Page 35 of Rules

"She asked me if you were dating anyone." Holly raises her eyebrows and tilts her head to the other side.

I clear my throat. "Why would she ask you that?"

"That's what I'm wondering. What's really interesting is that when I told her that, to the best of my knowledge, you were not dating anyone, she turned seven shades of red, fumbled her words and took off out of my office like an Olympic sprinter out of the blocks. All while having an enormous smile on her face." Holly shifts her head staring at me. "Now, why do you think she would have that reaction?"

"How am I supposed to know why she would ask you that?" I meet her gaze, refusing to blink first.

"Mhm." Holly took a step back, her eyebrows furrowed. "You know, she's a lovely, smart, successful business owner, funny, who is genuinely kind. And very pretty."

"I'm aware of who Ruth is, Holly."

"Are you? You weren't just a minute ago." Holly watches me like a hawk. "She's obviously interested in you."

"That would be... inappropriate." is all I say turning my gaze back to the dreaded paperwork in hopes Holly will leave.

"Inappropriate? Why in the world would it be inappropriate? You're both single adults."

"She's too young," I mutter, shuffling papers on my desk.

Holly laughs. "Too young? Ruth? She must be at least mid-thirties. She's been running that shop for years."

"She's thirty-three."

Holly's eyes widened. "And you know this how?"

Damn it. "It came up in conversation once."

"So you've had conversations. Personal conversations. The two of you?" Holly leans forward, smelling blood in the water. "My husband is eight years older than me, and we've been happily married for twenty-two years. Nobody cares about age, Tobias."

"It's different when you're the sheriff."

"Is it? Sounds like an excuse to me." Holly softens her tone. "Tobias, I've watched you bury yourself in work for years. It wouldn't kill you to have a life outside this office."

"I have Tim and Dianna."

"That's their life, not yours." Holly straightens up. "I know something's going on between you two. I saw how you looked when I mentioned her name. I'll tell you like I told her, I think you two would be a wonderful match."

"Nothing's going on," I insist, a bit too forcefully. "Wait, you told her that?"

"Yes, I did, I think you two would make a great couple." Holly turns and heads to the door, pausing to look back. "You would be good for each other. She might even get you to relax once in a while."

Before I can respond, the radio on my shoulder crackles to life.

"Charlie Charlie - all units. Ten sixty-seven at the park near the pond. Ambulance being dispatched."

Holly freezes. "Ten sixty-seven? What's that one?"

"A dead body."

The coffee mug on my desk spills as I jump up. The hot liquid rolls across the reports on my desk, but I don't even glance at it as I rush toward the door. “This is a great start to the day.”

“Go, I got this.” Holly yells after me.

"Charlie Charlie - Alpha one enroute," I called into my radio, already racing down the hallway.

Chapter 14

Tobias

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