I flipped the open sign, and a familiar hand reached for the handle as I turned the lock. “Good morning.”
Garrett had been the first customer every day this week. The term customer wasn’t accurate because I never charged him, but he always dropped a tip in the jar.
He grinned as I hugged him. “Good morning. Now that I’m going to be a rancher, I need to learn to be up with the sun. I’ll be adopting your bedtime before too long.”
“It’s not so bad. Excited about the new job?” I hurried behind the counter and pulled his favorite out of the case.
“I am.”
I slid a doughnut across the counter and set a mug next to it. “I won’t get to see you in the mornings. You’ll be eating Ava’s breakfast and taking care of cows.”
“I’ll sneak over whenever I get a chance.” He broke the doughnut in half. “Have you decided what days you’ll be closed?”
“I plan to put a sign up today. Christmas Eve, I’ll only be open until noon. Then I’ll be closed for Christmas and the day after. I don’t want to stay closed too long because I’m closing again for the wedding two weeks later.” I filled a mug of coffee for myself. “I should probably hire extra help so that taking a break isn’t such a big deal.”
“That’s wise. You’ll exhaust yourself, trying to keep this place going all the time.” He nodded toward the door as it opened. “I’m going to settle at that table in the corner while you feed the masses.”
“Let me know if you need anything.” I smiled as firemen filed in. “Good morning, guys. What can I get for y’all?”
An hour later, the crowd had thinned a bit, but Garrett still sat at the corner table. He seemed preoccupied with whatever he had laid out in front of him, and I chose not to interrupt him.
The steady stream of customers made it hard to make it over to his table anyway.
As I was getting a fresh pot of coffee ready to brew, the door opened. “I’ll be with you in one moment.”
“No hurry.”
The familiar voice startled me, and I nearly dropped coffee grounds all over the floor.
With a forced smile, I turned and faced Deputy Gomez. “Hi.”
Not only was this man a reminder of the awful beating Garrett had suffered, but I was also harboring irritation for the implications Nico had made during the visit at the house.
“Welcome to Sweet’s. What can I get for you?”
He perched on a barstool not far from the coffee station. “I was out this way and thought a doughnut and coffee sounded good. Do you have any of that kind you made at the house?”
I tensed, hoping no one else heard his question. Out of context, it sounded like he’d been at my house. I didn’t want people to think that.
After hitting the button to start the coffee brewing, I walked back behind the counter. “I make a batch of those every day.” I pulled out a praline doughnut and slid it over to him. “Coffee will be ready in about five minutes.” I set a to-go cup in front of him.
He needed to be able to take it with him when he left, which would hopefully be soon.
Nico took a bite and smiled. “Garrett was right. These are the best.” He dusted crumbs off the front of his shirt, then looked at me. “I’m sorry about implying . . .” He waved a hand as if that completed the sentence.
“Apology accepted.”
Garrett was on the phone, focused on papers laid out on his table. I wanted him to look up and notice who was here.
But while he finished up his call, I could gather a bit of information. “Have there been any more developments . . . in the case?”
Nico nodded. “Big developments. I drove out this way to talk to Garrett, but the woman I spoke to out there said he wasn’t working on the ranch today. Know where I can find him?”
“Hang on.” I ran over to Garrett’s table and patted his arm once.
“Gotta go.” His eyes wide, he smiled up at me. “What’s up?”
I leaned close, then pointed behind me. “Nico showed up.” I didn’t even get a chance to tell Garrett about the big development before he was striding across the room.
“Nico, what a surprise.” Garrett acted like they were old friends.
Nico motioned toward his doughnut. “Decided to have one of these when I didn’t find you at the ranch, but it should’ve occurred to me to look for you here . . . since y’all are friends.”
What was his deal? Garrett and I were the only ones who were allowed to emphasize that word when talking about our relationship.
“I’m here often.” Garrett pointed toward his table. “We can sit over there and talk.”
Nico pulled out his wallet. “How much do I owe you?”
I rang up his purchase, then swiped his card. “Y’all let me know if you need anything. And the coffee is probably ready.”
They settled at the table, and I served other customers who walked in. Curiosity about what was being said at that corner table gnawed at me, but I couldn’t ignore customers to go listen. I’d just have to wait until Garrett filled me in.
Fifteen grueling minutes later, Nico tipped his hat before walking out the door.
Garrett gathered his papers and strolled up to the counter. “You busy tonight?”
“Not if you are going to tell me what he said.” How would I make it until dinner without knowing? “I can make something.”
“Sounds good. Let me know what time.” He glanced at his phone. “I need to run. Christmas presents don’t wrap themselves.”
“See you later.” I’d have to figure out what to make for dinner, something impressive.
Rather than trying to reinvent the wheel, I’d texted Ava to get her enchilada casserole recipe. And it smelled delicious bubbling in my oven.
Garrett knocked right on time, and I hurried to the door.
“Come in. Dinner is almost ready.”
He sniffed the air as he walked inside. “That smells amazing. Almost like—” A smile spread across his face. “You made enchilada casserole.”
“I did. Ava gave me the recipe.” I hurried into the kitchen when the timer beeped. “I’ve been waiting all day to know what Nico told you.”
Garrett leaned against the counter. “Good news. Well, to me it’s good news. To the—what was it you took to calling her?”
“The she-devil.”
“Yeah. To her, it’s not good news.”
I pulled off my oven mitts, waiting for him to spill the news. “Are you teasing me with silence on purpose?”
“Possibly.” He rested his hands on my hips. “Nico couldn’t give me all the details, but you no longer need to hire anyone for your case.”
I pressed both hands to his chest. “Really?”
He glanced down, then inched me closer. “She’s been arrested for trying to hire someone to kill her husband. I guess when getting him jailed didn’t work, she changed up her plan. But then her husband threatened to kill his wife and took a swing at a deputy who was serving a search warrant. So, the guy who beat me up landed in jail too.”
“Arrested? Both of them?” That was what I’d wanted to happen but more than I’d expected. I slid my arms around his neck. “That’s great news.”
His arms tightened around me, and he stayed quiet.
I pulled back but didn’t step out of his embrace. “Isn’t that good news?”
He nodded. “Very good news.”
“But?”
Shaking his head, he pulled me close again. “No but. It’s good news.” He rested his chin on top of my head. “I’m grateful I’m around to hear the good news.”
I stayed with my head resting against his chest. “She called your phone all those times, thinking you were dead, didn’t she? She was going to let her husband kill you and then report him.” Even the thought made my insides ache.
Garrett kissed the top of my head. “Not sure. But thanks to you, that’s not the way this played out.”
With my face buried in his chest, I thought of the contented feeling Delaney mentioned. Before my brain ran away with that idea, I boxed it back up. My heart was definitely on the butchering slab, but I was going to pretend it wasn’t until after the wedding.
“I’m happy about that.” I rubbed the front of his shirt as I stepped back. “And I’m glad I’m the one who found you.”
His silent smile said he agreed.