Perfect Night (Mason Creek #4) - Terri E. Laine Page 0,17

and all the pussy it would have gotten me.”

“That makes us different.”

Malcolm narrowed his eyes and then straightened. “Why don’t we get to the point. Though it’s Sheriff Moon’s choice on whom to hire and fire, I thought it important we understand each other. This isn’t LA. Folks around here aren’t all bad.”

“I never thought so.”

“Good.”

The sheriff remained quiet. Different was the man I saw now and the one I’d looked up to when I was growing up. He’d been part of the reason I’d wanted to become a cop.

“The sheriff also tells me you’ve been spending time with Emma Hawkins. How is she?”

I gave the sheriff the side eye before plastering a brittle smile on my face. “Good as can be expected seeing as she buried her father only two days ago.”

“True. Can you tell me what her intentions are with the bar?” Malcolm asked.

Why was everyone asking? Then again, small town. But something was niggling at me. I couldn’t put my finger on it.

“Jack Riddle has a real interest in buying the place. It would be good if you convinced Emma to do the right thing,” Malcolm said.

“Right thing?” I asked, unable to hide the bite of my words.

“You know she’s engaged to the city guy. Last thing this town needs is his father’s company gobbling up businesses in town. We like our way of life here. Folks don’t want a Starbucks on every corner. Do you understand?”

I nodded because I did. I didn’t want Mason Creek to become more like a big city either. That didn’t stop this conversation from grating on my nerves. “If she asks for my advice, I’ll give it,” I said without specifying what that would be.

“Good. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have another meeting.”

As we left, a beautiful brunette I’d never seen before was out in the hall and went in after us.

“Who’s that?” I asked the sheriff.

“Probably someone from the county.”

He didn’t explain further. Considering I hadn’t liked the intrusiveness of their questions, I let it go.

For the next few days, I also stayed away from Emma. She hadn’t called either. I had gotten the chance to talk to Wyatt about me taking the chief deputy sheriff position. It turned out he had a side job as a handyman that kept him busy. He was cool with me getting the job as he didn’t want the added responsibility with everything he had going on.

When the doorbell rang Friday night, I went to the door thinking it might be Emma.

When I opened it, it was Darcy with a Sauce It Up pizza box. I didn’t know my smile had disappeared until Darcy asked, “Expecting someone else?”

That was when I remembered telling Darcy she could come over Friday to help me redesign the house. “No, just you.” Because I hadn’t been expecting Emma. I’d just hoped it would have been her.

Darcy sashayed into the kitchen where she put the delicious-smelling pizza on the counter. I wondered if across town Emma was eating pizza with her fiancé. Had he come back to town? I could have asked Darcy because in the past she seemed to know all the gossip, but I decided not to.

I was pretty sure I’d given Emma enough hints about my feelings for her. It was up to her what she wanted to do.

Chapter 9

Emma

Days had passed and I heard nothing from Aiden. It wasn’t like he owed me anything, but I’d gotten used to seeing him and I hadn’t seen his face the last few days.

The bar was unusually quiet even for a Thursday. I let my waitresses go, leaving me to wait tables.

Sadie, Justine, Leni, Laken, and Anna all sat around one of our bigger tables. I walked over. “Hey ladies, what can I get for you?”

They all looked at each other before Leni piped up. “Something for us to celebrate.”

I grinned because their excitement was palpable. “How about champagne?”

“I can’t,” Justine announced.

“Me either,” Sadie said.

The rest of the girls waited for either of them to say more when it hit me. “You’re pregnant.” There were rumors but I never wanted to assume. Both women nodded. “I’m so happy for you.”

Sadie and Wyatt had finally gotten together, something I saw coming. Justine was blissfully happy with Tucker. She was there every time he did a set on my stage. Boy, could he sing.

“It looks like everyone is finding their man,” I said, feeling a little bad for myself. I wore a ring, but I wasn’t happy like I