Chapter 13
Happy Birthday
Tessa
War is a man of few words, so when he walks into my cute shop, he stops, looks me up and down, glances around my shop, and just says, “Suits you,” in his gruff voice. I thought Motown looked like a giant in my shop, but War is taller and wider and takes up even more space.
“You’re going to scare my customers away,” I say, moving behind the counter, where I drop my bag.
“If I promise coffee, do you think I could get you to smile?” He responds with a snort, nods his head, and shows me a hint of a smile.
I point to the large armchair in the corner.
It seems like the best place for him to be comfortable, since Motown told me War wasn’t going to let me out of his sight, which is both comforting and unnerving at the same time.
“I’m going to check out the security,” he says.
“I don’t have any.” When he snaps his head up, I feel it prudent to explain.
“I intended to put in an alarm, but when I started buying inventory and fixing this place up, the cost was higher than I anticipated. I was halfway through when I had to decide whether to quit or cut costs. I’m insured, and I’ll be able to afford a system after the holidays. It’s in my plan.”
War looks up at the ceiling and pulls out his phone. “Yeah, it’s me. No alarm. At all.” There’s a pause, then he walks to the front door and checks my lock. “They’re decent.”
“I paid extra for those,” I call out. I thought at the time, it was a wise decision. War ignores me and walks to the back, continuing to chat with whoever is on the line.
I decide to go about my business and light a couple of candles, perk coffee, and take out the tin of cookies to go with the tea.
I have a few basket orders to get together for a new customer who came in yesterday.
He’s a real estate agent who was told about my store by Mrs. Myers, the first person to buy from me.
I took a picture of us and have it sitting behind the counter.
Felix is her nephew, and he’s decided that sending the new property owner a basket as a thank-you for using his services would be a nice touch.
Felix gives me a rundown of the couples so I can make personalized baskets.
I’m putting together the last basket, grabbing a few items off the shelf by my front window, when I notice a police car across the street.
Normally, a police car protecting the neighborhood should make me feel safe, but I get a tight knot in my stomach.
“What’s got you spooked?” War says as he comes back into the room.
I jerk my head to the window. “That’s where the police were parked a day or so before. Then they came in and wanted to look around.”
Again, he pulls out his phone and barks, “Cops.” Then he does the craziest thing.
He heads out the front door and goes right to the front of the police car, with the phone still at his ear.
I proceed after him, but he holds his hand out for me to stay put.
I stop, wedged in the partially open front door.
I can hear War calling out the license plate on the car to whoever he’s speaking to on the phone. One of the officers gets out and demands to know what he’s doing.
“Hey, step away from the vehicle,” the cop demands.
“Not touching your car,” War responds.
“What do you think you’re doing?” the officer asks.
“Finding out who’s sitting outside Tessa’s shop, and I’m going to find out if you’re supposed to be here or if it’s a special favor for a friend,” War answers. Even from where I’m standing, I can see the officer turning red.
The roar of motorcycles makes us all turn in the direction they’re coming from, with Hawk and Guard leading the way.
“War,” Guard calls. Immediately, War takes a step back and off to the side, where Guard is waiting for him.
“Problem, Officer?” Hawk asks, raising his brows.
Instead of responding, the cop gets back into the patrol car, and they take off down the road.
Hawk gets off his bike and comes to me. “You did good, Tessa. Eyes peeled at all times. We’ve got your back.
Motown needs to be told about this. I didn’t take the time to contact him because we wanted to get here as soon as possible, but you’ve got to call him. ”
“The last time, he was so angry, I thought he was going to hunt Bronson down and kill him,” I tell him. “I don’t want him to get in trouble.”
“He needs to know, and it’ll be better if it comes from you. Demon is with him. He’ll make sure Motown doesn’t do anything stupid,” Hawk says.
“Okay,” I agree, nodding, and then I go back inside to grab my phone from my purse.
Hawk stays close to Guard and War near the front of the store. Guard scans the street, as if he’s waiting for someone.
The phone only rings once before Motown answers. “Everything all right, babe?”
“I’m good. I’m fine. But…” I glance at Hawk, who gives me an encouraging nod, before continuing. “It’s nothing, really.”
“Tess, if it’s nothing, then spit it out.”
“There was a police car outside again. Um, well, War took care of it. It kind of freaked me out. Not the part about War handling it.” I feel I need to clarify because War is standing right here, and I want him to know I appreciate him taking control of the problem.
“They weren’t the same cops, and bright spot, no packages were delivered.
Really, everything’s fine, and you don’t have to get upset, but Hawk thought this couldn’t wait and that you should know.
I was going to tell you later tonight, though. ”
I can hear a heavy breath being expelled.
“Baby, I’m not upset, I’m fucking pissed.
Bronson’s using intimidation tactics to get to you.
I’m sure War had it under control. That man is a beast, and he’s smarter than most people give him credit for because of the way he looks.
I don’t like that you were frightened, though, not even for a minute.
The guys are installing security cameras and alarms as a precaution.
That’ll give you more peace of mind,” Motown says.
“What good is it if the police are part of the problem?”
“First, not all of them are on Bronson’s payroll. Secondly, the alarm is connected to the compound security system,” Motown informs me, then says in a soft voice, “We’ve got you covered, beautiful.”
“I believe you, honey.” That’s when I notice several other bikers invading my shop. “I should let you go. I have a biker invasion happening here.” I giggle.
“Good to hear you laugh, babe,” he replies before saying goodbye.
It’s near the end of the day before the new system is installed.
I now have cameras in the back room, above the cash register, and at the front entrance of the shop.
They have all the doors and windows wired.
Through it all, customers came in and out to shop.
I finished my baskets and ended up with several more orders because everyone who dropped by loved the idea of specialty baskets as gifts.
Despite the crappy start to the day, it’s been very productive.
When we lock up, War and Risk go over the keypad to set the alarm.
“You need to pick a four-digit code,” Risk says.
“How about my birthday? One, one, zero, seven.”
“As in November seventh?” Risk says, raising his brows.
“Not a good idea?”
“Tessa, that’s today,” Risk answers.
Holy heavens! I forgot my own birthday!
“I’ve been so distracted with everything, I completely forgot.” I laugh. “I better have the phone ready for Mom and Dad’s call, and then I have to drop by the house. They always send me something. Usually flowers.” I check my phone to make sure I haven’t missed a call from them.
“We’ll take you to your place, and we’ll wait around for a while,” Risk says as he opens the car door for me. I look around for War and see he’s on the phone again.
“For a man of few words, he sure spends an awful lot of time on the phone,” I say. Risk laughs so loudly that War turns to see what’s happening. I give him a little wave and get in the car.
When we reach the house, War insists on going in first to check it out.
It’s a quiet neighborhood for the most part.
I see that my neighbor Helen, from across the street, is out for a walk with her puppy.
Nash isn’t a puppy anymore, and he isn’t little either.
He’s a German shepherd, and he’s gorgeous.
His fur shines, and Helen loves him to pieces.
Nash is protective of his owner, but once he gets to know you, he’s very friendly.
Helen stops in front of my home. “Haven’t seen you for a few days. How’re you doing?” she asks.
“Busy at the shop mostly,” I reply. “This is Risk. He’s a good friend of mine.”
“Where’s the other hunk I saw you with?” she teases after giving Risk a quick hello.
“Motown is my boyfriend. We’ll be heading over to catch up with him.
How are you doing? How’s everything at the hospital?
” Helen is a nurse practitioner and a very busy one at that.
She works at a smaller hospital, but everyone knows that the care at St. Margaret’s Hospital is better than the local hospital.
Helen should have been a doctor, but as she told me when we first met, that would have meant many more years of study, and she didn’t have enough money to see it through without being buried in debt after the fact.
“Too busy, unfortunately. I’m doing a vaccine clinic for flu and cold season at Simpson Retirement Villa this weekend too. It’s hard for many of them to come to the local clinics, so I volunteered to go to them. You need to get your shot, Tessa,” she reminds me.
“Yep! After the flu I had last year, I’m in. It put me out for a week. Thank goodness Mom was around to nurse me back to health. Dad called the doctor three times because he thought I was going to die. I know I was out of it, but my father was crazy worried. I don’t want a repeat of that.”