AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The deputy shook her head. “Fine. As long as Nick is healthy and happy.”
“That’s all that matters.” Grant nodded.
“Doesn’t mean that person knows you don’t care about your job.”
Grant cocked his head to the side and held up a finger. “Or what if they do know, and they don’t think I should be working here?”
“What are you saying?” she demanded.
“I’m saying that Bo doesn’t like me. He’s seemed to have it out for me since I arrived. The whole time I’ve been here, he’s had a grudge—even before the vandalism.”
Her eyes widened, but only just. In fact, if he hadn’t been so focused on them, he might have missed it.
“Of course, I could be wrong.” Grant shrugged. “But if you want to look into someone who would do this because they dislike me, then I’d look there first.”
She scribbled something and pointed to the RV. “Maybe you could give me a rundown of everything that’s happened since you arrived. That might help me get a better picture of what we’re dealing with.”
“Sure.” He moved to the RV and held the door open. “Ladies first.”
CHAPTER SIX
The first thing Bella noticed was how clean the RV was on the inside. The high-end finishing touches made the place look like it belonged at the site of a movie shoot rather than on a camping trip.
Luxury had a new definition, and it was right here in front of her. On one side across from a seating area was a large flat-screen television. A beautiful painting hung over the bed down at the end, and while the seating area was small, it looked incredibly comfortable. From her vantage point, it appeared there was another bed over the top of the large one.
One thing she hadn’t expected was to see a small desk. She let her fingertips trace the edge of the coloring book that sat beside a reading workbook. It was possible she had been mistaken about Grant. He was trying his best. He might not have been on top of things when they’d been in the square, but it looked like he was on top of things when it came to Nick’s home life.
“Hey! What are you doing here?” Nick’s small face poked out over the edge of where his bed was located. He grinned as he swung his legs around and let them dangle over the edge.
“Officer Whitfield and I are going to have a little chat. How about you go inside the house and find your grandma?” Grant’s deep voice came right behind her ear, setting off a round of chills.
Nick frowned. “But?—”
“Sorry, buddy. This is grown-up stuff. I’m sure Grandma would love some help in the kitchen.” Grant moved past Bella and reached for his son. “It won’t take long, and then we can go to the park like I promised.”
The boy glanced toward Bella and then back to his father. “Could Officer Whitfield come too?”
Bella laughed. “I’m sorry, Nick. I’m on the clock right now. Maybe another time.”
His eyes grew wider than humanly possible. “Really?”
She froze as if she’d suddenly realized she was on stage and the world was watching. Her eyes drifted to Grant. She didn’t have kids. She didn’t interact with them on a regular basis. But that wasn’t any excuse to forget that they could be very literal.
Grant wasn’t any help. The corners of his mouth twitching upward, he shrugged and looked away.
Bella dropped down, getting eye-to-eye with the kid. “How about I let your dad know when I’m available and we can set something up. I can’t promise anything right now, but we’ll see what we can do in the future.”
Nick beamed. “Yay!” He hurried past his father and out of the RV. Grant watched him through the window and Bella tried to compose herself.
When Grant turned to her with a chuckle, she pointed an accusatory finger at him “You weren’t any help!”
He stumbled back a step, laughing. “What are you talking about? I didn’t do anything.”
“That’s the point! You’re supposed to step in and tell your son that it wouldn’t be a good idea to spend time with me.”
“And make me the bad guy?” Grant shook his head. “No, thank you. Do you know how hard I’ve worked to make sure he likes me? It’s harder than you think to get a kid to get comfortable when he doesn't know you.”
Her jaw tightened. She knew exactly how hard it was because that was how she’d felt about her own deadbeat dad. What did Grant expect? Children were like ducks. They imprinted on their parents and the adult figures in their lives from a young age.
