Chapter 1
Deputy Cole Abbott
Mumbling a few kind words to the dead girl’s parents, I pause to say my goodbyes at Stacy’s coffin. The mortician, a new kid, did a fine job. Except for the closed eyes, my high school friend looks as she did last week, the last time I waved to her at the diner. What a stupid, awful, tragedy. Who the hell dies from falling down the stairs?
The paneled room plays hushed music meant to give comfort, but when a twenty-eight-year-old passes on, there’s no reconciling it.
Overhead, the dim chandeliers sparkle and a small spotlight draws my eyes to the pictures of her high school graduation, her marriage, and happier times.
“Hey.” Done with standing in line, I sit in a cushioned seat next to my brother and nod while the rest of my small town offers their condolences.
Greg pokes me in the ribs and points at the door. “Fucking A. Is that Danielle Adams?”
My heart stumbles and my cock twitches, which, given the circumstances, is entirely inappropriate. Thank God, I’m still in uniform and my pants are plenty loose where it matters.
Mrs. Rasmussen, everyone’s fifth grade teacher, swivels around to glare at my brother. “Language Gregory. For goodness sake, show some respect, boys.”
“Apologies.” My smartass sibling is no such thing but I’m too busy gawking at the woman entering the funeral parlor to pay him mind.
There stands the star of all my wet dreams since the night before boot camp. Holy shit, she’s even more stunning in her city fashion. Thigh-high boots emphasize long legs and a thick fleece coat does nothing to hide her curvy body.
Lowering her sunglasses to the tip of her nose, she turns her head, and searches the room. When she hones in on me, her blue eyes morph to reflect the pine green wallpaper.
I shove my brother out of his chair. “Go do something useful like comfort Stacy’s mom and dad.”
“I already did.” His dark brows raise and his mouth drops open in protest so I punch him in the arm.
“Well, do it again.”
“Fine.”
Metal scrapes linoleum and catches Danni’s attention.Will she acknowledge my existence?I point at the empty seat and hold my breath while she bites her lower lip.
Frowning, she moves to the back of the dark paneled room where the line forms.
“She thinks she’s hot stuff.” Jenny McTigue, our resident gossip, spews bitterness behind me.
“She has a lot of nerve.” Her longtime friend hisses back loud enough for the entire room to hear.
These and other whispers increase in volume. Meanwhile Danni sets her jaw, stares ahead, and pushes up on the nose piece of her dark shades. Then, pulling down on her knit cap, she crosses her arms. This, at first, reminds me of the girl I once knew. However, when I study further, instead of haughty, her body language screams vulnerable.
The line creeps forward until she reaches Stacy’s parents, hugs them, and sobs. Damn, how could I forget? Danielle Adams and the deceased were inseparable in high school.
My brother mumbles something incomprehensible and gives the only woman I’ve ever wanted, the cold shoulder. Sometimes, I hate my hometown. Middlebury isn’t the kind of place where you can show up once a year and expect people to be nice to you.
Finished saying her goodbyes at the open casket, Danni stares at the exit sign, no doubt weighing whether to stay or go. After, she focuses on the empty chair beside me, and I shoot her an encouraging smile.
Why? I have no idea. Maybe, I’m a glutton for punishment. Maybe I want to comfort her. Whatever the reason, when she sits, our thighs touch and I groan as more blood runs south.
I force my thoughts to Stacy in the cushioned box. Surely, her terrible accident should reduce my bulging interest to at least half staff. My cock, however, has taken leave of his senses.
Danni cries softly, her nose leaks, and she digs into her stylish purse but comes out empty handed.
Trained well by my grandfather, I pull a starched square out of my back pocket and hand it to her.
“Oh, thank you.” The tops of her cheeks turn to ripe apples and our eyes meet.
I’d like to think she’s remembering how I used that exact piece of cloth to wipe my seed from her upper thigh on a magical summer night ten years ago. Maybe, she is. A small smile forms near her right lip and curves up more as she tries to hand back the hanky.
