18. Luke
EIGHTEEN
LUKE
Crisp autumn evening air greeted me the second I managed to escape the social hour that followed the monthly Legion meetings, and I inhaled it deeply.
I showed up tonight knowing full well I’d end up on the float committee.
But I wasn’t prepared for the ambush that left me in charge of the damn thing.
“It’ll be good for you,” Connor said, close on my heel. “You need something to do that doesn’t involve a badge.”
“I have plenty to do,” I argued.
“Binge-watching the entire Star Wars saga doesn’t count.”
Because that was on my agenda, I ignored his comment completely.
“You’re in charge too, asshole.”
“See you back here tomorrow.”
He flashed me a shit-eating grin before he headed down the block toward his car.
Connor wasn’t put out at the outcome; he was excited.
He liked this kind of small town shit. When I wasn’t on duty, I preferred to hibernate away from social settings.
I’d been looking forward to skipping Golden Days for a change.
So much for that.
As I waited for Connor to start his car, I checked my phone.
No new messages from . . . anyone. Mayor Chambers obviously got to everyone, likely threatening my entire department and all of the city officials if they reached out to me during my time off.
But it was still eerie as fuck to hear from no one.
Not even Grandma Connie. I was usually lucky if my phone was silent for three hours, let alone three days.
As my brother drove away, I tucked my phone into the breast pocket of my jacket—a spare flannel since Maggie still had my favorite one—and prepared to head west on foot.
I’d left my truck at home on purpose. Rosalyn couldn’t get on my case for checking on the bookstore if I was simply out for an evening stroll, could she?
“Aren’t you going the wrong way, Chief?” Maggie called from behind me.
I turned toward the sound of her voice and immediately regretted it.
Miss Mayhem was bathed in the soft glow of the streetlights, her honey-blonde waves framing her face.
Her eyes were somehow bluer for it. Her hands were tucked into the front pockets of tight jeans, reminding me of the long, sexy legs hiding beneath the denim. They had been taunting my dreams.
“Am I?” I finally answered as she approached, her floral scent floating on the breeze toward me. I’d never wanted to identify a flower so badly in all my life. I wish I’d paid more attention when Mom walked me around her garden and introduced all the different species.
“Oh, a side quest! Can I come?”
I should say no. I hardly trusted myself around this woman inside a crowded Legion Hall after what happened earlier. But the two of us alone in a dark alley? That promised trouble with a capital T.
“Where’s Ellie tonight?”
“If I had to guess, probably passed out in my bed. Oh wait, should I be admitting that out loud? My rental host is a stickler for the rules. That might get me kicked out.”
“I admit, I may have been a little . . . harsh at first.”
“Understatement of the year.”
Maggie sent me a playful smile, and dammit if the blood didn’t rush south at the sight of it. It was embarrassing, really, how easily she affected me. I looked away, focused on the few remaining cars parked a block over, counting them.
“If you have Batman things to do, I can let you to it.”
She walked ahead, also in the opposite direction of home, and gave me a little wave as she went.
“Wait. Where are you going?”
“I’m not lost if that’s what you’re worried about. I crushed land nav.” She turned around, walking backward to face me as she added, “But if you must know, I’m on a top-secret mission of my own.”
I hated that she was out alone at night. I hated it more that my curiosity was piqued.
“Where’s Walter?”
“Still socializing. Dylann’s giving him a ride home, like she does after every meeting.”
“Right.” I knew that, didn’t I? Maybe I had been a little too wrapped up in the job these past few weeks. Maybe longer.
“If you’re worried about my safety, Chief, you could always come with me.”
Those eyes sparkled—a clear warning—and yet, I stupidly took the bait.
“What’s so top secret that it can’t wait for daylight?” I asked, catching up to her.
“I’m on a mission to find the best ice cream in town. And everyone knows ice cream tastes the best at night.”
“Won’t you be cold?” I scanned her body, as though it were the first time I’d done so tonight—it wasn’t.
She wore jeans, white tennis shoes, and a pink and gray flannel top that she tied at her waist, revealing a tight, soft gray shirt beneath it. The same one that made me go a bit stupid back at the Legion Hall. The faintest hint of cleavage, and my brain short-circuited.
Hell, it wasn’t firing on all cylinders now.
It was embarrassing how easily I lost grasp on reality when I was around this woman. She was basically a stranger. Who the hell knew how many secrets she was harboring? I was better off keeping my distance, yet here I was, walking headfirst into bad decisions.
“I’m not as fragile as I look,” she said, spotting Mountain Creamery across the street.
“If you wanted ice cream, why didn’t you go to The Daily Scoop? It’s right across the street from the Legion.”
“I’m hoping it’ll be the best one, so I’m saving it for last,” she said, looking both ways before crossing the middle of the street.
She glanced back at me, as though daring me to call her out for jaywalking. Instead, I followed her.
“Welcome in, Chief,” Sally McGraff greeted when I stepped through the door. The place smelled of warm waffle cones and cinnamon. “You want your usual?”
Maggie looked back at me, her eyes twinkling under raised eyebrows.
“What? Are you surprised I have a go-to ice cream flavor?”
“I’m surprised you have a sweet tooth hiding behind that sour exterior.”
“Oh, Chief loves his sweets,” Sally offered, as though telling a complete stranger about my personal dessert preferences was normal. Oh hell, who was I kidding? In this town, it was. “He comes in at least twice a week, even in winter.”
“And you were worried about me being cold?” Maggie said, shaking her head.
“Chocolate-dipped cone or regular tonight?” Sally held up my two options. “Cones were made fresh this morning,” she added to Maggie.
“Chocolate,” I said. To Maggie, I added, “I do remember to wear a coat.”
“I’m not going to get cold,” Maggie insisted. “It’s like ice cream law.”
“Ice cream law?”
“What’s your usual?” Maggie asked me, eyes directed at the colorful chalk menu on the wall behind Sally. I followed her gaze, noting two of the flavors were crossed out, but there were still a dozen to choose from.
“The Salty Caramel,” I said.
“Sweet and salty.” Maggie ran her eyes up and down my body, as though assessing me. “Yeah, that makes more sense.”
“Here you go, Chief.” Sally handed over a cone with a generous dollop of salted caramel ice cream on top.
“I’m going to try the Gimme S’more,” Maggie decided. “Seems like the perfect nod to fall.”
“Great choice,” Sally said.
“You have a firepit, right?” Maggie asked me, pulling her phone from her pocket.
“I do,” I confirmed.
“A shared firepit?” She swiped through several screens, and as much as I pretended not to pay attention, I stiffened when the video mode took over her phone. “I wouldn’t want to get evicted for breaking the rules.”
“You can use the firepit, Maggie.”
She smiled at me, and simply said, “Thanks.” It was the most normal moment we’d shared since she showed up at my rental with a pile of luggage and understandable disdain for the host.
“Are you going to livestream or something?”
Because I’d been so set on avoiding the woman, I never bothered to ask anything about her, including what she did for a living—or even for fun. If she was some kind of influencer, I didn’t want to be a part of her broadcast.
“It’s just a video message,” she said, holding up the phone until she was in the frame.
She hit the red circle and waved at the camera.
“Hey, Vi! Not to make you guys jealous, but I’m getting s’mores ice cream in the cutest ice cream shop ever.
Look at this.” She spun to capture the glass case behind her filled with waffle cones.
“Sally hand makes all these, and they smell so good.” Sally waved at the camera.
“I ordered the Gimmie S’more, and I can’t wait to try it.
” As if on cue, Sally handed Maggie her cone. “Look at this beauty!”
I grabbed a yogurt-dipped dog treat from the bucket beside the register and slipped Sally a twenty as Maggie wrapped up her message. Sally thanked me with a wink.
Two blocks later, our ice cream was gone, and Maggie was visibly shivering, despite her best efforts to hide it from me.
“Ice cream law my ass,” I mumbled as I once again slipped off my jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
“You don’t have to keep doing that,” Maggie said, slipping her arms through my jacket that once again swallowed her tiny frame.
“You could try leaving the house with a coat next time.”
“I could, but what fun would that be?”
I could just picture a future of being permanently chilly while Maggie stole all my flannels.
No. Not going there.
“Who’s Vi?” I asked, crossing the street toward the bookstore.
“My baby sister, Violet.”
“Magnolia and Violet,” I mused.
“Like I said, my mom really loves flowers.” She took a couple of steps forward, and I reached for her elbow to redirect her. “Where are we going?”
“Side quest.”
“Do I get any hints, or do I have to piece this together myself?”
“Brenda’s Book Nook,” I said, nodding at the bookstore as we headed toward the alley behind it. “Brenda’s my mom. My sister owns it now, but it was my mom’s first. She opened it when I was still in diapers.”
Grief circled my chest, guilt quickly behind, but I pressed on despite the discomfort.
“Mom passed away about four years ago. The store stayed open. It’s a ritual at this point, checking the back door to make sure it’s locked.”
“Why are we doing this all Batman style, then?” Maggie asked.
“Batman style?”