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Nico huffed out a laugh and pulled up the blinds, squinting as the daylight spilled in. He had a nice view of a park that eventually led to the beach. “How long ago did your former chief step down?”
Frank rubbed his chin. “Nine, ten months ago.”
Nico turned. “You’ve been without a lieutenant for that long?”
A sly grin appeared amongst Frank’s salt-and-pepper stubble. “More or less.”
Nico turned back to the window, choosing not to think too deeply on that one.
“I’ll, ah, let you get settled. If you need any supplies, just talk to Cora.”
“At my own risk, I assume?”
Frank clicked his tongue and winked. “You’re catching on.”
Once alone, Nico sighed.
Too late to back out now.
“This is where we’re eating?”
After work, Frank had knocked on Nico’s office doorjamb to invite him out for a beer and a bite to eat. He didn’t much feel like it, but considering Frank was the only person who’d been somewhat friendly to him all day—the two young officers giving him a wide berth, Cora being Cora, and West returning to his own office to (presumably) sulk about his problems—Nico decided he’d best accept. The drive took less than a minute. Nico would have commented that they could have walked the short distance, had his mouth not suddenly dried up to the point that speaking became impossible. This was it, the place Alexis Bowen worked.
Frank unclipped his seatbelt. “Come on, kid. The beer’s good and the food’s even better.”
Nico stared at the low-set building, the aged maroon bricks set off by twinkle lights in the windows, a soft orange glow spilling out onto the sidewalk, and was hard-pressed to recall a time when he’d ever felt more nervous. Laughter and conversation wafted through the front door—propped open to enjoy the sea-kissed air of summer—as did the mouth-watering aromas of a busy kitchen. Glancing up, he read the words Rusty’s Bar & Grill on a red, neon sign.
“What’s up with you?”
Frank’s question jolted Nico out of his stupor. He hadn’t realized he’d been sitting comatose in the passenger seat. Like a moron.
“Nothing,” he mumbled.
With a determined huff, he stepped out of the car.
Chapter two
Lexie folded her arms and leaned against the bar, surveying the crowded restaurant with an exhausted sigh. It was a full house tonight—every table teeming with well-fed and well-lubricated patrons. She loved the sight, loved the medley of people summer always brought with it. So far tonight, she’d chatted with a singer from Tennessee, a pilot from Montreal, and a cute couple on vacation all the way from Los Angeles. Who ever said small towns were boring?
Well, Annie had when she’d first moved here as a sullen seventeen-year-old, complaining that she’d rather be dipped in acid than live here. Lexie smiled at the memory, recalling how steadfast the black-finger-nailed, heavy eye makeup-wearing teen had been to get out as soon as she could. She never imagined that ten years later Annie would still be here, and that they’d be best friends.
“Oh, my god.” As if conjured by Lexie’s thoughts, Annie came to drop an empty tray on the bar beside her, perfect brunette ringlets bouncing around her angular face. “You know, just one time I’d like to be able to put a meal down in front of old man Rankin without him making a grab for my ass.” She shivered. “He’s so gross.”
“Right?” Lexie agreed, collecting some empty glasses off a nearby table. “Did you tell Wade?”
“And have him kick the perve out before he’s given me my tip? No, thank you.”
Lexie smiled. It was true. Wade was a sucker for a damsel in distress. Speaking of—she caught her boss’s eye behind the bar, one muscular arm holding a cardboard box steady while he restocked shelves of refrigerated beer. The man was a giant—at least six-three by her guess—with a mane of beach blond hair down to his shoulders and an unkempt beard. Ice-blue eyes glanced back at her, and he motioned for her to come over.
“You’ve been on your feet for hours,” he said when she reached him. “Go take a break.”
Lexie tilted her head. “I’ll take one when you do.”
Wade’s beefy shoulders, hugged tightly by the standard-issue black t-shirt he and all the staff sported, shook with his snort. “Not likely. Have you seen this place?”
“I know. Good start to the season, huh?”
“I’ll say.”
