He turns back to her mom, who’s watching the interaction with appreciation. “Is it okay if we use some video of little Miss Violet for a small video project?” he asks.
Look at him, being all ethical and asking permission.
“Oh, of course,” she replies. “Violet wants to be a movie star when she gets older, so maybe this’ll be her big break.”
“The audience will be the city council,” Beau says with amusement, “but hey, you never know.”
“It’s time for us to go, baby.” She takes Violet’s hand, smiles at Beau, and the two of them head to the other side of the square.
“So,” I say as Beau picks up Xena and sets her on the booth table like a show-dog, “how did the conversation with your dad go yesterday? Do I need to delete the video I just took?”
He scoffs and takes his place behind the booth. There’s a small banner draped across the front withSunset Harbor Police Forceprinted across. “You doubt me?”
“Of course I do,” I say.
“For your information, the meeting went very well. Grams is still a resident at Seaside Oasis and, barring any more crazy ideas on her part, she will continue to be a resident there.”
“If she hears you calling her Grams, she absolutelywillgo crazy. But thank you for doing that.” I look around. “So, I’m just capturing you running this booth?”
He nods and runs a hand along Xena’s back. “All the glamor of talking to people about rabies and picking up puppy plops. But if you could record things in a way that allows me to pretend you’renotdoing it, that would be great. Cameras make me uncomfortable.”
I cock a brow. “Cop cam get you in trouble one too many times?”
“Har har.”
“Well, I hate to break it to you, Officer, but I can’t be that inconspicuous. Firstly, because I want these videos to be good quality, and all I’ve got is this”—I hold up my phone—“which means proximity is key. And secondly, because the more subtle I try to be filming you, the weirder I look to everyone else, and I draw a firm line there.”
His lip ticks up at the edge. “You prefer to record me from the safety of, say, an upstairs window.”
My cheeks flame. “I was showing Mia the yard!”
“Uh-huh.”
I want to plead my case, butmethinks she doth protest too muchscrolls in front of my brain with bright, flashing lights. “I wouldn’t mind some sort of press badge or something, you know? Or a uniform that lets people know I’m not stalking you.”
“Hold that thought. Looks like we’ve got our first customer. Hey there, Jane.”
I turn and find a brunette walking toward us. I recognize her vaguely, and thanks to Beau’s help with the first name, I can place her last name with her now-grown-up face. She’s a Hayes. And she’s a beautiful one, with the type of friendly smile that lets you know immediately that everyone loves her.
“Hey, Beau.” She sends me a quick glance. “Gemma, right?”
“Yeah,” I say.
“Will you be joining book club?” Jane asks. “Your grandma is a crucial member. She keeps things lively.” Her smile says it all.
“Oh, Ibetshe does. I won’t be here long enough to join, but thanks for asking.”
Xena hops down with the least grace I’ve ever seen in an animal. She goes right up to Jane like she’s greeting an old friend.
I glance at Beau, who comes around to the front of the booth, and suddenly I get it. This dog isn’t a K-9—not that I ever thought she was. She’s a chick magnet. Beau uses her to make women feel like they’ve got that special something.
A middle-aged man with a round belly comes up and joins us. “Well, look at that!” he says jovially. “A Sawyer and a Palmer spotted together in the wild. Turning over a new leaf, are we?”
“No,” I say just as Beau puts an arm around my shoulders and pulls me to his side.
“I like to keep the troublemakers close, Mayor Barnes,” he says.
I tug away. “I’m helping Officer Palmer with a little project. Business.”
