Count on Me (Petal, Georgia) (7 page)

They headed out, with Melissa driving as she knew where she was headed.

Once they’d cleared town, Caroline settled back.

“Right now I’m in an apartment. It’s convenient. Walking distance to work. Five minutes from the grocery store. I really like Main Street. It’s pretty and festive so it’s a great view. But it’s not a home. It’s a temporary place to sleep while I figure out where to truly put down roots. Seeing your house today makes me underline the
figure out where to live
item on my to-do list.”

“My sister-in-law is a real estate agent so remind me when I’m not driving to get you her card. I’ll introduce you. She’s great, and I’m sure she can find you something you really like.”

“Much appreciated. I’m month-to-month with my place but now that I have a job and I’m settling in to town, I need to walk around more to get a feel of all the neighborhoods and then find—hopefully—the perfect place.”

“Smart. So tell me about your date.”

She told Melissa about how Royal had showed up after work and how they’d gone out for dinner and drinks. “And okay, so are you friends with Anne Murphy?”

“Oh, girl. I know the Murphys. We grew up not too far from each other. I also know she and Royal were together for many years, but he broke things off for good about a year and a half ago. They’re still close though, so I think she comes with the mile-long legs and the very nice butt.”

“I know. She wasn’t totally rude last night, but she made sure to mention to me that they’d dated and she kept her arm around his waist. I’m not in any position to be jealous really. It was a first date and they have something far deeper than that.”

Melissa blew raspberries. “Whatever. She had her chance. More than once. He sounded like he was embarrassed.”

Caroline thought over his reaction again. “He seemed surprised at first. I got the feeling she’d been okay around women he’d dated before or at the very least that her reaction was unusual. He said she didn’t mean to be rude. I was like, dude, duh of course she did. But he skirted around it in a mainly charming guy way, and I certainly didn’t want to argue about it. She’s probably being protective.”

After a beat Caroline guffawed. “Look at me being charitable.”

Melissa snickered. “Maybe. But it’s over in any case so
too bad so sad
. I say we can put her on probation. She can be on the
we don’t like her
list until she proves herself.”

“Ha! I’m so glad I know you.”

They laughed as they pulled into the lot of what could only generously be called a hole in the wall.

Once Melissa parked she turned to Caroline and put a hand up. “Okay, so I know it looks bad. But once on the way back to Petal after seeing a concert in Atlanta, this was the only place open and we were starving. I promise you’ll be thanking me in about an hour.”

“Okay then.” They headed inside where Melissa proved to be telling the truth about how good the food was.

Caroline raised her glass of tea before finishing it. “You have no idea how much I needed that today. So thank you.”

“I’m so glad you’re in Petal. I know it’s hard. And I know you’re feeling alone. But I’m your friend so don’t forget that.”

Caroline hadn’t forgotten it, but it had been really nice to hear anyway.

“The next order of business is to find something to wear for my date next week. He’s making me dinner, and then we’re going dancing at the Tonk. I’ve never gone dancing at the Tonk. I was sixteen when I moved away. Do I wear jeans? A skirt? What sort of shoes?”

As they left the restaurant, Melissa linked her arm with Caroline’s. “We’ve got this, Caroline. You’re going to knock his socks off.”

She looked up at the tap on her door and smiled when she caught sight of Edward.

“Do you have a few minutes?”

“Like two maybe?” Caroline looked at her watch. “I have an appointment with an investigator regarding my father’s case at ten thirty.”

Edward nodded. “Ah! Perfect.” He held up the folder she’d provided when he’d asked about the case.

She waved at the little seating area in her office. “Sit, please.”

They settled and she pretended she didn’t notice the file folder in his hands as he placed it on the table. “So I read all this over.”

After he’d asked for everything she had about her father’s case, she’d handed it over the following afternoon. A little over a week had passed and she’d gotten more nervous every day.

“Your talents are wasted doing this job, Caroline. You need to be one of those crusading investigative attorneys who free people all over the country.”

She made herself remain silent, but she blushed at the compliment.

He flipped the file open, and she saw he’d made notes on a separate page. “The level of dogged research, of triple and quadruple checking and interviewing you’ve done is meticulous. I had my doubts, as I told you, of his guilt. After reading everything you’ve gathered, I’m absolutely convinced your father wasn’t guilty.”

Relief rushed through her at his words. Vindication followed, as it did every single time she was able to show people the evidence and they saw it like she did.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I spoke with Peter and Justin about this as well. I want to help. Justin wants to help too. This is pretty out of Peter’s specialty area, but he’s totally in support of Justin and me helping and giving some of the firm’s time and money to the effort.”

She blinked back tears. “I didn’t expect any of this. I just…I just want to prove his innocence. I don’t want his death to mean nothing. I don’t want people to keep on thinking he was capable of such a thing. And I don’t want the real killer out here living a life that was stolen from my dad and me and my siblings too. I don’t expect the firm to take on my cause.”

He grinned, reaching out to pat her hand. “I know you don’t. Which makes it easier to offer, I suppose. You’re not alone, Caroline. Let us help you.
Justice delayed is justice denied.
” He indicated the Gladstone quote she had on her wall. “I think this has been delayed long enough. You’re back in Petal to dig for the truth. Let’s do it.”

Edward stayed for her meeting with her investigator. She’d worked with Ron Rogers before on her dad’s case when they’d needed things done for the appeals. She was an attorney. A really good one she could admit, but this sort of investigation work wasn’t her strong point and Ron had the time, skill and contacts to handle it.

When she ducked out to grab some lunch, it was with a huge smile on her face and a weight lifted from her shoulders.

She dashed into the Honey Bear, craving something warm and hearty. A big bowl of soup and a sandwich would hit the spot perfectly.

There was a counter on the bakery side that snugged up against the window with barstools so she took her lunch there, settling in to watch the people outside as she ate.

She’d sort of stared off into the middle distance as she chewed when someone tapped on the window, and she nearly fell off the stool.

It was Royal.

He held his hands up and came inside. “Sorry! Didn’t mean to startle you.” He gave her a hug and she hugged him right back, so totally pleased by the way her day was turning.

And then he kissed her. Right there in the Honey Bear. In front of the windows. It wasn’t a full-on tongue-kiss seduction like they’d shared at her door the weekend before. They were in public after all. But it was definitely not a kiss you’d give a friend. Nope, this was a
hey everyone I’m dating this person
kiss.

“It’s good to see you too.” She managed to stop herself from grabbing the front of his shirt and hauling him in for another kiss. Barely.

“You here for a while? Like long enough to have lunch with me?”

Lunch with Royal would be a really nice thing indeed. “Yes. I just sat down five minutes ago.”

“Be right back.”

She watched—because yeah, great ass. He joked with Mrs. Proffit who worked the register and shouted out a greeting to William, another Murphy, this one the head baker.

Royal was comfortable in his skin. Easy. People always smiled as they talked to him.

Within a few minutes he was back, sitting close as he spooned up his chili.

“What brings you to downtown Petal today?” She bumped his shoulder once he’d taken a bite.

“I was at city hall. I had to file some permits. We have a roadside stand, at the farm I mean. I have to fill out the paperwork once a quarter. Anyway. I knew it was chili day so I figured I’d get some to go. Then I was rewarded by the sight of a gorgeous woman sitting inside, and my day got
way
better. How are you?”

“I am having a really awesome day, as it happens. Even better now.”

“All this mutual admiration is making me blush.”

They both laughed and continued to eat.

They had a rhythm. Easy. There was energy too. Just being with him made her sort of intoxicated with all those feel-good chemicals.

He told her he’d gone bowling the night before with his friends. It was clear Anne had been there, but truthfully Caroline was pleased he wasn’t making a big deal out of it. She didn’t want it to be weird, and she’d have to find a way to deal with Anne because Caroline really liked Royal.

“What are you doing today?” he asked as he reached out to brush her hair back from her shoulder. It pleased her to have him touch her. Simple and warm. This man made her feel good.

Royal had been operating on very little sleep after a late night bowling and then darts at the Pumphouse along with drinks.

On top of that mild hangover, one of the irrigation hoses had gone out on him, and he’d spent two hours in the mud in the cold getting it replaced. And then he’d had to run that permit to city hall so he was not having such a great day.

He’d planned to grab lunch to go and head back to the farm to get stuff done. But Caroline had been in the window, so lush. And then once you focused on her, you saw the edge her intensity gave her. She gave off so much personal charisma and energy it seemed to hum around her.

It was like that frequency snagged him. He wanted to touch her and smell her and listen to her laugh, and he was harder than he should have been in public but Caroline Mendoza had a lot of stuff he wanted to roll around in.

She
looked
at him when he spoke. And she listened to him as well. She was pretty much the most brilliant person he’d ever met. It was so fucking sexy that she was intelligent and powerful.

And she had a really foul mouth. She reined it in mainly in public, but sometimes she got her rant on. Also. Really. Hot.

And funny.

“I think I should tell you I have a big crush on you right now,” he said, leaning in and kissing her forehead.

Pleasure seemed to light her. She didn’t try to hide it or play some sort of game. She liked what she liked, and she didn’t apologize for it. There was such a ferocious verve in her.

She touched her forehead to his briefly. “That’s very nice to hear.”

“That so?” He shifted back to drink some of his soda and look all he wanted at her.

She nodded. “You made my stomach get a little fluttery.”

It was his turn to be pleased.

“Aside from the permit—it’s never fun to deal with that stuff—how’s your day been?”

He found himself telling her all about the hose breaking and nearly freezing to death—though he skipped the hangover part. He also told her about his night with his friends. He’d made a conscious decision not to make any big deal of seeing Anne. She was his friend, one of his closest, and she was part of his life. He came with his crazy aunt and uncle and his friends. He wanted Caroline to be one of his friends too.

She didn’t seem upset when he’d talked about an event that included Anne either, which he’d been relieved about.

After about an hour she began to pack her stuff up. “I’ve got a hearing. I need to head over there.”

“Can I walk you over? I have to get back home to finish all the stuff I had to put off earlier. Plus I need a good night’s sleep since I’m taking you out tomorrow.”

“I’ll be sure to eat a hearty breakfast. I have a new outfit.”

“Score. I can’t wait.” He took her trash and threw it out with his and opened the door. It was cold as they headed up the block to her office. The cold was a good excuse to put an arm around her shoulders and pull her closer. She moved into that spot against his side like she was meant to be there.

As they neared the corner where they’d veer left, he gave her a quick kiss. “I know you need to look badass and all businesslike when we turn this corner and you put your job back on. So I wanted to steal a kiss from you now.”

“Thanks for that.”

They turned the corner and while he kept an arm around her, he didn’t kiss her when they parted ways. He took her hands, squeezing them briefly. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

“Yeah. You will. Have a good rest of your day, Royal.”

“You’ve pretty much made that part happen already.” He waved as he stepped away, and she put a hand on the door to go inside.

“I’m in
so
much trouble with you, aren’t I?”