20. Tammy
TWENTY
TAMMY
Ray had gone back to Texas, and I hated that I felt so gloomy and heartsore.
It was where he lived—he obviously needed to go back. There had also been no movement in the case of our mysterious burglar.
He’d left this morning, making sure that he’d told everyone he was leaving last night and that he’d be back in a few days once he settled some affairs and such.
It had been nearly a week since we’d finally decided to give in and sleep in the same room and give this relationship a go—mostly me, since Ray had always been on board.
I had just stepped into the Watering Hole for my closing shift when Delia greeted me from the bar. “Happy Friday, Tammy!”
I waved at her as I walked by. “Ahh yes, Friday. My second favorite F word.”
I walked through the door to the kitchen to the sound of her rolling laughter.
I set my purse in the office and then waved to Chuck, who was working the kitchen tonight, before heading back out to the bar. Corey had worked the day shift, and once I clocked in, he was free to head home.
“Be careful closing tonight, okay?” he said, stone-faced. “Now that Ray isn’t here, don’t get any ideas about staying late by yourself and taking a nap in the office.”
I’d closed by myself a hundred times before, and he’d never once said a thing, and I knew he was just trying to be protective, but it still burned at me that all these men didn’t think I could handle myself.
“Diego and I are closing with her tonight, so she won’t be alone,” Delia interrupted.
Corey looked at her, assessing and internalizing what she’d said, before saying goodbye and heading out.
“That’s better,” I told her, brushing my hands together. “Too much testosterone in here lately.”
She laughed and shook her head. “Hell yeah.”
We worked fluidly around each other, serving drinks and taking small breaks here and there to chat and catch up. Delia was only a few years younger than me, and during these last few weeks we’d found that we actually had several things in common.
We’d both agreed that once I hired another bartender and she stopped doubling as security for the pub, we were going to hang out together outside of this place.
As fun as it was with her, there was definitely a part of me that missed having Ray around. His seat sat empty tonight, and it felt lonelier than usual, even though the place was busy.
I knew I was falling for him. Well, “fallen” was a better term, since I had already taken that dive.
My best friend Nikki once told me that the best way to tell if it was love or just infatuation was to picture yourself ten years down the road. If you still envisioned hanging out with him, going on vacations together, and not getting bored with each other, then it was likely love.
I could see myself traveling the world with Ray but also just sitting with him on my porch every morning, drinking our coffee and sharing conversation.
Over the last week of us sleeping in the same room together, he had begun taking the necessary steps to move here. Susan had even insisted—more like demanded—that she and Frank take Ray around and show him some nice apartment complexes.
I thought about just telling him to move in with me, but we’d barely just begun dating, so we needed a bit more time before we moved in together, even though we’d practically been living together the last few weeks.
I may not be ready yet to invite him to move in with me, but I wanted to give this a try.
I knew I had sworn up and down that I was never going to do a relationship again, but Ray made it harder to hold on to that promise.
He made me rethink everything I had sworn off and want to break my own rules.
Or maybe he was responsible for me creating new rules to live by.
Plus, I still had that nagging feeling that he might change his mind at some point, and I wasn’t a woman who stuck with a man who didn’t love her just because she wanted someone in her life.
“Hey, Tammy, can I get a burger?” Diego’s voice jolted me out of my inner thoughts.
I watched as Delia glared daggers at Diego for ordering, once again, at the most inconvenient time, but I’d gotten used to it.
“Heard Ray left,” Diego said to me. “When’s he coming back?”
“In a few days,” I replied.
I wasn’t trying to be vague on purpose. It was actually the same response Ray had given me. He had a lot to do to close his life up in Texas, but he’d promised to call me tomorrow and tell me exactly when he’d be back, so I’d let it go.
“Cool,” Diego replied and then pulled out his phone while he waited for his food.
Delia, however, was such a hoot to work with, and I was secretly hoping she would want to keep working some bar shifts with me even after we figured out this burglary mess—whenever that might happen.
The hours slipped by easily with her at my side, quickly turning into the kind of shift that didn’t feel like work. Before I knew it, it was about thirty minutes before closing time.
The pub had slowed to a near crawl, leaving only one couple left at a high-top table. They were deep in conversation and oblivious to the rest of the world. They weren’t causing any trouble, so I was in no rush to make them leave.
“You can head out if you want,” I told Delia, wiping down the counter.
It was my turn to close anyway, and with Diego here, I didn’t need her sticking around just to keep me company.
Once she left, the quiet settled in a little deeper, especially since Diego was the silent, broody type to begin with.
I moved through my closing routine—wiping down the tables, restocking the bottles, straightening stools, and helping the final waitress, Chelle, close out all her tabs and get her tips in order.
With ten minutes left before closing, I handed Diego the keys to lock up the front once the last customers left.
I tallied the money up and placed it in the safe just as Chelle finished cleaning up and restocking. Diego walked us both out to our cars, dropping me off first where I had parked in the main lot, and then they walked over to Chelle’s car, which was across the street.
I’d no sooner pulled out of the parking lot than I had to turn around after realizing I had left my phone on the office desk.
I chose to pull right up to the front door since it was closer.
Unlocking it, I walked over to the security panel to turn it off, but I realized that nothing had beeped when I’d opened the door.
Why wasn’t the alarm on? I knew I’d turned it on when we left.
Did Chelle and Diego have to come back for something, too?
As I walked to the office, I felt the hair on the back of my neck rise, a prickling sensation racing down my skin.
It was a warning—the kind you learned not to ignore.
But I realized it a second too late.
I turned into the office just in time to see Diego pulling the money bag from the safe.
“It’s not what it looks like,” he rushed to say.
“Well, what the fuck is it, then, because it sure as hell looks like you’re stealing money,” I yelled.
“Tammy,” he started to say and then paused.
Before I could say another word, he bolted toward me at full speed. Just as he shoved past me, I yanked the bag from his hands and made a move toward the desk where I kept a gun hidden in the drawer.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t fast enough.
I heard the familiar click of a gun’s safety followed by Diego’s sharp voice behind me.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said, as though the words softened his harsh tone. “Just give me the money and let me leave.”
I slowly turned to find him standing rigidly, his gun aimed straight at me.
“I’m sorry I have to do this, Tammy, but I need the money.”
My gaze locked onto the weapon as I assessed what I could do in the split second I had. Compact handgun. Unsteady grip. Finger too close to the trigger. His free hand extended out, palm up, waiting for the money bag.
Think.
I didn’t dare move until I had a plan. In situations like this, you only had one shot. One opportunity to do it the right way, and you couldn’t undo it if it went sideways.
I knew he saw the wheels turning in my head when his face went from slightly soft to angry.
“Like I said,” he snapped, his voice tighter, “I don’t want to hurt you, but if you fight me on this, I will force the money from you.”
The plan clicked into place in my head. Fast and clear.
I gave a sharp nod. “It didn’t have to be this way. You could have just asked for the money.”
My voice was calm and neutral. He knew deep down that I wouldn’t go along with this too easily, so I had to play into that. If he thought he had control, he’d get careless.
Holding out the money bag, I waited patiently. I just needed one opening. And when it came, I took it.
Diego stepped forward and snatched the bag from my hands. The second he turned toward the door, I moved.
I bent down and shoved the coffee table toward him with all my strength. The corner clipped his left calf, causing him to stumble. He lost his balance and went down fast, crashing onto the floor with a heavy thud.
The gun discharged with a deafening crack before sliding across the floor and disappearing under the couch. My ears rang violently as the sharp gunshot echoed in the room.
For a split second, everything froze. I didn’t know if he’d meant to pull the trigger or if it had been accidental, but I wasn’t waiting to find out.
Out of my peripheral vision, I saw him scrambling back to his feet, and adrenaline surged through me like a hot current.
He had a choice—take the money and run, or take the extra time to get down on the floor and retrieve his gun.
He chose the money.
As Diego bolted out of the office without a second glance, I didn’t waste any time myself. I moved to the desk to grab my own gun in case he came back.
Before I could grab my phone and call 911, a crash echoed from the kitchen, followed by shouting.
Did Diego trip and fall?
Was there more than one thief?
I heard more than one voice yelling, but with my ears still ringing from the gunshot and the door nearly closed, it was hard to assess the situation.
The office door flew open again, slamming into the wall for yet a second time. It hit hard enough to likely leave a dent from the doorknob.
I lifted my gun once more, ready to fire if I had to.
Relief and shock hit me simultaneously as Ray’s tall frame filled the doorway, his gaze scanning the room.
It landed on me, and he moved quickly, going from the door to the floor in front of me in less than a blink.
“Are you okay? Were you hit? What happened?” he asked in rapid fire, his voice tight and urgent.
“I’m okay. No. Diego’s the robber,” I replied quickly, shaking my head.
He shifted and guided me so that I was now half sitting, half leaning against the desk. “You okay?
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding, but before I could answer, Vince was in the doorway.
“I’ve got Diego zip-tied out back with two guards on him. Cops are on their way, but can you give me the basics of what went down?”
I was surprised to see Vince here, but I chose to focus on the task at hand rather than question his presence. I explained to Ray and Vince everything that had happened in the last few minutes.
“You okay?” Ray asked again, after I told them everything.
“Not bad. Guess I’ve gotten a little soft since leaving the Army.”
Ray choked out a hard laugh. “Really? Because from where I’m standing, that sounds like you were anything but soft.”
“Yeah, well, he still got away,” I huffed out. “There are plenty of men who don’t think women should be in the military because we aren’t as strong or as bulky as men, and I kind of just proved their point.”
“I disagree,” Ray said immediately. “What you lack in size, you more than make up for in quick thinking, tactical calculation, and resourcefulness.”
“Not to mention women have the element of surprise since most people think you can’t do the job,” Vince said from the doorway, a grin tugging at his mouth. “You just proved that point, little miss renegade.”
I rolled my eyes at that nonsense nickname, causing him to laugh and turn away from the door.
“I’m gonna wait for the cops outside.” Vince departed swiftly, leaving Ray and me alone in the office.
“Personally, I think it’s awesome that you’re a badass,” Ray added. “And sexy, too.”
“Good. I guess I’ll let you stick around, then,” I replied, smirking.