9. Ray
NINE
RAY
I stepped up to Tammy’s door and knocked.
I had texted to give her a heads-up, but she hadn’t responded, so I was unsure if she’d seen it.
She opened the door with a smirk on her face. “Fancy seeing you here.”
“I brought extra reinforcements today,” I told her, holding up the giant cardboard coffee carrier as well as a bag full of muffins, Danishes, and egg sandwiches.
While she gazed longingly at the items I brought, my gaze moved to her body. No fluffy bathrobe today, but this worked just as well.
She had on an oversized, very worn Golden Girls T-shirt and sweatpants. Despite the casual outfit, everything still showed off her gorgeous body, and my mind instantly went to what was underneath those clothes.
Sex may be off the table, but I wanted to kiss her so badly.
“You look beautiful,” I told her.
She glanced down at her outfit and then back up at me, her eyebrow lifting in question.
“Umm…you need to get your eyes checked, Ray.”
“No, I don’t.” My reply was simple and quick as I walked farther into her living room and then followed her to the kitchen.
“Here. Let’s put the food on some small plates like civilized people,” Tammy said to me, reaching into her cabinets. “And here are some mugs for the coffee.”
It was a beautiful morning—a little cool but with no breeze—and the sun was angled just right to put a little warmth on her patio.
“What questions do you have for me today?” she asked, assuming that was the only reason I was there.
Admittedly, I did have questions, but these likely could have been answered via text. Instead, I chose to come over and have breakfast with her again.
“I’d like to know a little more about Corey if you don’t mind,” I started, but she held up her hand and cut me off.
“I told you before, Corey isn’t a bad guy.”
“Plenty of people out there are good people who do bad things,” I explained, but I knew she likely already knew that. “Also, understand that I was hired to look at people and angles that may not be as obvious to all of you because you are already connected to them.”
She sighed deeply. She knew I was right.
“Then I will talk to you about it logically,” she said.
“Does he have access—yes. Does he have motive—no. He’s been working fewer and fewer shifts over the last six months because his personal training gigs have been picking up, which means he’s not strapped for money.
If he were, he’d be asking for more shifts, not less, and he knows I’d give them to him since we’re short-staffed. ”
That was a fair assessment and good to know for my research. Now, onto the next topic at hand.
“Do you think Donald is going to come back?” I asked, needing to know if he was going to become a problem for Tammy and anyone else at the bar.
“I’d like to think he’s smart enough to know not to, but Brenda kicks him out and then forgives him and lets him back in all the time, so I wouldn’t put it past him to think that’s exactly how I’ll be too.”
She had a point, and I didn’t like it.
“If he does, I’ll handle it,” she said, and I knew she saw my reaction because she held up her hand and started to shake her head.
“I appreciate your concern, but I’ve handled more than my fair share of drunks before, and I can do it again.
The military trained me well on how to deal with hostile tangos. ”
I smirked, knowing she was right, but deep down I still didn’t like it. Not that she was trained, but that she had to still use those skills long after she had left the military. Civilian life wasn’t supposed to require basic combat skills in order to engage the general public.
“Where all did you serve?” I asked, curious now that we were on the topic. I also wanted to get to know her more.
Her shoulders lowered as she seemed to relax now that we were on a simpler topic.
“I did two tours in Afghanistan, and then I was stationed in Germany for a hot minute, California for a few years, and finished up at a base in southern Georgia,” she explained.
“That’s how I ended up here. Literally walked into this bar after retiring and got a job the same day. What about you?”
“I was in special ops in their counterterrorism division, so most of my tours are classified,” I answered.
“But I definitely spent time on several overseas bases. When I was stateside, though, I was always in Texas. I graduated from West Point and had the pleasure of being at the base in Texas with one of my good friends I’ve known since college. ”
Her eyebrows lifted as she finished her sip of coffee. “West Point. Very impressive. In my opinion, the Army is the best branch of the military—though I am biased. I know there are a few intelligent, brave, and sharp soldiers from other branches too…just not as many as the Army.”
I let out a short laugh. Ribbing other branches of the military was something I took a great deal of pleasure in, so I was happy to know she enjoyed it too.
“Did you grow up around the West Point area, or did you just know you always wanted to go there?” she asked.
“Grew up in northern Minnesota, near International Falls.”
“Ahhh, so you’re practically Canadian,” she teased.
“Minnesota is not Canada, though I have no problem with Canadians.”
“We’ll go with southern Canada,” she joked back, and I thoroughly enjoyed just hanging out and relaxing with her, wishing I could stay longer.
“What are you up to for the rest of the day, Tammy?”
She turned and looked at me suspiciously. “Is that your way of inviting yourself to hang out with me?”
I put my hand over my heart and teased her. “Why, that’s so kind of you to invite me, Tammy. But I actually have plans to go fishing with Frank. We leave from his house in an hour. Raincheck, though.”
She rolled her eyes at me, but I noticed the small tug of her lips at the corner.
Fishing helped clear my mind, so I figured it would be not only fun to hang out with Frank, but it would give my brain a chance to have some quiet time to think about the burglary case. I couldn’t help but think there was something missing.
“You and Frank have a great time,” she said, getting up from her chair. “I’ve gotta get some errands done before my shift tonight.”
“I thought you were off?”
She sighed. “Sam called out sick again, so I’m going in.”
“Again?” I pressed.
“Corey actually filled in for him last night too,” she explained. “Whatever he’s got must be bad, because he doesn’t usually call in.”
Hmmm.
That was interesting. Not that people couldn’t be sick, but he seemed very adamant about picking up as many shifts as possible to pay off his student loans. Unless, of course, you picked up some cash and no longer needed the extra shifts.
I made a mental note to do some more digging into Sam after the fishing trip.
“Let me call Frank and cancel the fishing trip so you have someone at the bar tonight,” I told her, not loving the fact that Sam wasn’t coming in but could very much show up later in order to help himself to some money.
“No need,” she responded casually. “Diego offered to come in and be my bodyguard for the night. I honestly just think he wants free food while he sits at the bar and watches sports and horse racing. Enjoy your fishing trip.”
The last part was emphasized in a way that meant she wasn’t letting me cancel even if I wanted to.
I followed her lead and stood from my chair, walking back into her kitchen. I helped her clean up the little mess we’d made with the plates and mugs.
As she walked me to the door, I once again stopped to face her.
“I’ll say it again… You look beautiful.”
She closed her eyes briefly, sighed, and then looked back at me. “Ray…”
I moved my hand to brush the hair from her face, bringing my body closer to her—slowly, to give her time to refute—and then brushed my lips against hers.
The taste of coffee was still on her lips as I deepened the kiss.
I moved my hand to behind her neck, allowing me to tilt her head just as I wanted it while I savored the moment.
That kiss ended way too quickly in my opinion, but I had places to be, and so did she.
“I’ll see you tomorrow night,” I whispered against her lips and then made my way out her door and off to Frank’s boat. A boat that I spent way too much time on while thinking about Tammy instead of the case—or fishing.
Saturday night was packed. I wasn’t sure if this was a usual crowd or if tonight was just exceptionally busy, but I would not have had my usual seat at the bar—or any seat for that matter—had Tammy not saved it by blocking it off until I got there.
I hadn’t seen Tammy since yesterday morning, and I found I was actually excited to see her again. I tried not thinking too deeply about that since I’d only met her six days ago and only gone about thirty-six hours without seeing her.
“I take it Frank was a more exciting breakfast partner this morning instead of little ol’ me?” she asked. It was casual and slightly teasing, but it also felt like she had been hopeful that I would show up.
“After fishing, Frank and I stayed up until damn near one in the morning drinking,” I told her, letting out a slight painful groan.
“Even the smell of food was nauseating this morning. Plus, I slept on his couch, and if there is anything I have learned about getting older, it’s that sleeping on a couch is for young people.
My body does not take too kindly to anything other than a bed to sleep in. ”
She smiled at me. “Aww, so you’re telling me your old-man body is getting soft, is that right?”
“I think you know there’s nothing soft about my body, Tammy.”
I watched as the smile on her face was wiped clean in an instant. My comment was meant to tease, but I noticed the heat in her eyes as she thought about my words.
I knew she didn’t want to have sex again because it would complicate things. I understood that and would respect it, but damn, if I didn’t want to have a second shot at that—or third or fourth. And judging by the lustful look in her eye, she wanted it too, at least on some level.