nina.” Women like Elka always let other people fight their battles and they walked away unscathed, leaving a world of pain int heir wake.
“Maybe. Maybe not. The truth is, you don’t know a damn thing about Elka or what she needs. Get your shit together before Janey throws you off the calendar.”
“Be my guest.” I snorted because that was the best thing that could happen to me at this point.
“You say that now, but I have a feeling Tyson and Mayor Ashford might think differently about it.” Nina gave me another long, assessing look that made me feel like a little boy who just didn’t measure up, and then shook her head in disgust. “You might be nice to look at, Vargas, but right now, that’s the only thing you’ve got going for you.” Before I could respond, Nina had whirled on her heels and stomped away, grumbling about “annoying, stubborn ass men who deserve a kick in the balls.”
When Nina was out of sight, I turned and ran in the opposite direction, pushing myself another five miles until my legs quivered with exhaustion and sweat drenched my entire body. Only then did I turn and head towards home, carefully avoiding even a glance at the small cottage across the street.
Nina didn’t get it. None of them did because they hadn’t seen what I’d seen, hadn’t experienced the things I had. They didn’t know the dangers that women like Elka brought with them.
I did.
* * *
After recovering from my run, I spent most of my day off doing adult things like cleaning my house, paying bills, and grocery shopping. It wasn’t the most exciting day off in the world, but after my run-in with Nina, I didn’t much care. Besides, the sun was on its way behind the horizon, and I was headed to Black Thumb to hang out with some of the guys.
The rest of the afternoon had been so uneventful, I should have known it wouldn’t last. I locked the door and turned to scan the neighborhood, making sure everything was as it should be before taking off. That was when my eyes landed across the street. Not on the cottage or the woman, but the house next door. Paul Brinkley was on the ground with his toes facing the heavens, a familiar blond leaning over him.
Elka.
I was down the stairs in one leap and flew across the street, heart pounding as all the possibilities of what happened went through my mind. Paul Brinkley didn’t look good; his silver hair stuck up in all directions and his lips were an alarming shade of white, but not as alarming as the red color of his skin. “What happened?”
Elka didn’t look up or acknowledge she heard me at all. She continued to slather some thick, gritty cream all over his legs, arms, face, and head. “I don’t know. He was unconscious when I found him, but he’s breathing regularly. I’m treating the sunburn as best I can, but that’s all I can do.” Her voice was firm as she spoke, capable and certain. “It’s a little low but not alarmingly so. Fifty-two,” she said after another long pause.
I sat back and watched, listening closely as she answered the dispatcher’s questions all while keeping a gentle touch on Paul, offering up soothing words that he probably couldn’t hear. She didn’t need my help, not that she would ask for it if she did.
Paul’s eyes fluttered open and Elka smiled down at him as she set the phone down. “There you are, Mr. Brinkley. You gave me quite a scare.”
I wondered if it made me an asshole to feel jealous of the old man for getting such a bright smile out of her.
He smiled up at her and tried to sit, but Elka kept her hand on him to keep him still. “I must be dead to wake up to a sight so pretty.”
She laughed prettily. “I’ll be sure to tell Doreen you said so.” She quickly sobered and explained how she found him. “I don’t know how long you were out here, but you have pretty bad sunburn.”
“Aw dammit. I came out ’cause Doreen’s been after me to pull the damn weeds growing up the porch. Bent down and that’s the last I remember.”
“Heatstroke,” she said at the same time I did. “I’m just glad you’re all right, Mr. Brinkley.”
He smiled and tried to sit up once again, grunting his displeasure when her small hand pushed him back down. “You saved my life, sweetheart. I think it’s all right if you call me Paul.” The old man closed his eyes and his smile brightened as she rubbed the thick cream across his forehead and down the bridge of his nose.
“What the hell is that?”
Paul glared at my tone but Elka didn’t even look my way. “Aloe, honey, and oatmeal. Natural sunburn relief,” she said, her words reluctant and bland, like she was doing her best to ignore me without being rude.
Soon the ambulance arrived and Will jumped out with a serious expression on his face, not even bothering to take a moment to appreciate the feminine appeal of Elka. He just asked simple but short questions and Elka answered in kind, taking a few steps back to give them space to work on Paul. “Did you give him anything?”
“Nothing but the ointment on his skin.”
“All right, that’s good. You did good, Elka.” He flashed a tight smile, which she barely returned.
“I’m just happy he’s okay.” Her words were sincere. Honest.
Will nodded to the new guy who rode with him and they worked quickly but carefully to get Paul loaded onto the gurney.
“Wait!” Paul said.
“What is it?” Will asked as he began to search for additional injuries.
“Nothing like that, boy,” Paul answered and swatted Will’s hands away along with the new guy before he turned to Elka. “Will you come with me, dear?”
Her skin went pale at the old man’s request, but a beat later, she nodded and flashed a nervous smile his way. “Sure thing, Paul. I’ll see if Nina or someone can track down Doreen.”
“I’ll do it,” I volunteered because standing around for the past fifteen minutes made me feel as useless as tits on a fish.
“Don’t bother the woman. She’s probably on her way back from the city with the twins. They went shopping.”
Denied once again. “All right. Let me know if you need a ride home, Paul.”
The old man lifted a hand and waved as the ambulance door closed between us. I stood in that spot for a long time, shocked and dismayed to realize that I might have been completely and totally wrong about Elka.
Maybe I was, but I still wasn’t completely sold on that idea.
Not yet.
Elka
One of my favorite things about Tulip specifically, and Texas in general, was the abundance of sunshine. It seemed there were more sunny days than gloomy ones, and today was perfectly beautiful, which made it the perfect day to make a few special deliveries to the locals who had supported my business. Their business meant everything to me and even though I didn’t understand why they were so compelled to help out, I was grateful enough that I’d gotten up early this morning to bake a batch of lavender shortbread cookies as a small gift of thanks.
With my car in working order again, I took my time and enjoyed the cool morning air as I loaded the car and made the short drive to my first stop. The door opened and both Mimi and Trixie appeared in track suits that were exactly the same, except in color. Mimi wore a vibrant red and Trixie’s was a deep green.
“Good morning, Elka.”
I shook off the creeps caused by them speaking in unison, and beamed a smile at them. “Good morning, ladies. I have your order and a special gift of thanks for supporting my business.” They stepped aside to let me enter with the box that contained nearly a dozen different candles, a few bottles of essential oils, potpourri sashes, and even sunscreen because Tulip was a small town and word had spread q
uickly about what happened with Paul. The whole town was behaving like I was some kind of hero, but I did for Paul what anyone would have. He was a nice old man and I could listen to the story of how he and Doreen met and fell in love a thousand times.
“This personal touch makes me feel very important,” Mimi admitted, an adorable pink tint to her cheeks.
“Then you’ll love these lavender shortbreads. I made them this morning.” Before Mimi could grab the decorative box, Trixie scooped them up and bit into one.
“My goodness, girl. You cook like this and you look like that? I’d be real careful if I were you. A younger version of me might put itching powder in your panty drawer.”
Mimi snorted. “A younger version? Didn’t you threaten Betty with the same thing last week?”
Trixie huffed and crossed her arms. “That’s only because …” Whatever else she was going to say was halted by a very long, intense, and silent twin conversation between the two women.
Knowing when it was time to leave was becoming a specialty of mine. I inched towards the door. “I hope you enjoy your products, ladies!”
“Wait!” Trixie darted off with the box of shortbreads still in her hand and returned a moment later. “We made you some more of the corn jelly since you seem to like it so much.”
“I do,” I told her, oddly touched at the gift. “Thank you. This is very kind.”
Now it was Mimi’s turn to snort. “Don’t you believe that for one second, little girl.” She flashed a smile that took the sting off her words. The moment she found her opportunity, Mimi made a grab for the cookies. “Thanks again, honey.”
My face was fixed into an amused smile as I made my way towards the car because those old ladies reminded me so much of me and Austin, always bickering just because it was our default. Taking each other’s crap because it was a fun to get a rise out of your siblings. My smiled grew just a little bit wider when I realized it didn’t hurt as much to think about Austin anymore.
Mr. Cop: An Enemies to Lovers Romance Page 7