Page 77 of Tessa's Trust

They wouldn’t know anything interesting. “It doesn’t matter. None of my cousins put that knife in the box. It must have happened after they dropped them off at Silver Sadie’s. Nick, you have to know those emails are fake.”

“I know,” he said. “I’m not so worried about the emails. Those will be easy to prove. It’s the bloody knife that bothers me. Please, tell me you haven’t touched any knives lately.”

I wasn’t stupid. “Of course, I haven’t touched any knives. My fingerprints won’t be on it.”

“That’s something, at least.” He pulled to a stop outside his condo.

I wearily jumped out, my body feeling like it was a thousand years old as I followed him up the stairs and stopped short at seeing Jolene Sullivan in a bright red parka leaning against his door, waiting.

“I can’t deal with this,” I murmured.

“I’ve got it. Jolene, leave,” Nick said.

She eyed Nick and then focused on me. “Actually, I heard you were taken out of The Clumsy Penguin tonight and arrested.” Her smile was catlike. There were absolutely no secrets in Timber City. I shook my head. I was used to it over in Silverville because it was so much smaller, but now Timber City was a hub of gossip, too?

“I wasn’t arrested,” I countered. “So, if you print that, I’ll sue your ass so fast it’ll make your head spin.” I’d had it. My temper was close to the surface, and I didn’t mind if that wench knew it.

As if knowing how close to the edge I was, Nick stepped between us. “Stick to our agreement, Jolene, or you’ll never get another interview with the prosecuting attorney’s office.”

“I don’t need an interview right now.” She contemplated me. “If the sheriff didn’t arrest you, why was he there? Why did you leave with him?”

“No comment,” I said.

Nick opened his door. “See you later, Jolene.” Grabbing my hand, he tugged me inside. I was big enough to admit that I enjoyed him shutting the door in her face way too much.

“Can she print that the sheriff came and got me?” I asked.

“Sure, but what kind of a story is that?” he asked. “Unless she has a source in Silverville, she won’t know about any of the evidence against you.”

I wouldn’t put it past Jolene to have a source, but I also knew Sheriff Franco would lose his mind if any of his deputies spoke to the press about an active case. At the moment, I was feeling pretty safe.

“How was your date with Hank Brando?” Nick asked, shrugging out of his coat.

I unzipped mine and handed it to him to hang in the closet. “Actually, it was pretty good. He brought candles and a tablecloth to The Clumsy Penguin. I thought it was sweet.”

“Sweet, huh?” Nick turned and looked at me. “Is that what you want? Sweet?”

I studied him. While sweet might not be Nick’s default setting, he definitely had it in him once in a while. “Maybe sometimes.” Then I shuffled my feet. “I’m sorry I lost it at the hospital. You didn’t have to come get me.”

Nick brushed my hair away from my face. “Everyone needs a good cry once in a while.”

I couldn’t imagine him crying, but it was kind of him to say. “I’m not a pretty crier.” My nose still felt stuffy and swollen.

His upper lip quirked. “I think you’re adorable.”

Uh-oh. Trouble. Red light. Turn away. “You do?” I asked, almost batting my eyelashes.

“Yeah.” He cupped my face and pulled me toward him, his touch gentle, and his eyes heated. “I almost lost my mind when I found out Franco jerked you out of The Clumsy Penguin and drove you over the pass.”

My lungs stuttered. “How did you find out?”

“Seriously?”

Good point. The town thought we were dating. “How many people called you?”

“Three rang, and five texted.” He cocked his head. “A quick call to Deputy McCracken confirmed that the sheriff was bringing you in for questioning, and that Nerden didn’t want to charge you.”

My eyebrows rose as my gaze dropped to his firm lips. “I’m surprised McCracken talked to you. The sheriff will kill him.”

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