Author: Jill Shalvis

“Who?” he asked.

This stumped her. “The crossing-the-county-lines police?”

Zach laughed. “Relax, no one’s going to arrest you for visiting your mom. I got your message about Bree. Are you sure?”

“Yes, but they haven’t found the money.”

“Luke’ll sniff it out. He’s not the type to let something he cares about go.”

And yet he let her go…

She and Zach hung up, and Ali went on to what she was exceptionally good at—picking herself up and telling herself things would be okay. She blew her nose, slid on her dark aviator Oakley knockoffs, and got back on the road.

She arrived in time to sit at her mom’s table and chop veggies.

“No one ever eats the veggies,” Mimi said, sitting on the counter with a mirror in one hand and her eyeliner in the other. “But it seems classy to have them out, you know? You get the beer?” she yelled to Harper in the back of the old, tiny, narrow house.

“Mama, this is a damn surprise party,” Harper yelled back. “Stop asking questions about it and practice your surprised look!”

Mimi grinned and practiced in the mirror. “How about this, honey?” she asked Ali. “Do I look surprised?”

“Yes,” Ali said without looking. She munched on a piece of celery and wondered if Luke would eat celery. It was green, which probably put it on his taboo list.

“Did I tell you I’m learning how to do taxes?” Mimi asked. “It’s going to change everything, honey. You’ll see.”

She was eternally optimistic in spite of the fact that life had never handed Mimi Winters a single thing, including a break.

But the thing was, Mimi believed wholeheartedly that everything could change, and up until recently, so had Ali. All along she’d thought all she had to do was leave White Center and that would change everything. All she had to do was become the best damn florist in Lucky Harbor and that would change everything. All she had to do was love Luke and that would change everything.

But if wishes and dreams were sure things, the world would be a whole different ball game. And deep down, she’d always known that. And, she had a feeling, so did Mimi. But that had never once stopped her mom from trying to impart hope into both of her daughters’ hearts. Ali’s chest tightened a little bit. “I love you, Mom.”

Mimi looked up, surprised, then smiled softly. “Aw, baby. I love you too. What time’s Luke coming?”

“He isn’t.”

Her mother set down the mirror, her expression of surprise a real one this time. “Why not?”

“Because we’re not together. I’ve been telling you that. Besides, he’d be on his way back to San Francisco by now.” Ali closed her eyes and dropped her head to the table. “And I messed things up.”

“Oh, Ali-gator.” Mimi hopped down from the counter and sat next to Ali, hugging her close. “It happens. Listen, we’ll go to the Victoria’s Secret outlet store. We’ll get you something pretty, and you can make it up to him—”

“No.” But that did squeeze a laugh out of her. “It’s not like that. I messed up by falling for him.”

“Well how’s that messing up?”

“Because he didn’t fall back.”

“Oh honey. What man wouldn’t fall for you? You’re strong and smart, and so pretty. Although you should smile more. You’ve got those nice white teeth—”

Ali pushed to her feet. “I’m going to go see if Harper needs any help outside decorating. You keep working on your surprise expression, okay?”

Two hours later, the party was in full swing. Ali had been sent to the store—twice—and was back in the tiny, cramped, hot kitchen, her mom’s cake in one hand, a knife in the other. She’d come inside to put the cake away, but now she was thinking she needed a third piece.

Problem was, a third piece would put her at about a million calories for the day, so she cut off a bite-sized portion. She ate right off the knife, because everyone knew that the calories eaten right off the knife didn’t count. She was leaning over the cake stuffing her face, when she heard footsteps behind her. She turned, then nearly fell over in surprise at the man standing in the doorway.

“Luke?”

His shoulders nearly brushed the jamb on either side of him, making him look far too big for the place. He was wearing a T-shirt, faded Levi’s, and battered athletic shoes. The casual wear should have had him fitting right in, but he didn’t really. Maybe he had the hard-edge and see-all eyes it took to survive in this neighborhood, but his badassness came from being a cop, not from worrying about having a job and putting food on the table or whether it was safe to walk to his car.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, surreptitiously swiping her face, hoping she didn’t have chocolate all over it. “Why aren’t you gone?”

“I wanted to see you before I left.”

White Center wasn’t exactly en route to San Francisco. He’d gone pretty far out of his way to talk, but she needed to protect herself. And get over him. Getting over him would be supremely helpful. “I’m pretty busy here, Luke.”

He slid a glance at the cake in her hands. “Yeah, I can see that. Should I give you two a moment alone?”

“No. Yes.” She noted that she sounded peeved, which was good. It hid the hurt. And she was hurt. So damn hurt, with no one to blame but herself.

He came forward and took the knife out of her hands, setting it far out of her reach. Then he very gently took the cake as well.

“How did you find me?” she asked. “And why are you even here?”

Mimi stepped into the kitchen and said in a horrified voice, “Ali Anne Louise Winters, how is that a way to talk to your man?” She put a hand on Luke’s arm and smiled up at him. “You made really good time from Lucky Harbor, honey.”

“I did,” he said, and dipped down to kiss her on the cheek. “Happy birthday.”

Mimi fawned over that. “Oh my, aren’t you the charmer.” She smiled at Ali. “Isn’t he, Ali?”

“Yes,” Ali agreed tightly. “He’s quite the charmer. But he’s not my man, Mom. We’ve discussed this.”

Mimi sighed, and Ali braced herself for the lecture. A man is everything, Ali. Don’t disappointment him, ever. Be what he needs you to be…

But Mimi said none of that. She simply stepped around Luke, cupped her daughter’s face, and smiled gently. “Just talk to him, baby.”

“Mom—”

“I know you’ve been let down. And I also know that’s more my fault than any man’s.”

Ali sighed and brought her hands up to her mom’s wrists. “Oh, Mom. That’s not true.”

Mimi smiled sadly. “You always were the sweet one. My miracle,” she said to Luke. “So willing to see only the best in me.” She turned back to Ali. “But honey, maybe you could try to see the best in him too.” Then she kissed both of Ali’s cheeks, patted them gently, and left the two of them alone.

Chapter 24

Luke didn’t touch Ali. God knew he wanted to. She was standing there, arms wrapped around herself, the don’t-touch vibes coming off of her like lightning bolts.

He’d caused that. Instead of keeping his mouth shut and saying goodbye to her, he’d ruined what they’d shared during their short time together. Worse, he’d hurt her. “I called you,” he said quietly. She hadn’t picked up. He’d called her again, and Mimi had answered, saying that Ali had gone to the store and left her phone. Mimi had invited him to her party.

Luke had been on his way regardless, but the invite had been nice.

“My mom’s dying of curiosity about you,” Ali said.

“She’s protective of you.”

That brought her gaze to his. In all this time, she’d been an open book. But she’d closed herself off now, shuttering everything from him.

His own doing. “She wanted me to know you were upset,” he said.

Ali made a sound and closed her eyes, and he stepped closer. “I told her it was my fault,” he said, “and that I wanted to come see you.”

“Well, you’re seeing me now.”

“Ah…” he said helplessly, “we need to talk.”

“Not here.” And with that, she walked outside.

He drew a deep breath and followed.

They didn’t go around to the back, where the party was ramping up, if the raucous laughter and loud music meant anything. Instead, she started walking down the street.

Luke went with her. “Ali—”

“Not here either.”

He decided to shut it and let her lead.

But she stopped so short at the sight of the white Lucky Harbor Dial-A-Ride van, he nearly plowed her over.

She swiveled her head and looked at him in disbelief.

He shrugged.

“You drove the Dial-A-Ride here?”

“Someone took the key bowl,” he said, “with my keys in it.”

She stared up at him. “Oh my God. That was me. I took the bowl.” She smacked herself on the forehead. “I’ve got to stop doing that.”

He smiled, and they walked in silence a few blocks.

Weeds poked through the cracks in the beat-up asphalt in front of the houses that had seen better days decades ago. Some had bars in the windows, and others had flowers in pots on their porches.

“We lived on that corner once,” Ali said, pointing to a place on the right, where there was a skeleton of a Chevy up on blocks. “We also lived across the street.”

“Where does that loan shark asshole live?” he asked. “The one who threatened to sell you?”

She took a look at his face. “You want to beat the shit out of some guy who scared me fifteen years ago?”

“Badly,” he said.

She shook her head again, but there was the very smallest of smiles on her face.