Page 149 of Banter & Blushes

“Not during working hours.” He gave them a dry smile, a rarity.

“Not what I meant,” Beck replied. “What are you doing out here?”

“I was making my rounds after the storm and saw your truck.”

Beck caught the smirk in his voice. “Right.”

“Need a lift?”

“Can you take Caroline home?”

Caroline was hurt he didn’t want to drive her. “I need to get my stuff together.”

Gray gave them a long look. “Okay. Well, I’ll be out front. See you in five?”

“Let’s grab everything and go before we’re the top story at The Holler & Fork.”

Beck tried to help her, but Caroline held up her hand. “Don’t, Beck. Just go.”

She put her phone back in the tote and grabbed the last of her trash before running out the door.

“Caroline, wait,” he called, grabbing her arm to face him. “I need to go get Quint from JT’s,” Beck said, pressing a kiss against Caroline’s forehead. “It’s late, so how about I see you tomorrow morning at The Holler?”

Disappointed, Caroline nodded and slid in the front seat of the sheriff’s vehicle. Beck leaned down and looked at her. “What’s wrong?”

“Don’t … Don’t you dare,” she said, pointing a shaky finger at him.

“Dare, what?”

“Don’t you dare make me cry again, Carter Beckett.”

“I was supposed to get Quint hours ago, and there is something I have to pick up from the house. It’s been a long night. Get some sleep and I promise I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Might as well kiss her goodnight, Beckett,” Sheriff Stone said, sliding into the cruiser. “Everyone knows.”

Beck pressed a kiss against Caroline’s lips. “Remember what I told you.”

She nodded as he closed the door.

Sheriff Stone turned off his cruiser lights and pulled out towards Caroline’s home. “You and Beck, eh?”

“I guess.”

“I bet someone gets Bingo tomorrow.”

CHAPTER 11

CAROLINE

Caroline wasn’t panicking.

She simply … strategically distanced herself from the situation.

After the kiss, things had been perfect. For exactly six hours and twenty-four minutes. Now Beck had disappeared again.

No text. No porch swing. Not even a sarcastic note taped to her binder, which had gone missing again.

And Caroline, who absolutely did not panic, was now standing on the boardwalk outside The Holler & Fork with her phone at 17 percent battery, and a blueberry muffin she no longer wanted.

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