Page 4 of Sweet Courage

As a kid growing up, Kat had dreams of moving to the big city, enjoying dinner in quaint restaurants, catching up with friends over coffee or wine at an outdoor café, and having all her needs met without driving for hours to a bigger town than Honeysuckle. Now? Stepping into the café to pick up a pie for her next client and running into some of her students and their families, that was worth more than any outdoor café in Chicago, New York or her preferred South Beach in Miami. For her, Honeysuckle wasn’t a town, it was one big family, and she liked that just fine.

“I have your pie waiting.” Agnes smiled widely and waved toward the back counter. “Good thing you wanted coconut cream. I just sold my last two lemon meringues.”

Kat slid onto the stool at the back counter as Agnes disappeared behind the double doors, reappearing moments later with a white cardboard box tied in string with a bright red bow on top. That was something new.

“Since you mentioned it’s a gift, I went ahead and added a bow. Might do it more often.” Agnes seemed to be studying the package, probably wondering if it was worth the expense or not.

“You could put Harriet’s pies in a brown paper bag and we’d all still savor every bite.” Little more than a year ago, Harriet had moved to town after a nasty divorce in Dallas. She’d been passing through on her way to a Southern California vacation, stopped for a night, and never left. It was to the town’s delight that she turned out to be a fabulous baker.

“True.” Chuckling loudly, Agnes handed over the pie.

Not wanting to be late, Kat thanked the woman who had been in charge of the café for as long as she could remember and hurried out the door. The moment she hit the street the horrible sound of grinding metal had her cringing like nails on a chalkboard. What the… Hurrying to her car, the sound grew louder and more frequent. Someone was killing a perfectly good motor. Though she didn’t want to be late, curiosity got the best of her. Pausing at the back of her car, juggling her keys and the pie, she searched the lot for the motor assassin. It didn’t take long to spot the culprit. Tail lights on, the small SUV across the lot from her car was killing the poor engine. For a split second, she considered crossing the fifteen feet to the parked car and offering to help, or maybe teach them how to shift gears.

Her mind was still kicking around whether that would be a good or bad idea when the grinding noise came to a stop and the dusty SUV jerked, and like a thoroughbred at the derby, suddenly shot out of the parking space and raced straight toward her.

Sucking in a terrified breath, she made some sound suitable to a teenager in a horror film and throwing her arms up in the air—pie and all—bolted backwards, almost tripping over her own feet, and collapsing against the car parked beside hers before falling splat on the blacktop. Less than a foot from her car, the SUV came to a hard stop, the engine grinding once more. Before she found herself covered in tire marks, she scrambled on all fours, away from the cars and pushed to her feet just in time to see the dumb SUV jerk forward and back. Only this time, it didn’t stop until the vehicle backed into her trunk. Just what she needed.

The other car’s door flew open and a man the size of a linebacker jumped out of the car and galloped in her direction.

Instinct had her scrambling in reverse and out of his trajectory. Too bad the curb didn’t know to slide out of her way. Heels bumping against the concrete edge, once again she was on the ground, flat on her rump.

“I’m so sorry, are you okay?” Whether the look on the man’s face was concern or fear for his increasing insurance premiums, she wasn’t sure. “I’m so sorry.” He held out his hand.

“Mm.”

“Let me help you up.”

Staring at his extended hand, the thought she’d rather play with a viper crossed her mind. This man was trouble with a capital T. “I’m fine.”

“I really am sorry.” His gaze drifted over his shoulder at the now kissing bumpers. “Of course, I’ll pay for all damages. And a new pie.”

“Pie?” That’s right, the pie had gone flying in the air as she tried to break away from his car. Immediately her gaze darted to where she’d stood when she spotted his screeching vehicle. “Dang it.” On her feet, she rushed over to the box resting on the ground, the bow still on top. Could it be? Bending over, she reached for the box.

Behind her she heard, “Allow me.”

Before she could process the man’s words, the two bumped heads. The box dropped to the ground, again, this time breaking open and splattering cream all over her new shoes.

“Uh, oh.”

Slowly turning her head toward the voice, biting down on her back teeth, she threw daggers with her eyes at this man. “Ya think?”

“I’ll replace it.” He moved toward her and before he took two steps, she held her arm straight, palm out.

“Stop right there. Do not come another step closer.” On a sigh, she bent over to retrieve what she could of the box. She had no idea if coconut cream was good or bad for the critters lurking about, but she could at least discard the ruined box into a trash can.

“I really am sorry.” Standing still as told, his feet didn’t move. Instead he waved an arm in her direction. “Please let me…”

His words trailed off as his arm bumped hers dumping what little pie was left in the mangled box onto her shirt.

“Oh, no.” The man had the decency to look mortified, but not the common sense to stay away. Taking a step closer, bare-handed, he reached forward and brushed the pie from her blouse. His eyes widened as he realized he’d just run his fingers across her chest. “I..uh…”

“Just stop.” Never in her life had she wanted to rip anyone’s head off as much as she wanted to at this very moment. “Just. Go.”

“But—”

“Now!” Staring down at her ruined clothes and the nonexistent pie, she shook her head. “Just go.”

“I—”