“I hope they don’t cancel, but I understand if they do,” I tell her, watching as cameras start flashing and people start shouting.
The annual rodeo and Kick Off to Summer event are always a blast. With the rodeo on Friday evening and the fair on Saturday, it’s always such a fun time for our little town, and I look forward to it each new year.
Sarah hums. “I’m sure with such a heavy police presence that surely whoever is doing this won’t risk coming out. Plus, there will be so many people if, God forbid, something does happen, surely someone will see something.”
“True.” I nod, thinking about it.
“It’s kind of unnerving to think it could be someone we’ve walked past or served as a customer.” She shivers before walking off.
Her words leave an unsettled feeling in my stomach. Especially after having someone in my house last night. I shake the thoughts away and head back to the till as the crowd outside begins to disperse.
A few busy hours later, the chime of the door and West entering has me smiling and my stomach doing that swoopy swirly thing.
“Good afternoon, Sheriff.”
“Afternoon, Jade. How’s it going? I hope you were able to get some sleep last night?”
“It’s going. It’s been pretty busy here today. People looking to hide away from the rain. And I did get some sleep last night. Thank you again for checking things out last night.”
“Of course, anytime,” he says as he comes to rest against the counter.
Smiling, I bend down and reach under the counter for a bag I stored there earlier. “You never came in this morning, and I know how much you love when we have lemon fritters, so I saved you a few,” I tell him, handing over the bag.
His eyes widen in surprise, and a grin takes over his handsome face, dimples and all. “Wow. Thanks,” he says, grabbing the bag. “Actually, that’s why I’m here. I know it’s a little past lunch, but I figured the rush might be over, and since I didn’t get the chance to come by this morning, I thought maybe you would like to join me for lunch?”
“That actually sounds lovely. It’s quieted down, so I’m sure I can step away for a while. Let me just go tell Sarah and Wren and then we can go.” I smile widely, taking off my apron.
“I’ll be waiting,” he says, rapping his knuckles against the counter.
When I push through the back doors, my feet stop and my mouth drops open at the scene before me. On the floor sits Wren, who’s completely covered in batter and Sarah, whose face is almost as red as her hair from laughing.
“What in the world happened here?” I giggle, surveying the area.
“I was trying to mix the batter and slipped on an egg yolk that fell to the floor.” Wren winces, looking sorry.
“Sh-sh-she, grabbed onto the bowl while the mixer was still going and it-it went everywhere.” Sarah laughs, fighting to catch a breath. “You should have seen it.”
Wren sticks her tongue out at Sarah, which makes her laugh harder.
“So, is it a bad time for me to leave the shop for a bit?” I ask, looking around worried about leaving them to deal with the mess as well as any customers.
“What do you need to leave for?” Sarah asks, finally able to breathe.
“Um.” I glance between the two of them. “West came in and asked if I would like to go have lunch with him. But if you guys need me to stay and help clean this up, I can just tell him some other time,” I say, trying to hide my disappointment.
“No, no. It’s okay. We’ll be fine. You go,” Sarah says.
“You’re sure?” I hesitate.
“Absolutely, now get out of here.”
“Well, all right,” I say before turning back around out the doors.
I stop at the office grabbing my purse and jacket then head back out to the front where West is waiting.
“You ready?”
“Yes!”
