Chapter Thirteen #3
Tess wasn’t sure what everything else meant—probably the move up from LA, starting a new job, the encounter with the guy in the café parking lot.
She put her arm around Bree’s shoulder and pulled her close as she looked at the almost full moon.
Forget trying to figure out the cordial-amiable-friendly boundaries for the moment.
“I’m sorry this is happening to you. As upsetting as it is, those tires can be fixed or replaced.
And between your brother and me, you aren’t going to have to walk to work.
I promise.” Tess bent in closer and brushed her lips on Bree’s cheek, taking in the familiar scent of her fragrance, one of those Tahoe recollections that she couldn’t seem to forget.
Bree turned her head sideways, and her lips found Tess’s.
They were warm and soft and tasted of Bree.
Tess closed her eyes and sank into the connection.
Maybe it was an imbalanced equation, something with so much more on her side than Bree’s, but she wanted it, she’d take it, if just for this moment.
Headlights came down the street and swerved to a stop at the curb. Tess pulled back as the police chief’s car door slammed. Both Tess and Bree stood up as she approached them.
“Judge Fairchild. Once again.” The middle-aged, auburn-haired police chief reached out and took Tess’s hand. She didn’t even try to suppress the bemused smile as she tilted her head toward Tess. “Nice jacket.”
“Thanks to Judge O’Brian here.” Tess looked down at the borrowed attire—neon pink certainly wasn’t her normal fare. “I appreciate you coming, Chief Myers.”
The chief turned to Bree. “I’m happy to finally meet you, Judge O’Brian, but sorry for the circumstances.
I’m Stella Myers.” The chief shook Bree’s hand, and they discussed the events of the evening.
Then the chief took her flashlight and quickly walked around the Mazda, surveying the deflated tires spotlighted in the beam.
She made another, much slower circle of the car, this time closely examining each tire and the body of the vehicle.
“The car body looks okay, and I don’t see any superficial damage to the tires or the valve stems.”
Chief Myers unscrewed the valve cap on the front left tire, and after a quick examination she plucked out a small dried bean.
“Here’s the culprit—it pressed on the valve when the cap was screwed down and slowly let out the air while you were gone for several hours.
It had to be done on purpose.” She walked around the car and removed a similar bean from each of the other three tire caps.
“What if I grab the portable pump from my car and we reinflate them? I suspect they’ll still be good in the morning. ”
“And tomorrow is Sunday, so if the chief didn’t fix it, I can help you tomorrow,” Tess told Bree.
The chief collected her pump from her car, and while they waited for her to finish, Bree informed Tess that Hank had just texted and he was home, so Gabby wasn’t alone this late at night. Bree was obviously relieved that she didn’t need to worry about Gabby too.
“Let me know tomorrow if there’s any further issue with the car, but I suspect all they needed was to be reinflated.
And I’d recommend house and yard alarms.” Chief Myers handed Bree her card.
“I’m just wondering if this is the stick after you turned down the carrot in the Maria’s Café parking lot.
Maybe an intimidation show. Not that I know what’s going on, but I’d certainly like to.
I’ll inform the county sheriff too. And don’t hesitate to call me.
I don’t like this.” The police chief wished them both a good evening and left.
“I’d better head on home and see if the cats left me anything to drink,” Tess said.
“Hopefully something stronger than a bowl of milk. I’d invite you in, but—”
“But that’s not a good idea.” Their kiss had only fed that deep quiver at the focal point of Tess’s elevating libido—if they were going to stop at a kiss, now was the time.
And she needed to stop at a kiss. She didn’t want to be a friend with benefits.
That was a recipe for more pain because she wanted so much more.
Bree touched her arm. “I’m sorry. This attack feels personal, and I know I’m upset…and exhausted.” Bree shook her head. “Too much going on. Too much to sort out. But you need to know how much I appreciate your company and support tonight.”
Tess nodded. She was beat too, but she decided not to leave before one last comment, not to go home stewing about the raffle envelope in her car.
She’d decided, as they’d sat on that porch and she’d felt the chemistry of that kiss, that she was fool enough to leave the door ajar.
She could probably handle a small crash.
“I’d like you to share my raffle win,” Tess said. “Shall we schedule a meeting to watch whales with a bit of follow-up food?” She held her breath as her emotions yo-yoed again.
Bree nodded. “A meeting with you, me, and a pod of Moby Dicks on the agenda. I’m in.”
The yo-yo took an upswing.