“Yes. I was just with her this morning. She was helping me prep for an interview.”
“Yes. I heard,” Mrs. Spence says. “You’re going out for the inspector job. Of course, everyone’s talking about who will get the position. The town will riot if they choose someone else.”
I try not to smile, but I’d be lying if I said her words didn’t soothe some of my nerves. But with that comfort comes a pinch of pressure in my ribs—a quick reminder that if I get the job, the demands on me will double, and half the town will be watching.
“There are some strong candidates,” I say.
“I’m sure there are. But you’re the people’s choice.”
I’m about to thank Mrs. Spence when two men turn down our aisle, filling the space with their defined frames. They’re in station uniforms and both sets of eyes are trained on me.
“Carli!” Dustin practically roars, walking up to me and lifting me in the air as if I weigh nothing.
“You are the people’s choice!” he shouts so loudly I tell him,shhhhhh.
Cody’s just behind him, a soft smile on his face—amused by Dustin’s antics—as always.
Dustin sets me back on my feet and greets Mrs. Spence as if he just now saw her. “I’m with you, she’s got the job in the bag.” Then he turns to Cody and says, “If not, I’ll lead the revolt!”
I chuckle softly, my gaze snagging on Cody’s. He doesn’t look away. Instead, it’s like he looks straight into me, his warm smile melting every molecule as it travels through me.
“I don’t think she’ll need a revolt,” Cody says to Dustin,but his steady gaze rests on mine. His words are calm, deep, certain. “You’ve got this thing without any help from anyone, Carli.”
Carli. Not Chuck.
I talk before my blush has a chance to set my face on fire. “Thanks. I appreciate it.” I look at all three of them and say, “Well, I’d better get going.”
I put my hands to the cart and push forward. Dustin and Cody step apart to make a way for me to pass through between them, but they’re so big I end up brushing against Cody. Electric. Tingles flare down my arm. I can’t even look at him.
I press forward, saying, “Sorry,” as I stride down the aisle.
“Go get ’em!” Dustin shouts after me. “Inspector Buckner!”
I shake my head and laugh softly to myself.
On the drive home, I turn on the radio and crank it extra loud. A smile spreads across my face when I pass the Lawsons’ ranch. I ignore uncontrollable Cody-induced flutter in my chest and belt out the song even louder.
When I pull into the driveway, Dad and Jace are walking back from scraping the barn.
“How was your visit?” Dad asks, his face glowing from exertion and his energy higher than I’ve seen it in a few days.
“Good. Nice.”
I should tell him I was rehearsing for the interview, but we all know it’s scheduled this week. No need to rub salt in the wound.
Jace is already grabbing bags out from the back of the truck. Dad steps over to help.
“You talk McKenna into staying in Tennessee?” he asks.
“No. I don’t know if I have that kind of sway.”
“Sure you do. That girl would do anything for you.”
“It’s not her we have to worry about,” I say. “It’s herfiancé. He enjoys visiting, but I’m pretty sure he’s set on living in Hollywood.”
Dad makes a tsking sound. Then he grabs two bags and heads into the house. I hoist the rest of the bags out of the truck bed and follow behind him. He pauses in the kitchen, bracing one hand on the counter after setting the bags down.
My fingers tighten around the bags I’m carrying. “You okay?”
