“Are you asking my permission to date my sister?” Always one to make a joke, Fletcher’s usual levity didn’t quite break through. Matt’s fellow deputy was known for his easygoing nature to the point of being a pushover at times, a family trait, obviously. Fletch definitely wasn’t the disciplinarian in the recently formed Bradley household, which was why Matt took the stern glare in Fletch’s eyes to heart.
“Lori hears you ask that, I won’t be the only one in need of protection,” Matt said. “I like her, Fletch. I like her a lot and I’m being straight with you when I say I know I screwed up.” Not that he was about to admit how he’d screwed up. On the one hand, he probably shouldn’t have kept his marital status a secret. On the other hand, Matt hadn’t cared enough to talk about it. Not that anyone had asked. They’d just assumed. That said, it probably wasn’t the best idea for Fletcher to know that, technically, he was a married man. Or that he needed to get things back on track on the off chance she was called to testify at Kyle’s placement hearing.
“And if I say no, that I want you to stay away from her?” Fletcher asked.
Matt could only imagine how protective he would be if he had a younger sister, so he cut his friend some slack. “I’d say I’m sorry you feel that way, and tough. I want... I need to see where this can go.” After three years of uncertainty and self-doubt, he was finally feeling as if he was back on solid ground. And honestly? He had Lori to thank for that. Being around her had pulled him out of the quicksand of his past. Now that he was out, he didn’t have any intention of sliding back in.
Fletch turned, looking to where Lori stood just outside speaking with Willa O’Neill. “Getting past me isn’t your problem,” he said. “She’s locked a good part of herself away, Matt. There are walls I’ve never been able to scale and I lived a lot of the same things she has. What went down with our parents, for instance. We only turned out the way we did because our grandfather stepped up and took us in. She puts on a good show, but she doesn’t trust easily. Nor should she with the wounds she has. Just be prepared. And be careful. As much as I want her to be happy, I don’t want her hurt.”
“On that we agree.” Another hurdle passed, Matt bade his goodbyes and pushed through the door to outside. The laughter in Lori’s eyes faded when she saw him. “Ready when you are. Hey, Willa. How’s Nina doing?”
“Mom’s better, thanks.” Willa pushed her hands deep into her sweater pockets and rocked back on a pair of thick-soled practical shoes. “The experimental treatment she got into in San Francisco seems to be working and I was able to bring her home sooner than expected. Did you hear Paige is going to start doing home care here in town? Once she gets her nursing license anyway. We’re on the top of her patient list.”
“I knew she’d been studying for a big test,” Matt said. “You know your house is on the list for the beautification project, right?”
Willa’s silver-gray eyes showed genuine surprise. “It is?”
“If it’s okay with you,” Matt added, realizing how presumptuous he sounded.
“I’ve been so preoccupied with Mom and Marley I haven’t really thought about it. Other than installing the wheelchair ramp, we haven’t had the money—”
“This wasn’t Matt criticizing,” Lori broke in, and it was then Matt realized his error. “If Fletch hadn’t put your house on the list I certainly would have considered it. It’s about time we started taking care of our own around here.”
Matt caught the well of tears in Willa’s eyes. “It would make Mom so happy. She used to love gardening before...well, before everything happened.”
“How about we get in touch when we finalize our plans and schedule?” Lori wrapped an arm around Willa’s narrow shoulders and squeezed. “Maybe we can even keep it a surprise in some way for her?”
Willa nodded. “That sounds wonderful. Thank you so much. I can’t wait to tell Marley and Jasper.”
“Your brother already knows,” Matt said. “Who do you think put your name on the list?”
“Of course he did.” Willa swiped at the single tear that plopped onto her cheek. “You all have been so good to him, this seems almost like it’s too much. He’s started looking into colleges thanks to you.”
“Yeah, well, he’s earning his keep at the station,” Matt assured her. It was extra handy having someone with the talent for basic forensic tests in-house, which ended up saving enough money on the budget to afford to pay him.
Selfishly, Matt hoped once Kyle was released from detention, Jasper would renew their wayward friendship—and provide another example of how someone dealt a bad hand in life could turn things around.
“I didn’t handle that particularly well, did I?” Matt asked Lori as Willa headed off on her walk home.
“You’ve done worse,” Lori said with enough spark in her voice to reignite Matt’s guilt over how he’d shut her out. “I can’t believe I did that.”
“What? Volunteered? I can.”
“Well, in private, sure, but in front of the town?” She fanned her face. “I haven’t been that terrified since I had to give a speech senior year in high school. Had nightmares about it for a month beforehand.”
“You did great,” Matt assured her as he followed her down the stairs. “And I bet we’ll work well together.”
“We’ll see about that.” Her flat shoes slapped against the plank boards. “Do you need me to talk to Luke or are you going to?”
“I’ll do it.” If Fletch’s reaction had been any indication, their boss wasn’t going to have any issues about Lori working with them. The evening breeze kicked up with its normal ocean chill. “I’m just glad we’re finally alone so we can talk.” He followed Willa’s lead and pushed his hands into his pockets as he caught up to Lori. “I want to explain about why I didn’t return your calls. Why I disappeared—”
“Contrary to popular belief, I don’t need coddling, Matt. You apologized. I accepted. We don’t have to discuss it anymore.”
Matt reached out, caught her arm and pulled her to a stop. “Would you please slow down? I don’t move as quickly as I used to.”
“Oh, I’m so sor—” The instant sympathy on her face faded when she lifted her gaze from his leg to his face. “Really? You played that card?”
“Desperate times.” Matt let go, not liking the tension in her arm. When he saw her shiver and pull her sweater across her chest, he shrugged out of his jacket, hesitating briefly at the guarded look in her eyes. “You aren’t going to slug me for this, are you?” Before she could respond, he draped the coat around her, grateful for the excuse to step closer. He loved how her hair smelled, like flowers and vanilla. “Just give me a few minutes, please. That’s all I’m asking. Believe me it won’t take much longer than that to admit what a complete idiot I’ve been.”
Lori’s eyebrow arched. “So the universe is wrong? Men are fine admitting when they’re wrong?”
“Some of us are.” It wasn’t his favorite pastime, but he knew when he was due for a mea culpa. “I meant it earlier when I said I had some things to work out. Some things I’ve been carrying around since before I got out of the service. Then you and I started getting close and I realized I was out of time.”
“What on earth are you talking about?” Lori’s eyes went blank.
Matt sighed. Maybe this wasn’t the right time and place after all. The sun was nearly gone for the night. The lighted streetlamps caught the red highlights in her hair, the silver flecks in her eyes. Or maybe he was stalling because telling the truth would make him look like a bigger idiot than she probably already thought him to be. How he wished she could read his mind so he didn’t have to explain. But that wouldn’t erase the skepticism and the hurt that