Wild Man Read online

  “Her,” a random customer pointed at Olivia before I could say a word. “She came in being loud and nasty, used foul language, and wouldn’t leave when she was asked, like seven thousand times.”

  “Yeah, it was her,” another random customer unnecessarily confirmed. “And she did all this in front of little kids.” Then she added further unnecessary detail, saying, “Kids in mermaid outfits.”

  “And she put her hand on one and not in a nice way,” another random customer added. “From what I could tell, he was her son but still. That ain’t right.” Then he went on to mutter, “Though, he wasn’t in a mermaid outfit.”

  “You come into a bakery thinkin’ to get a good cookie or a purple cupcake with sprinkles,” another random customer piped up. “Then, all of a sudden, some uppity chick storms in droppin’ the f-bomb and the b-bomb. I mean, what is up with that?”

  Clearly this was enough evidence for them. After receiving these reports, one of the officers opened the front door and, eyes on Olivia, he requested, “Ma’am, can you come with me?”

  Her jaw set, her chin lifted, and her eyes narrowed but otherwise she didn’t move. This was surprising evidence that she was stubborn and stupid as well as manipulative and a screaming bitch.

  I had not been in trouble with the law, as in ever, except, of course, when Damian dragged me into his business, but I was an innocent swept up in that. So I didn’t really have any experience with dealing with police officers. But still, I was smart enough to know when a cop asked you to do something, if he did it politely or even if he didn’t, you should probably do it.

  I found in short order I was not in error and I knew this when the officer explained things further.

  “If you’re waitin’ for Detective Lucas, he’s tied up and we can’t have you disturbin’ this establishment so you got two choices. You can come outside and talk to us or we can take you to our squad car, take you to the station, and you can explain things there. But you should know, the second option, you’ll be cuffed mostly because you’ll be arrested. Which way we gonna go?”

  Olivia sucked in an audible breath.

  Then she bent, snatched up her abundance of glossy Cherry Creek North shopping bags, and stomped to and through the door.

  The minute her feet moved over the threshold, the entire bakery erupted into loud cheers.

  I bit my lip to fight back my smile and looked at a smiling-like-a-madwoman Laura. Then her phone rang as one of the officers followed Olivia and the other one came to me.

  “I’m Officer Petri,” he told me.

  “Tess O’Hara,” I told him. “I, um”—I swung an arm toward the big sign confirming my next statement—“own this place.”

  He nodded, his lips twitching, and then he said, “I know. I know Slim so I know who you are. What I gotta know now is what you want us to do here, Ms. O’Hara.”

  I opened my mouth to tell him I just wanted Olivia gone but suddenly Laura was there, arm extended, phone in hand.

  I looked to her and she said, “Slim.”

  Great.

  I nodded, smiled a “give me a minute” smile at the officer, took the phone, pulled in a calming breath, put it to my ear, and greeted with a soft, “Hey.”

  “Make a complaint,” he growled at the same time he managed a new feat and that was filling the atmosphere with abrasive anger and he wasn’t even there.

  “Honey,” I said quietly.

  “Make a complaint, Tess. I want this shit on record.”

  Oh. Right. That would probably be good for the cause.

  “Okay,” I agreed.

  “Too pissed right now to discuss this. We’ll talk about it later.”

  Goodie. Something not to look forward to.

  “Okay,” I repeated.

  “Later, babe,” then he was gone, which meant he was pissed. Very pissed. But I didn’t need that confirmed. I was pretty sure a layer of skin had been sanded off my ear from just having a twenty-second conversation with him on the phone.

  I snapped the phone shut, handed it to Laura, and said to Officer Petri. “I’d like to make a complaint.”

  “Dig it,” Laura muttered happily under her breath.

  “It okay I talk to some of your customers?” Officer Petri asked and it wasn’t. I didn’t like that at all but they’d witnessed Olivia being Olivia, they showed they didn’t mind speaking up, and their statements might help Brock get his sons with him and safe from any more of these nightmares.

  Therefore, I said, “Yes.”

  He nodded, then told me, “I’ll come to you last. Gotta get to ’em before I lose ’em.”

  I nodded.

  He moved.

  I looked to Laura.

  “Happy days,” she whispered gleefully. “That bitch is finally gonna get what’s coming to her.”

  Indeed.

  “I need to go see Joey and Rex,” I told her.

  Her eyes slid to the swinging doors and they weren’t dancing anymore when they slid back to me.

  “Yeah,” she replied. “Send Kalie or Kellie out to look after the girls and I’ll help.”

  I nodded, whispered, “Thanks,” then moved.

  I hit the back room and found with the boys that there were no tears but there was fear.

  Luckily, we were in a bakery and surrounded by baked goods.

  And baked goods soothed a lot of ragged emotions.

  It was a Band-Aid.

  But it worked in a pinch.

  * * *

  The cops were gone, Laura and the girls were gone, and the boys were back to KP duties, albeit doing it with far less enthusiasm and this was because their minds were filled with their mother’s antics. This was also because wiping down tables and cleaning dishes had lost its luster (as it had a tendency to do, no matter what age you were). I was in the back icing sugar cookies when my phone on the stainless-steel table rang.

  The display said Slim Calling.

  I pulled in a breath, my eyes moving to the swinging doors to see if I could spot Joel or Rex and do a visual check on their state of mind as I reached for the phone. I took the call and didn’t see either before I put the phone to my ear.

  “Hey,” I answered.

  “Boys okay?” he asked as greeting.

  “The bloom has gone off the rose of KP duty.”

  “Right,” he muttered and I knew he got what I was saying. Then he told me, “Levi was at the gym when I called earlier. I finally got him and he and Lenore are gonna be around in the next half an hour. They’re gonna take them to a movie and get them somethin’ to eat. I should be done by then so I can get ’em and they’ll be good.”

  There it was. Lenore again. Hmm.

  “Lenore?” I asked curiously.

  “Babe,” Brock answered, not going to go there.

  “All right,” I murmured, giving up.

  “Laura called me and filled me in,” he informed me. I held my breath and he went on. “I called my lawyer at home and filled him in. She put her hand on Joel. He’s gonna go with that and see if he can find a judge who’ll hurry this shit along. She fucked up today. She fucked up two weeks ago when she cried wolf about intruders and the cops got involved. This is not the behavior of a stable woman who can look out for two boys.”

  After today’s scene, I was thinking the same thing. Today’s behavior was beyond just being bitchy and manipulative. It was way out of line to the point of being scary.

  I didn’t share this.

  Instead, quietly, I told him, “Baby, you should have seen Joey. He stood up for me, for himself, and he took care of his brother. It took a lot of courage but you would have been proud.”

  There was a moment of silence, then, “Yeah, Laura told me.”

  “He was great.”

  “I’m glad he was great, darlin’, just wish he wasn’t in the position to have to be great.”

  This was, unfortunately, true.

  “That sucks, but silver lining, Brock, he was in that position and he was great. He d
idn’t back down and he looked after his brother. You should hold onto that because that means, like his dad and his dad’s family, he’s strong, smart, and loyal.”

  This was met with another moment of silence.

  Then a soft, “Yeah.”

  I assured him, saying, “She put her hand on him, baby, and it wasn’t nice but she didn’t hurt him.”

  “Your mother ever put her hand on you when she’s pissed or throwin’ a tantrum?” he asked.

  “No,” I whispered.

  “Mine either so I don’t know but I ’spect that doesn’t feel too good.”

  This was also unfortunately true.

  “Right.” I was still whispering.

  “Right.” Now Brock was whispering.

  We both held those unhappy thoughts for a while and then Brock broke into them.

  “No matter how drunk you get or how late you call, I want you in my bed tonight.”

  “Brock, I—”

  He cut me off. “I want you in my bed because I want you in my bed but I also want you in my kitchen makin’ my boys breakfast tomorrow. They need a good breakfast and they need to be around a woman who makes ’em laugh and feel safe. Tomorrow is their last day with me. It’s a short one and then they gotta go back to her. I wanna make it as good as it can get. Can you help me do that?”

  “Yes,” I answered instantly.

  Another moment of silence, then, “Yeah, I know you can,” he replied quietly. I heard him sigh and say, “I gotta go.”

  “Okay, I’ll tell the boys that Levi and Lenore are going to be here soon.”

  “Great, babe. See you later.”

  “Later, honey.”

  Then I had dead air.

  * * *

  Twenty minutes later, Joel pushed the swinging doors open, held them open, caught my eyes, and announced, “Uncle Levi’s here.”

  “Right, honey, be right out,” I said.

  He disappeared and I stopped piping mountainous swirls of frosting on cupcakes, wiped my hands on a damp towel, and headed out.

  Sure enough, standing in front of my display case looking like beautiful, glamorous movie stars was my man’s gorgeous brother and his equally gorgeous girlfriend (or, I hoped she was his girlfriend).

  “Hey, guys,” I called.

  “Wow, Tess, I’ve never been in here,” Lenore stated, smiling at me. “Everything looks awesome and I love the hibiscus and hummingbirds. They’re so pretty.”

  I totally knew I liked her.

  “Thanks, babe,” I replied, giving her a quick hug and touch of the cheek. I did the same with an amused-looking Levi. Then I stepped back and turned to the hovering Rex and Joel. “Guys, go get your coats. Time for a movie and dinner,” and they dashed off, clearly very, very done with KP duty.

  After the boys took off, Levi’s smile faded and his eyes got serious.

  “Scale of one to ten, how bad was it with the bitch this time?” he asked in a low voice and I knew he’d been briefed by Laura, Brock, both, or perhaps the entirety of the Lucas family, considering time enough had gone by for news to spread.

  “Um… I’ve only been around her once before and that was unpleasant but considering what I heard about her I’m guessing that was around a five so this was a fifteen.”

  His mouth got tight.

  Seeing that, to get his mind off it, I said quickly, “They’re looking forward to spending time with you and, um… of course, their Aunt Lenore.”

  Lenore’s lips tipped up in surprised happiness at receiving the Aunt title and I saw this happen before she tilted her head demurely to the side and therefore she missed Levi giving me a look and shaking his head.

  “They love their Aunt Lenore,” I added and Levi’s eyes moved to the ceiling. “Like, loads,” I continued. Lenore’s gaze came to me and Levi’s eyes tipped back. I looked to Lenore and informed her, “I’m only ahead of you because I own a bakery. But I think I lost ground today because they’ve been clearing tables and doing dishes for four hours. You like football and your little brother plays for Notre Dame. After today, you might have taken the lead.”

  She grinned but stated, “Not sure I can ever compete with your cupcakes and what I’ve heard are your totally awesome breakfasts.”

  “I don’t know,” I replied. “They like their football and they’re their father’s sons so I haven’t hidden the catatonia I lapse into when I’m forced to watch it.”

  Her grin got bigger and I looked to Levi.

  “Sooooo,” I drew it out, “off to the movies and dinner with your girl and your nephews. How domestic.”

  He shook his head again but his eyes crinkled and his arm slid around Lenore’s waist at about the same time the boys raced back.

  Then he confirmed, “Yeah,” as Lenore melted into his side and her grin became dreamy. And when she melted into his side, Levi not only took her weight but also his arm got visibly tighter.

  Yes. Oh yes.

  I knew where this was going. Someone had finally woken up and focused on the sweet, beautiful, stylish young woman who was in his life, who also adored him and had his back.

  “Yeah,” I whispered, smiling at him because I was happy for him (and Lenore). I then released him from his brief (but deserved) torture and bent to Brock’s sons, kissing the tops of their heads in turn, which they endured with shuffling feet and I ordered, “Have fun.”

  “Right Tess,” Rex said.

  “We will,” Joel said.

  “Good,” I whispered. Then I couldn’t stop it but also didn’t try, I lifted my hand and cupped Joel’s cheek lightly and repeated a whispered, “Good.”

  I watched a shadow pass through his eyes that broke my heart before warmth that was close to the kind that I often saw in his father’s suffused them and my heart instantly mended.

  I let him go, turned back to Levi and Lenore, and announced, “Okay, I’m officially releasing them from duty.”

  “Good, we gotta go. Movie starts in thirty minutes. It’s at the mall but we gotta get popcorn and shit,” Levi declared, moving Lenore toward the door with his arm still around her waist and the boys and I followed.

  “Maybe we can do dinner, you guys and Brock and me, sometime soon,” I said to their backs.

  Lenore threw a dazzling smile over her shoulder and Levi sent me a beleaguered look over his.

  “That would be awesome,” Lenore breathed.

  “We’ll set it up,” I told her.

  Levi turned back forward but I heard him sigh.

  I giggled silently to myself and followed them out into the cold. The boys raced to their uncle’s SUV. Lenore gave me a brief hug and followed them.

  Levi moved in and did the same but stayed close to murmur in my ear, “You smell like cake but you’re still a pain in the ass, you know that?”

  “I’ve never had a brother,” I murmured back. “I’ve got forty-three years of older sister pent up in me so watch out.”

  “Fuckin’ great,” he muttered and pulled away. I caught his eyes and grinned.

  He shook his head but his lips twitched.

  Then he turned and bleeped the locks on the SUV. Lenore opened her door. So did Rex. So did Joel. Levi headed to the driver’s side. Lenore, Levi, and Rex got in but Joey hesitated.

  Then he turned, dashed back to me, gave my waist a quick, tight hug then he dashed back, jumped in, closed the door, and instantly became absorbed in the complicated procedure of buckling his seatbelt.

  I looked to the front of the SUV to see Lenore grinning wildly and mouthing, I told you so. Then I saw Levi and the look on his face made the tears already stinging my nose start to sting my eyes.

  Suffice it to say, Uncle Levi loved his nephews and Uncle Levi was glad his brother had a decent woman in his life who would also be a woman his twelve-year-old nephew would take a hit to his reputation in order to hug.

  Then I waved and rushed back into my bakery.

  Luckily I succeeded in making it to my office before the first of the tears fell.
Then I let the others fall.

  Then I wiped my face and got back to work.

  * * *

  “You got sugar cookies with daisy sprinkles on the menu tomorrow?” Shirleen asked in my ear.

  It was seven thirty. I was locking up the shop. Everyone was gone. I was exhausted from working a twelve-and-a-half-hour day and I wanted to go to girls’ night in like I wanted someone to drill a hole in my head. I would have begged off if I didn’t think Martha would send the National Guard to collect me and bring me in restraints to her place.

  “Uh…” I muttered into the phone, turning out lights in the front. “They can be.”

  “Good, ’cause I’m bringin’ you three nighties tonight. All of them do not say ‘good time with a bad boy.’ They scream it.”

  I didn’t know Shirleen. Although she’d been given my cell number by someone and I’d received and returned a variety of texts from her, mostly about sugar cookies, nightie requirements, and the upcoming girls’ night in, I didn’t know her very well mainly because we’d conversed solely about sugar cookies, nightie requirements, and girls’ night in. This could be cool. It could also be scary. But with Shirleen, I was guessing I was in no position to argue.

  Therefore, I told her, “Okay, then they are.”

  “Okay, then you take your pick or take all three and I’m in your bakery tomorrow to collect the debt.”

  “You got it.”

  “See you soon.”

  “Right, later.”

  “Later.”

  Then she ended the call.

  I slid my phone in my purse and started to pay attention. No one had been shot at for over a week, which was good, and I hoped this luck continued but that didn’t mean I was going to fall down on Brock’s order to be vigilant.

  I scanned the darkness outside and saw my car under a streetlamp. The coast appeared clear so I pulled out my keys, got them ready in my fingers, set the alarm, exited, locked the doors, and quickly moved to my car, arm out bleeping the locks.

  I had my hand on the door handle when vigilance was foiled.

  I knew this when I heard Damian say from behind me, “Tess.”

  I closed my eyes as my stomach clenched.

  I opened them and said to the roof of my car, “You have got to be kidding.”