Page 50 of Love Is Brewing

“It is,” he said. “But not everyone feels that way. I know that. As you said, can’t please them all.”

“Especially if there are people who are anti-alcohol.”

“We won’t touch on that,” he said, letting out a little shiver.

“Elias. So good to see you.”

She turned her head when a man came walking toward them. “Chief,” he said. “How are you doing?”

“Great,” the man said. She recognized him now as the chief of police. She’d looked at their website and saw the pictures of everyone employed she could.

“Chief Morrison, this is Phoebe Kelly. She is new to the area.”

“Nice to meet you, Chief Morrison.” The older man put his hand out.

“The new attorney in the area?” Chief said.

“That’s me,” she said, smiling.

“I heard a bit about you recently. Feisty and all.”

She kept her grin in place. She didn’t want to judge but knew small town minds when she saw them. Even the unprofessional comment about her being feisty.

Phoebe had gone into his station with fire on her heels and water in her veins wanting to put out what they’d started.

“Just doing my job,” she said. Something her mother had often told her to say to people. It put it out there for them not to judge her personally on what she did professionally.

“Sometimes we need people to do their jobs around here,” Chief Morrison said. He looked between the two of them. “Is this a thing?”

She held back her snort and let Elias answer since he seemed to know the guy well.

Again, completely unprofessional and borderline rude.

“A thing, as in, are we having dinner together?” Elias asked. “That is what is going on.”

Chief Morrison laughed. “Didn’t know if it was work or personal.”

“If it was work I couldn’t tell you either way,” she said, smiling.

“Got it,” Chief Morrison said. “I’ll be seeing you around, Elias.”

When he was gone, she said, “Sorry about that. It had to do with the Sunday incident. He seemed unsure of himself with you after a minute but not before he came over.”

“You’re a good judge,” he said. “He’s a good guy most times. Does what is fair and right even if it’s not the first thought in his head. I’m pretty sure my tone threw him off.”

“The tone when he asked what was between us?” she asked. She noticed the change on Elias’s face let alone the tone of his voice. She’d seen his smile drop when she was told she was feisty too.

“That’s the one,” he said. “I’m not sure what he was throwing your way, but I didn’t like it.”

She smiled. “Thank you for that. I’m not sure either and was trying not to judge. But saying I’m feisty could go both ways. Could be a little old pat on the head. Or it could be a compliment.”

“I know what way I’m thinking it was, but you know, don’t want to guess.”

Which told her it was an insult and not a compliment.

“Didn’t mean to make it uncomfortable between you two,” she said.

“Oh no,” he said. “You didn’t. I like you a hell of a lot more than him. And even if we weren’t here on another date, it’s not his business. I wouldn’t want his comments made to my mother or either of my sisters.”

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