“Are you ready to go upstairs?”
“Actually, I came down to see if you wanted to go grab something to eat at Paxton’s. There’s nothing upstairs.”
“Sure. What about Kimber?”
“She’s in sweats and eating a pint of some kind of diet ice cream.”
“Is she okay?” Shannon asked as she started turning off lights.
“I think so. I asked if she wanted to go out, but she said that she was all into some Netflix show.”
“Gotcha.” She considered going upstairs to put on a pair of jeans, but it sounded like too much trouble. Instead, she slipped on her long eggplant-purple wool coat and picked up her purse. “Let’s go grab a burger.”
* * *
When they got to Paxton’s, it was just as crowded as ever. Luckily, though, they found two seats at the bar. Shannon noticed that Traci was receiving more than one double-take. She wondered if it was because of her looks or the fact that she was the new cop in town.
After they ordered a pair of drinks and two burgers with fries, she brought up the new job. “So, how are you liking small-town police work?”
Traci chuckled. “It’s good. I’m still trying to figure out who are the movers and shakers in the department.”
“It’s not the sergeant and lieutenant?” She didn’t know much about police stations, but they seemed like the logical people.
Traci thanked the bartender when she delivered their drinks then answered. “Oh, they count, but it’s just like any other office. There are the gossips, the negative influences, the people who make everything easier. It’s better to just keep your head down, you know?”
Shannon took a sip of her chardonnay. “How are things going with Dylan?”
Traci smiled. “I wondered when you were going to ask me about him.”
“What? It’s a legitimate question.” She was also probably doing a poor job of acting like she wasn’t thinking of Dylan at least two times a day.
She took a sip of her draft. “Sure it is.”
But Shannon noticed that Traci still didn’t answer her question. “If you don’t want me asking about work, just let me know.”
“I don’t mind talking about work. But I’m not sure if you are really all that interested in learning about the traffic stops I did yesterday.”
“All I wanted to know is if y’all were getting along.”
“Sorry. I know I’ve been teasing you. We are. He’s a good guy, decent. He’s fair, too. Some guys are still living in the eighties and pretending that I’m only there to fill a quota. Dylan, though, he acts like he’s glad I have his back.”
“Speaking of your record, he said that you were kind of a big deal back in Cleveland.”
“I wasn’t.” She looked away. “I just did my job.”
“He said you received some commendations. Were you upset to leave?”
“I didn’t lie, Shannon. I really am happy to get out of there.” Shadows filled her eyes. “My job in the city . . . well, it was hard. I dealt with a lot of folks who didn’t have much to lose. Some days I wondered if they were going to get so desperate that I would become just another one of their losses.”
That sounded terrifying. “What happened? What did you have to do?”
Traci shook her head. “Nope. We’re not going there. Not tonight.”
“I’m tough. You can tell me anything.”
“I’ll remember you said that.” Just as she was taking another sip of her beer, she sighed. “And, speak of the devil, here he is.” She raised a hand. “Hey, partner.”
Shannon turned to see Dylan approaching. He was wearing what she was beginning to think of as his usual uniform. Snug, faded jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt that was also well fitted, and boots. His hair looked like he’d run his hands through it a dozen times in the last hour.
He also looked as confident as ever.
Shannon’s smile faltered when she realized he wasn’t alone. A very pretty blonde was walking by his side.
“Hey, Trace. And Shannon, too.” He smiled warmly. “Hey, I’ve got someone for you to meet. We just got a table. Do you want to join us?”
“Sure,” Traci said.
As they stood up to move to the empty table Dylan had pointed out, Shannon felt her stomach turn to knots.
Maybe this was a mistake. Dylan’s date didn’t look very happy to see them. Not at all.
CHAPTER 9
“This is my dance space. This is your dance space.
I do not go into yours. You do not go into mine.”
—Dirty Dancing
Tuesday Evening
“You don’t mind that I asked them to join us, do you?” Dylan asked Jennifer as they watched Traci and Shannon pay the bartender and then head their way.
The look she gave him could’ve frozen boiling water. “It’s a little late to be asking, don’t you think?”
“So, you do mind.” And yes, he knew that was a stupid statement.
“I don’t know what you want me to say, Dylan,” she muttered under her breath. “You know that even being here in the middle of a crowded restaurant is difficult for me.”
He knew. And he also knew that he’d never intended to ask Traci and Shannon to join them. But the moment he saw Shannon the invitation just came out of his mouth. “I’m sorry.” He wasn’t lying. He really was sorry.
But was he going to change his mind and take back the invitation? Not a chance.
Ignoring Jennifer’s obvious exasperation with him, he stood up as the women got to their table. “Traci, Shannon, this is my sister Jennifer.”
Shannon blinked then smiled brightly. “I didn’t know you had a sister.” Turning to Jennifer, she held out her hand. “I’m Shannon. Shannon Murphy. Nice to meet you.”
After a second’s hesitation, Jennifer held out her hand. “Nice to meet you, too.” Looking at Traci, she kind of waved. “Hi.”
“Hey,” his partner said as she took the chair across from him. “Traci Lucky.”
“Thanks for asking us to join y’all,” Shannon said as she sat down.
“No problem.” Dylan held out her chair and helped get her settled, to both his sister’s and his partner’s obvious amusement.
Shannon seemed not to notice their smirks. Instead, she smiled up at him.