Page 140 of Delicate Escape

I grabbed my purse from the cabinet behind the counter. “He still determined to be the next hockey star?”

Sutton sighed as she wrung out the mop. “He brought home forms for their kids’ league. Did you know they let kids as young asfiveplay?Five.”

I winced. “It does seem a little dangerous. But they’re wearing all those pads.”

“I guess. But they’re trying to pull together a camp before the season starts. Of course, Luca has his heart set on it.”

I sent her a gentle smile. “And his mom, who loves him, will of course say yes.”

“Because I’m a sucker,” she muttered.

I pulled Sutton into a hug. “Not a sucker. Anamazingmom.”

“Thanks, Thee Thee. Love you.”

“Love you, too.” I released her. “See you tomorrow.”

“Get home safe,” she ordered.

“I’ve got your future boyfriend making sure of it.”

Sutton grinned and waved me off.

As I stepped outside, warmth swirled around me, and I took a deep inhale of the pine air. The scent even made its way downtown.

Deputy Allen waved as he approached. “How was your day?”

“Good,” I said. “Yours? Other than boring as all get out.”

He chuckled. “I don’t mind it. It means a lot that the boss trusted me with this job.”

That was a sweet way to look at it. “Well, I appreciate it.”

“Anytime. I’ll follow you home. Just don’t go blowing any red lights on me.”

I grinned. “I’ll try to restrain myself.”

We headed down the block and around the corner to where we’d parked just a few spots apart. Deputy Allen waited as I got into my car and started it up, locking the doors behind me. Then I waited for him to get into his vehicle.

Once he was in, I put my car in reverse and navigated out of the parking spot. Downtown had plenty of people milling around, and I couldn’t help looking for any signs of Brendan’s blond hair.

I bit the inside of my cheek, forcing my gaze back to the road. I wouldn’t let him continue haunting me, not anymore.

It only took a few minutes to get out of the town’s tourist traffic and on to the road that would lead me home.Hometo Shep and Moose. Even if some of the structures had been destroyed, the people and creatures were what mattered. I just had to hold on to that.

Cold metal pressed into my side from the back seat, making me jerk.

“Eyes forward. Keep driving. I’d hate to put a bullet in your spleen.”

It was more snarl than voice. But it wasn’t male.

I tried to turn to see who it belonged to, because there was something slightly familiar about it. But the metal object jabbed into my ribs. “I said eyes on the road, slut. Or maybe I’ll go for your heart right here and now.”

54

SHEP

The afternoon sunbaked the earth behind the old farmhouse. It was the kind of summer sun that cast everything in a golden hue. And the tone had me seeing nothing but possibilities.