Page 18 of Sheriff's City Girl

“I can get Macy on that,” Jackson said, speaking of one of the newer deputies. She was just learning the ropes—and lots of times, making all those phone calls was one of them.

“I only have one comment on that,” Ron cut in. “If the ranchers aren’t filing reports with us, they’re probably not filing reports with the other counties either.”

“Blackmail?” I threw out, meeting Ron’s gaze.

Ron chewed his bottom lip. “Something like that, I’d assume.”

Chapter Eight

Emma

Lily didn’t ask for the dirty details of what happened between Mason and me, and I have to admit, I was thankful for it. Don’t get me wrong, I had no problem delving into details sometimes, but this hook up… It was monumental, maybe the best sex I had ever had…

But I was so full of regret about it.

I think that my best friend knew that, too. Once I had admitted it had happened, she asked if I had feelings for him, and I said no, obviously. I barely knew Mason Hewitt. He was just the sheriff. I had a couple of beers and hadn’t been with anyone in a long time, so that was all that happened… right?

“Ugh,” Lily groaned, her shoulders slumping as she stared at her phone. “Can you pick up Dara this evening from the Lowe Creek Ranch for me? She’s there with Jess, and it looks like I’m going to have to help Drew stage a house last minute.”

“What time?” I slid a pan of cinnamon rolls into the glass case. “It’s not a big deal, regardless. I taught Sarah how to lock up.”

“Good on you!” Lily gave me a bright, toothy grin. “It’s about time that you put some trust in that girl. She’s just trying to make it like all the rest of us, and I know she loves working here.”

I nodded. “I’m thinking about asking her if she’d like to work here full-time. I know that I mainly keep part-time employees, but I think it’s time that I got some real help. It’s hard to keep up.”

“I’m glad you’ve come around to the idea.” Lily had been hanging around for the entire day, helping me through the lunch rush. “But I’m gonna have to split if I’m going to have time to round everyone up who helps me.”

“Well then,” I laughed. “Get out of here.”

“Okay, okay.” She held up her hands as she took off the apron, hanging it up on one of the racks. “Thanks for picking up Dara. That stupid hand-me-down car we let her have is in the shop again for transmission issues.”

“No worries, I don’t mind picking her up.” I shrugged. “It’s really not a problem at all.” It would be a nice distraction from everything with Mason. Granted, I knew that Lucas Lowe was Mason’s best friend. However, Mason should be working—at least, I thought so.

“You’re seriously the best. I can’t even express how thankful I am for you, and the fact that you moved here. It makes things so much easier.”

“Yeah, you just wanted me to move here so I could be your little errand girl,” I snorted, giving her a playful look. “For real though, Dara is awesome. I don’t mind picking her up. I just wish I could convince her to take a job working for me.”

“Good luck with that,” Lily said with a sigh. “She’s dead set on becoming a freaking cowgirl out there at that ranch. She’s just waiting for Lucas to let her clean out the stalls.”

“Ah, makes sense.” I laughed. “I have to say that might be more fun for a tomboy like her, but I guarantee it smells better in here.”

I pulled down the long driveway of the ranch, the gravel crunching loudly under the tires of my SUV. I figured a place like this would have one of those fancy asphalt drives, but nope. This ranch had gravel deluxe, and it made for a rough drive. I had no idea where Dara would be, but I guessed she would probably be at the barn.

Maneuvering the car around the countless ranch trucks, I parked in between two of them. I killed the engine, feeling a little apprehensive about showing up uninvited to a place like this. I usually had no problem with being a guest at places, but showing up to the same barn that Mason and I hooked up in didn’t exactly provide the best distraction.

I slid out of the driver’s side, and shut the door, glancing around me. I didn’t see Dara—or anyone for that matter—anywhere. However, as I stood there a little longer, I heard the sound of voices just inside the horse barn. Gathering all the courage I had, I made my way to the entrance, peering inside. I hoped that I would see Dara…

But instead, I was met by two very familiar piercing blue eyes.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

“Emma?” Mason choked out, those potent, captivating eyes going wide at the sight of me. He was standing with whom I recognized as Lucas, and the ranch owner turned to see me at the sound of my name.

“You looking for Mason?” Lucas grinned at me, though I noticed that the smile didn’t reach his eyes. Something in my gut told me something was wrong with him. I was great at reading people, and with that came the ability to tell when someone was having a bad day. And Lucas? Yeah, he was having a bad day.

“No,” Mason fired off, his tone borderline rude.

“I was actually just looking for Dara,” I said sheepishly, feeling my cheeks grow red. “I’m here to pick her up. Lily and Drew are busy.”

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