about how Nick-the-handyman wasn’t the same as Nick-the-cop. What would Damon say about me pushing my boyfriend to go back to law enforcement? Stupid move or good to have a guy on the inside? It wasn’t Damon’s viewpoint he needed, though. Would Nick-the-cop feel like he had to report seeing Damon? How much am I keeping Nick from being who he should be? How much is my fault?
By the time he got to the farm, he had himself tied up in knots. Yasmin came out to the farmyard to meet him. “You look chilled from that ride. Why don’t you come have a coffee before you start work?”
That sounded really good. Brian set his bike in the barn, then headed inside. The collies were sprawled on the kitchen floor. As he pulled off his gloves and knelt to ruffle their ears, Yasmin said, “Here, have some gingerbread too. It’s good dunking.”
He sat where she’d set his mug at the table. The kitchen was wonderfully warm and he unzipped his jacket, cradling the drink between his palms.
“You’re going to have to start driving some mornings,” she said, sitting down with her own mug. “Roads can get icy overnight. That bike won’t be safe.”
He shrugged. “As long as it doesn’t snow, I’ll be fine.” Nick had given him a couple more driving lessons, but he’d still rather chance the bike than the car on ice. “Nick’ll give me a ride if I need one. It’s his car.” The coffee was good. He downed a long, appreciative swallow.
“We get a bit of snow too.” Yasmin eyed him. “Is everything all right at home?”
“Sure. Why?”
“Mm. You look a bit off-color. Like you’re fretting about something.”
He was going to deny it, but Yasmin was smart about people. Maybe second only to Dr. Murphy. He asked, “Do you think people can love each other and still be bad for each other?”
She said as easily as if he’d asked about the weather, “Sure, honey. Happens all the time. Happened with me and Zander’s father. I loved the man to death and he loved me, but he was a drinker, and in the end, we couldn’t make it work. But if you’re talking about you and your Nick, I don’t know him real well yet, but you’ve seemed happy since he got here.”
“I am. But I don’t know if he is. Maybe I’m holding him back.”
“Have you asked him about it, hon?”
“Not exactly.”
“What’s the problem?”
Brian shrugged, because he could hardly talk about his ex-cop lover and wanted-felon brother and all the rest. “I think maybe he’s bored.”
“Probably needs a job. Though they’re not that easy to come by ’round here.”
“I suggested he apply to be a deputy.”
“Mm. He surely wouldn’t be bored these days.”
“What do you think of Sheriff Gannet? She’s not solving these vandalism crimes very fast.”
“I think she’s got some strikes working against her. I still like her, for a cop anyhow.”
“Do you think she’ll win the election again next time?”
Yasmin frowned at him. “That’s a good couple years out. It’s way too soon to say. Sheriffing’s been a good ol’ boys’ crooked game for far too long, so I’ll be rooting for her.”
He remembered what Nick had said about the Neighborhood Watch guys. “Have you thought about paying someone to protect the farm? From more vandalism, I mean?”
“I can’t afford anything like that, and I’d think Nick would be bored to death.”
“Oh. No, I didn’t mean Nick. There was some guy we heard, talking about maybe a private protection group.”
Yasmin gave him a sideways look. “Same answer. I can’t afford it. I just hope Gannet catches the creeps soon.”
“Right. Yeah.” He finished his coffee.
Yasmin took his cup from him and put it in the sink. “So, are you ready to learn how to crutch a sheep? I figure we’ll do a few every day right now, then you’ll be up to speed when we get really going on them mid-January.”
Brian loved the sheep, with their silly faces and long, thick coats. That didn’t necessarily mean he was eager to learn how to run a clipper around their butts and privates, but it was all part of the job. He put Nick and the sheriff out of his mind for now, and managed a smile. “Sure. Lead me to the clippers.”
****
Nick paused outside the sheriff station. He really had no business there, since Gannet had handed back his gun after Christmas with a pretty clear hint to keep his nose clean and out of her sight.