Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAR
It’s been an unusually peaceful day at work. Maybe because Fancy is out of town visiting her sister, I think to myself. Man, that girl can cause some commotion.
When I finally close up the salon, the streets of Candy Cane Key are quiet.
There’s no strangers lingering on street corners.
No vehicles with tinted windows parked on my street.
I stand by my car for a moment, letting the peaceful night air swirl around me, wishing I could bottle the feeling. It’s been such a rarity lately.
From what Liz and Margaret had shared, neither the Virginia witness protection program nor the local police had caught wind of anything sinister happening regarding my case when they reached out to them.
Margaret reassured me that despite the fact the police department at Candy Cane Key wasn’t highly advanced in technology, or brains as she put it, they were taking the matter seriously.
I’d worried that leaving the state could put my protection at risk.
But so long as I have no interaction with anyone from my old life, I remain in good standing with the state protection organization.
They did encourage increased communication if I leave the state again.
Probably wouldn’t hurt to stay in better touch with the agency.
Liz may have intimated over the years that Margaret had her own security team on retainer as well.
And as much as I’d like to argue with her about spending any money where I was concerned, I’m selfishly grateful for her support.
I honestly don’t know what I would do without these two women.
They have been my lifeline for so long. They may come from a different side of the tracks from Betty, but Liz and Margaret were my OG fairy godmothers.
And this girl isn’t dumb enough to turn away any of those.
What is the saying? It takes a village? Well, the more the merrier.
Once home, I kick off my shoes and pour a glass of wine.
Sitting by the window, I watch the sunset spill gold over the rooftops.
The color reminding me of that glorious night months ago.
When the night sky over the Sycamore Mountains bathed the valley below with a similar glow before the stars came out to play.
I take a slow sip and think of him. That gorgeous firefighter with the steady hands and that boyish smile.
I can still feel the warmth of his palm against the small of my back, and the low rumble of his infectious laughter when I danced like a maniac in front of everyone.
We’d talked for hours about everything and nothing.
And then our late evening conversations turned into a magical night I’ve played on repeat more times than I can count.
It wasn’t simply the sex. Don’t get me wrong, that was the most electrifying, passionate night of my life. The stuff romance novels are written about. But there was just something about him. A genuine mix of playfulness and wild abandon. A connection I’ve never had with any man.
Reaching up to touch my face as he had under the stars that night, I close my eyes and try to remember the little nuances.
The way he’d brushed a stray curl from my cheek, his fingers lingering just a second too long.
The way he didn’t even try to hide that his breath caught like mine when our eyes connected.
And his kisses. Gah. Those dreamy kisses.
The air between us crackled when he took my lips with his.
I could smell the heady scent of his cologne surrounding me as we were tangled in one another.
His caresses were both strong and tender.
The kind that says you’re safe here. For the first time in a long while, I didn’t feel small, scared, or broken.
Just seen and appreciated for who I was.
Like being with me was genuinely enough.
The following morning had come too soon.
I had a long drive home and needed to go, whether I wanted to or not.
And trust me, there was no part of me that wanted to leave.
We didn’t make promises. Hell, we didn’t know the other’s last name.
There really wasn’t the need for goodbye.
Why make it any more difficult than it already was?
At least that’s how I justified slinking off.
Still, I often catch myself reaching for my phone, half expecting him to have asked Ellie for my number. Okay, so half hoping is more like it. Looking for a message that isn’t there.
The tea’s gone lukewarm by the time I stand to turn out the light. As I crawl into bed, the quiet wraps around me like a soft quilt, and I let myself fantasize about the what if’s. At least until the bad dreams return.
Because the reality is simple. I can’t let anyone into my nightmare that isn’t already involved.
And as much as I’d like to trust Dave, I’ve learned one thing loud and clear.
No one can hurt you more than those you let get too close.
And he’s one temptation I’d have a very hard time walking away from a second time.
“Char, I know it’s been a busy day, but do you mind trimming my hair before we call it a day? We’ve been so bombarded lately I haven’t had a chance to schedule anything, and I’m starting to look like a stray dog.” Norma Jean gives me a comical pout.
“Oh, you know I always have time for you.”
“Thanks! I’ll pay you double your usual.”
I giggle. “I was never great at math, but I’m pretty sure two times zero is still zero.”
“See. You’re wrong.”
My face contorts in confusion.
“You are good at math.”
After a quick shampoo, I apply Norma Jean’s favorite eucalyptus-scented conditioner and follow her to my station for a quick trim and blow dry. This girl really has a beautiful thick head of hair. “You make me want to go blonde again.” I laugh.
Her eyes flick up to meet mine in the mirror. “I like this look. It’s short and sassy.”
My current coif falls around my collarbone and is what a hairstylist might describe as a shaggy bob.
My hair is naturally thick, so it doesn’t take much to style it and go.
The dark brown color with violet ombre shading at the ends has been a fun change from my prior red locks.
Just not sure about keeping this look going for long when my roots come in blonde.
But that’s the fun of constantly reimagining myself.
“There.” I announce as I remove Norma Jean’s black smock with a flourish.
“Beautiful as always, Char. Now I need to go somewhere to show it off.” She giggles.
“Okay. Have fun, wild child.”
The phone buzzes on the counter just as I’m sweeping up the last of the blonde clippings from Norma’s trim. I don’t even check the screen before answering.
“Hello.”
“Char! It’s me!”
I blink. “Ellie?”
“Surprise!” She squeals. “I’m in town. We drove in last night and decided to stay a few days.
I meant to call you once we got here, but I was exhausted.
Then we spent the day with Harrison, Harlow, and the boys on the beach today, and I needed another nap.
” She snorts. “This growing-babies gig is exhausting.”
A smile engulfs my whole face. “Oh my gosh, Ellie. This is the best news ever. I can’t believe it.” It’s taking actual effort not to cry.
“Want to meet at The Wild Shrimp for old times’ sake? Harrison’s already talking about ordering enough oysters for the whole table. Well, everyone but me. I don’t think I can eat that in my current condition.”
I glance at the clock, the empty salon reflected in the mirror. “Give me twenty minutes. I’ll close up and head that way.”
“Perfect. I can’t wait to see you.”
“Same,” I say, softer than I meant to. “Thank you for coming.” A small sob betrays me. “You have no idea how much I needed this.”
“Awe, babe. Me too! See you soon.”
Opening the front door, I step inside one of my favorite Candy Cane Key restaurants. The Wild Shrimp is a casual locals hangout with good food at reasonable prices. The scent of butter, lemon, and succulent grilled seafood wraps around me like an old friend.
This place has always been the kind to bring friends together. The same worn bar stools and vinyl booths, an old jukebox in the corner playing dance, country, and Christmas tunes. And the best damn margaritas in town.
I spot Ellie instantly. She’s waving from a long table in the back, that sunshine smile of hers pulling me in like a magnet. “Char!” She’s on her feet before I’ve even reached her, wrapping me in a hug that feels like home.
“I can’t believe you’re really here,” I say into her shoulder, pulling back with a laugh. “How did you keep this secret? Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t entirely sure we’d manage to get away from the restaurant,” she says, biting her lower lip.
“But a few people stepped up and offered to keep things up and running if I prepped the bigger dishes. We’ll only be open for breakfast and lunch, but it’s something.
” She shrugs. “But Matt and I were homesick after seeing so many folks from Candy Cane Key at the wedding. It’s been too long. ”
I slide into the chair beside where Ellie’s standing. Smoothing my newly styled shoulder-length hair out of my face. “You picked a good week. The humidity’s only trying to kill us part-time.”
Ellie laughs, dropping back into her seat. “You look great, by the way. Seriously, that color suits you. Are those highlights?”
“It’s a new colored ombre effect I’m trying out on the tips of the hair.” I lift a small section and give it a questioning expression. “So far the jury is out.” I laugh.
Out of the blue, a set of strong, tatted arms wraps around me. “Hey, Char.”
“Hi, Matt. How are you? Thanks for the visit. It was just the medicine I needed.”
Ellie squeezes my forearm, her face a mask of concern. “Medicine? Is anything wrong?”
“No,” I blurt, though my stomach twists with nerves at the recent upheaval in my life.
“Just been missing you. Work’s been really busy.
” This has thankfully kept me distracted from thoughts of violent stalkers and off-limits hot firefighters from states away.
But I’m definitely not sharing that. I’ll leave it at, “Keeps me out of trouble.”
Before Ellie can respond, a shadow moves across the table, and a familiar voice greets us. “Hey, got room for three more?”
“Hey, Harlow.” I pull her in for a squeeze. I can’t believe we live in the same small town, yet I never manage to see her. “It’s been so long.”
“I know. Too long. Between the ER, guard duty, and the kids, my life is a bit much these days.”
As I lean to the left to greet Harrison, my eyes land on—Not Harrison. I gulp at the unexpected sight.
It’s him.
The soft glow from the overhead light catches in his hair. As if sensing my stare, he looks up, his gorgeous brown eyes holding mine. My heart gives one aching, unsteady thud.
Harrison moves closer, draping an arm around my shoulders.
“Hey, old man,” I say, hugging him back.
But my gaze drifts like the traitor it is, right back to Dave.
How had Ellie not told me he was here? Okay, so I never shared about our explosive night together after her wedding.
But I have no doubt we were the town gossip when we left the reception together.
He smiles cautiously as I approach, polite but deliberate. Yet that charming twinkle in his eye is untamed. “Char.” It’s a single word, but the sound of my name from his sexy lips is like a wake-up call to all of the butterflies in my lower belly.
This is crazy. I’ve got enough on my plate with concerns about my past coming back to haunt me.
Dave needs to stay a diverting memory. I’m too emotional to be tempted into more than one night with a man who lives states away.
Heck, he already stars in a nightly replay of our rendezvous.
One that brought me back to life in more ways than one.
Yet, I’m well aware a repeat performance could only lead to heartache.
I can feel those familiar walls go up before one word has left my lips. “Hey,” I breathe, trying to sound casual. My pulse, however, has other ideas.
Ellie slides back into the booth, beaming between us like she knows exactly what she’s done.
“Sit, sit everyone.” She pulls me down into the chair beside her.
And Dave. “Matt ordered appetizers, and Harrison has oysters coming. Not that I can eat them.” She rolls her eyes and rubs her growing baby bump.
“I got you, Momma,” Matt says, dropping an arm around her shoulder and placing a kiss on her cheek.
Sitting next to Dave, I pretend not to notice how his knee almost brushes mine under the table. The scent of cedar and clean soap drifts off his skin, a little too familiar now. The images it reignites causes me to squirm in my seat. This is dangerous. Just tune him out, Char.
Yeah, right.
I try to stay engaged in casual conversation with my friends, yet my attention keeps flickering back to him. The way his fingers toy absently with his glass. The way his big brown eyes continue to find mine, then linger a moment too long.
Why couldn’t you have stayed in my memories where you belong?
I was managing. Okay, maybe managing is a stretch.
I was barely surviving. But now he’s here, reminding me of all of the things I can’t have.
Being this close to him again could ruin me.
It’s reckless. Sitting here, pretending I’m not still remembering that incredible night in the mountains.
Pretending my heart isn’t thrumming loud enough to drown out the jukebox.
But then Dave leans forward, his voice low enough that only I can hear as it tickles the shell of my ear, “It’s so good to see you.”
My lids close and I swallow hard as goosebumps dot my flesh. There’s no pretending left. I just hope he can’t see it.