Tessa's Treasures (2 page)

“Thatta girl. I’ll nominate you for citizen of the year. Does the esteemed town of Duncan have such a thing?”

“Not since I’ve been back.” She smiled and reached under the counter for her purse, then grabbed her Daytimer. He leaned against the doorjamb, arms crossed, watching as she moved methodically throughout the store, dousing each old fashioned lamp.

Lucas opened the door and escorted her through with his hand on her lower back. Once they were settled in his Jeep, seat belts snugly fastened, he continued as if no time had passed since her comment. “Not since you’ve been back? How long is that?”

“Eight years. After college, my ex-husband and I moved to California. I spent ten years there and moved back to Duncan right before our divorce. I had an overwhelming desire to be home, to something familiar and…secure. Anyway, I bought a small house and settled in.”

He passed a slow moving Acura before glancing at her. “Why do I think there’s a lot more to your story?”

“Not really. That pretty much covers it.” She nibbled on her thumb nail. Realizing how telling that looked, she put her hands in her lap.

“All right then. I’m a bit confused, why the need to feel secure?”

Without waiting for a response, he pulled the Jeep into the restaurant parking lot. After pulling the keys from the ignition, he laid his arm across the back of the seat and squeezed her shoulder. He studied her for a moment, like he might try to pry more out of her. She breathed a sigh of relief when, instead, he climbed out of the jeep and came around to open her door.

Old-fashioned manners. His strong hand reached for hers, and helped her out of the Jeep. His gentleness and consideration took her by surprise. Not at all what she was used to from men—especially law enforcement men. Except her brother, she corrected. She shook off thoughts of her ex-husband as Lucas led her up the walk.

The popular restaurant sat back from the street, a bright white canvas awning stretched across the front. Enormous pots of bright red geraniums lined either side of the entryway. A rich oak and glass paneled door reflected the lights from small wall lamps around the restaurant.

“Lucas!” A curvy blonde with a handful of menus rushed from behind the hostess’s stand, and threw her arms around his neck.

Caroline Spencer. Tessa would recognize her fake sing-song voice in a darkened alley. She felt like a grandmother in her long skirt and high-necked blouse while Caroline had stuffed herself into a mid-thigh skirt and a sweater at least one size too small.

Lucas glanced in Tessa’s direction, briefly returning Caroline’s hug, then released her. “How ya been, Caro?”

She pursed her bright red lips in a pout. “Fine. Still waiting for you to call.”

“I’ve been busy getting settled.” He grabbed Tessa’s hand and pulled her next to him. “Got a table for us?”

“Hi, Tessa.” Caroline’s cool voice conveyed anything but welcome.

“Hi Caroline. It’s been a while.”

“I’m surprised to see you here without Jonathan.” Caroline smirked and led them to a table in the middle of the room.

Lucas flashed his winning smile. “Come on, Caro. Give us one of the booths along the wall.”

Caroline giggled. “Okay, but only if you promise to come to my house for dinner next Sunday.” Her sultry half-lidded eyes left no doubt what she wanted for dessert.

“Let me get back to you,” Lucas murmured. “I’m doing renovations on the house and have workers coming and going right now, so things are a little crazy.”

“Okay, but don’t forget. Enjoy your dinner. Say hello to Jonathan for me, Tessa.” After dropping menus on the table, Caroline sashayed off, flicking long blonde hair over one narrow shoulder as she left.

“Sorry about that.” Lucas picked up a menu. His gaze roamed over the colorful pictures of steak dinners. “Who’s Jonathan?”

Chapter Two

Lucas studied Tessa as she regarded him over the top of her reading glasses. “Jonathan?”

“I’m pretty sure that’s the name Caro mentioned. Twice.”

She sat back in the booth and studied her menu. “He’s a friend.”

He waited two heartbeats before turning to the next page of the menu. “Boyfriend? Or friend?”

She blew out a breath. “I’m a little old for a
boy
friend
.
”

He raised one brow and gave her a practiced look. Two spots of red appeared on her cheeks as she adjusted her reading glasses.

Teen energy bubbled over as a young girl arrived at their table, snapping her gum and grinning. “Hi, my name is Pepper. I’ll be your waitress this evening. Can I get you guys something to drink?”
Snap, snap.

“Tessa?” Lucas touched her hand. Soft, warm, lots of rings adorning delicate fingers.

She placed her hands in her lap and smiled at the waitress. “Just water for me.”

Water? Maybe next she’d order bread to go with it, and call it dinner. “How about a glass of wine?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” She chewed the side of her bottom lip. “It’s Monday.”

How the hell can a forties-something woman chewing her lip look adorable?

“Come on, a glass of wine to celebrate.”

Tessa raised one eyebrow. “What exactly are we celebrating?”

“Um, let’s see.” He snapped his fingers and pointed at her. “How about my retirement?”

She laughed and turned to the waitress. “White wine, please.”

“And you can bring me a beer, whatever you have on tap.”

“Okie dokie, comin’ right up.” With one last snap of her gum, Pepper bounced away.

They looked at each other and mouthed at the same time. “
Pepper
?”

He leaned back, stretching his arm across the top of the booth. The dim light from the wall sconce cast her in a wash of gold. He could get used to looking at this woman. “Why does Monday make a difference between water and wine?”

A small hand rose from her lap to fidget with the cloth napkin. “I don’t drink on a workday.”

“Do you have a problem with alcohol?” He winced. Brain and mouth disconnect.

“Of course not!” Her face flushed. “I don’t like to drink when I have to work in the morning.”

“I’m sorry if I offended you.” He reached out, and again took her hand in both of his. “The only people I’ve ever met who had rules about alcohol were those who had a problem with it.” He flashed a full-mouth smile as he rubbed her knuckles. “Forgive me?”

She hesitated for a moment. “Yes, of course.” Her breasts rose and fell, drawing his attention to the taut fabric as it stretched over her chest when she inhaled and gently eased her hand from beneath his. “I’m the type of person who seems to have rules for everything.”

He pulled his gaze from her chest to her eyes. “Before our waitress’s partner, Salt, comes along to deliver our drinks, tell me about Jonathan.”

“There’s nothing to tell. He’s a friend of mine. We go out occasionally, sometimes here, or to a movie . Nothing fascinating.”

Foam oozed over the side of the mug to puddle on the tablecloth as Pepper set a beer in front of Lucas and the wine before Tessa. She smiled her thanks to the girl, then circled her slender fingers around the stem of the glass.

“Have you guys decided on what y’all want for dinner?”
Snap, snap.

Lucas cocked one eyebrow. “Are you ready, Tessa?”

“I’ll have a baked potato, no butter or sour cream, and grilled asparagus.”

“No steak?”
Snap, snap.

Tessa shook her head, took a sip of wine.

The teeny bopper turned her perky attention to him.

“I’ll have the rib eye steak and fries.”

“Ya want the asparagus with that?”
Snap, snap.

His shoulders slumped. “If you must.”

Pepper breezed off.

Tessa had her hand over her mouth to hide a smile. “Don’t like vegetables?”

He shuddered. “I force myself once in a while, but no, I don’t in general like green things. You don’t like steak?”

Tessa’s chin rose a notch. “I’m a vegetarian. I eat some fish, but no meat.”

“My Kiowa grandpappy said his tribe’s definition of a vegetarian is ‘bad hunter.’”

Tessa frowned, but her lips twitched.

Oh boy. Rules, vegetables, and no alcohol during the week. He sure picked the wrong woman to get horny over. But his body had stopped paying attention to his brain this morning, right about the time she fell into his arms. The scent of lilacs floated in the air as she shifted in her seat. Heat gathered in an uncomfortable spot.

“Why the need to feel secure?” At her startled look, he added, “You thought I forgot, didn’t you?” A little conversation would get his blood back to his brain.

Her attempt at a smile fell short. “This is beginning to sound like an interrogation.”

“I apologize again. Force of habit, I’m afraid.”

Her tongue darted to clear the drop of wine from her lip. “Oh?”

Blood rushed downward again. At this rate he’d probably pass out from lack of blood flow to his brain. “During my twenty-five years at the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation I did a lot of interrogating. I don’t mean to come across like I’m questioning you. I’m just interested.” Leaning forward, he attempted a more casual stance, his forearms resting on the table.

“Things in my marriage were—difficult. I wanted familiar things around me while I recovered.”

His hands tightened around the beer glass as large, very loud bells went off in his head. “Recovered?”

Her face flushed a bright red. “Oh, wrong word. Sorry. I mean—um—I was tired from all the hours I’d put in at work. You know, stress.”

Boy, if she were a suspect, I’d be locking her up right about now.

Their food arrived and conversation ceased for a while.

****

Tessa studied Lucas while they ate. Even in the midst of her intense youthful crush his gaze never affected her like this. Hot and cold at the same time she felt as giddy as Pepper, the gum-snapping waitress.

His interest in Jonathan surprised her. She and Jonathan had been in school together. He stayed in Duncan all his life, and had three ex-wives. She had no desire to be ex-wife number four, and having had enough in the way of child support and alimony payments, Jonathan had kept his hands off. But he was fun and they enjoyed many of the same things. Comfortable was the right word. That’s what she wanted in her middle years, comfortable. Being with Lucas would be something entirely different—something exciting and wild and foolish.

And scary.

He finished his coffee and sat back, stretching his legs, his eyes never leaving hers. “You look good, Tessa.”

Heat pooled in an awkward spot. “Thanks. You look pretty good, too.”

“How’d you and your ex end up in California?”

“I met him in college. Dean was one of the security guards on campus. California was his home state. We moved there, and he joined the San Jose police department. Not much more to tell.” She shrugged. “It didn’t work out, so I came home.” It amazed even her that she could sum up the torture of her ten-year-marriage with a shrug and
it didn’t work out.
Even her brother wasn’t privy to the horror of those years.

“Children?”

Her muscles tensed. “No. He didn’t want kids.” She attempted a smile. “How about you and Patty? Kids?”

“Twins. Boys. Lucky for us, cause that gave us an excuse why they came early.” His expression said more than his words.

So Patty had been pregnant. Tessa swallowed, her mouth dry. She’d always wondered about his quick wedding and move to Oklahoma City. Her teenage heart had been crushed. She’d hoped he would wait for her to grow up.

Pepper skipped back, check in hand, ponytail swinging. “Anything else I can get you guys?”
Snap, snap.

Lucas reached for the bill. “No. That’s fine. Thank you, Pepper.”

“Okay, y’all have a good night.”
Snap, snap.

They grinned at each other as they rose. Lucas threw bills on the table and took Tessa’s hand. After years of avoiding men, more specifically men who touched without first asking, it amazed her how comforting it felt to have his hand on hers. Because he’s an old friend, or was there more to it? She wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answer.

Caroline spotted them as they left, held her pinky to her mouth and thumb to her ear, mouthing the words “call me.” Lucas tugged on his hat, before giving Caroline a slight smile.

Once settled in the jeep, Tessa turned to him. “Caroline seems to know you pretty well.” She could have bitten her tongue. That was definitely a smirk on his face.

“I knew Caro from Oklahoma City. She’s a cousin, or something, to one of the women at the Bureau. She visited once in a while, and we had lunch a couple times. Nothing more than that. I was married until a year ago.” He shot her a look. “I don’t cheat.”

Wow. That response was a little strong. She’d bet there was more to his story, too. Silence filled the Jeep during the short ride to the store. Strong hands yanked the wheel and whipped the Jeep into the parking lot behind her store. Her pale blue Honda Fit sat by itself, under the LED area light.

Her gaze fluttered to her lap, where stiff fingers fumbled with her skirt. “Is Caroline the reason you moved back home?”

Lucas released his seat belt and turned toward her. “Would that matter?” His deep voice slid over her like a warm blanket.

She shrugged, staring straight ahead. Her heart flipped and her stomach settled in relief. ”Tessa. Look at me.”

Almost of its own will, her head turned. The smile in his eyes contained a sensuous flame. Her nipples tightened and her stomach clenched. Sensations she’d not felt in years. He tilted his head ever so slightly to the left. She’d seen that look before on several of Dean’s friends, most of them sporting wedding rings. It left her wondering if her husband had set her up—a little “test” to go along with his other quirks.

“There’s a strong attraction here, I hope you feel it too. The last thing I want to do is frighten you.”

She stiffened.

“Relax.” His knuckles stroked her cheek. “I’m too old for seduction in the front seat of a car.” With his warm hand on her chin, he kissed her softly, a mere brush of lips.