I See You (15 page)

I nod, knowing exactly how he feels. I realize how hard it must be for him to find work out here. It isn’t exactly a thriving industrial town so the choice of work available is scarce. “Yeah, I know.”

Blinking at me, he smiles in understanding then seems to shake himself and salutes me. “All I ask is that you keep the liquid flowing.”

I straighten my shoulders and nod firmly. “Consider it done, Boss.”

He chuckles and rolls his eyes then makes his way out. I hate the pull in my stomach when my eyes drop to his rear. What the hell is wrong with me? Nothing for a year then I suddenly turn into a crazy sex-starved woman who keeps ogling her damn neighbor.

Shaking off my thoughts, I get cracking with my first job—uncapping another beer.

Three weeks later both Devon and I are grinning at the beauty of my new yard. It’s huge. Devon chopped back hedge after hedge and revealed yet more garden beyond the realms of what we thought possible.

Where before had been brambles, weeds and long grass, now accommodates a large grassed area with pretty border flowers. At the far end, Devon paved slabs and erected a washing line, and I smile as I watched my bed sheets blowing briskly in the wind.

“I don’t know what to say, Devon.”

“You don’t have to say anything. I’ve enjoyed it. I’m amazed at the rare plants I found.”

I quirk a brow and nudge him with my elbow as we sit on the top step of the decking at the rear of the house, “Don’t tell me, you uprooted them and they’re currently under bid on eBay!”

His eyes widen in shock but then he laughs, his head tipping back with his hearty guffaw. “Is that Sass Misses?” He smirks at me then motions for me to follow him over to the wall between our houses. I follow his gaze and peek over.

Spinning around I slap his arm playfully. “You stole my plants!”

He laughs at my shock. “Actually I just took a cutting. We both have rare plants now.”

Shaking my head I can’t help but laugh. “Okay, I’ll let you off. Anyway,” I say as we both walk back towards the chairs we previously occupied, “I’ve made a decision.” He lifts his brow, gesturing for me to go on but doesn’t say anything. “I’m going to apply for a job at the Sheriff’s office.”

Both his eyebrows lift. I’d come to the decision whilst in bed last night. Over the past few weeks, working with Devon in the garden, I’ve been the happiest I’ve been in a long time. Apart from his company, which I thoroughly enjoy, I realized it’s because I had a purpose to get up in a morning. The hard work stopped the incessant daily torment in my mind and I figured it’s about time I move forward.

“Well, that’s great.” He seems genuinely happy for me, and hesitantly, I reach over and place my hand over his.

“I want to thank you, really. It’s been these past few weeks in the garden, with you, that’s made me realize I need something more out of life, other than Steve, of course,” I add when the big grey ball of fluff comes sauntering up the garden without a care in the world, with a field mouse trapped between his jaws.

“What the hell, Steve!” I squeal and skip across the decking when he drops it at my feet.

Devon laughs loudly as he fetches the small trowel from where he’d left it beside the flower bed, and scoops up the horrible little thing. “He’s just bringing you a gift!”

“Well he can take his ‘gift’ and bury it with the rest of his shit in the gravel.”

He gawps at me. “You cussed!”

My own eyes widen and I shake my head at Steve. “You’re such a bad influence.”

“Well, actually.” Devon chuckles. “You can’t blame Steve. He can’t talk so you haven’t learned it from him.”

I glare at him and point a finger to his chest. “Then I blame you!”

He nods and sighs. “Of course.”

Smiling, I nudge him again. “Come on, I’ll treat us to a greasy burger and fries.”

He stares at me, his brow a little furrowed. “Are we actually going out?”

I stiffen and swallow. Could I do that? Go out to eat? “No, I’ll order in.”

Looking like he is disappointed his eyes drop and those darn teeth make an appearance, biting down on his plump bottom lip as he nods his head. “Okay, but I want the biggest burger on the menu.”

Giving him a smug smile, I lick my lips, “And because I’ve
worked
so hard in my garden, I think I’ll join you.”

His mouth pops open but he shakes his head and laughs. “You should get the biggest there is. After all those calories you’ve burnt
gardening
you need to stock up.”

I nod, ignoring his sarcasm as I stroll into the house. “This figure doesn’t get like this on its own, you know? It needs all the help it can get.” I know he’s staring at my backside as I walk away, and for the first time in a long time, I don’t care.

How’s that for progress?

I
BLOW OUT A BREATH
as I stare at the front window of the sheriff’s office. I know I don’t know what I’m doing but I need to do this. Heather encouraged it; she seems to think I’m ready. Me? Well, I’m not so sure, but gritting my teeth and pulling my shoulders straight, I step inside.

It’s a large room, old and dusty with one desk facing the door and another three towards the back. Various flyers are stuck to the walls and the place smells like week old pizza.

A round, middle-aged man in a cop uniform rises from his desk near the rear of the room and strolls towards me with a wide toothy grin. “Good morning, Miss.”

I give him a smile although my eyes are still hunting the room. “Umm, is Sheriff Logan in?”

He nods then bellows at the top of his voice. “Luke! Lady at the front desk for you!”

A door I hadn’t noticed to the left of the room opens and the sheriff pops his head round. “Two minutes.”

The sergeant looks at me and opens his mouth but I smile and hold up a hand. “I heard. Thank you.”

I’m amazed by the lack of space, but then again, the coziness of it is quite pleasant. The police department in the city is huge, its many floors very daunting and formal, but this small office is really quaint, Sheriff Logan smiles as he walks towards me, his mouth around a sandwich.

“I’m so sorry. I’m disturbing your lunch.”

Shaking his head, he waves off my apology. “It’s not a problem. We’re used to working and eating here.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” the sergeant scoffs around his own snack when the phone rings on his desk. “Just one day!” he grumbles as he throws down his burger. “One damn day would be nice.”

Sheriff Logan rolls his eyes but smiles. “How can I help you, Nina?”

“Oh, you remember me?” I’m surprised but then I remember the way I handled the situation with ‘missing’ Steve and my face flushes with embarrassment.

“Of course,” he says simply, his eyes not showing any amusement or mockery. “You’ll find that in small towns like this, we get to know everyone.”

“Yes, I suppose so.” I nod in agreement. “Anyway,” I blurt out quickly before I lose my nerve and back out. “Ummm, you mentioned that your receptionist has had a baby and left your office unmanned.” He nods, encouraging me to go on. His blue eyes are large but they twinkle kindly, his long, dark lashes fluttering every time he blinks. He seems to have a way about him that sets me at ease, and although he appears to be in his early thirties he gives the impression of a knowledgeable man. I can’t quite seem to work it out but I sense his friendliness, especially when he smiles. “Well, I was wondering if you were looking for a fill in while she’s out of action.”

His eyes widen on me but his face breaks into a huge grin. “Are you serious?”

I nod, swallowing back my anxiety. The local bar is advertising for a bartender, and one of the shops in town wants a shelf stacker, but the way I figure it, there’s no place safer to work than in the local police department.

“Do you have any law degrees?”

My mouth drops open. Of course I would need some kind of degree or training.

He holds his hands up and laughs. “I’m teasing you, sweetheart.” I hope the blush I feel isn’t as prudent as I imagine. “The pay won’t be great,” he mumbles with a grimace but I shake my head and smile.

“That’s fine.” I’m not going to tell him I only want the job to toughen myself up. That is worth more than any amount.

Sheriff Logan turns and looks at his sergeant who has the biggest grin on his face. “Gerry?”

“Hell yes.” The man laughs as the phone starts to ring once again.

“Then you have yourself a job.” The sheriff grins and gestures to the seat behind the desk with the wave of a hand.

“You want me to start now, Sheriff?”

“Please, call me Luke, and there’s no time like the present, Nina.”

I stare at him for a moment before I shrug and walk around the desk, a little bewildered by how easy it is. “Okay then. You’d better show me the ropes.”

Over the next few weeks, Luke showed me everything the job included, introduced me to the other cop who works there, Brady, and I took to it as easily as I did when I first attended bar.
Not one broken mug

In fact I would even go as far as saying, I love it. I’ve found something I’m good at, along with gaining back a small piece of life outside the four walls of my house. Steve doesn’t like it, though. He misses me, and for the previous three days I arrived home after a long day, he’s ignored me, refusing to eat his food and giving me the cold shoulder. It saddens me because, in a stupid way, apart from Tricia, he’s my best friend.

Tricia is delighted by my news, especially the part about the ‘single’ sheriff, as is Heather, only she’s proud of my determination to put the last twelve months behind me, and secretly, I’m proud of myself too.

It took too long for me to finally accept that I was letting him win. This was exactly what he wants, me hiding from life. It was another way to hurt me and foolishly, I had allowed him to manipulate me, even though he’s no longer in my life.

It is my life, and although I’m not ready to go out clubbing or join the local church group, it’s a start. And we all have to start somewhere.

I
T’S EARLY, AND I WATCH
Nina skip down her porch steps from my bedroom window, her long hair swaying as if it’s as happy as she is. She’s started to trade her customary jeans and tee for classy pants and blouses. She’s even begun to wear a smidgen of lipstick and mascara, and her beauty has tripled with her happiness.