Chapter 21 #4
"Well sure," Taylor said. "An enchanting woman needs romance.
" He looked like a formidable statue next to Graham who was not privy to Taylor's tone, and what his eyes were saying.
His scent, too, was swirling through her mind like it was trying to take over her.
Smoked hickory took on a sharpness, similar to that night in the graveyard when she'd told him about what had happened to her.
Was there a hint of anger in his eyes?
"Yeah, just give me a few minutes," she said, needing to squeeze out from between the two men. She found Ursula and Jessica chatting and looked up surprised when she saw that Taylor was next to her.
"What are you doing?"
"Coming with you," he said with a nonchalance that was on the side of arrogant.
"Why?" she asked.
When he looked down at her, his nonchalance vanished as something else took over, causing her heart to clench.
"Hey, Taylor," Ursula greeted. "Do you want to come over for dessert? Jenson is driving back from Marblehead and we made bourbon pecan pie." She looked at Eloise who was about to explain her plans when Taylor did it for her. In a very cop way.
"Well, enchanting Eloise here cannot because she's going on an impromptu date with Graham," Taylor answered, his smile bright and charming. And fake.
Ursula's look of surprise shifted to curiosity as she looked between him and Eloise.
"Yeah, so Graham asked if I would go to a movie with him so just wanted to let you know I'll be home after."
"Alright," Ursula said nodding. "I mean, great! Have fun." Her smile matched Eloise's. Jessica was watching silently and trying to read the energy, which between the two of them and Taylor was oddly bright and felt like a horribly acted play.
"Uh, I need to go relieve the babysitter. Great seeing you," Jessica said, hugging Ursula and Eloise. "Taylor," she said with a small smile."
"Jessica, nice to see you," he said kindly.
"And I need to go on my date," Eloise said throwing a thumb behind her where she assumed Graham still was.
"You ready?"
Graham's unexpected voice made her jump.
"Sorry," he reached out, clasping a hand to her shoulder in apology.
And then his hand was being removed from her shoulder by someone else.
Eloise and Graham looked at Taylor in question.
Ursula looked at him with raised eyebrows and a small smile she was trying to keep small.
And Taylor himself frowned, looking at his hand which he pulled back after dropping Graham's hand like it had betrayed him.
"Sorry. Cop in me. I see a man reach for a woman after scaring her and," he shrugged. "You obviously have pure intentions toward our Eloise, or else I would have to step in," he added with a crooked smile and just a hint of threat.
Eloise gave him a disbelieving look, which he tactfully ignored.
Graham thankfully laughed it off. "I hear you. Work really does become us."
"Well," Eloise looked around the three of them awkwardly before she turned to Ursula, who really was losing that fight with the smile. "See you when I get home."
"We'll save you some pie," Taylor's cheeky words made her eyes narrow at him. "And remember, no touching," he finger-gunned Graham jokingly, but when Graham laughed and gave him a jovial finger gun in return Taylor added, "Seriously. No touching."
"Taylor," Eloise chastised.
He lifted both hands. "Kidding."
Newly nervous Graham, who wasn't sure how to take the detective's 'joking' asked Eloise if she was ready. She gave him what she hoped was a reassuring smile.
"See you tonight for pie," Taylor said.
She threw a pointed look of threat toward Taylor. But his smile, wide and unbothered made her want to drag him outside and ask what the hell he was doing.
Ursula coughed into her hand.
Eloise's narrowed look turned carefully nonchalant. "Great. Enjoy the pie. We made it with extra love and magic."
"Excellent. I love those ingredients," he replied like they were in a parrying match; a stand-off of something.
"Great."
"So, have fun, you two," Ursula finally broke in, and before Eloise decidedly turned away she saw her friend put a hand on Taylor, pulling his attention from the couple.
"How dare you show up to a respectable town hall meeting and just flaunt yourselves when my son is at home pink because of you! And accusing him of bullying to hide it all!"
The angry voice made all three of them turn, the odd fight between Eloise and Taylor forgotten immediately when they saw Kyle Sandman's mom.
She was a tall, strong woman with dark hair greying at the roots and around the frame of her face.
Her anger was strong. It gave off a smell of a match being lit.
"Mrs. Sandman. How are you?" Taylor asked, his tone professional, easy.
"I'm not good and you know it, detective. These women," she pointed and he held up a hand stopping her.
"I understand you're angry and you're still looking for answers.
I understand that, but this is not the time nor is it the place and I want to make sure we have all the facts, not accusations, before we point fingers.
Because the truth is important and protecting Kyle, and everyone involved, is important.
" He laid a hand on her upper arm as Chief Landry walked over.
"Now, why don't I come over tomorrow so we can sit down and I can go over everything we have on his case.
I'll bring Michelle's macarons." His calm voice and the way he shifted his body language to being gentle and soothing rather than intimidating was impressive. Kyle's mom immediately responded to it.
"Mrs. Sandman," the chief drawled. He tipped his head and ushered her away letting her talk, his demeanor calm and her words drifting off from their ears. The way the chief moved was fluid, like his tall body had made a deal with gravity.
"What did she mean? Accused of bullying?" Eloise asked.
"We looked into his bullying. Are looking into it. It's an ongoing investigation that I cannot talk about," he said before they could ask and added, "But it's not looking good for him. Or his friends."
Eloise felt a welling of warmth inside of her and couldn't find the words but as she stared up at him she wanted to step into his body and wrap her arms around him. She wanted to thank him and bury her face in his chest. And he was looking at her like he would welcome it.
"Ready?"
Graham's voice broke their moment.
Again, Ursula watched the scene in fascination, a small smile on her lips.
Eloise nodded, giving him a sweet smile. "Yes. Ready."
"See you tonight, Ladyhawk," Taylor called.
She frowned at his teasing tone and then snapped a finger pointing to Ursula. "Oh, will you get Lady Macbeth home and don't let her trick you into anymore treats. She's already had four large marshmallows."
"Got it."
"Who's Lady Macbeth?" Graham asked.
"My raccoon. She's pregnant." His shock made everyone laugh. "I'll explain on the way. See you guys," she said waving to a smiling Ursula and a not smiling Taylor who watched them walk out of the library with no more of the fake smiling or forced happiness.
He watched Graham place a gentlemanly hand on her lower back, ushering her through the door into the darkening outside.
He felt something visceral take hold of his chest, something he had never felt before and it went wild when he watched Graham lean down and say something to her to make her tilt her head back, her auburn hair spilling down over her shoulders, as her laughter sang.
That visceral hold turned tight and unforgiving.
"He's smart," Ursula said, watching Taylor watch her best friend. "Taking her out before he lost his chance."
Taylor didn't look at her, his jaw clenching. "Yeah," was all he could manage.
"Wouldn't want a good man to miss out on a woman like that.
That would be a tragedy." Taylor did look at her then and what she saw made a sigh form deep inside of her.
She knew what was in his eyes, in the muscle clenched along his strong jaw, in the flexing of his hand at his side.
And maybe he didn't, or couldn't, but she hoped that he would figure it out and soon. "Do you want a drink with that pie?"
"Hell yes," he said and she smiled.