Page 29 of Professional Consult

My jaw drops because, by the look of it, Barb is well past the age of retirement.

“Wait—you mean to tell me you became a police officer only a couple of years ago?”

“I’ve always been active in the town, so it was a good fit. Pond Spring is quiet, and over the years, I’ve volunteered to help around the precinct an awful lot. Now I get paid for it.”

“I think that’s amazing.”

“There’s something we need to get out of the way before this conversation goes any further.” There’s an edge to her voice, and I sense maybe she doesn’t like my presence here.

“Oh, uh, what’s that?”

She casts me a stern gaze. “Lay off Luke.”

Goodbye, warm and inviting.

I cock my head to the side. “Luke and I—”

“He’s a good man and has had a rough go. He doesn’t need you mucking things up for him.”

My mouth forms a perfect ‘O’ as two cups of coffee are set on the table.

“I am offended by your—”

“Do you think I care whether I’ve offended you? Luke has been like a son to me since…well, never mind. I just don’t want to be left picking up the pieces of a broken heart after you’ve gone back to Hollywood.”

I almost burst into laughter, but I can see that she’s serious, acting as though Luke were her child.

“Look, I promise you that won’t happen. Luke is a bear. He hates that I’m here, and—”

“I know Luke better than anyone in this town, so do me a favor and don’t try lecturing me about him,” she says in a no-nonsense voice.

I’m angry, shocked, and confused all at once, but arguing with Momma Bear isn’t going to lead to anything good.

“Fine. I’ll lay off Luke, though, for the record, I never once laid on him.”

Perhaps that’s a little bit of a lie because I did recommend we share a bed this morning.

The waitress drops off our plates and Barb makes a show of rubbing her hands together for her meal.

I almost regret getting bacon and eggs with how delicious Barb’s plate of biscuits and gravy looks.

We eat in silence for a time, because I can’t find words to bridge the gap between us. Whatever she thinks my intentions are, she’s dead wrong.

But then again, I totally made breakfast without pants on, and while the shirt I was wearing went almost to my knees, I can see where what I did might seem salacious. Not that she would have knowledge of it.

And that comment slipping out was hardly planned, but I was itching to say it. The man’s gorgeous. Not that it matters. Luke is downright offended by my presence.

“Hey, Barb?” I hear the waitress squeak.

Barb looks up. “Yes, Tif?”

The waitress hands over a small slip of paper that makes Barb’s eyes grow round.

“Ya don’t say?”

Curious, I stretch my neck and see that it’s a sonogram.

“I’m due in six months,” the waitress enthuses. “We were trying to keep things under wraps, in case something went wrong.”