Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
"I didn't hit her. I think she's trying to get an insurance claim on me."
"Is that true?" Beckett asks, stepping forward.
"I don't know what happened." Tinsley makes her eyes owlish and innocent.
"That's okay. There is a camera there and there." Beckett points each out. I turn partly to assess her. "I'm sure it will show everything." Obviously, the new girl needs a little work. Looks like she’s one of those by the book types. She’s not gonna last in New Hope if she tries that here.
"Right," the man adds, nodding.
"Get in your car and go," I say, dismissing him. Beckett tries to speak, but I keep going. "You'll need a warrant for those cameras. Good luck with that."
"It's illegal to fake a crime." Beckett keeps on pushing it. Hudson helps Tinsley to her feet. "We should discuss this back at the station." Beckett tries to ignore me, addressing the man. "You'll need to come too."
I step forward, blocking her path.
"I would rather just go like the heels lady suggested," I hear the man say.
"You're new here," I tell her. "Act accordingly."
"Who do you think you are?" I see her shiny badge with the word deputy below her name.
"You can go," Hudson tells the man. "You get back to the station," he orders Beckett.
“But—”
“It was an order.” Even I stand up straighter at the tone in Hudson’s voice. Damn, that’s hot. Is that his Ranger voice?
The woman lets out a huff before turning and heading back to the station. “I don’t like her.” Tinsley glares at her.
“Tinsley, get to the salon or home.”
“Okay,” she says sweetly and actually skips off on her merry way.
“I didn’t put her up to that,” I tell him.
“I know that. Just wondering why she did it,” Hudson says, glancing up and down the road.
“I’m sure she’s bored.” Hudson doesn’t care for that suggestion.
“She’s fine, I promise, and if she wasn’t, I’d talk to her.”
He gives a small nod. “Did you eat breakfast?”
“I had toast,” Candy tells us. We both turn her way. “Not that anyone asked.”
“I’m not big on breakfast, and lunch is around the corner,” I point out. “And don’t be sending me food over.” Before yesterday, I was sure he did that shit because of my brother, but now I’m not sure why he's doing it.
“I was going to ask if you wanted to go to the diner.”
“Oh.” He's never asked that before. "What about her?" I can see Beckett lingering in front of the station's door, not going in. She's watching us.
"Shit," he mutters.
"I need to get back to my office anyway. Wedding plans." I keep using that excuse for everything.
"You haven't RSVP'd," Candy says to him.
"Sorry, I figured you knew I was coming."
"Yeah, I know, but I need to know if you're bringing a date." What the hell is she doing? I both hate and love that she asked. It depends on his answer, I guess.
"A date? We're supposed to bring a date?"
"Yeah, you've never been to a wedding before?"
"Not since I was a kid." That has my attention fully back on watching Hudson and not Candy. Who am I kidding? The man always has my attention.
Hudson never talks about his childhood. I hear him speak of his time in the Army and as a Ranger, but real personal stuff he keeps close to the chest. I only know he's not close to his family, and he never wants to talk about them either, so I have left it alone.
"Well, let me know," Candy chirps, giving him a bright smile, linking her arm into mine.
"Will do," he tells her.
Will do? What the hell does that mean? He's going to find one?
"Did I mess up?" Candy asks me.
"No." As much as it would kill me to see him with a date, that might be the thing I need to finally try to move on.
Or I could kill him. I'll have to think on it for now.
Chapter Seven
SHERIFF HUDSON
If there is one thing I don’t miss about being a Ranger, it’s being in charge of people. I keep forgetting Beckett is here, which isn’t like me. When I was a Ranger, I knew everything that was happening with anyone in my unit. This is going to take adjustment, but I try to look at the positive. If I can get her trained correctly, then it might free up more of my time.
"You need to let it go," I tell Beckett again. I can see she's still stewing about the Tinsley event. I wasn't too happy about it either, but I have learned this town has a lot of quirks. They kind of grow on you. So do the people. I find myself being protective of them and past the bonds of being the town's sheriff. I know this because I keep wondering why Tinsley did what she did.