“I always buy two tickets. I just never use both.” I fought the desire to touch her, shoving my hands into my pockets. “Do you think you can get it off?”
Her eyes darted around, looking everywhere but at me, before she finally said, “I’ll figure it out with Meredith.”
She started toward the curb, and I followed.
“You don’t have to walk me to my car, Beckett.”
“Appearances, Maise. We’ll need to keep them up.”
She didn’t say anything else as we made our way down the street to where she’d parked her ancient pickup. It was old enough to be put out to pasture, and she’d been saving for a new one, and now every penny she’d set aside was going to save her dad’s house instead.
It irritated me all over again. Lewis Campbell didn’t deserve Maisey’s help.
Maisey’s sudden inhale—sharp and startled—snapped my attention back to her, eyes jerking to the place she was staring at.
A sheet of paper clung to her passenger window, the orange ink slashed across it like a warning flare.You chose poorly. Fix it before someone gets hurt.
It took too long for my brain to register it as a threat.
Too long for me to search the streets for a hint of whoever had placed the sign there.
We never received a lot of foot traffic this far down Main Street, as the tourists tended to stay closer to the shops and restaurants, but today the sidewalks were completely bare.
“What the hell?” I growled, turning back to Maisey.
She reached for the paper with a shaky hand, and I grabbed her wrist just in time to stop her. “Don’t touch it.”
“I. I don’t understand. What does this even mean?” she asked, voice shaking.
Exactly my question. What wrong choice did it mean? Was this about me? Had I put her in the headlights by asking her to marry me under false pretenses? Who would be so pissed at us being engaged that they’d write a note like this?
Delilah? Sure, she’d been upset yesterday, but at the end of the day, wewere friends. She wanted me to be happy, much like I wanted her to be happy, didn’t she? It wasn’t like I would have put a ring on her finger, even if I hadn’t told her the lie about Maisey and me.
Stoney’s sullen face flashed before me. Would he do something this stupid? Childish? He was ticked I had what I needed now to apply for the chief’s position, but whatever I did or didn’t do wouldn’t make him a better fit for the job. The city council would likely have hired someone else, an outsider, before they’d hired him. Then, we’d both be stuck with someone we didn’t know telling us how to run our house. With me in charge, he knew he’d still have a say. Still be part of a team. Didn’t he?
All I knew was that whoever it was, they wouldn’t do it again. I wouldn’t let them screw with my Maisey-girl and try to scare her off. Screw that. They’d regret leaving this note, and I’d make damn sure they didn’t leave another.
Chapter Eleven
Maisey
ALRIGHT
Performed by Lady A
SIX YEARS AGO
HIM: What is a romance book you would recommend to someone starting out?
HER: Who is it for?
HIM: Why does it matter who it’s for?
HER: Who they are will determine whether I suggest a slow burn or a sweet read or something really steamy.
HIM: Never mind.
HER: That only makes me more curious about who it is.