Count on Me (Petal, Georgia) Read online

  Caroline stifled her snort of disbelief. “Of course she did. Now you said pie and coffee?”

  He struggled with his desire to follow up on what Caroline had said and wanting to push it away so they could enjoy their time together. Anne had never looked even mildly miffed when he’d gone out with other women. She’d moved on, dating around, and he most assuredly had. There’d been no post-break-up sex, as there had been all the times before. Their last break had been final and for real. Their shift into a very close friendship had been for the best, and it worked for them both.

  Why she’d be snippy now he didn’t know.

  He pushed it aside as they settled in at the Sands for two big slices of apple pie with ice cream and large mugs of milky coffee. There was an ease with Caroline he’d shared with very few people. Added to the chemistry building between them, and he was filled with all sorts of feel good by the time they wound up on the sidewalk again.

  He wasn’t ready for the date to end, but it was nearly eleven and he’d been up since four thirty and she had probably been up nearly as long.

  “What are you doing tomorrow night?” he asked.

  “I have plans.”

  Oh. Well that was unexpected. He did not approve of any other men who thought they could get in his way with this woman. “Mind if I ask what you’re doing?” He failed at sounding casual by about five miles.

  Her brows flew up as she got his meeting. “Oh! No. It’s not a date. I mean, you’re the only person I’m seeing. I’m going over to my friend Melissa’s tomorrow. I’m meeting her at her place, and then we’re off to Atlanta for lunch, shopping and a movie.” She smiled brightly, and he spun her neatly and pulled her in close.

  She looked up at him as he backed her to the steps leading to her apartment. When she’d gone up a few, they were eye to eye and that’s when he kissed her.

  He’d wanted to kiss her since he’d caught sight of those beautiful breasts of hers in the cereal aisle at the market the weekend before. Had thought about this very moment over and over. Had wondered how her body would feel against his, what she’d taste like.

  None of it was anything close to the reality of those tits pressed against his chest as her mouth opened on a sigh, her taste, a little coffee and cream, the sweetness of vanilla from the ice cream, filling him until there was nothing but the way she felt, soft and real and her lips against his.

  She pushed closer, winding her arms around his neck, sliding her fingers into his hair, tugging at the curl at his nape.

  Royal Watson knew his way around a kiss, and boy was that Anne Murphy a total idiot for letting this go.

  His tongue didn’t slide into her mouth, it seemed to flow, a sensuous dance with hers, stroking, teasing, tasting until she was spineless, offering herself up to whatever he had to offer.

  She sucked that very talented tongue, and he groaned, pulling her impossibly closer, and she knew he was as into that moment as she was. Oh yes he was. When they tumbled into bed, it was going to be hot, hot, hot.

  He nipped her bottom lip just right. Not gently at all. Barely shy of pain, and then he licked the sting away, making her the one who groaned this time.

  It went on like that for long minutes, making out on her back steps, the cold air not even bothering her because her skin was on fire for him.

  He’d reached up to undo her ponytail at some point, wrapping her hair around his fist to guide her exactly where he wanted, and damn if that didn’t make fireworks explode all points south of her belly button.

  At the end of the block, a car door slammed and an alarm double honk sounded, and he breathed out, breaking the kiss.

  “You and me. A week from tonight?”

  She nodded.

  “Good. I’ll pick you up at seven and make you dinner. Then we’ll head to the Tonk. I’m gonna hold on to you all night long on the dance floor.”

  “How could I refuse? I can drive to your house, though. You don’t need to pick me up.”

  “I know you can. I’ll see you at seven next Friday.” He caught up with her on the stairs, heading to her door. “I’m also going to go inside right now, make sure everything is all right, and then I’m leaving because if I don’t, I’m going to want to do a hell of a lot more than kiss you, and I get the very strong sense that the fantasizing I’ll be doing will only add spice when it finally does happen.” He gave her a look that stole her breath as heat flooded her belly. “And it will happen.”

  In the years since she’d left Petal, she’d dated a lot of men. Most of them she’d enjoyed. They were well mannered, and the ones she’d had sex with had shown her a good time. She loved beards and flannel and a nice tailored suit too.

  But none of them were even in Royal’s neighborhood. That sweet-talking, courtly mannered, good old boy, disguising a big heart and a serious amount of sex-appeal neighborhood.

  She rarely denied herself things she really wanted. She wanted Royal Watson and had zero problem admitting it. And most definitely enjoying it while she had it.

  Who knew if it would last more than a few weeks or months? But she did know she planned to savor every minute.

  “Good night, Royal. Thank you for dinner and beer and pie and coffee and most definitely for that kiss. I’ll see you next Friday.”

  He grinned and her body did the wave for him again. Bending, he stole another quick kiss and stepped back. “You bet you will. Good night, Caro.”

  Chapter Six

  “I’m so glad you found the place all right.” Melissa opened the door with a big smile.

  Her house was a secondary, far smaller building behind another on the outskirts of town. “This is a seriously cute place.” Caroline spun slowly as she took it all in. It wasn’t very big but it was an explosion of color, nearly like a cartoon, but in a good way.

  The little house was a golden yellow with red and white trim. It was bold and bright and it totally worked.

  Melissa waved her inside. “Come in!”

  Inside it was one big, open space. A bed on one wall with bright orange sheets and teal blankets was the sort of thing Caroline saw in magazines and loved, but it never looked right when she did it.

  A kitchen to one side and a living area on the other. Big windows looked over a back deck.

  “Come spring, we’ll have dinner out there.” Melissa indicated the deck. “You can see parts of town so at night there are pretty lights. Farmland to the west.”

  “Nice! This is so adorable. I’m jealous.”

  “This used to be a sort of artist’s studio for the man who built the house originally. They moved away, and my brother Danny and his wife bought the big house so the rent is cheap, I see my nieces a lot, but it’s private and no one bugs me.”

  “Sounds like heaven.”

  “Let’s get on the road. I’m already starving so lunch needs to be in my life and soon.”

  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 ther
e, 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.”