The chair creaked beneath him as he leaned back into it and stared over her head, remembering. “The town was the same but oddly different. The house needed a hell of a lot of work before I could even consider selling it. Concentrating on that project, doing business in the town, getting to know the people again as an adult …” He shrugged. “I don’t know … it suddenly began to feel like home. For the most part, with the exception of a few, people treated me as an equal.” He shrugged again. “Guess I got a different perspective of everything.”
“But why police chief?”
“Chief Mosby’s issues with me go way back. When I came back, it was about the same. Didn’t matter that I was an adult with a fairly impressive military record. Every time there was a crime he couldn’t immediately solve, I was called in as the prime suspect. Pissed me off. When I heard about his retirement, it got me to thinking. The law in this town has been suspect for years. I knew I could do a damn sight better. I took law enforcement courses in college and thought I might apply to the police academy in one of the larger cities one day. With a little urging from a few friends, I threw my hat into the ring. I think everyone was shocked when I was offered the job.”
Light green eyes twinkled with gentle humor. “I still can’t believe you’re the law around here.”
He grinned. “Just mind your manners and you’ll be fine.” His eyes narrowed. “What about you? I thought your big dream was to be a defense attorney. Why a prosecutor instead?”
“About the time I started law school, I changed my mind.”
“Why’s that?”
“There was a murder-suicide case in Nashville. Only the suicide didn’t happen. The guy lived through his attempt and pled temporary insanity. Got off with a slap on the wrist and some counseling. I followed the case closely and was convinced that he had never intended to die. Temporary insanity had just been his out. Made me rethink what kind of career I wanted.”
Didn’t take a psychiatrist to interpret why she’d changed her mind. Understandably her parents’ deaths had made a huge impact on her life.
“You like what you do?”
“ ‘Like’ might be too strong of a word. When I win a case, I’m relieved, knowing justice has been served. When I lose, it bothers me more than what’s probably healthy. But to know I’m doing some good by getting criminals off the street and bringing justice for the victims … yeah, that satisfies me in a way I didn’t anticipate.”
What would she say if he told her he had come to Nashville to see her? He wouldn’t tell her that … at least not tonight. There would be too many questions. She would want to know everything. Before she left town, he would have no choice. This discussion had been delayed much too long. She hadn’t wanted to listen to his excuses years ago. And even though they weren’t any more substantial now, he needed to clear the air. Telling her wouldn’t erase the pain for either of them, but she needed the truth. Hell, she deserved a whole lot more than that, but the truth was at least a start.
For now he would just concentrate on rebuilding her trust and then he would see where that led. Getting his hopes up that it would lead to forgiveness was one thing. That it could go further than that wasn’t something he could even let himself consider. One step at a time was his only recourse. If forgiveness was all that she could give him, it was a hell of a lot more than he deserved.
CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
Savannah took one last bite of catfish and then relaxed back into her chair, at peace for the first time today. She told herself it had nothing to do with the handsome man sitting across from her. She was tired and hungry and it had been much too long since she’d eaten the delicious but horrible-for-you food at Captain Jimmy’s Seafood Emporium. Other than Faye’s Diner, Captain Jimmy’s was the oldest restaurant in Midnight. Her grandfather had rarely taken them there, but when she and Zach had been dating, they’d eaten at the restaurant at least once a week.
“So what were you wanting to talk to me about?” She tensed slightly as she asked the question. However, she was reasonably sure it