The Sheriff's Plus One (The Kincaids)

by Marquita Valentine

  “I’ll take that bet,” she said as he found a shady spot on the parking lot. “I brought dessert with me, but I don’t know if it’ll be enough for your family.”

  Archer put the truck in park. “I thought you were prepared for either situation.”

  “Har. Har.” She rolled her eyes at him, unbuckling the seatbelt and grabbing her bag. “I am prepared, but your brothers eat like it’s the last thing that will ever touch their lips.”

  “A compliment to the cook.”

  Molly shook her head. “I’ve watched them eat gas station sushi.”

  Archer winced, then held up his hands. “You got me there. I can’t defend that.”

  “That’s because you’ve eaten it, too,” she pointed out with a laugh. She opened the door and hopped out of Archer’s truck. He got out of the truck and shut the door, going around to meet her on the opposite side.

  His dark eyes roamed over her. “You do look good, Parrish.”

  “Thanks.” His compliment warmed her more than it should. Archer was her friend, not a potential anything. Mentally, she got herself together. “I thought you’d appreciate the effort.”

  “I appreciate you.” He ran a hand over his jaw. “Thanks. Okay. Thanks.”

  She laid a hand on his arm, so not noticing the muscles there. “You don’t have to keep thanking me. Just stop altogether unless it’s for something normal. When you thank me for weird stuff, you make it weird. We haven’t been weird since eighth grade.” She’d gotten her period for the first time but was too embarrassed to tell Archer that was the reason she didn’t want to go to the lake. Instead, she’d started crying and slammed the door in his face, then didn’t talk to him for a full week. “I don’t want it to be weird between us.”

  Could she stop saying weird because she was totally making it weirder.

  “Worst week of my life.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his shorts. “At least you stopped slamming doors in my face.”

  “But, you can handle me crying?”

  He sliced his gaze her way as they walked to where his family was waiting. “You don’t cry, Parrish.”

  “Sometimes, I do,” she protested. “I am girl. Woman. Oh my gosh. I have feelings.”

  “Now look who’s getting all dwarfed out.” He smirked at her, and she punched him in the shoulder. He let out a grunt. “Violence is never the answer.”

  “Depends on the question.”

  He cocked his head to the side. “Touché.”

  “Archer! Molly!” Archer’s little sister shouted, waving her arms at them. “Over here!”

  Archer pretended he couldn’t see her, shouting, “Banner! Where are you? I hear your voice but—”

  “Bro, we’re literally starving. Molly, did you bring dessert?” Archer’s little sister Banner asked as she rushed them, throwing her skinny arms around Molly. “Please tell me you brought dessert.”

  Molly hugged her back even tighter. Banner had such a special place in her heart. Mostly because she always wanted a sister. All she had, which wasn’t a bad thing, was a much older brother. He was forty-five and happily married in Seattle, with two fur babies. It was hard living on opposite coasts and only getting together on Thanksgiving or Christmas, depending on schedules.

  “I did, and I might have brought something extra just for you.” Molly let go when Banner did.

  “Literally starving, Banner?” Archer asked, ruffling his sister’s hair.

  “Yup.” She smiled, braces gleaming in the sunlight. “Gunnar made a bet with Asher that you two wouldn’t show. Spencer and Miller went off with some friends. Girl friends. But Momma says we should be thankful their commanding officers gave them permission to spend time with us. She also said we couldn’t eat until y’all got here.” Banner grimaced. “I bet Momma’s going to make us wait for them and their dumb girlfriends. I don’t feel thankful at all.”

  Molly gave Archer a look. “I think we should advocate for eating now.”

  “Agreed. My brothers are like locusts,” Archer said with a familiar grin that made her give him one in return.

  Banner took them by one hand each and all but dragged them under the canopy the Kincaids had set up as their lakeside headquarters. “Can we eat now?”

  Mrs. Kincaid, an attractive woman in her late fifties, smiled. “As long as you let Molly go first.” She smiled at Molly. “Thank you for coming.”

  “You’re welcome.” Molly dug into her bag, making sure the two containers of sliced cake and preacher cookies were right side up. Although it didn’t really matter for the cookies. “Where should I put dessert?”

  Mr. Kincaid patted the spot on the table in front of him. “Right here.”

  Molly giggled.

  “You’re supposed to be watching your sugar intake, honey.”

  “Doesn’t count on holidays,” Mr. Kincaid countered.

  “I’m not in this.” Molly sidestepped both of them and set her bag on the table that was already heavy with food so that she could unpack her contributions. “Everything looks amazing.”

  “Thanks, dear.”

  “You’re welcome,” Molly replied.

  “She can say ‘thank you,’ but I can’t?” Archer said, and Molly glared at him, popping open the large containers and sliding the tops under them.

  “It wasn’t weird for her to say it.” His mouth twitched, and she narrowed her gaze at him. Aggravating man. “I suggest you find your brothers and take your sister swimming.”

  “Yesssssss,” Banner crowed, then grabbed Archer by the arm and smiling up at him. Molly knew Banner loved Archer… she also knew that smile wasn’t quite so innocent. “Bro, I’ve been waiting literally forever to go swimming. And you’re stronger than everyone else, so you’ll toss me the highest.”

  Bingo.

  “How long does hyperbole last with your kind nowadays?” Archer asked. “Also, why do you keep calling me bro?”

  “I call everyone bro,” Banner said with a shrug. “Are we swimming or not because I made a bet with Gunnar that you would take me. I’m trying to save up money for AirPods, so I don’t want to lose.”

  “You’re not old enough for a phone, much less Airpods.”

  “Am too.” Banner crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m almost thirteen. Thirteen is the birthday when you get a phone.”

  “As long as Archer says it’s safe,” Mrs. Kincaid chimed in. “He knows more about these things than we do.”

  “That’s not fair. Archer knows all the bad things about everyone, so he’s biased. Right, Molly?” Banner fisted her hands on her narrow hips. “Tell him, Molly, what you said. Tell him it’s okay.”

  All eyes went to her.

  “Um…” She grabbed a cookie and shoved it in her mouth, nearly choking on it as she pointed to her full cheeks. “Sorry.”

  Suddenly, Archer grabbed his sister and tossed her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. “Let’s go swimming, so you win the bet.”

  Banner cheered. She pushed up on her brother’s back and winked at Molly as if to say this is what I wanted all along.

  Mrs. Kincaid came to stand by Molly while Mr. Kincaid chuckled from where he still sat at the picnic table. “I’m so glad you were able to get him out here. It’s good to see him playing with Banner. She adores him, you know.”

  “He makes it easy.” Wait. No. “What I mean is that he’s a lot of fun and a loyal friend who’s never let me down, and I know he’s a loyal, fun brother as well.”

  Mrs. Kincaid touched her shoulder. “Then, you’re easy to adore too.”

  Chapter 2

  Molly liked to count seasons instead of months during the year. It was an odd quirk to be sure, but it also helped her with the marketing plan for her business. As the sole proprietor of Sweet & Tea, the tea shop had to match the best each season had to offer. Her customers seemed to like it.

  Right now, dandelion summer tea was a huge hit, as were the homemade slices of hummingbird cake. Keeping the menu refreshing duri
ng the heat of summer brought people in from miles around. Today, in fact, she was opening on Tuesday simply for a ladies’ book club that had rented the space. They were traveling nearly an hour to boot!

  With a grin, she carefully adjusted the sign so that it sat just to the right of the entrance. Sweet & Tea was a labor of love that Molly started right out of community college, by hosting private tea parties in customer’s homes. Over the years, she’d become so successful that the money she’d made had allowed her to open an actual brick and mortar store in downtown Star Falls. The parties were no longer exclusively private, but instead, she served customers in an honest-to-goodness tea house.

  Okay, so her version of a tea house with fancy china, yummy desserts, and scrumptious sandwiches. And that was exactly how she described things when she advertised. It seemed to work, too.

  “Parrish,” Archer shouted from the other side of Main Street, and she waved him over. He looked both ways before crossing the street, his athletic stride drawing quite a few stares from downtown shoppers. And it wasn’t because he as in uniform either.

  Today, he wore civilian clothes, dark jeans, and a plum colored t-shirt that showed off his muscular arms. She could notice that about Archer without it being weird. He couldn’t help that he was handsome, and she wasn’t blind to his looks… just not falling head over heels for them

  She didn’t fall head over heels for anyone anymore. Travis had taught her that love had to be cautious, take time to be completely sure of the other person so that she didn’t get her heart torn into pieces.

  “You’re just in time,” she tossed over her shoulder. “Help me hang the baskets, so I don’t have to use a step ladder.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said in a smooth drawl that made her smile. “What are you opened today?”

  “Group of ladies rented the place.” She kneeled to write WELCOME LADIES WHO DARE on the sign.

  “What do they dare?”

  Cocking her head to one side, she peered up at him. “They read romance novels.”

  He stared at her blankly. “So does my momma, but I thought all women read romance novels. Kinda like all men watch sports?”

  “Me, too.” She shrugged and stood. “But maybe things are different where they live.”

  “In Star Falls?”

  “Ah, no. They’re driving in from Gillian’s Bluff,” she said proudly.

  He blinked, then smiled widely. “That’s an hour away. Damn, girl, your reputation is spreading.”

  “Thanks.” She opened the door, and Archer followed her inside. “I didn’t think anyone would want a party on a Tuesday, but hosting clubs like this could be a real game changer.”

  “I thought you were doing fine being open Wednesday through Saturday?”

  “I am fine. That’s not what I mean.” She rounded on him, nearly stumbling when she realized how close he trailed after her. He grabbed her shoulders, steadying her. His dark eyes were full of concern as he slowly let go. “Thanks for not letting me fall.”

  “It’s my job to protect people.” He flashed a grin and took a step back, so they weren’t standing so close together. “Besides, I didn’t realize you were going to make an abrupt turn while I was tailgating you. I was in the wrong.”

  Was he really comparing them to cars and traffic violations? Oh-kay. “Har, har, Sheriff.”

  “What did you mean?”

  “About what?” Oh, her business. Duh. What was wrong with her? She hardly ever lacked focus. Maybe it was the excitement of it all. “It just means that I can make more money and pay more in taxes so you can get a raise.”

  “Funny.”

  “We’re two of a kind today.” She rolled her eyes. “I’d like to start putting away money for retirement. There isn’t a pension for entrepreneurs unless we self-fund it. Hosting parties on Tuesdays could be profit is earmarked for that.”

  “What about Sunday’s? I know you don’t want to open, but there’s a tea shop over in—”

  She held up a hand. “Family time. I refuse to compromise on that one.”

  “You’re the boss.” His eyes narrowed suddenly. “Did you leave that window cracked?”

  “Which window?” There were two that she opened—one in the kitchen and the one in her office. Unfortunately, the HVAC system had two modes, burning hot or freezing cold. After being closed up all night, she either froze or sweated the first thirty minutes after she arrived.

  “The one in your office.” Before she could answer him, he was already in cop mode, investigating. “Stay back.”

  “But, but—”

  He waved her away. “Be ready to call 911.”

  If she didn’t know for sure that she’d opened the window as soon as she’d dropped her purse in the office chair, she would take him seriously. “What about backup?”

  “No time for that.” He ducked in her office. She watched him check every nook and cranny, until he disappeared into the office supply closet. “All clear. What about the kitchen?”

  “That window is open, too.”

  He started toward the kitchen and stopped short. Molly had to bite her lip to keep from giggling. “You opened the window.”

  “Every morning, for the past three years.” She hoped her face didn’t give her amusement away as she said, “I think we have enough time to call backup and serve them tea.”

  His lips thinned. “Are you really going to yank my chain after securing your building?”

  “Do you want to go check the kitchen window before I start setting up.”

  “No, I don’t want to check—” He glared at her and stalked to the kitchen anyway. A few seconds later, he said, “There are some missing desserts, but other than that, everything is good.”

  “Should I file a missing person, excuse me, dessert report with the sheriff’s office, or—"

  He appeared in the dining room again, eating a macron. His throat worked as he swallowed. “You’re on a roll, huh?”

  She shrugged, a huge grin on her face. There was no need to contain her laughter now. “C’mon Archie, don’t be a spoilsport.”

  “Did you just call me Archie?” He raised a dark brow. “Don’t know why I bother worrying about your safety.”

  Molly shook her head and went to work setting up the dining room for a more intimate gathering. “If you’re done stealing macrons, you can help me move these tables closer together,” she said as he ate the last one. “I could use the help.”

  He picked up a two-seater. “Where do you want it?”

  “See how I’ve grouped the other ones?” she asked, and he nodded. “If you could follow that pattern, that would be super helpful.”

  “Where’s Mia?” he asked as he positioned tables, and she bought in chairs.

  “She has morning classes on Monday and Tuesday. Afternoon classes the rest of the week. Besides, I can handle a dozen daring ladies. Well, Luis and I can handle it. I’ve already prepped everything for him, so he won’t have to worry about that when he starts putting dishes together. I had the ladies pick the courses from a set menu, so that helped.”

  “Very smart. You sure you don’t want to work with the county? They could use someone like you in HR.”

  “Kinda like being my own boss.”

  “Ah, but think of the pension you could have.”

  She burst out laughing right as Archer bumped into her. “Don’t tempt me.”

  His large frame took up a lot of space now that she thought about it. Oh wait. She shouldn’t think about it. Or was it normal to think about it? She did need to think of her tall customers, after all.

  So lame.

  Her laughter died away. He didn’t move away from her, but he didn’t move any closer either. She couldn’t decide if she liked that or not. Heck, she couldn’t decide if she should entertain the thought of liking that. Archer was one of her best friends. Top two, for sure, because she couldn’t do without Cora. There were just some things only a woman could understand.

  “Molly?”
r />   “Yes?” Her voice was breathless, not like her at all.

  “I need you this weekend.”

  His cologne drifted to her. Oh my, he smelled so nice, better than freshly baked bread or cut grass. Two of her favorite smells. “You do?”

  He nodded. “Got this charity thing I’m going to—casino night. They said I could bring a date, but I didn’t want the real thing. I’d rather have you, and I know you’ve always wanted to see the inside of The Mansion.”

  That snapped her out of her cologne trance. He didn’t want the real thing… what did that make her?

  “Earth to Molly.”

  “Sorry. I was thinking about The Mansion.”

  He grinned, obviously not aware of their proximity at all. And honestly, why should he be? It wasn’t like they’d never stood this close before, or that he normally didn’t smell nice. She was losing her mind, still, all discombobulated from the breakup with Travis.

  “So… you’ll be my plus one?”

  She looked into his indigo eyes. “Always.”

  His eyes crinkled at the corners. “Knew I could count on you. Guess I’ll get out of here since Luis just walked in.”

  “He did?” She peered around Archer’s wide shoulders and into the kitchen. It was an odd angle—on purpose to prevent customers from being distracted by the staff, and therefore she couldn’t see anything. Only the muffled sounds of pots and pans clanging affirmed Archer’s assertion. “Oh, I guess he did. Not sure how I missed that.”

  “I have that effect on women.” The cockiness of his stance all but made her roll her eyes.

  Instead, she made a face to show how he didn’t affect her at all. “Okay, Romeo. Too bad your year’s not up, or you could have the pick of the litter.”

  “I’ll try my best to survive.” He pushed together the final two top to make a four top and then glanced at her. “I’ll be by at six to pick you up.”

  “Dress or jeans?”

  He tapped the side of his cheek. “Well, there is this pink number I’ve had my eye on for a while now.”

  “Oh, hush, you knew I meant what’s the dress code.” She shooed him to the door and all but threw him out of her shop. “Go bother Gunnar. I have to work.”