Maureen had manned the reception desk at the Lair for more years than Macy could remember.
“Aww shucks, Maureen, I'm sure I can't hold that crown for too much longer.”
Macy made a gagging sound as Ethan leaned over the reception desk and kissed the woman on the cheek, making her giggle.
“I told you to get those eyes of yours tested, Maureen. I think they've got a two-for-one special on this week at the optometrist in Brook.”
Ethan shook his head at Macy. “Jealousy is an ugly thing in a woman, don't you think, Maureen?”
But the woman didn't answer, as she was looking Brad over. “You could be right about that crown though, Ethan.”
Ethan clutched his chest and staggered back. “I'm a broken man.”
Brad had watched the entire performance with his usual blank expression, although she was sure his lips tilted slightly at his brother's antics.
“Don't feel bad, Ethan, everyone knows that at a certain age your looks start to deteriorate. Present company excluded of course, Maureen.” Brad stepped forward with his soft smile and held out his hand to the woman. “Pleased to meet you, I'm Ethan's much younger brother.” He shook her hand gently.
Ethan snorted, Maureen sighed, and Macy made another gagging sound.
“Cubby in?” Ethan asked.
“Sure, sweetie, you go right on. Katie's in there too.”
“Great, thanks.”
“What the hell color is this?” Brad asked.
“Cantaloupe, from memory. Cubby said something about the previous sheriff's wife doing the decorating. It's certainly not your usual shade for a sheriff’s office is my guess.”
Macy saw Cubby bent over Katie's shoulder when she walked into his office, their heads together as they read whatever was on the computer screen before them. It was a wonderful thing that these two had found each other. They'd had a thing for so long, but both had fought against it. She was glad all that had changed.
“How come the big boss has to stand and you get the desk?” Ethan asked as he and Brad filled up the remaining space in the small office.
“She can type faster,” Cubby said, straightening. “Plus, she's hot to look at.”
He had been the sheriff of Lake Howling for many years now, and was loved and trusted by most of its inhabitants. Well, the ones who usually walked the right side of the law, anyway.
His hair was deep chestnut and he was fit and active, just like the woman he'd fallen in love with.
Katie had the McBride dark coloring and was tall and ridiculously fit, like her man. She'd been a detective in LA, but trouble had sent her home, and here she'd stayed.
“She'd be still hot standing,” Ethan added.
“There's that,” Cubby conceded, “but I also like her looking up at me, sort of puts her in her place.”
“I'll make you pay for that later, Hawker.”
The sheriff flashed a wide smile, showing off a row of gleaming teeth.
“Get used to it, TJ. Insults are how we communicate,” Cubby said when he noted the look on Brad's face.
“Not you too. Any chance we could go back to Brad?”
“It's all around the entire town by now. Try and fight it, and they'll just throw it in your face at any given opportunity,” Ethan said.
“Like they're not now?”
“Don't fight it, is all the advice I'm giving you. Look at it this way, they could hate you, and the name could have been really unflattering.”
