At least she’s painting again.
And I can’t even blame her for any of it. I don’t know how to look at her without wanting to apologize and touch her in the same breath. Guilt pulls me away like an anchor cinched around my middle. When her back quivered against my chest, I thought she was coming apart from pleasure. Until I heard the quiet sniffles and felt my stomach bottom out. The memory of those red-rimmed eyes still cuts like a knife through my chest.
“Never seen you around before.” A tall brunette places her beer next to my glass with a wide smile, her glossy lips shining in the light of the neon signs above the bar.
“Just passing through,” I say.
I don’t know what I’m doing here. It was stupid of me to even order the whiskey. Being with Jackie again blew the hinges off whatever self-control I had left, and now I can’t stop thinking about her. The sounds she made. The way her body answered mine. None of it was polite. Nothing demure. Just real and raw.
I should move on from Jackie, but I don’t know how.
“I’m Jenna,” the woman says, undeterred by my silence. “I could show you around, while you’re here.”
“Thanks, I’m not looking for a tour.”
“Maybe for some fun time?” Her voice drops.
I don’t even want to pretend I’m interested. It used to be easy to get distracted. I’m over that.
“Adam.” Sheriff Walker sags onto the barstool next to me, groaning, and the old chair looks about to give out under his weight. I’ve been around hockey players, but this man is massive.
“Sheriff,” I say quickly, grateful for the opportunity to focus my attention on him.
“Making friends?” he says, glancing at the brunette still waiting for an answer.
“Yeah.” I give her a small, polite smile. “Thanks, dear, but it’s not something I’m interested in right now.”
She pouts, shifting her hips, and her very short denim skirt lifts dangerously. “If you change your mind, I’ll be here Saturday night,” she murmurs, bending closer.
“If it isn’t Silver Lake Falls’ most wanted bachelor,” another woman chimes, sliding in next to Jenna, with a bright grin for Walker.
“Ladies.” The sheriff touches the brim of his hat and looks around for the bartender. It seems they’re out of luck tonight.
But they just giggle. “Off duty? Come grab a beer with us over there,” the blonde says, hitching her thumb over her shoulder toward the booths.
“Not tonight,” he says politely, smiling, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Just grabbing a bite on my break.”
Both women sigh dramatically. “See you around,” Jenna says, wiggling her fingers, and they make a beeline for a table full of people who sound like they’re a couple of drinks in.
Walker looks at my untouched drink. “The Salt Pier down at the harbor is the place for top-shelf drinks.”
I snort. “You must have me confused with Carter.”
One of his brows climbs.
“I’d never even seen an ice ball press until I met him. We grew up in different worlds.”
The first time he took me to his estate on a break, I was struck speechless. I knew who he was, but seeing the sheer size of it, the view, the staff, the ease of it all, was overwhelming.
Walker chuckles. “Yet you became friends.”
“Best friends,” I say and mean it. “He wouldn’t sell you out even if you waterboarded him.”
“Interesting.” Walker hums, thoughtful. “Explains a few things.”
“He’s stressing out about Hall,” I feel the need to add and defend him. I know how he comes off sometimes. “He’ll be on edge until you catch him.”
“Trust me, I’m not sleeping great either.”
