Page 28 of A Deceitful Pact

“She’s a nurse and a damn hard worker. Gets a lot of help from her mother, but Kathy won’t be around forever.” I decide it’s not my place to pass comment, so I smile and continue walking, crossing the street by the garage and heading toward the diner myself. I might as well grab something for lunch while I’m out here.

“Riley….” I see Maddison up in front of me and notice how she waddles a little faster to get closer. “I’m sorry… Sheriff Hale.” She smiles awkwardly when she looks down and realizes that I’m in uniform. “How have you been?”

“I’ve been good. Keeping busy and fighting crime, one dog doo doo at a time.” I laugh, and when she stares back at me confused, I’m reminded that she has no idea what I’m talking about.

“Never mind me, how are you?” I look down at her huge tummy. I swear it’s gotten bigger since I saw her Sunday.

“Oh, we’re fine, Jace had to pick up some bits from Eamon’s store, so I thought I’d come with him for the ride. I was hoping I’d bump into a friendly face.” The tone of her voice suggests that the friendly face might be mine.

“Aren’t all faces in Clearwater Creek friendly?” I point out with a hint of sarcasm in my tone.

“I guess that's true, but I’m still new in town and I haven’t quite sussed everyone out yet.” She looks around us

“Ladies.” My body automatically heats up when I hear Sawyer’s voice, and when I see him crossing the street, right toward us, I look to the ground when I feel that heat move all the way to my cheeks.

“Look at you, you're glowing.”

“Thank you.” I prove to him that I’ve taken on board what he said, then want the ground to swallow me whole when I look back up and realize that he is, of course, talking to Maddison.

“I mean, she is, isn’t she?” I laugh awkwardly, and I can tell from the pitiful look on Maddison’s face that she’s embarrassed for me.

“Well, you're obviously glowing too, Sheriff, but I’m assuming it ain’t for the same reason.” He scratches at his stubble.

“I don’t know what you're talking about.” I shake my head defensively. I swear this man is gonna have me breaking out in hives.

“Sure, ya do. The sun, the fresh air…spring ain’t far away, Miss Hale, and I think it’s gonna look good on you.” His eyes give me that scorching once-over before he strolls into Jean's diner, and when I look back at Maddison, her eyes are wide open and full of excitement.

“If I wasn’t pregnant, I’d be asking for a cigarette.” She bursts out laughing

“He’s just teasing.” I try to brush it off.

“Well, that was hot, and he is sure hot for you.”

“Who’s hot for who?” Jace steps up behind her, wrapping his arms around her middle and giving me a suspicious look over her shoulder as he kisses her cheek.

“Your best friend. He just told Sheriff Hale, here, that spring is gonna look good on her.” Maddison fills him in.

“Not as good as it’s gonna look on you, baby momma.” He strokes his hand over her round stomach and makes her giggle.

“Don’t pay Sawyer no mind, he flirts with everyone.” Jace turns his attention back to me and suddenly gets serious again. I almost find it a compliment that he sees me as such a threat.

“Don’t payhimno mind.” Maddison interrupts our stare off, seeming completely unaware of the tension. “That was more than just flirting.”

“I should get back to work, you take care of yourself,” I tell Maddison with a friendly smile.

“Don’t ya worry, she’s got me for that.” Jace nods his head at me curtly, before moving her along.

SAWYER

“Sawyer…Sawyer?” I hear a faint whisper come from the back room and abandon the bar to follow it.

“Well, well, well.” I look to the floor and see Riley outta uniform on her hands and knees. “What ya doin’ down there, sweetheart?” I stand back and admire how she looks.

“Why aren’t you picking up your calls?” she whisper-yells at me.

“My phone’s charging upstairs. Now, ya gonna tell me why you're crawlin’ on the floor or ya expecting me to guess?”

“I didn’t know who was in the bar and I didn’t want to be seen,” she explains, still whispering.

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