Page 3

Chapter Three

GEORGIA

“M orning, Sheriff,” Jenny says as she places a donut and a glass of milk in front of me.

“This is the best perk of being a cop.” I pick up the frosted donut topped with sprinkles and take a giant bite. A few sprinkles fall onto the counter of the diner, and I sweep them into a napkin.

“You’ve been eating frosted sprinkle donuts since you were five,” Jenny points out.

“Well, this morning I want coffee,” I inform her.

“Really?” Jenny’s expression is skeptical.

“Yes.” I was up late worrying about what this agent might know and the reasons he could be investigating Simon’s death.

“If you say so.” When Jenny reaches to take my milk, I pull it closer.

“Hey, I need that too. You can't eat donuts without milk.” That should be a law. Maybe I could make it one. How do laws even get made?

“One cup of coffee.” Jenny places it on the vinyl countertop, and I scrunch my nose. The smell of coffee isn't even enticing. “Are you sure you want coffee? I don't think you need the extra energy.”

“I had a rough night.”

I was thinking about the overly handsome FBI agent and if he might be here to take down Rhodes. The owner of the hardware store is one of the nicest people in this town. Except for that one time he shot and killed someone, but things happen. I'm not judging.

“You were on that dance floor all night throwing back glasses of champagne.” Jenny raises an eyebrow at me.

“I'd never had champagne before. It was rather yummy even if it did make me burp like crazy.” All the alcohol might be why I'm exhausted too, I suppose.

“I'll get you some sugar and cream for the coffee.”

“Probably a good idea.” I stare down at the steam coming off of it and bite into my donut.

Mrs. Nelson takes the seat next to mine at the counter, and Jenny comes right over. She drops off my sugar and cream while also pouring a cup for Mrs. Nelson.

“We need to talk.” Mrs. Nelson says it low so that only I can hear.

“Why? I turn to face her more. “You got some gossip?”

“The FBI agent.”

“You know he's FBI!”

“Shh!” she hushes me.

“Ope, sorry,” I whisper.

“You know why he's here?”

“I'm not really sure,” I lie, not wanting word to spread about any of this. Mrs. Nelson tilts her head, eyeing me up. Yikes, she should do interrogations because I already want to spill everything. “I'm working on finding out.”

“Are you going to seduce him?”

“No.” I haven't developed a plan yet, but perhaps that’s not a bad idea. If he falls in love with me, he can't arrest Rhodes because he'll be under my spell.

“Yeah, I didn’t think you could seduce him anyway.”

“Hey, rudeness,” I say, and Mrs. Nelson shrugs.

“You know what I'd do?” She picks up her coffee and looks over the top of it at me. “I would sneak into his hotel room and have a look around.”

Mrs. Nelson is full of good ideas this morning. Not like the one she got when she and the rest of the Stitches decided I should be the new sheriff. Those women get things done, and it’s a little scary when you think about it.

“Are you saying I should break into an FBI agent's hotel room?” I pick up my own coffee and take a sip, but as soon as it hits my lips, I have to fight not to gag. I put it back down and dump in a bunch of sugar.

“I didn’t say to break anything.”

“Hmm,” I say, thinking. The second sip of coffee isn’t as bad as the first. “I’m meeting with him today.”

I check my watch, and I really should get over to the station. He wants to check my files, but I need to make sure it’s okay. I only have one, and it’s barebones.

“He’s coming in.” Mrs. Nelson elbows me in the side. I peek over my shoulder to see him walking into the diner. “I’ll distract him. You go search his room.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes, I’ll keep him here.” She nods like she’s done this before.

“Fine.” I chug down the coffee before shoving the rest of my donut into my mouth.

“Holy hell, Georgia. You don't need coffee and sugar,” Jenny chides.

“You could have said that before I consumed it all.”

Mrs. Nelson shakes her head at me. “Like I said, don’t break anything when you're in there.”

“I won't.” I hop off the bar stool, but my elbow hits the coffee, and I knock it over. The cup breaks into three pieces, and my head snaps up to Mrs. Nelson. “That didn't happen.”

I drop money on the counter and head for the exit.

“Sheriff,” Neil says, holding the door open for me. He's wearing another one of his fancy black suits. Is that the FBI uniform?

“Morning!” I chirp. Wow, tone it down, Georgia. Why is my voice so high?

“Are you okay?”

“I'm great, better than great, really.”

He smirks. Oh no, he’s on to me. “You sure?”

“Yep, had coffee for the first time. It's hitting me hard. Anyways, I've got to go.” I try to dart away, but he keeps on talking.

“Are you headed to the station?” Neil’s already trying to get information out of me. Dang, he’s good.

“After I run a few errands.”

“All right, I'll meet you there shortly, then?”

“That's the plan.” I give him a thumbs-up before I try to leave again.

“Georgia.” His hand comes down on my forearm, halting me. This is it. I'm going to prison for breaking into his hotel room. He already knows what I'm up to. Maybe I could arrest him first?

“What?!” It comes out way too loud and aggressive, but Neil only lets out a low chuckle.

“You've got something on your uniform.” He motions to my chest.

“Nope, Mr. Saunders already got me on that one. Sorry, but you’re not booping my nose, Mr. FBI Agent. Guess you’re not as cunning as you thought.”

“Maybe not.” He chuckles again, and it sounds sexy. Wait, is he seducing me now? “But you do have something right here.” Neil's hand comes to my chest, and my heart stops. He is seducing me! When he lifts his hand, I see a pink sprinkle. “This.”

“Oh.” Okay, so he’s not seducing me.

To my surprise, he brings it to his mouth and eats it. All right, so we’re back to seducing, I see.

“Well, thanks.” I bolt away from him, but he calls after me. When I spin around, he points over his shoulder.

“Your cruiser is that way.”

“Right.” I hurry in that direction, and I swear I hear him chuckle again.

I ignore him as I get in my cruiser and make my way to the new hotel. It’s the only one in town and just opened recently. When I walk in, I see Danny behind the front desk, and he stands up straighter when he sees me coming.

“Georgia.” He beams.

Danny is a few years younger than me. I was super close to his sister growing up until she left to go out of state for college.

“Hey, Danny, how’s Anna?” I’m bouncing on my heels, so I guess that means the coffee has kicked in. I'm more awake than I have ever been in my life.

“She’s great, and I’m great too. How are you?” The words all tumble out of him, and it appears that his little crush on me is still very much alive and thriving.

“I’m good,” I say and lean up against the front desk. I need to get down to it if I’m going to have time to get in Neil’s room before I have to meet him.

“Wait, are you here on business? I keep forgetting you’re sheriff.”

“Me too,” I admit before I can think better of it. “And yes, I’m here in my official sheriff capacity.”

“Oh.” Danny leans in. “Something going on?”

Everyone in this town loves a bit of gossip. “You know the suit around town, the one that’s been staying here.”

“Is he with the mob?”

That's ridiculous. If he were a mobster, he'd wear a black fedora to go with the suit. Oh, and a flashy red tie.

“Maybe.” I shrug. “I wanted to get a key to his room. Have a poke around. It’s my job to keep this town safe. Otherwise, the next thing we know, the mob will have illegal gambling set up in the back of Dixon’s bar, and you’ll only be able to get in with a code word.”

“Oh no, you think they’ll run the Stitches out of their secret Wednesday night poker games at Dixon’s?”

Shit, I forgot that’s already happening.

“We can’t have anyone riling up the Stitches. Things would get out of control.” Danny nods adamantly in agreement, and I hold out my hand. “Key me.”

“Oh, I can’t do that.” He takes a step back.

“You don’t want to help save the town?”

“The rules are the rules.” Danny shrugs.

When did he become a rule follower? It had to have been after the carnival incident a few years ago. I’m so not bringing that up.

“Come on, Danny,” I start to plead.

“You have to make it worth it for me. I might lose my job over this.”

“Your dad isn’t going to fire you.”

“He might,” Danny huffs. “But maybe if you agree to a few dates with me, I could give you a key.”

Damn it.

“A few?” He nods. I think for a second and hold up my finger. “One.”

“No deal.”

“All right.” I shrug, calling his bluff. I turn to leave, and he immediately calls me back.

“Wait! Okay, deal.”

“No kissing, and we stay in town.”

“Fine,” he relents.

“Hit me with a key, Danny boy.”

Two seconds later, I have the key in my possession. I'm not too bad at this investigating thing. I didn't even have to go to a fancy FBI academy.