Page 12 of Mac
With so little crime in their county, he and his deputies were able to help out neighboring counties when needed.
He rolled into his personal spot at the sheriff’s office and parked the bike. He was supposed to have the whole afternoon off, but seeing as he left the barbeque early, there was nothing else for him to do.
Okay, so he could go home, but he didn’t want to stare at those four walls. He’d happily stare at the four walls of his office instead. At least it made him feel as though he were doing something beside obsessing.
“Hey Boss. What are you doing here?”
“Hey Jimmie. I was bored. Everything good?”
“Quiet as a cemetery.”
“Then why don’t you go on home to Missy and the kids. I’ll take the rest of your shift.”
“You sure? I don’t mind staying.”
“I’m sure. If there isn’t anything going on, there’s no need for you to stay. I’ve got this. Go on home.”
“Thanks.”
Jimmie might’ve hesitated at first, but took Mac at his word the second time around and hightailed it out the doors.
Jimmie was his newest deputy. He’d come up from Hampton, on the other side of Atlanta, when his wife’s parents offered he and Missy the log cabin the family owned and used as a vacation rental.
They had three small kids with number four on the way.
Mac couldn’t imagine being in his late twenties with four kids. It was hard enough to imagine having one at that age, but four? He shook his head, baffled.
His office occupied one end of the single-story building, but he rarely sat in it. He used an unoccupied desk in the center of the squad room where he had a good view of the doors, the cells, and all his deputies.
Leaning back in the chair, he clasped his hands behind his head, and sighed. “Well, now what?”
* * * * *
Jackie sat outside the sheriff’s office. She’d been there for ten minutes and if she sat there any longer, she’d chicken out completely and go home.
She’d driven out to Mac’s place first, but when he hadn’t been there, she knew the only other place he’d be was at work.
She didn’t know for sure why he’d left the barbeque early, though she had a pretty good idea. Her. Trae. Their closeness.
What Mac didn’t know was Trae was like a brother to her, same as Mandi was like a sister. Trevor was the standoffish one who didn’t warm up to anyone, but Trae was the happy, easy going, let everyone in until they proved to him he shouldn’t have. Lucky for her, she’d never given Trae reason to stop being her friend.
The building in front of her appeared a deep red in the setting sun, but in full daylight, the bricks were faded and showed their age.
Was that her, too? Appearing one way, but it being nothing more than an illusion?
A sheriff was in love with her, a former prostitute.
Yes, she knew how he felt about her. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out. It was in his eyes, plain as day, when he looked at her. Vinter looked at Elise the same way. Dallon looked at Carrie the same way. And Jaz and Mandi were headed in that direction, too.
It seemed the only thing in question was how she felt about Mac.
But it wasn’t in question. Not really. Not if she were honest with herself which when it came to Mac, she didn’t want to be honest at all.
“Now or never, Jacks,” she whispered to her reflection in the rearview mirror.
Before she could change her mind, she stepped out of the car and made her way to the double glass doors that stood between her and Mac.
She took a deep breath, let it out, and pushed her way inside.
