A Little Country Christmas - Carolyn Brown Page 0,38

might preclude my being able to invite them into my office?”

Keith sighed, then blew a shock of sandy brown hair off his forehead only for it to fall in exactly the same place again. “Nope. This office is pretty much a ghost town. Nothing on the agenda until after…” He paused and then leaned forward and whispered, “the holidays.”

Peyton rolled his eyes. “Just because…” He took a deep breath before continuing, “Christmas isn’t my thing doesn’t mean any mention of it is off-limits.”

“You can barely choke out the word.” Keith winced. “And you did suggest canceling one of Meadow Valley’s most-loved traditions, but when the town balked, you countered with that whole only during off-hours mandate, and if we’re being honest, Mr. Mayor—which you know by now I always am—when anyone does mention, um Christmas, you get a little sulky.”

Peyton’s jaw tightened.

“Exactly like that!” Keith said, his eyes brightening. “So forgive me if I’m out of line, but it might work in your favor to fake it ’til you make it with all the holiday stuff.”

“Fake it ’til I make it?” Peyton cleared his throat and straightened his tie. “And sulky? I’m a grown man. I don’t get—sulky,” he insisted, then realized he was maybe, possibly, sulking. So he painted on his best mayoral grin and pivoted toward his uninvited guests.

“Deputies,” he said, and both Dani and Teddy stood. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” He gave Deputy Crawford a firm shake and then held his hand out for Dani. She hesitated for a brief moment and then wrapped her hand around his with the same strong grip she used when wrenching his arm behind his back.

Peyton laughed softly. “So nice to greet you face-to-face this time, Deputy Garcia, rather than waiting to hear you read me my Miranda rights.” They kept shaking as he made the joke, and it felt oddly like a game of chicken as to who would let go first. What felt odder was his urge to not let go, even as her eyes narrowed and her jaw tightened.

Deputy Crawford laughed. “Am I missing something?” he asked. “Because this sounds like a story I’d love to hear.”

Dani looked down at their still-joined hands and snatched hers back. Then she smoothed out nonexistent wrinkles from her perfectly starched shirt. “It’s nothing,” she said evenly. “Just a misunderstanding.”

Peyton clapped Teddy on the shoulder of his tan uniform shirt and nodded. “I’m sure Deputy Garcia would love to tell you all about our misunderstanding later. But right now, how about you both come inside and let me know why we’re meeting first thing in the morning.”

He unlocked his office door and motioned for Dani and Teddy to enter before he followed them inside.

He flipped on the light and then strode behind his desk to where a coffeemaker sat on the windowsill prepped and ready to go. He pressed the power button, then turned to face his visitors.

Teddy had already made himself comfortable in one of the two leather armchairs facing his desk. Dani, however, was strolling the perimeter of the room, brushing her hand along the oak-paneled walls and running her fingers down the thick blue drapes that covered the window on the side wall.

Peyton cleared his throat. “That’s Grady’s doing,” he said. “The drapes, I mean. Well, the whole room. Leather chairs and floor-to-ceiling window coverings. It’s all so—”

“Stuffy? Uptight?” Dani said, finishing his thought yet somehow accusing him of something. “Don’t suppose you’ve stepped foot in the sheriff’s office since you took up as mayor. We could use some fancy walls and drapes. Or maybe just a roof that doesn’t leak.”

“Your roof leaks?” he said, and the deputy scoffed, which somehow felt like another accusation.

He decided to ignore her needling for the time being. After all, they weren’t here to discuss the state of the Sheriff’s Department. Or were they? He still didn’t know, so he dove into full-fledged customer service mode. If you can’t beat ’em, charm the hell out of ’em. “Exactly, Deputy Garcia. You’re very observant.” The aroma of fresh-brewed coffee filled the space between them, and he inhaled deep. “Coffee, Deputies?” he asked.

Deputy Crawford held up a travel mug Peyton hadn’t noticed before now. “Already on my second cup, but thank you.”

“I’m just getting started,” Dani said—as did Peyton. At the same time.

Teddy glanced between them and laughed again. “That was amazing,” he teased. “Did you two plan it?”

Dani collapsed into the chair beside her partner and Peyton turned