Perfect Night (Mason Creek)

Aiden laughed again and it wasn’t at me. “Evan isn’t from around here, is he?”

“Chicago,” I said and laughed because Dad hated city folk. Not that he wouldn’t have given the same rules to any guy in town.

“He already had two strikes against him.”

“Three actually. He’s rich too.”

Aiden chuckled and tipped his beer back. “Where was Evan that night?”

I blinked. “I thought you said you didn’t think he did anything?”

“I said I was gathering the facts. It’s important in any investigation to get even the smallest details and not assume anything.”

“I don’t know. He tried to sneak into my room, and I sent him away. Then, I fell asleep.”

“I’m going to need the names of anyone who has keys to the bar.”

“I can get you that.”

He nodded. “You should probably get back home before they send out a search party. Lord knows the rumors around town if they found you here. I wouldn’t want your fiancé to get the wrong idea.”

I didn’t know if it was appreciation for his help or believing in me that tempted me to give him a thank you kiss, but I stopped myself. My mood would have steered my kiss to his lips instead of his cheek.

Chapter 4

Aiden

Emma Hawkins was going to be the death of me. She was still as gorgeous as the Montana sky. Her hair was the color of the morning sun and eyes that sparkled like stars were just as I remembered. Evan, her fiancé, was a lucky son of gun. As much as I’d wanted to win her heart, she needed something different from me.

The next day, I took a chance and went to the police station. I wanted to see the report the sheriff filed on Emma’s dad. I walked in and was greeted by Bess. I was surprised to see her as well.

“Morning, Aiden. I thought you start tomorrow.”

“I do. Do you ever get a day off?” I joked.

“Hardly,” she said with amusement.

“Is Sheriff Moon in?”

“He is.”

Damn. That meant I wouldn’t be able to see the file without him knowing. “Is he back in his office?”

“He is.”

“I’ll go check in on him,” I said and headed back.

I knocked on the open door and he looked up. “Aiden. Didn’t know you were coming in today.”

“Didn’t plan on it, but here I am.”

“Used to the city life.”

I nodded noncommittally.

“Since you’re here, I can give you the run down and tour of the department.”

Our first stop was just one door down on the other side. “Here’s your office.”

It was a small, cramped office with a desk and two chairs in front of it. There was a small bookcase behind what would be my chair. I glanced out the side window.

“Nice view of the building next door,” I joked.

“Yeah. You’ll get used to it,” he said before moving on. “Bess is here most days. When she’s not, county handles the 911 calls and will patch it into one of us, whoever is here on call that day. Bess will send you the schedule.”

“Sounds good.”

We walked around the tiny station. There was a small break room in back opposite where two cells were located. We ended back at his office.

“How’s Wyatt with everything?”

“You’ll have to talk to him. I don’t think he’s sour about you getting the position.”

I leaned against the door. “I just heard about Emma’s dad.”

“I wondered why you weren’t at the funeral. I’d keep that not knowing part to yourself.”

“Why?” I asked, truly curious.

“Folks will wonder why you didn’t hear from your sister or parents. They might wonder if you don’t have a good relationship with them. And you’ll end up in that gossip blog by Tate Michaels. I think it’s called the MC Scoop. My wife reads it religiously.”

Tate, Sadie’s cousin, had a gossip column. Great. I inwardly grimaced. That was new. I quickly responded, “Mom called, but I’d been busy with a case and forgot to call back.”

“Another thing to keep quiet. A chief deputy who can’t be bothered to talk to his mother won’t be trusted. If anyone asks, tell them you were late.”

“But I—” Lying just wasn’t in my arsenal, especially on something like this.

“I saw you when everyone came out. You were technically late, weren’t you?” he suggested.

Anyone who had eyes would have noticed I wasn’t quite dressed for the occasion. “I guess.”

“Then go with it. Last thing I need is for my eventual replacement to start the job with people questioning if you are right for it.”

Gossip was the main pastime in Mason Creek. And it sounded like Tate was capitalizing on it. I still didn’t think it was that bad. I maneuvered the conversation to what I’d come here for in the first place and pretended as if Emma hadn’t spoken to me about it. “You were there when they found Emma’s father,” I said.