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Sophie’s eyes widened. Was this because April knew about Phantom? What had happened between them? What was still happening, the slow burn looks, the promise of more to come… Sophie scrunched up her face. “I mean, Phantom and I are kind of just friends at the moment…”
April rolled her eyes playfully. “Come on, I wasn’t born yesterday, he likes you,” she wheedled. Sophie smiled, despite herself.
“I… like him,” she confessed, as April leaned in, gripping her arm and giggled. It felt nice to have a friend, a girl who understood what kind of position she was in. Sophie felt her shoulders relax a little.
“Whether Phantom finally makes a move on you or not, the MC can honestly help out, if you need a hand with an extra server for a few hours or so…”
Sophie rubbed the back of her neck with her palm. “I… thank you, I mean, for the next farmers market I would love that. If you are sure it’s okay?”
April nodded vigorously. “Yes of course, I’ve put Jared’s guys on the fruit and veggie stall, too, because they were swamped. I want this to be a success,” April said, and Sophie caught the flash of quiet pride and ambition in what the other woman had said.
“You organized this?” Sophie asked, replenishing the stack of cones for the next wave of customers.
April bent over to do the same with a new pile of napkins. “Yes, I set it up for local business owners selling produce and food to reach out to the people of the town. To create an event, an opportunity for local charities fundraising. That was half of the point of it, a public relations stunt for the MC, to win the town over to having us in residence.” April smiled.
Sophie thought it was working, there was a real community atmosphere. People wandered up and down the main street with carefree abandon, as it had been cordoned off to cars for the event. The local town choir sang barber shop style, cheery tunes further down the street which drifted up to Sophie’s stall.
“The town council was open to it?” Sophie asked.
It was April’s turn to blow out a huff. “Not at first, I had to be persuasive.” She smiled coyly.
“I want the town to feel like a real community, I had to approach each shop, get the police to agree to cordoning off the road to traffic…”
Sophie continued chatting to April. Her stall was opposite the MC’s hog roast, where Jared and Ash manned the BBQ. Colt and Rafe stood alongside, manning the cash desk. In reality, Rafe was the one taking people’s money and schmoozing the customers, Colt stood and looked on, surveying his town.
Sophie watched as a police officer sauntered up to Colt, behind him, with a distinct lack of respect.
“Welcome to the party, pal!” The police officer gave Colt a friendly slap on the back. Colt turned, slightly winded, slightly jarred.
“Carmelo,” he greeted the local police Sergeant calmly. Sophie watched, so that was the local police Sergeant. He was an attractive man, too. April said goodbye to Sophie and Sophie busied herself with another customer, but she kept one eye flashing back to Colt and Sergeant Carmelo, and could hear what they were saying.
Carmelo grinned at Colt. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing much, anything with your boys?” Colt asked.
Carmelo frowned. “What, like trouble? No, the town’s having a good time.”
“I mean… any out of towners, any potential troublemakers that you’ve spotted?” Colt asked.
Carmelo fixed Colt with a stare. “Is there something I should know, are you boys expecting trouble?”
Colt grit his teeth and paused before replying, “Nothing to concern yourself with, pig, just… keep a watch out for any black sedans, any guys in suits…”
Carmelo raised an eyebrow. “Right, any drug cartel members? I wasn’t born yesterday, Colt. You expecting visitors?”
“No,” Colt said evasively.
Carmelo sighed. “I could help if I knew more… would they be welcome or unwelcome?”
“Unwelcome,” Colt said firmly.
“Can you give me an idea of what they might be here for?” Carmelo tried to wheedle.
Colt pursed his lips. “Looking for someone. Or something.”
Carmelo rolled his eyes. “Great, really helpful, Colt.”
“I told you, it’s fine, we don’t need your help-” Colt and Carmelo bickered away.
