3

Chapter Three

Caroline stared up the box she needed.

On the top shelf.

Naturally.

Sighing, she looked through her cart to for something to use to tip it down. Nothing that would work.

Muttering a curse, she stretched and just barely missed it. She’d totally climb the shelves if she had to but the last time she’d tried it, she’d ended up knocking a bunch of jars down and they broke and it was pretty embarrassing. Heaven knew she had enough to work against as it was without an incident on aisle ten with cereal.

“Lemme get that for you.”

She looked to the side at the very tall cowboy who’d sidled up to use all his height to retrieve her box of cereal.

“This here?” He pointed at the natural cereal she liked.

“Yes, thanks.”

He grabbed it.

“Can you please get two? I figure I may as well just have a backup now, you know in case you aren’t around the next time I’m here.”

He pulled one more down and turned to drop them in her cart. That’s when she realized it was Royal Watson. All grown up.

He faced her and all her parts stood up and cheered. Like a full-stadium wave.

“Hey, it’s Caroline Mendoza.”

Oh. That accent. All Southern charm. Sexy and slow, like he tasted every word, savoring it before he let it go. She did love a Southern drawl coming from a man who used words like ma’am when they opened doors and retrieved things from high shelves. She knew it was pretty old school of her, but damn she didn’t even care.

“Hey, it’s Royal Watson. Thanks again for the assist.”

His grin made her want to moan.

Back in high school, he’d been two grades ahead. He’d been that super cute older boy who probably never noticed her existence. And of course by the time she’d grown into her body, he’d grown into his everything and she’d left town.

He had great hands. She tore her gaze away from them and her brain from imagining them on her because hello, grocery store, in front of people and all.

As if he knew what she was thinking, he got just a smidge closer. “It’s good to see you. You’re in town. For a visit or?”

She laughed, putting a hand at her hip. “Come on now. Are we pretending you haven’t already heard I moved back to Petal? I may have forgotten my share of things about living in small towns, but your business is everyone’s business.” And her past had so much meat for the gossip table, she knew tongues had been wagging ever since she signed the lease on her apartment three weeks before.

“All right. Well, my Aunt Denver is famous for two things. First, she makes the best coconut cake in a hundred-mile radius. Maybe even the whole state of Georgia, but there’s some serious old-lady cake competition out there so I can’t be totally sure. Second, she’s got a nose for gossip that is, as my uncle says, unparalleled. I was just being neighborly and was gonna let you divulge all the details to me yourself.”

She pushed her cart and he followed. “Yes, I’m back for good.”

He loped along at her side. “I may as well come with you. You’re what they call size challenged. In case you need something else from the top shelf, I’ll come in handy.”

“Oh you’re not going to use the S word? Go on then. Short. I’m short.”

“Why, Ms. Mendoza, I do believe you’re yanking my chain. I think you’re more fun sized than short.”

She blushed. “I don’t know why they have to have shelves that are so high to start with. How do all the little old ladies get their cereal anyway?”

“Darlin’, they eat Cheerios and mother’s oats. All that fancy organic stuff is on the high shelf ’cause it’s just you city girls who eat it. I’d check the sell-by date on it, just in case it went bad in 2010 or something.”

“There’s not a darned thing wrong with wanting healthy options.”

He grinned again. “I’m teasing. Well, I’m telling the truth, but also teasing. Heck, we converted the farm into an organic operation three years ago. I’m always happy when people want the healthier option.”

“You did? That’s awesome.”

Before she could ask more questions, they had to skirt around a gaggle of women who gave him the once-over twice.

“I see it’d be impossible to take you anywhere.” Caroline gave him a raised brow.

He held his hands out all innocent-like. “You, sweet thing, can take me anywhere you like. In any case, I can’t be blamed for being so handsome and charming.”

She laughed. Good Lord he was adorable.

“So you’re working with Edward Chase then?”

“I bet the gossip already knows what color my sheets are too. Yes. My first day is Monday.”

“Makes sense you’re a lawyer now. You did love to argue back in school.”

As if he’d ever noticed her! Had he?

She managed to pretend she was cool and not giddy. Probably worked. “My uncle says it’s a wonderful thing when you can make a living off your most annoying trait.”

She paused to put some soup in her cart. “Can you?” She pointed toward the chicken broth.

“There’s cans of it right there,” he said as he pulled the carton down.

“I have to buy three of the cans to make one of those cartons. And I can use the carton more than once. It has a screw-on top.”

“Ah.”

Back toward the front of the store he paused, turning to her so she was caged in by the buggy and his body.

Her heart sped as he seemed to block out everything but him.

He lowered his voice, getting just a little closer. “You grew up gorgeous, Caroline.”

She licked her lips, his gaze locked on her mouth. A blush crept up her neck, and she tightened her hold on the buggy before she grabbed him by the front of his shirt and hauled him close for a kiss.

So close she could see the gold flecks in his green eyes. The shadow of the dent in his chin even through the scruff of his beard. His skin was sun kissed, his body one of a man who worked outside a lot.

The heat of his body washed over her as the scent of him—of the cold air outside, the detergent from his shirt—reached her nose. It turned out to be pretty difficult not to lean in and sniff him. She bet he smelled really good where his neck met his shoulder.

“Whatever can you be thinking? I hope it’s really dirty.”

He was without a doubt ridiculously sexy. There was chemistry between them, for damn sure.

It was…sweaty palms, dry mouth, slow-dance-in-a-high-school-gym chemistry. He made her giddy and silly even as he made her tingly and super hot for him. All in the freezer section of the local grocery store in Petal. That took some major testosterone.

“I’m pretty sure the frozen peas don’t need to hear my dirty thoughts. As for your compliment? Uh, my genes thank you. Except the ones that made me short. Though I sort of think fun sized is a good descriptor.”

“I bet the peas would be as excited to hear you talk dirty as I am. You should give me your phone number so I can call you and ask you out.”

Lord he made her smile. “I should?”

“Oh yeah. I give really good date. How long’s it been since you’ve been dancing, Caroline?”

“Too long apparently.” She cocked her head and looked up at him. “Well, Royal, I’ll make you a deal.”

“Oh yeah? Let me hear it then. I’m sort of easy for big brown eyes.”

It had been years since she’d flirted like this. It felt really good.

“You find me in town, and the next time I see you, I might just give you my number. Until then thank you for your assistance with the high shelves.”

She winked and moved past him. “It was very nice to see you again. And for the record? You grew up awful sexy.”

Royal watched her go, a grin on his face. Caroline Mendoza was fucking beautiful. Oh sure, she’d been pretty enough all those years ago when she’d been a younger girl. But the grown-up Caroline, damn did he want a taste of that.

He went back to get the stuff on his own shopping list, and when he went through the checkout, that damned Melanie Deeds was working the register. The woman was like the clap. She kept showing up no matter how hard you wished she’d just go away.

“Hey, Royal.”

He nodded. “Melanie.” He didn’t want to engage, but he wasn’t raised to be rude either. He busied himself getting his wallet out and swiping his card to pay for the groceries, hoping she’d get the hint.

“I saw you talking with Caroline Mendoza.”

So the answer to that getting-the-hint thing was clearly a no.

He nodded, not wanting to say anything to encourage her. Not that it made one bit of difference.

“You know her daddy done kilt her momma. Trash. Her brother and sister, they’re okay. They stayed back here to live with the Lassiters, but she went on out to Los Angeles.” Melanie wrinkled her nose. “With his people. Look at her back here like she never up and left Petal in the first place.”

He knew it would do no good at all to go down this road with her. And if he took the bait it would be all over town in ten minutes. Better to give her as little ammunition as possible.

Still, he wasn’t just going to remain silent. “Lucky for her she looks darned good doing it.” He looked to the register and repeated his earlier question. “That the total?”

“You don’t want to go and tar yourself with that brush, Royal. You got free of them Murphys at long last, why do you go and get involved with trash like a Mendoza? Everyone knows what she is.”

He narrowed his gaze. “Them Murphys? You mean my best friends? And Caroline isn’t trash, though certainly there are some who’d say so. Guess I can’t blame ’em, seeing how beautiful and accomplished she is and all. Now, is that my total, because I’d like to pay for my groceries and get away from you as soon as I can.”

Charlie Perkins was behind Royal in line and snorted a laugh he tried to cover up with a cough.

“I’m just trying to warn you. Folks around here—the decent ones—aren’t going to associate with a person like that. A murderer.”

“I’ll let you know when I’m speaking to a decent one.” He pulled some twenties from his wallet, tossed them down, cancelled his card and put it away before grabbing his grocery bags. “You ought to try being decent, Melanie. It does your heart good.” He strolled out, annoyed.

He’d gone out with Anne Murphy for several years so he was more than familiar with the stupidity of those in Petal like Melanie. It wasn’t that he didn’t know Caroline would be judged by some. Her mother’s murder had been a horrible event in Petal history, and the trial and subsequent conviction of her father had the town splitting up into camps.

Royal had been young, a senior in high school when the whole thing had gone down. He wasn’t sure what to think other than to know Caroline was not to blame for what her father did or didn’t do.

He loaded the bags into his truck and headed home. He’d had some major tingles for Caroline Mendoza. She made him laugh. Called him sexy.

It had been eighteen months since he and Anne had broken up for good. He’d wanted something permanent, and she never would accept it so he finally had to walk away.

Eighteen months of licking wounds and then moving on. Dating a lot. Having some great sex too. But nothing like he’d had with Anne, because he’d been in love with her. It was old fashioned, he knew, but fucking was a hell of a lot better when you were connected with the person you were in bed with.

Caroline was someone he’d known peripherally, but there was something new about her too. Unusual. He liked it.

He planned to make it his goal to find her around town to get that number. He could have gotten it on his own, but he rather liked the idea of letting it all play out slow. Enjoy it.

She’d give in eventually. She was pretty clear about that, so why not let it play out and see what happened?

This was the best thing that had happened to him in a grocery store pretty much ever. He snorted and started home.

Edward Chase was mighty glad the pastor must have been hungry and finally closed out the sermon so Edward could head home with his wife and have lunch.

Polly gave him a look, a hint of amusement on those pretty lips of hers. She knew him inside and out. Hell she probably had a snack for him in that giant handbag.

“Shane and Cassie are coming over with Ward. I think Maggie and Kyle are bringing the boys by as well. Good thing I started that ham before we left.” She was talking about their two oldest sons, their wives and their grandsons.

He grinned, knowing how much noise and energy his boys and their families came with. Knowing his wife was in raptures when she got to love all over their grandchildren.

“Hummingbird cake for dessert and I’ve got potatoes in the slow cooker too.” She winked and he squeezed her to his side.

“I’m a very lucky man.” He brushed a kiss over her mouth. “Even luckier when everyone goes home,” he whispered as he straightened.

Her delighted laugh sped his heart. There wasn’t another person on the whole of the planet who made him feel like the one he’d cleaved his life to.

He might even be able to squeeze a little time with her in bed before everyone arrived if they could get out of church fast enough.

He steered her toward the doors but before they got there, Abigail and James Lassiter stepped into their path.

Abigail extended her hands, and he took them, squeezing before letting go to shake James’s hand.

“We won’t keep you long.” Abigail’s accent was old-school Georgia. She’d been third runner-up for Miss Georgia in her day. Even in her eighties she was still striking. She was a powerful person with very set opinions on everything. She’d grown up in Atlanta, where her people owned and ran one of the oldest and largest building companies in the Southern US. She’d met and married James, a Petal boy born and raised, and they’d settled just a few blocks from where Edward had grown up.

There was history there. James was fifteen years older than Edward. He’d been the quarterback, the most popular this or that. His family and the Chase family had been tight as James’s father had been a judge in the county for forty years. James Lassiter was sort of like an older cousin in Edward’s extended family.

Abigail smiled Edward’s way. “We wanted to thank you for giving Caroline a job at the firm. She needs some roots here and with you she has them.”

Edward shook his head. “Believe me when I tell you it was no imposition or even a favor on our part. Your granddaughter is a coup for us. She’s incredibly accomplished. For her to have so much experience at her age is stellar. We’re thrilled to have her on board.”

Polly shifted, sliding her arm through Edward’s. “Caroline is so intelligent and successful. You and James must be so proud.”

Edward knew she had taken a shine to Caroline, but this was more. Polly had just planted a flag with that declaration. Caroline Mendoza was under her protection. Woe to anyone who lobbed anything at the girl now.

Abigail though, she smiled, a genuine flush of pleasure that reached her eyes. “We’re very proud. James’s daddy would have been so thrilled to see his great-granddaughter go into law and do so well.”

But then the smile faltered. “Now that she’s back, James and I are hoping she’ll finally let go of her fool notions about that man.”

Edward had known it would only be a matter of time before it came up, but even he was surprised by the venue.

They walked out to the church steps and down toward the parking lot. He aimed for the car, preferring to avoid the topic.

But Abigail wasn’t having it. She planted herself in their path. “Heaven knows we’ve tried over the years. Tried to force her to see the error of her ways. She has no call to go stirring up painful memories for a lark. She needs to grow up and get serious.”

Edward shook his head. “She’s a grown woman, Abigail. It’s not my place to get in the middle of this.” Nor was it theirs. But he’d been blessed enough to have never lost a child so he had a difficult time saying that part aloud.

“She’s shaming this family by siding with his people.”

Polly’s pretty green eyes narrowed and her grip on his arm tightened. “Now, Mrs. Lassiter, I surely do hope you don’t really feel that way. Why your Caroline is such a beautiful, successful young woman. Family minded. Sometimes our loved ones have opinions we don’t agree with, but we love them just the same.”

Abigail took Polly’s measure. Polly was no slouch herself though, and gave Abigail a similar look. Abigail broke her gaze first as she sniffed. “She should show her love by not demeaning the murder of her mother. You and Edward are good influences on her. I’m simply asking him to exert some of that in the right direction so she can have a home in this town.”

“We’re glad to have her on board at the firm. And most assuredly happy to have her in town. She’s an asset to us and I hope we can be one to her as well. It was very nice to chat with you both, but Polly and I need to get home. We’ve got kids and grandkids coming over for lunch.” Edward kissed Abigail’s cheek and squeezed James’s shoulder and firmly stepped away, guiding his wife toward the car.

He had some thinking to do because this situation wasn’t going away. He liked Caroline, and he knew she’d be in for a bumpy road as she settled back into Petal.