“Don’t worry about me, I’m going to walk over to the market I saw a couple blocks over and get some fruit and shop around. Want anything while I’m out?”
“No child, go on get your food and explore some since you said you’ll be here a few days.”
Upstairs, Lauren got her bag and slid on a pair of between the toe slippers with a big display of wispy gray fluff in the front. She stopped back by the kitchen and waved goodbye as Ms. Lina was adding food to Ms. Audrey’s plate.
“Sweetheart, don’t you want to...um, get changed out of your bed clothes?” Ms. Lina asked as she went to add extra bacon to the plate.
Mrs. Audry held up her hand and waved the bacon off.
“I think I’ll pass, thank you kindly. I’ve been wanting to eat a little healthier. Maybe I’ll develop the same curves Lauren has.”
Ms. Lina snorted.
“Some of us are made with curves. You have a lovely aesthetic, Audrey, never discount that.”
Ms. Audrey threw a napkin at her friend.
“Actually, today would be a sleep-late day back in the city.”
“Which city is that now?” Ms. Lina asked.
“San Francisco. I am on a sabbatical. This town is lucky I’m willing to put clothes on at all. No more four in the morning wake-ups. No more corporate attire. No more traffic-filled hours going into the city.” Lauren resumed her trek to the front door.
“It would be interesting to see what the sheriff would do if he saw you walking naked around town,” Ms. Audrey said loudly.
“I would love to see what mi sobrino would do,” Lauren heard Ms. Lina say as she shut the front door on the older women’s tittering laughter.
To hell with the sheriff. She smiled with evil intensions, determined to make sure he endured her petty version of hell over the duration of her time in Shrouded Lake.
The prick.
CHAPTER 4
Santiago wasa block away from his great-aunt’s bed and breakfast when he saw Lauren Green walking down the street in the opposite direction. He parked his cruiser in front of the large white two-story house as she turned the corner, moving with such a fierce sensuality that he wouldn’t be surprised to see flames spark where her shoes met concrete.
Ms. Audrey exited the bed and breakfast and waved at him as she walked down the stairs. He got out of his cruiser and frowned down the street.
“Morning Sheriff, what brings you around here so early?” Her smile disappeared as she tracked his gaze.
“Surely you don’t mean to harass that young woman any more than you already have?”
“Where the hell is she going in pajamas? You and Tia Lina just let her leave the house any kind of way?”
“All my children are grown with families of their own. That young woman’s sleepwear, including slippers, cost more than what you or I make with one paycheck, but if you have a hankering to go after her and force her to change, I won’t stop you. She’s headed to The Mystical Market.”
“You think I won’t?” Santiago said calmly, but inside he felt himself bristling. It was confounding how the hellion had garnered such dedication from his staff, who were generally insightful people, when all he wanted to do was grab hold of Lauren and?—
“I think you’d be a fool to try!” Ms. Audrey called to him as she strolled past and got in her car. “See you at the station.”
He continued to glare at the street corner where Ms. Green had turned.
“Hola Santiago,” his great-aunt greeted him from the front door. “I’ve got extra bacon in the kitchen if you want some.”
Though he’d already eaten, his stomach growled. He loved bacon.
“Lo siento, Tia Carolina, got a nuisance situation I need to take care of. I’ll be by for the bacon later if you don’t mind holding it for me.”
“Well, there’ll be plenty.” He heard her mutter before going back into the house.
