Page 103 of Valor

“Your greenhouse? Did the glass hold up during the storm yesterday?”

She nods. “Everything is fine, honey. I promise.”

“I just want to make sure you’re taken care of, Mom.”

“I know you do, and I love you for it. But maybe it’s time you start taking care of yourself.”

“By asking Lani out.”

“By doing something that will makeyouhappy.”

“Being sheriff makes me happy.”

She smiles. “I know it does, honey. But I also know you’re lonely.”

I arch a brow. “And just how do you know that?”

“A mother knows,” she replies simply.

Laughing, I take another drink of coffee. “I’ll think about it.”

She grips my arm in excitement. “Really?”

“I said I’dthinkabout it. Don’t start planning to go buy a mother-of-the-groom dress.”

My mom throws her head back and laughs, a joyful sound that was always the center of our happy home. “I won’t,” she replies with a wink. “Besides, you know I make all my own dresses anyway. No buying needed.”

* * *

The sheriff’sdepartment is small here in our Texas town of Pine Creek. There are two deputies and myself, as well as a receptionist and a three-person crime scene team called in whenever necessary.

As I refill my coffee for the third time this morning, I’m honestly wishing I had more to do. Not because I want the crime, but because ever since I got here three hours ago, I’ve had time to talk myself into—and out of—asking Lani out half a dozen times.

If I knew what she was going to say, it would be a no-brainer. But I don’t. She could laugh in my face. Tell me how ridiculous the idea of a date with me really is.

Oh, who am I kidding. Lani would never do either of those things. She’s too kind. And somehow, that makes me even more terrified.

I take a drink of stale coffee. I’m going to do it. It’s time. Right?

“Afternoon, Sheriff,” Deputy Amy Brown greets as she steps into the break room wearing leggings and a workout tank. Her skin is slick with sweat, her cheeks red.

“Afternoon. Good workout?”

She smiles at me. “Always is. Anything happen while I was at the gym?”

“Nope. Been a quiet day. I’m even nearly all caught up on paperwork.”

She laughs. “That’s good to hear.” After adding two scoops of protein to a shaker bottle full of water, she turns to fully face me. “One of these days, I’m going to get you in the gym with me. See if you can hang.”

I chuckle. “Appreciate that, but I’ve got my routine.” I’d spent an hour and a half at the gym of my apartment building first thing this morning. There, Lani had also been on my mind. Not that I should be surprised. I literally cannot escape the thought of her. The way her dark almond eyes stare at me with such openness that it almost makes me forget the pain of a failed marriage that I’ve spent years trying to work through.

“Chicken,” she replies. “I’m going to go get cleaned up for the day, then head out on patrol. Let me know if you need me anywhere in particular.”

“Sounds good.”

She offers me a wave as she leaves the room. Deputy Brown is a relatively new hire, coming to us from Dallas about a year ago. She had a relationship that went up in flames and wanted a fresh start. One I’d been happy to grant since up until then it was me and Peter Lenson running things all by ourselves after two of the other deputies retired.

We have Jenny Wilson, of course, our secretary who keeps everything nice and organized. I glance over at Jenny and note her setting a new floral arrangement on the edge of her desk. She also happens to keep the place looking—and smelling—nice. If it weren’t for her, the entire office would probably fall into disarray.

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