Release (2 page)

“I’ve got to remember to get some hamburger on the way home,” she said. “Wait, maybe not. Last time I made Hamburger Helper it gave Don diarrhea. Maybe some sandwiches instead. They just marked the chicken salad down to four dollars a pound.”

It was no use trying to tune Liz out when she was two feet away. I glanced at the paper on the counter, double-checking the spelling on the fundraiser name before I continued piping words on to the cake.

“Are you working at the library tonight?” Liz asked. I nodded. “Will you see how many people are in front of me on the wait list for that smut book I’ve got on hold?”

“Sure.”

She finished the smiley face on one cookie and continued, barely pausing for a breath before she was on to a new subject.

“I saw Orion Caldwell walk by earlier. He’s still got a bruise and a cut on his face from that fight at the last game.” She stopped frosting for a second and sighed. “That boy just gets better looking with time, I’m tellin’ ya. That little whore of a girlfriend screwed up big when she cheated on him.”

I furrowed my brow as I finished the final letters on the cake. “Amy? They aren’t together anymore?”

Liz’ dark brows shot up. “Oh, no. He dumped her after she got caught with that Morrison boy. Let’s see, which one was it? There are three Morrison boys, and he’s the middle one. Tim is the oldest …”

“Brett,” I said.

“Yes, that’s the one. Anyway, that was several months ago. You never heard about it?”

I smiled. “I keep to myself, Liz. Anything else you need me to do before I go?”

“No, you get out of here, honey. See you in the morning.”

I waved and headed for the door, untying my apron on the way and hanging it on a wall hook. The drive home took less than five minutes. I pulled into the driveway of the sprawling Victorian, parking in the three-stall garage behind it.

The stairs inside the garage led up to my modest apartment. It sounded weird to say I lived in a garage, but Petra Larson’s was nicer than any place I’d ever lived. It was bright, clean and affordable.

I unlocked the steel door at the top of the stairs and went inside, locking the handle, deadbolt and chain behind me. As soon as I tossed my keys on the kitchen counter, I grabbed my laptop from my coffee table and sat on the couch, opening it and pulling up a site I had bookmarked.

This was part of my morning ritual, but today I’d been running late. I typed the name into the Arizona State Prison database and waited the few seconds it always took for the information to load.

The profile popped up and I checked the status of inmate Matthew Carlson.
Incarcerated.
I let out a breath, my shoulders relaxing. He wasn’t eligible for parole yet, but still I needed the daily reassurance that he was behind bars.

My cat Libby jumped onto the couch, easing her gray head under my hand. I pulled her into my lap for a thorough petting before setting her back on the ground. I had time for a quick shower before going to the library. Spending half my work day in the Supersaver bakery made me smell like fresh baked bread and frosting.

I showered, dried my hair and ate a sandwich before heading back down to my car to drive to my second job. It was also a quick drive—perks of small-town life.

After nearly two years on the job, I knew my routine well. I shelved books for the first hour of my shift, covered the half-hour dinner break at the front desk and then shelved more books until they were caught up. On Thursdays I also read a story in the Children’s Department for Story Time, which I looked forward to all week.

There was a light load of books today. I sorted through them, organizing them into stacks. I knew which books went in what row.

Other people found doing the same thing over and over boring, but not me. I treasured the peace and familiarity of this place. I’d been back in Henley for nearly three years, and for the first year I’d gone straight from the Supersaver to my apartment, and rarely anywhere else.

I’d taken things in baby steps back then. For the first few weeks, I hadn’t been able to stop myself from shaking when I was alone unless I was locked in my apartment. I slept fitfully, plagued by nightmares.

Just going to the gas station had been something I had to build myself up to. It was outside my routine of work and home. After about six months, I started going to the library, which I remembered well from high school. A few months later, they’d offered me a part-time job.

With a quick wave at the front desk clerk, Lila, I headed to the Children’s Section to reshelve books. The fresh scent of paper greeted me as soon as I pushed my cart into the first aisle.

Shelving books made for a quiet, peaceful night, which was why I loved it. My life before returning to Henley had been anything but peaceful. My worst fear was my old life catching up to me.

I’d run from it at all costs. I could never go back to that darkness again. Hopefully it wouldn’t come to that anytime soon, but if it did, I was ready.

Olivia eyed me from head to toe, shaking her head with disgust.

“God, I’d kill to be as in-shape as you are,” she muttered.

I laughed and arched my brows at her. “I’d be unemployed if I let myself slide. I have to work out six days a week this summer, you can join me if you want.”

“Eh. That sounds less than awesome.”

“It’s not that bad,” I said. “Just a few hours in the morning and I’m done for the day.”

My sister wasn’t the subtle type. The kids were playing outside and Mom was at work, so she cut right to the chase in the first conversation we’d had alone since I got home.

“Have you seen Amy?” She studied me, gauging my honesty before I’d even answered.

“Nope.”

“Don’t you dare even think about it. I forbid it. She’s a lying, backstabbing bitch. Do not sleep with her, Orion. You may think you can handle it, but—”

“Liv,” I said, cutting her off. “I’m not gonna see her, and I sure as hell won’t sleep with her. I’ve moved on.”

“Have you? You’ve been with other women, then? Are you seeing someone?”

I shook my head and stepped back, leaning against the kitchen counter. “No. I don’t have to sleep with another woman to be over her. I’m done. We haven’t talked since the week after we broke up.”

My sister regarded me skeptically. “Really? Because you were pretty upset when it went down.”

“I was,” I agreed, shrugging. “But it’s been several months, and I’m over it now. I’m just sorry I wasted almost two years of my life with her.”

“More than that, if you count the year you dated her in high school,” Liv muttered.

“Yeah, thanks for reminding me. Point is, we’re over. I came home for the summer to see you and the kids and Mom.”

“Okay,” she said, nodding slowly. “But if I find out you’ve spent one minute with that whore, I will kick your ass. I still can, and I won’t hesitate.”

“Yeah, I’ve got it. So what about you? You doing okay? Seeing anyone?”

Her laugh turned into a snort. “No. I’m not even officially divorced yet. I can’t find Joe’s ass to have the papers served.”

“I’d like to find him. Maybe share my feelings on him ditching his wife and kids.”

“We’ve both had a hell of a year,” Liv said, walking to the pantry and taking out a jar of peanut butter. She took two spoons from a drawer and handed me one.

“Me getting cheated on by Amy and breaking up with her doesn’t compare to your husband leaving you to raise two kids alone, Liv. We weren’t even engaged.”

Liv eyed the spoonful of peanut butter she’d just scooped from the jar. “Would you have? Did you ever think about proposing to Amy?”

I shook my head. “Never even crossed my mind. I thought we had a good relationship, but I never felt the urge to get married. It’s really fucking hard to be married in my line of work.”

“Yeah.” Liv sighed and stuck the spoon in her mouth.

“Seriously, you doing okay?” I asked. “I worry about you.”

She smiled. “I’m doing okay. Exhausted most of the time from school and work, but the kids keep me going.”

“My offer stands. Let me give you some money so you can focus on school without working. I can more than afford it.”

She offered the peanut butter jar and I took it. “Thanks. You paying for my school is a load off, really. And we need the insurance from my job. It’s only for a year. I want my kids to see me do this and be proud of me.”

On cue, Drew bounded into the room and threw open the freezer, Chloe on his heels.

“Can we have popsicles?” he asked.

I found myself hoping for a second that Mom was out of popsicles so I could offer to run to the Supersaver. Though I knew she wasn’t anxious to see me again, I was still thinking about my run-in with Samara. She wasn’t like any other woman I knew. There was something about her not being impressed by my status as a pro athlete that made her all the more impressive to me.

Drew pulled out a box of popsicles and sifted through it, looking for a purple one. I’d have to find another reason to stop by the Supersaver soon.

I ran barcodes across the scanner on my lane at a rapid clip. We were busy this morning. Hopefully we’d slow down soon so I could get back to the bakery. There were several cakes yet to be decorated today.

The older woman in my lane rifled through her purse after I gave her the total, and I smiled politely when she glanced up at me.

“I know my checkbook is in here somewhere,” she said. I forced myself to hide my exasperation, instead turning to the customer behind her to offer an appreciative smile for their wait.

My smile was forgotten when my gaze landed on Orion Caldwell. He was scrolling through something on his phone, so he didn’t see me looking. Which was good, because I couldn’t help myself. His gray t-shirt with its sleeves torn off was soaked with sweat. It stuck to his chest, outlining the muscles there.

I hadn’t noticed a man in a really long time, but I couldn’t help appreciating him. His arms were cut with perfect muscles—strong but not obnoxiously huge. He’d clearly been exercising, because his short brown hair was as wet as his shirt. And as soon as he glanced up and busted me staring, his best feature made my heart pound.

I remembered his blue eyes from high school. I’d stolen glances at them during lunch and art class. They were the bright shade of a clear sky, and I’d wondered more than once what it would feel like for those eyes to look at me. But guys like him didn’t look at girls like me.

The corners of his lips curved up in a smile and I came to my senses, looking back at my elderly customer. She’d found her checkbook and was slowly filling a check out. When she finished, I ran it through, and the sacker offered to help her out to her car.

“Hi again,” Orion said, setting a huge bottle of an orange sports drink down on the conveyor belt.

“Hi,” I said, avoiding his gaze as I ran the barcode.

“How’s it going?”

“Fine. How are you?”

It was part of our training to converse with customers so they had a pleasant shopping experience. That was what I was doing here – not having a conversation with a very hot man.

“I’m good. Just ran through the park.”

“It’s two dollars and fifty-eight cents,” I said, looking up at him. There was a smile in his eyes as he ran his debit card.

“You ever go to the Dugout?” he asked.

I shook my head. I knew of the sports bar, but it was way outside my comfort zone.

“Thanks for shopping at the Supersaver. Have a nice day,” I said, handing him his receipt.

“You too.” He smiled and this time, I was annoyed. Playboy. He apparently just wanted all females to fall at his feet. Getting the freaky Goth girl from high school to fawn all over him would only feed his ego. And I didn’t fawn over any man.

I wouldn’t let myself go slack-jawed over him again. This had been a weak moment. I’d been unprepared for a hot, sweaty man to show up in my lane. That rarely happened at the Supersaver. Sure, I’d stared and he’d seen me. But it wouldn’t happen again.

Drew and Chloe’s bickering in the back of my car made me smile. It sounded just like me and Liv had when we were kids. But Liv was the older one with us. Drew was seven and Chloe was five.

“Stop touching me!” Chloe snapped. “Uncle Orion, he just poked my arm.”

“Tattletale,” Drew muttered.

“Alright guys, we’re at the library now,” I said. “No fighting in the library or we’ll get kicked out.”

“Really?” Chloe asked, sounding a little scared.

“Yep. I’ve also got a penalty box at home, and you’re gonna get five for fighting there, too.”

“No you don’t,” Drew said, meeting my eyes in the rearview mirror.

“Wait and see,” I said, grinning. “Come on, guys.”

I’d taken them off Mom’s hands tonight because she’d picked them up from school and done homework with them before making dinner for all of us. This would allow her an hour of peace before their bedtime. Liv had class until nine tonight, so they were staying the night at Mom’s.

As soon as we walked in the front door of the Henley Public Library, Drew took off toward a circle of kids in the Children’s Section.

“Story Time!” he cried. Chloe was right behind him. I smiled, following them and finding a spot next to an aquarium to wait.

I hadn’t been here in years, but the place hadn’t changed much. It was a bright space with colorful posters and worn-out gray carpet.

I pulled my phone from my pocket, planning to cruise the Internet. But when I glanced over to see what face went with the smooth, pretty voice reading to the kids and doing a damn good owl voice, my e-mail was forgotten.

It was Samara. Her caramel-colored hair was loose around her shoulders, and there was a smile in her eyes. Without the apron she wore at the Henley Supersaver, I got a better look at her. She sat on the floor, looking as enraptured as the kids who encircled her as she held the book up, turning it so they could all see the pictures.

Damn. I wanted to go sit in that circle, just so I could be closer to her. I’d blurted out that she looked good at the Supersaver my first day home without even thinking, but seeing her like this – joyful, nurturing, carefree – was making my palms sweaty.