Hostile Witness (Sanctuary, Inc. #1)

Chapter 13

13

E than cruised to a stop in front of Tia’s Cape Cod. There was garden equipment strewn around the yard, and she’d spray-painted an outline on the grass to expand the flower bed. Ugh, it would take a lot of muscle and sweat to trench and remove the old sod. Tia knelt surrounded by containers of colorful flowers in the mulch in front of the house. He put his window down and turned off the engine.

She looked so content digging in the dirt. Every minute or so, she’d reach back, grab a flower, dig dig dig, and tuck it in. Once in a while, Tia’d toss her garden-gloved hands in the air and sway back and forth. He chuckled. She reminded him of the girl she’d been way back when. There must be music playing in her earbuds, because she didn’t even know he was there.

He reached over and grabbed his sandwich. Might as well settle in and enjoy the show. He glanced at her leafing trees. A seventy-degree day like today would help them along, but there weren’t any security cameras yet that he could see. She was so vulnerable back here on this street all by herself. Out of twenty or so houses, only three had year-round residents. He’d checked. The rest were summer rentals.

Ethan took a swig of his iced tea and smiled as her arms waved in a definite hip-hop beat. He’d bet a beer she knew how to cut loose on a dance floor. He hadn’t gone dancing in forever. Maybe she’d go dancing with him? Nah. She’d made her feelings quite clear. Bug off, buddy. It was probably just as well considering his relationship track record.

This lunchtime view sure did beat his usual convenience-store parking lot. Cramming the last bite of sandwich in his mouth, he crumpled the wrapper, glanced at Tia, and whimpered. She was bumping and grinding on her knees with a flowerpot in each hand. The woman had the sweetest ass, and... he needed to make his presence known. He couldn’t think about bumping and grinding all afternoon, especially when Tia had no intention of doing it with him.

He swung out of the car, grabbed the wrapped coffeepot from the back, and slammed both doors, hoping he’d made enough noise to command her attention, but no—she was still in planting mode. He loped up the front walk, set the box on the stoop, and waved. Nothing. She was completely immersed in her world and oblivious to her surroundings. Which wasn’t good.

He didn’t mean to scare her, but she wheeled around for another flowerpot, screamed, grabbed her garden trowel like a knife, and screamed again. Realizing it was him, she stood and hugged her middle.

“How long have you been there?”

“Only a couple of minutes.”

Heaving a deep breath, she tossed the trowel aside. “Omigod, my heart is still racing.”

Ethan shoved his hands into his pockets. “Yeah, sorry about that. I tried to get your attention, but you were really focused.”

Her face darkened. “Are you here on official business?”

“Of course not, unless you’ve perpetrated a crime. Isn’t today a school day?”

“Half day. The weather’s so beautiful I couldn’t stay inside, and I’m already late getting these flowers in the ground. I like gardening. It’s relaxing.”

He fake smiled. “Good for you. I think it’s a pain in the ass.”

Her eyes lit up. “Really? I can’t imagine feeling that way.” She yanked the gloves from her hands. “So why are you here?”

He pointed at the porch. “I needed to drop off that box.”

Tia nodded knowingly. “My uncle again, or my mother. I’m sorry they’re using you as their errand boy. You must be Carson’s new favorite to send over.”

“Well, not exactly . . . ”

She tromped over to the porch. “Such a pretty wrapping paper. Hold the door, will you? I’ll get it inside.” She hefted the box.

Ethan glanced at his cruiser. The window was down, but the keys were in his pocket. “Sure, no problem.” He jogged over and grabbed the door for her.

She spun around. “C’mon in. You gotta be wondering what’s in here. My security system isn’t installed yet, so there’s no need to ask about it.”

He wiped his feet and stepped inside, content to hang at the entrance while she tore the wrapping paper from the coffeepot.

Tia gasped when she saw the picture on the box. “Wow, it’s red.” Grinning at him, she popped the lid open and tugged at the Styrofoam mold surrounding the pot. “I wonder how they knew I needed a coffeepot? I haven’t talked to them in weeks because they’re so overbearing, you know?”

Well, no, he hadn’t known until now. But every family had its own dynamics and—dare he say—dysfunctions. He’d tuck that tidbit into the part of his brain that already held hundreds of details about the folks around here. The lockbox with information and intimacies he’d heard on or off the job and would never share. Those tidbits came with the territory of being a cop.

Tia slid the coffeepot onto her counter, immediately filled it with water, and started a cycle. She scrunched up the wrapping paper and tossed it into the packaging along with the Styrofoam and cardboard. Picking up the little card, she proclaimed, “I’d better read the card. They’ve probably invited me to another Sunday dinner at the house. How can I say no to that when they bought me a coffeepot?”

Uncomfortable now, Ethan glanced around the place. “I see you’ve got different balloons.”

She pulled the card out of the envelope as she waved his statement away. “Yup. I buy new ones every week or so, as soon as the old ones start to drop.” One hand flew to her face. “Omigod, this beautiful coffeepot is from you?” Her cheeks pinkened.

He crossed his arms and nodded. “I didn’t think you’d be home this afternoon and had planned on just dropping it off. You needed a new one, and I wanted to apologize for drawing attention to you in the school office.” There, enough said. “Enjoy it. I should get going.”

Tia walked around the counter and squeezed his arm. “Thank you, Detective. Thank you. I so appreciate the gesture and the, um, thought you put into it. I’ve been meaning to get one, and life’s just so damn busy. It isn’t even that hard to do, but I hadn’t gone online and ordered it. I’ve been rushing through the doughnut drive-in several times a day to get a cup, but it never tastes like what I brew at home.” She brushed the hair off her face. “I’m so embarrassed. I’m babbling. You didn’t need to do this. Seriously, you didn’t owe me anything.”

He nodded and held up a hand. “Of course I didn’t, but you needed a coffeepot, and it seemed like an appropriate mea culpa.”

She beamed a smile at him, a real stunner. His heart hammered in his throat, and his mind blanked. After all these years, the woman was still gorgeous—breathtaking.

“Please say you’ll stay for a cup from the first pot. You aren’t really a coffee lover unless you accept coffee from the first brew of a new pot. If you’re in a hurry, I can give you a go-cup.”

“A cup to go would be nice, thanks.” He stepped away from the door as she added fresh water and grounds to the pot.

Tia waved an admonishing finger. “Be forewarned if you go back to the elementary school. They’re still teasing me. According to the rumor mill, we’re getting married on the beach and honeymooning in Belize.” She laughed and gave him a deadpan look. “It’s so ridiculous. I’m letting them have their fun.”

His stomach lurched. Horrified, he shifted on his feet. “Wow. They move fast, don’t they?”

“Yeah, well, it’s their romance story, not mine. I think it takes a long time to build a relationship strong enough to endure a lifetime, you know? Plus, I’m not looking for a significant other anytime soon, anyway. I barely survived the last one.”

Whoa. That was a whole lot of information he hadn’t expected. He’d gotten out of his last relationship by the skin of his teeth, too. Still had the emotional scars.

She grabbed creamer from the fridge as the pot beeped that it was finished brewing. “That was fast. It’s the perfect pop of color on my countertop, too.” After pulling out two Styrofoam cups with lids, she waved him closer. “Here, fix your cup the way you like it. You want sugar?”

“Thanks, but no. I drink it black.”

Tia shrugged a shoulder. “I think the fixings are half the fun.” She snapped the lid onto her coffee and put the creamer away. “Well, back to my gardening, Detective. It’ll be worth it once the flowers grow.”

“I should get going, too. And call me Ethan.”

“Oh.” Tia chuckled. “Okay. Just remember I could still whoop your ass with my self-defense moves, Ethan.”

Every time she challenged him, he wanted to poke her bear just a little bit more. It was damn uncomfortable being on the bottom in her eyes and didn’t sit well with his personality. He held the door for her. “Thanks for the coffee.”

“And thanks again for the beautiful coffeepot. It’s very nice and extremely thoughtful of you.” She gave him a little wave, slipped into her gloves, and dropped to her knees in the mulch.

Ethan noticed the big shovel used for trenching. He had a few minutes to spare, and his radio was quiet. Being twice her size meant he’d get it dug in half the time. He grabbed the shovel. “Hey, Tia.” He pointed at the painted area. “Is this outline exactly how you want it?”

She barely looked at him, wiping her brow with an arm. “Yeah, but I won’t get to that section until later.”

“Okay.” He started trenching what looked like a three-leaf clover outline. He was halfway done when she finally noticed him.

Pulling her earbuds out, she yelled, “Stop. You don’t need to be doing that. You’re in your work uniform.”

He nodded. “Which means I’m wearing steel-toe boots. You’re wearing tennis shoes. It goes a helluva lot faster in boots.”

She tossed the trowel, scrambled to her feet, and trudged over to him. “I’m serious, Ethan. Put it down. You don’t even like gardening.”

“You’re right on that one, but this is hardly gardening. It’s digging. I do a lot of digging on the job. Doesn’t bother me a bit.” He placed a heavy boot on the shovel and stepped hard. “There’s nothing wrong with being neighborly.”

She set a fist on her hip. “But you’re not my neighbor, and I don’t want you to do it.”

He squinted at the ire in her eyes and nodded. “And why is that? Most people would be grateful for a little help.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Because I’m not most people. I don’t want to owe you a coffeepot or anything else because you helped me.”

“I’m enjoying myself. You won’t owe me anything. Not your time, not a coffeepot, and not even another kiss.”

She threw her hands into the air. “Ooh, ooh, that’s what this is about? You remembered the beach bonfire?”

His male ego enjoyed the fact that she remembered, too. “Girl, I’d have to be made of stone not to remember that evening. Why’d you take off like that?”

Tia made a goofy face. “My uncle was a sergeant back then. I would’ve been grounded all summer if I’d gotten caught underage drinking on the beach with a boy my parents hadn’t met. I ran for my life, present and future.”

He nodded. “I looked for you all summer, kept hoping I’d see you around.”

She fidgeted with the tag on a glove. “Well, if it’s any consolation, I kept an eye out for you, too.”

“Have you ever wondered what might’ve been if we’d stayed in touch?”

She nodded confidently. “Oh, sure. We’d have enjoyed a summer fling and broken up, like most relationships at that age.”

He glanced at her. “You think so? It took me a long time to forget you. I’ve still got the blanket.” He raised a hand as he clarified, “The blanket belonged to Nan, and she left it in one of her linen closets. I considered tossing it, but it has such a nice memory attached to it that I let it stay.”

Tia smiled. “While that is flattering, Detective, if we kissed today, there’d be nothing there. It all has to do with timing.”

“Timing, huh? If you say so.” He crushed a few more feet of the edging while she stood by watching. “I’d have to put your theory to the test before I believed you. We were very well matched that night, if I remember correctly.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m telling you it wouldn’t be the same today because we’re different people. Trust me.”

“If you say so. I think I’d rather find out and get it out of the way.” He finished the last few feet of the trench and stood back to admire the outline.

Tia stripped off her gardening gloves and dropped them. “Okay, okay, I’ll prove it to you. You’ll see.” She marched over, grabbed hold of his shirt, and pulled him down for a kiss.

For a few seconds, they both stood frozen like statues.

“See?” her lips murmured into his as she pulled away.

Not. So. Fast. He’d waited a long time for this kiss. He tugged her into his arms so his lips hovered against hers before gently tracing her top lip with his tongue, then suckling the bottom one, enjoying the cream and sugar of her caramel coffee-scented mouth. He pressed deeper long enough to tease a throaty moan from her, then ran his lips along her neck as she trembled against him.

Tia pushed away from his chest, shrugging. Without looking him in the eye, she stalked back to her trowel. “I told you we can’t go back. It’s just like kissing my brother, if I had one.”

Uh-huh. Yeah, right. The woman had gripped his arms and melted like warm butter against him, participating with an eager abandon. Next time, if there was one, he couldn’t guarantee he’d stay the consummate gentleman.

Tia gave one final wave as Ethan drove away. Lord have mercy. She crumpled to her knees in the dirt. The man could kiss ten times better now than he had at the bonfire. She touched a finger to her slightly swollen lips. Why on earth had she succumbed to the temptation and kissed him?

Well, she had been curious, and his nonchalant goading had irritated her enough to want to prove him wrong, but she’d misjudged the situation big-time. Her insides swirled like molten lava. What the hell was that about?

She couldn’t get involved with Ethan Kelley. First of all, he was a detective. She’d be a fool to get involved with a detective again. And she’d promised herself many years of uninvolved singlehood ahead. And a red coffeepot, though a very sweet gesture, was a far cry from hearts and flowers. Not that she needed the typical romantic milestones for a relationship, but hold on just a blessed minute. Where was she going with this? Oh yeah, she wasn’t looking for a relationship or planning to get involved with anyone. It wasn’t personal against Ethan. She would take as tough a stand with any man at this point in her life.

But he wasn’t any other man. He was someone she’d wanted to see, possibly kiss again, for years.

Stabbing at the soil and digging more holes, Tia shook her head. She’d probably made him feel like crap when she’d said it had been like kissing a brother. But he might have seen right through her words. If he had, she was the one who looked foolish. Tia crammed flowers into the holes, then roughly pressed the soil and mulch around them.

How dare he upset the order she’d reestablished in her life? If he knew how damaged she was, he’d run in the other direction. It would take her years to recover from her previous mistake, not to mention the surgeries she still needed to endure.

And he deserved so much better, because he was a really nice guy. Well, that settled that. There was no way in hell she’d let another kiss happen. Yes, it had been nice... more than nice. Maybe even life altering, sizzling, and other hot descriptive words she couldn’t think of at the moment. She shoved her earbuds in and turned the music on.

She’d keep her wits about her and stay grounded, despite that when his five-o’clock shadow had grazed against her neck she’d nearly come undone. No more kisses for a long time.

Absolutely not. Period.