Hearts on Fire 4: Kisses Sweeter Than Pie(6)

“I will. Thank you,” Nina said and headed outside. The air was still nice and warm. The sun had set already and darkness began to overtake the town. She walked past the sign that said “Welcome to Treasure Town” on her way toward the apartment. It wasn’t far from here at all.

As she rounded the corner, noticing a few people walking and holding hands or heading toward the beach for a night walk, she caught sight of a flicker of red and orange. Someone was lighting a match or something, and they looked to be a teenager.

She figured they were lighting a cigarette so she continued walking. As she got closer, she noticed the blond hair that stuck out from the Yankee’s baseball hat he wore, and then she saw his face.

He was a nice-looking kid, but his expression immediately changed to anger as he abruptly turned away. Her gut clenched as she made her way down the sidewalk, never looking back at him again. She also noticed the red jersey he wore with the word “Costa” on the back. At least that was what she thought it said.

The liquor store was still open and busy. But as she headed toward the door, she looked around to be sure no drunks were hiding anywhere then unlocked it and walked upstairs to her apartment. She hated always having this fearful, on-edge feeling in her gut. She was never at ease, never feeling safe or calm at all. She was getting tired of it. Something had to give.

She couldn’t help but think about the kid’s jersey. Maybe it was a school name. She never had the opportunity to go to college but she did finish high school. Of course she was never part of a team, never wore the colors or the mascot of the black cougar on her shirt. She couldn’t afford anything even if she wanted to. But at least she got her diploma. When she thought about the cougar on the shirt, she thought about Rico’s right hand man. Cougar was a maniac. He thought nothing of rearranging someone’s face just for looking at him, Rico, or even her the wrong way.

Thank God Cougar wasn’t at the apartment that night she was attacked. She never would have escaped. She’d be either hospitalized or dead.

She swallowed hard and grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator. The place was very warm tonight and stuffy. There was no air-conditioning. The apartments with those cost a bit more a month. She reached for a hair band and pulled her long brown locks into a makeshift pony and added the hair band. Pulling her hair higher on her head the few seconds of relief from the heat off her neck didn’t last long. She headed toward the window, pushed it open, and looked out across the streets and at all the little beat-up storefronts. At least five or six blocks up were the homes and apartments closest to the beach. Maybe one day she would live someplace closer.

The thought sobered her good mood and made her think about her current financial situation. She either needed to land some baking jobs this week or she was going to have to put that on hold and venture out into the social world and get a job waitressing. That meant talking to people, mingling, and making conversation. She sucked at that. She was shy, liked keeping to herself. There had to be something else she could do for money.

She took a deep breath and released it.

Tomorrow she would bring the pies by the restaurants on the boardwalk and try to sell them or at minimum get the owners to taste test them. Maybe Cindy was successful with Sullivan’s? She would find out soon enough, or it was going to be back on the streets for her, and no semisoft bed to lay her head on at night.



* * * *



Trent Landers was starving as he stopped by the boardwalk in between questioning a witness a few blocks over and heading back to the department for more paperwork and research. He decided on a slice of pizza and wanted to sit at one of the shaded tables that looked out toward the water. He loved living in Treasure Town. It had so much to offer and was growing in leaps and bounds. The department was expanding and Jake McCurran, the sheriff, was looking into hiring more deputies. The board meeting on the budget was in a few weeks.

It sure was hot out today, and the beaches were crowded, the boardwalk, too. It kind of made him think about the off-season when the tourists weren’t around and the people walking or frequenting the boardwalk were locals. It was a hell of a lot less crowded and quieter, too.

He enjoyed the peacefulness of sitting on the beach and listening to the tide role in. It would be even better if there were a woman by his side along with his brothers sharing it.

With thoughts of sharing a sunset with a woman and his brothers, came thoughts of sharing a woman period. The idea was pounding in his brain lately, thanks to Buddy and Johnny.

Maybe he just needed to get laid? Perhaps that would ease this constant ache inside his heart. But with that thought came the feelings of inadequacy and imperfection. He ignored those thoughts and looked around at the people when his eyes landed on something special. Something clicked. Something inside of him, like a radar, clicked on and all he could do was stare. Thank God he wore his dark sunglasses.

How pretty. She’s beautiful.



* * * *



Nina was hungry. She was feeling a little light headed and knew she better go for eating a little breakfast. She could skip lunch, and probably swing a slice of pizza for dinner. Having three meals a day just wasn’t realistic. Not without income coming in. Before she left the apartment, she had a couple of hundred bucks left.

She walked past the various venders. Everything looked so good, but as she read the menu price boards, she cringed. Eight dollars for a small sausage-and-pepper sandwich? There wasn’t even a drink with it or a side?

She bypassed that and continued walking, feeling more and more light headed.

She opted for the pizza place, and as she stood in the heat behind a couple of guys, she could see the homemade lemonade station. Glancing at the price, she knew she could afford the slice and the drink. With lots of ice. It was hot out here today.

When it was her turn to order, she told the kid what she wanted and asked for the lemonade while she waited for the slice. Maybe a little sugar would help her? She took a sip and glanced around. Her eyes locked onto a big guy in dress pants and a button-down shirt. But what really stood out aside from his good looks and dark expression were the gun and badge.

She quickly turned away, the motion nearly causing her to lose her balance. She grabbed onto the counter ledge.

“You okay, honey?” some guy asked as he eyed her over. She knew that look. He couldn’t be trusted. He was looking to take advantage of her. Her slice was up. She grabbed it and her lemonade and looked around for a table to sit at. The one in the shade was where the cop was. She felt so fearful and like a criminal who was wanted and on the run. This guy was really intimidating and looked older than her by at least five or so years. She wasn’t certain.

“Are you okay?” he asked her. She didn’t want to sit there, to join him and make him think that she was flirting, but the truth was that she needed food and she needed to sit before she passed out. This running around looking for work and trying to sell her pies on one meal a day was weighing on her.

She plopped down, very unladylike, into the seat. She held her head, but didn’t look up at the guy. “Thanks. It’s hot.”

“Take a sip of the lemonade before you pass out,” he ordered.

She snapped her head up to look at him. She didn’t know why but she was half-scared and half-confused by his tone. The man was tall, even sitting down, and as he stared at her, trying to read her mind, she locked gazes with his blue eyes.

“I’ll be okay. Just eating lunch a little late.” She glanced away to take a sip of lemonade. Then she set the cup down and lifted up the slice of pizza. It was delicious and the cheese gooey. As she pulled the slice away, the cheese hit her chin.

She quickly set the slice down and reached for a napkin.

“You’re not from around here are you?” he asked and her belly tightened. She shook her head and then took another bite of the pizza.

“New in town or just passing through?” he asked. Shit. Why the hell is he asking me questions? Do I look guilty of something? Shit, what do I do?

“I’m thinking about sticking around, and you? Are you a cop or something?” she asked, turning the conversation around.

“Arson investigator,” he replied, still holding her gaze.

“But you have a gun.”

He widened his eyes. “Yeah, well they give those out to anyone who has a badge.”

She realized he was teasing and she smiled softly then went back to eating.



* * * *



Trent Landers was in shock. He didn’t quite recognize the sensations going through his body as he first caught site of the pretty little brunette. She seemed like she didn’t feel well or might faint from the heat, but she was keeping it together. He couldn’t believe he told her, ordered her, to sit down at his table. How fucking rude. But she did it, and it aroused him, made him feel like she respected him and took him seriously.

But as he found himself asking her questions, he couldn’t help but wonder who she was, if she were single and lived around here, and how he could get to know her better. He needed to feel her out. The more questions he asked, the more nervous and unresponsive she became. He couldn’t help but wonder if she was up to something. She ate the pizza in no time, basically gobbled it down, and now sipped from the lemonade container.