Page 5 of Falling for the Sheriff
But now, I know where to find her. That fragile hope I’d clung to—the one that never wavered—ignites into a sure, burning certainty. They call me headstrong. Obstinate. A man who doesn’t know how to let go.
They’re right. And when I want something? I don’t give up. Not until what I want ismine.
* * *
The station is going to look like a hospital room at this rate. Littered with different shades of colors, some flowers are more wilted than others. Kelly’s desk has a disarray of lilies. Each windowsill has random flowers I don’t recognize. My desk has carnations. If I keep going, my wallet is going to be flatlining at this rate.
When the same dark-haired male comes strolling in with a vase of roses, I’m ready to howl and give the poor guy a shake for keeping the woman away from me.
There’s no way she quit Daisy’s. Could she be working inside? I can’t call and ask for her name. Not without coming off like some stalker or creep. The shop is always closed whenever I leave the station.
It’s already been a week. By now, she should’ve strolled in.
“Who wants them?” Kelly offers up the vase like she’s an auctioneer ready to sell something off.
“Put them with Fergus’ stuff. He’ll get a kick out of it.” Sighing into my hands, I consider giving up on my delivery plan.
Kelly does as I ask, stealing his seat while he’s out on patrol. Using the wheels, she rolls over toward me. By the time my hands fall, I see the concern written all over her face.
I may not be handling this inside too well.
“Who was that lady?” She rotates back and forth, tilting her head when I don’t answer. “Atlas.”
I haven’t breathed a word to any of these people about my love life. They do me the favor of keeping theirs to themselves. I’m not in a rush to break those rules of ours.
When I grunt, she sighs. Looking at the wilting carnations on my desk, she plucks one out of the vase. It’s the first arrangement brought here, the oneshebrought.
“I bet you could get fresh ones right about now.” Twirling the stem, her thumb grazes a dying petal. “Better do it soon, before you forget what you have here. They’re not going to last much longer. Especially since you haven’t been changing the water.”
I scoff under my breath, unable to deny her claim.
“Why not take an early lunch? Snag a burger and hit up the flower shop on your way back?” She hits the handle on the chair and lifts to my eye level. Lowering her voice, she leans in. “But you better not come back with more flowers. It smells like a freaking garden in here. Tell them to refuse any future orders and say your card got stolen while you’re at it.”
She wants me to go to the shop and leave empty-handed? Shit, I guess I’m more transparent than I want to be.
“Yeah. Food sounds good.” I sigh as I stand a little too eagerly. “I’m starving. Good idea. Stolen card, you got it.”
Leaving behind the sound of a sigh, I take the excuse to see her again. To find her and have a conversation that lasts more than a couple of words.
Starving for only one thing, I skip over stopping somewhere for food. Instead, I head straight for Daisy’s.
The bell rings above my head, and I see a few women drifting around the back of the shop. Right at the front, there are a few prearranged flowers, waiting to be snagged.
Daisy is near the counter, a phone pressed to her ear. She offers up a smile and scribbles down what I assume is a future order. Once she’s thanking them and ending the call, she’s wasting no time meeting me at the counter.
“Sheriff.” Her mouth twitches. “I don’t see you here too often. How’s Grayson?”
Wasting no time asking about her reclusive brother, who happens to own a cabin near mine, I chuckle at her enthusiasm.
“You know how he is. Doesn’t talk to anyone. Haven’t run into him in a couple of weeks, but then again, he doesn’t have a reason to leave the mountain now, does he?” Not since he went off and found himself a wife.
“Not anymore.” Stifling a laugh, she pulls back and taps her fingers against the counter. “So, what can I get you? Someone’s been keeping us busy at your department, so I can’t blame you for wanting something. Say the word and I’ll throw it together. I’ll even give you a little discount since you keep an eye on him.”
Rubbing the back of my neck, I fight the urge to correct her. “I actually came here looking for someone. A woman. Brown hair. Beautiful.” I swallow thickly. “Pregnant.”
Her smile slips away, and she stiffens up. “Alice? She’s not in trouble, is she?”
Alice.
