Starting Over at Lane's End (Harlequin Heartwarming) (8 page)

“I know a lot of kids, but I can’t think of any who would actively want to hurt Melissa.”

“What about you? Have you had trouble with a student lately? Know of anyone who could be holding a grudge?”

“Not really.”

Gen wrote down some notes, doing her best to act calm and collected. But inside her stomach was churning. It had been hard entertaining thoughts about Keaton when he’d been her partner, but this was twice as hard.

Instead of concentrating on Cary’s answers, she was remembering how good it had felt to be with him after their run. How much she’d enjoyed kissing him.

But all that mattered now was her job. She was a professional—and finding out who was so angry at Melissa and Cary had to come first. Later on, if things were as good as she hoped they were between her and Cary, she could concentrate on that. Closing her notebook, she stood. “I’ll get your things to school.”

He reached out and gripped her hand. “Whoa, there. That’s it?”

His fingers were warm, his gaze completely leveled on her. “What...what do you mean?”

“I mean, you’ve told me nothing.”

“As of right now, there’s nothing to tell, Cary,” she said softly.

He didn’t release her hand. Instead he tugged her a bit closer. “What’s going to happen next?”

For a split second she thought he was talking about them. But he couldn’t be...right? Clearing her throat, she murmured, “I’m going back to your school to deliver your things and then report to Sergeant Conrad.”

“Gen...how’ve you been?”

Snap. Just like that, all thoughts of the case slipped away. Slowly she exhaled. “Truth?”

“Of course.”

“I...I’m all scattered inside.”

“I feel the same way.” He inched closer, ran a hand along her arm, the touch marking her through the thin fabric of her shirt.

“Yeah?”

“Uh-huh.” Oh, he smelled so good! She stepped closer. Cary pulled her into a hug. “Maybe later you can stop by,” he whispered. “Have a soda. Eat some nachos. You know...when you’re off duty.”

Nachos brought back thoughts of Mexican food, which brought back thoughts of the kiss after their date. Her mouth went dry.

“After we eat, I’ll rub your shoulders.” He leaned back to look at her. “You’re looking awfully tense, Slate.”

She was feeling pretty tense all of a sudden. “I really better get your things delivered. I mean, think of all those poor math students dying to do equations.”

He laughed. “I can promise you, not one of them is going to care about not having anything to do. At the moment, I’m not thinking too much about algebra, either.”

She was having a hard time concentrating on anything herself. “What are you thinking about?”

“Us. You.” He tilted his head. “I’ve been thinking about you a lot.”

This was where she should admit the same thing. Looking into his eyes, she knew he was waiting for her to give him some kind of sign. Something to propel him forward, to stop dancing around their attraction and to step into a real relationship. But...she wasn’t quite ready.

What if she was wrong? She couldn’t bear the hurt she’d felt when Keaton had rejected her. Hastily she stepped back and picked up his books from the table. Holding them to her chest, she said, “I really better go deliver these. I’m on the clock, you know.”

“I understand.”

Did he? She didn’t. At the moment, nothing made sense. “We should talk later.”

“I agree. But first we should do this.”

He leaned forward to kiss her. Oh, she wanted it, but if he kissed her that minute, she was going to be even more mixed up. And late.

She really needed to get going. “Cary...maybe...I don’t think so.”

“I definitely do.” Cary reached out and cupped her chin, ran those long fingers along her jaw. “I can’t stay away from you. I don’t want to, anyway.”

No one had ever talked to her like this. So honest, so unafraid to meet any situation full-force. Her hands went limp, causing the books to slide to the floor.

One landed on her boot. She hardly noticed. “Later, when we talk, we should discuss this attraction between us,” she said.

He brushed his lips along her jaw. “Uh-huh?”

“Yes. We can come up with a plan.”

“A plan?” he asked, kissing her again.

Work was definitely overrated. Finally giving in, Gen slipped her hands around his neck and kissed him back.

He tasted minty and warm and exactly the way she remembered. Like everything she’d dreamed a kiss could be when she’d stayed home on Saturday nights in Beckley.

Then she remembered what she was supposed to be doing. Breaking off the kiss, she pulled out of his arms. “I really gotta go. Now.” Hurriedly she picked up her notebook, gathered his books and ran out.

“I’ll call you, Gen,” he said as she rushed to her cruiser.

“Great,” she called out, tossing his poor, beaten-up textbooks onto the passenger seat before slipping the car into Reverse and pulling out of his driveway.

She couldn’t resist looking for him out her rearview mirror as she drove away. He was leaning against his garage door, Sludge by his side, watching her go.

It was almost enough to make her believe in love.

* * *

G
EN
PLAYED
PHONE
tag the rest of the day with Cary. Her first message stated she had nothing to report. Her second said she’d see him later.

While she was in a meeting, she received a call from him. “I know we talked about getting together tonight, but I can’t,” he’d said, his voice regretful. “This vandalism thing’s affected Melissa more than I thought. As much as I want to see you, Melissa needs me tonight. Call me tomorrow.”

She phoned him hours later. “I didn’t want to go to bed without telling you good night.” With a deep breath, she added, “Thanks for calling. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

Chapter Ten

T
HAT
NIGHT
, B
ONNIE
knocked twice on Gen’s door before letting herself in and speaking her mind.

“Your dog is a menace,” Bonnie stated matter-of-factly as she stepped into Gen’s apartment with a container of homemade chili and enough brownies to make the most ardent chocoholic happy. “She needs a warning label pasted to her side.”

Saying Sadie was a menace was pretty much like saying she was a beagle—they were one and the same. After gesturing for Bonnie to take a seat on the couch, Gen said, “What’s she done this time?”

“Nothing good. First of all, she howled nonstop all day.”

That certainly didn’t sound menacing. “Hmm. I wonder what was bothering her.”

“I wonder what wasn’t.” With a steely-eyed glare at Sadie, Bonnie continued. “Around lunchtime I took pity on your girl and let her out. The minute that dog was free of the house, though, she strode right over and trampled my petunias I just planted.”

“The petunias, huh?”

“Oh, don’t give me that policewoman look, Officer Slate,” Bonnie said crisply. “Sadie zeroed in on the only blooming thing in the whole backyard. Before I could get to her, she’d already begun her search-and-destroy mission.”

That sounded premeditated. “I don’t know. I just don’t think she’s that smart.”

“Humph. She’s got you fooled.”

Gen bit her lip, knowing it would be futile to argue. Sadie learned from her poor behaviors. If Bonnie kept taking her out when she howled, Sadie would continue to howl. Loud and often.

Of course, terrorizing the petunias was a mystery.

Because Bonnie was still giving Gen a look that would do any interrogator proud, Gen went through the motions of acting as if she understood why Sadie was the way she was. “Have you seen any rabbits around? Sadie loves to chase rabbits.”

“Not a one.” If daggers could have gone shooting out of her landlady’s eyes, Gen would need a hundred stitches.

O-kay. “I’ll try to figure out why she’s howling so much and will replace your petunias. Thank you for—”

“Hold on there. I haven’t even gotten to the worst part.”

“I’m afraid to ask.”

“Sadie ate my chicken pie.”

Gen glanced again at the chili she was holding. “Huh?”

“I made a pie for some people at church. After the howling and petunia incidents, I brought Sadie in to clean her paws, and that’s when it happened.”

Gen joined Bonnie on the couch. She distinctly recalled sharing with Bonnie the cardinal rules about living in harmony with Sadie. Rule number one: never leave her alone in the kitchen. Rule number two: never forget rule number one.

Bonnie just kept talking. “I wasn’t gone more than three minutes when I heard my favorite pie plate clatter to the floor and break in two. That rotten beagle didn’t even have the decency to slow down or slink away when I came back in and gave her a piece of my mind. No, ma’am. She just started eating faster!” Finally Bonnie paused to take a breath.

Gen glanced at Sadie. Contrary to Bonnie’s description, the beagle did now look genuinely contrite. At the moment, she was attempting to fit her pudgy girth under one of the kitchen chairs. It wasn’t going too well.

“I’m sorry about the pie and your plate.” Looking at the bright white Tupperware container, Gen said, “Where did the chili come from?”

“I made it as soon as I cleaned up that mess.”

“Oh, my. You must have been in the kitchen all day.”

“I was.”

“I’m so sorry, Bonnie. I’d have never asked you to take her out today if I’d known she was going to be so much trouble.”

“Don’t you fret. It’s Sadie I’m put out with, not you.”

Warily Gen examined Sadie. Now safe under the table, she was staring at Gen with her familiar soft brown eyes, looking for all the world like a candidate for the Westminster Dog Show. “I think she feels really bad now.”

Bonnie looked skeptical. “She’s probably just digesting.”

Gen searched for anything to talk about besides her dog’s poor manners. “I saw Cary Hudson again today.”

“Did you two go out on another date?” Bonnie asked hopefully.

“No.” Not wanting to reveal too much, Gen said vaguely, “There’s been some vandalism going on at the high school, as you may have heard, and I had to speak to him.”

“Yes, word’s been going around town that things are a real mess and Cary’s smack-dab in the middle of it.”

Gen hid her grin. One of the drawbacks of living in a small town is that secrets don’t stay secret for long. “I’ve never asked, but do you know Cary very well?”

“Fairly well,” Bonnie said, her petite frame reminding Gen of Alice in Wonderland. Curling her feet underneath her, she added, “I go to the same church as the Hudsons. Have forever.” Looking at Gen fondly, she said, “Oh, you should have seen Dean and Cary when they were small.”

She wished she had. “Cute?”

“As all get-out! But hardworking, too. Cary and Dean were typical pastor’s children. If anyone ever needed a helping hand, they were put into service. They helped mulch the neighbors’ beds, raked leaves. They participated in church services, sang in the choir. It almost became a kind of joke guessing what Pastor Hudson might have Cary and Dean do next.”

“It sounds nice,” Gen said, imagining what a younger Cary would have been like.

“They were nice. A happy family.” With a frown, Bonnie shook her head sadly. “It was a sorrowful day when those boys lost their mother to cancer, then their father right after. Pastor Hudson was a wonderful leader, and their mother a giving woman.”

Taking the opportunity to pick Bonnie’s brain, Gen said, “I’m having a hard time figuring out why Cary or Melissa would be targets of vandalism. Based on what you’ve been saying, both seem so popular.”

“I’m sorry, Gen, but I have no idea who could be responsible. Luckily that’s your job and not mine.” Gesturing toward Gen’s tiny back porch, Bonnie hopped up. “What’s all this?”

With a groan, Gen realized all her brand-spanking-new gardening supplies were sitting in a pile out in the open, her plants looking anemic. “Oh. Easter lilies. I’m going to take up gardening.”

“Best take it up soon or you’re going to kill these little guys.” Bonnie scurried to the sink, grabbed a glass off the counter and filled it with water. “You might not have heard, but you’re supposed to
water
plants,” she said, handing Gen the glass.

Obediently Gen poured a small amount into each pot. “I didn’t know you could be so sarcastic.”

“I’m finding out new things about you, too.” Gesturing toward the plants, she said, “I’ll help you plant them tomorrow, if you like.”

“Thanks.”

“Well, it’s six-thirty—time for you to eat and for me to go deliver chili to Mrs. Johnson. She hurt her leg last week.”

“Do you need some help?” Gen asked, thinking that Bonnie wasn’t too spry herself.

“Not yet. You go eat now, dear.”

After Bonnie’s departure, Gen gratefully heated up the bowl in the microwave, added cheese, then sat down with a cold drink and the television for company.

Sadie, never one to let a hot dish be ignored, circled her affectionately, as if Gen were some kind of fool.

Balancing her bowl of chili on her lap, Gen reached down and scratched Sadie’s ears. “I’m not falling for that trick. I know exactly how your mind works.”

Sadie dipped her head down in disgust, finally lying right on top of Gen’s feet. “That’s okay, girl. I’m ready to relax, too.”

As sitcoms flashed before her, Gen thought of Bonnie and her chicken pie. Of the bowl of chili and Mrs. Johnson. Like cogs in a wheel, they all seemed to go together... Bonnie helping everyone as she saw fit...Mrs. Johnson, like Gen, delighted to eat a home-cooked meal.

Which made her think of home. Next thing she knew, Gen was calling Margaret for the second time in two weeks.

“’Lo?” Meg said the moment she picked up the phone. “This had better be good, because I’ve got a four-year-old having a temper tantrum.”

Laughter erupted before she could stop herself. “Hey, Margaret. It’s Gen. What happened to your fancy caller ID?”

“I’m on an extension. Wait a sec and let me calm Emily down.” Pure pleasure tinged her voice when she returned. “I can’t wait to hear why you’re callin’ now.”

Gen ate another bite of chili as she heard Margaret fuss with Emily. Within seconds the soothing sounds of Barney the dinosaur filtered through the phone.

“Emily does love Barney,” Margaret said by way of explanation. “Is everything okay? Anything wrong?”

“Everything’s fine.”

“You sure?”

“I’m fine. I’m home. Eating chili with Sadie.”

“Oh, chili sounds good. I’m eating a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich with Emily while the baby’s sleeping.”

Because Margaret’s voice was still tinged with expectation, Gen said, “I didn’t really call for a reason...I was just thinking about you.”

“How’s the gardening coming along?”

“Not so good. I’ve bought the plants but haven’t had time to get them in their pots.”

“It’s a start. Even though you don’t ever have to call for a reason, I’m thinking you did. Let me guess—a certain man is still on your mind.”

“You’d be right.”

“So...are you actually dating?”

“I’m not sure.” So far she’d gone out with Cary twice and had shared a couple of pretty incredible kisses, but she couldn’t say if this was going to be a regular thing.

“What’s the guy’s name?”

“Cary. He’s a schoolteacher. He has a beagle, too.”

“So you’ve got lots to talk about.”

“Sometimes.” Gen didn’t have the heart to admit that so far most of their conversations had been about vandalism.

“I bet things are going to work out just fine. Just don’t be afraid to be yourself.”

That was good advice. Gen only wished she could learn to follow it. “Margaret...do you ever wish we were closer?”

After a pause, she replied, “Always.”

“I guess I’ve pulled away.”

“I’d say you have, some. But I let you do it, which isn’t good, either. I’m ashamed that I let you do it. It was easier than to judge my life against yours.”

“What? You’re perfect.”

“Hardly. You’re the one with the exciting job. I’m only a stay-at-home mom.”

“And Momma loves you for it. Everyone loves you for it!”

“People might admire me, but they brag about you.”

Gen was genuinely stunned. “I never imagined that.”

“’Course you wouldn’t—Momma was never one to give compliments freely. You know how that goes. On my wedding day she told me it was really too bad I had a pimple on my chin.”

Gen laughed so hard the chili almost fell into Sadie’s waiting mouth. “You looked gorgeous. Everyone thought so.”

“Everyone but you-know-who.” In the background, Gen heard the door slam. Gen could hear Shane calling for Margaret in between the sobs of their little boy.
“Uh-oh. I’d better go. Call me back later. Hey...maybe one day I could come out and see you.”

“I’d like that,” Gen said, surprised with how much she meant it.

“Good. Ask me and I’ll do it. Talk to you soon.”

By now the chili was cold, but that didn’t matter. What had just happened with her sister made everything seem okay.