Behind the Pines (The Gass County Series Book 3) (10 page)

Primrose Valley wasn’t a large town. Big enough for a police station, a fire department, a bakery, a school at each end of the town’s inlet along the slumbering highway, three hair salons in continuous competition with one another, and city hall with the widely popular Branson Roberts as mayor. Voted in three times in a row. Not so much for his political talent but for opening up the heated indoor pool to the seniors which was otherwise open to personnel only.

Driving from one end of the highway to the next, from one county line to the next, was something Brody did in his cruiser about six times a day if nothing was called in. He wrote speeding tickets, mostly to teenagers on homemade, hopped-up motorized bikes, and he cursed every parent in town for not knowing what the heck their kids were doing. Drug arrests, murders, robberies were things of rarity. Yet, he knew he needed to be prepared should the event show up. Because every time something on the larger scale happened, it had always taken him by surprise, and he hated it, not being in control and not knowing what to do next. As an officer, especially in his position, it was to him people came with concerns and wishes for resolution and safety. He couldn’t let anyone down.

Sure, as a soldier he’d been able to withstand unpleasant feelings and moments, but out in civilian life there were always things unexpected. Like now, his sudden hike of heartbeat seeing Sunshine’s truck parked in front of Hayley’s VIP salon.

He had no business parking next to her, and absolutely no reason to see Hayley. Like, ever again. He shuddered and filed the memory of her drunken vulgarity from the last town hoedown in the back of his mind. No need to open that file again.

He swerved around the corner of the post office and went back down the street for a second look. Sure enough, Sunshine’s car was still there but she was nowhere to be seen. Who knew being a farmhand could be so lucrative you’d be able to get a fancy new do? But what did he know, he usually buzzed his head in the bathroom, each time remembering the same ritual as a soldier.

Five o’clock, one more hour until the bakery closed, and he pulled in behind the building. If anything, some hot coffee and a chocolate croissant would warm up his evening. The only thing waiting at home was Wayne yelling at the screen while watching recorded football games he’d missed for the last few months while under the dark cloud of depression and shock.

Chapter Sixteen

The door to the bakery swung open and Sunshine stepped inside the almost deserted café, escaping the last light of the day and the start of another dark night. At least she was back in her regular setting, now that Brutus the beast was back home. Gosh, she’d missed him. Her life without him would be lonely, less cuddly, and probably lived in silence. She spoke to Brutus the way she spoke to a human and found his responses were the most intelligent, albeit mostly done with raised eyebrows and barks. Brutus’s eyes spoke in his silence, and that was more than any human had succeeded in doing.

She threw another glance at the baked goods at the counter and stepped forward. Right into a wall of hard muscles, someone’s back. Brody “Smarty-pants” Jensen. Damn, she had just calmed herself down from his complete lack of emotions, the way he’d left after she had been dumb enough to let him take off her pants. Yet, here he was again, and her body couldn’t stop igniting those hot flames she’d felt.

He turned slowly, reacting to the back-slamming, not that he could have felt it too hard being all muscles, vest, and starched beige shirt. Maybe he wore something underneath? Maybe nothing but smooth skin dusted in that dark hair her eyes had witnessed, trailing down—

“Evening.” That’s it? F you, her mind screamed. He turned away from her and pulled up a few bills from inside his wallet. “Have a good night.” Brody tipped the front of his hat and with a small box of dessert items walked out the door like she was a stranger. It wasn’t until she watched the door to his car close that she turned back to the counter only to be met by a sulky teenager. Picking her nails, waiting for an order.

“So, you want anything before we close?” Wow, wasn’t that the best sales pitch she’d ever heard.

With a somewhat sizeable bag under her arm she sat herself back in the car. Thank God Hayley had already left her salon and couldn’t see her gulp down at least two sugared-covered doughnut holes. Okay, so there might have been four. To be completely honest, it was five. The windows on the front of the salon took in the light of the overhead streetlamps, the insides of the shop eerie and calm. She’d let Hayley cut her hair in past. A lot. And today she’d been angry and hungry, and decided to chop it off. So much for throwing your hair over your shoulder, or tucking it in a bun on your head when going to work. No man had ever noticed the seductive gesture of fingers twining a strand. To hell with it. This was better. She’d be the singer Pink for all she knew, and she’d like it. It gave her confidence. Short, spiky, and she could definitely give Brody competition for most-styled hair in town. Brody. Her heart pumped faster at the thought of his name, even more furious he hadn’t even noticed her new hair just a bit earlier. Idiot.

She tossed the empty paper back on the floor on the passenger side and pulled out from the long line of parking spots at the side of street. “Brody,” she muttered, and then licked the last of powdered sugar off her lips.

She hadn’t realized she’d been speeding until the high numbers flashed on a speedometer at the side of the road and made her push the brakes slightly.

The police station was closed, so the sign on the door stated, but, stepping out of the car, she saw Brody’s cruiser at the side of the building and she swallowed hard before trying the front door. Surprisingly, unlocked.

The front desk was dark and quiet. A lonely Windows cube flew across the computer screen on the opposite side of the desk, except from that nothing but the continuing hum of the AC flying through the vent in the ceiling. She took another step and noticed light escaping the slight opening of one of the doors leading from the front room. Without knowing why, she went over and pushed it open.

“Shit!” Brody leaned back in his chair and held his large hand over his heart. “Don’t you ever knock?” he roared like a lion, making her regret her impromptu visit. “What is it? What?”

As he was about to stand, she took a step inside and seated herself on the opposite side of his paper-filled desk. Immaculate piles stacked in order. She coughed and glanced around the office. Undersized for a guy holding the title chief of police.

“What happened to your hair?”

“Cut it, obviously.”

Brody hummed and looked her over. “Can I help you?” Brody straightened his navy-blue tie and corrected his seating.

She bit the inside of her mouth and blurted. “Am I just a piece of dust to you? Nothing? We slept together once.” Her eyes darted around the room. He smiled suddenly, a crooked, one-sided smile, and placed his huge locked hands on the desk in front of him. His arms and hands taking up most of the space.

“No, we didn’t.”

“All right, fine,” Sunshine sighed and swallowed down her embarrassment. “But we did things . . .” Her words ended in a whisper and she watched a pen roll leisurely between his fingers.

“Oh, we sure did.”
Why wouldn’t this guy stop grinning?

“So?”

“Yes, what, Sunny?” He leaned back in his chair again, looking too superior for his own good. She felt the urge to reach across the desk and smack his gorgeous face.

She stood and pushed the chair against the desk, regretting her visit. Maybe wishing for a different outcome, she turned to walk out the door.

“Hold up.” The legs on Brody’s chair scratched against the brown linoleum floor of his office and as she turned to look at him, he was already by her side.

“Look,” he started. “I’m sorry I left our . . . shenanigans the way I did. But,” he sighed and stared at the door behind her, “we really didn’t do anything that would make a difference between us. Like, we’re not in a relationship or anything. You know what I mean, right, Sunny?”

Sunshine shook her head and let out a frustrated laugh.

“I’m not sure how to respond to that, because I usually don’t let random men see me naked and do . . . what you did.”

“You seemed to enjoy it, though.”

“Oh, shut up.”

Brody held his hands up and returned to his chair, moving it back underneath his desk and, with fingers she had recently learned weren’t just calloused but talented, placed a bunch of paper from one perfectly piled stack, picked up his pen, and with it traced each and every line of miniscule print covering the length of letterhead, as he ignored her existence.

Sunshine had yet to push open the door and walk away, instead she stood there, contemplating what he’d said. What she felt. She wasn’t a person to be shy, yet around him something felt different, but in three steps she crossed the space between them, grabbed the back of his chair and to his surprise pulled it out from underneath the desk.

“Mr. Jensen,” she sat down in his lap, placed an arm around his neck, and let the tip of her finger trace the name engraved in the metal tag decorating his chest, “you decided to peel my clothes off. I think it’s only fair to return the favor.”

“Listen—” Brody sucked in a deep breath, placed his hand over her finger circling the badge below his name tag, and opened his mouth in response.

“Your mouth was talented.” Sunshine’s breath touched his lips. “Aren’t you at least a little bit intrigued what mine can do?”

As she breathed in his shaky exhale, a knock on the door killed any possible spark between them.

“Yes,” said Brody, his voice smaller than she remembered.

The door pushed in and a woman with brown hair grinned at them both.

“Mel.” Brody stood quickly, forcing Sunshine off his lap, readjusting his tie again, straightening the starched fabric of his pants, and held out a hand for a welcoming handshake with the stranger.

“Melanie, Sunshine.” He gestured back without looking at Sunshine. “Sunshine, Melanie.” He breathed in heavily and rested his hands on his narrow hips, holding his belt, cuffs, and his 45. “How can I be of service?”

Melanie held up a hand and grinned at Brody. “Oh, it seems like you’re already in service as it is, my friend. I’ll catch you later.”

“No, no.” Brody shook both his hands in defense. “Not at all, was there anything you wanted, really. Please tell me it is.”

“Begging for a chance to get out of . . . whatever this is?” She pointed between Brody and Sunshine, both of them still standing by the desk. Brody glared and chewed the inside of his cheek, like so many times before.

“I’m a woman, I speak female. And choosing to pay attention to me instead of her, my friend, is an obvious out.”

Sunshine moved and her hand cut between the two, attempting to push the office door closed.

“We’re not done here, would you mind?” She witnessed a smile wander across the woman’s face as the door closed, leaving the stranger in the main room of the police station.

“I’m not sure that was the best move.” She felt the warmth of Brody’s large hand close over hers still holding the door handle.

“Meaning?” The warmth he expelled spread further, shivers of heat erupted through her body and pooled between her legs.

“That,” he said and lifted his hand from hers, leaving an unpleasing feeling of coldness across the skin of her hand, “was Melanie Orchard, the best detective this side of the Midwest, and a woman.”

She returned his smile and shook her head. “Meaning?” she repeated, staring deep into his cobalt blue eyes.

“Women gossip.”

“And? Is your being with me gossip-worthy?”

“In a town as small as this.” The same hand that has so recently covered hers reached out to hold onto the windowsill. “Opening a door to see a woman seated on the sheriff’s lap might be worth mentioning.”

“Why was she here in the first place, officer?”

His eyes sparkled under her gaze and wandered from her eyes down to her lips. “Afraid I have other women in line willing to be seated on my lap?”

Sunshine’s mouth opened, formed a word, then took it back before the air left her lungs.

Brody’s composure outranged her in more than height. Power, strength, and an air of arrogance lived within him.

“She walks in everywhere, at any time.” His lips were chapped, looking dry as an Arizona desert. “You should probably be on your way, Sunshine.”

“Fine,” she sputtered and stepped closer until their chests touched. “But if you’re even remotely interested, it’s
your
move now. I’ve done mine, and frankly I’m not ashamed of my actions. Over and out, Officer.”

*              *              *

Her hand graced her forehead in a salute and she walked out of the door, forgetting to close it behind her, making every nerve ending inside him sizzle with anxiety until he closed it himself.

Silence once more owned the office, just as it had done before the storm that was Sunshine had occupied it.

The dry leaves escaping their branches made the outside world look cold and harsh. The view outside the window resembled his insides and he cursed everything that was wrong: his continuous pain, his rugged scar, the way his war memories still made him grip the pillow in sweat every night, and the inability of his goddamn heart to trust or to kick Sunshine out of it. The world needed warmth and brightness just as much as he might need sunshine. Her. That Sunshine—his aura of energy and brightness. Hair so bright nobody could help but see it as anything less than rays attached to a fierce ball of energy staking its claim on the world, on him.