Caught by the Sheriff--A Clean Romance

by Rula Sinara

  “Hey, Eve.”

  Goodness, that voice. Deep and firm, yet there was hesitation...a softness in the way he said her name...as if whispered on a final breath. So, he knew Eve. Of course he did. This was Turtleback. What did Faye expect?

  “Jordan.” Eve gathered herself before turning to Faye. “Oh, Faye, this is Deputy Jordan. He works with Carlos...the sheriff you met. Jordan, Faye’s a friend staying over at my place.”

  “Nice to meet you.”

  “You too,” Faye said.

  A deputy. She looked over her shoulder to check on Nim, even if she could hear her flipping pages in the corner nook. She tried to look calm but her insides skittered frantically. She needed to stop getting so jittery at the mention or sight of cops or someone was bound to get suspicious. Why was Eve’s store such a magnet for cops? Were they onto her?

  Eve cleared her throat and a small cough escaped. On second thought, how could a pretty woman like Eve not be a magnet for single men?

  “Returning, donating or consigning?” Eve glanced at the books he carried. “Is romance not your thing?”

  “What?” Jordan shuffled on the spot, then glanced Faye’s way. Faye immediately looked away, not out of fear this time, but because she didn’t want him thinking she was eavesdropping. Although she was. Hard not to. The poor guy seemed flustered and at a loss for words. What was it about the word romance that threw so many guys off-kilter?

  “The books,” Eve said. “They’re romance novels.” She cocked her head, splayed her hands and waited a beat. He only blushed more, then dropped the books on the counter and took an extra step away from them for safe measure. Faye bit her lower lip to keep from laughing. Eve shook her head and picked up the books.

  “I was kidding, Jordan,” she said. “I know these were Chanda’s. She bought them here. Returning them so soon? Didn’t she like them?” She flipped to the page where a bookmark was, seemed to note how far along it was in the storyline, then removed the bookmark and added it to a basket with others for the taking. Faye had noticed earlier that whenever a customer made a purchase, she told them they could pick a free bookmark. Bookmark recycling. Kids loved looking through the basket. No sugary lollipops needed.

  Jordan rubbed the back of his neck, glanced back at the door, then at Eve.

  “Oh. Um. I have no idea. She asked me to drop them off. That’s all. Maybe you should call her to sort it all out. I’m just the messenger.”

  “Okay, then. I’ll give her a call in a bit.”

  “Okay. That works.” He didn’t turn to leave. Eve stood expectantly, rocking on her heels a few times. She tucked her hair behind her ear.

  “Did you want to browse around?” she finally asked.

  “Oh. No, no,” Jordan said, apparently waking up from his Eve-induced trance. “I’ll see you around.”

  Faye could tell by the way he fidgeted with his jacket, the guy wanted to say more. He didn’t want to leave just yet. Her nerves fired up. What if she was misreading him? What if it wasn’t Eve he was interested in? What if the sheriff had sent him over to spy on the stranger with a kid in town?

  If there’s a search out for you, this deputy wouldn’t be dawdling. The sheriff would be here too. You’d be on your way in for questioning already.

  She took a deep breath and tried to focus on Nim at the bookshelf. The man was clearly interested in Eve. He was here for her. Not Faye or Nim. She dared a side-peek over at the two. Yep. Eve wasn’t acting the way she did around other customers...super cheerful. She had toned it down a notch or two. Seemed a bit more controlled. Or maybe unsure of herself?

  “Yeah, see you later,” Eve said, nibbling on her bottom lip as he headed for the door.

  He turned the handle once, opened the door, then turned the handle again and inspected the latch on the door frame. He wiped his palm across his jaw.

  “I, uh, know you probably plan to fix this yourself, but if you need any help—I mean, not because you can’t do it yourself—I know you can—but...what I mean is, if you’re busy with the store or customers...” He nodded in Faye’s direction “...I’m happy to tighten it up for you. I have twenty minutes before I need to report back into work. I have tools in my—”

  “I have a toolbox.”

  “Yes. Of course. I was only offering. I know you’re handy.” He started to leave.

  “Eve, sorry to interrupt, but I’d love some help picking books out for my daughter,” Faye interjected. She wasn’t sure why or where the impulse had come from, but it seemed like the right thing to do. Get Eve to let Prince Charming give her a hand. Eve crinkled her nose at her.

  “Sure. I’ll be right there, Faye.”

  “I feel bad for taking up so much of your time with my visit. Eve, you should have told me you had so much to do around here. Like fixing the door. I can get out of your way. Or help out,” Faye said.

  “You’re not in the way,” Eve insisted, looking a little perplexed.

  “Like I said,” Jordan jumped in. “I can lend a hand, if you like. I was impressed with all the repairs you did yourself after the last hurricane. But I get that sometimes life can get busy and hard to keep up with.”

  “I keep up fine,” Eve said, then immediately looked at her feet and gave her head a shake. “You were?”

  “Yes. That was a lot of work. Made me think of those do-it-yourself shows on TV. You could’ve been on one with all you did around here,” he said, smiling sheepishly.

  “Thanks.” Eve seemed at a loss for words. This was interesting, Faye thought. “I’m sorry if I sounded rude. I usually do keep up, but if you’re offering, I have my toolbox under here. You don’t have to go out to get yours.”

  She pulled a toolbox from under the counter. It was one of those standard red ones, only she’d painted it with a trail of carpenter ants, going from tiny to extra-large, around the perimeter and a sun and flowers on top. All with smiley faces.

  “Right.” Jordan eyed the box skeptically. Eve held it out closer to him.

  Faye picked up Nim and rubbed noses with her as a cover-up, just so she could let out the chuckles she was holding back.

  “These are good-quality tools,” Eve promised. “They used to be my father’s. He loved fixing things around the house. Or trying to, at least. It didn’t always work out as intended.”

  “He was an artist too,” Jordan deadpanned.

  “I painted the box after saving it from a box of garage sale items after he died. Carpenter ants because carpentry was his thing and he was a hard worker. I used to tell him that his spirit animal had to be an ant. He humored me. Nothing fazed him. He used to tell me that I shouldn’t let anything or anyone ruffle me up either. My mom didn’t realize how much it meant to me, I guess.” Her voice lowered with the last words. She set the box on the countertop and ran her hand over the top. “I don’t want anything in it getting lost or disorganized. If it’s too girlie for you, then use your own. But don’t expect a second chance with it. I rarely let anyone else use it.”

  Second chance? Was she talking about the box or herself? Was there a history between these two? Jordan frowned slightly, then grasped the box’s handle.

  “Nothing’s too girlie for a real man. And if you can’t trust a cop with your valuables, who can you trust? I’ll get this done while you see to your friend.”

  If you can’t trust a cop, who can you trust? Faye swallowed hard. Her sister hadn’t been able to count on the police where she lived.

  He set the toolbox by the door and got to work. Eve’s eyes lingered on him a few seconds, then she lifted her chin, smiled and strode over to Nim.

  “I hear giggles over here.”

  “I’m hearing a lot going on between the lines,” Faye whispered.

  “Shh! You’re imagining things,” Eve said in an even quieter voice. She shook her head and gave Faye a brief scowl. Fine. She wouldn’t sa
y anything, especially not within earshot, but something was definitely going on there.

  “Ants, huh? If I believed in spirit animals and had to guess what yours was, I suppose it would be a bookworm,” Jordan called out as he worked.

  “Very funny,” Eve said, as she began reshelving books in the children’s area.

  Faye bounced Nim on her hip. What would hers be? A turtle hiding in its shell? No, wait. A chameleon or any other animal adept at camouflage. Eve stuck a couple of fantasy books an older child had been looking through back in their spots on a higher shelf. Did shape-shifters count? Not that she had to shape-shift all that much in order to look like her twin.

  “How many guesses do I get?” Jordan asked as he pulled out a Phillips screwdriver from the box.

  “Maybe I don’t have one.”

  “Dragonfly,” Jordan said.

  Eve’s lips parted and she folded her arms. The corner of his mouth lifted. He shrugged. Oh, the flirting.

  “How’d you know?” Eve asked.

  He waved the tool around the room at the various dragonflies she had included in the decor: a stained-glass dragonfly hanging in the window, origami ones dangling from the ceiling, watercolors of the insects hovering over ponds. Then Jordan pointed the tool he held at her neck. Her fingers covered the pendant she wore.

  “You noticed this tiny thing?” she asked. The necklace was quite small. Silver with amethyst eyes.

  “I notice a lot of things,” Jordan said, then his face flushed and he turned his back on them as he finished the repair. “What I mean is, I have to. I’m trained to. The power of observation is crucial in my line of work.”

  Eve’s shoulders sank a fraction of an inch. She brushed her hands together and started straightening puppets on the shelf behind her.

  “That makes sense. What about you, Faye? What’s your animal?” Eve said, clearly deflecting the conversation away from herself.

  “Me?” She wasn’t about to mention chameleons, lest they ask why. “I don’t know.”

  “Well, is there an animal that plays a big role in your life? That represents something for you? A sort of guide,” Eve explained.

  Faye let Nim run off and tumble onto the beanbag. It was good to see her acting more normal and not crying so much. She missed her mother. Faye missed home and her work. Your work.

  “Dogs, I suppose.” Yes. Dogs. They were all about unconditional love and loyal friendship. They had appeared in her life, not just in passing but as a work opportunity, back when she had needed it the most. Back when she felt that her parents’ love had been weighed down with too many conditions. Back when she and Eve had graduated college and she no longer had her nearby as a friend...and Clara had met Jim. And now she’d had to leave the dogs in her life behind because, well, because of love and loyalty for her sister. She’d gotten the spirit animal message. Was that a sign that she’d never see her business again? That dogs wouldn’t be a part of her life anymore?

  Jordan looked over his shoulder, his face lit up.

  “You have a dog? What kind?” he asked, before turning back to the door.

  “Actually, she—”

  “No,” Faye said, interrupting Eve and giving her a pleading look and small head shake. “No dogs.”

  Eve knew from social media that Faye owned Dog Galaxy. Darn it. She’d asked her not to mention her real hair color, and had completely forgotten to tell her not to mention her work. She needed to step out of this conversation. She was digging a hole for herself big enough to put a beagle to shame. A hole that would open her up to questions. That would only lead her to reveal too much and risk potential inconsistencies in her answers. Eve frowned but gave her a nod. Good. No doubt her friend would ask questions later. Maybe she figured Faye didn’t want her business mentioned for the same fake reason she’d given earlier—to keep her in-laws at bay.

  “I’m about to get one,” Jordan said. Oblivious to the signals that had passed between Eve and Faye, he grinned and stood, closing up the box and setting it back on the counter. Job done. “I’m on my way to adopt a Newfoundland pup. A rescue, mind you. Not from a breeder.”

  “Really?” Faye asked, walking over to where Eve stood. The image of her last, mud-caked grooming customer and the defeated look on his owner’s face came to mind. “You’re going to have your hands full. All that slobber. The hair. And let me tell you, they’re like ducks when it comes to finding water. They’ll turn a dewdrop into a swimming pool. Or a mud bath.”

  “You know a lot for never having owned a dog,” Eve said.

  “Oh.” Shoot. “A friend once had one. Used to vent all the time.” Faye swallowed but her mouth still felt dry.

  “Over a hundred pounds of love and fun. That’s how I see it,” Jordan said. “I can handle it.”

  “You have a full-time job.” Eve tucked the toolbox back in its hiding place.

  “I’ll figure it out. I’m sure my sister can help once in a while. In fact... You let Gray bring Laddie around for story time, don’t you? I bet the kids would love a puppy hanging—”

  “No!” Eve and Faye jumped in simultaneously. Jordan held up his palms in defense.

  “Sorry for going there.”

  “Jordan, there’s just no way,” Eve explained. “I love puppies like nobody’s business, but here at the bookstore? I don’t think so. They piddle and chew. I have books that would turn into chew toys and wallpaper. And your puppy—not the story I’m reading—would get all the kid attention. I’ll admit, probably mine, as well.”

  “She’s right, you know. Like I said, I’ve heard some wild stories from friends,” Faye added, to ward off more questions. “I bet they’re as much work as a toddler, and I can tell you Nim keeps me on my feet.”

  As if on cue, the sound of ripping paper caught their attention. Nim stared in wonder at the book in her hands, apparently relishing the sound and feeling of accomplishment. She took out another page.

  “Oh, no! I’m so sorry, Eve. I’ll pay for it.” Faye ran over to rescue what was left of the fairy tale. The last pages that had been torn out. Forget a happy ending. There would be no ending. Was this some sort of omen? Or just an indicator at how inept Faye was at taking care of a child. She was failing miserably at it. She should have been keeping a closer watch.

  “It’s alright. I can tape the pages back in and discount it. No big deal,” Eve said.

  “It is a big deal. I’m so sorry.”

  “Hey, it really is okay,” Eve said, gathering the book and pages as Faye carried Nim away from the crime scene. “Take this as a lesson, Jordan. Puppies are like toddlers. Never a dull moment.”

  “I’m getting this puppy. There’s no talking me out of it.”

  “We’re not trying to. I’m just saying make arrangements that don’t include me. I have my hands full.” Eve waved a puppet in the air for emphasis.

  “I’ve got this. The crate for training is set up. I have the supplies. More toys than I had planned to spend on, but have you seen the pet aisle at the store? I couldn’t decide on just one. Besides, the poor thing needs a loving home. I’m telling you. I’ve got this. I’m all in.”

  The man was in love. There was no doubting it.

  The crate and supplies. Toys. A leash. Faye’s energy spiked and her pulse picked up. She needed money. A job that wouldn’t require a lie detector test or ID or references. One that she definitely knew how to do.

  “I’ve heard that puppies, or any dogs, that get a lot of exercise are less likely to chew things up or cause trouble. I used to walk my neighbor’s dog when I was a kid. I could be available for dog walking.”

  “That’s perfect,” Eve said. “I bet there are others who could use dog sitting or walking. Carlos for one. Or even taking Laddie to Gray after reading time so he doesn’t have to take off work to pick him up.”

  “You’d be willing to do that?” Jord
an asked.

  “Well, I don’t know.” She had intended to tell Eve that she’d be leaving tomorrow. She didn’t necessarily want to publicize those plans to a cop who worked with the sheriff. But it also wouldn’t be fair to Jordan to make a dog-walking commitment then disappear.

  “Oh, come on. Just try it a few times while you’re here,” Eve said. Her friend was really trying to get her to stick around. She didn’t know that Faye had hoped to be gone in less than twenty-four hours. She needed to think. She wanted to leave to keep Jim off her trail and because the sheriff lived too close for comfort, but she needed money too. If she was going to go nomadic with Nim, she’d require cash for motels and gas and food. Staying just a little longer and walking dogs would allow her to earn enough to get by.

  Maybe she could survive here a week or two without being discovered. She’d bought a carrier when she got the playpen. One that indicated it would work for Nim’s size—which was small for her age, according to Clara. Clara used a carrier for walks all the time. Faye had figured it would feel familiar to Nim and comforting. Faye was quite fit and had plenty of upper-body strength, considering all the dogs she worked with and often had to lift onto grooming tables. Carrying Nim around would be worth the try. If it proved to be too much, well, then she’d call it off and move on. She didn’t think pushing a stroller with more than one dog tagging along would be doable. Nor did she want to have dogs whose temperaments she didn’t know walking near Nim at face level. Eve raised her brows.

  “Who can say no to time with a puppy?” Eve added for good measure.

  “Fine. I don’t think I would be able to walk the older dogs with your puppy. I heard once that puppies shouldn’t go on walks that are too long, until they’re a little older, but I could help with potty training. Taking him or her out when you’re on duty. And play with all the toys you bought. I could take the older dogs separately.”