Page 47 of The Harborer
“I don’t think I got a chance to ask you,” he said between bites. “What did you think of the Big Event? I know your store was busy, but did your free coffee bring in the results you were going for?”
“I haven’t added up the receipts, but I think it went better than I planned. Even without the extra business, though, seeing the train pull into the station was amazing. And despite the cold, our little town hustled and bustled. I think it was a win all the way around, and I’m anxious to hear how the other businesses did.”
“I’ve got to admit I was worried the weather would put a damper on the leaf-peeping, but it didn’t seem to have any effect.” Shane pointed at the floor to the general store below. “Marjorie says they had one of their best days ever for October.People were snapping up her souvenir shot glasses, T-shirts, and train postcards.”
“I’m so happy to hear that. I would love to see everyone in this town really flourish.”
He cocked his head. “Even if it means relying on tourism?”
“Sure. Why not? OPM.”
“Opium?”
“No,” she laughed. “Other people’s money. I like the idea of other people infusing cash into our economy. It helps us all.” She put down her spoon. “But you’re a local. Does the idea of tourists botheryou?”
“I’m reserving judgment until I see it play out a little more. It’s not that I’m against growth because I’m not. I’m for fresh blood coming into our community—people like you and Hailey, for instance—but you’re permanent fixtures, running businesses that benefit the town, devoting your time and energy to the greater good. I mean, look at you. You’re on the town council, so you’re contributing that way too. Tourists, on the other hand, don’t have the same investment, and I’ve heard good and bad about their effect on mountain towns like ours. So I’ll sit back and see how it unfolds before I decide which way I lean.”If I stick around that long.
“Fair, and spoken like a politician.”
He pointed at his chest. “You think I’m a politician?”
“Of course you are. You have to be, considering the amount of negotiating you do on the daily. And a diplomat too.” She leaned toward him, her gaze intensifying as it mined his. “Please tell me you’re thinking of running for sheriff someday.”
“Me?”
“You’d make a great one.”
“I have a looong way to go before I could even consider something that drastic. And I should probably get some experience in a different county.”
Her mouth swung open. “You’d consider leaving Fall River?”
He lifted his spoon and shoveled chili into his mouth. “I’d like to do more than settle fights between neighbors and deal with trespassing elk.”
“You mean you’d prefer to deal with more crime? You want to use your gun?” She gestured at his waist vaguely. “Lock up more people?”
“No, I don’t mean it likethat. I just … I want to use my skills somewhere they’re needed.”
“You’re neededhere!” A tense beat passed before her expression softened. “And what’s so drastic about running for sheriff? You know the county like the back of your hand, and more importantly, the people in it. You have the right temperament. People trust you. You’re hardworking and fair. The rest you can learn on the job.”
“Kinda like I ‘learned on the job’ today?” He let out an amused chuff.“Thatwas close to a disaster.”
She offered him a shy smile. “You’re being too hard on yourself, Deputy. Besides, that was your first run at being a barista. You were getting the hang of it. Tomorrow, you’ll be a pro.”
Neve’s words ricocheted in Shane’s head.“If there’s even a speck of good in someone, she’ll find it.”
“I tell you what,” he quipped. “You’ve got the job as my campaign manager, if and when the day comes that I run for office.”
“Hmm. That could be interesting.”
They chatted amiably over a dinner that should have been over quickly but lingered. Not that he was complaining. No, he was loving this slice of domestic life, this peek into what his eveningscouldbe like. At some point, it dawned on him he’d known Amy for years, but he’d never really gotten to know her. Suddenly he wanted to unravel her mysteries, discover how her mind worked. He wanted to know every fascinating detail about her.
After dinner, he whisked away the dishes and shooed her to the fold-out with orders to find something for them to watch.
“I should warn you that I rarely get to wield the remote, but when it’s in my clutches, I don’t let go.”
“Duly noted,” he chuckled.
“No, you need to understand. It gets worse. I always put on a rom-com or a chick flick, and if you value your fingers, you won’t take the remote away until the movie’s over.” Her eyes flashed with a fake fury that sparked a belly laugh inside him.
