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“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Oh, just that if I’d known what bonuses come with job interviews at the Crescent Cove PD, I’d have come out of retirement to throw my high heels in the ring. Though I’m not sure my Phil would approve.” Mrs. Busbee snorted while Mrs. Gunderson covered her mouth with her well-manicured hand.
I didn’t flush. Somehow. So word had gotten around. Shocker, considering the melee at The Spinning Wheel. It was a miracle anyone managed to have sex in this town without a line forming outside.
Before I could come up with a response, a loud series of quacks sounded beside us. The duck someone had named Arlo—easily recognizable due to the small scar on his cheek—was quacking up a storm, probably because his food goddess hadn’t stopped by this morning.
That was my fault too, for throwing off Honey’s usual schedule. I was creating chaos all over this town.
Rather than saying anything, I moved to the right bench and opened the little food canister built into the side. This particular bench had a more appropriate blend for the ducks than the usual cracker and crusts combos in the other benches.
In this one, I’d stocked oats and rice after the first day I’d watched Honey feed them. I’d gotten lucky that she’d left a pile of it on the ground, and that day I’d gone to get some from the store. I still needed to refresh the other benches. I had no doubt she’d researched the proper thing to feed the ducks, so I would follow her lead.
“Aww, a lawman who enjoys waterfowl. How sweet,” Mrs. Gunderson cooed from behind me.
Ignoring her, I tossed a handful to Arlo, immediately drawing a crowd—and not only ducks.
“Oh, Officer Masterson, that’s so kind of you, with how busy you are.” A blond college student smiled up at me as she fingered her long braid. “Can I help you feed the birds?”
What the hell? Folks in town were friendly, but not like this. She batted her big blue eyes up at me, and dear God, had I imagined that she’d stroked my biceps?
“I didn’t know you knew Honey,” she added when I said nothing.
There we go. Though seriously, what exactly were people saying about me and Honey? Why was it such big news? Sure, we’d kissed in the police station, but it wasn’t as if we’d had sex there or something.
I probably should find out what was being said. Heaven help me.
“How do you know Honey?” I blurted.
“We took some college classes together. And she signed up for the new amigurumi class at Every Line A Story next month though where she finds the time with all her jobs, I’ll never know.” She thrust her hand out at me. “I’m Stacey.”
“Hi, Stacey.” I didn’t shake her hand. I didn’t date much—or at all—but I wasn’t totally clueless. “Can you do me a favor?” I asked in a low voice while Mrs. Busbee and Mrs. Gunderson watched us openly.
“Oh, sure. Of course!”
“What have you heard about me in the gossip mill?”
Stacey fanned her face. “Me? Nothing. Why, was there something I should have heard?” More eyelash batting.
“We all heard you railed Honey like a commuter train,” Shirley chimed in none too softly, drawing laughter from the few pedestrians walking past. “And that she’s clearly going to be the next Cove baby mama.”
There was no doubt I was as red as the fire truck currently cruising past at slow speed. No doubt to lookie-loo at the small crowd on the corner surrounding me.
“Absolutely not,” I snapped, flinging the rest of the bird food in the direction of Arlo and his friends.
Before Stacey or anyone else could make any other comments, I turned to head back to the police station. Clearly, I did not need the details of what had been said at The Spinning Wheel.
No wonder Honey wasn’t returning my calls. Maybe she’d found our…dalliance as more fitting gossip fodder than anything worth pursuing.
That didn’t make sense to me considering how things had gone down between us, but I couldn’t understand what had happened otherwise. Why had she spilled the beans to that extent? It just didn’t make sense. Telling a friend was one thing. Telling half the town when she knew I had a very public job?
Hey, she warned you people would talk. Guess she should know, right?
A couple of people called out to me but I didn’t stop. I’d had enough of dealing with the community for one afternoon—unless I was arresting someone.
In the mood I was in, that sounded just fine.
EIGHT
