Aspen reached over and squeezed her hand. “You know what you need? A big slice of Mrs. Gerald’s pie. She made blueberry, and it might just be better than the rhubarb.”
“You know, that actually sounds incredible.” She nibbled her bottom lip before looking at her brother. “Can I ask you a sheriff question?”
“Shoot.”
“Hypothetically speaking, if someone took brownies that were laced with marijuana to a social event, and everyone unknowingly consumed them, what consequences would that person face?”
Jesse frowned. “Well, marijuana’s legal in Montana for medical and recreational use, but distributing or serving it to someone without their consent is not. So if it was proven to be true, they could face charges related to criminal deception and endangerment. Or worse if someone experienced a reaction to the drug.”
She nodded quickly. She’d suspected that but had still wanted to ask. She really needed to talk to both Scarlett and Malcolm.
Aspen tilted her head. “Is everything okay?”
No. She was confused why her roommate would go so far for a story.
Clara opened her mouth, but before she could get another word out, Holden suddenly stopped beside the table. And he looked just as good as usual.
Holden had barely slept.Maybe a couple hours of broken sleep, that was it. He needed coffee and he needed it now.
He’d spent most of the night on Clara’s couch and only left when the sun began to rise. He’d needed to stay and make sure she was okay. No way was he leaving her alone in a house in her state.
Her roommate had gotten home around two a.m. And that’s when Holden had spoken to her. Or at least tried to. Scarlett had gone from zero to a hundred pretty damn quickly, shouting that he had no proof she’d done anything wrong before storming off to her bedroom.
It had done nothing to improve his mood. And if Clara didn’t speak to Jesse today, then he would.
When he reached The Tea House, he saw Clara’s Beetle in the parking lot.
Good. He’d be able to talk to Clara and see what she planned to do about her roommate. The woman was moving out of Clara’s house, and if Clara didn’t agree, then he’d sure as hell push the issue.
Inside, he found Jesse, Clara, and Aspen all sitting in a booth by the window. When he reached the table and Clara looked up, her eyes immediately flared.
So. Damn. Beautiful. Even when she was clearly tired.
He slipped in beside her. “Hey.”
Her cheeks tinged a pretty shade of pink. “Hey.”
“You feeling okay?”
She nodded quickly.
He looked up to see Jesse frowning at them.
“Why would shenotbe feeling okay?” he immediately asked.
“I’ve just been tired,” Clara answered quickly, before Holden could.
So she hadn’t told her brother about the brownies. Why the hell not? Because he was the sheriff and she was worried her roommate would get into trouble?
Screw that. Scarlettshouldget into trouble for what she’d done.
“Clara—”
“Have you ordered?”
She didn’t want him to bring it up.
Mrs. Gerald stopped by their table. “Two sweet teas and two coffees.”
