Chapter Nineteen
I woke up next to Wyatt, and we’ve had the best time lounging in bed. It’s easy and fun.
“What do you mean you’ve never had a lobster roll or blueberry milkshake?” he asks, tickling my side, making me squirm against his naked body.
“I’ve lived in Montana my whole life, you goof. Fresh seafood isn’t really a thing, and we have huckleberries, not blueberries.” I stick my tongue out at him. “Huckleberries are superior.”
“Well we need to rectify this immediately. You’ve never had Maine blueberries, so you don’t even know which berry is superior.”
“What are we going to do about this?” I giggle as he jumps out of bed.
Looking at the clock, I see that it’s almost lunch time, and my stomach growls almost as if on cue.
“We’re going to go to Kane’s hometown, Hemlock Cove. We’re going to get some lobsters from his boat and a quart of the blueberry ice-cream from the stand along the road out there.”
“We have to cook the lobsters? Alive?” I definitely don’t want to do that. I hate meeting my meat before I eat it. If I had to, I’d be a whole vegetarian.
Wyatt leans over me, kissing my forehead. “Yes. But I’ll do it. You don’t have to. They won’t feel a thing, I promise.”
“I don’t know if I like that.” I scrunch my nose as he hands me my clothes from the floor.
“Would you rather me get them pre-cooked? Or we can just eat at Bob’s. It looks like a shack, but I promise you it’s some of the best food I’ve ever tasted. I went up after Cooper’s blog posted it.”
“Yes, please. I don’t want to meet my dinner.” Slipping into my shorts, I lean into him, wrapping my arms around his waist.
He chuckles at me. “Okay. What if we just go to Bob’s for lunch, then we’ll get the milkshakes and enjoy an early evening beach stroll together?”
“I don’t know who Bob is, but if he has good seafood that’s already cooked, I’ll take it.”
“You got it, Goddess. Whatever you want, you get.”
“Don’t spoil me now, Officer. You’ll have a hell of a time later.”
Wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me close, he whispers, “I’ll spoil you for a whole lifetime, Trouble, and love every fucking second of it.”
“I like the sound of that.” I slap his ass and run into the bathroom to brush my teeth.
He joins me to brush his own teeth, and it feels so domesticated. In all the years I was with James, we never once were in the bathroom together. It’s a comfortable thing, fun and playful in the mundane moments.
We smile at each other with foamy paste dripping on our lips.
“Don’t look at me like that. We might not make it to lunch,” he mumbles.
“Oh we’re going.” I spit out my toothpaste and rinse my mouth. “I’m starving. Someone makes me burn too many calories in the middle of the night.”
I turn, pinching his abs.
“Not sorry. At all.” Leaning over my shoulder, he does the same as me, spitting and rinsing. But once his toothbrush is back in its holder, his lips cover mine.
“What was that for?” I ask.
“Just because I can. Because you woke up in my bed, and now we get to go to lunch. And Cooper knows and didn’t junk punch me.” He laughs.
“I would have protected you from that. I don’t need him injuring my favorite body part.”
This time he lets out a big belly laugh. “Make sure you tell him it’s bigger than his when you do.”
“I’ve heard it might be the same size.” I slip under his arm and disappear down the stairs to find my shoes.
“I didn’t need to hear that!” he yells after me.
Laughing at myself, I can’t help but feel like I won the lottery; even though Hugh wants to take it all away from me.
Hemlock Cove is the absolute cutest little town next to Balsam Cliffs. Driving up the coast, I experience the most picturesque landscape, and I grew up surrounded by mountains and blue rivers. But none of that compares to the rocky coastline along the ocean.
I don’t think I’ll ever get over seeing nothing but the vast blue horizon.
“We’re here.” Wyatt pulls into the smallest parking lot I’ve ever seen with what can only be described as a seaside shack.
“This looks like… a dive bar.”
“It is. But the best one. Come on.” Hopping out, he walks around to my side and helps me down out of the truck. A much nicer ride than the back of his cruiser yesterday.
“Hey, Wyatt! What are you doing here today?” A robust older man greets us.
“If you can believe it, this pretty lady has never had a lobster roll. Or a blueberry milkshake.” He leans into the man. “And she thinks that huckleberries are superior to a Maine blueberry!”
“That is blasphemy. Come this way, young lady. I’ll give you the best seat in the house.”
We follow him to the corner of the shack, and he pushes a slider door open, revealing one table on the back deck. The furniture might leave something to be desired with its worn chairs and nineties plastic table, but the view can’t be beat.
“That’s the Pierson’s boat right there. Coming in right now to bring me your lunch.” He puts his hand out for me to shake it. “I’m Bob.”
“Sophia. Pleasure to meet you, Bob.” I place my hand in his, shaking gently.
“Rosie will be out here in a minute, but you feel free to go on down to see Kane and Granger when they get here.” He drops the menus on the table and goes back inside.
A petite blonde girl passes him. “Hi. Can I take your order?”
Her voice is barely above a whisper, but Wyatt speaks up. “Two Cokes, two fries, and two rolls, one mayo and one butter.” His lopsided grin is in full effect, and she blushes at his attention.
“Thank you.” She rushes inside before she has to have any more communication with us.
“That waitress is very quiet. I’m not sure this is the job she wants.”
“Cooper said she’s had a rough go of it, and Bob views her as a daughter. She’s worked here since she was a teenager. I think her parents kicked her out when she was still in high school and left her. Bob took her in, now she lives in the apartment next door.”
“That’s sweet, but it also looks like it could use a handy-man.”
“Bob’s not a fancy guy. But it’s all in working order and clean. He’s a good guy. Definition of don’t judge a book by its cover.”
“Well. That’s all that matters, right? I’d rather he be a good guy than have a mansion. I know from personal experience, the mansions can be a real hell.” I give him a weak smile, and his drops into a frown.
We sit quietly for a minute, watching the boat slowly make its way into the dock.
“So the fireworks are next week for the Fourth. Would you want to go with me?” he finally asks.
“Is that a good idea?”
“Yeah, the whole department will be there. And we pull guys from the other departments to help out. It’s a big festival down at the public beach. Vendors will line up in the parking lot. A craft fair and food vendors.”
The quiet waitress slips through an impossibly small crack in the door, dropping our Cokes on the table and leaving again without a word.
“If you think it’s safe, then I’d love to.”
“We’ll get Ripp to join us. Then we’ll both be there. He can pretend to be looking for, and trying to kill, me. Besides, Willow is singing for the live music, and the town turns the basketball courts into a dance floor.”
Dancing with Wyatt to live music sounds like the best date night. Add in some fireworks, and it’ll probably be the best night I’ve had since a field party in high-school. Before Daddy cared who I was with. Before I was just a pawn in his business.
“That is so the setting of a Hallmark movie and very sweet. I’d love to join you.”
Rosie drops off our fries and lobster rolls, silently going back inside the restaurant.
“Okay, how do we do this?” I ask, rubbing my hands together. I’m excited for my first lobster roll.
Wyatt cuts each roll in half.
“First, you need to experience both kinds. One with butter and one with mayo.” He picks up the one that looks like it has butter on it, holding it up to me. “Bite.”
Following his direction, I take a bite of the first one, letting the buttery goodness pop on my tongue. “Mmm.”
He repeats the gesture this time with the mayonnaise roll. “Drink first. Then bite.”
Biting into the mayonnaise lobster roll, I know right away that I have a clear winner.
“Definitely mayo!” I murmur with my mouth full and my hand covering my face.
“Good choice.” He smiles at me. “That’s my favorite too.”
He swaps his mayo half for my butter half, giving me the whole sandwich.
“Hey! I want both. I need more than one bite to decide fully, and it’s your favorite too!” I swap them back.
“What do we think?” Bob’s deep voice announces. He’s followed by two men, one I recognize as Kane, the other must be his brother.
“She’s a keeper. She chose correctly,” Wyatt announces proudly. “Soph, this is Granger Pierson. He caught your lunch for you.”
“Hi, nice to meet you.” His hand extends to shake mine.
Wiping my hand on my napkin in my lap, I extend my hand out. “Nice to meet you.”
“So, Wyatt, I heard you’re taking the detective’s test to help us out?” Granger says, taking the seat next to him.
I snap my gaze to him. “You are?”
His face blushes, and the scar reddens deeper than the rest of his skin where he had a graft. “Yeah. I took it a couple days ago.”
“That’s amazing! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Shit man, I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was a secret.” Kane hits his brother.
“It’s okay. I just didn’t want a bunch of people knowing in case I fail.” He shoves half the buttered lobster roll in his mouth to avoid talking about it any further.
“Well, now that we’ve fucked that up, we’ve gotta get back to our dock. See you later, man. Lovely to see you again, Sophia.” Kane and Granger both clap Wyatt on the shoulder before leaving with Bob.
We stare at each other for a minute, me waiting for him to tell me how it went, but he doesn’t start talking.
“Are you going to tell me if you passed?” I ask excitedly.
“I won’t know for a few more days.” That scar deepens once again.
“Wyatt, pass or fail, I’m proud of you. Not many people would be asked to do that to join a task force.” Taking his hand in mine, I squeeze it in support.
“Thank you.” His scruff tickles my cheek when he kisses me.
“Are you going to tell me as soon as you know?”
“You’ll be the first person. Promise.” He tosses his napkin on the now empty plate.
“Good.” Settling back in my chair so I can finish my own lunch, I push the other uneaten half toward him, which he happily eats in two bites.
Watching him while I eat, I take him in. He’s truly a special man. Gorgeous, smart, funny, caring. And somehow it feels like he was destined to be mine from the minute he pulled me over.
“Ready for milkshakes?” He throws cash on the table and piles our dishes.
“Absolutely.” Walking hand in hand out of the restaurant, he waves to Bob behind the bar.
The smile on my face feels permanent. Like nothing can ever ruin this perfect day with Wyatt.
“I can’t believe you’re still insisting that huckleberries are better than blueberries.” Wyatt is still shocked on our drive back.
“I didn’t say they were better. I said they taste pretty similar.” I roll my eyes.
“That is just blasphemy. A Maine blueberry is far superior.”
“Have you ever even had huckleberry?” Turning to face him, I cross my arms over my chest.
“No. I just know it’s true.” He shrugs.
I give up. If I’ve learned anything in my time here, it’s that Mainers are very proud of anything Maine, and I won’t convince him of anything other than the fact his blueberry milkshake was best. It’s a little endearing.
Driving through town, I look at the town hall’s sign when it catches my eye.
Sophia Black isn’t who you think she is. Have you looked into her?
“Stop!” I shout.
Wyatt slams on the brakes, and I jump out of the car to run back to the sign. My heart races as I take in the words again. How long has this been here? How long has this been up? And worst of all, it’s concrete proof that Hugh knows where I am.
“What’s wrong?” Wyatt jogs up next to me, stopping next to me and staring at the sign.
Before I even have to say anything to him, he’s on the phone.
“Chief. We have a problem… Yes, they found her… Did you see the sign on town hall?... I don’t know, we just saw it on our way home… Okay, let me know.”
He pulls me to him so I’m facing his chest and not the sign. “I’m so sorry, Goddess. I promise we’ll get this taken down. Chief is calling the mayor now.”
“I need to leave. Now that I know for sure they know where I am… I have to go.”
He squeezes me tighter in a hug. “Absolutely not. I’m not letting you go.”
“I don’t want to go. But you’re not safe if he knows where I am.”
His lips press to my forehead. “I told you that I’ll protect you. Whatever it takes.”
The phone in his pocket vibrates against my leg. We both stare at each other.
Swiping at his screen, Chief’s name is displayed when he puts it on speaker. “Hi Chief.”
“The mayor is on her way. Can you stay and meet her there?”
“Absolutely. What about finding out who did this?” Wyatt wraps his arm tight around my waist, holding me close, giving me a sense of safety I’ve never felt.
“You ask the mayor for permission, but I want Kane on it. If the mayor says no, I don’t know who is looking into it, but you might. Get me?”
“Yes, sir. I do.”
Just then, a car comes racing into the parking lot and an older woman, probably Anna’s age but nowhere near as beautiful, gets out of the car.
“Chief, Mayor Williams is here now.” Wyatt tugs me over to her. “Good evening, Mayor Williams.”
“Hello, Officer Keaton.” She looks at me. “I’m sorry we need to meet this way, Ms. Black. I hear you’re in some trouble.”
She gently reaches out to squeeze my hand, her arm revealing a maze of scars. When she notices my gaze, she explains, “I know a thing or two about your kind of trouble. I promise, we’ll do everything we can.”
Nodding in understanding, I feel seen, heard, and protected here in this town.