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Checking my cart and ensuring I have everything I need, I roll up and check out while Nolan slowly rings me up. Another thing about rinky-dink town living is the pace of life. Slow as molasses unless a bear or wildfire is nipping at your heels.
“You have a safe hike, Jake. Don’t be a stranger now.” Nolan cocks his head at me, knowing me all too well.
“Thanks, Nolan. Enjoy your drive with Becca.”
Grabbing my paper bags of groceries, I head out the door, and my truck is only a couple of feet away from where the sheriff hovers. I hold back my sigh.
Please ask about fishing.
“Just the man I’ve been looking for. I wanted to talk to you about something.”
Fuck. Not about fishing.I can tell with that tone and look.
“I’m heading out for the weekend. Can it wait until Monday?” I offer, lifting my cotton bags high so he can see over his pot belly.
Sheriff Dunning wraps his hands around his utility belt and clears his throat hard. “I need you to step up and take over as sheriff.”
Sputtering, I stiffen my stance and swear I can be tipped over by a slight burst of wind.
The sheriff steps in closer. “I know you have law enforcement experience.”
My heart hijacks my body and jumps into a screaming thud in my chest.
Don’t say anything. Don’t move a muscle.
He’ll go away if you don’t blink, breathe, or move an inch.
But he only steps closer. “Now, I’ve seen the way you operate. That’s not trained in a fire science school. That’s a mindset of a government—”
Fuck.
“I’m not interested,” I growl to shroud any of his words from my ears or anyone else’s.
Lifting his hands, the sheriff looks like he’s trying to calm a wild beast. “Now, hold on. Not so fast on the ‘not interested trigger’. I’m just asking you to consider it. It’s a good position.” He rubs at his round belly. “My Rachel’s been asking me to retire for a while. The position couldn’t go to a better man than you, Jake.”
Moving around the sheriff toward my truck, I place my bags in the back and say, “I said what I said.”
The Sheriff shakes his head as I limp to the front of my truck, cursing as my ankle starts throbbing.
“I heard you, Jake, but I don’t believe you!”
Slamming my truck door, I start it up and pull out, getting out of dodge as fast as I can, shaking my head at the absurdity of his request.
Crazy thing is—I don’t believe me either.
CHAPTERTWO
MAITLYN
Dancingmy leg under the dining table, I shake all over the place as I sip my first cup of coffee. It definitely won’t be the last. I doused the cup with sugar and milk, so in actuality, I’m having a little coffee with my sweetened milk allowing me to have many more cups than an average coffee drinker should be consuming.
Smiling at myself and my sound reasoning, I sigh as I take another sip and lower the mug. It’s finally Friday. The room around me is cozy and idyllic for a nice getaway, but I’ve been in this cabin in the middle of nowhere for three days. It’s supposed to be a trip where I work on myself… change… find myself… explore what I want in life…and stop regretting what I don’t have.
Okay, it’s all bullshit.
Whoever said isolating yourself in the middle of the woods was a wise idea? I want to chat with them because this isn’t working for me. Oh, right, that was my sister. She’ll get a few choice words today… after I wake up.
The only thing that has changed around here is the date on the calendar. Not my attitude. Not my expectations. And definitely not my fear of being here alone.
