Like I haven’t been gut-punched again. Dumping my groceries in my car, I drive to the one realtor in town, needing to get this done while I still have the guts to do it.
The bell rings over the door and I smile grimly at Betsy Harris sitting behind the desk in her fancy pale pink suit with her perfectly-coiffed hair and nails.
“Hello, Betsy. I want to know if you can find me a buyer for the diner.”
Her head cocks and she smiles, brittle and fake as hell. “Of course, dear. Let’s look at some paperwork.”
I sit down and drop my huge tote bag to the ground, sitting straight and gulping a swallow as she begins to talk rates and closing costs and all that other shit.
All I have to do is get this done and then I can start over somewhere else and forget about this town, these people.
And the only man I’ll ever love.
Swallowing roughly, I force down the wail that wants to break free of my lips and nod my head like I’m listening to her instead of my heart beating slowly, breaking in my chest.
CHAPTER 7
Grady
“Sheriff? Did you hear about what happened at the grocery store?”
My head jerks and I glare at him blankly. “What’s up, Curt? You know I don’t like to gossip.”
God knows there’s enough of that in this town without my help.
“Margaret Shank causing problems again.”
“So? I don’t give a shit what that harpy’s up to?”
My deputy glares at me. “Are you sure about that? Because I have it from a few good sources that the one she was laying into was Fiona.”
Slamming my fists on the table, I push my chair back so fast it slams into the wall and the whole room full of deputies goes silent and still.
Curt grins. “Changed your mind, did you?”
“What the hell did she do?”
“I don’t know what it was word for word because you know it’s a game of telephone figuring that out. Everybody’s gonna embellish it in their own way. But suffice it to say that she told your girl that you deserve better than her and she should leave you alone. Since she’s a mess because of her lousy parents.”
My vision blurs into a red veil and my hands clench into fists. “I almost wish I could hit a woman,” I snap.
“I figured.”
“I’ll go see her later. I’ll talk to Fee and make sure she knows that nobody else but that old hag thinks that.”
“She’s not the only one though. Those old biddies love to treat her like shit. The younger ones are nice enough but those old trouts just can’t help themselves. They have to make her life miserable. And they’re all threatening you since you’re obviously with her. Threatening to vote against you next election.”
“Fuck!” I growl. “I’m not gonna lose this job. They’re just fucking with her.”
“Obviously. You’re fucking great at this job. Everyone in town is happy about how well you’ve cleaned up this town. They’re just being nasty to hurt her.”
“Well, that isn’t gonna fly with me. I’ll talk to her.”
“You better do it fast. I also heard from the grapevine that she’s gone to Betsy to put the diner up for sale. She’s talking about leaving town.”
“Oh hell no!” Slamming my gray cowboy hat on my head, I stalk out of the office. “I’m gonna kill that old biddy and then I’m gonna handcuff that woman until I finally get her to stop messing around and marry me.”
The whole office erupts in applause and I growl at them all. “Get back to work, all of you.” I point at Curt. “You go find Fee. See if she’s at the diner or at the house and radio me. I’m gonna go see that woman.”
