AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hmm?”Shit,she knows. No, she doesn’t. Should I come clean? Wouldn’t this be the worst possible time to admit I got arrested?
“It’s a small town, Aurora dear.”
Welp. This was a trap after all. “It’s just a misunderstanding—”
“Misunderstanding?” Grandma Rose cackles, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Your misunderstanding was apparently all over his shirt collar, dear.”
“What—”
“I recommend cotton balls and rubbing alcohol. But you want to blot the material to lift the stain. If you rub, you’ll turn his shirt pink.”
There’s no hiding the intense blush that rushes from my collarbone to my cheeks. I don’t need a mirror to know I’ve turned the color of a ripe tomato.Garrett.
“How—”
“Apparently you gave Betty Bennington quite a shock while she was out powerwalking this morning. From there…well you know how small towns work.”
“Oh no.”
Grandma Rose grins at me, patting my shoulder as she shuffles by me. “You wouldn’t be the first woman in our family to cause a scandal.”
CHAPTER11
Garrett
TheCaribou Creek Breweryis busier than I’ve ever seen it. Live music and the aroma of steak drift on what might be the last gentle summer breeze before things turn cold for good. The parking lot’s full, cars lining the curbs up and down every block for a solid half mile. I scan the area, ensuring no one’s blocked a fire hydrant or dug a tire into someone’s lawn.
Deciding all is well, I adjust the heavy gun belt around my waist and wait for Stark to meet me on the corner.
“Good thing they got a large patio,” Ethan Stark says as we head to the brewery. I’ve always found it wise to have a partner when you’re walking into a situation where jackassery is likely to occur. “Alex will flip his shit if they exceed the fire code limit,” he adds about his oldest brother, the local fire chief. A curmudgeon if ever there was one.
Aurora’s words whisper across my memories, tugging a smile to my lips.Only curmudgeons use the word curmudgeon.
“You’re in a good mood,” Stark remarks.
“Don’t get used to it.” We step inside and the dull chatter of conversation becomes an all-out roar of people talking over the hum of live music outside. There’s not a free seat in the house. The line at the bar nearly reaches the front door. Half the faces I recognize, half are strangers. My shoulders tighten. So many unknown variables.
I fucking hate unknown variables.
I survey the packed room, searching for any signs of impending trouble.
A familiar lighthearted laugh lifts above the commotion, drawing my attention immediately toward the patio door. Aurora’s wearing a burnt orange fuzzy sweater and skinny jeans that hug the curves of her ass in the most mouthwatering way. I don’t realize I’m staring, watching her slip outside to the patio, until Ethan nudges me with his elbow.
“Chief?”
“Hmm?”
“Wes wants you.” He nods toward one of the Ashburn brothers waving me down at the bar. Fuck. How long has he been trying to get my attention?
“Why don’t you do a walk through?” I say to Stark before I head off to talk to Wes. “I’ll catch up with you.”
I weave my way through the crowd and meet my buddy at the edge of the bar. Wes is the brew master and no doubt responsible for the new brew tonight’s event is all about. I’ll have to wait until my day off to try whatever concoction he’s come up with. It’s sure to be damn delicious.
“Any trouble?” I ask.
“Nothing we haven’t been able to handle,” Wes says, tossing a towel over his shoulder. He’s not usually behind the bar, but tonight it appears that all hands are on deck. Even Ben Ashburn and his wife Josie are moving from table to table, taking orders and collecting empties.
“Looks like one helluva turnout. Congrats.”
