Anna Stewart - Always The Hero

She hadn’t pulled into her shell, hadn’t dipped her head or lost eye contact with anyone coming over to congratulate and thank her. Instead, while she seemed a bit flummoxed, he thought for sure he caught something akin to excitement shining in her eyes.

Typical Lori, with a smile that brightened an already-pretty face. She had no idea how people reacted to her, that she had a way of making whoever she was with feel as if they were the most important person in the room.

She looked over at him and her eyes sharpened, as if she wasn’t quite sure what to make of him and the entire situation.

Whether she realized it or not, Lori Bradley made him happy. Now it was his turn to return the favor.

“You going to need protection on the walk home?” Fletcher slapped a hand on Matt’s already-bruised shoulder.

“They’re leaving,” Matt looked back as the crowd filed out.

“Wasn’t talking about them.” Fletcher’s normally amused eyes held a hint of seriousness. “I meant protection from my sister. I’ve been on the other end of that look, pal. She hasn’t made up her mind what she thinks about this situation yet. She’s not the only one.”

“Yeah, sorry about usurping the project like that.” Matt winced. “Luke said you wouldn’t be here.”

“Wasn’t supposed to be,” Fletcher said. “And things turned out the way they were meant to. No worries on my part.”

“Or mine.” Paige Bradley ducked in under her husband’s arm and tugged her long brown ponytail free. She’d come a long way from the shy, secretive person she’d been when she’d first arrived earlier in the year, but she’d made a new start—and a home for her and her daughter in Butterfly Harbor. “This is exactly what Lori needs. She spends too much time cooped up at work or at home. This project is perfect for her. And if she’s worried about Abby not having enough help with the food market, I’m happy to lend a hand. Holly’s already working with her, so it makes sense. And—” Paige craned her head to look up at the stage where the board members were filing out “—you managed to tick off BethAnn Bottomley. I bet that’ll be worth a free mocha shake from Holly next time you come by the diner.”

“Our good diner owner isn’t a fan of our new town council member?” Matt asked of his boss’s wife. As he was clearly not as up on town gossip as he should be, a trip to the hardware store this week might be in order.

“I don’t know the particulars other than BethAnn burned a lot of bridges on her way out of town. Something to do with Holly’s mother?” Paige shook her head. “I might be able to pry it out of her on our next girls’ night.”

Fletcher looked down as his stepdaughter, Charlie, ran over to grab his hand, her red pigtails sticking out crookedly on either side of her head. “What’s going on, kiddo?”

“I want to help plant the new flowers with Aunt Lori.” She swung her arm high and back as she bounced on her heels.

“You mean you’re going to abandon me along with your mother?” Fletcher teased.

“You can help, too,” Charlie said with an exaggerated eye roll that was all her mother. “Besides, Mom said I could start my own garden if I learned what to do. Do you think Aunt Lori will mind teaching me?”

“I can speak for Aunt Lori.” Finally free of her crowd, Lori bent down to retrieve her belongings and stayed low to meet her recently acquired niece eye to eye. “I would love to have you as a student and a volunteer. After your homework gets done, though. And after all your chores are finished. And you’ve checked with Mrs. Hastings to make sure you’re caught up with her.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know.” Charlie leaned so far over to the side she nearly tipped over. “Mom, I’m going to need a calendar like yours.”

“No one has a calendar like your mom’s.” Fletcher pulled Paige close and pressed his lips to her forehead. “Always the busy bee. Must run in the family.”

“I’m going to head back to the inn, talk to Abby. Fill her in on...things.” Lori seemed to be looking at anyone—and anything—other than Matt. “Paige, I’ll give you an update on the inn’s plans as soon as I do some rearranging with my schedule.”

“How about I walk you back?” Matt offered.

“Not necessary, thanks.” Lori looked across the empty room to where BethAnn was having a pouting session with a less than sympathetic Gil. “She’s actually taking this pretty well all things considered.”

“She just assumed you’d do her bidding on helping to organize the welcome dinner, didn’t she?” Fletcher said.

Lori shrugged. “I am helping on a few things.”

“Oh, Lori, you aren’t.” Paige sighed. “Why didn’t you say no?”

“Because she doesn’t like disappointing anyone,” Matt said before Lori could respond. She glared at him, but didn’t argue.

“What did she rope you into?” Fletcher asked.

“Nothing much. Just mailing out her special invitations. I can do it one night after work. Or two. It’ll be fine.” Judging by her tone, however, Matt could hear an unfamiliar trace of resentment in her voice. “It’s the last thing I’ll do for BethAnn. Promise.” She held up her fingers like a Girl Scout swearing an oath.

“Uh-huh.” Paige rolled her eyes. “As one people pleaser to another, I’m going to hold you to that.”

Lori smiled. “Deal.”

“I don’t like her. She’s rude,” Charlie declared. “Mrs. Hastings called her a snob.” Charlie’s eyes were big as saucers as she slapped a hand over her mouth. “Oops. I wasn’t supposed to repeat that.”

“Mrs. Hastings would probably know the details about BethAnn,” Fletcher agreed. The former high school principal had become a surrogate grandmother to Charlie. “She definitely made a name for herself around here before she married into politics. Perfect bedfellows, our grandfather said. But now you don’t have to worry about her, Lori. You’ll be working with Matt here, instead.”

“Hmmmm.” Lori’s lips thinned as she said her goodbyes and headed to the door. “Lucky me.”

“Seriously, man, I wish you luck.” Fletcher pushed Matt behind her. “Just don’t forget, she’s my sister.”

“Ease up, Fletch,” Paige ordered. “Charlie, let’s say you and I check in with Calliope about our fresh produce deliveries for tomorrow?” She held out her hand, and mother and daughter scampered off, leaving Matt and Fletch alone.

“What’s going on with you and Lori?” Fletcher asked Matt before he could get away. “A bit of on-again, off-again?”

“Yeah.” Matt fought the urge to wince. He didn’t need to be reminded how badly he’d handled things with Lori. It had definitely bitten him in the backside in more ways than one. “That’s on me and it was a mistake.” He reached for his baseball cap and tugged it on. “One I plan on fixing, believe me. But since you brought it up. You good with this? With me and her?”

“Are you asking my permission to date my sister?” Always one to make a joke, Fletcher’s usual levity didn’t quite break through. Matt’s fellow deputy was known for his easygoing nature to the point of being a pushover at times, a family trait, obviously. Fletch definitely wasn’t the disciplinarian in the recently formed Bradley household, which was why Matt took the stern glare in Fletch’s eyes to heart.

“Lori hears you ask that, I won’t be the only one in need of protection,” Matt said. “I like her, Fletch. I like her a lot and I’m being straight with you when I say I know I screwed up.” Not that he was about to admit how he’d screwed up. On the one hand, he probably shouldn’t have kept his marital status a secret. On the other hand, Matt hadn’t cared enough to talk about it. Not that anyone had asked. They’d just assumed. That said, it probably wasn’t the best idea for Fletcher to know that, technically, he was a married man. Or that he needed to get things back on track on the off chance she was called to testify at Kyle’s placement hearing.