I looked down at Mo. “You’ve had enough treats for one day. We’re going home.”
He yawned as if he agreed and walked to the truck. I barely shut his door after lowering the window when a police cruiser pulled up alongside my truck blocking me. I didn’t have to look to see who it was.
Josh was out of the cruiser when I came around my truck.
“I have been around the block three times after spotting your truck parked here. What did you say to Kate, and what did she say to you?” he demanded.
I was completely honest with him. “I told her you could be impatient, stubborn, and at times demanding.” He gave me a look I used to run from when I was young, but not anymore. I continued, “She agreed.”
That deflated his evil eye look quickly enough.
“She couldn’t understand how you were the opposite when handling all the people you deal with as a police officer.”
“It’s my job,” Josh said, defending himself.
“That’s what I told her.”
He bobbed his head. That and the look in his eyes assured me, or more likely himself, that I said a good thing.
“She asked me for advice.”
His eyes narrowed. “What did you say, Pepper?”
“Well, since she mentioned she had allowed herself to think of a future with you, I told her that she might want to give you a chance to get your head out of your ass and realize you were falling in love with her.
He stared at me for a moment, then said, “She told you she could see a future with me.”
I knew if I led with that it would be the only thing he heard and not reprimand me for the rest of what I said.
“That she did, though why in heaven’s name she would want to?—”
I was suddenly in his arms, getting a tight hug.
“I knew I could count on you.” He let me go. “I’m going to go in right now and tell her that I see a future with her.”
I shook my head. “Great. Walk right in and repeat what I said and let her know you’re doing so after just speaking with your sister.” Okay, maybe I let her know myself, but he doesn’t need to know that. “Did you not listen to what I said?”
“I heard every word,” he snapped.
“Impatient, stubborn, demanding. She may see a future but not if those traits continue. And here’s something that might help—apologize first. Then maybe ask if you can do anything at the shop to help or bring her lunch now and then so you can get some time with her. Show her how you feel about her and then maybe you’ll realize just how much you do feel for her.”
“She does like the spinach salad at the diner. I’ll get it and bring it to her for lunch.”
“Apology first,” I reminded, hoping he wouldn’t mess up his chances with Kate. I saw that familiar stubborn look in his eye. “And if you think you don’t owe her an apology, you can kiss your relationship goodbye.”
“Fine,” he grumbled, “but just so you know, Pepper, my head is nowhere near my ass.”
“Officer Madison, watch your tongue!”
Josh cringed hearing our mom scold him, while I smiled. Our mom did not tolerate her children or husband using bad words, as she referred to them, and everyone in town knew it.
She came around the front of my truck, shaking her finger at Josh. “As your mom, I am disappointed in you. And as your mayor, I will not tolerate such language from the Willow Lake police force.”
He sent me that evil eye of his again and I shook my head at him in warning, knowing what he was about to say would dig him even deeper into trouble with Mayor Mom.
“Pepper started it.”
He was saved by his police radio sending him to a call. Before taking off, he wisely apologized to our mom and he sent a warning my way, saying, “We’ll talk later.”
