I sipped the coffee. It tasted like dirt. "Thank you for this insight, Brooke."
"No. No, that's not how this is going to pan out," she said. "You're going to fix this shit."
On a sigh, I leaned my head against my palm. "How would you recommend I do that? If you haven't noticed, I'm in the middle of a major investigation here."
"My sources tell me the FBI has it under control and they'll be packing up by the end of the day," she replied. "You did your part, sheriff. You caught the guy. Now, go get the girl."
"Brooke, I admire your tenacity and loyalty to Annette—"
"You want to talk loyalty?" she interjected. "I'll tell you a little story about loyalty. Annette is my best friend in the whole world. She's my sister, maybe not by blood but by every other standard that matters. Believe me when I say I'd kill for her."
"Don't tell me that," I said, groaning.
"It's true," she cried.
"You still shouldn't tell me that."
"I'm just saying, I'd do anything for that girl. But her actual sisters? They're miserable, jealous cows. They went to her shop the other day and had full-on baby tantrums because they heard you two were together."
"Why would that matter to them?" I asked, sitting up straighter. "Why would they be unhappy with her?"
"Like I said, they're miserable, jealous cows," she replied. "They know you're prime rib and they don't want Annette to have you. They said shitty things about her being pathetic and desperate for chasing after you, and how she needed to get out of the way because you needed someone with a decent tuna noodle casserole recipe. And that, my friend, is why you heard Annette telling her mother you two aren't in love and getting married and having all the babies."
I slapped my hand on the desk as I pushed to my feet. "That's horseshit," I snarled. "Her sisters? Hersisterssaid this?"
"And this brings me back to my original point about loyalty," Brooke said with a cluck of her tongue. "I know I can call her onherworst day and she'll still show up for me. There's nothing I won't do for my girl and that's the reason for this call."
Pausing, I turned to gaze at the village outside my window. The sun shone at an angle that obliterated my view into Annette's shop but I still watched, waiting for a glimpse of her. I hadn't allowed myself that much since storming out the back door and now I couldn't look away. I was drawn to her like a force field, a magnetic pull I hadn't been able to ignore since my first morning in this seat. What made me think I'd ever be able to resist it? Resist her?
I couldn't and I didn't want to. I loved Annette all the way through and back again. I loved her warmth and the joy she found in things as simple as a beautiful blueberry or finding someone the right book. I loved her sweet and her fire, my very own Fireball shot. I loved the way she poured herself into her baking and her bookstore and her friends. And me. I loved that way she gave herself to me and asked nothing in return.
But that was the catch, wasn't it? She asked nothing in return. She expected nothing. Either she didn't know how to demand it or she didn't think she deserved it, and I'd failed to right that wrong in the most critical moment.
I wasn't about to fail again.
"Tell me what to do."
A throaty laugh came across the line. "Very good. Let's get started with short-term tactical responses and move on to longer-term strategic solutions. You'll want to write this down."
24
Partially Set
v. To refrigerate a mixture until it thickens to the consistency of unbeaten egg whites.
Annette
Brooke: Let's go to The Galley tonight.
Annette: Can't. I'm banned for life.
Brooke: No one has ever been banned from The Galley, certainly not you. Meet me there around 7, okay? Don't make me drink alone.
Annette: I love you but I'm not suited for mixed company. Maybe wine at your place?
Brooke: I want to be around people tonight.
Annette: And I wanted to try out a cream pie recipe tonight.
