Terri Osburn - Up to the Challenge

“E-mail can wait,” he growled, taking her mouth with all the passion he’d been holding in check. Without breaking contact, he moved them both to the bedroom, where, as he’d predicted, removing Sid’s funky pajamas was the most fun he’d had all day.

Hours later, as the clock turned over to midnight, Lucas got around to checking his e-mail. Of the dozen or so messages, one caught his eye first. Davis Holcomb, the partner who had suggested he take some time off, didn’t e-mail often. This had to be important.

Opening the message, Lucas found the words he least expected.

We need you for a case. When are you coming back?

Summers on Anchor could never be considered scorchers, but by mid-August the humidity had spiked, making eighty-five feel more like ninety-five. In the shade. After tossing two large garbage bags into the Dumpster behind Dempsey’s, Sid caught a drop of sweat headed for her chin and stretched out the muscles in her back.

In the last week, she’d gotten more of a workout than she ever had hitting the gym. Lucas had stamina to spare, and quite the imagination. Good thing she trusted him or she might never have been willing to try that chair maneuver the night before. A move likely illegal in several states.

But the payoff had been worth the bending and twisting. Her teeth still tingled when she thought about it.

Eight nights with Lucas in her bed, and Sid woke every morning afraid she might be dreaming. After the weekend, she’d assumed he’d want some time apart. That he’d stay at his parents’ house during the week. But Lucas had followed her home from work every night, and by midweek they realized what a waste it was to drive two vehicles to the same place.

They started driving in together and if anyone found it odd that she and Lucas were suddenly joined at the hip, they kept it to themselves.

Contrary to Sid’s own expectations, she enjoyed having a man around. His hot, solid body tangled with hers as she fell asleep. Hazel eyes and a stubble-covered chin the first thing she saw in the morning. Though if this arrangement ever became permanent, she’d need to install a bigger shower, as they’d become strict practitioners of water conservation.

Two people saving the planet one shower at a time.

But this wasn’t a permanent arrangement. Something Sid had to remind herself on a regular basis. Lucas would be leaving in four weeks. Not that she was marking the days on a mental calendar or anything. The two or three brief moments when she imagined waking up alone again, waterworks threatened. Tears were not an option. Sid Navarro did not cry over something as stupid as a man.

To preserve her sanity as well as her dignity, the winding river of denial had become her mental happy place.

“Sid, wait up,” Will said from the front corner of the building, pulling Sid from her wayward thoughts. “I was hoping to catch you.” The lanky brunette crossed the distance between them, then shoved her hands in the pockets of her jeans, setting off a cacophony of bangle bracelets. Her eyes looked everywhere but at Sid.

“Should I be sitting down for this?” Sid asked, assuming the worst. “There’s been a formal offer on the garage, hasn’t there?”

Will jumped and met Sid’s gaze, eyes wide. “No. Not that I know of.”

“Then what are you acting so weird about?” The woman looked ready to leap out of her own skin.

“I …” Will started, then looked around as if making sure they were alone. Leaning forward she whispered, “Do you know why I’m here?”

She thought she did. “Lucas called and asked you to come, didn’t he?”

Will took a step back. “And you’re not pissed?”

“Why would I be pissed?” Sid had encouraged Lucas to make the call. They’d been so busy through the week, and distracted with each other, that he must have only just gotten around to it. If Will was going to become the new assistant manager of Dempsey’s Bar & Grill, they needed to ask her first.

“But you two have been together all week? I get that whatever you have is casual, but it’s still weird that he would ask me out while he’s seeing you.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” There would be no sharing of Lucas. She may have to give him up when summer ended, but fuck all if Will thought she could have him now.

Will crossed her arms. “The guy you’re sleeping with called and asked me to meet him here on a Friday night. I assumed …”

When she put it that way. “So Lucas didn’t tell you why he called you here?”

“He said he wanted to talk to me.” Will shrugged one shoulder. “I tried to tell him no, but he insisted and said it was important.” Will took a step back when Sid started to laugh. “Is that your crazy ‘I’m going to cut a bitch’ laugh? Because I swear I had no intention of—”

“Relax,” Sid said, holding her side and snorting again. “He wasn’t asking you out. He wants to offer you a job.” She sobered and leaned against the railing. “And if it were the other, I would kill you both. So lucky for you it’s not.”

Will rubbed her forehead. “I’m so confused. What kind of a job could Lucas offer? He doesn’t even live here.”

Sid gestured toward the building. “He thinks Patty and Tom need help running this place. Someone to take some of the load off. Figured with your experience, you’d be the person for the job.” As Will’s lips moved but no sound came out, Sid added, “You don’t have to answer right away, but something full time would be better than flitting around to every business the way you do, don’t you think?”

“It’s a great offer,” Will said, eyes on her shoes. “But I don’t know.” Backflips of excitement weren’t necessary, but Sid had expected a more positive response.

“We haven’t talked to Tom and Patty about it yet. Lucas thought we should ask you first before taking the idea to them.” She’d thought Will would jump at the chance. So much for that. “If you’re not interested, then just forget it.”

Sid wasn’t sure why she felt betrayed. It wasn’t as if she’d be working the tables after Tom and Patty returned. What did she care if Will took the job or not? Silence loomed, tension crackling in the air.

“I’d better get back inside,” Sid said. “If you want I’ll tell Lucas you’re taking a pass.”

“Wait,” Will said, stopping Sid as she turned back toward the kitchen door. “I didn’t say I don’t want the job. It’s just that …” She hesitated, biting her lip. “I’m not sure how long I plan to stay on Anchor.”

That announcement hit like a blow. Though Will had been on the island less than a year, she’d never mentioned wanting to move on. She, Beth, and Sid had spent hours talking over desserts at Opal’s, and never had the topic of leaving Anchor come up.

Maybe they weren’t the good friends Sid had thought. “By all means, don’t let us tie you down.” This must be how puppies felt when kicked. Stupid puppy kicker.

Sid was pulling the kitchen door shut behind her when Will stuck her foot in the way. “I didn’t say my bags are packed. It’s just complicated. I like it here, but things could change. I can’t plan things long term.”

What the hell was she talking about? It was starting to sound like the woman was in the witness protection program. “Look, Will, I don’t know what all this mystery stuff is about, but if you ever run into trouble, you have friends here. We take care of our own.”

“You consider me part of ‘your own’?” Will asked, brows raised.

Sid nodded. “Damn right.”

Will lingered in silence for several more seconds. Stared at the floor. Chewed her lip. Then she caught Sid’s eye and nodded. “Then I’d like to talk about the job.”

As if the floor had just tilted and then reset itself, Sid felt her world settle back into place. She’d spent most of her life without any close friends, and never thought twice about it. Now, in one week, she’d gone from not needing a man or friends to realizing she had both and liking it that way.

Sid held the door open wide. “Then let’s go get you a job.”

I’m not sure how much longer they’re willing to wait, Lucas.” Calvin Bainbridge’s words were clipped with impatience. “You’ve been gone a month already.”

“I’ve only been down here two weeks and I wouldn’t have been off at all if Holcomb hadn’t insisted. My dad had a heart attack, remember?”

“And we all feel bad about that, but how many people does it take to run some dinky restaurant?”

Red flared behind Lucas’s eyelids. “My family does not run a dinky restaurant. And considering the number of lawyers working in that firm, how could this case possibly require my participation?”

“It’s the prosecutor,” Calvin said. The sound of rustling papers traveled down the line. “Dannon has been given lead in the case. You’ve singed his ass three times in the last year and that makes you the go-to guy on this one.”

“You worked those cases too, Cal. Surely you’ve learned something from me by now.” Lucas paced the tiny confines of the office. Georgette was covering the bar, but she’d need to return to the floor soon. “I need another couple weeks down here. Take it through discovery and I’ll be back before the trial starts.”

Calvin sighed. “Holcomb’s not going to like this. Did you know there’s a pool going around for who’s going to get your office?”

Lucas stopped. “What are you talking about? No one is getting my office. I’m not quitting.”

“You quitting is not the reason people think the office will be up for grabs.” A female voice could be heard in the background, then Calvin continued. “Look, man, we need you up here and we need you now.”