While she gazed longingly at the items I brought, my gaze moved to her body. No fluffy bathrobe today, but this worked just as well.
She had on an oversized, very wornGolden GirlsT-shirt and sweatpants. Despite the casual outfit, everything still showed off her gorgeous body, and my mind instantly went to what was underneath those clothes.
Sex may be off the table, but I wanted to kiss her so badly.
“You look beautiful,” I told her.
She glanced down at her outfit and then back up at me, her eyebrow lifting in question.
“Umm…you need to get your eyes checked, Ray.”
“No, I don’t.” My reply was simple and quick as I walked farther into her living room and then followed her to the kitchen.
“Here. Let’s put the food on some small plates like civilized people,” Tammy said to me, reaching into her cabinets. “And here are some mugs for the coffee.”
It was a beautiful morning—a little cool but with no breeze—and the sun was angled just right to put a little warmth on her patio.
“What questions do you have for me today?” she asked, assuming that was the only reason I was there.
Admittedly, I did have questions, but these likely could have been answered via text. Instead, I chose to come over and have breakfast with her again.
“I’d like to know a little more about Corey if you don’t mind,” I started, but she held up her hand and cut me off.
“I told you before, Corey isn’t a bad guy.”
“Plenty of people out there are good people who do bad things,” I explained, but I knew she likely already knew that. “Also, understand that I was hired to look at people and angles that may not be as obvious to all of you because you are already connected to them.”
She sighed deeply. She knew I was right.
“Then I will talk to you about it logically,” she said. “Does he have access—yes. Does he have motive—no. He’s been working fewer and fewer shifts over the last six months because his personal training gigs have been picking up, which means he’s not strapped for money. If he were, he’d be asking for more shifts, not less, and he knows I’d give them to him since we’re short-staffed.”
That was a fair assessment and good to know for my research. Now, onto the next topic at hand.
“Do you think Donald is going to come back?” I asked, needing to know if he was going to become a problem for Tammy and anyone else at the bar.
“I’d like to think he’s smart enough to know not to, but Brenda kicks him out and then forgives him and lets him back in all the time, so I wouldn’t put it past him to think that’s exactly how I’ll be too.”
She had a point, and I didn’t like it.
“If he does, I’ll handle it,” she said, and I knew she saw my reaction because she held up her hand and started to shake her head. “I appreciate your concern, but I’ve handled more than my fair share of drunks before, and I can do it again. The military trained me well on how to deal with hostile tangos.”
I smirked, knowing she was right, but deep down I still didn’t like it. Not that she was trained, but that she had to still use those skills long after she had left the military. Civilian life wasn’t supposed to require basic combat skills in order to engage the general public.
“Where all did you serve?” I asked, curious now that we were on the topic. I also wanted to get to know her more.
Her shoulders lowered as she seemed to relax now that we were on a simpler topic. “I did two tours in Afghanistan, and then I was stationed in Germany for a hot minute, California for a few years, and finished up at a base in southern Georgia,” she explained. “That’s how I ended up here. Literally walked into this bar after retiring and got a job the same day. What about you?”
“I was in special ops in their counterterrorism division, so most of my tours are classified,” I answered. “But I definitely spent time on several overseas bases. When I was stateside, though, I was always in Texas. I graduated from West Point and had the pleasure of being at the base in Texas with one of my good friends I’ve known since college.”
Her eyebrows lifted as she finished her sip of coffee. “West Point. Very impressive. In my opinion, the Army is the best branch of the military—though I am biased. I know there are a few intelligent, brave, and sharp soldiers from other branches too…just not as many as the Army.”
I let out a short laugh. Ribbing other branches of the military was something I took a great deal of pleasure in, so I was happy to know she enjoyed it too.
“Did you grow up around the West Point area, or did you just know you always wanted to go there?” she asked.
“Grew up in northern Minnesota, near International Falls.”
“Ahhh, so you’re practically Canadian,” she teased.
