Jared looked around the nearly empty cafe. “You got here just in time. The busy season hasn’t quite started. You can take your pick of tables.”
I chose a spot near the back of the store even though part of me longed for a window table, or better yet, a spot outside. Blackwell Hollow was a small town and I didn’t want to be in view if Beck, Noah, or Dane happened by.
Yeah, I was hiding. Not a good sign.
Jared brought me a menu and outlined the day’s specials, all of which were seasonal and sounded delicious. I chose a grilled chicken sandwich with sliced pears, gorgonzola sauce, and sweet potato fries.
A minute later, Jared returned with an iced tea and I sat back in my chair with a sigh.
The place was bright and airy, sun streaming in through the big window. It was easy to imagine Evelyn here, stopping in for a bite of lunch and a chat with Jared while she was out doing errands. Maybe she would have stopped at the Morning Basket or gone to the Snip Shop, the salon next door, to have her hair styled before lunch.
My gaze was drawn to the door as it opened and I watched as a pretty woman with long brown hair entered the cafe with a backpack slung over one shoulder. She wore jeans, a T-shirt, and hiking boots and looked fresh off one of the trails in the nearby Blackwell Preserve.
Not that I knew anything about hiking. But I did know the Blackwell Preserve drew tourists in the summer, city dwellerswho wanted to kayak or river raft, hike or camp while the weather was good.
The door closed behind her and she scanned the room with watchful brown eyes.
It took me a few seconds to realize it was Sheriff Crowe.
And she was headed right for me.
22
AVERY
“Sheriff Crowe,”I said. “I didn’t recognize you at first.”
She looked like a regular person enjoying the nice weather, and my brain struggled to connect her with the uniformed officer who’d taken my statement the day I’d arrived in Blackwell Hollow.
“It’s the hair,” she said. “I keep it in a braid when I work so it doesn’t get in the way.”
I could see the creases from her braid and wondered if she wore her hair that way when she hiked too, if she’d unfastened it when she finished. It was what I would have done. The only thing that felt better than taking your hair down was taking off your bra.
Well, that and Beck’s magic fingers in my pussy.
But Sheriff Crowe definitely didn’t need to know that.
“It looks nice both ways,” I said.
“Thanks.” She glanced at the empty chair across from me. “Mind if I join you?”
“Um… sure.” I hadn’t planned on company but I didn’t want to be rude, especially when it seemed like she was just being friendly.
She hung her backpack over the back of the empty chair and took a seat.
“Here we are,” Jared said, appearing next to the table with my sandwich. “Hey, Raina! Didn’t see you come in.”
She smiled at him. “I’m sneaky that way.”
He laughed. “How’d the trails look this morning?”
“Finally clear of snow.”
He nodded. “What can I get you?”
Sheriff Crowe — Raina — looked at my sandwich. “I’ll have whatever Ms. Hart is having.”
“You got it.” Jared looked at me. “Enjoy!”