Page 34 of Rules

"I'm glad you like it." I smile, pleased by her reaction.

"You’re out early, I hope I wasn’t the reason." Holly is looking around the bouquet. “Is there a card?”

Pointing to it, and watched while she opens it.

"Aww," she says, shaking her head with a smile. "That's so nice of them."

Now's my chance. I lower my voice conspiratorially. "Holly, can I ask you a personal question, woman to woman?" I wring my hands in front of me, trying to look casual and probably failing miserably. Holly looks at my hands, then up to my eyes. She matches my lowered tone.

"Sure, Ruth, if I can answer it, I will." She looks sympathetic, as if expecting a question about the break-ins or something equally serious.

Here it goes, "Is the sheriff dating anyone?" I almost whisper.

Holly's eyebrows shoot up. "Wow, of all the questions I would have bet you were going to ask me, that was not even in the top one hundred." Her voice rises with delight. "I thought you were going to ask about the break-ins."

"Oh no, I know you all are working as best you can to solve those." I smoothed down my blouse. "I was, ah, just curious, if you knew if he was dating anyone." I lower my voice again, hoping no one can overhear my question. Especially not a certain silver-haired sheriff whose office is just next door.

"No, not to my knowledge, no. He's not seeing anyone, at least not that he's told me. I don't know how he could. He's always here at work." Holly answers, then leans forward. "Now, can I ask you a question?"

"Fair enough." I brace myself for whatever's coming.

"Why do you want to know?" Holly has a gleam in her eye, like a bloodhound that's caught a scent. "Do you have a thing for our sheriff?"

"No, no, nothing, umm, like that. I was just curious." My face betrays me, heating up instantly.

"That smile and the color of your face say different." Holly crosses her arms and positions her head slightly downward like a teacher questioning a student's dubious excuse. "For what it's worth, I think you two would make a stinking cute couple."

"Really? I mean, ah, I was just curious. You know. It's nothing, sorry I bothered you. Ah, thanks, I better get going now. Deliveries to make. See you later, Holly." I practically bolt from her office. Good thing I handled that with all the grace and believability of an elephant in toe shoes opening in Swan Lake on Broadway. What was I thinking?

"Thanks, Carol." I say as I make a speedy retreat out the front door.

Once outside, I keep up my momentum until I get to the van, where I finally allow myself to sit and catch my breath. After my initial embarrassment was gone I blew out a breath.

"Alright mister, I'm Sheriff Trenton, what's the real reason for your behavior?"

***

Tobias

"You went way overboard!" Holly announces as she enters my office first thing this morning. "I love them, but goodness, it's too much."

"What are we talking about?" I look up from the mound of paperwork I've ignored that is now covering my desk. "Can't you do some of this?" I put my hand out to the piles.

"Nope, that's all you. I'm trying to say thank you for the flowers. You went way overboard, thank you."

Shit, how much did going overboard cost me?

"You are worth it," I say, recovering quickly. "Thank you for all you do for us and for putting up with me."

"Speaking of you," Holly closes my office door and stands in front of my desk, her hands clasped behind her back. She reminds me of the drill sergeants in the Army.

"Ruth delivered my flowers," she says, her eyes narrowing as she watches my reaction carefully.

I set down my pen, trying to appear only mildly interested. "Ruth was here already?" I asked, looking at my watch. “That's an early delivery, which means she was at her shop early.” I can’t help the tone and attitude in my voice. That little shit went to the shop on her own in the early morning, that’s exactly what I told her not to do.

Holly cocks her head to the side, her eyes narrowing even farther. "You look a little irritated. Everything alright?" Holly crosses her arms, leaning her hip against my desk.

"Ah?" I keep my voice neutral. “Sorry, what?”

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