"Yeah, I think so." She nodded and dropped back into her chair.
When the fire station's old tanker truck brought the parade to a close by repeatedly opening its pump onto the crowd that followed it down Main Street, Rudy grinned at a wide-eyed Eden. "You should get wet. It'll help cool you down for the afternoon's festivities."
"Um...hello, I'm wearing a white t-shirt."
Rudy let his gaze wander over her. How did she make khaki shorts, a white T, and sandals look so good and classy? He couldn't help remembering how see-through her white t-shirt became the last time she got soaked in the rain. And even though it was totally inappropriate of him to think it, he couldn't help wondering whether she wore her pink bra or the blue one today.
"Right. Probably not a good idea this time."
Would there be another time? Or would Eden leave Providence soon?
As the crowd thinned around them, making their way to the activities at the park behind the city offices, Eden stood and gathered her camp chair. "I guess I'll see you around this afternoon?"
He stepped close to her, but a quick glance across the street told him Sheriff Winters watched him again, so he kept his hands to himself. "I wish I could hang out with you today."
"Me too, but don't worry, I understand you have a job to do."
Rudy gathered up the traffic cones as the crowd continued to flow toward the park. After depositing them into the trunk of his car, he looked up to find Sheriff Winters crossing the street.
Rudy's gut tightened, and he braced himself for a public dressing down for letting himself be distracted while on duty.
"Who's the pretty brunette?" Robert Winters asked.
Rudy fought the urge to fidget. "Eden DuPont, Kennedy's friend."
"The city girl who's working with Hattie?" Robert still wore his sunglasses, so Rudy couldn't see his eyes. Couldn't tell what he was thinking.
"Yes."
"Isn't she staying at your house?"
Rudy nodded.
"You dating her?"
"Um...no... Not yet." Rudy scratched his ear. Was dinner with her dad considered a date?
"Why not?"
"Excuse me?"
Robert pulled off his sunglasses and pinned Rudy with a stare. "Don't make the same mistake I did. Make your move or you'll lose her."
Rudy sucked in a sharp breath and fell back a step from the intensity in Robert's words.
Robert had finally married his high school sweetheart eighteen months ago, eleven years after they graduated, and after she'd nearly been killed by an abusive husband.
Rudy didn't want to lose Eden, but could he really keep her happy in this small town?
"Well, what are you waiting for?"
"What do you mean?" Rudy took off his own sunglasses and locked gazes with Robert.
"Go win your girl over. Don't wait until it's too late."
Rudy had no idea the sheriff was such a romantic. Had his mom been talking to Robert?
"But I'm on duty all day."
