Page 35 of Sheriff's City Girl

“Have you seen the new Hudson place?”

“Who?” I asked, nothing about the name ringing a bell.

“Graham Hudson built himself a very large mansion out on the Parson’s place. He got a deed to nearly a hundred acres and built a house in record time. I don’t know about you, but Bob wouldn’t have ever sold off acreage to some developer.”

“Maybe for the right price he would’ve,” I said with a shrug. “I think maybe deep down everyone’s got a price that they might sell their land for.”

Ron grimaced. “You’re trying to rationalize it, and I get that, but I just think it’s mighty strange that some developer just swooped in and then suddenly all these ranchers are losing their cattle.”

“Yeah, I see what tree you’re barking up, and while I get it, I don’t see what motive there would be to steal cattle—developers have money, and I know for sure that Graham fella must have a pretty penny based on the way he dresses.”

“Well, just wait till you see his damn house.”

“I have no desire to see his house,” I grunted, glancing down at my phone screen. I opened the text from Emma, a jolt of excitement running through my body.

I have plans tonight, but can we have dinner on Friday?

Smiling to myself, I typed back an ‘okay’ and looked back up at Ron, who had a devilish smirk on his face. “What?”

“I ain’t seen you grin like that in a long time,” he chuckled. “Whoever it is, I’m happy for you.”

“Yeah, well, I’m trying to take it slow. I don’t want to get into anything that causes a big fuckin’ mess. You know what happened the last time I tried to date.”

“That’s because your choice in women is usually terrible,” Ron grunted, lighting up his cigar as he rocked in the same squeaky old chair he had owned for years. “But I think eventually, you’ll find the right one. You think you’re some kind of bachelor, but you’ve always been a family man.”

I took a deep breath, knowing that Ron was right. Ron had been single most of his life, and yeah, he had a daughter, but she was the product of a fling. For a while, he was married to the woman who was Beth’s mom, but at the end of the day, Ron just wasn’t cut out for marriage.

“Anyway,” Ron said to my silence. “I think you need to sit down and have a real talk with your best friend. You and Lucas have been best friends for a lot of years—and I know when he goes through shit, he has to have his space just like you do, but something is going on over there.”

“Jackson mentioned that one of the hands said something about insurance fraud,” I brought up, hating the fact that I was repeating hearsay that I didn’t believe.

Ron shook his head. “Lucas doesn’t always make the best decisions, but I don’t see him trying to break the law intentionally like that.”

“Me either,” I agreed but then hesitated. “But he’s also never acted quite like this. He’s really pulled away, and he ain’t calling on me the way he used to. He hasn’t asked for any help with the cattle since we found out where the hundred were taken.”

“Well, I know he’s hired a couple high school kids to help, so maybe he’s just giving you a break. You don’t have time to be ranchin’ all the time, anyway.”

I nodded, but the fact Lucas hired kids without my knowledge was still surprising. “I don’t know… Maybe I should pay him a visit.”

“I think you should take your lady friend some flowers first. If you wanna win her over, slow or not, show the woman that you see her. I ain’t ever been good at that shit, but you are.”

My stomach knotted up, wondering what Emma would think if I randomly stopped by with flowers. Would it be too much? Or would she appreciate it?

I guess I’ll just have to see.

For the first time in a long time, I double-checked my appearance in the rearview mirror—and I looked a hell of a lot older than I thought I did. I shuddered at my graying stubble and fatigued complexion before forcing myself to get out of the truck, a bright arrangement of lilies, daisies, and roses put together in a pastel green vase in hand. The florist swore Emma would love them…

And I sure as hell hoped she was right.

I stepped out of the Bronco, hoping like hell I wasn’t about to make myself look like an idiot. It was nearing closing time, and as much as I wanted to ask her to spend the evening with me, I couldn’t. I promised Jess that we would get pizza and watch some teenage show that she swore I would like.

Carrying the flowers in the most awkward way possible, I made my way to the door, hoping that the café was as empty as it had been the last time I stopped by. However, as soon as I stepped in, my jaw hit the floor.

You’ve got to be shitting me right now.

“Mason Hewitt!” Brittany exclaimed, looking just as devious as ever. “I never thought I’d run into you again.”

I blinked a couple of times, trying to process the fact that my ex-girlfriend was standing in the shop owned by the woman that I was planning to pursue something with. It had been a long time since I had seen her…

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