Page 25 of In the Arms of a Hero

“It’s fine although I would be interested in hearing more about possibly teaching a photography class or a club. Check it out, and you can let me know.”

His smile was warm as he nodded. “Absolutely, I will.” He walked her around to the passenger door and opened it, allowing her to get seated and buckled before he shut it.

Instead of pulling directly out of the parking lot, he detoured past the modern jail and the judicial building, driving right by the sheriff's department. She looked over as a group of men and women came out. She wanted to scan to see if Aaron was amongthem but refused to search. If he wasn’t there, it didn’t matter. And if he was, well… that also didn’t matter either.

Daniel drove back to the bakery, and as she started to get out, he said, “I had a really nice time today.”

She turned back and smiled. “Me, too.” He seemed to want to say something else but held back. She was afraid that he would ask her out, and she panicked. “Let me know about the classes if anything comes from that.” She climbed out of his car and waved.

She unlocked the door leading to the apartments. Unsurprisingly, Bess popped her head out when Belinda reached the top of the stairs. Grinning, she followed her sister into her apartment, loving how it always smelled like sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and coffee. Grabbing a cookie and accepting the cup Bess handed her, they sat on the sofa.

“He was cute.”

Belinda choked on her sip of coffee, then glared at a smiling Bess. “I swear I think you say things just as I’m drinking to watch me sputter all over myself.”

“Well, younger sisters have to get their jollies where they can,” Bess retorted. “But seriously, he was cute.”

“True, but it wasn’t a date. And I was afraid he was going to ask for one when he dropped me off.”

A crinkle formed between Bess’s brows. “And that would be bad because…”

Belinda shrugged, then flopped her head back and stared at the ceiling. “I don’t know. It’s not bad. I just wonder if I even know how to judge who would be a good date and who wouldn’t.”

“You don’t have to figure out if… wait, what was his name?”

Rolling her head to the side to glare again at Bess, she said, “Daniel. I told you that when I sent you his info in case I nevercame home. You should have memorized that so you could have called the police when they looked for my body.”

“Oh God, don’t say that and stop being dramatic. Now, where was I? Oh, yeah. You don’t have to figure out whether Daniel is a good date. You can just go out for fun. Or for a good fuck.”

Belinda snorted and set her coffee mug on the table. “That’s it. No more talking and drinking!” She stretched out her legs and nudged Bess with her foot. “Let’s face it, neither of us has been getting any action lately.”

Bess’s lips pinched together tightly for a moment before she sighed and shook her head. “Do you think you’ll at least see Daniel in aprofessionalcapacity again?”

Leaning forward with a grin, she said, “He brought up the possibility of me teaching a photography class at the community college or as a photography club. It might not pay much, but it would be fun.”

Bess reached over and grabbed Belinda’s hand. “That sounds great! Well, then, good for him. I’ll give him my seal of approval just for that gesture!”

Grabbing her mug back from the table, Belinda settled in as Bess turned on the TV. They began watching the latest reality dating show, laughing at the dating woes of others. It might not be exciting, but it was better than drowning in her own dating mistakes.

13

TWO MONTHS LATER

Aaron had spent the winter months studying for his detective exam and passed it with flying colors. He was partnered with an older detective Roger for his initial assignments. Tonight, there would be a party celebrating him and two other deputies who passed their exams. It was also a goodbye party since the other two would leave North Heron County to accept positions elsewhere.

He didn’t envy them, thrilled that Sheriff Colt Hudson had recognized that with family on the shore, Aaron would spend his career continuing to serve his county.

As he drove to work, he impulsively pulled in and stopped outside Bess’s Bakery. He sat for a long moment in his car and stared at the storefront. He hadn’t been back in months. The last time he came, he spied a man escorting Belinda out. And then watched as they laughed and smiled together, climbing into the man’s car before driving off. He’d seen them one other time when he was helping out as a patrol deputy at one of Baytown's early spring events. They were walking around together, taking pictures, and seemed so at ease with each other that he felt sure they must be dating.

Since then, he hadn’t been back to the bakery because seeing her reminded him of what seemed like his greatest mistake. After years of searching for something special, he realized he’d had it at his fingertips and let it slip away. Deciding that the coffee at the station would have to do, he pulled out of the parking lot and headed to work even though his stomach protested at the loss of his favorite coffee and pastry.

After multiple beers and more congratulations than he could remember that evening, he felt mellow. The bar was filled with North Heron detectives and deputies, as well as many of the law enforcement friends he’d made over the years from the area. Almost all of them also belonged to the American Legion, so he recognized friends' faces everywhere he looked.

After he accepted Hunter's handshake, he pulled Brad to the side. “I just wanted to make sure to thank you for all your help. The notes you gave me and the time you took to help me study are more appreciated than you can imagine.”

Brad smiled and clapped him on the back. “No thanks needed. I knew you’d make a damn good detective, and I’m thrilled you’re sticking around.”

With a dip of his chin, Brad headed to the bar, and Aaron moved on to talk to some of his friends with children who needed to leave early. Baytown Police Chief Mitch Evans and his officers, Grant Wilder, Lance Green, and Ginny McFarlane, walked over to congratulate him before they left. Hannah and Dylan Hunt, and Wyatt Newman, three other local small-town police chiefs, stopped with congratulations.

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