“No, that’s not.... I didn’t mean now,” Sawyer corrected quickly, and Ciaran stopped. “I just meant in general. I’m very much an introvert. Peace and quiet, overcast skies, coffee, and a book. That’s all I need.” Then he shrugged. “I reckon that’s why this town and I will get along just fine.”
Was that a hint of a smile?
Well, I’ll be damned.
“I’m glad you came over,” Sawyer added, looking out across the water and definitely not at Ciaran.
“I was just.... I was on my way....” He trailed off. He seemed particularly tortured this morning. But at least he wasn’t angry.He mumbled something and shook his head. “How is your hand today?”
Sawyer held up his gloved hand. “It’s fine. It really wasn’t a big deal. Just tore the skin off some blisters. Clearly don’t do enough manual labour.”
“Simple wounds can easily become infected,” Ciaran murmured seriously. “You should always have them seen to.”
It was literally some torn blisters, like he’d said, not a big deal at all, but okay....
Sawyer was going to say something smartarse back, but this was Ciaran Brenner making an effort to be nice, so he settled for a polite reply. “Yeah, thanks. I will.”
Ciaran was quiet for a second, frowning out to sea. “You mentioned books. What kind do you like to read?”
“Oh, I’ll read just about anything. I love fiction. Paranormal, fantasy, and sci-fi mostly.”
Ciaran turned to look at him then. “Paranormal? Fantasy? And science-fiction? You like those...”
Sawyer sighed dramatically. “Yeah, yeah. Go on, say it. Tell me I’m a nerd. I’ve heard it all my life.”
“A nerd?” Ciaran scoffed out a laugh. He actually laughed. And if Sawyer thought he was sexy before.... “No. I wouldn’t.... I, uh... I didn’t see that coming.”
“Well, all those action-thriller books are okay, but I have a hard time suspending belief for most of it. It’s too far-fetched or implausible.”
Ciaran looked at Sawyer as if that was the most ridiculous thing he’d ever heard. “But paranormal and science fiction aren’t too far-fetched or implausible?”
“Not at all. They’re supposed to be far-fetched, and great world-building makes anything plausible. Those true crime and non-fiction books aren’t my thing. You know, being a cop and all.I could go back to work in the city if I wanted that. Not my idea of escapism.”
Ciaran nodded slowly. “I can see that, with you being a cop. But paranormal, huh? Things that aren’t... of this world?” He frowned. “Like actual monsters?”
“Yep. I much prefer it when the monsters aren’t human. In my line of work, they always are. It’s nice to leave reality at the door.” Sawyer could talk about it for hours, but he doubted he should. “Do you read much?”
“Yes. I like human histories.”
“Ahh, the antiques. Makes sense.”
Ciaran smiled, but his eyes hardened as he stared out to the gloomy horizon. “So, these monsters that aren’t human?—”
Sawyer’s phone rang in his pocket, and it startled them both. “Damn. Sorry.” He fumbled to retrieve it and checked the screen. HO for Head Office, but it could only be one person, and that was Hadeom. “I gotta take this.”
Ciaran turned without so much as a goodbye, or any kind of acknowledgement, really, and walked toward his shop. Sawyer swore he saw Otis and Fraser watching them through the window of the convenience store, but they disappeared too fast for Sawyer to be certain.
He answered the call as he began walking back to his station. “Tenebrae Cove Police.”
“Sawyer,” Hadeom said. “I thought I’d have heard from you by now. You were supposed to check in weekly. I might have thought you’d have bailed on me already.”
He tried to count back days.
“Has it been a week already?”
There was a beat of silence. “I take it from the sound of the wind you’re still there.”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” Sawyer opened the door into the station, the warmth and silence a nice reprieve. “You know, I actually like this little town.”
