Page 7 of Seducing the Sheriff (Charming Butte #2)

Chapter Four

Cash

I absolutely did not mean to invite Greg over. Not even a little. The plan was simple: a quick, courteous nod—nothing more. He’d see the nod, nod back, and keep walking like a decent human. That was it. That was the whole interaction.

See, I’d grown fond of the invisible force field my badge gave me. It was like a social repellent—Charming people gave me a tentative smile and moved on.

Besides, I was still “the new guy.” I’d gotten past that fresh-out-of-the-box feeling where you smile too much and hope nobody notices you fixate on the menu, instead of staring at them like a rabbit in headlights.

And Greg—well, Greg was one of the other new guys.

Which technically meant we had something in common, but not enough to justify shared pancakes. Not that I was eating pancakes.

But my mouth clearly had a different idea.

Before I could stop myself, I’ve invited Greg to sit down and now we were making a date…

no, not a date. Definitely not a date. Just two people with a mutual interest of history bonding over a dead body.

I sighed. I could hear my mom shrieking with laughter now.

I was thankful my food arrived then because it gave me something else to think about other than not-dates with the new guy in town.

Greg regarded the plate of huevos rancheros. “I see you like the salsa, sheriff.”

I nodded. “The spicier the better.”

“Noted.”

I couldn’t miss the way his lips twitched, and I realized what I’d said. I shoveled eggs into my mouth to shut me up before I said anything else that could get me into trouble.

The eggs were hot. Hot! Hot! But I gamely chewed and swallowed, hoping he didn’t see my eyes watering and deduce I had indeed burned the top of my mouth. From the way a smile quirked up one side of his mouth, that was a lost cause. But he said nothing, just drinking his coffee.

Alejandra came over with the coffee pot to top off our drinks. I was going to be buzzing by the time I returned to the office.

She smiled at Greg. “Hi, I’m Alejandra. You must be the new owner of the old Jenkins ranch.”

“I am.” He gave her an awkward smile. “Pleased to meet you. Cash…Sheriff Lawson…has told me good things about your food.”

He sounded as uncomfortable making small talk as I was, but Alejandra beamed at him, clearly pleased with the praise.

“I hear you had some excitement last night.” Alejandra flicked a glance at me. I carried on eating, pretending not to get involved. “I guess you can’t talk about the b-o-d-y.”

Why she spelled it out I have no idea. The diner rang with loud chatter and I imagine it had been the hot topic of the customers all morning, which was why the conversation suddenly faltered as I walked in earlier.

The whole of Charming had to know about the corpse in the closet.

One day, I should write a murder mystery with that title.

Maybe when my term as sheriff was up. I’d always wanted to be a writer.

It wasn’t like I didn’t have the stories to tell, highly fictionalized of course.

“Nothing to tell at the moment.” Greg flicked a glance at me, as if he were begging me to intervene.

I leaned forward, about to say something official like “this is an active case” but Alejandra seemed to take that as a dismissal. “Don’t forget to have a slice of pie. The blueberry crumble is on special.”

“I’ll take it to go,” he promised her, and she smiled at him again as if he were the sweetest thing ever. “Thank you for the coffee.”

I shook my head as she walked away, making sure she was out of earshot before I said, “She never smiles at me like that.”

Greg leaned back in his chair, exhaling a long sigh like he’d escaped from a burning building. “I don’t have a badge like you,” he said, staring at the ceiling. “I’ve got to play nice with everyone, even when all I want to do is disappear into a broom closet and scream.”

I shot him a sideways glance. “I am never introducing you to my mom.”

“Why not?” he asked with mock offense.

“Because she says the exact same thing.”

He chuckled, low and knowing. “Yeah, moms are basically a hive mind. One consciousness spread across a million Tupperware containers.”

I couldn’t help smiling. “Yours is too?”

“I don’t have a mom now, but I have Aunt Bonnie. She’s always on at me for being a hermit.”

I didn’t know whether to apologize or not, but from the fond and exasperated expression, Aunt Bonnie was clearly important to him. “We’ll never introduce my mom to your Aunt Bonnie.”

“Deal. She lives in Alaska, so you’ll be safe.”

A-ha, the Alaska connection.

The frazzled waitress returned with Greg’s food, depositing it on the table rather forcefully. I held my breath, wondering if the eggs were about to slide into his lap, but they stayed on the plate—just—and he thanked her before she scurried away.

“That could have been interesting,” he said, picking up his knife and fork.

“It’s not usually quite so hectic in here,” I said. “Mind you, I try to avoid the busy times. I had an early morning meeting over the other side of the county and decided to pop in as I drove past here.”

I had nearly finished my plate and contemplated getting something to go or driving to Destiny’s in Charming. Her pies were never gritty. Not an alien butt cookie though. I was getting kind of tired of them.

I checked my watch. It was old and battered, but my grandpa had given it to me on my twenty-first birthday, and I couldn’t bring myself to retire it for something newer.

“I should get back to work before Rosie chases after me.”

Was that disappointment in Greg’s expression? Damn, the man had the lightest hazel eyes I’d ever seen, framed by long dark lashes. I hadn’t really noticed the previous night, but he was a handsome man.

Don’t lie to yourself. Of course you noticed.

“No rest for the wicked,” he murmured. “I’m not sure what to do with myself today.”

“I’ll let you know as soon as you can return home. But in the meantime, you could try the public library. There’s a section on the history of the town.”

Greg’s expression brightened. “That’s a great idea. Thanks, sheriff.”

“Call me Cash,” I said. “If I’m going to buy you breakfast, you can call me by my name.” His eyes widened almost comically, and I realized what I said.

“Uh…thanks, Cash. Next time it’s on me.”

“You’re on. Bye.”

I bolted to the till before I did something else stupid, like asking him when. Tomorrow? The day after?

Alejandra grinned at me as I approached. “Want anything to go, sheriff? Blueberry pie?”

I held back a shudder. “Not this time, thanks. Could you add Greg’s bill to mine?”

“Sure, hon.”

That was new. Normally she called me sheriff like everyone else.

I paid and handed over a healthy tip for the waitress. She deserved every cent after a morning like this.

“Let me know if Greg orders anything else and I’ll settle up.”

“Sure thing.”

We gave each other an awkward stare for a moment, then her gaze glided over my shoulder, and I became aware I was holding up the line.

I headed to the door, taking one final look at Greg who was talking to someone on his phone.

He looked stressed and I was tempted to head over and ask what was wrong, but before I could, my phone started to ring.

I didn’t answer it until I negotiated the line waiting patiently outside the diner.

The almost silence of the outside was deafening after the noise inside and I forgot about the phone for a moment until it stopped and almost immediately restarted.

“Lawson.”

“Sheriff?” It was Rosie and I couldn’t tell if she was annoyed, worried, or exasperated. Probably a mixture of all three.

“I’m here.”

“The mayor’s office called. You have a meeting with them at ten-thirty.” She paused. “That was fifteen minutes ago.”

I groaned. It had completely slipped my mind. “I’m so sorry. I was…” I searched for a suitable excuse.

“Chief Jones said he saw your car at Bobcat Stump. He said the parking lot was real busy so I guessed you were stuck there. I rearranged the appointment for eleven-thirty.”

I owed Meyer, big time. “Thanks Rosie. I appreciate it. It’s solid. The line is out the door.”

Don’t forget Rosie, MindMom insisted.

I’d get her something from Destiny’s on the way home for having my back. Or maybe flowers? Women like flowers, don’t they? Or did she have allergies?

I started to fret about it when I heard a cough and realized I was still connected to Rosie. “I’m on my way,” I assured her.

“I like peonies,” she said from out of nowhere.

“What?”

“You muttered something about getting me flowers. Peonies. For future reference.”

I was so glad she couldn’t see how red my cheeks must have gotten. I reckon Alejandra could fry eggs on them. “Peonies, it is.”

“Chief Wally used to get them for me.”

I really should have asked him. I made a mental note to do that next time I was floundering.

“I’d better get to the mayor’s office,” I mumbled and disconnected the call on her farewell.

“You didn’t get far.”

I turned to see Greg grinning at me. “I got a call from my office. I’m late for a meeting with the mayor.”

“Don’t let me stop you. Thanks for breakfast.”

“You’re welcome. Do you need a ride?”

“No, I brought my truck. And Sergeant Raynes just called. I can go home this afternoon.”

“Is everything all right. You didn’t look happy with the call.”

He huffed and shoved his hands in his pockets. “I think my house has been left more like a warzone than when I moved in. From the sounds of it, I’m starting from scratch again.”

“Let me know if I can help. I can about use power tools.” I made the offer on impulse, but it was worth it to see the smile that lit up his face.

“I might take you up on that.”

I caught a glimpse of my watch and yelped. Rosie was going to kill me if I didn’t get to the mayor’s office on time.

“Go. Go.” Greg waved his hands, shooing me away. “I’ll catch up with you later.”

As I pulled out of the parking lot, I caught Greg staring at my taillights again.