A Little Country Christmas - Carolyn Brown Page 0,58

called into a surprise meeting that may or may not have me slapping my gun and badge down on the sheriff’s desk for something I may or may not have done to incur some sort of violation of the rules and regulations of my job. And now you want to record said conversation? I feel like I should call a lawyer or something.”

“Dani,” Peyton said, resting a hand on her shoulder—the use of her first name and gesture immediately reassuring. But when the sheriff’s eyes shifted to the two of them, he pulled his hand away and crossed his arms over his chest. “From what it sounds like after talking to Sheriff Thompson, you spend the most time in the building out of all three of you.”

Her cheeks grew hot. Was that the nice way of telling her she had no life?

“So I want your input,” he continued, “on what needs work or repairing first. A priority list so that I can take it back to the office, figure out funding, and get some estimates. I know crime in Meadow Valley and the surrounding county is minimal if anything at all, and we’re damn lucky to live in a place where it’s safe to walk the streets at night and folks can leave their doors unlocked.”

She relaxed into her chair and exhaled.

“Is that why you’re installing a security system on the ranch? Because of how safe our town is?”

He laughed. “Maybe I’m a little jaded from my time away, but I’m learning. It’s also good to know that when something happens—when you or the sheriff or Deputy Crawford is needed—you have what’s necessary to do your job and to stay safe while you do it. That starts with the roof over your head, the floor beneath your feet, and everything in between.”

Sheriff Thompson stood, grabbed his hat off the corner of his desk, and dropped it on his head. “I already gave Mayor Cooper my take on the situation, but I’d really love your input, too, Deputy Garcia. So if it’s okay with both of you, I’ll leave you to it. I have a few personal things to take care of before nightfall.”

Peyton stood and shook the sheriff’s hand. “Jeremiah,” he said.

“Peyton,” the sheriff replied, then he turned to Dani, who was too stunned to speak.

Jeremiah?

Peyton?

Had Dani missed a budding bromance when she wasn’t looking?

No one called Sheriff Thompson anything but Sheriff Thompson, in public or otherwise. It was like Sheriff was his first name. Of course she knew it was Jeremiah, but hearing it was like—it was like seeing a dog walk down the street on its hind legs.

She stood, too, not that she had a habit of formal partings with her boss but because it just felt weird to be the only one still sitting. This whole exchange, from the second she walked through the door, had felt weird.

“Enjoy your time off, Deputy,” the sheriff said with a smile, and then he was out the door.

She spun back to face the mayor…Peyton…Coop. How the hell was she supposed to think of him after last night? After two nights of kissing this man who was a stranger but not.

“Deputy Garcia,” he said with a soft smile, then shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans.

“Yeah?” she responded.

He shrugged. “You look like you want to say something. Probably lots of things. So I’m just waiting for it.”

She narrowed her eyes at him and crossed her arms. “I feel like I’m being set up somehow. So I’m just pausing to assess the situation. If Sheriff Thompson…I’m sorry. Apparently you call your buddy Jeremiah now? If Jeremiah…” She shook her head. “Nope. Can’t do it. No one’s called him that out loud for years. I can’t start doing it now. If Sheriff Thompson already told you what needs fixing around here, which is everything, then what do you need me for?”

He wrapped a gentle hand around each of her wrists. “May I?” he asked, urging her to uncross her arms and let them fall to her sides, and she nodded, granting his request to speak, trying to ignore how her heartbeat sped up the second his skin touched hers.

“For this,” he said, cradling her cheeks in his palms and dipping his head to brush his lips across hers.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and let her whole body—tense with anticipation until this very minute—melt like warm chocolate against his.

She felt his lips part in a smile against hers, and