“We’re just glad you’re safe. Your boyfriend here”—I nodded at Sam—“was pretty worried.”
She patted his chest. “Cousin, actually. And he’salwaysworried.”
Relief filled me. As well as frustration.
Getting her number would be against protocol.
I inwardly cursed myself for fishing.
I forced my brain back to the task at hand while Chaves dispersed the forming search party. “We’re going to need your statement before we head on.”
“Sure.” She stepped forward, wiping the moisture from her face with the inside of her collar. As she recounted everything and answered a few questions, she laughed all over again. I was mesmerized.
She pressed her palms against her cheeks. “I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life.”
“Don’t be. Misunderstandings happen all the time.”
“I’m sure you get weird calls.”
I chuckled. “Oh, you have no idea.”
She crossed her arms across her chest, openly checking me out. She hesitated and nibbled her bottom lip. “You have a lot of stories?”
My blood churned.
Walk away.
“Dozens.”
Miranda glanced at Chaves then trained her gaze on my face. “I’d love to hear them sometime.”
“I’d love to share them. It would fill a whole evening.”
Chaves frowned at me and snapped. “Barkley.”
Get lost, Chaves.
She smiled, but backed off. “Well, thank you, Officer Barkley.”
“We’re just glad you aren’t in the lake.”
Miranda walked away, giggling, and I glowered at stupid Chaves.
Two days later, when I came in from patrol, a container ofapple crisp was on my desk with a note. The swirly feminine handwriting read:
Officer Barkley,
I would love to hear your stories. I work at Sal’s BBQ House.Come by sometime.
Miranda
I couldn’t believe my luck.
EIGHT
Then
Miranda
