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“No, I want to go myself.”
Grant frowned. “But?—”
“I’m almost seven, Dad. I can do it.” The kid had the biggest puppy-dog eyes of anyone, and they reminded Grant of Dee’s own blue eyes. How could he say no to that?
“Okay, but I’m going to keep an eye on you from over there at the hardware store. I have to pick up a part for our leaky sink. After that, we’ll go to the park and eat our brownies. How does that sound?”
Nick shoved the paper bag from the store into his hand. “Thanks, Dad.”
Grant spun around as Nick rushed past him. “Where’s the extra money?”
Nick slowed and glanced at him over his shoulder. “Isn’t that what a tip is for?”
Chuckling, Grant shook his head. For a kid who was six going on seven, Nick acted like he was a couple years older. That must have come from being an only child, practically raised on the ranch where his grandmother worked.
He headed toward the hardware store and quickly found what he was looking for. As he was checking out, he noticed a woman standing at the statue. No, not just any woman. She wasn’t a parent, she was an officer clad in a khaki uniform. All the children had scattered, leaving Nick on his own.
The sheriff was tall with long legs that would put a ballerina to shame. While her chestnut-colored hair was pulled back into a tight bun, he thought about running his hands through it.
He shook off that thought. It didn’t matter that her uniform fit her figure perfectly—she was currently speaking with Nick, who had managed to climb onto the back of a horse and cowboy statue. That wasn’t the problem. It was the expression on Grant’s son’s face that set his dad-mode into overdrive.
Nick looked pale as a ghost. His crest-fallen look said it all. She was scaring him to death, and Grant wasn’t going to let anyone—not even a sheriff—lecture a poor kid who only needed a little guidance. He strode forward, his long legs covering the distance quickly.
“I wasn’t aware it was in a cop’s job description to pick on kids when they’re just being kids.”
She stiffened and slowly turned to face him.
CHAPTER TWO
Bella pulled her sunglasses from her face. At first, she wasn’t sure the voice was directed at her, but the second he called her a ‘cop,’ she knew. Her eyes swept over the disgruntled man. He wasn’t just some gruff, weathered cowboy like his voice had suggested.
Instead, the man she was looking at could have been a model in another life. He was a good four inches taller than her five-foot-seven frame. He had dark hair, a little scruff that was well-maintained, and a pair of dark gray eyes. Everything about him screamed that she needed to keep her distance—not because she was worried for her own safety, but rather that he would steal something far more valuable than anything she could get at a store.
She shoved that thought out of her head, straightening to her full height before lifting her chin with every ounce of authority she possessed. “Are you the father of this child? Were you aware of what he was doing?”
He glanced past her to the kid on the statue before bringing his hard gaze back to her. “I had eyes on him if that’s what you’re worried about,” he said stiffly.
She scoffed. “Having eyes on him isn’t good enough.” She stepped back far enough to give him a better look at the statue. “A fall from this height could lead to broken bones, a concussion, or worse. I know there’s not a handbook when you become a parent, but common sense isn’t something that should need to be taught.”
Bella could hear the irritation in her voice, but she didn’t care. She hadn’t become a sheriff’s deputy to make friends with everyone. Those who broke the rules didn’t have to like her.
“Common sense?” He huffed. “What about the common sense that says climbing a statue in the town square is practically a rite of passage? I’m sure Nick wasn’t the first to get up there, and he definitely won’t be the last.”
Still, this guy was pushing back. She couldn’t tell if he was being defensive or if he was trying to get to her. Bella’s eyes narrowed but before she could toss back a rebuttal, Nick scrambled down from the statue.
He peered up at her with a grin. “See? I can do it myself.”
Bella was acutely aware of the smirk spreading like wildfire across the man’s face. She should walk away. She’d met people like this before. He was likely a tourist, and he was pushing his luck. When were the city folk gonna learn that the welcome signs at the city limits weren’t asking them to stay long?
She snapped her fingers. “I need to see some ID.”
“What?” he choked.
“ID. You probably don’t know this, but tampering with city property holds a fine.”
“You’re kidding,” he said flatly.
“Would you like to discuss this at the station?” She lifted a brow, pleased he hadn’t called her bluff. “If not, I’d suggest you hand me your ID.”
