Mrs.Andrews’s lips tightened.“I’ll be sure to let you know if she, or her two obviously trained miniature assassins, show any sign of evildoings.”
Mrs.A was about to revert to the silent treatment.Tanner touched her arm.“Bree looks more tired, don’t you think?”
She let out a sigh.“Like the weight of the world is on her shoulders.”
“Is that normal for a new mother, do you think?Maybe it’s postpartum depression or something.Or maybe the babies don’t let her get sleep at night.”
“Well, she’s going to get sleep tonight.I already told her Dan and I are going to keep those babies so she could get a full night’s rest.”
“She agreed to that?”
Mrs.Andrews nodded.“Shows you how desperate she is, doesn’t it?But I told her how the whole world would look different if she just got some good sleep.”She shrugged.“Then I threatened to fire her if she didn’t take us up on the offer, although I don’t think she believed me.”
Mrs.A left, and Tanner continued to observe Bree from his stool.She studiously ignored him, sweeping up the restaurant, pausing every once in a while to kiss or coo at the babies, who sat with Mr.Andrews and some of the couple’s friends who were stopping by more often.
Having adorable twin babies that needed to be cuddled was good for diner business.
And Bree was a hard worker.Nobody minded helping her, since she was working so hard.
And just like that, he was back to that battle within himself again.On one hand, she was exactly what she seemed to be: a down-on-her-luck single mother.
On the other hand...
What the hell was up with that piece-of-junk flip phone of hers?He had one because that was the choice the department had made concerning official phones.No smartphones.
But why would Bree have one so basic?Hers looked like it would barely even call or text.He’d never seen her use it even once, but she always wanted it in her possession.He’d seen panic fall over her features a couple of days ago when she realized she’d left it in the back.She’d rushed to the kitchen and came back out clutching it to her.
It was like she was waiting for a call that never came.
But from whom?And about what?Was that what was causing her to look more weary and fragile with each passing day?
Or was that all in Tanner’s head?
All his colleagues at the sheriff’s office teased him about how much time he spent studying Bree.He took the good-natured ribbing with a smile.They thought he had a crush on her and joked about him being obsessed.
They weren’t wrong.
But he couldn’t let it go.
Tanner took his last sip of coffee, put some money on the counter and left.He wasn’t surprised when Bree didn’t acknowledge him.
What was he expecting?That she would run over to him and spill all the secrets she was keeping?
Tanner needed to pull his head out of his ass.The sheriff had entrusted him and made him the captain of the entire southeastern section of Grand County three years ago.There was a whole office full of people who looked up to and expected leadership from him.
So he damn well better start acting like the seasoned law enforcement agent he was, rather than a high schooler with a crush.
He headed to the office and found the rest of his day taken up with the mundane tasks of keeping his section of the county running smoothly.
But Bree was never far from his mind.
Later that night when Ronnie Kitchens, one of Tanner’s deputies, called in sick, Tanner agreed to take his shift even though it meant working a double.Anything was better than sitting at home with his own thoughts, knowing Bree was alone in her little apartment tonight.
His thoughts about her were inappropriate enough without the temptation of potentially acting on them.Focusing on work was much better.
He was out doing a normal town drive-through, proud of himself for keeping well away from Bree’s apartment, when he glanced over at the library parking lot as he drove past.
Then did an immediate double take, letting out a string of curses inside his Bronco.
