Sheriff Franco rolled his eyes. “Please. It’s not my first rodeo, darlin’. I can’t believe most peopledon’tknow exactly what that man does for a living.”
“Well, I didn’t,” she said softly.
Franco nodded. “I understand.”
“You do?”
“Sure. You were planning a life with him, and now you’re not even sure you know him.”
She gulped. Sheriff Franco was the first person who actually understood where she was coming from.
“I remember when your mama was married to that jackass from Spokane, the one who lied and cheated? I was happy when they got divorced. She’s much better off. But it probably affected you, huh?”
Serenity leaned forward, surprised to have found a confidante in the grizzly sheriff. “I think so. I was in junior high and saw how it transpired. I remember how betrayed my mom felt. There wasn’t a thing I could do to help, and the situation made me so angry. Rory is a good guy and not like the jackass from Spokane, but...” She let her voice trail off.
“But a liar is a liar, huh?” the sheriff asked. He leaned forward and patted her hand, the top of his gnarled and spotted with brown marks. “It’s okay, Serenity, but you do have to realize that when a person is serving their country and takes an oath, they sometimes have to follow a path they might not like. I’m sure Rory didn’t enjoy lying to you.”
“But he did it so easily.” Her chest ached again.
The sheriff clasped his hands together on the desk. “I know, but you don’t understand. When you’re in a job like that, you really do separate your life. He probably didn’t even feel like he was lying. When he was home, he was your Rory. Out in the world, I believe he was somebody else. I don’t think I can explain it better than that.”
“You’re sweet, Sheriff.” Her attention shifted as if pulled to the charred and wilted daisies now tinged with shades of black and gray. “Who would burn flowers?”
“I don’t know, but I will find out. I promise you.”
Movement sounded, and Serenity looked over her shoulder to see Rory returning while tucking his phone into his pocket.
“That was a friend of mine,” he said. “We tried to trace the calls, the hang-ups you’ve been having.”
“Good.” Hope rose within her. Who the heck had made those calls?
Rory shook his head. “They were made with burner phones, and there’s no way to know who the person on the other end was.”
“But…” Sheriff Franco prompted.
Rory glanced at the sheriff and then back at Serenity, his eyes a deep midnight blue. While anger cascaded off him, his expression was calm, and his stance relaxed. He had quite the skill set. “Wecouldpinpoint the location of the calls. They came from Silverville.”
Serenity pressed her palm against her forehead. A raging headache barreled her way. “I guess we can assume the caller and the flower burner are the same person.”
“We’re not assuming anything,” Rory countered. “Except that I’m staying at your place tonight.”
She reared up. “Oh, no, you’re not.”
“The hell I’m not.” His chin lowered, and a muscle ticked in his rough jawline. “If danger’s coming for you, I’m taking it out. Fast.”
She gulped. Her abdomen warmed, and her nipples peaked. What in the world was wrong with her?
A slight smile, the one that had caught her heart, kicked up his lip. Wicked and knowing.
Damn it.
Chapter6
Rory woke instantly, as he always did, settling into his environment and making sure everything was okay. He stretched on Serenity’s comfortable sofa. The thing was L-shaped, and he was too tall for either side, yet it was the best sleep he’d had in months.
Millie’s roosters were already crowing at the early hour, and he shook his head. For some reason, Serenity could sleep right through the cacophony. Not him. Not that he slept that much, anyway.
His phone buzzed, and he reached for it on the sofa table and then paused, realizing it was his other phone. He ducked and pulled it out of his boot, which he’d kept close throughout the night. “Albertini,” he answered.
