Page 33 of Sheriff's City Girl

“Oh,” Brittany’s smile grew wider. “Well, what a small world. It’s good to meet you, really. I’ve heard so many things about you.”

Uh… But why?

I smiled through the absolute confusion. “I hope they were good things.”

“Absolutely,” she beamed, lightly touching my arm. Her hands were clammy in the worst way, but I didn’t cringe or shy away, determined not to be rude. “Lily just gushed over you. You seem like such a sweetheart. I know that you’ve seen Graham around town, but I’m just now getting out and about. I’ve been so busy with the house.”

“Oh?” I tried to act surprised, like Sarah hadn’t just told me the tea. “I didn’t know you two lived here.”

“Well, we did a bit of rush build,” Graham chuckled. “We started the kids in school here this year, but we weren’t officially in the new house until last week. It’s amazing how much money will get things done, really. We’re planning on having a nice housewarming party out there. I’ll make sure to get you an invite.”

“Thank you,” I said, already knowing I would not be attending that party if I could come up with a useful excuse. “That’s so kind of you.”

“Yeah, we’re also working on some new ideas for the town. There’s some nice land just outside of town that we think would be the ticket to a shopping center. I know that being from the city, it must drive you nuts to not have many options here.” Graham was talking fast, and I was trying to piece it all together while still listening to him.

“That sounds interesting,” I managed to say, my mind thinking of what land butted up to the town. Sarah waved at me from the counter, and I inwardly sighed with relief when I saw a way out of the conversation. “I have to get back to the kitchen, but I’ll be back over to take your order shortly.”

“Oh, we won’t be eating anything,” Brittany giggled. “There’s nothing low carb here—no offense.”

It was painful to keep smiling, but I did. “I’ll consider that when I revamp the menu next month.”

“How kind of you,” Brittany batted those thick eyelashes again, and I headed back to the kitchen.

Fake. So fake.

Don’t get me wrong, I never judge people based on their wealth—or lack of—but something about Graham and Brittany made me feel so unsettled.

But it was a good distraction from the issue with Mason.

“So you saw who?” Lily asked, her brows furrowed as we stood in her kitchen while Dara and Jess finished up a movie in the living room.

“Graham and his wife,” I repeated myself as she sat her phone down on the counter. “I think he said her name was Brittany.”

“Hmm,” Lily had a strange look on her face. “And they said I gushed about you?”

“Yeah,” I was starting to get annoyed, pushing my dark hair out of my face. My messy ponytail had gone limp, and strands were slipping loose.

“I just think that’s so crazy because I don’t think…” her voice trailed off as the doorbell rang, filling the house with sound. Lily let out a sigh. “I just don’t recall talking to anyone who was related to Graham, but who knows? Maybe it was at some social event that Drew dragged me to.” With that, she headed to the front door, leaving me there to wonder why in the world Lily couldn’t remember.

She wasn’t the kind of person who forgot people.

Lily appeared back from the entryway, only this time, her phone was to her ear. She mouthed Drew to me and then headed up the stairs. Part of me wondered if she was calling her husband to figure out who the people were. I went to pick up my phone and scrolled through social media when the sound of boots on the hardwood floor caught my attention. I looked up, my breath catching.

“Jess, it’s time to go home,” Mason said, not even noticing that I was standing a few feet away from him.

“The movie only has like twenty minutes left,” Jess whined, looking back at him—and then at me. “Just talk to Emma for a while, and then we can go. Please?”

Mason’s head whipped in my direction, his eyes full of surprise. “I didn’t even notice you there,” he said sheepishly before turning back to Jess. “Fine, finish the movie, but then we’re going.”

“Deal,” she giggled, turning up the volume.

Mason glanced over to me, a half-hearted smile on his face. “Hey.”

I wanted to slap him for being so freaking handsome in the moment, but I relented. “Hey, Sheriff.” I went for the most casual reply I could, my heart burning with the way things had gone between us.

“Look, Emma,” he said in a quiet voice. “I don’t know what went wrong last time, but maybe we should meet up and talk about it?”

“Why? So you can get in my pants and then barely speak to me after?” I hissed, keeping my voice down. I was surprised at just how vicious the words came out—and honestly, it appeared that he was, too.

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