Page 4 of A Shot at Love on the Mountain

“Really? I have to be in that same building so I can show you the way if you want,” I offer.

“That would be nice. I’m still trying to figure out where everything is located.”

She follows me out of the bar.

“You didn’t run into trouble, did you?” I ask as we walk down the street.

That panicky edge to her voice she had earlier is back all of a sudden. “No, why do you ask? I’m fine. Everything is normal.”

“Relax, Meredith. I was just asking because you’re headed to the police station, that’s all.”

“Oh, yeah, I have to check-in. Um, with my boyfriend,” she says.

Her boyfriend? She’s not single? I square my jaw. It shouldn’t bother me that she has a boyfriend. Good for her, right? It’s not like I want to be her boyfriend, either. That would be ridiculous. We’ve only just met. Who she dates is none of my business.

I do find it weird that she has a boyfriend who’s a Frosty Crest cop, though. I know most of the police squad and they’re either happily married or single. Casually dating, maybe.

In a small town like Frosty Crest, the rumor mill works fast. I always hear about the latest gossip in the bar, whether I want to or not, and not one member of the police force has so much as mentioned anything about one of them having a serious relationship that would warrant his girlfriend moving here.

“Are you okay?” Meredith eyes me with worry.

I nod. “Sure thing. Anyway, here’s your boyfriend’s office,” I say and point toward the police station.

“Is this the sheriff’s office?” she asks, scrutinizing the sign on the door.

She’s dating the sheriff? No offense to him, but the guy is retiring next year.

“If you go in and ask for him, they’ll tell you where to find Sheriff Thompson. I’ll be over here visiting my brother Brody. He works for the Search and Rescue Team. I’ll see you tomorrow at noon.”

I slip into the office of the SAR team. It was good that I kept a professional tone with her. If she’s single, I don’t want to tempt myself by thinking something could happen between us. I would never ever come between another man and his woman, no matter how I feel. I shake my head. How I feel? What’s gotten into me?

“Caleb, dude, are you okay?” I hear Brody ask.

I realize I’ve been standing here for over a minute without saying a single word.

“Did you know Sheriff Thompson is dating a woman who could practically be his daughter?”

My brother frowns. “No… but that makes you angry?”

“I’m not angry.”

“Could’ve fooled me. My wife would say you have Resting Scowl Face.”

I sigh. “Haha, aren’t you funny?”

“What brings you to our humble abode?” Brody asks, gesturing around the empty SAR office.

Right, how do I tell my brother that I wasn’t planning on coming here? I only told Meredith I had to be in the same building because I wanted to spend some more time with her.

“Just checking to see if you need anything from the supermarket.”

He squints at me. “You’re acting really strange. Fess up, what’s going on?”

“Nothing is going on.”

“Really? Not once have you ever offered to buy me groceries. Something’s up, brother. I know you.”

I clear my throat. “Did I tell you I hired someone new at the bar?”

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