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“Can’t argue with that.” She really wished he wouldn’t grin like that. It did funny things to her stomach. “So, what are we going to do about Miss Mabel?”
“We’re going to do what she wants. Have meetings and write up a plan addressing the extra traffic she’s sure we’ll have after the museum opens.”
“You really think the town’s going to be overwhelmed with tourists because of a hokey UFO museum?” The idea of a horde of tourists swarming into Marsville like locusts to see green men made out of plaster and fake moon rocks was ridiculous.
“No, but it’s easier to humor her than to try to make her see the light. I’ve jotted down some thoughts, which I’ll email to you. You read through them. Add any suggestions or thoughts you have, send them back to me, then we’ll sit down together and write up a plan.”
“Okay.” That was perfect. Meant spending less time around him. So, why was she disappointed? “Well, I need to get back.”
“Skye.”
She paused at the door and turned. “Yes?”
“You’re still going to pay for your spider prank.”
“Like I told you, don’t start something you can’t finish.”
His grin was positively wicked. “When you least expect it, Sheriff.”
“Game on, Chief.” She walked out to his laughter.
Chapter Seven
For a week after throwing down his challenge, Tristan had steered clear of Skye. She’d replied to his email the day after getting it, and he’d been impressed with her suggestions. She’d asked when he wanted to meet, and he’d put her off, telling her sometime next week. By now, she likely thought he’d forgotten he’d promised to get her back for the spider scare. She would be wrong. Everyone knew revenge was best served cold.
She’d about given him a heart attack, making him think he had spiders crawling down his neck, and she needed to pay. He’d considered and discarded several practical jokes to play on her and had finally come up with the perfect one. Tomorrow she’d learn he was a man of his word.
Matt Butler, his captain, poked his head around the doorjamb. “Chief, Miss Bauman is here, demanding a word with you.”
“Tell her I’m in Tahiti and won’t be back until next year.”
“You should be ashamed of yourself, Tristan Church, for lying to one of your citizens,” Miss Bauman said, marching into his office.
At hearing her voice, Fuzz dashed under Tristan’s desk. There were two people he avoided at all costs—the Misses Bauman and Mackel. Tristan wished he could join his dog under the desk. He inwardly sighed as she settled herself in a chair, then fussed with the hem of her dress, making sure it properly covered her knees. He waited for her to take her list of complaints out of her purse. There was always a list. On the plus side, this one was only one page long. Sometimes, there were multiple pages.
Why had he wanted to be the police chief? He must have had a good reason.
As she made her way down her list, his mind wandered to Skye. For a year he’d tried to forget the night they’d spent together. Not at first. When she turned out to be the county’s new sheriff, he’d surprised himself with how happy he was to see her again. Their chemistry had been off the chart, and he’d thought they had a connection. Still thought so, but something was keeping her from exploring a relationship with him.
They were both single, and there wasn’t any rule or regulation against their dating, so that wasn’t the problem. As far as he knew, she hadn’t shown an interest in another man since she’d moved to Marsville. So, what was her reason for shutting him down? There had to be one. It could be his ego talking, but she was attracted to him. He was sure of it.
How could he find out why she had thick walls built around her? If he knew the answer, he would know how to tear them down. Because she definitely had them, and he didn’t like being on the outside of those walls.
“And I must insist you do something about those kids riding their bikes and skateboards on my street, Chief.”
He sighed as he tuned back into Miss Bauman’s complaints. He’d addressed this one in the past. Several times. “They live on that street, so it’s as much theirs as yours, Miss Bauman. They aren’t hurting you in any way. Would you rather they be out stirring up real trouble?”
Had she ever been a kid? He thought about it and decided probably not. She’d never married and didn’t have many friends as far as he knew. She wasn’t a happy person and not enjoyable to be around. He was sure she was lonely, and he felt sorry for her, which was why he tolerated these visits of hers, but she was exhausting.
She huffed. “I would rather you did your job and kept those delinquents off my street.”
“They aren’t breaking any law, and they have as much right to the street as you do. There’s nothing I can do. You know that.” She lived on a street that ended in a cul-de-sac, so the only traffic was the people who lived there, and they knew to watch for children. It was a good road for kids to ride their bikes and skateboards on.
“I know nothing of the kind. Perhaps we should find a police chief who will do his job.”
Right this minute, he was all for that. “Let me see your list.” They played this game each time she arrived with her list of wrongs. There was usually at least one thing on it he could do something about or pretend to, and she’d leave feeling she’d won.
He scanned the page. There it was, the bone he’d throw her. She would have already voiced her complaint, but he hadn’t been listening. If he had, he could have stopped her right then, and she’d be gone by now. “Did you personally see Melissa put earrings in her purse without paying?”
