Page 79 of Sweet Poison

I pulled Anya along with me. “Dad, where are we going?”

“Home,” I growled.

“Why?” she cried plaintively.

“I forgot something important. We’ll come back later this evening,” I answered, as I strode out of the festival grounds.

I was furious with myself. What the fuck was I thinking? I had one thing to do and I had allowed my dick to ruin it. I had effectively just blown my cover. I had just made myself the talk of the town and not in a good way. Everybody will now wonder about my finances and what I was really doing in Bison Ridge.

“Why didn’t we stay and talk to Miss Moore?” Anya asked restlessly.

I could see she was upset, as I walked quickly with her through the kiosks and stalls, the last thing on my mind was having fun or greeting anyone.

“Dad, can we at least, please, get some Amish pies at the bakery stand?” she begged.

I stopped then and looked down at her. She was just a kid at a festival. She didn’t understand or deserve to be treated this way.

“Sure, of course, we can,” I agreed with a smile. “Okay, let's go over to the bakery stall.”

The light came back to her eyes, and I apologized silently to her in my heart. ‘Things will be fine soon, sweetheart. I’ll handle this. We won't have to run much longer.’

We headed over to the stand, and she began to pick out the pastries she wanted.

“Hello, Mr. Swift,” the owner, Mrs. Sherman, came up to us with a smile on her face. She had huge curls in her brown hair, a flowery apron, and a friendly boisterous presence about her.

I smiled. “Hello, Mrs. Sherman.”

“Have you just gone and broken the gossip centers of the town?” she asked with a laugh.

My rash behavior had already travelled to her ear. I winced inwardly. “I was just trying to help a good cause.”

“Yes, it was a very good cause. Actually, I’ve been hoping you would stop by.”

“Oh! Why’s that?”

“There were a couple of men asking about you.”

My body stilled. “Who were they?”

“They said they were Police detectives, but I didn’t believe them.”

I frowned. “Why didn’t you believe them?”

“I don’t know. The moment I met you, I knew I liked you. I could trust you. They … they both had sly eyes. Untrustworthy faces.”

“What did they want to know?”

“They were asking if there were any newcomers in town. Specifically, a man with a daughter.”

“What did you tell them?”

“Told them nope. No one new in town. They went away, but they didn’t give up. I saw them go into the café where I saw them talk to Mrs. Garrett’s daughter, Tiffany. I think you met her once. Very irresponsible girl. She’s told everyone in town about Anya’s designer shoes, and since they spoke to her for some time, I’m gonna assume she told them too.”

Chapter 48

Cole

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

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