“You’re thinking the beach will be the answer?”
“I hope so. You know how the main parking lot curves and there’s that one spot that juts out a little?”
Her aunt nodded.
“That’s where I parked the car. I’m hoping a few people nick it. Does that make me a bad person?”
“Not at all. Lyle earned it.”
“I know.” She put the cookies beside the sandwiches, then reached for the bags of chips. “I haven’t done much on my revenge plan. I can’t ever think of anything good. I’d rather focus on my own life and getting that in order than trampling over Lyle.”
“Maybe you’re getting over him.”
Jill nodded. “I am. I’ve also been thinking that there might not have been much to get over. I’m angry and humiliated, but I’m not emotionally devastated. Wouldn’t I be if I’d loved him?”
Her aunt patted her arm. “Be happy that you’re doing so well.”
“You’re right. I am. I had that phone interview yesterday. That was good. I think they’re going to invite me in for a face-to-face.”
“Would you like that?”
Jill considered the question. “I’m not sure they’re the right firm for me, but I’m happy to be getting responses to my résumé. It’s nice to be wanted.” Especially after what had happened with her being fired and all. If only she could figure out what had gone wrong.
“Will your Mafia friends be at the beach today?” Bev asked.
Jill laughed. “First of all, they’re not my Mafia friends. They’re more like business associates. And second, Rudy doesn’t strike me as a beach kind of guy. I can’t imagine him in anything but a suit. But if he shows up, I’ll be sure to introduce you.”
Bev giggled. “It will be just like the Sopranos.”
“I hope not. Mac would be furious if someone started shooting on his beach.”
There was a knock at the door. Jill’s heart gave an odd little flip. She wiped her hands on a dishcloth, then walked over and pulled open the door.
Emily stood on the front porch. She held a blanket in one hand and a canvas tote in the other.
“Sunscreen,” she said glumly. “Daddy says I have to.”
Jill looked past her to where Mac stood. As always, the sight of him in uniform made her want to kick up her heels and suggest something naughty. Unfortunately, he was wearing sunglasses, so she couldn’t see his eyes and figure out if he was still upset with her.
“He’s smart,” she told Emily. “Sunburns hurt like crazy. Come on in. We’re packing the picnic basket.” She eyed the girl’s outfit…red from head to toe…and thought of the red-iced cookies. Either Bev had guessed right or she and Emily had discussed clothing in advance.
“The sandwiches will be a problem,” she murmured as Emily skipped past her.
“Her bathing suit is white,” Mac said. “Does that help?”
“You bet. We used white bread.”
He stayed where he was, on the bottom step of the porch, his gaze shielded by his damn mirrored lenses. She closed the door behind her so they were both outside.
“Take those things off so I can know if you’re mad at me,” she demanded.
He whipped off the sunglasses and grinned.
“Better,” she said. “Look. You have no right to be mad at me. I didn’t do anything wrong. Rudy came here on his own, not by my invitation. So I know the man—that’s not a crime. To the best of my knowledge, he’s never committed a crime. If you’re going to be a butthead about it all, I can’t stop you, but I think it’s really stupid.”
He moved up one step and raised his eyebrows. “Did you just call me a butthead?”
“You bet.”
He didn’t seem angry at all. Intense, maybe, what with how he moved up another step and got a whole lot closer. Raw energy radiated from him. Sexual energy. She liked it.
“You’re nothing but trouble,” he said. “You’re mouthy and completely naive about what Rudy may or may not do in this town. But I like you.”
Her toes curled into the smooth wood of the porch and her stomach clenched. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. Even if you are a pain in the ass.”
Then his arms were around her and his mouth was on hers. The short, hot, intense kiss stole her breath, along with her ability to reason. He straightened and she pressed a hand to her chest.
“Oh, my,” she breathed.
He grinned and touched the tip of her nose. “I have to go.”
“Okay. See you on the beach.”
“I’ll be the good-looking one.”
That she already knew.
CHAPTER EIGHT
PERFECT BEACH WEATHER kept the crowd happy, Mac thought as he walked along the boardwalk fronting the main beach in Los Lobos. It was a little after eleven and already the parking lots were filling up and the lines for the vendors were five or six people deep. Minimal surf meant less work for the lifeguards. Even D.J. seemed to be having a good day, Mac noted as he saw his youngest deputy patrolling in the official dune buggy, stopping every now and then to chat with the sweet young things who instantly surrounded him. Maybe a bevy of beautiful women would take his mind off his need for more firepower.
Mac’s teams had already patrolled the parks, and the smaller beaches. Fireworks would start promptly at nine-thirty, go for a half hour, then his men would be standing by to direct traffic so everyone got home quickly and safely. Two guys had drawn short straws, which meant they were stuck cruising the beach well into the night to take care of any problems that might arise from the folks who chose not to leave.
Mac paused at a vendor to buy a bottle of water. He twisted off the top and took a long sip.
“Morning, Sheriff,” an older woman said as she walked by with her two children.
“Morning. Having fun?”
The youngest, a boy, maybe twelve, grinned. “You bet.”
He continued to greet the locals and visitors alike, knowing he was responsible for them. A few months ago, he would have cringed at the thought of taking responsibility for one more life, but now it felt right.
He eyed the crowd on the beach and wondered if Emily was having a good time. Jill had mentioned introducing her to her assistant’s kids so she could play with someone her own age. He was in favor of the idea. Em could use a break from the grown-ups. He appreciated Jill being willing to—
A familiar silhouette captured his attention. Mac watched as two men strolled toward him. They were both big, dark-haired and dangerous looking. Dammit all to hell, he thought grimly. He wouldn’t have thought Rudy Casaccio the beach celebration type, but here he was. In shorts, no less, although Mr. Smith was dressed in a suit.
His good mood drained away as they moved toward him. Too bad getting on his nerves wasn’t a good enough reason to run them in.
“Sheriff Kendrick,” Rudy said pleasantly as he offered his hand. “Good to see you.”
Mac grimaced. “I wouldn’t have thought this was your kind of party.”
Rudy shook his head. “Nor would I, but I find everything about your little town completely charming. We had breakfast on the boardwalk earlier and the food was delicious. You have a big crowd, yet everyone is so orderly.”
“I’d like it to stay that way.”
“Of course.” Rudy smiled. “Mr. Smith and myself have no intention of making trouble. We’re here for some much needed R and R. Besides, the day is too beautiful for anyone to think about making trouble.”
He nodded and started walking. Mr. Smith trailed after him. Mac stalked off, his pleasure in the holiday ruined.
“WE’RE GONNA need a little flexibility here, kid,” Jill said with mock severity. “What do you think?”
Emily stared at her with big blue eyes as if considering the question.
“It’s a holiday,” Jill added, not sure if she was about to make the situation worse or better. With the bright blue sky overhead and the scent and the sound of surf, it was difficult to imagine anything bad happening today. But if Emily didn’t want to cooperate, things could go downhill pretty fast.
Bev leaned close to the girl and kissed her forehead. “When in doubt, go with your stomach.”
The tension around Emily’s mouth eased and her shoulders relaxed. “Okay, but you won’t tell anyone, right?”
Jill knew what she was asking. For them not to tell her dad. She considered the question, then glanced at her aunt, who shrugged.
“If that’s what you want,” Jill said, hoping this didn’t come back to bite her in the butt later. “Can we just say we agree to keep the secret, or do we have to stick our selves with pins and spit?”
Emily giggled. “You can just tell me.”
“Oh, nothing that boring,” Bev announced.
She held out her pinkie to Jill. When the fingers were linked, Jill closed her eyes and intoned, “By the light of the sun I pledge my word.”
“By the light of the moon, I am vowed,” Bev said in a low, serious voice.
“Forever,” they repeated together as they bounced their hands three times, then clapped their palms together.
Emily looked impressed. “Can you teach me that?” she asked Bev.
“Sure. Nothing to it. But let’s eat up, first.”
Jill handed over the plate she’d prepared. The one that could have given Emily fits, what with the sandwich—white bread—the barbecue chips—orange—the helping of fruit salad—multicolored—and a couple of spoonfuls of coleslaw—green and purple. The red-iced cookies had yet to put in an appearance.
Emily sat in her red shorts set and speared a grape, then chewed. Jill felt like doing the happy dance right there on the blanket. Of course, she’d just made a solemn vow not to tell Mac that his daughter would eat more than one color, which made her feel kind of crappy inside.
An emotion to be dealt with later, she thought.
“Good afternoon, ladies.”
Jill turned toward the speaker and had to shield her eyes against the sun. When she was able to focus, she didn’t know if she should laugh or try to bury herself under a couple of tons of sand.
Rudy Casaccio stood beside their blanket, looking very fit and dressed for fun in shorts and a polo shirt. The same couldn’t be said for Mr. Smith, who hovered a few feet away and looked both uncomfortable and out of place in a dark suit.
“Rudy,” Jill said as she scrambled to her feet. “What are you doing here? I wouldn’t have thought you’d like this sort of thing.” She motioned to the crowded beach as she spoke.
Rudy grinned. “Just checking out the local color.” His gaze strayed to Bev. “So far I like what I see.”
Jill’s mouth dropped open. Was that her client coming on to her aunt? Was that her aunt blushing?
She was so stunned she wasn’t sure what to say. Bev had always been beautiful with her gorgeous long red hair, her perfect skin and her petite but curvy figure. And Rudy wasn’t half-bad. He was in his early fifties and Bev only a few years younger than that, so nothing about the situation should have grossed her out. But still…wow.
She cleared her throat. “We were just eating. Would you like to join us?”
“If you don’t mind the company. We had a late break fast, so we’re not hungry, but everything looks delicious.” He settled next to Bev and smiled.
Jill stole a peek at Mr. Smith, but the large man simply hovered a few feet away from the blanket. She sank onto her knees.
“Should I find Mr. Smith a chair?” she asked.
Rudy chuckled. “He’ll be fine.”
“He looks uncomfortable.”
Rudy’s dark eyes brightened with humor. “Good.”
