Mint Juleps and Justice (10 page)

“Should be.” He looked at his watch. “Or close to finished. We’ll have to do this again.”

“I don’t want to mislead you. I’m not looking for a relationship,” she said. “I don’t mean to sound harsh, but I’m just not cut out for it. But dinner. With a friend. I could totally do that.”

“Friends is good,” he said. “Maybe even better.

They drove back over the Carolina line to her place. Mike pulled into the driveway alongside the security guys’ truck. They were already packing up.

“Looks like you were right,” she said.

“I’m right a lot. Get used to it.”

“We’ll see about that, but thanks for the distraction while they got this done. I appreciate it.” She got out of the truck and headed for the door with Stitches right behind her. A second slam made her spin around. Mike was falling in step right behind her. “What are you doing?”

“I thought I would take a quick peek and be sure everything looked safe and sound.”

“Thanks.”

Mike walked in behind her and sent the installers on their way. Then he gave the place the once-over, and when they were both convinced everything was safe, he gave her the two-minute alarm tour and they did a couple of practice runs.

“I can handle it,” she said. “Thanks.” Brooke walked Mike to the door.

After an awkward moment, Mike placed one hand on the door, and pulled her to him with the other. “I had a great time tonight. Thanks for humoring me.”

She looked up at him, and smiled. “It was nice. Thanks for being so bossy and forcing me to have some fun. It felt good. It’s exactly what I needed.”

He tipped her chin, and for a second she thought he might kiss her, and yet she didn’t move. Instead he moved away.

“Bye,” he said with a nod, then he pulled the door open, stepped out onto the porch, and headed to his truck.

As she watched him leave, she considered what it might have felt like if he’d covered her mouth with his. Kissed her slow and soft. But then why would he? She’d just given him the I-don’t-do-relationships speech.

She set the alarm and stood there at the door, watching him leave. She wondered what might have happened if she’d kept her daggone mouth shut for a change.

G
lancing at the caller ID, she grinned and answered sweetly, “Hey, Mike.”

“You know my ring?”

“I’m psychic.” Her whole insides danced at the sound of his voice. It had been nearly a week since he’d had the alarm system installed. He must have taken the
friends
speech to heart.

There was a trace of laughter in his voice. “Caller ID?”

“Did you ever consider the private investigator business?”

“Think I’d be good, huh?”

“Oh, yeah. Glad you weren’t my dad. A girl can’t sneak anything by you.”

“Well, quit trying, would ya?” he said. “I know we made plans for dinner, but what are your plans on Sunday instead?”

Brooke tried to recall her schedule from memory. “I’ve got plans with Jenny on Saturday afternoon, but aside from that, nothing important. What’d you have in mind?”

“I want to take you somewhere on Sunday,” Mike said.

Instead of the steak dinner, and he hadn’t called it a date. That was a plus. “Where?”

“Can’t tell you where. It’s a surprise.”

“Oh, come on. I hate secrets,” she pleaded. “Maybe I’d rather do the dinner.”

“You’ll have to just trust me that you’ll like this better.”

“You think you know so much about me already, do you?”

“Oh, no. I wouldn’t dare go there, but I’m pretty sure I’m right about this.”

“Now I’m really curious. How will I know what to wear, if I don’t know where we’re going?”

“Dress casual. We’ll be outside,” he said.

“I’m not athletic at all. I run like a girl, throw like a girl…”

“I didn’t say anything about sports. Jeans and tennis shoes—something comfortable.”

“Fine. Keep your darn secret. No one else could get away with this.”

“I’m honored.”

“You should be. Can you hang on a sec? I just got home, let me put my stuff down and get inside.”

“Okay.”

Brooke unlocked the front door, then dropped her keys in the bowl on the sideboard and hung her purse on the coat closet door. “Feels good to be home.” She kicked out of her shoes, then something in the backyard caught her attention through the French doors. “Hang on.”

“What’s the matter? I can hear it in your voice.”

“I’m not sure. I thought I saw someone.” She ran to the back door and peered out the window.

“What’s wrong?”

She held the phone close as she scanned the yard. “It’s okay,” she said to Mike. “Must have been a bird or something. Sorry.” She walked back into the living room with the phone against her ear. “All right, so where were we? Oh, yeah, you being all honored, or was it ornery?”

Mike snickered. “How about I pick you up at eight Sunday morning, and plan to be gone most of the day.”

“All day? This better be good.” She feigned annoyance.

“It’s only a couple days away. I think you can make it. See you Sunday.”

“I’ll be ready. See you then.” Sunday couldn’t get here quick enough.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

O
n Sunday morning, Mike pulled into the driveway at Brooke’s house at eight o’clock on the dot. Brooke stepped outside looking cute in her jeans, red hiking boots, and blue-and-white-striped top. She balanced two travel mugs looped through the fingers of her left hand as she turned the deadbolt.

He lowered his window as she walked up, and Hunter sprang across him and pushed his nose out the window.

“I thought the least I could do was supply the morning caffeine fix.” She handed him a mug. “Goodness. I didn’t think to bring one for you, Hunter.”

“He’s not a coffee drinker.” He pointed to the red mug she’d just handed him and then to her blue one. “But blue is my favorite color.”

She trotted around to the passenger side of the vehicle to climb in. “The blue one will cost you some four-one-one on where we’re going.”

He raised a brow. It was way more fun to make her wonder.

“Yeah, I didn’t think so; besides, the blue one is mine and has girly flavored cream in it. I pegged you as more of a simple cream-and-sugar kind of guy.”

“You’re right. I’ll stick with the red one.” He took a sip and dropped the truck into gear.

“Uh-huh, thought so,” she said, looking pleased with the early win. She stroked Hunter’s ears as the truck eased out of her driveway.

As they pulled onto the street, movement in the backseat startled Brooke. She swung around to see what it was. “What do we have here?”

A soft thump, thump, thump sounded from the backseat. A black-and-white rough-coated border collie anxiously shifted from paw to paw.

“What? Are you going to make me have a guard dog now too? Have to tell you that Hunter looks a lot more menacing, even as a puppy, than this little border collie in the back.” Brooke leaned back and stroked the dog’s head. “What is it about Mike and damsels in distress?” she asked the dog. “Or is this little gal your date?” she asked Hunter. She regretted using the word
date
as soon as it slipped from her lips. She didn’t want Mike to think she was thinking of today as one.

Mike turned his attention to the backseat. “Brooke, meet Jubilee. Jubilee, Brooke.”

Jubilee lifted her paw to shake as if she understood the introduction process.

“Well, I’m glad to see that he only rescues brilliant, well-mannered damsels.” She shook Jubilee’s paw.

“Jubilee belongs to my friend, Rick Joyner. We’re giving her a ride.”

“And to where would that be?” she asked, looking hopefully back and forth between Mike and Jubilee for an answer.

“You’ll see. I told you it’s a surprise.”

Brooke turned to Jubilee in the backseat. “He’s been driving me crazy all week with this secret.”

“It wasn’t a whole week.”

Brooke ignored his comment. “Does he torture all the girls like this, or do you know where we’re going?”

Jubilee barked a response, and that sent Hunter into a spin. “Down, Hunter,” Mike said, and the dog calmed right down.

“Even you know where we’re going?” Brooke gave Mike the stinkeye.

“Jubilee has to work today. She’s a career girl, like you.”

“Oh, so you do have a type.”

“Yep.” Mike kept his eye on the road. It was fun watching Brooke squirm about where’d they be going, but he was surprised she hadn’t guessed yet now that they were almost there.

“Ah-ha, I know where we’re going!” She pointed at the yellow-and-red banner announcing the Southampton County Fair.

Mike steered the vehicle into the grassy lot to park. “I thought you’d enjoy it, plus it gives me a good chance to put Hunter through some socialization practice in a crowd. He’s working on his Canine Good Citizen manners.”

“Like Scout badges for a dog?”

“Sort of. I’ll introduce you to Rick too.”

“This will be great.”

She looked genuinely pleased and that made his day. “So I was right. You like the idea of spending the day here.”

“Absolutely, especially when I don’t have to work it. The only thing I don’t like is having to admit you’re right.”

“It’s not a bad gig.” He got out of the truck and Jubilee leaped out to the ground, then sat and waited for Mike to put on her lead. Hunter held his position until Mike called for him. Mike handed Brooke Jubilee’s lead, and then he turned his attention back to Hunter.

“Good boy.” Mike leaned down and gave him another command as he put a Gentle Leader on Hunter. “Forward.”

Mike moved and Hunter didn’t pull or stray from the path. Brooke held on to Jubilee’s leash and they both walked through the gates with a stream of other folks. The colorful tents and banners made the usually bare fairgrounds look festive.

“Let’s take Jubilee to Rick first. Then we can walk around,” Mike said.

A tall red-and-white-striped tent housed the livestock arena. Metal gates formed a maze of pens that opened inward and outward, creating paddocks to move the animals through. Jubilee seemed unaffected by the livestock.

“She’s so calm,” Brooke said. “I love border collies.”

“This is familiar to her. Jubilee here is a champion. You’ll be able to see her work this afternoon. If this impresses you, I’ll have to take you with Hunter and me to one of his classes. Those service dogs will blow you away.”

“I’ve been around the agility dogs more than the herding dogs. Some of those breeds are rambunctious. Jubilee seems to have her company manners on. Is she competing?”

“No. Jubilee is way above the caliber of the other dogs. Rick’s doing a demo with Jubilee before the pups compete.” He leaned on one of the red pole gates, propping one foot on the bottom rail.

She looked out across the arena, and then bumped her shoulder against his. “Thanks for bringing me here.”

“I’m glad you’re having fun.”

A man in sharply creased Wrangler jeans and a straw cowboy hat threw a hand up in their direction. “Hey, man. How ya doin’?” He slapped Mike on the opposite shoulder while shaking his hand with the other.

“Great. Got your girl here,” Mike said.

Rick gave an approving look at Brooke. “Well, thanks. You
are
a good friend,” he said, dipping his hat in approval, his eyes never leaving her.

Jubilee barked to get his attention, saving Brooke from having to respond.

“Aw, you mean this girl here?” Rick tapped his chest once and Jubilee leaped into his arms at chest level, with hardly an effort. She licked him on the cheek. Rick nuzzled her muzzle affectionately. “That’s my girl. You didn’t think I was talking about this other pretty gal, now did ya?”

“Rick, this is Brooke.”

“Nice to meet you,” Brooke said.

“Same here. I’ve heard a lot about you from Mike,” Rick said.

“Really now?” Brooke glanced in Mike’s direction.

Mike knocked the dirt from his boot against one of the stall rails. “Not
that
much.”

Rick stepped toward the gate. “We have a lot to do. Trimming, shining. I hear you’re an extension agent, Brooke. Can I put you to work?”

“No. We’re here for a day of fun,” Mike said. He grabbed her hand and tugged her out of Rick’s reach. “She’s all mine today.”

Brooke gave Rick a sheepish grin. “Yeah. What he said.”

Rick tipped his hat back and put one foot up on the gate. “Y’all are staying for the show and auction later, right?”

“That’s the plan,” Mike said, moving Hunter’s lead from hand one to the other.

Brooke nodded. “Looking forward to it.”

“Good. Nice to meet you, Brooke. When y’all come back, come around the north side of the arena.” He pointed to one of about five sections marked in green streamers. “The 4-H kids decorated our spot.”

“Great, we’ll check ya later,” Mike said.

Brooke waved as she pivoted to follow Mike out of the livestock area. “Nice meeting you, Rick.”

Jubilee lifted her muzzle and gave a single bark.

“…and you too, Jubilee,” Brooke called back over her shoulder. “He is so nice.”

“He’s a good guy.”

“Good people,” Brooke said. “That’s how Connor described you. Guess good people gravitate toward one another.”

He opened his mouth and caught himself before he uttered the words on his mind. That he hoped she was gravitating toward him. He liked her company. She was easy to be with, but maybe being with her was so easy because he knew she didn’t want anything more than a friendship.

Brooke and Mike made their way through tents of local arts and crafts, award-winning vegetables, and desserts. Children tried to catch slippery oiled pigs, and tractors raced to pull heavy boxes across a finish line. Then they sat along the tree line in the shade to listen to a band out of northern Virginia called Blackstrap Manassas. They had a rock sound with a cool country vibe and sang mostly original songs with a few standard Southern rock songs that everyone sang along with.

“I’m having the best time,” Brooke said as she swayed to the music.

He enjoyed watching her move, even if her singing was totally off-key. “I’m going to get us something to eat. I’ll be right back.”

“Okay. I’ll watch Hunter.” She tucked the edge of Hunter’s lead under her shoe and gave the dog an encouraging pat on the head as he watched his master walk away.

Mike turned back and just that quick look put a smile on his face. Mike went to get them some lunch and came back with corn dogs and Orange Crush in bottles, and a cup of water for Hunter.

He stepped up behind her and lifted a cardboard tray over her head in front of her. “For you,” he said with her trapped in the circumference of his arms and the tray. A CD was tucked between the two sodas.

“You got me their CD?”

“Yep, and nutrition.”

“Thanks. That was so nice.” She took a soda and then held the corn dog up in the air by the stick and twisted it in the air. “So I wonder why someone thought it was a good idea to put these on a stick. I mean they are already perfectly suited to fit in your hand.”

“Don’t tell me you’ve never had a corn dog.”

“Never.”

“It’s fair food. You have to have a corn dog. I think there’s an unwritten law on that.”

She took a hesitant bite, then nodded. “It’s actually pretty good.” She chewed and swallowed. “Good food. Good company. Good music.”

“Can’t beat that. They are pretty good, aren’t they?”

“They’re great,” she said. “You meant the band, right?”

“I sure wasn’t talking about the corn dog.” At the end of the set everyone cheered and Mike and Brooke headed back to the arena to watch the livestock show.

In the crowded arena Brooke jerked to the right at the sound of someone calling her name. “Did you hear that?” she asked Mike.

He pointed toward a blonde in faded skinny jeans and a bright-yellow top. “I think it came from over there. You know her?”

The girl had climbed over a gate and was heading their way with a camera in one hand.

“I do. What is she doing here?” Brooke stepped down the bleachers, pushing her hair behind one ear as she balanced her way down to the bottom rail.

“You’re the last person I would’ve expected to see here on your day off,” Jenny said.

“Ditto. What are you doing here?”

“One of the girls in my yoga class has a kid showing today. She invited me to tag along.” She kicked the dirt against the gate with a dusty three-inch-heeled designer boot. “She’s been introducing me around. I met a really nice guy.”

“Uh-oh, should I be worried? Nice, or nice-looking?”

“Both.” Jenny nodded her head toward the auction ring. “Not only is he nice, he loves kids, and he’s good-looking as all get out.”

Brooke rolled her eyes. “Aren’t they all?”

“So I take it that’s Mike. You’re right. He’s no troll. Cute.” Jenny waved to Mike, who had stopped to watch the kids walk the ring. Brooke gave her friend a warning look. “He’s just a friend. So where’s this guy
you
met?”

“The one in the straw cowboy hat.” Jenny leaned over and pointed toward the holding pens.

“Rick?” asked Brooke, surprised.

“You know him?”

“I just met him a little while ago. He’s a friend of Mike’s. He’s one of the reasons we’re here.”

“Well, this must be one of those synchronicity things you’re always talking about. I was just breezing along daydreaming about a gorgeous guy who loved kids, and asking God just how long he was going to make me wait to find the perfect mate. Then,
wham-o
. I looked up and there he was.”

“Well, I’m not sure that’s exactly synchronicity, Jenny. You dream about that twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. It
is
a coincidence that we both ended up here today, because I didn’t even know we were coming here until we got here. Mike wanted to surprise me.”

“No one told Mike that you hate surprises?”

Mike walked up behind Brooke. “Did I hear my name?”

“You did. This is my friend, Jenny. She just got introduced to your buddy, Rick.”

“Small world,” Mike said.

Jenny looked back over her shoulder toward Rick. “Seriously now, is he hot enough to melt a snow cone or what?”

Brooke blushed. “You have to excuse Jenny. I swear she only says that stuff to watch me blush.”

“It’s working,” Mike said.

“Isn’t she adorable when she blushes?” Jenny shook a finger in Mike’s direction. “Don’t you go telling him what I said.”

“You have my word,” he said.

“Excellent.” Jenny excused herself to help corral children and their animals into the ring for the first showmanship class.

“Nice to meet you, Jenny,” Mike called after her.

“You too.” She threw a hand up in the air over her shoulder.