11. Jensen
ELEVEN
JENSEN
I flew out of the office that smelled of her. The crisp pear scent with a hint of something warm. Amber, maybe. It teased me forward and I hadn’t been able to resist her shattered eyes and the thick sadness enveloping her. I wanted to wrap around her and take it away from her.
What the hell had I been thinking?
That was the problem. I hadn’t been thinking. I’d been reacting.
And that wasn’t always the best way to deal with Lyric. Even before the fire, she’d always been a little separate. As if she had a protective candy coating around her. The kind that shines and lures you in for a bite.
I’d been lured, all right.
Every damn time I worked with her, in fact, but she hadn’t given me a green light in any way. Actually, it hadn’t even been a yellow. Pure red, as a matter of fact.
I’d thought it was because she was my boss. The balance of power was a tricky thing, not that it ever really bothered me.
Maybe because I’d always known Trick or Treat was a stopgap. Just a place that was on my way to more.
Until the fire.
It had scorched so much more than just the building.
It had created a crater between us in so many ways.
I tipped my head back to look up at the sterling gray sky. A storm was building off the water. It was a crap shoot if it would be sleet or snow since it was so warm. Things turned on a dime in Crescent Cove, that was for sure.
A happy bark dragged me out of my dark thoughts. I turned to see Sheba bounding out just before Lyric. She gave her mistress a quick look before darting over to me.
I’d never known a dog to be so well-trained.
I bent down to give her a thorough scratch before straightening. “Want to take my truck?”
“I can follow you.”
I sighed. “If that’s what you want.”
She fisted her hands into the pockets of her bulky cardigan. “Look, let’s just forget it.”
“Lyric, do you hate me this much?”
“I never said I hated you.” She sounded shocked.
“Well, you act like I smell like a musty sock.”
“How would you know what a musty sock smells like?” She waved her hand. “Never mind.”
I grinned at her. “Haven’t you ever left a load of laundry too long? Or clothes in your gym bag?”
“Do I look like I go to the gym?”
I glanced down at her perfectly curved hips that invited a touch and more than a mouthful breasts that pressed against her dove gray T-shirt under her charcoal sweater. “You look good to me.”
Her cheeks heated. “We can go in your truck. If Sheba will fit.”
“She can ride between us.”
“Oh. You don’t have a backseat?”
“Nope. It’s an old Chevy.” I pointed to my green truck with a definite dent in the tailgate. I was pretty sure I’d gotten that dent last winter. The ice was no joke on the river road. “We can get a good burger at the Mason Jar, or do you want a greasier version?”
“What kind of greasy?”
“Food truck alley.”
“How do I not know about this?”
I grinned. “You haven’t slummed it with me.” I went around to the passenger side and opened the door.
Sheba scampered up and into the cab of the truck. I held out my hand to Lyric.
She didn’t want to accept, but I was going to outstubborn her if it killed me. And knowing how hard it was to convince her of anything, it just might. “Sorry, the oh shit handle is gone.”
“Why?”
“You really want to know?”
One ebony eyebrow winged up. “One of your girlfriends?”
I grinned. “Maybe.”
Her lips flattened.
“You never made out in a truck?”
“No. I mean, yes, I have.”
I laughed. “Which is it?”
She grabbed my hand and stepped on the footrail to get into the truck. “Use your imagination.”
“Probably not something I should do.”
She settled on the seat and turned to stare at me. We were nearly lined up, thanks to the height of my truck. Her gaze tracked down to my mouth then bounced back up so she could lock eyes with me as she licked her lips.
Then Sheba settled her cute little face over her shoulder and broke the moment.
Lyric reached up to pet the side of her face, then she turned to face the windshield. I slammed the door shut and rounded the hood to the driver’s seat. I hopped up and turned the engine over. It was a loud, mean grumble that matched Alter Bridge blasting from my speakers.
Sheba howled with Myles Kennedy and made us both laugh.
I turned down the music and pulled out of the parking lot. Instead of heading into town, I veered over toward the lake where the food trucks had multiplied, thanks to the newer shops being built along the water.
On the warmer days of winter, the trucks stuck around for the dinner crowd. I hoped that my favorite Cuban fusion truck was in residence.
The ride was quiet, but the earlier tension had lifted. Sheba’s head was on a swivel, and she kept happily checking out her new surroundings, amusing us both. Even Lyric sat up a bit straighter as I made the turn onto Lakeview Road.
“Since when did we have food trucks?”
“Crescent Cove is growing daily. I think they started in Kensington Square. My brother told me about one particular truck, and I knew I had to try it. Then boom, they showed up here.”
“How many are there?” She craned her neck.
Instead of turning in where I knew El Ray’s was usually parked, I drove along to the end of the row of trucks. A pink truck offering up boba and milk tea with an array of Japanese treats sat beside a screaming yellow truck with a red logo that looked like a packet of spicy sauce had spilled across the length of the bus-sized truck. The mouthwatering scent of taco seasoning and tonsil-searing spice made me rethink my burger choices.
Both Sheba and Lyric practically plastered themselves against the window.
“Is that a whole truck of just different kinds of matcha?”
I laughed. “Yeah, I believe so.” I glanced at the matcha green truck with the daisy antenna bobbing in the wind off the water.
“This is incredible. I wonder if we could get them to come to A Place for All.” She turned to me. “Like a special menu to show off who they are. We have that big back parking lot, so we’d have plenty of room for a special showcase.”
I nodded. “I can see it.”
Her brilliant smile arrowed into my chest. It had been a long time since I’d seen it. They were far and few between before the fire and now, almost non-existent. At least for me.
Not that it was for me right now. A Place for All was definitely her baby.
I pulled into the parking area used for the beach. In the summer, there wouldn’t be a spot to be found, but for now it was only mildly busy. “Then let’s go collect you a bunch of business cards.”
She grinned and flipped her ponytail over her shoulder. A few wild curls escaped to frame her heart-shaped face. She hopped out and turned to Sheba, clipping a leash on her. I was beginning to wonder if she ever used one, but I supposed even the best trained dog would be hard-pressed to listen with all the people and scents of food around.
I met Lyric on the sidewalk while Sheba excitedly sniffed around. We started at the first truck and sure enough, she talked to every damn one. My stomach roared by the time we got to the third truck.
There was no moving her when she had an idea in her head. And Sheba attracted attention wherever we went.
By the time we got to the taco truck, I gave up and ordered a single hardshell to hold me over.
Lyric ended up with a sampling of every vendor we stopped at. I wasn’t sure she’d even be able to fit a burger inside her after the trio of steamed dumplings she ate at the fifth truck.
Sheba was also getting her fair share of snacks.
Me? Not so much. Supposed I wasn’t pretty enough to score a freebie.
Finally, we got to the El Ray’s Cuban flag motif plastered everywhere. Marco, the chef behind the fusion blend of American and Cuban specialties, was star-struck by Lyric, as well.
“Why is this the first I’m seeing of this delectable creature?” he asked me genially.
“Laying it on thick, Marco.”
Lyric grinned and rose onto her toes to read the menu board behind Marco. It changed most days, but a burger option was usually available.
Today’s burger was a mix between a Cuban sandwich with salty pork and a slider with caramelized onions and a smashed burger slathered in the spicy mustard Marco made daily.
“I’ll have the El Ray special.”
“A woman with an appetite. That’s what I like.”
“Careful, Marco.”
His bushy eyebrows rose. “Is the fair lady spoken for?”
Lyric elbowed me back. “She is not.”
I ground my molars together. “I’ll have the same and add your disco fries.”
“You got it, friend.” He turned to his griddle and started singing in a deep baritone. It was a mix between Cuban Spanish and English. He was definitely showing off for Lyric.
Marco would flirt with any woman from twenty to ninety. But he was as loyal as the day was long to his wife Maya.
“Marco, do you do special events?”
“For you, pipa , absolutely.”
She gave a delighted laugh. “I’m serious.”
“So am I. If there is money to be made and they allow my truck, I’m there.”
“Good.” She went on her toes and snagged one of the magnet business cards on the frame of the window. “Add this to my bill.”
“Ah, pipa , you’re not paying. First time is always free.”
“Oh, no. I’m paying.” Dismayed, Lyric pulled out her phone where a tiny wallet was hidden under her pop socket.
“Actually, I’m paying,” I said from behind her. “I asked her to lunch, so I pay.”
She spun around. “It’s not a date.”
“Don’t look so horrified by the thought, Lyric.”
Her golden eyes flashed with heat. Anger perhaps, or something else?
Marco glanced over his shoulder and gave me a quizzical look.
“You’ll love the disco fries. Marco has a secret sauce that will make you want to drink the stuff.”
“Then he should bottle it.”
“I’m thinking about it, pipa . It takes time and effort, and the blasted FDA has so many rules.”
She laughed. “Pesky food regulations.”
“You laugh, but it takes ages.” He turned around with three plates, one full of fries. “Until then, you let me know what you think.”
Before she could get her card or cash out of her wallet, I forked over two twenties and took the plates of burgers, leaving her with the fries. She huffed out an annoyed breath, but she accepted the fries.
“Well, try it.”
Thoughtfully, she picked out a fry smothered in a gravy, bacon, and the special sauce. Her eyes widened as she turned from Marco to me and then swiveled back to the fries. “I’m going to need a whole new wardrobe, because this is officially my new favorite food.”
Marco boomed out a delighted laugh. “That’s what I like to hear. You contact me about this special event, Miss Lyric. I’ll be there.”
“Good.”
I tried to reach for a fry, and she swung the plate away. “Nope.” Then she flounced off.
“That’s a handful right there, asere .” He leaned on the counter with his massive forearms. “A beautiful one, but a handful.”
“I know it. That’s probably the happiest I’ve seen her in a damn long time.”
“Of course she’s happy. She’s eating my food.”
I laughed. “Got any overcooked bacon back there?”
“You want bacon bits or something?”
“For her dog.”
“Ah.” He backed up and pulled out a few extra crispy slices and then two cans of orange soda. “You’re a softie.”
“Shut up.” I held out my plate and he set the bacon on the side of my hamburger.
“Let me get you your change.”
“Keep it. Was worth the smile from her.” I set the plate on the counter long enough to tuck the drinks into my pockets, then I started after her.
“Talk about a sunk bunny,” Marco called out.
I pretended I didn’t hear him, but his booming laugh called me a liar. I found her on a picnic table by the half wall that gave us a little protection from the water. Sheba was curled around her feet with her little nose tucked under her tail.
I set down our plates, then I pulled out the cans of soda. “Can she have this?” I picked up a slice of charred bacon.
“Sure.”
I ducked my head under the table. “Hungry, girl?”
She lifted her head, her ears perked. Then she gently took the bacon and delightedly crunched it to bits in the snow-dusted grass.
“Thanks. This was fun.” She’d plowed through half the fries. “Still not a date.”
“It’s kinda a date. If you keep up with this flirty talk, I’m just going to have to kiss you.”
Her golden eyes bulged.
I laughed. “I’m kidding.” Then I picked up my sandwich.
I wasn’t.
And I’d definitely be interested in kissing her.
Slowly, she picked up her own sandwich and groaned at the first bite. “This place is evil.”
“I know it.”
“How did you find it?”
“I was on a run around the lake in the fall.” I chewed my own bite, shoving a bunch of the caramelized onions back between the toasted bun and meat. “Marco and the taco truck were the first ones to set up here. I think Marco is friends with the guy who runs the small liquor store across the way.” I pointed to the strip of stores tucked under the new apartments that had been in progress for months now.
Not that I could afford the waterfront loft apartments, but I still wondered if they’d ever be done.
“Huh. I didn’t even know there was a liquor store there.”
“Businesses are popping up every day.” I cracked the tab on one can and pushed it toward her, then I did the same for mine.
She took a sip and sucked in a breath. “Pure sugar.”
“Best kind.” I laughed. “My grams let us have one can every Saturday night when we had a movie night.” I took a long gulp then set it down.
“I’m trying to picture you watching a movie with your grandmother.”
“It was my favorite part of the week. She was determined to show me there was more to life than the Avengers movies.”
“Is there?” She toyed with a fry, then she scraped it through a lake of the special sauce that had pooled at the side of the plate.
“I mean, I’m more of a Winter Soldier guy, but yeah, there is.”
“Captain America is your guy?”
I grinned. “You watched them?”
Suddenly, her smile dissolved. “Yeah, I watched a lot of stuff when I was healing after the surgeries. Kept my mind off the pain.”
I covered her hand with the scars. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
She pulled her hand away and tucked it into her oversized sweater sleeve. “So, yeah, anyway. Captain Rogers?”
“Bucky Barnes.”
She smiled sadly. “Yeah, he was my guy too. I always hoped that maybe both of us could find something to be happy about.”
“And did you?”
“I’m trying.” She dunked another fry and popped it in her mouth. “These fries definitely help,” she said around her bite.
“Good. Because you hogged them all, brat.”
“They were too good. You want me to go get you one?”
“Nah. Watching you eat them is even better.”
Her cheeks heated and she stared down at the plate.
“You’re beyond beautiful, Lyric.”
Her gaze swung to mine. She instinctively pulled a lock of her curls along her jawline where a silvery pink scar hugged the curve leading to her ear. “You don’t have to say that.”
“You’re right. I don’t have to say shit. So, believe it when I say it.”
She nibbled on her lower lip. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Now finish your burger. If you’ve got any room for it.”
“Oh, I have room for it.” She slipped out an onion and tucked it between her lips, then she licked the tips of her fingers. “So good.”
I swallowed a groan.
It certainly was.
She might not want to own up on it, but this was definitely our first date.