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Worth it.

She coughed to cover her reaction.

“Come on, let’s go,” she said.

The only other people at Grannie’s when we arrived were John and Mary, Jack and Meg, AJ, and the mayor, a woman I hadn’t met but had seen on the news.

Jamie and Emily had been suspiciously absent all day. We’d joked about Jamie trying to get out of pack mule duties, since it was our job to lug all the boxes of decorations, beverages, and raffle prizes into the shop.

It was Jack who started calling us pack mules last year, and it’d stuck. Mary thought it was hilarious and started threatening to crack a whip whenever we lollygagged. Her word, not mine.

“The place looks great, Mary.” I said as I looked around. The lights seemed brighter, the ghost and skeleton decorations seemed more cheerful, and the music more festive. I didn’t know if it was because I was new and hadn’t known anyone last year, or if it was because I was hopelessly in love this year.

Probably a little of both.

Unwilling to sound like I’d lost my mind, I didn’t say any of that to Mary. Instead, I asked her if there was anything I could do to help out.

She looked around. “I think we’re good. Have you met the mayor?” Mary asked.

“No, not yet.”

“Beth, you’ve met her, right?”

Beth nodded. Her eyes never leaving Chase as he walked over to Meg, who was talking to Amber at the raffle table. Beth didn’t want to admit how nervous she was about letting Chase out of her sight tonight, despite the place being filled with cops, but I could see it in her eyes and the tension in her shoulders.

I pulled her close and kissed her forehead before leaning close to her ear and whispering, “Would it help if I asked the guys to keep an eye on him?”

“Maybe a little.” She hugged me and said, “thank you,” into my chest.

I didn’t tell her we’d already talked about it, or that I was paying Eric and Dean to take turns watching the front door for the night. Their only job—make sure Chase doesn’t leave unless he’s with his mom, me, or a Sheppard.

Chapter 51

Beth

Doug looked sexy as sin in his costume. I’d pretty much been drooling since walking down the stairs and seeing him. At first, I’d been disappointed he’d forgone the chaps, but I got over it when he hinted he’d wear them for me and me alone.

After all the subtle verbal foreplay, I couldn’t stop thinking about how much I wanted to see him in them.And nothing else. I held a cold bottle of water to my neck.It’s going to be a long night if I don’t get my horny thoughts under control.

We’d arrived early enough to help with any last-minute things needing to be done, and had a chance to talk to the mayor fora few minutes. She was a good person. Not your typical sleazy politician. Her husband was a military guy, still serving as a Naval Officer, and her kids were in college. She genuinely cared about the people of Weatherford, and it showed. This was her first term in office, and it meant a lot to me she’d taken time out of her busy schedule to attend.

Doug talked to the mayor for a fw minutes, then excused himself and joined John who was talking to the mayor’s husband.

“Beth, so good to see you. How are you and Chase holding up?” She knew all about the ordeal and had called me to check in a couple of days after Chase got home. When I mentioned it to Mary, she said the Mayor had called John and asked about us. Weatherford was lucky; it was rare to have a politician be so caring and hands on in any community.

We talked for a few minutes, mostly about our kids. I glanced at the clock and said, “It was good to see you madam mayor.” I shook her hand. “Be sure to stop by the raffle table later.” I looked towards the raffle tables along the far wall; the raffle items changing colors as the orange and purple twinkle lights flashed off and on.

You’d think I’d want to mingle with the guests, given the fundraiser was in my late husband‘s name, but I didn’t. I did at the first one, but preferred working at the table where I could talk to people without the pressure. The fundraiser wasn’t about me anymore, so I didn’t want to be the center of attention.

“I’ll stop by in a little bit and get my tickets. A little birdie told me there’s a full-service spa day available this year and I want to win it.”

Chase had stayed at the raffle table with Meg while I talked to the mayor, and when I sat down he came to sit next to me. I was relieved he seemed hesitant to wander off, but also a little sadbecause I wanted him to feel safe to walk around and have fun. There wouldn’t be a safer place in all of Weatherford tonight.

Meg looked adorable in her costume. She wore the shirt and hat from last year, but had replaced the skirt with khaki-colored jeans. When I asked why she wasn’t wearing the skirt, she said, “This way I’m a little Grannie’s and a little SSI.” She laughed. “But I refuse to wear chaps.”

Leave it up to Meg to find a way to represent both.

I was reminding Chase he couldn’t play with the raffle items on display when Jamie and Emily walked in. They’d been suspiciously absent all day. When I’d asked Doug about it, while we were setting up, he’d shrugged and said Jamie had mentioned them having plans and they’d be here later. I’d assumed he meant later while we were setting up, but obviously not.

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