Chapter 13
13
Jeremy couldn’t believe he was going inside Cora’s house. When he started his kayaking expedition, his only thought was to follow the shoreline north, find a nice place to watch the sunset, and head back before it became too dark. He had known approximately where she lived but would never have imagined that she would be sitting on the beach. He wasn’t sure he believed in providence, but he wouldn’t deny that an opportunity to get to know her better had simply landed in his lap.
Walking inside her house, he was immediately met with surprise. Other than a throw blanket draped over the sofa and a few framed pictures on the mantel, the house didn’t feel personalized. “Wow… um… your place is… nice.”
She looked over her shoulder and laughed softly. “My place is a rental that came furnished.”
“Oh, that makes sense,” he mumbled, hoping he hadn’t insulted her.
She shrugged as her gaze moved around, almost like seeing it through someone else’s eyes. “It is rather plain, isn’t it?”
“It’s fine, Cora. Really,” he insisted. “I honestly don’t know why I said anything. I rent my house, too. The only decorating is when my mom or sister visits. Then they go to the little touristy beach shops, buy shit like signs painted with slogans that say I’d rather have my toes in the sand, then insist that I hang it up.”
“Your house probably looks more like a beach rental than mine.”
He blinked, looked at the curve of her lips, and laughed. “Fuck, you’re right.”
Just then, Max and Mia came trotting forward, and he immediately bent to scoop both up, nuzzling his face against theirs.
Looking over, he found Cora with a broad smile beaming toward him. Or maybe she was beaming toward the cats in his hands, but he was going to think it was because it was him. She turned and walked over to the counter to open a can of cat food. As soon as they heard the can’s top coming off, they squirmed to get down. He lowered them to the floor and watched as they rushed with tails straight up in the air and began swirling around her legs, meowing loudly. As soon as she placed their dishes on the floor, they buried their noses in the food.
“Have you eaten?”
His head jerked up from where he stared at the cats to find her gaze on him. “What?”
“Food. Dinner. Nourishment. Have you eaten?”
“No, but I?—”
“I have to eat, and it’s no problem to heat enough for two,” she said easily.
He wasn’t about to turn down the invite, even if he had no idea what kind of cook she was or what they were having. She opened the freezer and pulled out a container. Popping the top, she placed it in the microwave. Looking over her shoulder, she said, “When I cook on the weekends, I fix multiple meals in large quantities. Then when I come home from a long day, it’s easy to pop something homecooked into the microwave. I hope chicken, cheese, and rice casserole is okay.”
“God, it sounds good. Believe me, I don’t often eat anything that doesn’t come from the grocery store’s freezer section, and I know that it’s processed, not homecooked.”
She smiled before slicing several thick slices of bread. After slathering them with butter, she placed them in the oven to toast. Next, she steamed broccoli while checking on the casserole and bread.
After finishing their meal, the cats moved to the middle of the living room to bathe, washing their whiskers and paws.
Jeremy felt useless, but suggesting he help in the kitchen would be pointless. Cora had her system in place, and he thought it would be the same whether she was fixing a meal just for her or for more.
“What would you like to drink? I have beer, wine, soda, water, and apple juice.” Her nose scrunched as she looked at him. “Now that I say it aloud, my selection seems rather eclectic, doesn’t it?”
“Nah.” He laughed. “You’re just prepared.”
“Prepared for what? I never have guests over.”
“Why is that?”
Just then, the microwave dinged, and she checked the casserole before taking it out. She didn’t answer his question but continued to set the offerings on the counter. He moved to pour the water from the pitcher she’d taken from the refrigerator. Pouring a glass for himself, he lifted a brow in silent question to her. She nodded, and he poured a second glass. They were soon seated side by side at her counter, and he dug into the meal.
It only took a few bites for him to groan in appreciation. “Damn, this is good, Cora.”
She lifted a brow. “You’re surprised?”
He chuckled while chewing and then swallowed before adding, “Nope. Just stating a fact.”
A little smile graced her face, and they were silent for the next few minutes as they cleaned their plates. He had seconds of everything, then leaned back and patted his stomach.
“Ready for dessert?” she asked.
Jolting slightly, he said, “Sure. My mom always said I had a sweet tooth.”
She slid from her counter stool and walked over to the refrigerator. He leaned forward to see what she had in her hand. Looking over her shoulder again, she asked, “Is chocolate pie okay? I didn’t ask if you had any allergies or things you didn’t like.”
“No allergies, and I would have told you if I had. Plus, I love sweets, and chocolate ranks as a favorite.”
Her smile widened as she plated two slices. He dug into the pie and groaned at the delicious, creamy filling. “Where did you get this? I try hitting the local bakeries, but I haven’t seen this before.”
“I made it.”
He swung around and stared in mid-bite. Barely swallowing before he said, “You’re kidding? Damn, Cora… this is fucking phenomenal.”
She shrugged. “Thanks. I like to cook and bake. It’s only me, so most go into the freezer, or I take some to work to share. It comes in handy when we have a day where I work straight through lunch or get called in and work late. It’s nice to come home and warm something I made, knowing it’s healthy.”
“You didn’t answer my earlier question.”
A line formed between her brows. “I’m sorry… what question?”
“You said you never have guests over.”
The line stayed between her brows as she remained silent. She rolled her lips inward, and he spied a flash of uncertainty in the usually confident woman.
“I mean, it’s not like it’s a requirement for you to have people over,” he added, both wanting to know more about her and not wanting to make her feel self-conscious.
Finally, she lifted her shoulders. “I realize this sounds unpleasant, but I find small talk exhausting. It’s fine at work because my coworkers and I are used to each other, and generally, our discussions are professional. Having my private space at home is important to me.”
His shoulders slumped. “And here I’ve disrupted that private space.”
She smiled and shook her head. “Not at all. Granted, if I didn’t know you, I would have come inside when you kayaked nearby and would never have invited you in. But I do know you, and the invite was sincere.”
He chuckled as he dropped his gaze from her beautiful face to his empty dessert plate. “I’m glad it was because this was a fantastic meal.” He leaned closer and shoulder bumped her. “And the company was great, too.”
They moved in tandem, rinsing off the dishes and placing the leftovers back into the refrigerator.
He hated to leave but didn’t want to overstay his visit. “I suppose you can take me home now. I’ll leave my kayak on your deck if that’s okay. I can drop by sometime and pick it up.”
“It’s not in the way out there, so there’s no rush. You can get it whenever it suits your schedule.” She walked to the back door, ensured it was locked, and then moved to her purse on a small table by the front door. With her keys in hand, she waited for him to approach before they went outside.
He walked to the passenger side, and as she climbed behind the wheel of her small SUV, she said, “I wondered if you were the type of male to insist on driving. Have to say, I’m a little surprised that you’re not.”
“Damn, maybe I should be offended.” He chuckled as he clicked the seat belt.
“I apologize.” She started her vehicle and backed out of her driveway. “I’m not usually judgmental.” A sigh left her lips. “Maybe I am, but I usually keep it in. I am sorry.”
“Don’t beat yourself up, Cora. Honestly? If I’m on a date, I drive. So, yeah, I probably am the kind of male who likes to be in control of the vehicle. But I figured this was a short drive, and if I got behind the wheel, I’d have to push the seat way back because of my longer legs. Then that’s a pain for you to fix it back for your shorter legs.”
She glanced over at him. “That’s… thoughtful.”
She remained quiet as he gave her directions, and it didn’t take long to arrive at his house. The radio played in the background, but he didn’t want her to retreat behind silence. Just as he was going to say something, she surprised him by asking, “What brought you out to the Shore?”
“Hunter Simmons.”
“O…kay,” she replied, drawing the word out, causing him to chuckle.
“I didn’t really give you anything, did I?”
Her lips curled upward, and he loved how the soft smile eased the seriousness he’d grown to expect from her. She pulled into his driveway as he pointed out which house was his. She parked but seemed to hesitate to turn off the engine. He shifted in the passenger seat.
“I was in the Army, then took a job with the Virginia State Police when I got out. At first, I figured I’d work near my family in the western part of the state. But I ended up in Richmond as part of their drug task force. I was a detective and met Hunter Simmons. He had an interesting background to becoming a detective and was perfect for an undercover job at the Careway Nursing Home.”
Her eyes widened. “I’ve been there several times when a patient died. There’s never been a suspicion of wrongdoing.”
“No, no, not with Careway. But an employee was dealing drugs with a whole network that was using them.”
Her teeth caught her bottom lip, and her attention focused on him. He said, “Hunter finished the job, fell in love with Belle, and decided to stay out here. Colt offered him a job as a detective with the sheriff’s department.” He shrugged and smiled. “I came out to visit, and he took me fishing and kayaking, which I loved. Then he and Belle had a small beach party, and I met many other men and women in law enforcement out here. Fucking fell in love with it.” His hands spread out. “So here I am.”
Cora nodded. “And the drug task force?”
He sighed, then turned to face her fully. “There’s no real hero story here. I wasn’t raised by someone on drugs or had a family member or friend go down that cesspool. It was an area that I felt strongly about, and I wanted to make a difference. And I get to have some more in-depth, long-term cases—the kind where we don’t end up with just one arrest of some low-level drug dealer. But we can follow a pipeline and take down higher gang members or whole networks. I find that fascinating.”
Her gaze hadn’t wavered, and he battled the urge to know what she was thinking. Did she think his career path was good? Made sense? Interesting? Or did she just see him as a hot-dogging, glory-seeker? He’d be the first to admit that he gave off a laid-back, egotistical detective air, but he never did his job to seek glory. He inclined his head toward her chest, adding, “Kind of like your shirt but in a different way. Justice and closure.”
She nodded slowly, her penetrating gaze burrowing deep inside him. Her lips curved ever so slightly. “It was nice to have the chance to talk to you this evening,” she finally said.
He grinned widely as his top teeth bit down on his bottom lip. Nodding, he agreed. “It was very nice, Cora. I really enjoyed getting to know you better.” He would have loved to have asked her to come inside. He was interested in talking more and seeing what else could have happened. That thought surprised him, but he kept his face purposely blank.
In his younger years, a one-nighter with someone he saw at work would have been pleasurable as long as they both agreed to the terms of one night only and no expectations. It didn’t take long to figure out that those nights with someone he worked with were a bad idea.
Bar pickups left a lot to be desired. The older he got, the more he hated the feeling of emptiness when the sex was over.
Trying to date someone had not resulted in a relationship making it past a month or so. Either they were too young, and he discovered they had nothing to talk about. Or they were older and commented after a few dates that their biological clock was ticking, wanting to know if he saw a future with them.
Jeremy couldn’t remember the last time he’d spent hours talking to someone and wished the night wouldn’t end. Something about Cora drew him in—not just her sharp mind or her dry wit but the quiet strength beneath her reserved exterior. During their evening together, she’d become more than just the enigmatic medical examiner he’d known at work. She was real, layered, a woman with history, family, dreams, and the kind of confidence that came from knowing exactly who she was. And damn if that wasn’t the sexiest thing about her.
But tonight wasn’t about pushing boundaries or testing limits. Jeremy wanted to do things right for the first time in a long while. Whatever right might be with her.
He stepped out of her vehicle, the gravel crunching softly under his shoes. The cool night air was bracing, carrying the faint scent of the bay. Bending slightly to catch her gaze through the open door, he placed his hands on the frame and leaned in just enough to close the space between them. The porch light behind her softly lighted her face, and her expression was warm, unguarded in a way that made his chest tighten.
“Thanks for everything tonight, Cora,” he said, his voice low but steady. He smiled, letting the corner of his mouth quirk into a playful smirk. “And for the record, you make a mean dinner.”
Her laugh was soft but genuine, hitting him like a shot of adrenaline. “You’re welcome. And thank you for not just pretending to like it.”
“Are you kidding?” he said, straightening but keeping his eyes locked on hers. “I’d have thirds if I weren’t already full. Next time, though, I’m bringing dessert.”
Her eyebrows lifted slightly, her smile deepening. “Next time?”
“Oh, yeah,” he said with a wink. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
She shook her head, but her grin lingered, lighting up her face in a way that had his pulse kicking up a notch. “Good night, Jeremy.”
“Good night, Cora.” He stepped back, closing the door.
As he walked to his front porch, he felt the strange but welcome warmth blooming in his chest. When her taillights were no longer visible, leaving him in the darkness of the night, he opened his door and walked inside.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Jeremy wasn’t rushing headlong into something. And with Cora, he didn’t want to. She was worth the wait.