Page 13 of Bidding on a Second Chance
She pulled her hand back as a zing ran up her arm. Graham wasn’t the only one who needed a warning that she wasn’t looking for romance. Her own hand was out to betray her.
ChapterEight
“She insists it was the danger of the job.” Graham’s black coffee tasted nowhere near as bitter as the statement. He finished off his mug and set it on the table at Flapjacks, an all-day breakfast restaurant. Out the windows overlooking the town square, Redemption Ridge was coming to life with slanting morning sunlight and increased traffic.
Cody wobbled his head as he chewed a mouthful of omelet. He gulped and followed up with a long drink of milk. “Didn’t Casper and her boyfriend break up for the same reason?”
Officer Neenah Casper had only been on the force for two years. Graham hadn’t spent much time with her, but he had heard she’d suffered a breakup right around the time he and Piper had split. “That was different.”
“How so?”
“I wasn’t a twenty-three-year-old rookie breaking up bar fights between men twice my size.” Not that Casper couldn’t handle herself. A former rodeo trick rider, the woman had strength, courage, and discipline in spades. At this point, she was a twenty-five-year-old officer with a promising career ahead of her.
Cody used the edge of his fork to cut another bite from his omelet, cheddar and ham oozing out. “You sure Winston Smalls isn’t twice your size?”
The regular offender was pretty hefty. Thankfully, the guy was more bluster than bite.
“I have over a decade of experience.” He watched Cody wolf down more food. His own meal had come with a side of bacon, but he’d filled up on eggs and toast. He nudged the smaller dish toward his friend. “So you can be twice my size too.”
Cody snorted and snatched up the offering. Between his metabolism and his workout regimen, it’d take more than a couple of slices of bacon for him to pack on pounds. “It’s not unprecedented, people not wanting to be with a cop. Why don’t you believe her?”
“Because when I asked if that was the real reason, she froze up.”
Cody smirked. “Why do they keep passing you over for detective with those observational skills?”
Graham didn’t bother defending himself. After obtaining his degree in criminal justice, he had worked in the Denver area for the first five years of his career. Weary of the continuous onslaught of serious crime in a larger city, he’d moved to Redemption Ridge five years ago. He was a lot happier here, where he could make an impact, not only by dealing with crimes as they came up, but by developing relationships with the residents.
The local criminal investigators must’ve also been very happy within the Redemption Ridge Police Department, because only a handful of detective positions had opened up since Graham’s arrival. Then again, it was a small department, and he’d known moving to the small town would limit advancement opportunities. When the Lord willed it, he’d get the promotion. With it would come regular hours and less walking into dangerous situations on the street, which might allay Piper’s concerns.
Except he didn’t plan to get back together with her, so why would that matter?
Bella Knight, whose father owned the restaurant, appeared beside the table. “Can I get you anything else?”
“More bacon, maybe?” Graham asked Cody.
“No, thanks.” Cody chuckled. “The checks, please.”
“I thought that might be the case.” The petite blond pulled the slips from her apron and laid them facedown on the table. “No rush. You two take care.” She slipped away to tend to the next table.
“So you’re sticking close to learn Piper’s real reasons?” Cody started on the last piece of bacon.
“Nope. I’m pitching in for a family who needs the extra support.”
Cody took a drink and went back to his omelet, but he kept eyeing Graham.
“What?”
“You’re trying awfully hard to get an explanation for a guy who isn’t interested in it.”
“I do want to know. It’s just not my main reason.”
Cody assessed him a moment longer, but instead of pressing, he checked his watch. “Duty calls.” He drained the rest of his milk and scooted to the edge of the booth.
They settled their bills and went their separate ways, Cody to the station and Graham to Second Chances. The sign on the back door was turned to closed, with the posted hours promising the store would open in an hour and a half. Graham reached for his phone to text Piper to let him in, but then again, she might’ve left it unlocked for his arrival.
He tried the handle. Sure enough.
He found Piper in the stockroom, balanced between her tiptoes and the scooter as she reached for a box on top of a tall utility cabinet.
