Brody pulled in front of the sheriff’s station at the crack of dawn. Might as well get some work done, since he’d barely slept the night before. And the few precious hours he did sleep had been filled with dreams of Beth. Why couldn’t he keep her out of his thoughts? Now she was haunting his dreams, leaving him irritable and unfulfilled.
He hadn’t even stepped out of his truck before Rafe’s pickup pulled up, parking behind his. Figured his brother would be in early, too. From the time he’d been elected county sheriff, Rafe took his job seriously, working extra-long hours, making sure the good citizens who’d elected him were never in doubt about his commitment to keeping them safe and secure in their homes.
“Morning, bro.” Rafe held up two cups of coffee from the little place that had opened up across from Daisy’s Diner a few months ago.
Brody grabbed one out of Rafe’s hand and took a long drink. “You are a lifesaver.”
“Figured you’d be in early to pick up the stuff from the Summers’ place and drive it into Austin. A good dose of caffeine seemed in order.”
Together they strode through the front door and headed toward Rafe’s office. The evidence was locked up tight in the office safe, one less thing Brody had to worry about. He’d contacted the lab in Austin, notifying them he’d be bringing in multiple evidentiary items for processing from a suspected arson scene.
“Until I’ve got confirmation of arson at the Summers’ place, can you have Dusty and a couple of the other deputies drive by and make sure nobody’s out there messing with the barn? I doubt anybody will, but just in case.”
“I’ve already talked with Dusty. He’s on duty this afternoon. He’ll make a sweep by there.” Rafe shook his head. “I’m still trying to wrap my brain around somebody intentionally setting fire to that old barn. I mean, what’s the point? Nobody’s lived on the farm for years, and even before that, it wasn’t more than an empty shell. Some nice wood, true, but other than that? Not a whole lot of value.”
“I’m waiting to hear back from Ben or Greg Summers to see if there’s insurance on the house, the barn, and the land. Routine in any fire. The owner’s always suspect number one.”
“I get it. I can’t picture old Ben burning down his own property. Before his wife took ill, he put so much pride and hard work into his place. It’s a real shame.”
Brody perched on the corner of Rafe’s desk, knee bent. “Greg never wanted the farm. He prefers living in the city. Says he loves the excitement of the hustle and bustle of all the people, the energy. Personally, I don’t see the appeal. Feel like I can’t breathe when I’m away from Shiloh Springs for too long. I can handle a few days, maybe a bit longer, but then I start feeling claustrophobic. Give me a small town any day.”
“Me, too.”
“Anyway, thanks for the coffee. I need to hit the road. I told the laboratory I’d have the collected evidence to them first thing. Then I’m meeting Antonio for lunch. He’s in Austin for the rest of the week. Apparently, Derrick Williamson’s got another special case he wants Antonio’s help with.”
Rafe moved around Brody, kneeling down to open the safe situated in the corner of his office. There was a big evidence room at the very back of the sheriff’s station, where most evidence collected from criminal investigations was held, but this larger safe was used for items which needed special handling. Chain of custody was crucial when prosecuting, especially in cases where special circumstances could be mucked up with contamination, and having a locked safe with no outside access kept things on the up-and-up.
“Everything’s exactly as you left it last night. Seal’s unbroken.” Rafe lifted the large sealed cardboard container from the safe and set it on his desk.
The night before Brody had processed, labeled, documented, and logged every single item he’d picked up at the Summers’ barn. Some of them were trickier than others and required specific packaging for transport. Documentation was key in any investigation in providing vital clues, which might be overlooked with sloppy paperwork and poor collection of evidence. This morning, he’d printed out all the photos he’d taken inside and out of the Summers’ barn, and made a copy of the digital video of the scene. Now it was a matter of getting it all to Austin, where people with more specialized skill sets than his would either confirm or deny his suspicions.
“Great.”
“Just sign here,” Rafe passed across a receipt of evidence form, and Brody signed and initialed all the appropriate places and handed it back. “I think that takes care of everything. You need anything else?”
Brody shook his head and picked up the box. “Nope, I’m good. I’ll give you a call later.”
“Tell Antonio Momma’s expecting him home this weekend. She’s planning a big celebration.”
Brody chuckled and walked toward the office’s open doorway. “I’ll tell him, although he mentioned he’d be back for the weekend. Don’t think he can stand being away from Serena much longer. It’s almost sickening watching those two lovebirds all cozied up. Almost as bad as watching you and Tessa.”
He ducked the wadded-up paper Rafe tossed at him. “You’re jealous because you haven’t got somebody special.”
Brody froze at his words for the slightest second, because they scored a direct hit. As much as he wanted Beth, he didn’t have her—and probably never would.
“Nope, I’m still footloose and free, while you’re about to be leg-shackled for the rest of your life. You ready to take that big step, bro?”
“Honestly? I can’t wait to make Tessa my wife. Never believed I could feel so much for one woman. I wouldn’t change a thing, because she’s everything. Everything.”
“You know I’m kidding, right? Tessa is the best thing that’s happened to you. I haven’t seen you this happy ever. If I believed in soulmates, I’d say you’ve found yours. Nobody deserves happiness more than you, bro. Grab it with both hands and hold on tight.”
Rafe strode forward and clasped Brody’s shoulder, squeezing gently. “You’ll find the same someday soon. The right woman’s out there, and when you meet her, you’ll know.”
Brody’s thoughts flew immediately to Beth. Then he remembered what his father had said to him in the barn. That he should take a chance with her, see where it might lead. Maybe now would be a good time to ask Rafe how he’d feel about him dating Beth.
Before he could say a word, Rafe’s cell phone rang. Glancing at the number, Rafe grimaced. “Looks like kids have been out at Grady’s place again. I’m going to have to call, get this sorted out.”
“I’ve gotta hit the road anyway. Talk to you when I get back.”
Without another word, Brody walked to the front of the sheriff’s station and waved at Sally Anne on his way out. His father’s words replayed in his head. He almost—almost—turned around and walked back inside to tell Rafe about his feelings for Beth, but duty called.
When he got back, though, he promised himself two things. Number one, he’d tell Rafe how he felt about Beth.
And number two, he’d ask Beth out on a date.
Beth rose early, and lay in bed, thinking about all the twists and turns her life had taken in the last couple of years. The death of her parents had hit her hard. Harder than she’d let on, because she’d needed to be strong for Tessa. Her sister had been devastated when their parents both succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning in the home where they’d grown up. It was quick and sudden and unexpected. She’d done her best to be the pillar both Tessa and Jamie needed, never allowing herself to process her own grief until months later. And she’d never told anybody about her suspicions her ex-husband might have had something to do with her parents’ deaths, not until Tessa told her Evan all but came out and said he’d done something, when he was terrorizing her sister.
All for money. It seemed like everything in her life centered around money. The Crowley County bond. Her parents’ life insurance. Even earlier, Evan’s insistence they couldn’t start a family until they were more financially stable. And look where that got her, up to her neck in debt with no clear way out. Not unless the courts performed some kind of miracle, because Evan certainly wasn’t going to be able to deal with the bills he’d accrued, falsifying her identity and racking up mountains of finance charges and second mortgage and credit cards she hadn’t know about.
Now here she was in Texas. A new state and a new start. She might be dirt poor at the moment, but she felt happier and freer than she had in more years than she liked to remember. Through everything that happened, her one ray of sunshine lay sleeping in her brand-new bedroom down the hall. Without Jamie, Beth wasn’t sure where she’d be now. Probably a total wreck, sobbing in the corner, pulling her hair out.
A slight noise of the door opening alerted her seconds before a giggling, tumbling mass of little girl flung herself onto the bed. Jamie’s squirming body climbed up next to her, and wrapped her arms around Beth’s neck. Beth squeezed her back tight before brushing a hand through her daughter’s messy blonde hair.
“Good morning, sunshine.”
Jamie giggled, that infectious sound brightening Beth’s morning. “Morning, Mommy.”
“Did you sleep okay in your new bed, sweetie?”
Jamie gave a vigorous nod, her blue eyes blinking rapidly. “I sleeped all night.”
“That’s good. You ready for some breakfast?”
Jamie sat straight up in the bed, turning to face her. “Faffles?”
Beth dropped her head forward and cupped it with her hands. “Seriously? You’ve had waffles every morning. I could make you some eggs. Maybe some toast with jelly?”
The mournful look on her daughter’s face was priceless. Beth bit her lower lip to keep from laughing aloud. She’d probably never understand her daughter’s fascination with frozen waffles, but at least she was eating, so she couldn’t complain too much.
“Alright, waffles it is. Come on, let’s go plug in the toaster.”
“Yay!”
Jamie climbed out of the bed nearly as fast as she’d climbed in, but Beth followed at a more leisurely pace. She had a lot to get done today, including another call with her attorney, trying to straighten out the debacle of her finances with the courts. Next on her list was updating her almost non-existent resumé. Though she’d worked while attending college, mostly part-time jobs, she hadn’t worked much after marrying Evan. She crossed her fingers, hoping lack of experience didn’t come back to bite her in the butt.
She paused in the hall, glancing toward the living room on her left. The warm colors, the soft leather, the darker wood pieces were all things she might have chosen herself, and she couldn’t help the surge of warmth thinking about sharing similar taste with the man who seemed to occupy her thoughts more and more frequently.
“Mommy, are you coming?” Jamie’s voice from the kitchen pulled her from her thoughts, and she turned right, heading through the opening. Boxes still lined the floor, pushed back against the walls so they wouldn’t be tripped over. Another thing on her ever-growing list of things to do today. Finish unpacking.
“If you’ll get the waffles out of the freezer, I’ll get the plates and silverware, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Within a few minutes, they had breakfast on the table, and Beth had a steaming cup of coffee in her hands. She pulled the belt of her robe tighter and leaned against the counter, adding a spoonful of sugar to her cup. Her brow creased at the trilling sound coming from her pocket, indicating a text. It was from Brody.
Hope you’re settling in. I have to head to Austin this morning. You need anything, contact Rafe or Momma.
Well, that was unexpected. Warmth spread through her, and as much as she wanted to blame it on the coffee, she knew that would be a lie. Thinking about Brody almost made her feel like a schoolgirl again with her first crush. Which was ridiculous. She was a grown woman. A mother, not some adolescent teen, yearning for her first boyfriend.
Really, what’s wrong with me thinking about another man? I’m not married. Not anymore. And things weren’t all sunshine and roses when I was. Is it really so bad, thinking about wanting to be with Brody? I wonder if he’s as curious as I am about this heat between us, or am I just imagining it? Or am I a fool for thinking there’s something there and it’s all in my head?
“Mommy, your faffles are getting all mushy from the syrup.”
“Eww, yucky. I’m gonna eat them anyway.” Beth smiled at her daughter, her empty plate in front of her. “Unless you want them.” At Jamie’s enthusiastic nod, she passed her plate across the table, then slid into the seat across from her and watched Jamie demolish the soggy mess, eating them so fast she wondered if her daughter had inhaled them without chewing.
“All done.”
“I see. Go wash your face and brush your teeth. And wash your face good because you’ve got syrup all over your chin.”
Her daughter raced from the room, and Beth realized she still held her cell phone in her hand. Touching the screen, Brody’s text appeared, and she read it through again, not sure what she was looking for. Some secret subliminal message, or underlying declaration of desire. Ugh, she was being ridiculous, reading something into a kind gesture.
Except, maybe she wasn’t. Maybe this was the universe sending her a sign she needed to get off her keister and make the first move. Because frankly she was tired of being alone. She adored her baby girl, but sometimes she craved, she needed, somebody to hold her. To wrap their arms around her and let her simply lay her head on their shoulder and be.
Taking a deep breath, she punched in Brody’s number, and hit call.