Perfect Night (Mason Creek)

“It’s not a problem. Alana will appreciate me not coming into the store either.” She worked part time at the grocery store in town.

We did just that. Aiden made me laugh as we walked the aisles and he pointed out the scandalous selections that would never been found in our grocery store. “Organic,” he teased. “Isn’t everything organic?”

I giggled and it felt good.

On the ride back, I was once again tucked close to his side with my head on his shoulder. I closed my eyes, lulled into a dreamless sleep.

Somewhere between the spaces of unconsciousness, I swore I felt his lips brush my forehead.

“Emma. We’re here.”

Slowly, I opened my eyes. I didn’t want it to end. His arm tightened around me as if he could read my thoughts. “I can stay if you need me to.”

Oh, how I wished I could remain right there, just like that with him. “No,” I said sitting up. “You have to go to work. I’ll be fine.” The last bit was just lip service. If I said it enough, I’d believe it.

“You will be. It doesn’t have to be today,” he said.

There he was saying all the right things that Evan should have said. And I should want to kiss my fiancé with the same urgency I felt to kiss Aiden. I didn’t. I had more respect for Aiden than to involve him in something so messy. I needed to decide my future before anything else. Evan had a right to know exactly where my heart stood.

I gave Aiden my best smile, which was half felt—the better half because of him. “Don’t be a stranger,” I said and got out of the car before I did anything reckless.

Chapter 8

Aiden

My shift technically didn’t start yet, but I had nothing better to do. If I’d gone home, I would have gotten caught up in a project and might have been late. I stopped at The Sweet Spot and bought a variety of pastries and muffins.

I walked into the station and the sheriff looked up from where he stood next to Bess’s desk.

“Aiden. I see you finally decided to come in.”

“I switched shifts with Wyatt.”

He angled his head toward his office. “Why don’t you come on back?”

Bess’s eyes got wide, and I knew I was about to get my ass handed to me. It would be worth it. Emma had needed me more. I left the pastries with Bess with a few muttered words about it being for everyone before following the sheriff to his office. He stood at the door until I was fully inside and then he shut it.

He folded his arms over his chest like my father used to do when I was about to get reprimanded. Heading that off at the pass, I said, “I called Bess and she said things were quiet. I covered things by getting Wyatt to switch with me.” I was repeating myself, but it was worth it.

“I don’t know how they do things in the city, but here I’m the sheriff. I know I’ve chosen you as my replacement, but that doesn’t give you authority over me. I expect to know what’s going on in my station.”

“Sorry, sir. I didn’t have your number.”

He rattled it off. “Now you do. So tell me, what was so important that you couldn’t be here on your first official day at eight a.m. like we discussed.

“I was helping out Emma.”

“Emma Hawkins?” he asked.

I bobbed my head.

“Helping her with what?”

“Not my place to say, sir.”

He sighed. “I’ll give you a pass. Lord knows that girl has been through enough and with both of her parents gone, she needs all the help she can get. Do you know what she’s going to do with the bar?”

That should have been a strange question, but I chucked it to small town gossip. “No. Why would I?”

He shrugged. “She called you for help. Isn’t her fiancé in town?”

“Not my business.”

“Fine. I just thought she might have told you. Jack’s making claims Doug said he’d sell him the business.”

That annoyed me. “Doug’s gone. It’s up to Emma what she wants to do with the bar.”

The sheriff cleared his throat. “Anyway, we were set to have a meeting with the mayor this morning and you weren’t here. I made an excuse and rescheduled it for later.”

“Sorry about that.”

“Yeah, well, since you’re here let me pass this on to you.” He picked up some papers from his desk and handed me one. “This BOLO came in this morning.” As I read it over, he explained. “Apparently there is a brothel on wheels. A van fitting that description is said to be going all over the state offering good times for cash.”

“Is prostitution a problem around here?” I’d never heard about it when I’d been in school and that was something guys would talk about.