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My shoulders drop, and I do my best to say this as kindly as possible. “Did you think this was a date?”

Her cheeks flame pink. “Of course not! You’re just being neighborly… Or a good Samaritan or officer of the law. Or—”

“Robbie asked me if I’d give you a ride this morning.” I put a hand on her arms. “I do check on you and Melody. I also check on Emberly and Coco. I didn’t mean to give you the wrong idea. I’m sorry—”

Her lips press together, and she nods fast. “Thank you so much for your help this morning, Deputy Tucker. I’ll see if Donna White can give me a ride. I’m sure she can.”

She trots off across the church lawn before I can finish apologizing, and I don’t have time to feel bad about it. I hustle to my truck and take off in the direction of Tabby’s house.

When I arrive, everything is just like it’s been the whole last week—locked up tight as Fort Knox.

Lifting my fist, I knock loudly. “Tabby, open up. It’s me. I need to talk to you.”

I’m getting to know the outside of this door too well.

“What do you want?” It opens fast, and I take a surprised step back when I see her. Mascara is smeared at her eyes, and her nose is pink from crying.

Panic hits my chest. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

She sniffs loudly, but anger flashes at me. “Why do you keep coming here? Go sniff around some other girl’s door.”

Even with her anger, her tears are like shards of glass in my stomach. I can’t believe she’s crying. I’ve never seen her cry. “I wanted to talk to you. I have to go—”

She holds up a finger. “I’m just going to stop you right there, Chad Tucker, because I have something to say to you.”

“Okay…”

“I don’t know what the hell is going on between you and Daisy Sales, but I think she’s just perfect for you.” That slim finger is pointing at my chest now.

“You do?”

“You want some law-abiding family girl, someone who’s meek and easy to control? Well, she’s it. You can keep her barefoot and pregnant right here in this crummy little town, and I’m sure the two of you will be very happy.”

“Tabby, that’s not what—”

“I’m not finished!” Her voice gets louder, and I hold up my hands. “You are not to come here anymore. I don’t want to see you. I don’t want to hear the seductive words coming out of your mouth. I don’t want to smell your…” She waves a hand between us. “Whatever that smell is that smells so good.”

“You like how I smell?” For the first time in a week, the tension in my chest breaks. She likes the way I smell… My words are seductive? It’s like the sun rising over the ocean. She’s in love with me, and I’m a fucking blind-assed idiot.

“Don’t change the subject!”

“Are you finished?” My voice is gentler now, and she crosses her arms, glaring at me with watery eyes. She’s so beautiful when she’s feisty like this. “Stop crying.”

I reach out to wipe her eyes, and she pushes my hand away. “Stop bossing me around.”

“I can’t help it. It’s who I am.” I want to gather her to my chest and kiss those tears away. My arms ache for her. “Seems like you used to like me bossing you around.”

She lets that pass. “Why are you here?”

“For starters, I’m sorry I raised my voice Friday night. I overreacted.”

Her fury softens a notch. “We were both yelling.”

“Still…” I think about what I’m about to say. “Tell me about your job. When does it start?”

“I told you it’s none of your business.”

I want to say everything about her is my business.