5. Lila

5

LILA

"Hello, dear," Mary, the owner of the coffee shop a few stores away from Russo's office, greeted me as I strolled in for lunch.

Ironically enough, or not since I'd known that I'd run into her again, she was the same woman who'd eyed me with immediate suspicion after I'd almost passed out against Mike that first day I'd arrived in Kelly Lakes. Each time I'd stepped into her shop, she'd given me the same once-over.

Whenever I came in, she studied me as if she were taking in every detail, but I'd noticed her giving the rest of her customers the same kind of examination, so I'd stopped taking offense.

Plus, I didn't know what they did to make their turkey sandwiches so exceptional, but it was worth the scrutiny when I'd stop by, which was mostly every day lately.

It was as if she was waiting for you to divulge your deepest, darkest secret or catch you doing something, but I wasn't doing anything juicy enough for her to take interest, so I was able to get a kick out of her suspicion.

Anything that happened back in Philly didn't apply here, and I prayed that would continue.

"I'll take the turkey sandwich and a raspberry iced tea."

"Sure. Glad to see you're a repeat customer. How are you liking working for Jake?" she asked, her eyes on me as she scribbled on a pad.

"It's been great. I'm lucky a good lunch is within walking distance." I smiled, hoping the compliment would lead to a change of subject.

"Glad you enjoy it," Mary said, ripping off the paper and handing it to someone in the kitchen. "I've known Jake since he was a boy. His son looks so much like him at his age, it's almost spooky." She lifted a red eyebrow. "Lookers, aren't they?"

I bit back a laugh. I'd known, even at that moment, that the way she'd found me would haunt me somehow.

In the weeks I'd been here, I hadn't learned many names, but as I walked through town, I recognized the same faces strolling by.

Once some of the anger and resentment over why I had to come here in the first place burned off a bit, I appreciated the nuances of Kelly Lakes compared to Philly. The eerie quiet at night was something I doubted I'd ever get used to. Sirens here would be a cause for alert, not the city white noise I'd grown up with my entire life.

I'd managed to relax a little, but I couldn't let my guard down completely. I had to fight not to be lulled into a false sense of security, even though the chaos I'd left behind seemed far away.

As I'd told Ally, I was still in drivable distance from her and everyone else in Philly.

Now that the financials were mostly cleaned up, the hours I was putting in at Russo's weren't as long, and I hadn't felt as chained to my desk, sifting through a mountain of work.

I almost missed it. I'd come home exhausted and not wanting to do anything besides settle in to watch a movie on my laptop. I'd drift off after about twenty minutes into a sleep dead enough to not dream or worry about anything.

Now, I had extra time and energy on my hands that I hadn't figured out what to do with yet.

I settled onto one of the stools at the counter while I waited for my order. The sun was hazy, but the humidity was thick and hot. I'd always thought that the country was supposed to be cooler, but the air was sticky enough to turn my hair into a frizzy brown Q-tip. I swiped my hand over the damp nape of my neck, trying to cool off, when I registered someone's presence behind me.

"I'm glad my father let you out for lunch."

I craned my neck to Mike, standing next to me in his full cop uniform. And as usual, I couldn't look at him too long because he looked that good. His broad chest pulled at the buttons on his shirt, and it was a fight to keep my eyes on his and not let them drift lower, but then I had to ignore his perfect, full mouth.

I needed a hobby besides drooling over my boss's son.

"Yeah, your dad lets me eat. He's a nice boss," I joked.

His throaty chuckle settled deep in my belly.

"Well, that's good to hear. And I'm glad that you're not working all those crazy hours anymore. He said you did a great job cleaning everything up the last time I spoke to him."

"It's fairly similar to what I used to do. I'm sorry his old manager left it such a mess, but I'm glad I was able to sort it out for him."

The core of what I had to do for Jake was mostly the same, although on a small business and not a corporate scale. I came in and did my work without pressure or catty office politics. It was only me, Jake, and the men who worked for him drifting in and out.

At Russo's, I was able to focus on work, not the stress of the drama outside of it. At my old job, I'd come into the office and been chained to my desk for the day, working to ignore the emails Ted would send—blocking never worked because they'd come from a different address the next day—or the odd looks I'd get when flowers were delivered almost daily. I'd throw them out after everyone had left, not wanting to explain to anyone why I didn't want the reminder when I'd come in the next day.

When none of that had worked, Ted hung out outside my work building to talk to me. I'd wondered if he'd quit his job to follow me, but I had refused to talk to him, so I'd never had the chance to ask.

"Are you on duty late tonight?"

"I sign out at five, just in time to go to the summer festival."

"Yes. Claudia told me that if I didn't go, she would come to my apartment and drag me out. So yes, I suppose I will see you there."

I couldn't remember the last time I'd gone out at night or even in the evenings. It felt weird, but as Claudia said, the entire town would be there, and while I knew I couldn't stick by Claudia all night, she'd be around so I wouldn't be totally alone.

I wouldn't have to worry about walking into a desolate parking lot to get my car. The notion of a crowd both relieved and terrified me, and I wasn't sure if I'd just go for an hour and leave before it became too dark.

But if I didn't try, then Ted won. I couldn't and wouldn't let that happen.

"I'm glad to hear it. I don't think it's possible to say no to Claudia anyway," he said with a laugh.

"Yes, that's very true. Claudia said all the businesses open booths on the street, and she booked live music for tonight. So, I thought I would fully dive into small-town life and go."

"I'm glad." He grinned. "I got out of working it this year, but I have to work at the fall festival."

"There's a fall festival too?"

"Oh, Kelly Lakes celebrates everything. Wait until the Christmas one. We all rotate the events. I did the summer festival last year when I was a rookie. It's fine, other than a few drunks in the heat, but being out in the sun in full uniform can be tough. Tomorrow is going to be in the nineties."

I cleared my throat, pushing the image of a sweaty Mike from my frazzled brain.

"It goes on for two days?"

"Kelly Lakes likes to party." He shrugged. "Tomorrow is more for the kids. I'll be there with my sister while my father and stepmother mingle with all of Russo's customers."

"Which is everyone, right?"

"Pretty much," he said, his smile shrinking for a minute as his gaze fell to my lips. A weird silence washed over us for a second before he met my eyes.

As inconvenient as it was, something was brewing between us, no matter how I'd try to ignore it or reason it away whenever I ran into him.

When Mike had gotten so flustered the night he'd put my dresser together, it was enough to break the ice between us. I was thankful he'd been so embarrassed that he hadn't noticed my cheeks heating from having him in my bedroom, even for an innocent reason.

Maybe it had just been a long time since I'd had a man in my space—or one I'd wanted in my space.

Mike was the first friend I'd made in Kelly Lakes, and the only one besides Claudia to know that something bad had led me up here, but he didn't judge. He didn't make me feel that I had to hide anything, although I dreaded ever having to go into detail if and when it came down to it.

From the minute I'd met Mike, I'd felt seen and safe, two feelings sadly foreign for longer than I'd wanted to acknowledge.

"Here you go," Mary said, setting a white paper bag in front of me.

"Thank you," I said, rooting around in my purse for my wallet and handing her the money. She took the bill from my hand as she focused on Mike.

"Hello, Mike. Everything okay?"

"Yep, everything's fine. Just taking a lunch break like Lila."

"Oh yes. You know each other," she mused, nodding as she rang me up at the register.

She'd said know with a connotation that implied we knew each other a lot better than we did.

"So, I'll see you later," Mike said when I popped off the stool.

I cringed when Mary's brows popped in my periphery.

"Yes, I will see you later. Claudia told me to meet her at the bar, even though I'm sure she'll be busy.

"I'll come find you. It's about time you start meeting some people other than my father and the guys he works with. Not that they're bad, but there's more to this town." He shot me a wink. "I'll have my usual, Mary. "

"That's right. You love the turkey sandwich too. Something you have in common." She clicked her tongue against her teeth and headed to the back.

We shared a laugh as Mike rubbed at his temple.

"The turkey sandwich is something special, even if she looks me over when I come in," I whispered to Mike.

He bent his head and leaned close enough for me to stiffen for a moment. "She looks at everybody. So, congratulations. You're officially a Kelly Lakes resident if she's in your business."

I registered his cologne or aftershave. It had a sandalwood scent mixed with whatever detergent he used. I backed up an inch as the thought of burying my head in the crook of his neck to breathe him in slammed into my brain.

"I better get back to your father." I lifted the bag. "I'll see you later."

"Don't change your mind," Mike called out as I turned to leave. "I know where you live, so I'll come get you."

"Noted, Officer Mike."

My smile grew as a wide grin split his mouth.

Mary probably had Mike and me almost engaged from the time she'd seen me in his arms that morning.

I couldn't blame her on that one as I had been pressed very close against Mike, and it had taken longer than necessary for both of us to let go. There had been a spark between us from that first moment, but if I wanted any of this to work, I had to learn to ignore it.

And I didn't know if I could really trust anybody, or myself, after what had happened with Ted.

That was something else I'd have to fight against, but I'd start with leaving my apartment tonight and attempting to be social with my new neighbors, worrying about addressing any long-term damage later.

"How was Mary doing today?" Jake asked as I settled back at my desk. "Not sure if you know this yet, but she's the main gossip line in this town."

I laughed as I unwrapped my sandwich. "I always feel like she's watching me to see if I'm doing anything wrong."

"That's because she is," Jake said with a chuckle. "Trust me. I bet she has files on everybody in the kitchen. She's not a bad lady. I guess gossip keeps her going. She's owned that coffee shop since I was a kid, and I don't see her retiring anytime soon."

"I'm sure," I said after my first swallow and held back a moan. Gossip queen or not, she made a damn good sandwich. "I ran into Mike there."

"He usually stops there when he's on duty. He's not working the summer festival this year, but he'll be there. You should go. Good way to meet everyone who hasn't been in here yet."

"Claudia told me I didn't have a choice."

"Then you better go." Jake laughed. "So, how are you liking it here so far?" He leaned against the desk next to me. "I mean, you're doing a great job, but I don't think you've really met anyone yet, right? Other than me and my son. Peyton wants to have you over for dinner one of these days."

"Oh, that's sweet. Thank you. I'm good, but you're right. It's time that I get out and meet some more people other than the ones who come through here and whoever I happen to see at the coffee shop. Mike was happy I agreed to go, too."

I thought of what he'd told me about his parents. Whenever Mike stopped in, the love between father and son was so evident, it made me feel even worse for what Mike must've gone through as a kid, and what Jake had had to deal with when Mike's mother was trying to poison his son against him.

"I'm sure you see a lot of Mike since he lives around the corner from you."

"I do seem to bump into him everywhere lately. He's been very sweet and helpful. He even hung up some pictures and put together a dresser for me. He said you taught him well."

"I'd like to think so." Jake's smile turned wistful. "Mike is a good kid. Well, he's not a kid, even though he'll always be one to me. I worry about him being a cop, but it's what he wanted to do so I try not to think about it."

"I would think being a cop here isn't so bad. If he were a cop back in Philly, I would understand your concern, but I haven't even heard any sirens since I moved here."

"You'd be surprised," Jake said, his smile fading. "You're right. It's a good, safe town. But small towns aren't just festivals and nosy neighbors. Since I grew up with the police chief and he's my best friend, I know more about what goes on than others do."

He stilled, holding up a hand when he noticed my widened eyes.

"I'm not trying to scare you. It's a great place to live and much different from a big city. Keith works to keep it safe, but knowing that my son is mixed up in all of that makes me a little uneasy sometimes." He shrugged. "But that's my problem. He's happy, and that's all that matters. Most parents think like that. As long as our kids are happy, we don't mind how it eats away at us on the inside."

He laughed and headed back to his desk. I smiled and bobbed my head as my throat scratched.

I wished my parents cared if I was happy. I'd spoken to them only a couple of times since I'd arrived. They'd asked about my job and how big my apartment was but not anything else.

The only family who I truly believed cared if I was okay and safe was my cousin, and we spoke a few times per week. I'd been alone for longer than I'd realized, even before I'd moved here.

So tonight, I'd leave my apartment, meet some people, and maybe start that new life I'd imagined, without letting the old one hold me back.