“Sure, Cubby.”
“If anything changes, if he escalates, if anything else disturbs you, you have to tell us.”
“I will, promise.”
“I mean it, Macy. We know what Brian is capable of, and I'm not taking any chances here. Any little thing, like a letter, parcel, or e-mail, any phone calls that you pick up and no one's there. You feel or think anything's wrong, you contact me or Katie.”
“I got it, Cubby.”
“Don’t you worry about this, Macy, he's locked up nice and tight for a long time, so he can't reach you.”
“I know.” And she did, it's just that Brian was a resourceful, insane man, and his hatred for her, the woman who had exposed him for what he was, went very deep.
“You okay?” The warm hand Brad rested on her shoulder should not have felt as good as it did.
“Fine.” Macy nodded.
“Now I want to talk about this Buchanan land issue. We need to get the facts together and then hold a meeting. We can't let anything happen to that place, it's one of the oldest pieces of dirt around here.”
“I know,” Ethan said. “Worst part is, I think our father may be involved.”
“Heard that too, and it's not a happy thought, but this is your town, and we're your family now.”
“I know it.” Ethan shook Cubby's hand.
“And yours if you want it.”
Macy, who had regained her feet, watched Cubby stick out his hand to Brad this time. Shock was etched on his handsome face briefly before he slid the composed look back in place.
“Thanks.” He took the hand. “But I'll probably be heading out soon.”
“Sure, but from what I gather you have a head for this kind of thing, so we'd appreciate anything you got.”
“Not sure as that's true, but I'll help where I can.”
“Nadine won't change her mind about selling this,” Macy said. “She has no loyalty to her parents, and definitely not anyone here.”
“We have to try.”
They did, but Macy didn't hold out much hope.
“Nice shorts.” Cubby was looking at Brad.
“You think?” Brad rolled with it. “DJ O'Donnell picked them out for me. I'm thinking of getting him to sign them before I leave.”
“You should, and also hang around for the Night Carnival in a few days, TJ. One of the highlights of the calendar for Howling.”
“I'll think about it, Sheriff, thanks.”
The three ofthem walked out of the sheriff’s office in single file, Macy between him and Ethan. Brad’s head was filled with thoughts about the brief facts Newman had furnished him with about Macy's ex.
He'd like to get on his Harley, drive to the prison Brian Delray was incarcerated in, and go a few rounds with the animal.
He looked at the soft curls coming out of the clip she’d bundled her hair in, and wondered how anyone could hurt her. She was sweet, and loved her son to distraction, and then there was the way she interacted with her friends. Loyalty was important to Macy Reynolds. She was also smoking hot, but that wasn't something he could contemplate again. She was off-limits to him. The night they'd shared was now a memory, and there would be no repeat. The thought made Brad’s chest feel heavy, so he did what he did best, and locked it away in the trunk inside his head where he stored shit that unsettled him.
To be fair, it was pretty full, but he had enough room to wedge this thought in there and slam the lid shut and throw the lock home.
Macy's cellphone rang and he watched her freeze, her shoulder suddenly rigid.
