Thwarting Cupid (19 page)

“I think it took us longer to drive up here than it did to buy all this stuff.”

She grinned. “I told you. Fast in, fast out. It’s the only way.” He unlocked the cab of the SUV and opened the door for her to climb in. While he walked around to the driver’s side, she noted that he kept a more vigilant eye on his surroundings than Carissa would have thought necessary. She’d noticed the same thing when they’d arrived and parked on the top level of the garage that was almost empty. It had still been sunny when they’d parked, but now she was glad he’d parked under a light even though they were further from the door.

Del slid behind the wheel and smiled at her. “Wanna grab a bite before we leave the city or pick something up on the way?”

“Or a combination of the two. Dinner in the city, dessert at the Bed and Breakfast.”

He started the car. “I like how you think.”

They found a little Italian restaurant that looked good and stopped. Again, Del appeared to go out of his way to park in a brightly lit spot. Even though they’d gotten pretty comfortable with one another on the long drive up, she still hesitated to ask him about it. By the time they’d finished their meal, she was dying to know, though.

She found her courage and asked, “So what’s with the street lights?” Just like that, his open, friendly expression disappeared. Carissa recognized a mistake when she saw one. Broaching this subject was a definite mistake. “Never mind. It’s none of my business.”

“No, no.” He looked out the window for a moment. “You just caught me off guard. People don’t usually notice.”

Carissa sensed she shouldn’t rush him. She bided her time and sipped on the remains of her soda.

“I was shot.” She coughed a bit when surprise made the liquid go down the wrong way. She hadn’t been expecting that one.

“Six years ago. I was working on a federal prosecution of a drug czar. We’d finally gotten the guy on some solid charges even he couldn’t wiggle out of with his overpriced lawyers.” Del rolled his glass of soda between his hands and stared at the liquid.

“His next move was to get rid of his persecutors. The judge. My co-counsel. A couple witnesses. The Marshalls wanted to put me in protective custody until after the trial. I was young and stupid. Thought I was invincible. I refused the protection. I left my office one night and they were waiting for me. In a dark garage, by my car. Next thing I know, I’m hooked up to all kinds of tubes in a hospital with a doctor using the word ‘miracle’ every other breath.”

Carissa sat in stunned silence when he’d finished his story. When it dragged on between them for an uncomfortable stretch, she said, “I don’t know what to say. Other than, ‘wow.’ But that just seems so inadequate.”

He shrugged. “That’s why I don’t talk about it much. It does tend to bring the conversation to a halt.” He gave her a smile.

Carissa laughed when a thought crossed her mind. “I don’t know. Have you tried it on Trudy? I’m not sure anything short of a muzzle could shut her up. And even that might fail.”

She expected at least a smile out of him, but got a blush instead. Carissa cocked her head.

“Really? You’re crushing on Trudy?”

“Crushing? That sounds so…juvenile.” He took a swig of his soda.

“You’re dodging the question, Counselor,” Carissa pressed.

“Haven’t you uncovered enough of my deepest, darkest secrets for one evening?”

She smiled. “I will take that dodge as an affirmation of my original query.”

“It’s all circumstantial. No way it’ll stand up in any court of law.”

“Good thing we’re not in a court of law.” Carissa sat forward with a contemplating look. “Does Trudy know that you’re…in love with her?”

“Who said anything about being in love?”

“You objected to ‘crushing.’ I was just trying to give the people what they want.”

“Well, the people want you to drop the subject.” He waved the waiter over. The man brought their bill.

“I’ll take it under advisement.” Carissa tried to see the receipt, but Del dropped his credit card in the little leather booklet without even glancing at the total. “How much do I owe you?”

“A change of subject would due quite nicely.”

“For how long?”

The waiter returned with the card. Del signed the receipt and slid out of the booth. Carissa followed his lead.

He held the door open for her and they walked to his SUV. “I have a feeling that asking for a Trudy-free ride home would be too much to ask.” Even with the uncomfortable topic, he was still hyper vigilant until they were in the vehicle and had pulled away from the curb.

“Depends on your answer to this question. Why do you refer to the B&B as home? You’ve done it a couple times now. Don’t you want to find your own place?”

He turned his head to look at her. He shook his head. “What are you? Part reporter? Can’t you find a nice, bland topic to explore?”

“Hmmm. I didn’t know that one wasn’t. But now that I do, no fair backing off.”

“But you promised me a Trudy-free ride.”

“I didn’t know this topic wasn’t Trudy-free.” Carissa settled back in her seat and fiddled with the seat belt. “So let’s see if I’ve got this straight. You are living under the same roof as the woman you love, waiting to get the courage to ask her out. That about sum it up?”

“With a couple corrections. I have the courage. Not sold on the ‘love’ bit. I’m waiting for her to see past her obsession with ‘your’ Jimmy to see if there is something there besides my admiration for women wearing pearls.”

Just like that, the conversation became a lot less fun for Carissa. “So I was right. There is some history there.”

“What did he tell you?”

“That’s just it. He’s never even mentioned her. Not once. I don’t know if that was deliberate or just an oversight.”

“Or maybe there’s nothing to mention. Did you ask him about it?”

Carissa shook her head. “Chickened out. Thing is…” She bit her lip. Did she want to spill her guts to this man she hardly knew? To be fair, his secrets had been much more serious than anything she had to say.

“Thing is?” he prompted.

“Hutch and I…well…we’re kinda new. I mean, we’ve known each other for years, but there was no ‘us’ until two days ago. I’m not even sure what that means at this point. Seeing how he completely forgot about me today, I’m starting to think it doesn’t mean a whole heck of a lot.”

“No, no. Don’t do that.”

“Don’t do what?”

“Assume. Talk to him, first. There could be a good reason for today. In his defense, he looked a bit shell-shocked at both the speech and the luncheon. I don’t think he expected things to go quite like they have.” He turned his head to look at her in the darkness. “Again, that’s just speculation on my part.”

Carissa digested his words for a moment. “That’s pretty good advice. Why aren’t you applying it to your own situation and talking to Trudy?”

“What makes you think I haven’t?” He guided the SUV toward an onramp. “As you’ve noticed, Trudy pretty much says whatever comes into her head. The main thing that comes out is how great Jimmy is. I can’t compete with that. What’s more, I don’t want to compete with that. I’d rather admire from a distance.”

Carissa heaved a sigh. “What a sad pair we are.”

“I know just the bakery to take the edge off.”

When they got back to the Bed and Breakfast hours later, they were both surprised the place looked to be deserted. Carissa shrugged it off and followed Del into the den. He built a fire in the huge fireplace. She headed off to the kitchen to retrieve some napkins and a plate for the pile of cookies they’d picked up at the best smelling bakery she’d ever had the pleasure of visiting. She found some chocolate milk in the refrigerator and poured them both a generous amount in a couple of wine glasses before returning to the den.

Carissa smiled at the roaring fire. “That looks awesome.” Del helped her unload their goodies then they both sat on the floor in front of the fire. “I stand corrected. It
is
awesome.” Carissa leaned forward to warm her fingers. She stared at the flames.

“Sorry I’m not Jim. I can tell you miss him.”

She looked at Del and shook her head. “Since you didn’t ask for my opinion, I’m going to give it to you anyway.”

He smiled at that. “Fire away.”

“I think you’re developing a complex. You keep comparing yourself to some mythical image someone has of someone else. Stop it. You’re pretty great all on your own. How hard can it be to make Trudy see that?”

“Look who’s passing out the advice now.” He picked up a huge triple chocolate cookie. “I’m a broken man. The shooting…it changed me. I’m no longer that fearless, young prosecutor on the rise.”

“You’re not broken. You’re healing. The two are entirely different.” Carissa bit her lip and glanced at the door. “Have you noticed how Hutch favors his left arm?”

“I was distracted by the missing eyebrows. Who told him that was a good look?”

Carissa giggled and picked up her own cookie. “Yeah, that’s a whole different story.” She paused in thought. “Actually, it’s not. Let’s just say that the two of us have had a strange week. Which included him being stabbed in the arm. With a cupid.”

Del just managed to keep from choking on his milk. “Did you report it? They get the guy?”

“Girl, and yes. But that’s not the point. The day after, he was in so much pain he could barely function. Now, he’s been out all day contending with event after event. He’s getting stronger. He’s healing. You just have to do the same.”

“I hear you. Really, I do. But now I want to hear more about this girl who took Jim down. That really makes me feel better.”

“What is it with men and competition?” Carissa took a hefty swig of her milk.

“Please. I saw that dress you bought. Like you’re not planning to give Trudy a run for her money tomorrow.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Carissa feigned innocence.

“Sure you don’t.” He picked up another cookie. For such a skinny guy, he sure could eat. “Tell me more about this girl and the lethal cupid.”

Chapter 18

Hutch was bone tired. His arm hurt and he was sick of listening to Trudy talk. Most of all, he was disappointed Carissa hadn’t shown up at one single event that day. The one thing that made this chore even the least bit bearable for him for him was the thought Carissa would be there cheering him on. Or that she would provide some much needed levity in the midst of the huge egos and self-importance this celebration always seemed to bring out.

Instead, he’d had to deal with an entire day of Trudy’s nonstop chatter without the benefit of the smallest break. It was no wonder he was ready to strangle her at any moment.

Remembering his manners, Hutch opened the front door for her so she could precede him into the house. It was probably for the best. Had he gone in first, he would’ve been way too tempted to slam the door in her face and lock it. Except, she had a key. And then he’d have had to hear all about his bad manners, from her and then his mother. The temporary satisfaction just wasn’t worth the consequences.

“At last,” she said and placed the binder he’d come to hate on the reception desk counter. “Overall, today went very well. You only stumbled four point five times on your speech. Otherwise, it was good. Tomorrow morning, I want to prep you on the guests for Sunday’s luncheon so we don’t have a repeat of today’s gaff. We can’t have you confusing the mayor and the sheriff of Charlotte’s Cove again.”

“They’re identical twins. They should be used to it. And if they don’t want to be mistaken for one another, maybe they shouldn’t dress exactly alike. The sheriff does have a uniform, does he not?” Hutch’s tone was laced with irritation and he was too exhausted to try to hide it. He hadn’t been able to do anything right all day. Trudy had not been shy about letting him know when he’d messed up. Over and over again.

Trudy gave him a pouty face. “Somebody’s grumpy.” She pulled off the immaculate white gloves she’d worn all day, but somehow managed to keep pristine. “Why don’t you go on up to bed? Tomorrow starts later, but it’ll go longer. You’ll need your rest.”

Hutch gave her a tight smile. He wanted to tell her just where she could shove her suggestion, but peals of laughter stopped him. He frowned and turned his head in the direction of the den. Trudy tipped her head in the same direction.

“Wonder what that is?”

Without waiting for her, Hutch strode down the hallway. He stopped short at the den’s entrance when he spotted Carissa lying on the floor. She was laughing so hard she had tears streaming down her cheeks. Del sat with his back against the couch and was laughing just as hard. Hutch glowered when he took in the empty wine glasses and roaring fire. How cozy.

“You two look to be having a good time.” Hutch was too tired to bother hiding his accusatory tone. He’d just suffered through one of the longest days of his life and here Carissa was laughing it up and having a jolly good time. With another man.

She rolled over and looked at him. Wiping tears from her eyes, she smiled. “You guys are back. How was it?”

Hutch glared at her, determined not to be mollified by that weapon of a smile she wielded with such great effect. She couldn’t be serious. Before he could say anything, Trudy spoke up beside him. She launched into another diatribe of everything he’d done wrong during the course of the day.