Chapter Four #2
“I don’t think they’re here yet,” Zac said, scanning the crowd. “We should grab a table, if we can.” He stiffened when he noticed the man heading straight for them. “Shit,” he muttered.
“Maxie,” Martin Shimwell called gleefully.
If there was one person in this town that Zac hadn’t yet found a way to tolerate, it was this guy.
Marty Shimwell had been his opponent in the election for Indigo Falls Sheriff.
His very presence made Zac itchy. It wasn’t so much that he didn’t like the guy.
He was harmless enough in that weak, spineless way.
In fact, Shimwell didn’t seem to carry any grudges and had been friendly enough in return.
“Don’t you look beautiful,” the man said, cupping Maxie’s shoulder.
It was that.
Zac gritted his teeth.
“And look at this.” Shimwell touched the bouquet in appreciation. “Bringing your own centerpiece?”
“They’re for…a friend,” she said.
“Gorgeous.”
He wasn’t looking at the flowers anymore, and Zac folded his arms to keep from bopping the guy’s hands away from her.
“Are you managing the restaurant now, Martin?” Maxie’s tone was open and friendly. No signs of shyness or hesitancy there.
“For the past two weeks.” He leaned in a bit too close to confide, “The cellular store was too slow for me.”
And the grocery store he’d worked for when he’d been running his campaign? The guy went through jobs the way Taylor Swift went through boyfriends.
Zac couldn’t take it any longer. Sidling closer to Maxie, he wrapped his arm around her waist. “You wouldn’t happen to have a table open so she can set those flowers down?” he asked.
With teeth bared like a tiger.
Shimwell wasn’t the only one who could reach out and touch. It was time he established his territory, especially if he was going to pull off his role of boyfriend tonight. If they were going to convince everyone, he might as well start getting into the act.
The smile on Martin’s face faltered. He looked back and forth between the two of them. When his smile returned, it was plastic. “Table for two, then?”
“For four, actually,” Maxie said.
Shimwell’s eyes narrowed with curiosity. “Wonderful.” He grabbed menus from the receptionist’s stand. “If you’ll follow me?”
He wasn’t the only one eyeing them as they crossed the restaurant. The sheriff and Maxie Miller, Zac could practically hear them whispering. It sounded pretty good to his ears. He was fine with gossip starting about the two of them, as long as she was. He sent a quick look at her.
He almost pulled up short.
She was so oblivious to everything she didn’t even notice people’s speculation.
Zac reined himself in. He needed to remember why they were here. This wasn’t all fun and games to her. She’d asked him to be at her side for a reason.
Shimwell led them to a table near the back. It was close to the bar, but away from the bathrooms and kitchen. In this place, it was in as low of a traffic area as possible.
“Thanks, Marty.”
The host stiffened, his posture yanked upright as if by a string. Setting their menus in front of them, he turned on his heel. “I’ll keep an eye out for your dinner companions.”
Zac pulled out a chair for Maxie.
“He doesn’t like being called Marty,” she said.
“I know.”
She frowned as he sat next to her. “He’s not such a bad guy.”
“To-may-to, to-mah-to.”
Leaning back, Zac watched her. She was fiddling with the bouquet again as she kept an eye on the entrance.
He couldn’t see anything out of place in the arrangement and wasn’t sure there was.
She was nervous, though, and he couldn’t blame her.
She was a private person and being out with him was drawing attention.
What would happen when Lexie and Roxie walked in?
That’s would surely knock all the gossipers for a loop.
Maybe meeting here hadn’t been a good idea.
“Do you think they’ll have trouble finding the place?” She pulled her hands away from the flowers and folded them in her lap.
“You’ve got their number if they don’t show up.”
“I hope they weren’t bored today.”
“They’re big girls. They can entertain themselves.”
She couldn’t keep her hands still. She drummed her fingertips together and twirled her thumbs. “I’m not sure what they’re going to expect from me.”
Zac draped his wrist over the back of her chair. “Don’t worry about it. Just be yourself. If you get uncomfortable, we don’t have to stay.” He patted his leg under the table. “Remember the high sign.”
That got her attention. Her eyes popped open before quickly scanning the area to see if anyone had heard. “Stop it.”
“One pat, and I can assure you we’ll be out of here before you know it.”
“I am not grabbing your leg under the table at the Indigo Iguana.”
He let one eyebrow rise. “But maybe somewhere else?”
Her cheeks were turning a pretty pink when Roxie stepped in the door.
Maxie saw Roxie the moment she entered the restaurant.
With as much as the sisters looked alike, it wasn’t difficult for her to tell them apart.
First, there were the clothes. That was the obvious distinction, but there were other things too.
Roxie walked differently. She…well, she strutted.
There was a confidence there that Maxie, personally, could never have.
“Watch this,” Zac said, leaning closer to her.
Martin was heading to the receptionist stand. Maxie watched as an easy, welcoming smile settled onto his face. His chin came up in recognition, but then confusion hit. His double take was comical, because it swiveled from Roxie to one hundred and eighty degrees across the room to her. Twice.
Roxie, for her part, gave him a wink. Seeing them at their table, she grabbed a menu for herself.
She patted him on the shoulder and strode on by.
More heads twisted and more eyes bugged as she strutted across the restaurant.
Devil that she was, the sway of her hips actually intensified.
With the assurance of a runway model, she flipped her hair over her shoulder.
Her expression was mischievous when she met them.
Zac stood and pulled back a chair for her. “Enjoy that?”
She grinned. “Now that was fun.”
“Where’s Lexie?” Maxie stared at the doorway. Had she been too cold and distant earlier? Had the other sister decided not to come? Nerves began to bubble up inside her. She liked the woman, even if she wasn’t ready to commit to being her sister.
“On the phone with lover boy, Cam.” Roxie fanned herself. “It’s like a sauna out there. I couldn’t take it anymore. She’ll be in soon.”
“So we can watch it all over again?” Zac smiled. “You’re right, this is fun.”
Maxie nibbled on her lip. Half of her was relieved, while the other half was puzzled at her own reaction. It was bizarre, was what it was. She’d thought she was prepared for it, seeing herself again in multiple forms, but she wasn’t. “Martin’s likely to swallow his tongue,” she murmured.
“The host?” Roxie swiveled in her chair. “Oooh, I wanna see.”
And with that observation, Lexie walked in.
The reaction in the restaurant was palpable. Some gasped, while others let out a murmur. Martin was dumbfounded.
His mouth opened and closed like a fish, but he pulled himself together to accompany their latest arrival to the table. Visibly bursting with questions, he seated Lexie and placed her menu in front of her. “The likeness is amazing. Are you related?”
“They’re my cousins,” Zac said.
Martin frowned and did another sweep of the table.
“Once removed,” Roxie clarified.
The host’s lips pursed in consternation. The light bulb wasn’t coming on inside his head, but he bowed lightly. “Have a nice meal, ladies. Sheriff.”
Roxie let out a pleased chuckle.
Lexie smiled and looked around the restaurant. People were staring. Instead of ignoring them, she said hello. The patrons quickly went back to their meals. “I like this place,” she decided.
“It’s not the Ruckus, but it’s definitely unique,” Roxie agreed.
Now that they were at the table, Maxie didn’t know what to do.
Small talk seemed so small. This morning she’d awakened as an only child, and now she might be part of an identical threesome.
That was huge. She couldn’t talk about the fish on the wall or the temperature outside.
Her nervous fingers bumped against the bouquet.
She slid it towards Lexie. “Here are the flowers you ordered.”
“Oh.” Lexie reached out eagerly. “They’re beautiful. Thank you.”
Roxie touched a red rose. “You’re really good, sis.”
One little word. One little syllable, and Maxie stiffened. Zac wrapped his arm around the back of her chair and rubbed his thumb against her shoulder.
“Did you two have a good day?” he asked.
She let out a small breath and had to remind herself to inhale. Deception or not, it had been a good idea to bring him with her.
“The falls were lovely,” Lexie said, still admiring the flowers. “I’ve always wanted to see them. There are some fun shops here along the waterfront too.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Roxie’s eyes narrowed. “How was your day?”
Maxie felt pinned. She wasn’t ready to tell them what she’d found or hadn’t found…what she’d decided or what she believed… It was all so confusing and overwhelming. She didn’t know what she thought. Not yet.
Zac cleared his throat and shook his head.
Roxie sighed and picked up her menu.
Maxie was so relieved she touched his leg in thanks. He looked at her sharply, and heat flooded her face. She yanked her hand back as if she’d touched fire. She hadn’t meant to do that. She didn’t want to leave, but she’d given him the high sign.
Flustered, she reached for her own menu. It had just seemed so natural. She was happy he was here, because he kept the conversation going when any words she tried were clumsy or frozen.
Oh God.
He clicked his tongue and took her hand. He led it back under the table. He settled her palm against his thigh and put his hand over hers. She stiffened for a moment, but then relaxed. He felt warm and strong. Protective and bolstering.
And sexy and hard and male.
“So how long have you two been seeing each other?” Lexie asked.
Maxie reeled her head back around. Seriously? He’d teased her that their guests would ask questions, but she hadn’t thought they’d need to rely on their cover story so soon.
“About four months,” Zac replied smoothly, his hand tightening on hers. “Right after I moved here.”
Maxie blushed when Roxie threw her a wink. “A sucker for a man in uniform, huh?”
She would be too if she saw the way he moved.
Maxie winced. What was wrong with her head? It was as if all her filters had been removed. She needed to deflect and focus the attention on someone or something else. “Roxie said you were on the phone with your boyfriend, Lexie. How long have you been seeing each other?”
“Cam,” the classy brunette said, smiling. “It’s new, although I don’t know if boyfriend is the right term.”
“He’s her hot-and-heavy lover man. I still don’t get it.” Roxie shook her head. “The Hatchet Man in love.”
Zac rubbed his thumb across the back of Maxie’s hand. “Hot and heavy, huh?”
Her stomach dipped. Trust him to remember that part of their cover. Deflect. “Hatchet Man?”
“He’s a reorganization specialist,” Lexie said. “Or he was. We’re starting a new company together. He’s driving up here, by the way. I wanted him to meet you.”
Maxie’s face went stiff. She was meeting family members already? She hadn’t even decided if she wanted to be part of the family herself.
Roxie lifted her glass of water. “If I had to choose my favorite boyfriend-in-law, you’d get my vote, Sheriff.”
“Boyfriend-in-law?” Maxie and Lexie said at the same time.
Roxie smiled with glee. “It’s starting!”
Maxie was beyond flummoxed. This morning, she hadn’t been able to bring herself to say hello to the man sitting next to her. Now, she was rubbing his leg underneath the dinner table, giving everyone the impression they were a couple.
What had she gotten herself into?
Lexie frowned at Roxie. “Don’t pressure her.”
“What? We’re like that Firestorm arrangement. Three flowers, all the same, but a little different.”
“Flashpoint,” Maxie and Lexie said over one another.
They held each other’s gaze in shock. They’d done it again.
“It’s okay.” Roxie actually sounded sympathetic. “It freaked me out at first too. We might not have grown up together, but we tend to think and act the same way.” She pushed her hair over her shoulder but froze. So did Maxie when she found herself doing the same thing.
An excited expression came over Roxie’s face. Lifting the tablecloth, she looked underneath the table. Maxie tried to pull her hand away from Zac’s thigh, but that wasn’t what had captured Roxie’s attention.
“Look.” Her voice was barely louder than a whisper as she pointed towards the floor.
Lexie seemed confused, but she bent over too. Maxie raised her eyebrows at Zac. He shrugged but slid his hand beneath hers and entwined their fingers. Palm to palm, he gave her hand a squeeze.
Together, they searched under the table with the others. At first, Maxie didn’t see what had Roxie so keyed up.
“Our feet,” Lexie said in amazement.
Maxie looked from one to the other, trying to see if they’d worn the same shoes or the same nail polish.
When she saw the similarity, though, it had nothing to do with style and everything to do with behavior.
All three of them had their right foot cocked back onto its heel.
It was a habit she had whenever she got nervous or angry or excited. She did it without thinking.
Apparently, so did they.
Slowly, she sat upright. Her head was spinning, and her heart was beating hard. For a brief moment, she wondered if she was about to faint again. Only this time, she squeezed Zac’s hand for support.
“This calls for a celebration!” Roxie waved at the bartender. “We need bourbon.”
“Oh no.” Lexie’s face turned green. “Anything but that.”
“It’s tradition.” Roxie was brimming with joy as she smiled across the table. “We always have shots when we find a new sister.”