Page 9 of Wine and Research
She’d always admired his cop side, but she’d love to get to know his human side more. A lot more.
Elle sat up and met her frowning gaze in the rearview mirror of her car.
What was she thinking?
There was no space or need in her life for either side of Officer Jeremy Mercer, or any man, for that matter. The only thing of importance right now was her looming deadline and getting whatever information, inspiration, and motivation necessary to finish the first book.
It was bad enough she’d considered canceling the ride-along last night. She’d thought long and hard over a glass of wine and a dip in the hot tub that came with the cabin. Elle dug deep, wracking her brain to determine if she had enough information to portray more than one hero in her series, all so she didn’t have to see Jeremy again.
The answer was…she was acting stupid.
So, there had been no call to the lieutenant, but there had been a few more glasses of wine. She’d slept like a baby, perhaps a little too long, but she still had enough time to stop at Jill’sshop, Confection Connection, to grab a dozen goodies for the force.
Elle had never gone to the police department without a box and wasn’t going to break that tradition today.
The donut gods were smiling upon her because she swung into a parking spot out front. Perhaps today was going to be okay and not an air-biting tense session that would require a lot more wine and hot tub time.
It remained to be seen.
With only positive thoughts in her head, Elle entered the shop with the cute brown and light blue stripped awnings and was immediately hit with one decadent aroma after another. Chocolate. Baked goods…coffee.
Only third in line this morning, she counted herself lucky since her past visits sometimes had her waiting in double digits. But the service had always been quick, and the food delicious.
“Hi, Theresa,” she said, smiling at the manager when it was her turn to step up to the counter. “Jill out of town again?”
Jill was married to one of the Wyne brothers and a world-renowned chocolatier. She was also a sweetheart who happily supplied Gabe’s with a wide variety of desserts at a discounted price.
“She’s at that chocolate convention in New York City,” the woman replied.
Disappointment rushed through Elle. “That was this week?”
Darn, she’d wanted to go.
It wasn’t lost on Elle how she was getting invested in the lives of the locals. She didn’t even know her neighbors where she lived in upstate New York, but she knew most of the local business owners and more than a dozen people who lived a few miles away from town. This had never happened to her before and she should probably freak out, but she was surprisingly calm. Relaxed, even.
“Yep.” Theresa grinned. “Are you here for yourself or for the department again?”
She grinned back. “Both.”
“Funny,” the manager said, furrowing her brow. “Jeremy was in earlier and he didn’t say anything about you doing further research.”
Elle scrunched her nose. “Because he doesn’t know.”
“Oh, dear.” The woman chuckled as she began loading up a box with selections popular with the locals on the force. “I put a chocolate peanut donut in there for you and an extra bear claw in there for Officer Mercer.”
“Thanks,” she said. “He’s going to need it, although I’m hoping to be paired up with someone new this time around.”
As usual, the manager waved off the money Elle tried to give her. “You know we never charge the force or the guardsman here.”
It was worth a try.
Nodding, she shoved the money into the donation can by the register. This month, it was support for the local cat rescue efforts through—Coffee Cats—the cat café down the block.
“Good luck,” Theresa said, handing her the box of confections before waiting on the next customer.
Elle mumbled her thanks and headed out the door with a little less positivity.
That wouldn’t do, she thought to herself as she got back in her car and set the box on the passenger seat. Today was about work and she wasn’t going to let anyone waylay her progress.
