Assault and Batter(4)

“How about a kiss?” he asked loudly, causing my last three customers of the day to stare at me as though I’d suddenly sprouted horns.

“I’m not even sure that I want to shake your hand,” I said.

He laughed at my comment, though I hadn’t meant it to be a joke. “It’s good to know that some things don’t change. You still have that charming sense of humor of yours. What do you say the best man and the maid of honor spend a little time getting reacquainted?”

“I wouldn’t be interested even if I weren’t seeing a state trooper,” I said.

Peter smiled, but there wasn’t much warmth in it. “Is he stationed around here?”

“No, he’s a special investigator, so he goes wherever he’s needed.”

“Good for him,” Peter said, the relief obvious in his voice. Had he been serious about trying to strike something up with me? The man had to be madder than a hatter if he thought there was a chance of that happening. “Still, I hope you’ll save at least one dance for me at the reception.”

“I wouldn’t count on it,” I said.

Emma came out of the back just then, and her gaze took Peter in immediately. She usually didn’t go for older men, and I wanted to make sure that she didn’t start now. “Hello,” she said tentatively.

“Suzanne, why on earth would you keep someone so beautiful in back? Is it so she doesn’t outshine the customers? They must all be drab and dull compared to her.”

Emma actually blushed at the lame compliment. “Thanks,” she said as she tucked a few errant strands of hair behind her ear.

“Aren’t you going to introduce us, Suzanne?” Peter asked, his attention never leaving Emma for a single moment.

“Emma, this is Peter. Peter, meet Emma.”

He reached for her hand, and then he started to actually kiss it. I stepped in between them at the last second, breaking Peter’s focus. “Emma, let’s start getting everything ready to close.”

“I’m on it,” she said, still looking back at Peter as she walked through the kitchen door.

I leaned over the counter after she was gone and said in a harsh whisper, “That girl is off limits. Do you understand me? She’s not just an employee; she’s a dear friend of mine. If you so much as glance in her direction again, I’ll make sure that you live to regret it.”

Perhaps I hadn’t spoken as softly as I’d meant to, because as I finished, Nancy Patton drew a loud breath and scurried out of the donut shop. Close on her heels were the other two remaining customers, strangers who happened to pick a bad day for a first-time visit.

“My goodness, why all of the open hostility, Suzanne?” Peter asked when we were alone.

“Do you even remember your wedding toast?” I asked him, trying my best to fight back my anger.

He hung his head low. “I’m truly sorry about that. It was disgraceful. I apologize. I lost control of myself that night.”

“Yes, you did,” I said. I needed to take a deep breath. After all, if I could forgive Max for cheating on me and ruining our marriage, why couldn’t I forgive Peter for toasting our send-off maliciously? “Let’s start over. Emily tells me that you’ve changed, and I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt and believe that she’s right, until you prove me wrong.” I stuck out my hand, and he took it.

“Thank you. I’ll try not to disappoint you.”

“I’d appreciate that,” I said. “But I meant what I said about Emma. She may look like a full-grown woman, but she’s still got some growing up to do, and she doesn’t need any help from you.”

“I’ll steer clear of her,” he said.

I could only hope that he was telling the truth.

Emma popped out of the kitchen, her apron now off and her makeup freshened. Apparently this was going to be harder than I thought. She said, “Peter, I’m getting off work, and if you’d like someone to show you around town, I’d be delighted to do it.”

He glanced quickly at me before he spoke, and then Peter said, “I appreciate the offer, Emma, but I’m afraid I’m going to be tied up. Besides, I’ve been here before, though it was a long time ago.”

Emma couldn’t hide her disappointment, and I felt a little guilty about it, but better to be a little hurt right now than devastated later. It probably wasn’t my place to interfere, but I hadn’t been able to help myself. Just when I thought that I’d actually been making progress in my quest to grow up myself, I managed to find a way to act otherwise. The funny thing was that I would have done exactly the same thing all over again, given the chance. I’d meant what I’d said. Emma was my friend, and if I could spare her some pain, I’d do it.