Page 58

What is he saying? What else happened? “I understand.” But I don’t. Not really.

He tilts his head back, his gaze fixed on the sky and clouds above. He looks back at me. Nods. “I’ll call you.” And then he walks away, leaving me there on the side of the road. I track him as he dodges a passing car and then takes the steps two at a time into the police station. I watch as he pulls the heavy door open with ease and disappears behind the wood, glass, and brick. And I keep watching for minutes more, afraid to move and make everything worse than it already is.

“Lover’s quarrel?” The voice startles me.

I turn, and that K-9 officer is at my side. His dog watches me, head tilted and tail slowly wagging. The cop gives me a friendly smile and pets his dog. The skittering of a thousand spiders crawls up my back. “Excuse me?”

He rocks back on his heels, then squats next to the dog and pets him. Loose dog hair gets caught in the breeze. The officer’s posture is casual. He seems friendly, but it hits me the wrong way. Maybe it’s because of the lover’s quarrel comment.

He tilts his head toward the police station. “Looked like you and your boyfriend were having an argument.”

I force a laugh. Widen my eyes and twirl a lock of hair in my fingers. Play the innocent girl game. “You mean Jake? Oh, no. He’s not my boyfriend. Just an old friend.”

He buys my silly girl routine. Most men do because they underestimate me.

He laughs. “That’s not what the gossip around town is saying.”

“I wouldn’t know. I’m just passing through and will leave soon.”

“You should stay longer, enjoy the town, lots of fun things to do.”

I force a smile. “That’s a German Shepherd, right?” I try to deflect his interest with the question.

He stands up and pats the dog’s head.

“Yes, this is Duke.” That too friendly smile comes back. Too perfect. Too crafted, and like he practiced it in front of a mirror a thousand times.

I need to get away. “What time is it? I have a hair appointment and don’t want to be late.” I use the question to glance at his wrist and check for a scar.

He looks at his wrist and shows me his watch, but a thick watch band prevents me from seeing if a scar is present or not. I look at it without noticing the time. “Oh yes, I’ve got to go. Nice talking to you.” I turn on my heels, open the car door, and get in, locking it before turning on the ignition.

The K-9 officer crosses the street, forcing a car to slow down as if he has all the time in the world. I check over my shoulder and pull into traffic just as he gets to the other side of the street. His figure reflected in the rearview mirror as I drive away.

Chapter27

Jake

I’m an ass.And I hurt Ava and there’s no denying I didn’t handle this whole thing well.

But I can’t accept that my sister’s death plays a role in bringing us together.

And yet I know it does.

I drop to my chair, and it screeches in protest. I need to replace the old thing, but it’s one of the few tokens I have from my grandfather, and I refuse to give it up. I spent many hours sitting on his lap as a boy on this chair while he read me books or taught me how to make sailing knots. I reach for the drawer, pull it open, and grab the rock made smooth by time and friction.

“What should I do, Pops?” I swivel in his chair, half expecting him to appear, but only silence greets me.

I close my eyes and lean back. The chair creaks again, and the sound is followed by a knock on my door. Ava? My heart punches my chest from the inside. Idiot.Of course it is not her, not after how you left her on the side of the road. You’ll be lucky if she comes back to see you at all.

I put the rock back in the drawer and close it. “Come in.”

Jeff opens the door and steps in. Makes himself comfortable in one of the chairs across from me, and Duke lies on the floor next to him. He slouches and crosses one leg over the other. Smiles. “Trouble in paradise?”

I narrow my eyes at him. “What do you mean?”

He scratches the side of his nose. “I saw you out front with your girlfriend. It looked like you were having a fight. Everything okay?”

He’s fishing for information, but why? Is he interested in Ava? If he is, it will be over my cold, dead body. I clench my hands at my sides. Guess that answers my lingering question about whether I want to be with her. I slide into my friendly cop skin.