Perfect Night (Mason Creek)

Though I’d gotten a little thrill by him calling me his girl, I glanced around. “I don’t think anyone saw.”

“Maybe not, but now I can kiss you when I want.”

I sauntered away and went into the salon. “Hey, Faith,” I said, my cheeks felt as red as a cherry tomato.

“Hey you,” she said. “So, it’s true. You and the chief deputy sheriff are a thing?” I shrugged. “It’s a good thing.” Her eyes dropped to my arm where I’d forgotten the cuff to hide the bruise Evan had given me. “Aiden’s one of the good ones. A trim?” she asked.

“I think he likes my hair as is.”

Faith laughed. “Yeah, probably better to do something drastic after you walk down the aisle,” she joked.

I laughed. “I do have a question.”

“Go ahead. Judgment free zone here.”

“What are the kinds of things you can leave at a boyfriend’s house and what’s too much?”

“Good thing we have a little time,” she began and schooled me on the etiquette of dating.

Chapter 24

Aiden

It had taken a Herculean effort not to follow Emma up those stairs and give into the desire we both felt. I’d been truthful with her when I said I wanted more. If that meant waiting until I was sure she was ready, I’d wait.

To keep me sane, I stepped outside. Hearing the shower running wouldn’t help my mental fortitude. Instead, my brain shifted gears. Doug Hawkins’s killer, who was he or she?

Frustration broiled over as I felt powerless to help Emma find the person responsible. My hands were tied even with the leads I had because all led nowhere without more information. I couldn’t get that information without some proof that a crime was committed. It was a catch-22 situation. Hopefully, the autopsy would give us the proof I needed to open a formal investigation where I could get the judge to sign off on warrants to gain me the information I needed.

Jack was still high on my list. I couldn’t ask him for an alibi yet, not legally at least.

I checked my phone. Darcy hadn’t texted me the information I requested yet. Just as I put my phone back in my pocket, a car drove down the lane. There were only a few houses on this street and the car didn’t slow, so they had to be headed here. Evan. I stood straighter. He wouldn’t make a scene or upset Emma.

Since the road ended just past Emma’s house, the car circled back at the end before pulling to a stop beside Evan’s vehicle.

A window rolled down. “Morning, officer,” Evan’s tidy lawyer said. “I hope we will have no problem here.”

“As long as your client doesn’t start any,” I called from the porch.

The lawyer turned his head and said something to Evan. The passenger’s door opened, and he climbed out. I thought of Emma and Darcy and how this man had manhandled them both. I gripped the railing tighter to ensure I didn’t break the laws I’d sworn to uphold.

Evan didn’t speak, likely based on the advice of his lawyer. His glare however said everything he didn’t. I maintained a bored expression because he didn’t scare me. I’d been in enough scrapes over the years to trust my abilities. It was a time like this where I wished I didn’t wear the shield. A good old fashion kick in the ass would do the pompous bastard good.

As he reached his car, he finally spoke. “Emma’s never going to stay in this town for you. And when she’s gone…” He got into his car and turned it on before I could react. He whipped it around to the other side and sped off.

“You should remind your client of the speed limit laws here in town. I’d hate to have to pull him over on a misdemeanor charge. It wouldn’t go well with his current list of charges,” I said to his lawyer.

In response, the man rolled up his window and drove off. However, I did see him putting his phone to his ear. Unfortunately, Montana didn’t have distracting driving laws, so I couldn’t do anything about the lawyer talking on his phone while driving. Too bad. I really wanted to make my day brighter by writing them both citations.

Not long after, the door opened behind me. Emma asked me what was wrong. I put off the conversation until later. Instead, I followed her to the salon.

I thought she’d park and go in for her appointment, but she surprised me by coming to my vehicle instead.

As she talked, I listened, yet wondered when we wouldn’t hide our feelings for each other in front of the town.

When her eyes dropped to my lips, I said, “Your choice.” I was playing by her rules though I was determined to win.

She leaned in and I met her halfway. The softness of her lips wasn’t lost on me as I was fully aware of every touch that passed between us. She pulled back far too quickly for my liking. Yet, she’d crossed the first barrier we’d been dancing around for weeks.