Pistols & Pies (Sweet Bites Book 2) (Sweet Bites Mysteries) (20 page)

We chose Paul’s Burger Shack, a great little mom-and-pop place with terrific shakes, thick, juicy burgers and homestyle fries. I had only been there a couple of times since I got back to Silver Springs—I got more than enough fat and sugar in my job every day without paying for it somewhere else.

Shawn picked a booth in the back corner several tables away from any families and we settled in relative privacy. “So how are things going for you?” he asked. “We’ve hardly had time to talk. The store looks pretty busy.”

“Yeah, and it’s fun, actually, being in the public side of my profession and not just back in the kitchen all of the time. I’m starting to get to know people in the community and making connections between them, like who is related to whom—it’s a big tangled web. I loved Chicago, but it didn’t feel like home, because I couldn’t ever really feel that I belonged, that I was important to the community, or even the neighborhood. I belonged at work, but that was all.” It had taken me a while to reach that conclusion.

He grabbed my hand on the table, holding it in his warm fingers. His eyes focused on mine. “I can tell you like it here. You care about the people who come into your shop and remember their favorites. You remember special events they buy treats for, and make them feel important. With that kind of service, your shop is bound to succeed, no matter what the economy does.”

“Thank you, I sure hope so. And how is your family doing, anyway? You haven’t really mentioned them.” I was a little embarrassed by his praise, even as I appreciated the fact that he had noticed. I did try to pay attention to my customers. Many of them had turned into friends, of a sort, in a short period of time. I peppered him with questions about his family members, his sister and how she was dealing with her new marriage and family situation.

“So you’ve actually thought about leaving border patrol to live up this direction?”  I asked. He talked about his job like he loved it, and I had a hard time seeing him walking away.

Shawn shrugged. “It’s good work, but it’s getting dicey. One of the guys I work with was killed a few weeks ago, and it was almost more than one. It’s making me itchy. The money is excellent, though, so it’s hard to consider switching to a new department.”

“It sounds like you’re compensated for the danger.” I slid my hand over his on the table. “But is that going to be worth it if you die?”

“And there’s the issue.” He turned over his hand to capture mine. “I’ll figure it out.” His gaze lingered on my face.

My breath caught and worry filled me as I thought about how dangerous his job was, and how much I didn’t want him to get hurt.

Honey called a while later and asked me to come over. Though I felt guilty about cutting the evening short to go there when Shawn would only be in town for a while, I decided a period of reflection after dinner might be a good thing.

Shawn and I lingered over shakes before he dropped me at Honey’s house.

“I’ll go by your place and make sure it’s secure,” he told me as he pulled into her driveway. He grabbed my wrist before I could bolt out of the car and cupped his hand over my shoulder, pulling me close for a short, soft kiss. “I’ll watch until you go inside and wave me off. Make sure they stay at your place until you’ve checked to make sure it’s safe, okay?”

“I will. Thanks.” I touched his chin, then opened the door and got out of the car, a lump in my throat.

“So what is it with you and Shawn?” Honey asked as we sat on her back porch swing. “I thought that was way in the past, and then he shows up on your doorstep and wants to move in?”

“Not move in, exactly,” I told her, uncertain what he had thought was going to happen between us. “I’m not sure how I feel about him, or how he feels about me. I mean, the chemistry is definitely there. I can’t even tell you how good the chemistry is, but he still lives in Nogales. How can I have a relationship with someone who lives five hours away when I work so much?” And why would I want to do that to myself?

I still wasn’t sure I was ready to deal with a relationship, which is why things with Jack were so great, because we were both interested, I think, and there was that zing of attraction, but it was moving at a comfortable snail’s pace. It was just plain fun to see him in odd places and have him bring his daughter in the shop. Half the enjoyment was in the dance as we rotated around each other, neither of us quite ready to act. He was totally the kind of guy a girl takes home to mom, but even if I’d had a mom to take him home to, I was not even close to ready for it.

But Shawn, oh man, he was incredible. He wasn’t a man to be ashamed of, but there was definitely something about him that didn’t scream permanence. However, he’d been there for me when I needed him, and that couldn’t be valued highly enough.

“Relationships are never easy, you know,” Honey said. “They aren’t supposed to be. But if he’s the right one, do you really want to risk losing him?”

I dug the toe of my shoe into the concrete, giving us a push as I tried to put my thoughts in order. “I thought twice now that I had found the guy for me. Now I’m not sure I care, or if I really believe there is such a thing as ‘the right one’ after all.” I shrugged, wishing I could find a way out of the conversation, which was making me face reality, when floating along without analyzing my feelings would be so much easier. “Maybe I’m better off single and just doing my own thing.”

“But with a friend on the side with whom you can have a wild fling from time to time?” Honey’s expression was filled with teasing.

 I bit my lip to keep from smiling. “It’s hardly a fling to have a few dates.”

“And a few kisses?” she asked.

I thought of the feel of Shawn’s mouth on mine the previous night and again tonight and all of the feelings that had rushed over me. “Yeah, the kissing is good, I have to admit. But still, it’s hardly the most important thing.

“And he actually knew about Lenny before he arrived,” I continued. “Detective Tingey warned him, as if he thought Lenny was some dangerous criminal whom I should be afraid of, as if I wasn’t aware of who Lenny really is. Seriously, I’ve known him for years, I’ve mentored him and berated him, taken his crap and we’ve pulled pranks on each other. He’s just….”

“Your family.”

I paused, absorbing her words, liking that she saw it too. I wondered if maybe it wasn’t as metaphorical as I’d thought when I said it before. In several very real ways, he was a brother. “Yeah, he is. He’s my family.” To someone who had none to speak of, this was an incredible revelation.

“And I’m your sister—even if I’m half black and you’re half Guatemalan,” Honey said. “Because family, it’s not about blood or legal connections, it’s about emotional connections, friendships. You belong with us, and we’ll always be there for each other.” She plucked at her skirt. “You know you’re way closer to me than my sister ever has been. Not that I don’t love her, because she’s great, but she and I don’t mesh, we don’t understand each other the way you and I do.”

“And isn’t that just totally odd?” I agreed. “I mean, seriously, we’re completely different. We have nothing in common, but I can tell you anything.” I bumped elbows with her, sharing a look of perfect understanding.

“Like I said, family is what it is. And you’re mine.” Honey bumped my elbow in return. “And you do know that the kids think you’re the tops.”

I couldn’t help but grin at that. There was something very satisfying about being their favorite person. I was definitely gunning for best aunt ever. “Yeah, but that’s just because they are addicted to my cookies.”

“Whatever.” Honey chuckled. “Well, okay, they are rather addicted to your cookies, but it’s not all about sweets. You’re there for them and care and listen and that’s more important anyway. You’re their auntie of the heart.”

That made me feel all warm and fuzzy. Her next words were even better.

“It’s really great having you here. I know I nagged you for years to come here and it wasn’t really in your plans, but it’s nice to run down the street and find you there. This mom stuff isn’t for the faint of heart and as much as I adore George, he just doesn’t get the woman stuff, you know?”

“Yeah. I guess that’s because men are Martians. They’re certainly odd sometimes.”

I listened to the sounds of crickets in the bushes, and car engines on the street, the call of a kid playing night games with his friends in the next yard as I enjoyed the peace for a long moment.

Honey broke the silence again, apparently unable to stand the quiet tonight. “And what about Jack?”

“There’s nothing going on with Jack,” I demurred even as I remembered that long, delicious exchange after he cleaned up my wounds.

“Not officially, I know. Still, there’s something there. I see the way you look at each other, the way you pick up his little girl and snuggle her tight, talking to her like you belong together. And the look in his eyes when he watches you with her is indescribable. It’s like he sees his family standing right in front of him.”

Her words were like a sharp stick in my chest. I wanted what she was describing, so much, but I wasn’t ready to go there, and I didn’t know how Jack felt about me at all. Maybe Honey was wrong, maybe I was wrong and he didn’t have feelings for me. What if the attraction was all one-sided and he’d really been thinking that I looked funny with all of the cuts and bandages on my face? “Well, if he wants more than the friendship we have, he’s going to have to be the one to do something about it. It’s not like I’ve been ignoring him. He could ask me out.”

“Or you could make a move on him. It’s not like this is Regency England or something,” she said pointedly.

“I told you, I’m not quite ready to get involved with someone right now.” I picked at a cat hair from the neighborhood Tom who often slept on the porch swing.

“But when Shawn comes to you, you open your arms and do things with
him
.” She always had the most irritating way of being right. 

“You couldn’t take things easy on me, could you?” I asked. “My relationship with Shawn is simpler because it’s not serious—he doesn’t even live here—so I’m not really risking anything. We’re just having a good time for a few days before he goes back to Nogales. What do you expect me to do?” I really wanted her to have an answer because I could use some guidance. I missed my grandma’s incredibly wise advice. Too bad I didn’t appreciate it enough when she was around to give it to me. Marge was great to talk to, but as a woman who married her high school sweetheart, lost him in Korea, and never married again, I didn’t think she was the right person to ask.

“I don’t know what you should do about your love life,” Honey said. “But you’re going to have to figure it out eventually. Just don’t let Shawn move things along too fast and leave other options in the dust. You won’t know what could be with Jack unless you take the time to get to know him.”

Those words were all too true, unfortunately.

“Okay, that’s ridiculous, how are you going to work with those nails?” Lenny asked when he came in late the next morning.

“I’ll wear manicure gloves while I’m doing inventory and shifting things around, and put on food-quality gloves while I prepare food.” I produced a pair of blue manicure gloves from my purse. “My nails aren’t any longer than before, they’re just prettier now. What’s the big deal, anyway?”

He shook his head in disgust. “I’ll never understand women. I swear, you’re all nuts.”

The bell up front rang and I stood to get it, pausing when Kat walked in. She looked uncertain, her brown eyes studying the shop and her throat moving as she swallowed hard. Her lips formed a thin line, showing her nerves, but her back was straight, determination guiding her. I held in an inner gloat and walked out to meet her, putting on a casual and friendly air, as if seeing her in my shop wasn’t unusual at all. “Kat, I’m so glad you made it okay. How was your trip?” I gave her a big hug.

“Kat?” Lenny’s voice was still in the kitchen, but he hurried out. “Kat!” He moved to her quickly, his feet gliding over the floor as if he was sliding across ice. He got almost to her, but stopped short, just outside arm’s reach. His eyes never left her face.