Page 15 of Seducing the Sheriff
He subsided into his chair. “Understood.”
“You do?” I regarded him warily. From what I knew of Charming’s mayor, he didn’t back down so easily. His wife told me more than once he was like a terrier with a bone when he got his teeth into something.
Liam shrugged, then smirked at me. “I’ve gotten the information I need.”
Of course he had.
I knuckled my eyes and sighed. It had been a long day, and it was only lunchtime. I had three more meetings before the end of my shift.
“Top up?” Liam asked, waving a hand at the coffee pot.
I shook my head. “I’ve drunk so much coffee today; my bloodstream is ninety per cent caffeine.”
“That low,” he mocked. “See you tomorrow night for dinner?”
I grunted agreement as I got to my feet and rolled my shoulders, then I fixed Liam with a stare. “No more unauthorized investigations, okay?”
He gave me a bland stare. “You don’t want me to lie to you, do you? I’m the mayor.”
I sighed. This was Liam Sandell. He was a politician. He’d always stick his nose in if it suited him. Then he’d smoothly talk his way out of any complaint on my part.
My last meeting ended at eight-thirty that night. I hadn’t intended to stay that long, but we’d gotten into long discussions about zoning and permits, then pizza had arrived, and well, here I was driving home at eight forty-five and I’d had a fourteen-hour day—again.
In all honesty, I didn’t mind the long days. Otherwise, I was going back to an empty home, crack a beer, and watch the rerun of a game I’d missed. But I was aware other people had families and lives, and it wasn’t fair to expect them to give up their evenings just because I was a single man with no life outside of work.
As I drove past the old Jenkins’ ranch I wondered if Greg was back yet or if he’d decided to stay another night in the motel until he’d cleared up. Before I could think about what I was doing, I swung the cruiser around and turned into his drive. I could see lights in the building ahead, so I guessed that answered the question. I had my answer, I could go home. But it was only right I checked on Greg to make sure he was okay.
Why was I trying to justify a friendly visit to someone? Anyone else I wouldn’t be thinking about it.
Anyone else and you wouldn’t be visiting them at nearly nine at night.
I ignored MindMom’s dig—seriously, did anyone else have their mother living rent-free in their head?—and pulled up alongside Greg’s truck.
I hesitated for one second, then got out of the cruiser and jogged up the stoop to knock on the door. I waited, then I heard footsteps heading toward the door. There was a pause, the sound of a key unlocking, and the door opened.
Greg blinked at me, the long lashes sweeping over his cheeks. “Hey, sheriff…Cash. Is everything all right?”
“Uh…yeah.” I stumbled a bit, noticing he was in a t-shirt that molded his muscles and pajama bottoms that clung…no, I was not going there. I dragged my gaze up but didn’t meet his gaze. “I was driving past and thought I’d check you were okay.”
I winced inwardly. Now I sounded like a worried schoolteacher.
“Late night?” he asked.
“Long day.” I grimaced. “I’ve just finished my last meeting.”
“That is a long day.” Greg sounded sympathetic. “I came back this afternoon and cleared away the mess. It wasn’t too bad, although the closet will have to be rebuilt. I’m not sure what I want to do with it just yet.”
I nodded, finally meeting Greg’s eyes. “I can understand that.”
“Do you want to come in,” he asked. “Do you want coffee?”
“Do you have anything else? I won’t sleep if I drink more caffeine.”
“I think I’ve got chamomile tea in the pantry. Aunt Bonnie gave it to me. I’m not sure how old it is,” he confessed.
God bless Aunt Bonnie.
“That’s perfect. I like chamomile, however old it is,” I assured him, and he stepped back to allow me into the house.
