RetroCog (a Power Up! story) (12 page)

She rolled her eyes. “Men. Always thinking with your stomachs.”

“Not always,” she swore she heard him mutter, but when she turned around to confront him, he raised his brows.

“What?”

“Nothing. Let me get my purse, and we’ll go.” She found it sitting on her favorite comfy chair. “I thought a sandwich at the Corner Shop would be just the thing.”

“I’m game.” Bill waited for her to precede him and closed the door behind him.

She left with him, her cell phone on hand for emergencies. She stopped by the front desk and put out a note with her number, just in case. Frank and Shelly both had the night off, and with the guests taken care of, Lara didn’t exactly need to be on hand. An answering machine would catch anyone trying to book a room. Nothing stood in the way of her dinner with Bill.

Not even Noah.

She clenched her jaw, then forced herself to relax and smile at Bill. While they made their way to the restaurant, she half listened to him talk about his day. She couldn’t get that stubborn Noah out of her mind. Earlier, she’d mentioned her dinner plans, hoping he wouldn’t make a big deal about it. After all that nonsense about “you’re mine” and then Cecilia’s warning about a jealous lover, Lara had been prepared for the worst. Noah hadn’t done much more than shrug before leaving the inn on some errand or other.

She hadn’t seen him since, and she wanted to beat herself over the head for caring that Noah apparently
didn’t
care. Great sex did not a relationship make. She should have known that, except she’d never had such incredible, mind-blowing sex before. Being with Noah last night, she’d transcended physical pleasure into something else entirely. Though she didn’t want to make more of their coupling than there was, she couldn’t deny the fierce attraction she felt for him. Or how much his dismissal of her dinner with Bill hurt.

Granted, she didn’t want him throwing a fit about it, but some concern should have been warranted. If he’d had a date with some woman, she’d have been annoyed. And frankly, jealous.

“Hello, Lara? You’re in your own little world tonight, aren’t you?”

She flushed. “Sorry, Bill. That plumbing situation fried my brain today.” Not entirely untrue. She walked with him into the cute restaurant and grabbed a corner booth. “Not only did Harold take forever to come fix the problem, but the stoppage somehow migrated from two of my rooms to four of them. We had a lot to clean up before our new guests came. And don’t get me started on Shelly and her excuses for being late.”

He chuckled. “Hate to say it, but her latest excuse just walked in the door.”

A glance to her right showed Mike Buckman nodding at a few folks. Mike aimed a glare at Bill, a speculative look at her, then took a seat on the other side of the room from them.

“Oh yeah. Not a lot of love lost there.”

Lara blinked. “I hadn’t realized you two weren’t friends.”

“Why? Just because we’re both civil servants in a town the size of a quarter doesn’t mean we’re tight.”

“But I saw you two chatting yesterday at the inn.” And she’d never heard of the two of them not getting along. She could understand him not liking Mike, but everyone seemed to like Bill.

“He was letting me know to move my truck. The asshole—I mean, the good deputy—didn’t want to ticket me for being too close to the yellow curb.”

“No one pays any attention to the faded markings in front of the inn anymore.” She frowned and accepted one of the menus the waitress brought them. “Why was he bothering you about it?”

Bill lifted a brow.

“What?”

“Come on, Lara. You can’t tell me you don’t know Mike has a thing for you.”

“He does? But he’s always hanging around with Shelly. I thought they were dating.”

Bill studied the menu, and the sudden silence that settled over them made her uncomfortable. She had an odd feeling she was missing something important.

The waitress came to take their orders, then left.

“Bill?” Lara prodded.

“Look, I’m not one to gossip. I hate busybodies. But everyone knows Mike is with Shelly to make you jealous.”

“Everyone knows but me.”

“Apparently.” He sighed. “I hate to break it to you, but you’re one hot topic of speculation, honey.”

“I am?”

The waitress brought them waters and left again.

“A single, beautiful woman with brains shows up in this artsy town full of eclectic people. You stand out, if only because you’re so normal.”

“Gee, thanks.”
If he only knew.

He chuckled. “You have to know you’re gorgeous. Now, now, don’t blush. It’s true.” The assessing look he gave her made her uncomfortable. “I’m a man. I know what men like. Mike wants a chance with you. I want a chance with you.” He paused. “And if I’m not mistaken, that guest of yours, Noah’s what’s-his-name, he wants a chance with you too.”

In an effort not to disclose her personal business, she focused on Mike. “Tell me again why I should think Mike Buckman wants a date with me. He’s got Shelly at his beck and call, because God knows the woman is never working when Mike crooks his little finger. He’s never given me anything but dirty looks.”

“Nah. That’s his way of showing his interest.” Bill took a sip of water. “I’ve lived in plenty of places before Brownville, and I’ve come across my share of cops and firemen. We’re all pretty much the same. We like control because we work hard to dictate the actions of others. I want to prevent fires and promote safety. Mike, for all his hostility, wants the same. So when it comes to women, a guy like Mike will try to bully you into a date instead of asking you, because he doesn’t want to chance a rejection.”

“Whereas you…”

He grinned. “I’ll charm you out of your socks. And if I’m lucky, out of the rest of your clothes, while I’m at it.”

She choked on the water she’d started to swallow. “I’m flattered, I think. But from what I’ve heard, you have women dropping at your feet whenever you flash those bright blue eyes.”

He fluttered his lashes at her, and she laughed.

Their sandwiches arrived, and they continued to talk about the town and the current goings-on of several shops expanding business. To Lara’s relief, they steered clear of more personal conversation.

After dinner, Bill walked her back to the inn. “Thanks for the meal, Lara. But it was the company that made it great.”

“What a nice thing to say.” She smiled as she turned to face him, but the odd expression on his face worried her. “Bill?”

One minute he was staring at her, the next he was kissing her, where anyone and everyone could see them. His lips were warm but firm, his breath sweet and minty, thanks to the candy mint he’d eaten after dinner. But the sexual heat she might have expected didn’t appear. No belly flutters, no hard nipples, not even a whisper of arousal at being so close to a handsome man. His kiss was nice but blah. Then he tightened his grip on her arms.

She tried to pull back and worried he wouldn’t let her, when he suddenly released her and stepped back.

“Christ. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so rough.” The chagrin on his face more than made up for his heavy-handed manner.

“It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not.” He swore and ran a hand through his hair. “Damn. I’m sorry. I really like you. And you look so pretty in the twilight like that. Your eyes are so dark, so mysterious. I’ve had a thing for you for months, Lara. I thought, maybe, with you taking me to dinner, you were—”

“Lara, there you are.” Noah walked down the walkway of the inn and joined them. “I was going to ask you to dinner, but I figured you already went out. I had a few things to go over with you about the inn. You know, those art pieces you were inquiring about?”

Bill frowned at him. “We’re kind of in the middle of something.”

“Oh? Sorry.” Noah didn’t sound sorry. But he didn’t sound jealous either.

At least she wouldn’t be the cause of a scene. The thought depressed her. “Bill, I’d better go in. I have a few more things to do before I can call it a night.”

Bill shot Noah another dirty look before shrugging at Lara. “Well, I have to get back to work anyway. Think about what I said, okay? You have my number if you need me.” Ignoring Noah, he bent to give her a peck on the cheek. Then he left for his truck.

She and Noah watched him drive away in silence.

“What about this art piece?” she asked, still watching Bill’s truck until it turned the corner. How odd that for years she’d had nothing special going on in her private life. Now, in the span of a few short days, she had a lover
and
an admirer—one who
wouldn’t
be leaving in a few days. Though Bill didn’t spark fireworks like Noah did, that didn’t mean he was a total write-off. Maybe after she got Noah out of her system, she could settle with a nice, handsome, respectable man. He had a steady job, after all. A pillar of the community. And she genuinely liked him.

When Noah had yet to answer her, she turned to see him scowling down at her. Finally, a show of emotion. “What?”

He watched her and nodded, seeming to come to some conclusion. “I figure it’s best if I show you. Come on.”

“Okay. But first…”

“Now. It’s important.”

Knowing that murder, theft, and serious money hinged on Noah’s current case, she didn’t argue. “I have my cell phone if there are problems, I guess.”

He nudged her to move faster. They took his vehicle and drove out of town.

“Noah?”

“I’ll explain once we’re there.”

They arrived at a motel just outside the city limits, one that catered to visitors not familiar with Brownville. The bland building didn’t hold a candle to the Lady Fine Inn or any of the other hotels and B and B’s in town. People came to Brownville for the atmosphere. The best that could be said of this place was that the parking lot looked clean.

“This is a little weird.” She saw one blue compact car at the end of the row, in the opposite direction of where Noah parked. He had a smaller bag in hand as he pulled her from the SUV.

He glanced around, then walked quickly to a door a few down from where he’d parked, nearly dragging Lara in the process. To her consternation, he refused to let go. Nor did he explain anything. Starting to worry, she tried again. “Noah, what’s going on?”

“I’ll tell you inside.”

He hadn’t smiled at her once all day. And the look in his eyes now… To her surprise, her pulse raced. There was a hint of meanness in his gaze, and it turned her on.
God, what is wrong with me? Bill, Mr. Nice, leaves me feeling nothing. But one glare from Mr. Bossy and I’m sexually excited?

He knocked once, and a woman opened the door. One of those pretty little things that set Lara’s teeth on edge. Petite, feminine, and with a face so arresting, one had to take a second look. Lara couldn’t determine the woman’s background. Carmel-colored skin, long black hair, and light blue-gray eyes. She seemed like a mix of several races rolled into one sexy female. One who knew and liked Noah, by the smile in her eyes.

“About time. I’m starved.” She gave Lara a curious once-over and said to her, “Good luck. You’re gonna need it.”

Before Lara could ask what that meant, the woman shot out the door. Noah shoved Lara inside, shut and locked the door behind him, then propped his back against it and tossed the bag to the floor. He crossed his arms over his chest, no longer the impassive man who’d strong-armed her into accompanying him.

“What the hell is your problem?” Damn. Her nipples throbbed, and her panties grew wetter by the second. Noah’s arms bunched, and the fury darkening his eyes only seemed to grow.

“I told you just last night you were mine. What the fuck did you think that meant?”

Where had the calm, controlled man from this morning gone? “This is about Bill, right?”

“What do you think?”

She couldn’t help glancing down his body, centering on the prominent bulge between his legs. The fact that he was aroused skyrocketed her own desire.