Tangerine Morning: Jezzica's Story (Serenity Cove Series) (15 page)

Hearing her name, she sat up and looked toward the cottage. Even in the darkness, she recognized the two familiar figures tromping awkwardly through the sand.

“It’s my parents.” She eased up, grabbed Zack by the hand and rushed toward them. “Mom. Dad. I’m so glad you’re here.” She ran straight into her mother’s arms.

Her father took one look at her, and then glared at Zack. “What’s going on here?” He stepped forward, his reddened face within inches of Zack’s.

“Wait, Dad. It’s not what you think.” She fought her way between the two and threw her hands against her father’s chest. “Dad. Zack didn’t hurt me. He saved me from being killed.”

Her mother moved behind Zack and began pounding him with her oversized purse. Jezzica swung around. “Mom. Stop.” She grabbed her mother’s arm. “It wasn’t him.”

Jezzica looked back and forth between her parents to make certain they weren’t going to come unglued and launch a new attack. “This is Zack Johnston. Zack’s a detective with the Serenity Cove Police Department.” Her parents simply stared at Zack. She tried again. “Zack, these are my parents, George and Beverly Michelson.”

Zack reach his hand toward her father. “Good to meet you, sir.” Her father reluctantly accepted his hand. Zack turned to her mother. “You, too, ma’am.”

With a heavy sigh, Jezzica took hold of Zack’s arm and looked at her parents. “Let’s go home and I’ll explain.”

The few steps back to the cottage were filled with an ominous silence. Jezzica and Zack walked behind her parents under her father’s watchful glares over his shoulder. The four marched up the steps in single file.

Her parents sat side by side in two of the deck chairs. Jezzica scooted a third seat over and faced them. Zack leaned against the railing. The moonlight created a halo effect around his sandy brown hair, streaked from the sun. She almost lost it and could barely keep from laughing out loud. Her father thinking Zack had hurt her in contrast to the angelic glow surrounding him struck her as funny. She fought to hold back a giggle, and turned toward her parents.

Jezzica was thrilled to hear the sound of Catylen’s footsteps, as her sister tromped up the steps with Tasha and Lauren.

“Grandma. Grandpa.” The two younger women leaped on their grandparents, exchanging hugs. If there was one thing that could distract parents, it was definitely their grandchildren.

Catylen pulled up a chair next to her sister. “What’s going on?”

The two girls settled down and Jezzica began her story of how Geoff’s killers were captured. When she got to the part about the spray, Zack joined in expressing his amusement once again.

“A can of Pledge? That’s my girl.” Her father slapped his leg. “And I finally have proof that you listened to at least one of my fatherly instructions. How I would’ve loved seeing you deliver that kick.”

Her mother was a gorgeous and vibrant sixty something and often mistaken for her daughter’s older sister, but Jezzica knew her mom was a fierce opponent when challenged. “Are all of you crazy? Have you lost your very last brain cell? My daughter could have been killed and you’re exchanging laughs at her expense.” Her mom wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “Oh, Jezz, you must have been so scared.” Beverly hesitated, her midsection shaking and disturbing Rusty, who had claimed her lap. “Seriously? Furniture polish?” With tears escaping, her mother threw back her head and laughed the loudest.

Zack eased off the railing. “I need to check in with our chief of police” He acknowledged Jezzica’s parents and this time they enthusiastically shook his offered hand.

Jezzica rose from her chair, and the two escaped down the steps. Jezzica waited until they were far enough away to not be overheard. “Sorry about my parents.”

“Are you kidding me? If I found my daughter with a man and her top ripped, I’d have pummeled the guy.”

“Thanks for everything.” She paused. “About earlier—”

“I’m not going anywhere.” He pulled her close. “Go easy on your parents.”

“I’ll try.” She smiled, then weaved her way back to the cottage. The questions spinning round and round made her want to scream at the voice in her head.
Will time really make a difference? Will the capture of Geoff’s killers set me free? Can I love again?

Of course, her immediate problem was telling her parents she now lived in Serenity Cove, permanently. Panic gripped her stomach. It would be like releasing a swarm of bees into a crowd on Main Street.

Chapter Twenty-three
 

With a light tap on Logan’s door, Zack turned the knob and found Samantha perched on Logan’s desk. “Sorry,” he mumbled as he backed away.

“Come on in. Sam stopped by with pastries from Julia’s.”

“That’ll teach me to come barging in. Although Samantha might be more qualified to solve my dilemma.”

Logan winked at his wife. “Ask away.”

“I need a good dinner place.”

“That’s easy—a restaurant.” Logan laughed at his own joke.

Samantha smacked him on the shoulder. “Behave.” She pivoted back toward Zack. “Woody’s is more on the casual side: the upper deck has a fantastic view, the food’s great. Chantilly Rose, at the Sea Crest Inn, tends to be a little more upscale. The food is fabulous and the atmosphere is lovely with a view of the sea. You really can’t miss with either place. They’re both equally romantic—if you’re with the right person. Someone once told me when you find the right one—hold on. The best advice I’ve ever listened to.” She leaned over and kissed Logan’s brow. “And this one isn’t going anywhere.”

“I’m going home with you and taking the afternoon off.”

She raised her eyebrows. “That would only get you points if you hadn’t already wasted half of your day off.”

“Catch you newlyweds later.” Zack scurried out of the office, closing the door behind him.

“Hey, Zack.” Logan swung his office door open. “There’s a private dinner cruise. You can arrange for a boat and dinner through the inn. I know more than you think, buddy.”

Dinner under the stars? Not a bad idea.
He called the inn and booked the last available dinner cruise for two. A good choice, since the high school had reserved the inn’s dining room for prom night.

Then he turned his attention to the mounds of paperwork on his desk. Between the burglaries and capturing the criminals, he had a never-ending pile of forms and reports to write. Logan had also requested a detailed statement from each of the officers on the scene at the time of the arrests, including the circumstances surrounding the shooting of one of the suspects. It would be a routine investigation, but being prepared never hurt.

Nicole waltzed through his opened door. “You got a minute?”

“For you, I’ll take it.” He motioned to his visitor’s chair. “What’s up?” He seldom saw her out of uniform.

She passed a file to him. “The final reports and follow-ups on the criminals we arrested. Vincent Faraday died yesterday. According to the doctor’s assessment, it was a direct result of the gunshot wound inflicted at the time of his capture.”

“The other two are in the hands of the Stone Valley Police Department.” He flipped open the cover of the folder.

“They’re wanted for several murders, including two police officers in Florida. Several jurisdictions would like to get their hands on those three.” Nicole crossed her shapely legs, her skirt moving above her knees.

Zack shuffled through the reports. “Based on this, it’s doubtful Jezzica will ever be called to testify.” There would also be more than a routine investigation of the shooting. He ran his hand across the back of his neck.

“That would be a blessing. A trial often causes family members to relive a horrible tragedy. Although I’m not a shrink, I’d think the process might bring a certain closure.” Nicole rose from her chair. “Free for lunch?”

“Sure. Let me finish going through these papers and I’ll be right with you.”

“Meet you at Rubi’s in thirty minutes?” Nicole paused at the door.

“Sounds good.” His attention turned back to the folder. He still held to his former assessment these killers were psychopaths in the truest definition of the word. Their rap sheets would have no bearing on the board’s investigation. He slammed the report closed and hoped Jezzica would never have to face them in court.

Passing by the front desk, he gave Hank a heads-up on where he’d be and headed to Rubi’s.

Nicole had already chosen a table, and he slid in the other side of the booth.

“I ordered double-decker cheeseburgers with the works.” She smiled and sipped her iced tea.

“Great. I’m starving.” He stirred two packets of sugar into his tea. “So is there a purpose behind having lunch?”

“You always were one to get right to the point.” She chuckled. “I’m putting in for a transfer back to Mariner Bay.”

“Any particular reason?” Her expression reminded him of a lost child.

She tapped her nails on the edge of the table. “Here goes. I haven’t been honest with you.” She sighed heavily. “I have feelings for you.”

“Nic—“

“Relax. I’m not putting moves on you.”

“You’ve lost me. We tried the dating thing and we agreed. No fireworks.”

“Yeah, so you told me. I need to move on and get past this.” She put her hands in her lap as Tiffani delivered their food and placed condiments in the middle of the table.

“If you need anything else, let me know.” The waitress rushed away—lunch was the busiest meal for the small diner.

“You could switch to the detective division that we’re building here in Serenity Cove.”

She shook her head and frowned. “Why would I make a move that would have us combining our efforts even closer?”

“There has to be a less drastic solution than leaving Serenity Cove. Come on, Nic.” Zack polished off another bite of his burger.

She dipped a fry into the puddle of ketchup on her plate and nibbled at the tip, then tossed it down next to her untouched sandwich. “I’m starting the process today.”

“Man. I wish I knew what to say.”

“You’ve said it all. I’m going to leave while I still have a shred of pride left.” She bit the corner of her lip as she scooted out of the booth.

He took her hand. “I really do value you as a friend. You’re one of the finest officers I’ve ever worked with.”

“Yeah, and that should make me feel better, but it misses the mark, big time.” She leaned down and brushed her lips against his. “See you around.”

Zack sat stunned, disbelieving the conversation they’d just had. He stared out the window at the bookshop across the street. There was only one woman he was interested in. Strange, this thing called life. Nicole would have been the easier choice. Still, he prided himself on being a man who never backed down from a challenge.

Chapter Twenty-four
 

Loaded down with bags of towels and kitchen gadgets for the upstairs area, Jezzica approached the door of the bookshop at the same time Tasha made her way to leave.

“I’m going next door to get us a snack.”

“Good. I can smell the sweet cinnamon from here.” Jezzica juggled the bags through the door. Her sister was arranging children’s books on the shelves. “This area looks inviting. You have an eye for detail.” Jezzica set her collection of bags onto the floor.