Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23857 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23857 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
“Georgia.” He beams.
Danny is a few years younger than me. I was super close to his sister growing up until she left to go out of state for college.
“Hey, Danny, how’s Anna?” I’m bouncing on my heels, so I guess that means the coffee has kicked in. I'm more awake than I have ever been in my life.
“She’s great, and I’m great too. How are you?” The words all tumble out of him, and it appears that his little crush on me is still very much alive and thriving.
“I’m good,” I say and lean up against the front desk. I need to get down to it if I’m going to have time to get in Neil’s room before I have to meet him.
“Wait, are you here on business? I keep forgetting you’re sheriff.”
“Me too,” I admit before I can think better of it. “And yes, I’m here in my official sheriff capacity.”
“Oh.” Danny leans in. “Something going on?”
Everyone in this town loves a bit of gossip. “You know the suit around town, the one that’s been staying here.”
“Is he with the mob?”
That's ridiculous. If he were a mobster, he'd wear a black fedora to go with the suit. Oh, and a flashy red tie.
“Maybe.” I shrug. “I wanted to get a key to his room. Have a poke around. It’s my job to keep this town safe. Otherwise, the next thing we know, the mob will have illegal gambling set up in the back of Dixon’s bar, and you’ll only be able to get in with a code word.”
“Oh no, you think they’ll run the Stitches out of their secret Wednesday night poker games at Dixon’s?”
Shit, I forgot that’s already happening.
“We can’t have anyone riling up the Stitches. Things would get out of control.” Danny nods adamantly in agreement, and I hold out my hand. “Key me.”
“Oh, I can’t do that.” He takes a step back.
“You don’t want to help save the town?”
“The rules are the rules.” Danny shrugs.
When did he become a rule follower? It had to have been after the carnival incident a few years ago. I’m so not bringing that up.
“Come on, Danny,” I start to plead.
“You have to make it worth it for me. I might lose my job over this.”
“Your dad isn’t going to fire you.”
“He might,” Danny huffs. “But maybe if you agree to a few dates with me, I could give you a key.”
Damn it.
“A few?” He nods. I think for a second and hold up my finger. “One.”
“No deal.”
“All right.” I shrug, calling his bluff. I turn to leave, and he immediately calls me back.
“Wait! Okay, deal.”
“No kissing, and we stay in town.”
“Fine,” he relents.
“Hit me with a key, Danny boy.”
Two seconds later, I have the key in my possession. I'm not too bad at this investigating thing. I didn't even have to go to a fancy FBI academy.
Chapter Four
NEIL
I check my watch and give her another thirty seconds. When the time is up, I walk inside and past the front desk. The young clerk is on the phone, and when he sees me, his face pales.
“Wait, Mr. Anders, I need to talk to you,” he calls from behind me, but I ignore him. “Mr. Anders!”
The small hotel is only three floors, so I skip the elevator and opt for the stairs. Whatever shouts of protest he was making are fading away when I reach the top and take out my room key.
When Mrs. Nelson at the diner tried to chat me up, I had a feeling something was happening. I made an excuse about leaving something in my car and went in search of Georgia. She wasn’t exactly discreet about it seeing as how her cruiser is parked directly in front of the hotel and not at the station where she said she would meet me.
I stayed outside and listened to her conversation with the guy at the counter, then gave her a little time to do her snooping. I’ve got nothing in my room that would be of any interest to her, so I figured I’d let her play detective. She seems to enjoy the theatrics of all this more than anything.
Part of me wishes it wasn’t so damn adorable watching her pretend to be a cop. It’s making my job harder than it needs to be. And I’m not going to think about what it’s doing to my cock.
From everything I’ve seen in this town, there’s a need for law enforcement about as much as they need surf instructors. Which is to say, not at all. But I guess if it gives the town peace of mind having one on hand, and it lets Georgia play dress-up, what’s the harm?
My duty to my job reminds me that this isn’t about letting her have a good time. It’s about holding someone responsible for the death of Simon Gregory. Even if Simon was the reason Simon was killed.