“Skylar.”
Well, rats. She’d made it to the door. So close to escaping. At least, it was Kade. Hopefully, Tristan wasn’t with him. She turned. “Yeah?” Just Kade, so that was good.
“Wanted to say adios. I’m heading back to base as soon as we finish breakfast.”
“Oh, okay. You stay safe out there catching bad guys.”
“Always.” He grinned. “I’m appointing you to keep my brothers on their toes while I’m gone.”
She gave him a hug. “You better come back to us in one piece, you hear?”
“Hear you loud and clear.” Surprising her, he kissed her cheek, then put his mouth next to her ear. “That was for big brother’s benefit. I don’t even have to look at him to know he’s shooting daggers at me with his eyes.” He laughed. “He’s so easy to rile.”
“You’re a very bad boy, Kade Church.”
“Can’t deny it.” He winked, then headed back to his brothers.
She told herself not to look at Tristan. Her eyes refused to obey. He was scowling, but it was impossible to tell whether at Kade or her. Not that it really mattered.
Outside, she stopped to greet Fuzz. Tristan’s dog was the sweetest, best-behaved dog she’d ever been around.
“Hey, Fuzz. How’s my favorite boy today?” She gave him a scratch under his chin, chuckling when his eyes rolled back in his head. Fuzz considered everyone in Marsville a friend until Tristan said otherwise. The residents were allowed to pet him, and everyone did. He wore a vest that said Police on it, but that was for the benefit of tourists. It worked to keep strangers’ hands off him.
He snapped up his rubber KONG—a toy he carried everywhere with him—and she played tug with him for a few minutes. “I know you could do this all day, sweet boy, but I don’t want to be here when your daddy comes out.” She gave him one last scratch, ignored his big brown eyes begging her to play some more, and headed for her meeting with the mayor.
Marsville was a charming town. The road was only two lanes through downtown with mature trees lining the road on both sides. The shade was great in the summer, and at Christmas the trees were wrapped in white lights. The storefronts were all brick with colorful awnings, each a different color. She didn’t know whose idea that was, but it was striking. The pots filled with flowers hanging from the awnings added to the charm.
Her new town and job would be perfect if not for the night that was now the reason for the tension between her and Tristan. She was never one to lie to herself, and the truth was...she wanted a man she couldn’t have. Not if she wanted to keep her job.
Chapter Three
Tristan and Parker saw Kade off, then Tristan walked with Parker to the next block, where his brother veered off in the direction of the firehouse. Baby brother was not only the artist known as Park C but was also Marsville’s fire chief. Tristan, with Fuzz at his side, headed over to the mayor’s office for a meeting about who knew what? With Luther, it could be anything from his aunt complaining that kids were running across her lawn to Earl’s goat getting loose again and wandering into town, terrorizing everyone.
“Morning, Rebecca,” he said, greeting Luther’s assistant.
Fuzz, knowing that a Milk-Bone and a bowl of water awaited him behind Rebecca’s desk, dropped his KONG toy at Tristan’s feet, then headed straight for the treat.
“Good morning, Chief. Luther’s running late as usual. He’s on his way, though.”
“You know what he wants to meet about?”
“I never have any idea what that man’s up to,” she grumbled. “You want a cup of coffee while you wait?”
“Thanks, but I just came from the Kitchen, so I’ve had my morning cup.” After taking a seat, he pulled out his phone to check his messages. He was frowning over a text from Eric, one of his officers, saying he was sick and wouldn’t be in, when the door leading to the hallway opened. In walked the woman he couldn’t stop dreaming about.
“Sheriff.” He was still irked from watching her let Kade kiss her on the cheek earlier, so his greeting came out harsh. Yeah, he knew his bonehead brother did it just to mess with him, but it still put him in a sour mood.
“Chief.” She frowned at him, then turned a smile on Rebecca. “I have a meeting with Luther this morning.”
“He’s running late,” Tristan said before Rebecca could answer. “You’ll have to hang tight until I finish my meeting with him.”
“Why should you get to go first?”
“Because I was here first?” Yep, there went her eyes, going icy blue. Little did she know seeing them turn to ice only made him want to nibble on that soft spot below her ear that he knew from experience would heat her blood, melting those icicles in her eyes.
“I have an appointment, so you’ll have to be the one to hang tight, Chief.”
“Don’t think so, Skye.”