Page 88 of Starting Back
I was the one who never stood a chance, who was so captivated by a woman on sight that nothing was the same after. I was still getting used to the fact that we were both here to stay and I wouldn’t have to give her up at the end of the night.
I’d memorized every curve and sensitive spot on her body, but this kind of together was what I’d been craving all along, even if I didn’t understand it at first.
“Hey, I thought that was you.”
We both turned our heads to the familiar voice behind us. Keith McGrath, the Kelly Lakes police chief, smiled as he came up to our table.
“Another one who doesn’t recognize me out of scrubs or sweats,” Kristina joked as she stood to give him a hello hug. “On duty tonight?”
“I am, just stopped in for some takeout.” He craned his neck toward me. “Hey, Reyes, right?”
“Yes, nice to see you, Chief.”
I rose from my seat to shake his hand. I’d met Keith during my first week at the firehouse when he’d stopped by to speak to Vic. The guys had told me that between the two of them, they made sure to know everyone and everything that happened within the town limits.
This wasn’t my first time living in a small town, but it seemed as if the degrees of separation between everyone in Kelly Lakes were much fewer than anywhere else.
Keith nodded, smiling at Kristina when he dropped my hand. “I heard you guys were a thing. Good for you, kid.”
She rolled her eyes when he jabbed her arm.
“I’m in my forties with two kids. I think you can stop calling me ‘kid.’”
“Nah, no matter what you do in this town, you’re still my best friend’s baby sister.” He looped an arm around her shoulder and turned back to me. “You two have fun. I have a shift to finish, then I’m kicking your brother’s ass in handball tomorrow morning.”
“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Kristina breathed out a long sigh as she sat back down. “No matter how old you get, some people never let you grow up.”
“It’s nice when you think about it. In New Hampshire, everyone knew me and my parents. It was a good thing to have extended family everywhere, although not when you were doing something you weren’t supposed to be and wanted to stay under the radar. Then it wasn’t so great.”
“Ugh, yes, not that I ever rebelled too much or was even able to, thanks to my brother’s quest to be my father’s extra set of eyes.”
“I forgot you had mentioned the chief and Jake were best friends, before I knew who the chief was.”
Her eyes widened as she nodded.
“They’ve been attached at the hip since high school. Keith was the same big-hearted pain in the ass back then as he is now.”
I laughed when her lips pursed.
“I hear he’s a good guy. Keeps the town safe, a big family man. And anytime I’ve seen him, he knows everyone in the room.” I nodded to where Connie was handing Keith a large bag while the waiters hung on his next word with rapt attention.
“He’s a very good guy.” She nodded, her smile shrinking a bit. I was about to ask what was wrong when the waitress came up to the table.
“Hey, Kristina!” she chirped and dropped a bread basket onto the table. “Do you know what you want, or do you want to hear the specials?”
“I haven’t even looked. I figured I’d just get what you get.” I reached across the table and draped my hand over hers. If there were rumors swirling around that we were athing, why not make it crystal clear for all the heads still swiveling in our direction?
“Is Chicken Marsala okay with you?” Kristina asked as she flipped her hand over and laced our fingers together. She was claiming me right back—and I loved it.
“Sounds good to me,” I said as I drifted my thumb back and forth over the top of her wrist.
“So, two Chicken Marsalas, and please ask Dino if he’s doing potato croquettes tonight.”
“He is. I’ll ask him for two. Anything to drink?”
“I’m good with the house white if you are.” Kristina arched a brow at me.
“Anything you want, mi corazón.”
