Tess had no clue what label would work.Cordialdidn’t seem to be the word, though. “Amiable?” slipped out.
“How aboutfriendly, if that word works for you?” Bree pinched the bridge of her nose.
“Friendly.” Tess found herself nodding.
That termwasn’t nearly as restrained ascordialwas in Tess’s mind, but her frigging heart had puppet-mastered that affirmative nod. She was cordial with acquaintances and strangers, even amiable with someone like Marnie. But she was friendlywith Flo—there was a lot of interaction latitude in thatword. For Pete’s sake,friends with benefitswas even a term. This would probably end badly. The wisest choice would be to throw up the highest wall she could manage and lick her wounds, but she couldn’t bring herself to do that. Sitting here facing Bree, she just couldn’t do that.
“Okay, then. Friendly.” Bree replied in a tone Tess couldn’t read. She wanted to hear regret, but that was likely just wishful thinking.
“Well, I’m glad that’s settled.” Tess made an effort to prevent her feelings from affecting her tone.
She wanted to be furious with Bree. This meeting had been such a disaster, veering completely off her agenda. An agenda that would keep her from any deeper hurt than she’d already felt when Bree had just walked away after their encounter in the courthouse lounge. That had been a wake-up call. A warning. She didn’t set herself up for that kind of pain anymore. Yet here she was, keeping hope alive, dangling herself over the chasm of heartbreak with so far to fall.
“I’ll see you at work tomorrow, then.” Bree’s smile was a bit crooked, and lethal. Kryptonite.
Tess forced herself to look away. She’d come here with the sole purpose of distancing herself, of resetting their future encounters into that controlled-and-courteous-interaction box, the one she’d been constructing for decades. Instead, something about that smile sparked Tess’s irrational desire to connect her life to Bree’s. She’d been outside that box with Bree, and it had proven addictive. Way outside that box.
“Yes, I’ll see you at work,” Tess affirmed. “Maybe in the lounge—with my head in the refrigerator.” That was an acceptable reply, but because Bree had the gift of freeing Tess to be herself, Tess couldn’t resist adding, “You’ll know it’s me by my backside.” She hoped Bree couldn’t detect the husk in her voice.Sonot cordial. Effing addictive.
“Tomorrow at work, Judge Theresa Fairchild.” Bree clearly lost her battle with a grin. “But known as Tess to those who are familiar with her backside.” It was a cheeky grin. And so blasted sexy.
Oh fuck, so far off her agenda. They couldn’t seem to stop playing with fire. Creating distance would be Tess’s only savior.
Bree had agreed to come spend this Saturday afternoon with her brother and her niece at Cayucos Beach, so she could watch Gabby try out her new surfboard. The one Bree’s birthday check had funded. Bree had arrived with sandwiches, and they were just finishing off lunch before Gabby headed back to the water.
“Thanks for coming, Aunt Bree. The new board is awesome.”
“Glad you like it, kiddo.”
“My friend Suzie is just over there”—Gabby pointed at a family on a blanket—“and we’re going back out together in a minute.”
“I’m glad you’ve got a friend to surf with. I bet that makes it all the more fun,” Bree said.
“It does. I never said it, but I’m sorry about Aunt Cora, about the divorce. You know, youneed a friend. A girlfriend. All the more fun here on the beach.” Gabby stood up and grabbed her board. “Just sayin’.”
Bree watched Gabby join Suzie before they headed out to where the swells were breaking. Gabby paddled hard and stood up as a large wave propelled the board toward the beach. Bree watched the teenagers ride toward them until they reached shallow water, offered huge grins, then turned and paddled back out toward the swells.
Bree wanted to be that carefree again. Hell, she shouldprobably kick herself after her experience with Cora, but she was starting to contemplate that she might even want a girlfriend again, but certainly not now. Maybe someday. Someday in the distant future after she’d achieved the things she needed in order to restart her life here in Corazon Cove. But when she thought of a girlfriend, she thought of Tess.
Hank shoulder bumped her and handed her a bottle of water.
“So why so introspective? Is the new job treating you okay?”
“Yeah. Can I ask you some questions? You’ve been around Corazon Cove so much longer than I have. I just want to hear your opinion. And keep our talk between you and me.”
Hanks nodded and put his hand over his heart, their age-old sibling gesture of trust.
“You’ve been in this town for a long time. I’m just wanting to know what you’ve heard about the courthouse.” Bree waited for Hank’s response.
Hank looked at her. “I’ve already told you most of what I know about the judges.”
“Is there any more you can tell me about Theresa Fairchild’s shooting?” Suddenly it occurred to Bree that the scar she’d seen the night they’d made love in Tahoe, it was from the bullet. She certainly wasn’t going to let on to Hank, but that scar made Tess’s shooting so much more real.
“At night near her car in the courthouse lot. Nothing useful on camera. Never solved. The cops never found who did it. I’ve heard the county sheriff investigated it along with the local police, but no concrete tie to Fairchild’s job, and the local police still have it on their radar. I don’t know who else the sheriff might have worked with.”
“What about rumors?” Bree asked. She couldn’t help it. She really wanted to know what had led to the attack on Tess. Maybe Tess’s safety was still at risk. She knew that she cared enough to be concerned. Understanding the courthouse incident was onething—it related to her own job. But she realized she wanted to know more about Tess’s personal past too.
Hank sighed. “It’s pretty nuts, but I’ve heard rumors. Suggestions ranging from minor criminal crap, which isn’t all that surprising, to some completely outlandish talk of major ongoing corrupt activity linked directly to the courthouse. Wild talk only. I haven’t heard it from anyone I’d put my money on.” Hank took a moment to contemplate. “It is a courthouse, after all, and they try criminal cases, so I’d probably bet on Fairchild’s bad luck—wrong place at the wrong time. Have you met her yet?”
