Page 40 of In Safe Hands

“I don’t hate it when you touch me. What makes you think that?”

She shrugged. “Whenever I try to give you a hug, you jump away like you’re a cat and I’m an ocean wave.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Please.” The complete and total lie made her smirk at him. “The last time I tried to hug you, after you gave me Max, you couldn’t run away fast enough. Admit it—you’re a total hug-blocker.”

His mouth hung open. Daisy was tempted to close it with a finger on his chin, but she supposed she’d pushed him far enough for the day, especially since he’d come running over when she’d needed help.

“There are so many things wrong with what you just said. I’ve never run away from anything,” Chris said. Daisy hid another grin. Of course, accusing him of running off was what had tweaked him the worst. “And I’m not a hug-blocker, whatever that is.”

“Yeah, you kind of are.”

“I’m not—are you laughing?”

“Sorry. I’m not laughing at you. Well, maybe a little, but I’m mostly really happy that I’m not having hallucinations.”

His outraged expression softened. “You’re as sane as I am, Dais.” He finally took a sip of his coffee, his eyes fixed on something over her shoulder as he thought. “What’s Rob’s deal, I wonder?”

The thought of the sheriff made her stomach start churning again, in a mix of anger and apprehension. “The dispatcher said he wanted to know if I called. Isn’t that…weird?”

“It is unusual.” His thoughtful frown deepened. “I’ll check with…do you know which dispatcher you talked to last night?”

“I didn’t get a name, but she had a squeaky voice.”

Chris’s mouth quirked up in a smile. “Libby. I’ll see if she’s working tonight. Maybe she’ll know why Rob’s fixated on you.”

Her stomach lurched. “Fixated?”

Refocusing on her face, Chris shook his head. “Wrong word, sorry. I’m wondering if he’s thinking Macavoy’s going to try some moonlighting again, so Rob’s using you as his security system.”

Although she tried to smile at his weak joke, Daisy wasn’t very successful. The idea of having the sheriff’s focus on her for whatever reason was not a pleasant thought.

“Isn’t Gabe back yet?” Chris’s scowl had returned.

“Nope.” She kept her voice light. “The Connor Springs job must’ve hit a snag.”

His grunt was skeptical. “I’m back on nights now, so call me if anything comes up.”

“Will do.”

“Good.” Grabbing one of Gabe’s travel mugs from the cupboard, Chris dumped the remaining coffee from his cup into the to-go mug. “And I don’t hate it when you touch me.”

“Uh-huh.”

He rinsed the daisy mug and put it in the dishwasher. “I don’t. It just makes it…harder.”

Since his back was turned, he couldn’t see her confused expression. “What does that mean?”

“Nothing.” He blew out a breath and headed for the door. “Never mind. See you later, Dais.”

As she locked the inside door behind him, she yelled through the wood, “You are so weird, Deputy Jennings!”

If he responded, she didn’t hear him.

* * *

“He did what?!” Lou leaned forward, a teriyaki meatball hovering inches from her mouth.