Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

DUSTY

Of all the things to say to fully stuff my foot in my mouth, maligning police officers to a cop’s kid was one of the stupidest. They bred some loyal people, which I could understand. My cheeks warmed, but I decided not to let Nova win so easily. I followed her down the short hallway and leaned against the door jamb, watching her pull some Yoda-themed pajamas from the top drawer of a cedar dresser.

“I can forgive you for that,” I said.

Her laugh was somewhere between surprised and amused. She opened another drawer, rooting around for something, her ponytail moving as she looked. She was on the taller side for a woman, her legs long and lithe. I forced myself to look away before I was caught staring.

The room clearly belonged to the kids, evidenced by the bins on each side holding toys. Two mattresses sat on the floor, one covered in a yellow bedspread with Minions, teddy bears, and bananas on it, the other with a classic Star Wars blanket boasting different droids ranging from R2-D2 to BB-8. There was no other furniture except the toy bins and a dresser they probably shared .

Nova shut the drawer and looked at me. “We’re Team Blue in this house.”

I grinned. “I wear blue most of the time.”

She rolled her eyes, passing me to go back to the kitchen. “We all know who the real heroes are.”

“The ones who pull kittens out of trees and people from burning buildings?”

She lifted an eyebrow. “The ones who put murderers in jail.”

Okay, that was a hard one to argue with. “Your dad is a pretty big deal, I take it.”

“The biggest,” Gigi said from the kitchen. “That’s my brother you’re talking about, so watch your tongue, young man.”

My arms went up. “I’ve said nothing.”

Nova opened a Ziploc bag and filled it with ice cubes from a freezer tray. “He was pretty well liked,” she said casually, in a way that made me think he was extremely well respected.

“Who?” Alice asked quietly before her eyes darted to me and her cheeks pinked.

“Grandpa. I was just telling Dusty how much we like police officers in this family.”

“I miss Grandpa,” Alice said, before ducking her head. She climbed down from the kitchen stool and ran toward her room.

“She’s shy,” Gigi said.

Nova lifted the bag of ice and pajamas. “I’m going to take care of this.”

“Okay, I’ll clean this up.” Gigi motioned towards the cookies spread out on the counter. They were everywhere. How did I miss them before?

“I’m not fin— shoot .” Nova dropped everything in her hands and moved to Gigi’s side, peeling a large icing bag from a section of cookies. “I dropped it when you guys arrived.”

The bag had ruined at least five circles. No…they were moons .

“Mom?” Ben called, clearly feeling forlorn and forgotten on the toilet.

Nova tossed the icing bag in the sink and picked up the pajamas and ice. “I’ll deal with it later.” She disappeared immediately.

The moons weren’t alone. There were planets, rockets, and astronauts littering the counter, too. “These are amazing,” I breathed.

“Just wait until she’s added the details.” Gigi picked up a rag and rinsed it out, then wiped the spilled icing on the counter. “She has a gift.”

I couldn’t imagine the cookies looking even better than they did right now.

Gigi peered down the darkened hallway before settling her gaze on me. It made me want to run, like the time she’d caught me fighting behind her diner in high school, or when she had seen me and Tucker stealing the Gables’ cows and leading them to the football field. It was a harmless senior prank, but she’d put a stop to it. That look said better than words how she expected more from me.

I didn’t know why I was being silently reprimanded this time.

“You promised, Dusty,” she said softly. “That girl has been hurt. The last thing she needs right now is an entanglement.”

Nova had been hurt. I could only imagine. She put on a brave face and seemed like a tough woman, but if Gracie Mae was correct and she’d just had a nasty divorce, then there were many layers to the pain she’d endured. I wanted to take it away, but knew it wasn’t my place or my right to take that on.

I swallowed. “I’m just Ben’s coach.”

Gigi’s eyes narrowed. “I know you’re a good guy. You can’t help some of these things you do. But I don’t think it’s a good idea for her to go falling in love with a local boy.”

Falling in love was a bit of a jump. The text she’d accidentally sent to the parent group today ran through my head. Love and miss you . My stomach hurt, thinking she might have meant to send that to her ex-husband.

“I’m flattered you think it’s even possible,” I said, grinning to hide all the other things I was feeling. “You don’t need to worry, ma’am. I’m not looking to get in the middle of whatever is going on in her life. But I’m going to level with you.”

She gave me a hardened stare.

“I really like her kids, and I’m going to keep being Ben’s coach. I do promise I have respect for her situation. I’m not trying any funny business.”

Gigi seemed to lean closer. For such a short woman, she sure could be formidable. Apparently, she believed me, because she gave a quick, distinct nod. “Like I said, you’re a good man, Dusty. I’m only looking out for my girl.”

I could respect that.

There was a flash of movement in the hallway. Nova carried Ben from the bathroom into his room and laid him on the mattress.

I rubbed a hand over my face, wondering if my next question was going to break the boundaries I’d just said I intended to keep. I decided to ask it anyway, but leaned forward and lowered my voice. “Do the kids not have beds?”

“She wouldn’t let me buy her anything,” Gigi whispered. “I should have furnished the place before she arrived, but I wanted her to help me choose things. I didn’t know she’d refuse. Most of what she has are things I made her believe I could spare. I didn’t want to push her too much.”

“I have a bunk bed coming in the mail,” Nova said from the mouth of the hallway, hands on her hips.

Gigi and I sprang apart, caught with our hands in the proverbial cookie jar.

“And I don’t need you guys discussing me. ”

I put up a hand in surrender. “I was wondering because I have a spare bed frame?—”

“I don’t need charity, either.”

“—that I was going to let you borrow .”

She clamped her mouth shut.

“If you have beds coming for the kids, then do you want to borrow a kitchen table and a few chairs instead?” I asked.

“The counter works fine for us.” She passed me to find a cup in the cabinet and fill it with water from the tap.

“It’s been gathering dust,” I continued. “It’s nothing glamorous, but it works well enough.”

Gigi looked at Nova, eyebrows up.

I thought maybe I had her there, because the kitchen stayed silent for a beat longer than I’d expected.

Nova gave me a tight smile. “Thanks for helping Gigi get Ben home.”

Dismissed . I wasn’t about to hang around if I wasn’t wanted, so I nodded at her. “Anytime. Good night, ladies.”

“We’ll see you later, Dusty,” Gigi said.

“Yes’m.” I was reaching for the knob when Nova’s voice stopped me.

“Can Ben sit with the team Saturday, even if he can’t play?”

“Of course.”

She nodded, her mouth pressing into a line. Did the woman ever not look like she was carrying the weight of both of her children on her shoulders? They were small, but that would still be a lot to bear. She was clearly overwhelmed and determined not to look like it, so I did what any chivalrous guy would do. I let myself outside and closed the door behind me, taking the stairs down to the street.

I understood Nova’s determination not to accept charity, so I needed to get creative. One way or another, she was getting my kitchen table.

I finished grilling the last of the sliders out behind the station firehouse and slid them onto the buns. Cooking at work was always something of a gamble, because it was impossible to know when a call would come in and put a kibosh on the meal. Today was working in my favor and lunch was ready.

“Be brutal,” I said, putting the tray on the table in our station kitchen. “These have to go up against the cops and win.”

Randy walked toward me, munching on a glazed donut.

“Seriously?” I asked, gesturing to the tray of sliders I just carried inside. They all knew I was making lunch.

He shrugged, shoving the last of it in his mouth. “The elementary school brought them by.”

“They wanted to thank us for helping,” Dan added.

“So you both ate them?” Dan hadn’t even been on that call.

Jill pulled a chair out and sat, reaching for a slider. She took a bite and nodded. “These will win.”

Her confidence was inspiring, but it wasn’t until Randy and Dan agreed with her that I felt a modicum of relief. They liked my cooking, generally speaking, but none of them were afraid to tell me what they really thought. Dan was the youngest by a few years, but even he wouldn’t hesitate to share his opinions. He did it all the time, whether or not we asked.

I sat next to Randy and pulled a slider over, sinking my teeth into it. I didn’t tell the guys I’d made the buns myself. I’d done it last night when I’d gotten home from Nova’s because I couldn’t sleep. It was a new recipe but they were dang good, all soft and pillowy, and probably half the reason these sliders were a success.

Which was good and bad. Now I had to make hundreds of buns for the Battle of the Badges, too.

It would be worth it if it meant seeing a win. There was nothing more insufferable than police officers during the entire year after they won the Battle of the Badges. We beat them last year, and I wanted that relief to continue.

I picked up another slider and took a bite before sending a text to Nova.

Dusty

How is Ben’s ankle doing?

The little bubble ellipses popped up, and I paused with the slider before it reached my mouth. I set it down on my plate and waited, holding my phone with both hands.

Nova

Much better. He could walk this morning, so I’m sure he just rolled it. I don’t think it’s a good idea for him to run, though

Dusty

He can sit the game out this weekend if you’re both more comfortable with that

It’s early in the week. You don’t need to decide today

Nova

We’ll see how he feels Friday

Dusty

Good plan. So, about that table

Nova

You know tables aren’t necessary, right? There are so many more important things out there

Dusty

Totally. Like waffle makers. Did you bring one of those with you or should I lend you my extra?

The bubble ellipses popped up and went away so many times, I set my phone down and pinched a bite of meat from my slider. Hmm. A little heavy on the paprika and not enough onion .

My phone buzzed.

Nova

We’re a pancake family

Dusty

Apparently, no one has taught you how to make a good waffle. How sad for Ben and Alice

Nova

But not sad for me?

Dusty

I definitely pity you, but you’re old enough to know better.

Nova

You’re flattering today

Dusty

You want flattering? Say the word.

Heart pounding, I reached for another slider, vaguely aware of the conversation going on around me and the dwindling pile of little burgers on the table. That wasn’t flirting. It was tactful teasing. I teased everyone. There were no exceptions in this town.

Well, except for Ms. Corbin and Chad Lincoln. Mrs. Jefferson at the corner market terrified me, but I still teased her.

Was I trying to convince myself I hadn’t flirted? Maybe.

Gigi would slap my wrist.

Nova

My pancakes would win against your waffles any day

Dusty

Bring it on.

A call came in for an accident on the highway. We abandoned the meal and left immediately, my phone going into my pocket. Regretfully.

I did my best to keep my attention on the matter at hand and off the phone sitting in my pocket for the duration of the call. I was usually pretty good at compartmentalizing, and when I was at work—especially out on a call—I tried to keep my life out of my head so it was clear enough to do my job. But Nova was different. She had gotten in my mind and taken her shoes off, stretching out on the sofa to stay a while.

A sofa . She didn’t have one, did she? Or a TV, now that I thought about it. Where did she wind down after a long day? Where did she put her feet up after being on them at the diner for hours? Forget a kitchen table. I needed to bring her a couch. Something weird sizzled in my chest, thinking about the dirtbag who let her drive across the country with so little. Did he even know the kind of place his kids were living in? It was clean but barren.

On further thought, Nova had a point—none of these things were necessities. That didn’t make me want to help her any less.

The only problem was getting her to accept it.

When we finished with the call, I pulled out my phone, gratified to find a message from her.

Nova

I wouldn’t want to shame you. I’m a professional, remember? Unfair fight

Dusty

Fine. Table that for now, because I have something better. Are you free Saturday after the game?

Nova

I’m not dating right now

Dusty

Cool. Not relevant, but cool

Nova

Then you’ll have to explain

Dusty

I have a way to get you all the furniture you want, and it won’t cost you more than a couple hundred dollars

Nova

I’m listening

Dusty

Are you and your kids free after the game? I’ll need a few hours of your time

I didn’t realize I’d started holding my breath until Nova’s next message came in, and I let out a massive exhale.

Nova

Yes