Liza nearly spewed soda. She sputtered and used her napkin again, then said, “Ginger, honey, you can’t be a hussy when you’ve only been with one man—and you haven’t even had sex with him.”
“Oh but the things I plan to do with him!”
“I’m guessing you’re off to a good start.” This from Jess.
“Let’s just say, we did things last night that would make Lydia and her friends cross themselves and pray like mad for us. And don’t think for a second I’m confessing to Reverend Bain. Lydia would slap a scarlet letter on my chest so fast it’d make my head spin.”
With a curious look on her face, Liza wondered, “To be a fly on the wall of their bedroom. I’m guessing I’d die of sheer boredom.”
“I’m guessing you’re right,” Ginger concurred.
“The mere thought of it makes me cringe,” Jess added.
As they were polishing off lunch, the little bell over the door jingled and Ginger’s head snapped up. Her breath caught in her throat and her heart nearly leapt from her chest.
Standing in her doorway was the second sexiest vision she’d ever seen—Ryan in his uniform. Him naked trumped all, of course.
Her jaw dropped, causing her friends’ heads to whip in the direction of the door.
“Oh my,” Liza said indiscreetly. “Would you look at that?”
Jess was much more couth. “Nice to see you, Ryan.”
“You too, Jess.” He nodded his head in greeting, then his gaze shifted to Liza. “And the Soon-to-be-Mrs.-Jack-Wade.”
Liza actually blushed as she turned back to Ginger and mouthed he’s hot!
Ginger had yet to catch her breath. Pushing back her chair, she rounded the desk and all but floated toward the front of the store. Only to draw up short when a terrible realization dawned on her.
Lifting her hand to keep him from coming farther into the shop, she said, “No guns in my boutique.”
“I’m not carrying one,” he told her.
Her gaze slipped to his hip where he had a police baton instead of the standard-issue 9mm.
“Sheriff Johnson and I are discussing this.”
Relief washed over her. So too did gratitude. “Thank you for taking my concern so seriously.”
He grinned at her and her knees went weak.
“Sorry to interrupt your lunch,” he spoke a little louder so the others could hear him. “Just wanted to let you ladies know Deputy Parks and I will be patrolling downtown and stopping into the shops on a regular basis. We’ve posted flyers with pictures of the thieves all over town, now that we’ve ID’d them. We’re trying to warn everyone and have ya’ll keep an eye out.”
“Might want to give one of those flyers to Max Lawton at the grocery store,” Liza said in a sarcastic tone. “Seems he swiped Reese’s credit card through the machine without even checking the name on the front.”
“We heard. These guys have quite a long list of arrests under their belts. But they’re not registered at the motel or staying at Reese’s B&B, so the sheriff and Deputy Baker are sweeping the camping areas and fairgrounds for them. They don’t have a car registered in their names, which gives us the working assumption they stole one in another county, since no one’s reported a missing car here in Wilder or in neighboring towns.”
Ginger shivered at the thought of the two criminals being on the loose. Ryan caught her dismay and gave her another sexy smile as he brushed the backs of his fingers over her cheek.
“Don’t you worry, sweetheart. We’ll find them.”
She nodded. “I have no doubt.”
“Thanks for the update,” Jess said. “And for the additional patrol. Makes us all feel safer.”
“Call 911 if you see anything suspicious. Madeline Harper’s on dispatch today and she’s well aware of the situation. And don’t walk alone to your cars. If you don’t have someone to join you, call over to the sheriff’s office and one of us will escort you.” To Ginger, he said, “I’ve got more rounds to make. I’ll be back by in a while.”
She smiled up at him. “You’re really good at this deputy gig.” With another sweep of her gaze over his fantastic body, she added, “I failed to mention how mouthwatering you look in your uniform.”