Mine to Hold

Chapter 8

Rumor leaned against the counter. The lunch crowd had dwindled down to almost nothing. She glanced at her watch. Thirty minutes before her shift was over. She’d heard nothing from Emmerson all day. The fact that he’d slipped from the bed without her knowing or saying goodbye bothered her.

It shouldn’t. But it did.

She had no claim to him and last night was a fleeting moment. Two people who needed a connection. She had worried he might read more into it, but she wondered if she hadn’t meant anything at all, and that was troubling for a different reason.

She felt a little better when she made her way to his kitchen and found a note. She pulled it from her apron and unfolded it.

Rumor,

Sorry I had to sneak out. Duty calls. I’ll be in touch later. Help yourself to coffee, breakfast. Anything you need. Here is a set of keys. Please lock up when you leave. I’ll be in touch later.

Emmerson.

The front door to the café dinged and two women strolled in. She tucked the note back in her pocket. She stiffened her spine, smoothing down the front of her apron. “Welcome to the Safe Harbor Café.”

One of the women smiled as she looked Rumor up and down with a narrowed stare. “You’re new.” What an odd thing to say.

“I am. Just the two of you today?” Rumor asked.

“Yes. And we’d like that booth over there.” The woman pointed to the corner booth.

“Not a problem.” Rumor snagged two menus and showed the women to the table. “I’ll be right over with?—”

“We want two waters. No ice. With lemon. We also want two of Phil’s special lemon drops. Thank you,” the woman said as she eased into the booth. She had long blond hair, styled with big curls. She wore way too much makeup, but it went with her pricey shoes and designer clothes.

“Sure thing. Coming right up.” Rumor set the menus on the table and turned. She paused a few paces away and smiled. Though that quickly turned into a frown when she realized Emmerson was in uniform and he didn’t appear to be all that happy. “What are you doing here?”

He leaned in and kissed her cheek, letting his glorious lips linger for longer than what would be deemed appropriate. “I need food and coffee.”

“Take a seat anywhere. I’ll get that coffee right after I take care of?—”

“Emmerson, we need to finish our conversation. You hung up on me and that wasn’t nice.” The woman barreled past Rumor.

“I called you about something else and you never let me get it out. I don’t want to talk to you about your wedding or help you with Ben and Sarah,” Emmerson said.

“Come on. I know you and Ben are friendly these days.”

“I’m not getting involved.” He let out an audible sigh. “I’ll take a seat at the counter. If I wasn’t so damned tired and starving, I’d leave.”

“Sounds like you’ve had a day.” Rumor curled her warm fingers around his biceps. “I’ll get you that coffee.”

“I can’t believe you won’t do this for me. It’s not like I’m asking you to?—”

“Tessa, the answer is no. Go back to your booth and let me be. I’ve had a shit few days.” He climbed up on one of the stools with his strong shoulders slumped.

Tessa scoffed, turned on her three-inch designer heels, and stomped back to her booth.

Rumor gathered the waters and put in the ladies’ drink orders. Since the café wasn’t busy, the drinks would take only a few minutes, so she decided to pour Emmerson his coffee and give him what she assumed was some much-needed attention. “Are you okay? I don’t mean to pry, but you look as though you lost your best friend.”

“Stuff like this is never easy.” He ran his hand across his unshaven face. “You’re going to hear about this soon enough, so it might as well come from me.”

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

“There was another murder,” he said softly, closing his eyes for a moment. When he blinked them open, a tear fell. He quickly wiped it away. “Edwina.”

“Oh no.” She grabbed his hand and squeezed it tight. Not only for him, but for herself. “When?”

“I won’t know the exact time of death until we get the autopsy report and that could be awhile. But sometime after she left my house and four in the morning when I got the call.”

“Shit. I’m so sorry. I know you and she didn’t have a good relationship, or even a friendship, but I do know that you cared.”

“Thank you for that.” He lifted the mug and blew before taking a sip. “I feel like shit because of the way she left last night. If I had known those would have been the last words I spoke to her, I would have never said them.”

“You had no way of knowing.” Rumor took his hands. She could feel the pain flow from his skin to hers and it tore through her system like a runaway freight train. “You have to remember she crossed a line.”

He let out a curt laugh. “You’re the one who told me I wasn’t nice.” He lowered his gaze.

“I didn’t know the whole story when I said that. Look at me.”

He lifted his gaze.

“First, what she was doing to you was definitely harassment. You know that and you also know you let it go on too long. She left you with no choice but to be harsh. And second, what happened isn’t your fault.”

“I know that, but it still doesn’t make me feel any better.” He lifted her hand and kissed it. “Thank you for trying, though.”

“Um, excuse me,” Tessa called, waving her hand. “When you’re done flirting, would you mind getting us our water and drinks.”

“I’ll be right back.” She patted his hand.

“You can tell Tessa to fuck off,” Emmerson said, and not softly either.

“I heard that,” Tessa said.

Emmerson turned, glancing over his shoulder. “I called you a little while ago not because of Ben and Sarah. But instead of letting me tell you what happened, you gave me a fucking earful.”

“You were giving me a warning,” Tessa said.

“Not about that,” Emmerson said. “But since we’re on the subject. Leave Ben and Sarah the fuck alone; otherwise, it will become a police matter.”

“Using foul language isn’t necessary.” Tessa pursed her lips. “And I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Yeah, you do. And if it happens again, they will be calling me in an official capacity, not as a friend.”

“Are you threatening me?” Tessa lifted her chin.

“Consider yourself warned.” He palmed his mug and muttered a few obscenities under his breath. “And both you ladies please be careful. Lock your doors and be aware of your surroundings. You’ll understand more of why I said that when you watch the news tonight,” he said in a softer tone. “Call me or 9-1-1 if you see anything suspicious.”

“Is this because of what happened to Heather?” Tessa asked.

Emmerson nodded.

Tessa held his gaze for a moment before turning her attention back to her friend.

“I can’t tell if you hate her or still care about her,” Rumor said.

“It’s a little bit of both.” Emmerson shrugged.

“You’re a good man.” Rumor snagged a tray and placed the drinks on it. She made her way across the room and set the drinks in front of Tessa and Stacey. “Here you go, ladies. Do you know what you want?”

“Yes. We do,” Tessa said. “I’ll be having the summer salad.”

“I’ll do the same, thank you.”

“Coming right up.” Rumor turned, but Tessa grabbed her arm.

Rumor glanced down at the fingers curled around her wrist. “Is there a problem?”

“Woman to woman,” Tessa whispered. “Watch your back when it comes to Emmerson. While even I can admit he’s a decent human, he’s not boyfriend material. He’ll break your heart into a million pieces.”

“I don’t need advice from a woman I don’t even know.” Rumor jerked her arm free. She didn’t care if Tessa and her friend left her a shit tip. Or no tip. No one put their hands on her for no reason. “And don’t touch me again.”

Tessa lifted her hands. “Hey. Just trying to give you fair warning. But if you want to learn the hard way about the kind of man he is, well, that’s on you.”

“The man has had a rough day. Give him a break.”

“That’s the problem. His job is all he cares about. It sours every relationship he’s ever had. It will happen to you too.”

Rumor leaned a little closer. “Trust me. I know all I need to about Emmerson. And about you too.” She tapped the engagement ring on Tessa’s finger. “I just hope for your fiancé’s sake, you don’t cheat on him too.” Rumor turned on her heel, held her head high, and made her way back behind the counter. Fuck. She shouldn’t have said that. It wasn’t her place, but she hated cheaters. A woman she worked for back in Knoxville had a husband who had an affair and watching what she’d gone through had been rough.

“I’ve lost my appetite. You can cancel our order.” Tessa stood, slapping some money on the table. “You sure know how to pick them, Emmerson. And you love to tell people only one part of our story, leaving out the things you did.”

“For the record, he didn’t pick me. I chose him,” Rumor said. “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”

Emmerson chuckled.

“Glad I amused you,” she muttered.

“And me too.” Lucy Ann appeared from the kitchen carrying a plate with a cheeseburger and fries. “That woman is a bitch and I heard she got engaged to the guy she was cheating on Ben with.”

“I saw the rock. It was big. Gaudy actually,” Rumor said. “Who’s Ben?”

“An old friend,” Emmerson said.

“He used to be your best friend until that witch got her claws into him.” Lucy Ann placed the plate in front of Emmerson. “I just heard what happened to Edwina. I’m so sorry. I didn’t like her or what she did to you, but she almost wasn’t as bad as that one.” Lucy Ann pointed toward the door. “The way she used your career to justify her being lonely and cheating was pathetic.”

“She’s not wrong,” Emmerson said. “At the end of our relationship, I was never home.”

“Why do you always cut her a break?” Lucy Ann glared. “Tessa wanted you to leave the police department. So did Edwina. That’s unfair. All you’ve ever wanted was to be a cop.”

Emmerson laughed. “Let’s remember why Edwina wanted me to leave.”

“Okay. I don’t want to speak ill of the dead, but what did Edwina do and why would she want you to stop being a cop? I only ask because I know what Tessa did. I get her reasons. She wanted you in a nine-to-five position. And honestly, I’m not liking her much because what she said to me was a see you next Tuesday move.”

“That’s a nice way to call her what we all think of her,” Lucy Ann said. “And, Emmerson, you might as well tell Rumor because it will be on the news tonight. Your mom can’t contain this shit show.”

“I know.” Emmerson nodded. “But not on an empty stomach. I’ve had a shit day.”

“Take all the time you need, Mr. Saucy.” Rumor smiled.

Lucy Ann arched a brow. “That needs some explaining.”

“No. It does not.” Emmerson took a massive bite of his burger.

“Well now. I think I have my answer.” Lucy Ann disappeared back into the kitchen.

“Sorry. I was just trying to lighten the mood. It just came out.”

Emmerson caught her gaze. “I don’t care. But you might because my mother is coming to my house in a couple of hours to have a conversation with us both.”

Rumor glared. “Why would she do that?”

“Because I had to tell her that I was with you all night.”

“Jesus, why would you do that?”

“She got an anonymous tip from someone saying they saw you and Edwina fighting at one in the morning at Lucky’s Bar. But we both know that’s impossible.”

“But it’s my word against whoever gave this tip.”

He took her hand. “No. It’s our word and mine carries a lot of weight in this town.”

She swallowed. Hard. “Yeah.”

“I know what you’re thinking.”

“I doubt that,” she said softly.

“The real question is why does someone want to set you up? Because that brings me to the second tip we got.”

“I don’t think I want to hear this.”

“Someone told my mom it was you fighting with Heather before she was murdered.”

“But I didn’t even know?—”

“Relax. We all know this is bullshit. We just have to find out why someone in this town has it in for the new girl.”

“Easy for you to say. You’re not the one coming under fire.” She wiped her hands on her jeans. How the hell did this happen? What on earth had she done to anyone in this town? Her pulse pounded in her ears so loudly she could barely hear herself think.

“Nope. I’m not. But I am taking what’s happening personally.” He dunked a fry into some ketchup and plopped it into his mouth. “Someone is trying to redirect this investigation by having us focus on you. Whoever it is doesn’t know where you spent the night last night. It’s why I’ve asked some of my brothers to come over before my mom.”

“Seriously?” She glared. “Which brothers?”

“Rhett and Miles.”

“Fucking wonderful.” She smacked her hands against her thighs. “I get to be interrogated by a cop and two private dicks. Just how I wanted to spend my evening.”

He lowered his chin and arched a brow. “You’re being dramatic.”

“And you’re belittling how I feel right now.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to. But not a single person in my family believes you had anything to do with this. However, we do need to figure a few things out. My brothers and I want to get a jump on it because my mom can be intense.”

“You don’t understand how triggering this is for me. What it brings back from when I was taken into foster care.” While she could never tell him about Tony or what had happened, she had to give him something to sink his teeth into. Something that would justify her nerves. Her fear.

Emmerson wiped his hands on a napkin and leaned back. “I will make sure we keep that in mind. But can you tell me a little about that so we can be sensitive to it?”

“I don’t like talking about it.”

He nodded. “Hey, Lucy Ann,” he called. “Do you mind if Rumor clocks out a little early?”

“Nope. She’s all yours, Mr. Saucy.” Lucy Ann stuck her head out of the kitchen.

Emmerson shook his head. “You can’t call me that. Ever.” He reached around the counter and took Rumor’s hand. “Come on. We’ve got a little time before my family gets to my place.”

She snagged her bag and followed him out the door. “Cop car again,” she mumbled.

“Did something happen between you and the police that has left a bad taste in your mouth?” He leaned against the hood, pulling her between his legs and tight against his chest. He kissed her softly. It was sweet. Tender. It wasn’t a passionate kiss, but a caring one and it wasn’t something she was used to. Most men she became entangled with only kissed her when they wanted to end up in the sack. The only intent behind this was to show he valued her and that he cared.

“Yes,” she admitted, caving to the sensation that she’d successfully avoided her entire adult life. If she didn’t allow anyone too close, she’d never be hurt again. She’d never feel the pain of abandonment. Of betrayal. She could go through life with a sense of contentment and that was enough. But Emmerson made her want more and she found herself for the first time willing to share things she never had. “I lied about ever being in cop car.” She pressed her hand over his mouth. “It was when I was placed in foster care. I was young and scared. The police were all very kind. It’s not that I’m afraid of cops. But I didn’t want to go with them. I wanted to stay home, where I’d been living on my own for weeks. I knew for sure my parents would be home and I wanted to wait for them. Sometimes, even now, I wonder if they ever returned.”

“How long had you been alone? How old were you?”

“Eleven and I think it had been close to six weeks.”

He cupped her face, kissing her tenderly. “That kind of trauma sticks with you. I’m sorry. I can’t imagine what that was like for you. Have you ever tried to find your parents?”

She shook her head. That would require putting herself out there and that meant it was possible Tony could find her. That, she couldn’t have.

“Why not?”

“Fear, I guess.”

“What are you afraid of?”

“Learning they never came looking for me at all.”

He cupped her face, resting his forehead against hers. “That’s reasonable. I’d probably feel the same way. But if you ever want to, I’d be happy to help you.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“However, I can’t leave my work vehicle here. I have to drive it home.”

“I understand. I do. I don’t mind being in it. Or with you. It’s the rest of this that has me unnerved.”

“Trust me. I’m not thrilled with the situation either. I didn’t like having to tell my mother what happened last night. Or anyone else. That’s between us. But I’ve got two murders on my hands. Both women I went to high school with. One I took to a dance and one I dated for over two years and thought I was madly in love with. I tried to speak with Tessa about my concerns for her safety today, but all she cared about was me getting involved in something between her and her ex-husband.”

“Ex-husband?”

“Yeah. The man she cheated on me with, she married. He and I used to be best friends and we’re working our way back into a friendship, especially since Tessa slept with and now is engaged to his stockbroker. It seems to be a pattern with that girl.”

“If she’s with someone else, why is she bothering this man and his new girl?”

“Because she’s an event planner. The best in town and she won’t take on Tessa’s wedding out of principle and now she and Ben feel like they are being harassed, which they kind of are.”

“Jesus. Can I go get some popcorn? This is better than Real Housewives.”

He chuckled. “My life reduced to reality television.”

“I’m sorry. That was rude.”

“No. It was funny.” He batted her nose. “Come on. My brothers are probably waiting.” He pushed from the car and opened the door. “But if you start calling me Mr. Saucy in front of them, it will actually stick and we don’t want that.”

“We? Or you?”

“I don’t mind it.” He winked. “But can you handle being called Mrs. Saucy this early in the game?”

“Fuck no.” She fastened the seat belt. Boy, was she in way over her head. But what she struggled with the most was she liked it. She stared out the window. Of all the places she’d lived, she still liked Lighthouse Cove the best. The streets were filled with kind souls. People who greeted her with a smile and a friendly word. Even with everything that was going on, this sleepy seaside town sang to her heart. “Do I need to be prepped for this meeting?”

“A little bit.” He pulled into his neighborhood. “I want you to know that I would have done this no matter who you were and I started the process only because you were renting my pool house.”

“Why do I get the feeling we’re about to have our first official fight?” She gripped the door handle, ready for her fast getaway.

“At least I know we’re something official.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.” She shifted her gaze as he rolled to a stop in his driveway. “What did you do?”

“A background check.”

“You’re an asshole,” she muttered.

“No. I’m a landlord well within my legal rights. I just didn’t go about it the way normal people do and used my brother Rhett to dig into your background.” He held out his hand. “Before you storm off. Almost all of what we found is shit you basically told me. However, there are a couple of things we need you to connect the dots on and only because we want to keep you safe from whoever is killing people and trying to frame you for the crime.”

“Excuse me while I don’t feel as though you’re on my side right now.” She tugged on the handle.

He reached across the vehicle, holding her biceps. “I get you’re pissed. I probably would be too. But I need your help. And I also need to keep you safe.” He cocked his head. “Not to mention that I care about you.”

“You don’t know me.” She shoved his hand away. “You think you do because you read some file on me and slept with me. But you don’t. Now, I need to go change my clothes before you and your brothers rip my life apart.” She jumped from the front seat, glancing over her shoulder as the first of his brothers arrived.

She raced around the side of the house with her entire body shaking. Emmerson had checked into her past. He knew things. Maybe he knew about Tony. Other things.

Shit.

Lighthouse Cove was no safe harbor. Not for her. It had turned into her worst fucking nightmare dressed up in a sexy cop layered in betrayal.