Page 51 of Hard Knock Hero

Owen yanked his hat off, then rubbed a hand over his buzzed hair. “I just got a call from one of my deputies. Jeremy is back in Hartley. Drove in this morning almost the moment the bridge opened. I’d made it known to the Rigsbys that I wanted Jeremy to check in with me first thing, and he didn’t. I had intended to remind him of that protective order barring him from seeing you, Jessi, and I was worried he’d decided to be stupid instead.”

“I haven’t seen him.” Jessi pressed her lips together. Her gaze darted to mine. I walked over to her and touched her arm. She leaned subtly into me.

Owen exhaled. “That’s good. Apparently, Chester’s been out and about as well, riled up about something. I’m sure I’ll hear the details sooner or later, but if it’s nothing to do withyou, I can breathe a little easier for the moment.”

I had no doubt Chester was riled up about his brother falling to his death in a ravine yesterday. But it seemed nobody had reported the death to Owen. Just as I’d suspected they wouldn’t. The Rigsbys couldn’t afford to let the sheriff know what they were up to.

Of course, Jessi and I had secrets too. Scarlett had just found out I wasn’t really Jessi’s brother. That secret wasn’t going to stay under wraps for long. Not because Scarlett would tell everyone, but because I doubted Jessi and I could keep our hands off each other.

I’d never been a model soldier, but my time in the military had taught me—secrets were commodities. It was all about whose secrets were more dangerous. And that was exactly where our leverage would come in.

“Owen,” I said, “there’s something I need to show you. It could explain why Chester’s upset.”

“Can’t you share now? Instead of being all mysterious about it?”

“It’s more of a show and tell.”

Jessi frowned at me. Clearly she wanted to discuss this, so I tugged her into the kitchen. “Hold that thought, Sheriff. We’ll be right back.”

We stood out of sight of the dining area, where Owen and Scarlett waited. “You’re going to tell him?” she whispered.

“Yep. Everything. It’s the wisest choice.”

“Are you sure?”

“Do you trust him?”

She considered a moment. “Yes. I do. Owen’s a good man, and he’s been proving that again lately.”

That strange feeling shifted around in my chest. “Do you think he’s got more than a friendly interest in you? He seemed pretty worried.”

She smirked. “It’s not like that between me and Owen. Never has been, never will.”

“It’s not really my business.” But hell, I did want it to be my business. I leaned closer, my nose brushing her temple.

Her lips moved against my cheek. “Then why did you ask?”

I brought my hands to her waist. “You can probably guess.”

“Trace, are we going somewhere or what?” Owen called out.

“Five minutes,” I replied, though my eyes stayed on Jessi. “Can you drive us, Sheriff?”

“I’ll meet you out front. Four minutes, or I’m leaving. I have plenty of other things to do, you know.” The bell jingled as the diner door opened and closed.

Scarlett pushed through the door to the kitchen and peered at us. “Hello, Aiden,” she said, a smug smile on her face. “Nice to meet you. Officially.”

“You, too.” I nodded politely, then turned and leaned to kiss Jessi’s lips, nice and slow.

When I pulled away, Scarlett’s grin was even wider, and she was fanning herself with her hand. “All right, enough of that. I’m too young for hot flashes.”

Jessi laughed and pulled me by the shirt for another kiss, this one quick and soft. “You’re going now?”

“Yeah. Sounds like it. But I don’t like leaving you with Jeremy back in town.”

“I’m opening the diner for lunch service,” Jessi said. “If I can get things organized around here. It’s broad daylight. I’ll be just fine.”

“I can stick around to help,” Scarlett added. “I have a girl working the register at the sweet shop today.”

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