“Sorry I’m late,” Noelle said rushing in. She had pink scrubs on and looked like she just came off a twelve hour shift.
“If you’re sorry then so am I,” a deep voice came in right behind her. Tate. In uniform. Today was looking better and better.
They walked toward Abby and Mia, and Mia couldn’t take her eyes off of the Deputy. She’d only just seen him the other night, but man, Mondays sure did treat him well. And his dark eyes stayed zeroed in on her.
She smiled and took a step toward him and the look that came over his face froze her in her path. A “don’t touch me because no one can know we’re sleeping together” flashing sign would have been more subtle than the look he gave her. But the effect was still the same.
She stalled and felt like the world’s biggest loser.
Then Tate saw Abby.
“Thanks for coming, Deputy,” Abby sai
d sweetly. “I hope we aren’t pulling you away from your shift?”
He smiled. “Happy to swing by and talk logistics.”
“I tried calling you Saturday night,” Abby said and Mia’s eyes flashed to Tate. A muscle ticked in his jaw and he didn’t make eye contact with Mia.
“I was busy,” he said.
Busy? It was a verb but for some reason, he crushed a little piece of her heart. Yes, he was busy with her. Not that she expected him to admit that or that it was anyone’s business, but he didn’t even look at her. His message was clear, and it looked like Mia got her answer to the one thing she’d been wondering.
The Deputy was going secret rather than public with her.
“I can’t stay,” Noelle said, “But I wanted to give you all the forms I have.” She handed them to Mia. “We have food donation boxes set up at these locations,” she pointed at the small list of local shops and stores.
Mia forced herself to snap out of the momentary stupor Tate’s silent insult put her into and focus on her job.
“This is great, Noelle.” Mia looked over the list. “I spoke with Sammy over at Sammy’s Shake and Malt Shack and he said that for every pound of food, he’d donate a dollar to the hospital.”
Noelle’s eyes went wide. “Really? That’s incredible! Sammy’s shakes are great but he’s…”
“A grouchy middle-aged man,” Abby said.
Noelle nodded. “He’s never participated in this event before. Let alone donate. How did you pull that off?”
Mia was about to say that Sammy wasn’t such a bad guy when Abby cut her off.
“I know how,” Abby said with a little sharpness in her voice.
Mia clamped her mouth closed and if looks could burn, Abby’s would scorch. Mia knew what she was insinuating. That Mia used her “assets” to get what she wanted. But she was wrong. However when she looked to Tate, he had a stoic expression. She couldn’t read him but he certainly didn’t look inclined to defend her.
Mia cleared her throat and started again. “I think the fact that we’re getting donations is a good thing.”
“Indeed,” Abby said. “And what did you get from Greg earlier? Other than his number?” Abby smiled.
“Greg?” Tate said. “You mean Greg Anders?”
“Yeah, I came out here and saw Mia and him seeming to hit it off.”
If by “hit it off,” Abby meant he was hitting on her and she was silently telling him to fuck off, then yeah.
“I don’t think that’s our business,” Noelle said and shot Mia a nice smile.
She was trying to help. Which was more than anyone else was doing.
“Oh, it’s just playful fun,” Abby giggled and brushed Tate’s arm and that’s when it hit Mia. She was staking a claim and sending a message to Mia to stay away from Tate.