of town, where Angel Creek took a bend across the valley before flowing into Hummingbird Lake. He’d schmooze with the vendors and shoppers and make sure that everyone knew that the law was watching.
Even if his thoughts continued to return to a certain Georgia peach.
Once his rage at her had abated, he had debated what—if anything—he should do about the woman. Trust was a vital component in any relationship. Love without trust was a difficult road to travel. Was he willing to gamble that the two of them could survive the dips and bumps of the trip? Sometime over the summer, he’d come to realize that it was time to stop being alone. He wanted a home and a family. Go figure. But for him, marriage meant forever. Kids meant forever. He wouldn’t go into a marriage if he thought it wouldn’t last.
How could he and Savannah last if they didn’t trust? One thing the events earlier this month had taught him was that trust was a two-way road. Never mind what she thought. He didn’t know if he could trust that she wouldn’t cut and run at the first sign of trouble.
And yet he loved her. That certainty still existed when the anger faded away.
And she had claimed to love him, too. He hadn’t forgotten that, either. Once the red had cleared from his eyes, he’d replayed that moment in his mind. The claim had been so awkwardly stated that he realized she’d meant what she’d said.
He’d also decided that the ball was in her court. The next move, if there was going to be a next move, was going to have to be Savannah’s.
He suspected that might happen today. Gabi had gone out of her way to make sure that Zach did his festival stroll first thing. In the past week, Nic, Sarah, Sage, and Celeste had all managed to look him up and say something about peaches. He figured the only reason Ali and Cat hadn’t added their two cents was that they were both out of town. He actually was surprised they hadn’t called or emailed him or sent up smoke signals or something.
So as he arrived at Spruce and began his white tent stroll, he did so with an anticipatory spring in his step. All the talk of peaches … his best guess was that he’d find a peach booth. How she’d connect that with him, he didn’t have a clue.
He strolled up to Sarah’s Fresh tent. When she saw him, her eyes twinkled and she grinned. “Have you bought your tickets yet, Sheriff?”
The food and drink booths accepted tickets for their offerings instead of cash. “What, you’re not giving me the sheriff discount?”
“No freebies for you this year, Zach.”
“Now, go along and don’t block the way of paying customers.”
Huh. That wasn’t like Sarah at all.
The next local booth he passed was the Vistas Gallery booth. He wanted to linger there. Sage always had beautiful things in her arts festival booth. However, when he took his time studying a painting of Hummingbird Lake, the woman gave him the bum’s rush. “You’re scaring off customers, Zach. Go along about your business. Be sure to buy some tickets, too.”
Tickets again. Okay.
He got similar treatment at Nic’s pet adoption tent, so he wasn’t too surprised when Celeste walked up beside him and slipped her arm through his. “Allow me to walk you to the ticket booth, Zachary.”
No sense fighting it. “I give up. Lead on, my lady.”
Cam Murphy manned the ticket booth. Upon seeing Zach, he snickered. “How many you want, Turner?”
Zach reached for his pocket. “Give me twenty dollars’ worth.”
“Well, that won’t get you squat. You need to cough up a hundred, my friend.”
Zach blinked. “A hundred? How many muffins do you think I’m gonna eat?”
Cam Murphy’s grin was downright wicked. “It’s not the quantity, it’s the quality. You don’t want the A tickets. You want the S tickets.”
Warily he asked, “What’s the difference?”
“S tickets are only good at one booth. Only one person can buy them.”
Hmm. “S for Savannah?”
“Or sheriff. I’m not sure which. I don’t think it matters.” He handed Zach a peach-colored piece of paper. “Here are the rules.”
Zach read the bullet points. S tickets were only good at booth number 17. S tickets were only available for purchase by Sheriff Zach Turner. S ticket sales will be matched dollar for dollar by Heavenscents, and all monies collected will be earmarked for registration fees for children of law enforcement personnel who have lost their