Chapter Sixteen
Adam
I glanced at Brian, confused when he parked his cop car outside Lainey’s bakery.
“She’d have my hide if we went straight to my place without stopping.”
I chuckled as I opened my door. “She does have that mother hen thing going for her.”
“I was thinking mama bear, but close enough.”
“Yeah, I could see that, too.”
She was in the middle of waiting on a customer, but the minute she saw us walk in, she called to her employee who was wiping down tables.
The girl stopped what she was doing and walked toward the counter.
Lainey said something to the customer with a smile, then seconds later, rushed to greet us before we’d even made it halfway through the shop.
“Oh my God. What did the doctor say? Are you going to be okay? You’re not still leaving today, are you?” She pressed on my shoulders to turn me around so she could look at the back of my head. “Oh, thank goodness. I thought they were going to have to shave your head to put the staples in.”
Brian scowled. “Why would you care about that?”
She pursed her lips as she looked up at him dismissively. “Would you like to have a big bald spot on the back of your head?”
“Well, no.”
“Exactly!” Lainey grasped my elbow and led me to a booth by the wall, essentially ignoring the sergeant now. “Are you hungry? Can I get you a croissant? An éclair? I saw you eyeing the tarts yesterday. Or I have some leftover pizza from last night.”
Brian answered on my behalf.
“I’m taking him back to my house and getting him situated in my guest room. We’re having steaks and potatoes for dinner.”
“Oh, good. Make sure you pick up a salad, too. You can buy them prepackaged, you know. I don’t think you eat enough vegetables, Bri. I worry about you.”
“Fine, I’ll get a salad, too.”
“Maybe pick up some green beans or peas to go with your dinner...”
Brian grumbled, “Okay, Mom .”
That made her stop short.
“I’m sorry. You’re grown-ass men. I’ll shut up.”
I reached for her hand, then pulled my fingers back under Brian’s watchful eye. Lainey’s eyes tracked my hand, but she didn’t comment.
With a tender smile, I told her, “I think it’s sweet you’re worrying about us. Thank you.”
Brian hugged her around her shoulders. “I appreciate it, too. I’m sorry I called you mom.”
Lainey dropped her head to lean against Brian’s shoulder for a second. “You’re forgiven. I’ll try to quit mothering you.”
“Don’t. I know you’re just looking out for me.”
She nodded. “I am.” Glancing my way, she asked, “So, since you’re getting set up in Brian’s guest room, does that mean you’re staying a while?”
“At least for a couple of days. Dr. Williams thinks it would be best if I didn’t travel until I’ve healed.”
Brian interjected. “Angus offered him a job.”
She turned to me with wide eyes. “You’re going to be a Haven Springs cop?”
I watched her expression carefully when I replied, “I’m still thinking about it. But the Chief said I could start as soon as the doc clears me.”
“How long should that be?”
Was there excitement in her eyes?
“Maybe a week. But I haven’t decided what I’m going to do. My family is expecting me in Massachusetts. My brother has a job waiting for me with his construction company.”
“Oh.”
Her disappointment wasn’t just my imagination, and I kind of liked she wanted me to stay.
Me sticking around had bad idea written all over it in big neon letters flanked with waving red flags to drive the point home.
“I think my parents would be pretty upset with me if I didn’t come back to Lancastle.”
“Of course,” she said with a tight smile. “I’m sure they miss you.” Her fake smile morphed into a genuine one when she proclaimed, “But at least we get to have you around for a few more days! Let me get you guys something yummy to tide you over until you have your dinner!”
She disappeared behind the counter and Brian took the chair opposite me as we watched her carefully select baked goods from behind the glass display shelves.
“Did I ever tell you how Shawn and I ended up becoming best friends?”
Oh boy. I already knew where this was going.
I shook my head, and he continued without any further prompting from me.
“We met in kindergarten. The first day we had to line up alphabetically, and we were right next to each other. It didn’t take long for us to realize his first name was Shawn and my last name was O’ Shaughn essy, and my name was Brian and his last name was O’ Brien .
We were convinced that being best friends was basically out of our hands.
The gods had spoken. We decided right there in Mrs. Kanitz’s kindergarten class we would be best friends for life.
” He continued watching Lainey, while I watched him.
“And we were all through middle and high school, and even college. We talked about how we’d raise our kids together and be each other’s best man in our weddings… ”
“Then he was killed,” I supplied softly.
He finally looked at me, tears in his eyes, and nodded once. “Then he was killed, and those dreams of living next door to each other, and coaching our kids’ Little League teams together, and borrowing each other’s garden tools until we were old men were just gone. In an instant.”
“I know. I’m so sorry.”
I wondered if he knew I was the reason Shawn was dead, and that was the point of his story.
Then he continued, and it all made sense. “But he left his legacy with Conor, and by extension, Lainey. And I will protect her and that little guy with my life. Like I know Shawn would want me to.”
I hear you loud and clear, O’Shaughnessy.
“I will, too. Granted, it will have to be from Lancastle, or wherever I end up, so the burden will be more on you. But if you or they ever need me, I’ll come running.”
“That’s good to know. But it sounds like you’re not going to take the job, and that’s a little disappointing.”
Really? Cuz I was under the impression that’s exactly what you were aiming for. Me to stay the fuck away from Lainey and Conor.
I shrugged. “Well, I’ve got a little bit of time to decide.”
He grinned and whispered as Lainey walked toward us with a paper bag in her hand, “I can give you some pointers about what demands to make that the Chief won’t argue with you about.”
“Is that what you did?”
“Why do you think I took the sergeant’s job?”
*****
Lainey
“Gentlemen, here are your pastries. Brian, the eclairs I know you love, and for Adam, two tarts. I wasn’t sure which you’d like better, so I included a cherry and blueberry. I expect a full report tomorrow on your preference.”
“Did I get two eclairs?” Brian pouted.
I shot him a look. “Would I skimp on you?”
He stood with a satisfied smile and kissed my forehead as he took the bag from me. “Of course not,” then tried to hand me two twenty-dollar bills, but I threw my hands up.
“They’re on me.”
“Not happenin’ Lain. I’m not taking anything free from you. Not until you get the bakery up and running.”
“I’m not taking your money, Brian.”
His eyebrows went to his forehead. “If you don’t take my money, I’ll feel weird coming in here and won’t come by anymore.”
I gasped. “You wouldn’t dare.”
He raised his eyebrows defiantly. “Want to try me?”
Adam shrugged as he stood. “Take the money. Better to be safe than sorry.”
“Fine,” I grumbled as I plucked the twenties from Brian’s hand. “And I’m not giving you any change.”
The sergeant grinned at me in return. “Good.”
I pretended to be offended, but I loved that Brian made me take his money. I really was broke and needed it.
But I vowed that as soon as I could afford to, I would refuse payment and wouldn’t take no for an answer.
I appreciated Brian looked out for me and Conor, and was glad Adam was still in town and seemed to be doing okay, despite his injuries.
“Do you have any leads about who attacked Adam?”
Brian grimaced. “Not yet. We didn’t get any hits on the partial print we recovered from the bat we found. I’ll be by at the end of my shift to install additional locks on your apartment doors and make sure all your window locks are working.”
I felt my heart rate speed up.
“Do you think I’m in danger?”
He must have realized the panic he’d just instilled because he placed his hand on my arm and looked me in the eye.
“I don’t. Based on what the guy said to Adam, I think he was specifically targeted. But I’m not going to take any chances.”
Adam interjected. “I think we should install a camera, too.”
Brian nodded. “Already on it. It should be here tomorrow. For tonight, I’ll make sure whoever’s working the overnight shift patrols the area regularly.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
“Of course. In the meantime, put my number on speed dial and don’t be afraid to use it.”
“Mine, too,” Adam added.
“I will,” I promised. Conor’s cries came over the monitor, and I looked at them both with a smile. “I’m being summoned.”
Before I turned to go, Brian blurted out, “Hey, if you have some time in the next week or two… do you think you could text me when he’s awake, and I could swing by to see him?”
“Maybe I’ll even let you give him a bottle,” I teased.
“I’d like that.”
I glanced at Adam who was smiling tenderly at me as he told me, “Thanks for the tarts. I’ll report back tomorrow.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” I murmured.
I felt the blush creep up my neck when I remembered the dirty thoughts I’d had about him when he’d been in the shower that morning. And the ones I may have about him when I lay in bed alone tonight.
The two men reached the door and Brian reminded me, “Don’t forget, I’ll be by later.”
“Text me before you come. If you time it right, you might even catch Conor awake tonight.”
“That’d be great.”
It was as if my son could hear his name being mentioned all the way from upstairs, because his cries grew more insistent. I told Paulina, “Be back soon!” and headed toward my apartment.