Page 15 of More Than Nothing
“I’m still familiarizing myself with my team and everything that’s gone on in the time I’ve been away. That’s going to take a while. Most of it doesn’t concern you.”
Elenie tipped her head to look at him, enjoying the chance to study the distinctive lines of his face, the incongruous imperfection of that narrow scar (a fight? An accident? Broken glass?), while he focused on something else. The breeze from an overhead fan ruffled his hair and Elenie itched to do it instead. Thick and messy, it fell where it wanted, unwaxed, soft and appealing. He smelled undefinably appetizing—of warmth, the outdoors, soap, andhimself. His pheromones tapped her pheromones on the shoulder and asked if they’d like to dance.
When he turned and caught her staring, his eyes were too black to read. “What’s not OK though is what I’m hearing about you. What I’m finding out about how you’ve been treated by Chief Roberts.” She opened her mouth and closed it again, completely taken aback. “You’d have a strong case if you wanted to file a complaint. There are officers who’d be willing to support you in that if you wish. And I will give you my backing as well.” His voice was grim and rough. “You deserve better, Elenie. Persecution does not sit well with me and I won’t stand by knowingly and let it happen.”
He sounded a little bit pompous, a little bit stilted, as if the words weren’t flowing too easily for him either. As if he’d maybe practiced them in advance but found it harder in person. It helped somehow. Some of the tension dissipated like dandelion seeds and Elenie considered how to reply. They both sat in silence. She flicked at the pages of the book in her hand. Sometimes, there was nothing to offer but the truth.
“Chief Roberts had no reason to be a fan of my family.” Achingly uncomfortable, she couldn’t look at him. “They’ve run rings around him for years. My stepfather’s just smart enough, just enough of a loose cannon, to make his job extremely difficult. Scarier men than Chief Roberts handle him with care. I guess it was easier for the chief to take his frustration out on me. I’m fair game.”
Martinez frowned. “No, you’re not. The law is supposed to be impartial and objective. It sounds like Chief Roberts abused his position. You have options if you want to take this further.”
She wondered if he really meant that. “My family is an unholy mess. I’m not after sympathy or revenge. I just want to be left alone.” Elenie glanced sideways, caught his gaze, and immediatelyslid her eyes away again. “Thank you, though. It means a lot that you would take the time to say what you’ve said.”
“We all make our own choices, Elenie. For some people, that takes a hell of a lot more courage and determination than it does for others.
“Quem não tem cão caça com gato.”
He blinked. “And that means?”
“‘He who doesn’t have a dog, hunts with a cat.’” Elenie eyed him steadily. “It basically means you do what you need to do with the resources you have. It’s Portuguese.”
Slowly, very slowly, the corners of his mouth curved into a cautious smile. It was hesitant, like something little used that had been dusted off and brought out for a special occasion. In the space of seconds, Roman Martinez went from distracting to devastating.
“If we remain on the same side, I will give you any support you need.”
“Great. That’s just—great.” Elenie tore her eyes away from him, with a mental kick to reboot her brain and remove her heart from her throat.Safe topic. For God’s sake, find a safe topic and find it quickly.But she didn’t have the confidence to know where to start.
Chief Martinez climbed smoothly to his feet. “I have a call to make at the fire station, so I’d better get on. I’m glad I caught you.”
Hook, line, and sinker.
Elenie murmured a goodbye. Her gaze followed his broad back until her view was blocked by a row of shelves. She fought the sensation of being reeled in like a lake trout, but it was a losing battle.
Over the next week, while she walked to work, took food orders, served drinks, and chatted to diners, she replayed the policechief’s words and killer smile on repeat. She had thought nothing changed in a small town like Pine Springs, but here he was—the unexpected—and suddenly her world held just a little more hope and a little more promise than it had done for as long as she could remember.
Elenie found herself hyperaware every time the door to the diner swung open. She absolutely wasn’t waiting for Roman Martinez to walk in and take those long, unhurried strides to the counter to order himself a hot tea. He wasn’t occupying her mind any more than should be expected—any more than any other customer.
Much.
Out of necessity, Elenie kept herself to herself. She’d learned it was better that way. Nursing a magnetic attraction toward the new police chief, of all people, was as sensible as offering to floss the teeth of a tiger. At best, she should be hoping for a genuine ceasefire in hostilities, but already she felt lighter. Energized. And it wasn’t all down to the relief of escaping from the oppressively sizable shadow of Chief Roberts.
Elenie knew little about Martinez other than the few snippets she’d overheard here and there, but she had begun to collect information about him. He’d grown up in Pine Springs, was a five-tool player on any baseball field that would have him (Nathan Reyes was still telling anyone who would listen) and seemed to send the temperature of almost every female within the town boundaries soaring—other than possibly Delia, whose veins Elenie suspected were filled with formaldehyde. The rest of his family were local. She’d served all of them in the diner, though not regularly, and his closest friend was an accountant with a small firm just off Main Street. Like she did most people in town, Elenie knew Milo Walker by sight, but had never said more to him than “Here’s your Americano.” Martinez had left Pine Springs in the same year the Daxes had arrived. He’d progressed through the ranks of theDetroit PD, was on track to make lieutenant at a young age, and now he’d returned, unexpectedly. There were few further details that could be gleaned by eavesdropping. Unless you listened to the more bizarre gossip, that is—and there was always bizarre gossip in Pine Springs. Most of it sounded so wildly improbable it couldn’t be true. As a seasoned victim of inaccurate chatter herself, Elenie felt a tentative kinship with Roman Martinez, which strengthened with every unlikely tale that reached her ears.
“Morning, Otto.” She smiled at her favorite customer as she passed him with a tray of bagels and coffee. “How are you today?”
“Definitely the better for seeing you.” The silver-haired charmer twinkled over his cinnamon Danish. As always, warm bubbles of pleasure burst under Elenie’s skin at the way his face lit up when he saw her.
“I could join you for a go at the crossword in a minute. I’m due a break soon.”
“Praise be! I’m getting nowhere with it today. I think my brain cells are dying off quicker than I can stimulate them with sugar. Hurry, girl—hurry!”
Elenie was laughing as she grabbed the next tray. Facts were her thing. You knew where you were with a crossword. People, not so much, but letters in boxes—yup, she could do that. Carrying a couple of hot drinks and some fresh brownies over to a table by the door, she fumbled her grip as she recognized Dougie Taggart’s girlfriend, Summer Daley.
“Two coffees and two brownies.” Elenie laid the plates on the table. “Good choice. The brownies are freshly made. They have walnuts in them.”
Three cheers for Most Vacuous Statement of the Day.
Opposite Summer, fanning herself with a laminated menu, was Caitlyn Walker, wife of the police chief’s best friend. Fiery red curls spilled over her shoulders, her pale, rounded cheeks dottedwith enough freckles to make cute war with sexy. Caitlyn gave her a measured look but didn’t smile.
