Justice for Willa (Police and Fire: Operation Alpha) (San Antonio First Responders Book 10)

Chapter 8

WILLA

There was this strange feeling in the air. Something buzzing... dully but buzzing in the space between them.

It had to be her imagination.

It was likely all of the adrenaline from the day”s events. This wasn”t about getting out of the house. She did that.

Quite a lot, actually.

But it was the people.

People watching her. Listening intently.

There were also people looking at her with suspicion in their eyes.

She understood their feelings. She was just a civilian who they likely thought was just dabbling in this kind of a situation. Then there was the open affection that her grandfather had shown her.

Willa wasn”t even sure how she felt about his kiss, but it likely had a cooling effect on the opinions of some of the people in the room.

”Ah, I uh...”

Willa looked up and realized that she”d gone silent, standing there in the room with Landon.

He looked a little uncomfortable, moving his gaze from the room back to her face.

”I bet you”re exhausted after today.” He gestured toward the front door. ”The security system is up, and you”ve got your password in a text from Tex.” He took in a breath, his shoulders raised, and his chest expanded. ”So, if you’d like to have some private time to yourself, I can head out and we can talk more about the taskforce tomorrow. Maybe on the phone, or-”

”Are you hungry?”

That stopped him short.

And the look on his face said he didn”t know.

The skin above his nose furrowed a little as his expression became a little more thoughtful.

”We didn”t have lunch, did we?”

Willa was a little shocked. He”d turned the question back on her.

”Yeah. I mean, no. We didn”t.”

”So... are you hungry?” ”Are you hungry?”

They both chuckled and smiled, having asked each other the same question.

Landon replied first. ”Yeah. I am.”

Willa nodded her head and moved toward him, taking his arm as she walked back toward the front door. ”Good. Then we”ll go and get something to eat.”

”Okay.”

She stopped just short of the door and watched him key in his password to disarm the security system.

”It”s different from yours,” he explained before he opened the door and stepped out ahead of her, ”that way we know who comes in and out of the house. A back up to the security cameras in case something happens.”

He finished his explanation and turned back to look at her.

”Everything looks clear.”

Willa smiled and stepped out and into the protective spot at his side while he closed the door and made sure that the keyed locks were set, too.

”Where do you want to go?”

She looked up at him with an easy smile. ”The One Star.” She gave him the address.

His brow furrowed a little more. ”One Star?”

Knowing her joke had hit home, she shrugged. ”I bet you”ll love it.”

”Ohhhhkay.” He walked her back to his SUV and opened the passenger door for her, blocking her from any curious eyes or any possible danger. ”I”ll hold you to that bet.”

She sat in her seat and leaned back a little when he reached over with the seatbelt. When it slid home into the buckle he gave her a knowing look.

”What... what”s that for?” She heard her own voice soften.

He gave her a wink. ”Didn”t want you to change your mind and try to sneak away after giving me the address.”

He closed her door and walked around the front of the SUV, his eyes on her the whole way.

It didn”t make sense, but Willa looked down at her clothes, hoping everything looked okay.

Silly!She told herself. You”re wearing the same clothes you”ve had on for hours!

Landon opened the driver”s door and climbed in, looking over his shoulder into the backseat.

When he turned back and started the SUV, Willa looked back between the seats. ”You were worried about your hat?”

”It”s part of the uniform,” he told her and looked at her before he looked out the back window to reverse. ”I wasn”t sure if I”d brought it inside or left it out here.”

That sounded strange.

Willa looked at him, curiosity overwhelming her. ”You forgot where you left it?”

Landon”s shrug wasn”t as easy as she expected it to be, but before she could ask him about it, he explained.

”It”s not that I forgot, specifically. I get focused on you... other things slip out of my head.”

Willa wasn”t sure how to take those words. It didn”t help that her mind slipped a little when she was around Landon, too.

”Not about your safety. That”s not what I”m saying.”

She looked down a little as they turned onto the main street near her neighborhood, her lips pressed tightly together, and she bit into her bottom lip before looking up. ”I didn”t think that at all.”

”Good.” His shoulders relaxed as he turned into the parking lot and found a space at the far end. He put the SUV in park and turned to look at her. ”When it comes to your safety, that”s my first priority. I need you to know that.”

She felt the gravity of his words and saw the determination in his eyes.

”If there”s one thing I”m sure of,” she swallowed at the lump that formed in her throat, but it was as stubborn as she was and stayed right where it was, ”it”s that you”re serious about your job.”

Willa pressed her hands against her thighs to keep her from reaching up and touching the scars under her chin.

”I”m alive because of you and how dedicated you are. If I had to become a part of someone’s assignment, I’m glad I’m yours.”

Landon reached over and covered one of her hands with his. Willa swallowed again as she felt his fingertips graze her thigh.

”You”re more than an assignment, Willa.”

He held her gaze for a moment and before she could gather up her thoughts enough to say something in reply, he opened his door and stepped out.

LANDON

He walked around the back of the SUV to take the time to look around the parking lot and peer into the windows of the diner. He also had to pull himself together.

It wouldn”t do either of them any good to blurt out how attracted he was to Willa.

She had enough weight on her shoulders.

He could wait and tell her after things settled down.

There was enough in her work to keep them busy for a long, long time. That was a sad statement to make, but an accurate one as well. He could wait to ask her out.

He had to.

When he reached for the door, he put what he hoped was a calm, relaxed smile on his face.

”Okay, here we are.”

The look she gave him said that she either saw right through his words, or maybe that was just the guilt that he was feeling for having the feelings that he was hiding.

He had his hand held out because even with the ”step” for the passenger side, it was a bit of a jump to get to the ground. She took hold of his hand, and he liked the weight of it in his. The way she grabbed a hold of his hand.

But once she was on the ground, she let his hand go.

The feeling of emptiness weighed on his hand more than her hand in his. He wanted to take her hand again, but that was definitely out of the question.

He was there to help her. Protect her.

Not hold her close.

No matter how much he wanted to.

He had to jog a few steps to get ahead of her and open the door, but when he did, he saw the two waitresses inside look up to see who was entering the diner. They both smiled as Willa stepped inside.

”Willa!”

”There she is!”

”Oh, who”s the hottie?”

Willa looked back at him, her cheeks warm and pink. ”I should have told you that I”m a regular.”

He leaned closer and spoke softly. ”I had a feeling you were.”

When he leaned back, he saw the waitresses exchange a knowing look. He gestured to Willa. ”We”re working together.”

”Oh?” The taller of the two nodded slowly. ”Working together.”

”Nice.” The shorter waitress gave him a wink and a toss of her head flicked her dark blonde ponytail in the air. She gave him a look from head to toe. ”Verrrrry nice.”

The taller waitress shouldered the shorter one out of the way. ”Hey, now. Behave.”

She picked up a menu and gestured at the diner. ”Pick a place, Willa. You caught us between lunch and dinner, so you have your choice of tables.”

”Would you...” She looked up at him, hesitating, ”Where do you want to sit?”

He shrugged and smiled. ”You pick the table. I just want to sit where I can see the doors.”

”Great.” She looked at the taller waitress. ”Margo? I”ll take my corner booth.”

Margo gave her a mock salute and gestured toward the corner. ”Lead the way.”

Willa walked off across the room and Landon started to walk after her.

The waitress stopped him with a hand on his arm. The woman was strong. Her hand on his arm felt like a metal band as she leaned in. ”You hurt her, cowboy. We”ll dump your body where they”ll never find it.”

He knew that she could see his Texas Ranger badge, but that hadn”t stopped her. She obviously cared for Willa, and he appreciated that. Nodding, he offered her a smile. ”I like your style, Margo.”

”Good.” She was very pleased with herself, and he was pleased too. ”You”re not so bad.”

”He”s a dish.”

He turned to see the other waitress leaning in. ”Uh, thanks?”

Margo rolled her eyes. ”Chloe, we don”t poach from our customers.”

Chloe shrugged. ”Willa”s friend more than a customer, so-”

”Chloe!”

”I had to ask.” She leaned to the side and gave Willa a wink. ”He”s cute, girlfriend!” Chloe gave Willa two thumbs up. ”Enjoy!”

Willa dropped her head into her hands.

Margo shushed Chloe away and took a hold of his arm again. ”Come on. Let”s get you seated before Chloe tries to rope you and tie you up.”

Landon coughed to hide his shock and walked over to the table. He smiled at Willa who was sitting on the booth seat beside the wall. He sat down and slid in next to her.

Margo put down the menu in front of him. ”Water? Coffee?”

Landon looked at Willa.

Margo chuckled. ”She”s having an iced tea. What about you, cowboy?”

Landon bit off a laugh. ”Coke. Thanks.”

Margo raised an eloquent eyebrow. ”Coke coke? Or another kind of coke?”

”Coke.” He smiled as she walked away and turned to look at Willa as her hand touched his arm.

”Sorry about that.”

Landon tried not to look down at her hand. He didn”t want to call attention to it and chance that she might remove it from his arm. He liked the feel of her touch too much. ”Don”t be. I think it”s nice that you have friends in your corner.”

”They”re not really...” Her voice drifted off.

”Friends?”

She nodded.

”Margo threatened to dump my body where it can”t be found. I”d say that they”re your friends.”

She blushed and rolled her eyes. ”Chloe sounded like she wanted to steal you away.”

His eyes widened at her words.

Hers did too and she looked everywhere but at him. ”I mean. It”s not like you couldn”t ask her out if you wanted to.”

Landon opened his mouth to speak, but Willa ran right over him.

”You could totally ask her out if you want to. I”m not saying that you couldn”t, Landon. I mean-”

”I don”t want to go out with Chloe, Willa. Take a breath.”

And she did.

A deep, lung-filling inhale. ”Oh.” Another breath. ”Okay.”

He smiled and opened the menu with his free hand. ”What are you planning to order?”

”My usual.” Her voice was barely audible.

He didn”t know what to make of the sudden whisper, but he wasn”t really looking at the menu either. He was planning to order something every diner had to offer.

”Willa?”

”Hmm?” She didn”t meet his eyes. Instead, she kept her gaze on the tabletop.

”Am I making you uncomfortable? If so, tell me how to fix it.”

She cast a glance at him out of the corner of her eyes and Landon knew he had something to do with it.

Willa opened her mouth to speak, but they were interrupted.

Chloe set down their two drinks on the table and then leaned her hip against the table and gave him a big grin. ”So, Margo”s in the ladies’ room so I came over to get your order.”

Landon turned back to Willa.

But it was the waitress that spoke. ”She”s getting her breakfast burrito.”

Landon turned back to look at the waitress. She was grinning at him.

”The question is what you want.” She gave him a large, obvious wink. ”So... what can I get ya?”

When Landon didn”t answer her right away, she leaned forward a little.

”My number?”

He shook his head. ”Sorry. No thank you. I”ll have a burger and an order of fries.”

Chloe sighed audibly. ”How do you want that burger? Hot?”

Landon felt like he wanted to close his eyes and hope this was all a nightmare. He could feel Willa shrinking beside him and he”d thought that Chloe liked Willa.

If that was the case, what was she doing?

”Oh no! Chloe!”

Margo was storming over toward their booth and Landon wondered if they should have just stayed in Willa”s house and ordered something in from Grubhub. Or hell, pizza!

”Chloe, what are you doing out here?”

Chloe shrugged. ”I”m taking their food orders! You were in the bathroom. Someone had to take their orders!”

”And you have our orders.” Landon gave Chloe a pointed look. ”I”m not going to give you, my number. I”m not interested in dating you. I”m-” He darted a look at Willa, but she was still looking at the tabletop. ”That”s all I have to say.”

The look on Chloe”s face changed and she nodded with a satisfied smile. She mouthed her next words to him.

I SEE YOU

She pointed her index and middle fingers at her eyes and then turned her hand around to point her index finger at him.

Landon groaned as Margo dragged Chloe away toward the kitchen.

”I”m sorry, Willa.”

She leaned over, her elbows on the tabletop and dropped her forehead onto her hands. ”It was a mistake to bring you here.”

Chuckling a little, he leaned closer until his arm brushed hers. ”It”s certainly... interesting.”

”And Chloe won”t leave you alone. This is like a disaster.”

”I”m just worried about you,” he leaned closer. ”If you want we can go somewhere else.”

She cast a look at him then. ”I would, but their breakfast burritos are so good.”

”So good that you order them for dinner?”

The look she turned toward him was wide-eyed and shocked. ”Breakfast is a meal you can... and should have for dinner a few times a week.”

”It is?” He chuckled. “What about lunch?”

”What about lunch?” She lifted her glass of iced tea and took a sip.

”Well, do you have lunch for breakfast? Or breakfast at lunch?”

”Breakfast for lunch, definitely.”

He smiled at her. ”You sound like you”re an expert on the subject.”

”I am.” She turned slightly on the booth seat and nodded. ”I”ve spent the last eight years perfecting my eating habits. If I could get away with having breakfastthree times a day, I would.”

“You know,” his smile stretched wider, “I think you’re on to something. Sometimes at night when I get home from a long shift. I think about making a sandwich with a fried egg in it.”

Willa tapped his upper arm with her hand. “You should do just that! Even better if you make it with some warm ham or bacon.”

“Or both?” He leaned into the idea not just because it sounded delicious, but because she was enjoying the conversation.

“I like the way you think, Ranger Cooper.”

“That’s probably because it’s the way you think, Miss Abelson.”

She nodded and he had to draw in a deep breath. She was beautiful at any moment of the day, but when she was smiling… happy, she was gorgeous.

“Good. I’m glad you two stayed.”

Hearing a man’s voice, Landon reached his arm out and wrapped it around Willa’s shoulders, tucking her into his side.

The man he saw moving across the diner’s checkerboard floor wasn’t a danger.

Unless Landon was worried that either of them would get high cholesterol from the food on the tray.

The man was likely in his fifties, almost to his sixties. His salt and pepper hair peaked out from under the old-fashioned paper hat on the man’s head.

Willa leaned in closer. “Hello, Mister Abe.”

“Hello, Willa! Good to see you again.”

Cooper’s mind was busy working on a puzzle.

Mister Abe. Ah-beh.

Why did that sound familiar?

“You might know my son Lincoln.” Mister Abe was apparently better at reading minds than law enforcement personnel. “He’s stationed at Fire House Seven with Chief-”

“Ethan Blaise.” Landon nodded. “I know your son. Good man.”

“Yes,” the older man answered eagerly, “he is.” He set the tray down on the table and put Willa’s plate before her first. “My extra special breakfast burrito for my extra special customer.”

He turned to look at Landon and the arm he had around Willa. “Remember,” he narrowed his eyes at Landon, “I have many, many knives and I know how to use them.”

Landon wasn’t sure how he felt about being threatened twice in less than an hour and propositioned a couple of times as well.

Chuckling to himself he spoke to Mister Abe. “I’ve already been warned, and I promise, sir. I’m going to take good care of Willa.”

“Good. Then you can have these.” The older man took a burger off of the tray and set it on the table. Next, was a huge box of fries.

The food looked and smelled amazing. Landon could swear he saw steam curling up from the burger.

The man picked up his tray and started walking away.

Landon spoke to his back, curious about something. “What if I hadn’t said that I’d take care of her?”

Tucking the silver tray under his arm, the older man turned back with an impish grin on his face. “Many, many knives.”

Beside him, Willa made a sound like a whimper.

And Landon turned back toward her in time to hear her murmur, “This is like torture.”

“I don’t know,” he leaned in to talk to her, “I think I’m having a lot of fun.”

Willa looked up at him, shock plain on her features. “I can’t believe it.”

“Believe what?” Landon reached for one of the fries and lifted it up from the container.

“That you’re having fun while the whole staff threatens you.”

He shrugged. “They want to protect you. I completely understand.”

“And Chloe? She’s never acted like this before.” Sighing, she continued. “Then again, I’ve only been here with Gus before. I guess I can’t blame her for thinking you’re hot.”

“Oh?” He bit into the fry and had to exhale over the bite to keep his tongue from being burned.

“It’s the beard, I think,” Willa lifted half of the burrito which came to the table cut. “It looks good on you.”

His smile softened as he saw her cheeks coloring with a blush again. “And I like seeing you happy. I like seeing you laugh, too,” he explained. “Because you’ve always been pretty, but like this? You’re really beautiful, Willa. Truly.”

She froze as if time stopped for a moment and Landon wondered if he’d messed things up.

But a moment after that he relaxed a little.

Willa gave him a tight-lipped smile and then she took a bite out of her burrito and started to chew, still smiling.

Landon picked up his burger and did the same.

He had a feeling that things were going to be okay.