She watched her nephew sit against the barn and drum his fingers on his knees like he was listening to music. Well, at least that’d give her a chance to talk to Dev. “Did you lose your job?” she blurted, channeling every bit of concern she’d harbored all night.
“No.” Dev patted his strong hand over his horse’s withers. “I’m not going to lose my job for kissing someone.”
Clearly he wasn’t nearly as worried as she had been. Maybe it was because he’d covered for her and now she felt like she owed him. If something bad happened to him because he’d helped her, she’d never forgive herself. “What about the election?”
Something flickered in his eyes, but she couldn’t read the emotion before his expression changed to amusement. “What about it?”
“If people find out—”
“I’ll let you in on a little secret. I don’t care that much about the election. And anyway, Hank won’t say anything. He wants me in that position.”
Everyone wanted Dev to be the county sheriff. And you know what? He’d be great at it. No matter what happened, he always seemed to have rock-solid steadiness. He always seemed to know what to say, what to do.
“What about you? Are you two doing okay?” Dev glanced over to where Bodie was still slumped against the barn. “Maybe I should’ve had him checked out by paramedics last night.”
“He’s fine. Physically, at least.” He hadn’t even complained of being sore that morning. “Instead of just being angry about his mom leaving, he’s now officially bored too.” As he’d told her numerous times while she was prepping Ace for the training run. “He helped me with some chores around the house earlier but I have to get some training in.” Both for her mental state and her riding abilities. The competition she’d been in the night Dev had rescued her at the bar hadn’t counted for anything. It had simply been a fun warm-up show for the upcoming season. But her race schedule would really heat up come June, and she had to keep herself in top shape. Besides that, whenever she didn’t know what to do, she rode. It was her coping mechanism, her freedom, her peace. Riding was about the only thing in the world she did well.
Dev eased his horse closer, and both animals lowered their heads to munch on some of the grain she’d spread out earlier. “If he’s bored maybe you should put him in school,” the deputy said quietly.
“School?” Charity dismounted and walked a few steps away, giving Ace space to enjoy his snack. It was pretty clear she wasn’t going to get any more training in today anyway. She should take Bodie home and see about dinner. “I can’t enroll him in school here. When my sister gets back—”
Dev dismounted too. “You don’t know when or if she’s coming back.”
“She’s coming back.” Charity frowned at him. When had he suddenly become an expert on her sister? “Melody wouldn’t abandon him forever.” The conviction in those words shook as much as her hands. Her sister couldn’t abandon him. She couldn’t do that to him. God, don’t let her do that to him.
Dev eased closer, keeping a close eye on Bodie. “Has she ever been in trouble with the law?”
Was that a trace of sympathy in his tone? What wasn’t he telling her? “Melody is irresponsible. And spontaneous. And I used to think she was unstable, but she’s always wanted to be with her son.” She had to believe Melody loved Bodie, even if she didn’t know how to show it. “As far as I know, she’s never been in any real trouble. Not like that. Why?”
He suddenly looked away. “It seems like she’s running from something. Like maybe she brought Bodie to you so she could hide from the authorities.”
“Authorities?” Did he have any idea how ridiculous he sounded? “Melody may be unreliable, but she’s not a criminal.”
“What if she is?” Dev said in that grave cop tone she’d heard him use occasionally.
Okay. Whoa nelly. That fight inside of her had boiled up—building like those black funnel clouds used to do back home. Count to ten. Breathe. Even with the mental commands, her jaw clenched. “I didn’t ask for your help so you could accuse my sister of breaking the law. You said yourself it’s not illegal to leave your kid with family.”
“I’m not accusing her of anything. All I’m saying is it’s strange that she would uproot her son with no warning. In the middle of the school year.” He glanced in Bodie’s direction again. “She must’ve had a reason to run. To pull him out of school. She’s obviously trying to protect him. Or herself. Or maybe both of them. But no one just up and leaves for no good reason.”
“You’re right. Maybe she had a reason. Maybe she’s really trying to get her life on track.” That’s what Charity was clinging to. She couldn’t consider the alternative. Couldn’t even think about what it would do to Bodie. She couldn’t raise him. He didn’t want to be with her. “You know what, Dev?” Charity turned back to her horse, gathering the reins in her hands before she stepped into the stirrup and hoisted herself up to the saddle. “Forget it. I don’t want your help anymore. I’ll find her myself. I don’t need you.”
Dev looked up at her with a scorching expression that brought all of those feelings she’d had during their kiss bubbling back to the surface.
“That’s not how you made it seem last night.”
That damned reckless kiss. “Last night was a mistake. But don’t worry. It’s not a mistake I’ll make again.”
Chapter Seven
Dev surveyed his friends who were all milling around Levi’s kitchen dressed up in khakis and collared dress shirts that were accessorized with bow ties and suspenders. And don’t get him started on the derby and plaid newsboy hats the women had forced on their men’s heads.
He slipped his off—a flannel plaid number that Darla had given him because “everyone who shows up at my birthday party is required to be in costume.” He’d thought about not showing up at all, but Charity would be there, and the thought of her wearing a flapper dress was too much for him to resist.
“Better put that hat back on before we get to the party or Darla’ll have your balls.” Mateo handed Dev a glass tumbler with a few shots of whiskey. Since the women had all gathered at Darla’s place to deck themselves out like Roaring Twenties bombshells, the men had decided to gear up for the big soiree with a pregame libation so they could pretend they still maintained a shred of their dignity.
“Why’d she have to hand out flannel hats in May?” Dev rubbed a hand over his head.
“Hell, I don’t know.” Mateo threw back a gulp of whiskey. “Can’t say I care though. You should see what Everly’s wearing tonight.” He whistled low. “A bow tie and suspenders are a small price to pay. Trust me. Everly laid out her dress earlier just to torture me. It’ll be a long couple of hours before I can get her home, if you know what I mean.”
Oh, he knew. He had a feeling he’d be undergoing a similar torture when he saw Charity all dressed up like some vintage fantasy. The difference was he likely wouldn’t get to mess around with her later. Not after the last time they’d talked. He hadn’t even told her everything he suspected about Melody and she’d lashed out at him. He’d hate to see what would happen if he told her he’d called the precinct in Oklahoma to talk to the detective handling the robbery case. The man had been very interested to learn more about Melody Stone. Maybe Charity’s sister hadn’t been involved in the robbery but the detective agreed it seemed like quite the coincidence, and he said he would be checking into her background.
“You got a date for the party tonight?” Mateo asked him.
“No.” Though he and Charity would be about the only single adults there, minus Darla and a few of her out-of-town friends. So he figured he might get a dance or two with Charity by default.
Mateo shot him a sly grin. “Why don’t you just screw her already?”
“Screw who?” Playing dumb was always a safe bet when you didn’t know what to say.
“Charity.” His friend was apparently onto him. “If any other man had tried to talk her out of a fight the way you did at the bar the oth
er night, she would’ve kicked him aside. But she followed you outside like a puppy. I think she’s into you.”
According to the kiss they’d shared, she was definitely into him, but right now she also happened to be pissed at him. And she’d be even more pissed if he told her about his conversation with the detective. “Things with Charity are complicated right now.”
“Then maybe you should let it go,” his friend suggested. “You don’t exactly need that kind of distraction with the election coming up.”
Not this again. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“Well, for one thing, everyone’s watching you right now. A lot of folks aren’t too happy with her for taking out the statue.”
“I don’t care.” If running for county sheriff meant he had to live his life based on what everyone else thought, he’d be happy to withdraw from consideration right now. “If people don’t vote for me just because of who I’m spending my time with, I don’t want the job anyway.” What would it be like to live his life under that kind of scrutiny? He wasn’t sure he wanted to find out.
“You guys about ready to head?” Ty asked, walking over with Levi.
“Sure.” Dev thunked the damn hat back on his head, ready to bail out on more election talk. “I’ll drive.” He set his untouched glass of whiskey on the counter. Being a cop meant usually being the designated driver, but he never minded. At least then he knew everyone would be safe out on the roads.
They all filed out the door with posture as enthusiastic as that of a convicted felon walking toward a prison sentence. Once they were all piled into his truck, Dev started down the long driveway.
“I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t allowed to wear boots,” Levi grumbled, staring down at the shiny shoes his wife had obviously made him wear.
“See? That’s why I’m not married.” Ty leaned up from the back seat of the extended cab. “No woman is going to tell me what to wear.”
“And yet you let Darla talk you into suspenders,” Mateo pointed out.
“I don’t half mind suspenders.” Ty tugged on the elastic straps. “They’ll be easier to maneuver out of than a brass belt buckle later.”
“Yeah, like you’re gonna be maneuvering out of anything tonight.” Levi laughed. “Me and Mateo? We’re gonna get real lucky later.” He turned around with a grin. “That, my friend, is why you wear what your woman tells you. It’s all about compromise.”
“Hell, yeah it is.” Mateo agreed. “Give and take. If you’re willing to take on a measly few hours of humiliation, they’re willing to give.”
Dev shared a look with Ty in the rearview mirror. “Again with the married talk.” He didn’t have anything against marriage. But now all of a sudden, these two thought of themselves as the relationship experts in the group.
“I prefer to have options for who I’m going to get lucky with,” Ty said. “Ain’t that right, Dev? We’ve got unlimited possibilities.”
“Sure.” Keeping things casual with women had worked for him in the past. He had to admit though…that kiss with Charity had been anything but casual.
“You gonna make a move tonight?” Mateo asked, as though he’d read his thoughts.
“On who?” Levi demanded.
Dev shot Mateo a look that clearly told him he would use his gun if he breathed another word. “I’m not making a move on anyone.” It wasn’t like that with Charity. He liked her, and yes he was attracted to her, but he also happened to have a lot of respect for the woman. He didn’t need moves. He just needed to show her he wasn’t going anywhere, no matter how many times she tried to push him away.
He pulled up in front of the curb a few blocks down from the Chocolate Therapist and hastily parallel-parked his truck. They all piled out.
“I bet Darla has some hot single friends.” Ty led the way down the sidewalk in front of the storefronts. He turned around and looked at Dev. “You want me to be your wingman tonight?”
“Not particularly.” He already had his thoughts on a specific woman.
As they approached Darla’s wine and chocolate bar, the sounds of music and laughter drifted toward them.
Levi suddenly looked concerned. “Shit, we’re late.”
“Only ten minutes.” Mateo waved it off. “I bet the women won’t even notice,” he said right before the door opened and his wife walked out, followed by Darla.
“Happy twenty-fifth birthday,” Dev greeted Darla with a smirk. They all knew this was her thirty-ninth.
“Thanks.” She shook her shoulders, making the gold fringe on her dress dance. “I swear I feel younger every year.”
“You look it too.” Ty swaggered up to her. “Not even a twenty-five-year-old could wear that dress like you do.”
Levi elbowed Dev in the ribs and they both chuckled. Ty had had a thing for Darla since he’d moved to town, though he’d never admit it.
“It’s about time you guys showed up.” Everly directed a disapproving frown at Mateo.
“Sorry, babe.” Mateo tugged on his bow tie, straightening it with an innocent look at his wife. “We just wanted to make sure we looked good enough to stand next to our hot wives.”
Dev had to hand it to him—the man was pretty smooth.
The slight irritation on Everly’s face melted away and she wrapped her arms around him. “I know an excuse when I hear one, but you are looking pretty hot in the bow tie, so I’ll let it slide this time.” She dragged him away. “Let’s go in and dance.”
Dev followed them inside. The place looked like an actual speakeasy from the twenties. Shimmery gold curtains draped the walls. The tables and chairs that typically took up most of the space in the restaurant had been pushed to the outskirts of the room and were decorated with black tablecloths that were covered with flickering candles and strings of pearls.
“She went all out,” Ty said, taking a long glance around the room.
“Yeah, she did.” Dev glanced around too, but he wasn’t admiring the decorations anymore. There were maybe thirty people mingling, but he was looking for only one.
That one right there.
Charity stood near the bar along the back wall looking very much like a risqué flapper. Dev tightened his jaw so it wouldn’t hang open in awe. Her long blond hair had been twisted and pinned up, making it look velvety soft. The emerald green dress she wore sparkled with beads and sequins. His eyes followed the plunging neckline all the way down to the slit that ran dangerously high up her thigh. He barely managed to trap the whimper at the sight of her legs in those fishnet stockings.
“Are you checking out Charity?” Ty demanded.
Yeah, there was no way to recover from this. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her wear anything but jeans.”
“It’s weird,” his friend agreed, making a face. “She actually looks like a woman.”
Not just a woman. Hands down, the sexiest woman Dev had ever seen. “I’m going to go talk to her.” He’d talk to her as many times as he had to prove that kiss wasn’t a mistake.
Fishnet stockings were pure evil. Seriously. She’d like to meet the guy who’d come up with the idea. It had to be a man. No woman would ever inflict this form of torture on her own kind.
Giving up on being discreet, Charity hiked the elastic waistband of the tights upward and tried to reposition them so they didn’t make the tops of her thighs itch. She let out a sigh and straightened her fancy dress for the hundredth time in less than half an hour.
She shouldn’t even be here. When she’d told her friends she wouldn’t be able to make it to the party because of Bodie, Naomi had insisted she drop him off at her father-in-law’s house so he could hang out with Gracie. It sounded like she and her grandparents were going to play games and watch a movie together while everyone else went to the party. But Charity couldn’t stop worrying. Was he having a good time? Had he hit it off with Gracie? She hoped so, because it was looking more and more like she’d have to enroll him in the local middle school come Monday.
/> There had been no word from Melody. Charity had called everyone she could think of to ask if they’d heard from her, but each time it was the same answer. I haven’t talked to her in weeks. Or months. She wasn’t sure she liked the sound of that. What had made her sister distance herself from friends? Probably a man. No, definitely a man. And yet Bodie insisted his mom hadn’t been dating anyone…
“Will you stop hiking up your dress?” Darla walked over. “You look like a two-year-old who has to pee.” Of course, in contrast, her friend made this whole costume thing look effortlessly elegant.
“I’m not hiking up my dress,” Charity insisted. “I’m trying to keep these damn tights where they belong. I still can’t believe you tricked me into giving you my measurements.” Darla had told Charity she was ordering a birthday present for a friend who was exactly her same size but she needed specific measurements and didn’t want to ruin the surprise.
“If I didn’t trick you, how else could I have ordered that gorgeous dress for you?” her friend asked sweetly. “It’s perfect. At least Dev seems to think so.”
“Dev?” Suddenly panicked, Charity did a one-eighty, wobbling on her heels.
The deputy was currently en route, moving toward her with an air of single-minded determination, and that unstable wobbling in her ankles seemed to spread all the way through her.
Hell-O. The Roaring Twenties looked good on him. He wore khaki pants and a white dress shirt underneath a plaid vest that matched the newsboy cap on his head. His body filled out every article of clothing like it had been made especially for him, all that brawn and virility…
“I see the feeling is mutual,” Darla murmured with an amused sparkle in her eyes.
“What?” Charity snapped out of her reverie. “No. Nothing’s mutual. There’s nothing to be mutual.” Even as she spoke, her insides mocked her with that telltale achy smolder thing they did when Dev had his eyes locked on her. She couldn’t go there with him though. Not after Hank Green had busted them for making out in his police SUV after Dev had given her a ticket. She didn’t need to see the mayor’s scowl to know that had been a bad idea. Dev had a visible job in the community—even more so with the election coming up. He didn’t need to develop a reputation for hooking up with the women he busted. Then there was this whole thing with her sister. He didn’t even know Melody, and yet he’d already decided she was running from the law. “I don’t have feelings for Dev.”
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