Page 26 of Blue-Eyed Hero

A few minutes later, Larry pulled the van to a stop along Barnacle Lane. The pothole was impossible to miss since someone decided to… plant flowers in it. A laugh bubbled out as Allison took in the lovely yellow and orange mums poking up from the hole.

“Do you see this?” she asked Larry, pointing to the little garden in the middle of the road.

“Just when I thought I’d seen everything,” he said. “Let me get the camera.” He slipped out of the driver’s side and went around to the back.

Allison took out her phone and snapped a picture and video of the pothole garden to post on her social media accounts. People were going to love this.

“You’re here!” Allison turned to see Anna.

“I am. You didn’t tell me about this.” She motioned to the flowers. Though it must have been a recent occurrence.

“Oh.” Anna nodded, a smile spreading wide across her face. Humor filled her dark eyes. “That is courtesy of Mrs. Trainor. Her husband has gotten two flat tires in the last two months, and she got so angry he kept hitting the pothole. She grabbed her potting soil and got to work yesterday afternoon. She said if he couldn’t see the yellow and orange flowers, she was forcing him to get an eye exam or she’d hide his keys.”

A laugh burst out, and Allison fell into a giggle fit. “That is great,” she said. “Is Mrs. Trainor home? I would love to interview her. She seems like she’d be great for television.”

“She is, and she would love that. I’ll be right back.”

“Perfect. I’ll be here. Thanks.”

Anna hurried two doors down to a Cape Cod style home with white siding and black shutters. The house was lined with flowers in two flower beds on either side and along the stone path walkway that led from the driveway to the front door.

“We about ready?” Larry asked.

“Give me two minutes. I’m getting the woman who planted this lovely garden to interview.”

Allison crossed her arms over her chest, waiting for the woman. She closed her eyes, tilting her head up to the sky and basked in the warmth of the sun on her face.

The sound of a car door jolted her out of her moment of serenity, and she swung her gaze behind her. A familiar cruiser had pulled up and an even more familiar ass was bending over and reaching into the backseat of the cruiser.

She walked over to Reid, her heels click-clacking on the pavement.

He turned, hoisting the bag on his shoulder, his arm muscles straining against his shirt with the effort. She paused for a moment, taking him in before continuing toward him.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“I came to fill the damn hole.” He dropped the bag of whatever he was carrying on the ground and let out a rush of breath. “But I see someone beat me to it.” He nodded to her foot, concern filling his gaze. “How’s the ankle?”

“It’s fine.” She waved him off. “I didn’t realize pothole repair was in your pay grade.”

“It’s not, but one of my deputies got a flat tire this morning and was late for his shift. Normally I wouldn’t have minded, but he has to pay for a new tire, and the guy is already struggling.”

“That’s very kind of you.” Over the years, she’d heard the locals rave about Reid for taking care of things for them, but she’d never thought much of it. As gruff as he could be, he had a big heart beneath that uniform.

“We’re all just trying to get by,” he said, snapping her to reality. “Sometimes a little help doesn’t hurt is all. Not a big deal.”

“But see, I think it is. Local officer—”

“Sheriff.”

She ignored his correction and kept going, knowing damn well it pissed him off. “Taking it upon himself to fill the town’s potholes. Let me guess, the money came out of your own wallet, too.” Reid didn’t say anything, but he didn’t have to. “I knew it.” She snapped her fingers and pointed at him. “I have an idea. Larry, get the camera!”

Reid’s blue eyes darkened, his lips curving downward in an unmistakable sign of disapproval. “What the hell are you doing?”

She patted his chest, momentarily shocked by the hard strength beneath her hand. Her fingers itched to keep exploring, but she snapped her hand away. “You’re my new story.” Everything about it was perfect. Reid Silva wasn’t just the town hero, he was an all-around good guy despite his, at times, prickly personality. Plus, he had a face for TV, if he’d just stop being so damn camera shy.

“Absolutely not,” Reid stated, without an ounce of gratitude in his tone.

Didn’t he realize she would be doing him a huge favor? “Oh, come on. You need to get into the mayor’s good graces, and what better way than for her to see you taking it upon yourself to better the town?”

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