“You’ve just not been with the right guy—me.” He points a thumb to his chest. “I know how you should be treated, and I get that you aren’t used to men being sensitive to your needs but I’m not like your ex, Maggie.”
Boy do I ever know that he is so far removed from being anything remotely like Chris. “I know that.”
“Good. Because like I told you before I can wait until you are.”
Town is more crowded than I expected. Calder parks his cruiser and exits the car. I watch him help another guy I recognize as another deputy who frequents the diner, set some road blocking barricades out of the back of a truck.
He gets back in the car, handing me two bags of candy. “How do you feel about parades?”
“What?” I stare at him confused.
“So, we kind of have to ride in the parade and throw candy out to the kids,” he tells me.
“Okay…I guess I don’t have much of a choice.”
“I knew if I told you ahead of time, you’d say no.”
“I would not have.”
“Yeah you would’ve, but I’ve got you here now and we’re already in line.” He motions for me to look and yup we are in line behind parade floats. So much for laying low.
The parade turns out not to be as big of a deal as I was making it to be in my head. It took us about forty-five minutes to roll slowly down main street tossing candy out of our windows and waving to the kids as they eagerly grabbed the treats and put them into their plastic bags. Seeing their smiles was actually fun.
Now I am standing off to the side and watching Calder in action, Calder the deputy. He’s great with kids and it’s such a turn on. Taking his time with each one, he asks their name and what they want to be when they grow up. Then he sits them in his driver’s seat, sticks a police badge sticker on their shirt, and takes their picture with a polaroid camera. Once the photograph has developed, he gives them their photo along with a bag that contains safety tips and coloring books. The man takes pride in his job. The smile on his face when he is speaking to these kids makes me feel…proud of him.
The final kid accepts their items and Calder walks over to me and takes my hand. “You’re so good with them.”
“Ah, comes with the job.” His grin is infectious, and I can’t resist kissing him on the cheek.
“If you say so but I find it sexy.” I can’t believe those words came out of my mouth, but they did. Being here and watching how he is…it’s hard to resist his charm.
“I do. You ready to go see the greatest turtle race in the world.” I am a bit miffed he ignored my sexy comment but give him a nod.
As we walk down the street holding hands, I can feel eyes on us and hear the hushed whispers. In a town like this I suppose people are bound to talk. Calder is probably Crimson Cove’s most eligible bachelor. Not to mention the cutest as well. The race is on the beach and most of the same kids who were getting their picture taken are lined up behind a box full of turtles. The raceway is marked off with red ribbon and wooden stakes leading to the ocean shore. The turtles have numbers painted on their shells and the children are so eager to see them race.
I try to release Calder’s hand, but he grips mine tighter and pulls me to the start line.
“Thank you all for joining us for the annual turtle race. The entry fee is five dollars, but the money goes back into the Andrea Michaelson Foundation. A non-profit organization started in my sister’s memory to protect the turtles of Crimson Cove. Andrea dreamed of becoming a marine biologist and coming back here to start her own rescue, and I am proud to say that my parents are fulfilling her wishes.” He nods to a man and woman and I can see some family resemblance. They must be his parents. I had no idea about his sister.
After his speech he lets go of my hand to collect entrant fees and hand out turtles. Each kid takes their turtle and lines up at the start line. Once everyone is in place with their turtle Calder removes his gun from the holster and fires it up in the air signaling for the race to start. The kids release their turtles and they take off moving fast for the water. Faster than I imagined. The kids are screaming for their turtle to make it to the water first, cheering them on with vigor.
I loop my arm through Calder’s. “What’s the winner receive?”
“A trophy.” We stroll to the finish line and await the moment a winner will be declared.
The race wraps up and I’m starving.
“You’ve not lived until you’ve had one of Marnie’s blooming onions.” I don’t think onion breath is what I intended but he’s so excited about me trying it I can’t tell him no. In the end he’s right. The blooming onion is delicious. We’re sitting at the picnic tables eating our food and drinking fresh squeezed lemonade when a couple approaches us. Calder’s playful demeanor immediately fades, and he becomes tense. His hand is gripping my thigh so hard, I take his hand in mine and give him a firm squeeze of my own.
The woman studies me intently, and I notice she’s pregnant. The man has his hands in the pockets of his tan Dockers. His jaw ticks. “Hey.” The greeting sounds forced.
“Who’s your friend?” The woman questions.
“Roger. Carly. This is Maggie.” Calder doesn’t give me a label when he introduces me, and Carly is annoyed at the fact. I can see her studying us trying to fit together the pieces wondering if we are a couple. The way she keeps focusing on Calder it is easy to recognize there are feelings there.
“Hi. Nice to meet you.” I extend my hand to her and the last thing she wants to do is shake my hand.
“Roger runs the volunteer fire department,” Calder explains.