19. Willa
Chapter 19
Willa
“ Y OU GOT LAID.” Goldie’s eyes are as bright as the morning sun as she takes me in. She grabs my hands and leads me to the counter, knowing full well I should be heading to the kitchen to help Dad prep. “By Reid. And I don’t think it’s the first time, either. Tell me everything!”
I open my mouth, then reconsider.
“Willllllllaaaaaa , ” Goldie wheedles, folding her hands together. “Pleeeeeaaaase?”
Oh, who am I kidding? Of course I’m spilling. With the biggest grin of my life on my face, I gush, “Yes I did, and oh my God, Goldie , it was the best sex of my life!” I try to keep my voice down on that last part.
Goldie whoops, drawing both Mom and Dad’s attention. I wave them off, but know it’ll only hold them for a few minutes. “Tell me everything!” she demands again. “Is he as hot under those clothes as it looks?”
I nod like a bobblehead. “He’s a freaking fantasy, Goldie. I don’t even know how it’s my life right now.”
“How many times?” Her eyes sparkle.
I blink at her. “Seriously?”
She slams the silverware onto the counter. “Uh, yeah , seriously. How else am I supposed to survive the desert that is my own sex life?”
I cringe. “I’m not sure I ever want to think about your sex life, Goldie.”
“Fair enough, but also, irrelevant, because I have none.” She waves the silverware around once more. “Back to you. How many times did you come?”
…Aaand there’s the blush, crawling up my neck to bloom on my cheeks like twin spotlights.
Goldie cackles. “Okay, fine. I truly don’t understand why you’re such a prude, but I’ll leave you alone.”
Mom swings over. “What’s all the commotion about?”
Goldie snorts a laugh and grabs another set of silverware to roll.
“I hate you,” I mutter. To Mom, I do my best to give her a breezy answer. “Oh, nothing big. Just some happy news I was sharing.”
“And what am I, chopped liver?” she demands, reaching for the rolled silverware to stash it at the end of the counter. “Don’t I deserve to hear the happiness?”
I groan. “Mom, it’s not?—”
“Tell your mother,” Dad demands, pointing a very sharp, very large chef’s knife at me. “I don’t want to listen to her complain about it later.”
I cover my face. “Oh my God,” I groan. “How am I related to all of you?”
“Tell me already,” Mom prods.
Dad waves a packet of sausages at me. “Just tell her.”
Goldie sees the look of combined horror/hilarity on my face and turns to Dad, then back to me.
We howl in unison. “He’s waving—” Goldie gasps. “SAUSAGES!”
I slide off the stool, gripping it so that I don’t fall to the floor in laughter. “It’s…Reid,” I manage to say, the giggles coming fast and strong.
“What does Reid have to do with my sausage?” Dad asks. He’s dead serious about it, too.
“Sausage,” Goldie wheezes, pointing at Dad with one arm and holding her stomach with the other. “What does Reid have to do with my sausage , he asks. Oh, shit .” She meets my eyes, and we fall into laughter once more.
Mom looks at both of us blankly, but I see the minute it dawns on her. “Oh dear,” she says, then starts to chuckle. “Dean, sweetie.” She turns to Dad, who’s got the sausage links unpacked and is literally holding one up to the light to look at it, peering to see if it holds the answer to this mystery. Mom snorts out a laugh. “Dean! Put the sausage down.”
“Please,” I say, wiping the tears away. “Please, Dad, for the love of all that is holy, put the sausage down.”
Dad harrumphs and turns away from all of us, muttering, while we collapse again into a fit of giggles.
After a moment, we manage to gather our composure. Mom exhales. “Well. Wow. Okay.” She giggles again, and it nearly sends us off once more, but I manage to hold it in. “You and Reid.”
I nod, but the mortification is long gone, thanks to Dad and his sausage links. “Don’t get all starry-eyed, Mom,” I warn her. “He’s not staying.”
“Well, of course not,” she titters. “But you can leave with him.”
“That’s not happening,” I say flatly.
“Well, you never know,” she says. “Plans have a way of changing. It’s not the same, of course, but I didn’t plan on staying when I came to visit this town, either, and look where we are now.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Exactly. You stayed. ” I head to the kitchen to finally join Dad in prep and ignore the noise of protest Mom makes behind me.
Dad slides his gaze over. “You ladies done clucking like a bunch of hens out there?”
“You done pretending like you’re a big, strong man who bosses his women around?” I toss back.
He tries to hide his grin, but I catch it. And a minute later, when Mom comes by on her way to the freezer for a new tub of ice cream, I see the way she grabs my dad’s butt, too.
It’s hard not to admire the way those two love each other. I can’t imagine ever having it, but gosh, I’d love to. This thing with Reid, as unbelievable as it is, will only last as long as he’s here. When he’s gone, he’s gone.
So I need to be okay with that and enjoy him while he’s here. It’s a fling, right? That’s what Goldie called it at the very beginning.
But what if I did follow him back to Miami?
No. I can’t even conceive of it. It’s not that I couldn’t hack it in a high-end restaurant there, flex my skills and stretch a little. I know I could. And I have Reid to thank for that, in a way, because I wouldn’t have dared to even consider the possibility a month ago. But now, I’m realizing that I’m more capable of things. Stronger than I realized. I’m no longer the scared chef-in-training who cried the second Chef Todd turned his ire on me in front of a sea of cameras. I can’t quite put my finger on when the change started to happen, but I know it’s happened.
The thing about moving is I still don’t want to. I love it here, in this little diner a few blocks from the ocean. I love the regulars, the tourists; I even love the way I can’t ever get the smell of french fries completely out of my skin. I know a lot of people want to flee where they grew up, and I don’t begrudge them that. But this is home.
Later, Reid comes into the diner, all smiles and jokes with Tom and Jerry while petting the kitten strapped to his chest. He slides onto a stool at the counter and raises those mirrored sunglasses to meet my eyes, popping those stupid dimples as he grins at me.
I’m pretty certain that Reid MacKinnon is going to break my heart. And I can’t quite find it in myself to care.
It’s another First Friday, which means it’s another art bonanza for our sweet little downtown and it’s Goldie’s turn to drive. The first words out of her mouth as I hop into her Jeep are, “Where’s Reid?”
I grin. “Officer MacKinnon is on duty this evening.”
“Ooh, so we get to see him in uniform.” She wiggles her shoulders as she turns the Jeep around and angles us toward downtown.
I laugh. “We always get to see him in uniform,” I remind her.
“Yeah, but most of the time you’re working, right? Now you can really get your ogle on.” She winks at me.
“You really do need to have sex, don’t you?”
She raises her water bottle in salute and takes a sip. “Told you. Have you and he done the horizontal mambo since Tuesday?”
I groan. “You’re incorrigible.”
“I’m fun . There’s a difference,” she corrects. “So? Mambo? Horizontally? Let me live vicariously through you.”
“It doesn’t creep you out that you’re about to get details from your sister?”
She shakes her head. “No. Remember, you’re the one with the hang-ups, not me.”
I laugh. I have most definitely seen Reid since Tuesday. I saw him Tuesday night, Wednesday night, and last night. We traded houses, each of us taking turns to cook for each other, then having a ridiculous amount of seriously hot sex before passing out in each other’s arms. Well, we’d have the hot sex, then he’d get up to check the windows and doors “just to make sure,” he said, before tucking me into his side like I was his teddy bear.
Which, for the record, I am delighted to be. He’s a great snuggler, and I gotta admit, I did not see that coming .
I also did not see any of this coming, so maybe I’m not the best judge of cuddlers? Anyway.
“Hey, earth to Willa.” Goldie’s fingers snap in front of my face, pulling me out of my reverie. “Did I lose you to a sea of sexual memories?”
I snort. “Kind of.”
She sighs. “Then regale me, woman.”
“He’s an incredible cook.” I give her the details as she drives, keeping the really saucy bits to myself.
Matty’s waiting on us at our designated meet-up spot, and as we approach, he does the same move he always does, crooking his arms for both of us to thread ours through. “Ah, the Dash sisters on each arm. How lucky am I?”
“Very,” I say.
“Incredibly,” Goldie echoes, her voice a bit breathier than it was a few minutes ago.
We turn the corner onto the main stretch of the art walk, and Goldie spies the coffee stand up ahead. “I’m in desperate need of an iced coffee. Anyone else want one?”
I shake my head, and she takes off.
“So, how are things?” Matty asks once she’s out of earshot.
I lean into him. “So good. But also, so bad.”
“Ah, the ol’ ‘ he’s only here for a little while but maybe he’ll stay but maybe he won’t but maybe you should follow him but you’re a strong, independent woman and what would everyone think if you did that’ thing?”
I stare at him. “Who are you, and where did Matty go?”
He laughs and shrugs. “I read too many romances. What can I say?”
“Fair enough. But honestly? That’s…kind of it.”
He wraps his arm around me, pulling me in tight. “It’ll be okay, Wills. Listen your heart.”
I snort. “Yeah, well, my heart is telling me it just wants more of that D.”
Matty stops dead in his tracks, pulling me around to face him so I can’t miss his shocked expression. “Did you just make an actual reference to sex?”
I cover my own mouth, just as shocked that I said it. “Um, yeah?”
He shakes his head. “I’m not sure how I feel about this. But also, is it okay if I ask that you never do that again? I may be your best friend, but I’m also a guy, and it turns out that I am not okay with hearing that you want some ‘D’.” He throws air quotes.
I nod. “I blame Goldie.”
“Blame me for what?” she asks, returning with an iced latte for herself and a black coffee for Matty.
He takes it. “How’d you know I really wanted one?”
She eyes him. “I pay attention, Matty. It’s not hard. What am I being blamed for?”
“Her suddenly dirty mouth.”
“And here I was giving her crap for not being dirty enough ,” Goldie jokes as we continue down the street.
Vendors are set up like always, the art beautiful in the slowly setting sun. A breeze floats from the ocean, tinging everything with a salty air, and I inhale happily. I may be confused, but at least I have my sister and best friend in the most amazing town I could hope for.
Someone yells my name. “I was hoping I’d see you all,” Agatha says. “Matty, do you still do house calls? My daughter Jessica’s dog is having some trouble getting used to the baby and I’m sure you’d have some good insight.”
Jessica herself comes up behind her mother, pushing a stroller. Plenty of oohs and ahhs abound, until Goldie is pulling the baby out and holding her against her chest, cooing and bouncing like it’s the most normal thing in the world.
My neck tingles, and sure enough, Reid and Ox are heading our way. We widen the circle and Reid’s hand comes to rest on my lower back. He leans down to whisper in my ear. “Hey, you.”
I smile up at him, goosebumps tingling in the wake of his touch. “Hi.”
Jessica interrupts. “So, you’re the temp they brought in to keep my spot warm,” she jokes, holding a hand out to Reid.
He takes it. “Yes, ma’am. You must be Jessica.”
“And you’re Chief’s nephew,” she finishes.
“Also known as Reid,” Ox says.
Jessica takes her daughter from Goldie and bounces her. “You think you might wanna stick around, Reid? This motherhood thing has thrown me a bit and I’m thinking about going part time. I bet Chief would be open to keeping you.”
My stupid, stupid heart absolutely soars at the words. I push the thought down, because it’s too much to hope for. Two months of Reid and his dimples. That’s all I get.
“Too soon for that kind of conversation,” Reid hedges, his eyes sliding to mine for the briefest of moments as he speaks.
My heart flares again.
“Wanna hold her?” Jessica asks. “I hear you’re usually walking around with a cat, but since the cat isn’t around…”
“I’m not the greatest with babies,” Reid starts, but it’s too late, because Jessica’s already plopped the baby in his arms. He’s hilariously uncomfortable, going stiff as a board and as still as possible, and he looks like he’s somewhere between horror and awe as he regards the tiny package.
Matty laughs. “You’re making the rest of us guys look really bad, Reid.”
Ox crosses his arms thoughtfully. “I don’t know. She’s not crying, so it’s a win in my book.”
As if on cue, the baby breaks into a howl. Reid startles, and Jessica lunges to grab her daughter.
“Is that sweat on your brow?” Ox asks, peering closer at Reid .
“Don’t ever let me hold a baby again,” he says to a chorus of laughter.
Jessica and Agatha move away and Reid turns to me. “You enjoying yourself?”
I smile. “We’ve barely gotten started, but yeah. You? How’s your first First Friday Art Walk shift going? Any nefarious activities I should be on the lookout for?” I tease.
He grins, one of his dimples popping out as he does. Ugh, why does he have to be so cute ? “Not yet, but it’s early. Gotta watch out—when the sun goes down is when the riffraff comes out.”
I laugh, then yelp as someone knocks me from behind. As I flail forward, grabbing Reid for balance, the guy keeps walking without a backward glance.
Reid gets me upright, then his hand flies to his holster as he turns to watch the man. “Are you okay?” he asks, turning back to rake his glance over me.
“I’m fine, Reid.” But my voice is shaky. Reid turned into a different person right in front of my eyes. “It was an accident.”
“Ox.” Reid’s voice brooks no dissent.
Ox nods, and Reid takes off, jogging in the direction of the man who seems to have disappeared into the crowd.
“It wasn’t a big deal,” I tell Ox, but he shakes his head.
“Don’t assume you know everything about him, Willa.”
His words send chills down my spine. “What…what do you mean?”
He presses his lips together. “That’s not something I can talk about. But trust that if Reid says it’s a problem, then it’s a problem.”
After a beat, Matty says, “On that note, why don’t we all keep going? I’d really like to see the new, uh, spoon maker.”
Ox nods at us. “Be careful.” His tone is far more serious than I’ve ever heard, and it sends a chill down my spine .
I don’t see Reid anywhere after that, and I can’t shake the sense of unease that clings to me for the rest of the night.
Later that night, after I’m already in bed, there’s a loud banging on my door. I squeak out a yelp and bury myself under the covers, my heart leaping into my throat. That’s a big nope for me, thanks. No one is home.
Then the door opens, and I scramble to sit up on the bed, pulling the blankets around me as though they’re somehow going to help.
“Willa?” His voice is tense and tight.
I sag with relief. “Reid?”
He’s in the bedroom in a few strides, still in his uniform, his hand hovering over his gun. “I repeatedly tell you to lock the door,” he growls. “Especially after what happened tonight, and you still didn’t do it? What is wrong with you?”
I gape up at him, my heart right back to pounding. “I…I forgot. I’ve just never”
“You. Can’t. Forget,” he says, his eyes almost wild in the dim of the bedroom. “Your life may one day depend on it.”
I turn on the bedside lamp, needing to shed actual light on the situation. “Reid, we live… I live,” I correct, “in a tiny little beach town. Aside from some petty crime here and there, there’s nothing to worry about.”
He clenches his jaw and looks away. “That’s not true, Willa.”
“I get that you’re from the big city, Reid, but honestly, this is a safe town. Maybe you’re just seeing things that aren’t there.”
His eyes flash. “You don’t know me nearly well enough to say that sort of thing, Willa.”
My mouth pops open, and he seems to deflate before my eyes.
“There are things you don’t know. That you can’t know, for your own safety.” He runs his hand through his hair and blows out a breath, turning in a circle.
He looks so pained that my heart twists for him. “I’m sorry,” I whisper .
He hangs his head. “You don’t have anything to apologize for.” He raises his eyes to mine. “Just promise me you’ll lock your door? Be more alert?”
I nod, the creeping sense of unease from earlier tonight settling back around my shoulders. “Okay.”
He looks around. “Where’s Midnight?”
I smile softly. “She’s in her bed over here.”
He nods, then lets out a breath, seeming to come to a decision as his beautiful green eyes meet mine again. “Can I…can I stay here tonight?”
“Of course.”
“Be right back.” He leaves, then returns five minutes later with a change of clothes. “Mind if I shower here?”
Afterward, he pulls his service weapon out of its holster and places it on the bedside table. “It’s a precautionary measure,” he says, his voice soft.
“Reid…” But the pained expression on his face wipes away anything I was going to say.
He climbs into the bed and wraps his bulk around mine, the warmest security blanket on the planet. He kisses my shoulder, and another exhale leaves him as he finally relaxes.
I turn in his arms to study him. Something is obviously wrong. “Are you okay?”
His expression is pained. “No.”
I pause. “Can you talk about it?”
“No,” he repeats.
It shouldn’t hurt my feelings as much as it does, but his answer cleaves me in two. I try again. “Did you find the guy you were looking for? The one who ran into me?” He shakes his head, seeming so haunted that I ask, “Do you need to be the little spoon?” I’m half joking, but when he nods, I don’t hesitate. “Turn over,” I tell him.
I wrap myself around him, kissing the smooth skin of his back and taking in his cedar and honey smell. After a while, his breathing evens out. Only then do I let myself fall asleep.