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I wasn’t about to make the decision for her.
“Just a moment, let me call Sutton in,” I said, reaching for my phone.
Moments later she was bursting in the room, a wide smile on her pale face. Behind her stood Candice. It was apparent that she hadn’t been expecting the good sheriff. The color drained from her face and she stood there like a statue.
“What are you doing here?” Sutton’s tone was friendly as she hugged her longtime friend Knox.
I felt a surge of pride at the sheer beauty she possessed. Sutton didn’t do anything that didn’t involve her whole heart.
“Had some things I needed to talk over with y’all.”
Candice started to back out the room, but Knox was fast and closed the door before she could go through it.
I could see her jaw clench and looked over at Sutton, who was also staring at the two of them.
“Are you not going to say hello?” Knox asked. His voice had dropped an octave as he addressed Candice. “Mighty strange, especially since you never said goodbye either.”
Candice’s eyes blazed with fury.
I almost felt sorry for the man. I knew an angry woman when I saw one, and Candice was furious with Knox.
“You have plenty of others to keep your bed warm. I doubt you even noticed I was gone.”
She shoved a surprised Knox aside and fled the room. He looked like he was going to give chase but thought better of it.
“What in the hell was that about?” He turned to Sutton, who suddenly became very interested in a paper on my desk.
“Hmm?” she murmured absentmindedly. She was a terrible liar and we all knew it.
“Cut the shit, Sutton. Why is Candice so mad at me?”
Sutton’s head snapped up. “Why? You want to know why? Well Knox, I’m not going to tell you. Candice is my best friend and I won’t betray her confidence. Maybe you should ask her yourself.”
Knox looked like he wanted to hit something. “You don’t think I haven’t tried? She won’t take my calls, blocked my texts. Won’t even answer when I call from the police station. I don’t get it.”
Some of Sutton’s ire fled. “I don’t know, Knox. She came back completely heartbroken. I don’t know what happened out there, but all I know is that I have never seen that confident, beautiful woman cry until the day she came back.”
“Heartbroken?” His tone was incredulous. “I asked her to stay with me in Otterville Falls. If anyone was heartbroken, it was me.”
Sutton blinked, eyes wide. “You did?”
Knox scowled. “As good as.”
I could sense that there was something the sheriff was missing. But I had every faith that Sutton would bring it all around.
“Tell me what you said to her.”
Knox rolled his eyes. “This is really childish.”
Sutton turned to me and said, “When he pulls his head out of his ass, I would be happy to talk to him. For now, I am going to head back to my office.”
“Stop!” Knox growled. “Fine, I will tell you. I asked Candice to consider sticking around because we were having fun.”
Even I winced.
“Stick around?” Sutton’s eyes were wide. “Fucking hell, Knox, she’s a sophisticated woman. Not a hooker from Hartsfield looking to kill some time. Did you tell her your feelings and why you wanted her to stay?”
He glowered. “It was implied!”