a cool, rational law professional who’d been known to intimidate even the most hardened criminal with an icy glare, but with Zach she was this too-emotional, slightly childish woman? Last night she’d done everything but stick her tongue out at him. And her response to his phone call had definitely been on the shrewish side.
After a restless night filled with nightmares and oddly erotic dreams about Zach, Savannah had woken just after sunrise with a slight headache and in an irritable mood. Her first order of business had been making coffee, in hopes of heading off her headache, and iced tea for later, since the temperature was supposed to be close to a hundred today. Then, because she’d still felt so listless, she spent a half hour taping boxes together for her grandfather’s belongings. That had been the extent of her accomplishments. She might have two months to get everything done, but if she continued at this pace, she’d be here that long, plus some.
Taking a sip of her now-cold coffee, she grimaced and headed back to the kitchen. Maybe another pot of coffee and breakfast would help. She quickly prepared more coffee and was in the midst of toasting an English muffin when the doorbell rang.
She peeked out of the kitchen window and caught sight of the big silver Mercedes. Only one person in town drove a Mercedes. Putting her breakfast on hold, Savannah went to open the front door to Midnight’s mayor, Lamont Kilgore, and his wife, Nesta, who was bearing a large platter of cinnamon rolls. Their kind faces wreathed in welcoming smiles, the Kilgores were the epitome of Southern warmth and friendliness.
Lamont grabbed her in a bear hug, then pulled away and turned her to his wife. “Doesn’t she look as pretty as a daisy in springtime, Nesta?”
Nesta put down the platter and hauled Savannah into her arms, hugging her with the same enthusiasm. “Looks more and more like Maggie every time I see her.”
It was hard to be in a bad mood with the older couple grinning at her as if she were the prodigal daughter. Granddad had always said the Kilgores could kill you with kindness. She never had figured out if he had meant that as a compliment or an insult.
She led them to the sitting room and then offered the coffee she’d just made. Nesta jumped up and said, “I’ll get the coffee. You stay here and visit with Lamont.”
And that’s the way the entire visit went. Lamont asked questions and shared the goings-on in Midnight while his wife flitted in between the kitchen and sitting room. As Nesta refilled the coffee cups and served the still-warm rolls, she added tidbits here and there to aid Lamont. Savannah had always been impressed at how she seemed to know when to add what. Like a comedy skit, it was almost as if they practiced it at home before taking it out on the road.
Two hours later, she felt as if she knew all the minutiae of each person’s life since she had left town.
“Lamont, I believe we’re about to put poor Savannah to sleep.”
Sitting up straighter in her chair, she shook her head. “No, I’m sorry. I just didn’t sleep well last night.”
Nesta leaned forward and patted her hand sympathetically. “So many memories here, both good and bad.”
Unable to refute the accuracy of her statement, Savannah smiled and nodded.
“I heard that Chief Tanner stopped by last night,” Lamont said.
Oddly, this was the first time Zach’s name had been mentioned. It seemed as if they had talked about every resident of Midnight with the exception of the too-handsome chief of police.
“He just came by to—” She stopped herself. If she told them about the threats in Nashville, they’d just worry.
“To what, dear?” Nesta asked.
“To say hello. You know, old friends and all.” She inwardly winced, sure they would see right through such a lame excuse.
Instead Lamont said, “I can’t tell you how reassuring it is to have someone of Zach’s caliber as our police chief.”
“You’re an admirer of Zach’s?”
“Oh yes,” Nesta answered for her husband. “He’s finally brought integrity to an office that we both believe was corrupt. Our previous mayor, Lord rest his soul, seemed to think it was easier to keep Harlan Mosby as police chief than to look for a new one. When Lamont became mayor, one of his priorities was to find a good, decent man to be chief of police.”
Lamont nodded. “We found that man in Zach Tanner.”