The Sheriff's Plus One (The Kincaids)

by Marquita Valentine

  Not that any of that mattered right now.

  What mattered was the fact that Molly was acting strange, almost as if she were mad at him. That couldn’t be right because he hadn’t done a damn thing to make her mad and if he had, she would have told him.

  A cool breeze, unusual for August, but not the mercurial North Carolina weather, weaved around them. Molly shivered. Even he felt a chill.

  “You left your shawl in the truck. Do you want me to go back and get it for you?” he asked.

  “No.” She shivered again, and he grimaced. “It’s not that chilly.”

  “Are you sure?”

  She sighed. “Positive. It’ll be warmer inside.”

  Okay, then.

  They stood in line, waiting their turn to be let inside. Only instead of being directed to the front of the Mansion, people were being directed to a gate off to the right. Just above the stone and brick wall, he could make out the top of a large, white tent.

  “What do you think?” he asked after they were checked in by private security. “Is it everything you imagined it would be?”

  “Actually, I’m more than a little disappointed we’re not allowed inside,” Molly said as they walked down a well-lit stone pathway to the outdoor tent where the event was being held. “Cora wanted detailed information and pictures. Now it’ll only be of the grounds and the inside of a tent that everyone rents for weddings.”

  “Cora hit me up for extra tickets.” He laughed. “She said she’d do anything to get one, except break the law. Not sure why she added that one.”

  Molly gave him an odd look. He thought for sure she’d laugh over that. “Because you arrest people for breaking the law.”

  “Yeah, but I know the difference between actual law breaking and hyperbole.”

  “Maybe she was being extra sure that you did. I don’t know.” She shrugged, bare shoulders a lighter tan in the moonlight. The light blue dress she wore was sleeveless and the skirt of it long, so long that it brushed the ground and made him worry about her tripping over the material. “Why do you care what Cora thinks about you?” she asked sharply.

  What the hell?

  He tightened his grip on her arm and she looked at him questioningly. “Did I do or say something wrong at any point in the last twenty-four hours?” he asked pointedly. No use in beating around the bush. He wanted their night to be fun.

  She stopped suddenly, her cheeks turning as pink as the roses on the grounds. “No. Why would you think that?”

  “Because you’re acting…”

  “I swear, Archer, if you say weird, I’ll push you into that ornamental pond.”

  “Mad,” he finished. “Irritated.”

  “No. Just… not everything is about you, okay?” she said and started to walk away, but he still had his hand on her arm.

  “Hold up. We are not going anywhere until this is resolved.”

  “I’m not a case, Kincaid.”

  He lifted a brow. “Didn’t say you were, but if I can help, I want to help.”

  “Right here, right now.”

  He nodded. “Whatever’s on your mind has already messed with tonight. Let’s fix it. You’d do the same for me.”

  She softened, he felt it under the palm of his hand. The muscles and tendons under her silky, soft skin wasn’t pulling tight anymore. “Fine. Cora is interested in you—er, brother, Asher.”

  “Huh?”

  “Cora thinks Asher is hot.”

  He blinked. “That’s… no.”

  Pulling away from him, she threw her hand in the air. “Exactly.”

  “And my little brother would never go for her.”

  Molly visibly bristled at that, and he had to hide a smile. “Why not?”

  “Because he’s already in a relationship—”

  “Oh.”

  “With himself.”

  “Oh Lord.” She giggled, then shook her head, still laughing. “She did say something about his social media accounts.”

  “Love triangle,” Archer supplied, making Molly laugh harder. “Did you need me to talk to her?”

  “Uh, no.” She took a deep breath, linking her arm through his. “Only because when I talked her out of Asher, she went to you.”

  He winced. “Ouch.” They started walking again. “Runner up to my little brother, huh? That’s a hard pass, no matter how pretty Cora is.”

  “You think she’s pretty?”

  Archer gave Molly a look. “Cora Woodhouse is the prettiest woman in Star Falls, and it’s a known fact.” It was also a known fact that the men and women in Cora’s family had tragic love affairs that ended in disaster. So far, Cora had managed to escape the curse.

  Not that he believed in curses.

  “Yeah, you’re right. Her beauty is a curse,” Molly agreed. Did she believe in curses?

  “Curse or no curse, I’m not ruining my friendship with you by dating her.” He meant it too. There was no way he would mess up the longest relationship of his life.

  “You mean that?”

  They stopped near the pond that Molly threatened to push him in, her face tipped up. Stars were in her pretty green eyes. No, not stars, that was just a trick of the light.

  “I do. In fact, I wanted to reiterate that I’m here for you too, and I’m sorry for not being there when you needed me after you broke up with Travis. I thought it was mutual and … honestly, I was wrapped up with wedding plans and parties and –I was a crap friend.”

  “You have plenty of time to make it up to me.”

  “Starting tonight, I hope,” he said with a wink. “Although I hope you won’t hold it against me that I couldn’t get us inside. I tried.” He really had, but security was firm. No visitors.

  “I don’t think anyone’s home. Maybe that’s why?” Molly said, her gaze leaving his face to look at the massive house—well, one side of it. “Otherwise, I’m sure they wouldn’t refuse to see the county’s sheriff.”

  Archer laughed. “You make me out to be a lot more important than what I actually am. I’m here to serve the community, not be put on a pedestal.”

  “You’re important to me,” she said, but before he could bask in that particular compliment that made him feel a lot warmer than he had right to, she continued, “but don’t give me that campaign talk. It’s me, okay? I remember all the really dumb things you did in your misspent youth.”

  “Pretty sure you were right there with me doing those dumb things, or at least a few of them.” He could hear the crowd of people, the dull rumble of voice and higher pitch of laughter coming from the tent up ahead. “Is there anything else we need to discuss?”

  Gunnar. You should discuss Gunnar. But he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t bring himself to ask her, and if that made him the worst sort, he’d take the title and wear it like a crown.

  “No, but I’m glad to have gotten that off my chest though.” She smiled, pure joy in her the act and his heart tripped in response. “I don’t know why I was worried. You always do the right thing.”

  “Yeah. That’s me.” Archer looked straight ahead, because he knew she would see the lie in his eyes. Sure, it was a small lie and his brother would do what he wanted, no matter what Archer had to say about it.

  Well, shit.

  He had to tell her now.

  “Like a white knight.”

  Ah, hell. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

  She all but danced around yet another ornamental pond the middle of the path, the skirt of her dress a flash of blue that reminded him of waves on the lake's shore. “Then leave it to me.”

  Sunshine hair bouncing as she twirled, graceful hands lifting her skirts so she didn’t fall. Poetry in motion.

  Good Lord. When had she become like poetry to him? More to the point, when had he ever thought of a woman in terms of poetry.

  “I’ll follow your lead,” he heard himself say.

  Molly laughed. “I need to mark this day on my calendar. Sheriff Kincaid allowed Molly Parrish to lead.”

&
nbsp; No, he couldn’t tell her now. He’d do it later. After tonight when she wasn’t looking so beautifully starry eyed. Call him selfish, but tonight, he’d pretend that the woman at his side was here because she simply wanted to be, not because she’d agreed to be his plus one out of pity or a sense of loyalty.

  No matter how admirable it was.

  “As long as you don’t lead me astray,” he said gruffly. He cleared his throat, hoping that she wouldn’t notice… well, whatever it was he was feeling right now.

  Loneliness if he had to guess. But not desperation. He wasn’t desperate for anyone.

  “Oh my,” Molly whispered as their paths crossed again. She grabbed his hand in hers, fingers sliding just so that it felt natural. “This is… oh my.”

  “Indeed,” he agreed. He couldn’t play off being suave if his life depended on it. Thank God his life didn’t depend on it because the set up was insane.

  At least three dozen tables had been set up for “gambling” purposes while an entire side of the tent was dedicated to a lavish buffet. Servers traversed the area, trays held high with glasses of champagne and hors d'oeuvres. Fairy lights and flowers twined around every available space. There was another area, with gift bags that guests could bid on, judging by the elegant scrawled writing on the sign.

  “Looks like the Knightleys donated the cost of tonight’s event and the prizes.” Molly tugged him to the table before he could get a good look at all the entry and exit points. Old habits and all that.

  He counted at least three along the way, slowing her down.

  “Hurry,” she urged, but she didn’t sound aggravated or angry with him. Not like Liz when he went all “Safety Dan” on her. Instead, she matched her pace to his, but kept them moving.

  Ah, hell, should he compare the two? Molly was used to him. Molly never cared if he had to leave suddenly, or had to cancel plans at the last minute due to work. Then again, Molly was his friend, never his girlfriend, or his fiancée for that matter. But shouldn’t a fiancée be understanding?

  Shouldn’t there be special rules in place in a serious relationship—based on understanding and the fact that he was already established in his career when they started dating? Not once had he asked Liz to adjust her life to fit with his. She consulted with clients all over the world, at the weirdest of hours—hours that were inconvenient for them to be together. Hours that he hadn’t begrudged her, for the most part. He was human after all.

  Man, he needed to move on from Liz. He needed to concentrate on the good in his life, on his family and friends. Friends like Molly.

  “Archer, move your feet,” Molly said with a laugh. “We’re standing stock still in the middle of everything.”

  “I’m coming. I’m following your lead, but you gotta let me do my thing,” he said, just to hear her reply.

  She snorted. “Count exits all you want, Archer. I got my eye on a trip to the Bahamas that I plan on winning.”

  “If you win, then I expect an invitation,” he said.

  “Over Cora?” Molly shook her head. “I’ll let you two duke it out.”

  “Or make the decision yourself.”

  Molly glared at him, but her eyes were still full of stars. “Fine. Cora it is.”

  “Harsh, Parrish. Hurts so bad to be excluded like that.” He smacked his hand over his chest and pretended to be in pain, grimacing. “How could you?”

  Molly stopped at the table. She let go of him to run a finger under the information about the Bahamas trip. “For starters, it’s only one room, and I’m not sleeping with you.”

  “You don’t know what you’re missing by not sleeping me with me.”

  She turned to him, an unreadable look on her face. “I’m not sure what I’m supposed to say to that.”

  At that moment, he wished he could take back what he intended to be a joke. “Nothing. I was making a joke. It misfired.”

  “Oh.” She nodded. “Consider it forgotten.”

  “Thanks,” he said gruffly. “I really didn’t mean anything by it.”

  “Of course not.” Her face turned a dull shade of red. “I should have known. We’re friends, not… anything more than that. No chance of that ever happening. Ever.”

  “Exactly,” he said, but he didn’t want to agree with her. He wanted… “Unless you wanted something different.”

  Her mouth dropped, then she rolled her eyes. “Your sense of humor is awful tonight, Archer. Just awful. If I didn’t know you better, then I’d think…” She frowned for a second or two. “Let’s get something to eat and afterward find an empty blackjack table.”

  “Aren’t you going to bid?”

  Her gaze slid away from his. “Not worth it.”

  Molly’s reply actually hurt this time, and there wasn’t any reason that it should. Well, none that he cared to examine. Best friend, he reminded himself—friend zone to infinity. Do not pass go into other territories.

  “Bid too high already?” he asked, giving them both a way out.

  “Yeah.” She smiled brightly, a little too brightly as she searched the room. “Too rich for my blood. Oooh. Looks like Feather and Fowl catered tonight.”

  What had he been thinking by saying any of that?

  He watched as she started toward the food without him.

  Nothing she wanted to hear about, apparently.

  Chapter 4

  Molly tapped her pen against the open notebook on the table as the mayor droned on. Usually, she wouldn’t care how long Faye wanted to talk about Star Falls' upcoming fall festival. It was a huge event that drew thousands to their small town. And those thousands spent a lot of money.

  The fall festival had saved her bottom line quite a few times in the past three years when she was still a relatively new business. Now, the fall festival simply boosted her bottom line and provided leads that would pay off later in the form of birthday parties, book clubs, and more diners at lunch.

  Only the thrill was gone.

  Well, maybe not gone, but rather her excitement was dampened by the fact that she hadn’t spoken to Archer in a week—in person anyway. Yes, she knew his schedule was demanding but he’d always made it a priority to stop by her shop to grab something to satisfy his constant sweet tooth.

  Ugh.

  Maybe she shouldn’t have been so weird over his teasing during Casino Night. After all he’d only been joking, flirting even, and while that was mostly out of character for them, she couldn’t claim that he’d never flirted with her or treated her as more than a friend. There had been New Year’s Eve—two years ago… nope, not going there. She’d tucked that away, supposedly forever.

  Double Ugh.

  Wait, not double ugh. Nothing happening was a good thing. It was the right thing for them.

  No matter how amazing that midnight kiss had been—

  Her heart slammed against her chest as Archer walked in the community meeting room. His piercing gaze found hers and her cheeks grew hot. She had to look away, look at anything and anyone who wasn’t him, landing on his younger brother.

  Gunner smirked.

  Archer cleared his throat, drawing her attention back to him.

  Her cheeks flamed hotter as his gaze narrowed.

  What was wrong with her?

  And what was wrong with him?

  “Sheriff. What a nice surprise,” Faye said. “Was there something you wanted to add?”

  Although Faye smiled, a grey brow arched dramatically as Archer began to answer a question that clearly should have been met with a silent apology. Their mayor loved order as much as input, but one could not exist without the other during a meeting.

  “No, ma’am. Just allergies.” He crossed his arms over his chest, then leaned against the wall. His utility belt hitting the sheetrock behind him. He winced and readjusted his stance.

  “Maybe Molly can fix you up with one of her herbal teas,” Faye replied, then went back to business. “We’re expecting a larger than usual crowd this year. Thanks to the Sheriff’s depart
ment in conjunction with Star Fall’s finest, they will block off two extra streets to keep everyone moving. And with that, this meeting is adjourned. See everyone in two weeks.”

  Molly packed up the few items she’d brought to the meeting, keeping an eye on Archer as he continued to stand near the door. He smiled and spoke to the committee members as they left.

  Always the charmer and always on duty, she thought.

  “This meeting lasted longer than the past two, and I didn’t think that was possible,” Gunner said as he entered her line of vision. “Then again, I underestimated the variations on best practices for the pumpkin carving contest.”

  She laughed. “You should’ve been on the committee last year—we hammered our best bobbing for apple practices for two weeks straight.”

  Gunner’s eyes widened. “You met every night.”

  “She let us have Wednesday nights, Fridays, and Sundays off. Didn’t want out meetings to interfere with football games, bingo, or church.” Molly bit back a grin as his expression turned horrified. “I’m joking. We didn’t meet every night. It was a lot of emails and long monthly meetings—sometimes, we’d get supper brought in.”

  “Speaking of supper—why don’t we go grab a bite to—"

  “Yeah, let’s all go,” Archer broke in, nearly making Molly jump. She hadn’t been aware he’d joined them. “The Happy Harpy is still open.”

  “You weren’t invited, Archie,” Gunnar said.

  Archer scowled at the nickname no one had dared called him in years. “Didn’t realize I needed an invite, Gunnie.”

  “You don’t, but in this case, you—”

  “—are welcome to come along,” Molly broke in. She was used to this with them. Obviously, they’d argued and hadn’t worked things out, but she knew from experience that food always helped them get over whatever it was causing problems. “I don’t mind. Gunnar is just like a brother to me, so it would be like joining family tonight.”

  Archer’s scowl trained on her. “You’re not family.”

  “Excuse me?” Molly fisted a hand on her hip. “Did you just say I’m not family?”