The Sheriff Meets His Match Read Free

especially with sensationalist stories including local celebrities like the Fowlers. A fatal incident and abduction at the Twilight Theatre just after Laurel arrived in town had provided plenty of chin-wagging at the Grits and Grace Cafe.
    Jack let go of her uncle’s hand and pointed toward her car. “I thought you might rethink getting your car seen to, so I went around by Gus’s, but no, apparently you like freezing to death.”
    Max turned her way. “What’s wrong, luv? I thought Gabriel gave her an overhaul before you left home?”
    Laurel noticed Jack’s lowering brows and hastened to change the subject. “I’m going for a coffee break to Grace’s, boss. Want me to bring you back anything?”
    Just as she’d hoped, her words got Jack’s dander up. “What do you mean, you’re going for coffee? You haven’t even started work yet.”
    Suppressing her grin, she eased away while tugging on Max’s arm. “No worries, I’ll catch up in no time.” Her relief at escaping without an interrogation was short-lived.
    “While you’re out, stop at Gus’s. I told him to expect you.”
    Dratted man.

    * * *
    J ack ignored the snow drifting down around him while he watched Laurel and her uncle haphazardly clean off her car before jumping in and starting the engine. The ugly little car had something big under the hood, given away by the throaty growl when she fired it up.
    There was something funny going on with those two. She’d practically tugged the old man’s arm off trying to make their escape. And why hadn’t she mentioned anything about having family nearby? Jack wasn’t even sure where her home was. He didn’t remember Angie mentioning it when she’d come to him with the fait accompli of a new hire while she went off on a long awaited vacation.
    Laurel gave the car some gas and spun the wheels. He hid his grin behind a frown and crossed his arms over his chest. She let off the throttle and glided slowly past with a little wave and toot of a sickly sounding horn. Then they were around the corner and gone, the snow quickly erasing any sign of her presence.
    As if it would be that easy.
    Ever since she’d shown up in his office with her crazy pile of sticky notes she liked to plaster on every available surface, he hadn’t been able to get her off his mind. She irritated him with her disorganization. He was used to having a place for everything, and everything in its place, but with Laurel, that rule went out the window.
    He was intrigued with her secretive honey-colored eyes, sleek womanly body, and long golden-red hair. He didn’t like the churning inside whenever she was near and was determined to avoid her, but still seemed to find excuses to be close. His threatening glares warned off any would-be suitors in the department, much to his embarrassment and his staff’s delight. Everyone expected him to ask her out, but Jack refused to get involved. He’d pegged Laurel for high maintenance with her fancy clothes and girly ways. He’d been down that road and had the daughter to prove it, so no thanks.
    And besides, who the hell was Gabriel?

3
    L aurel watched her uncle pour half a bottle of maple syrup over a stack of plate-sized pancakes topped with three sunny-side eggs, and shuddered. Any appetite she had for her own breakfast of French toast disappeared. She pushed the dish aside and reached for her coffee, cradling the cup in still cold fingers.
    “Not hungry, girlie?” Max asked around a mouthful of food.
    She smiled over his obvious enjoyment with the sweet feast. The way he ate he should weigh a ton, instead his waist was as trim as that of an active man half his age. It wasn’t fair.
    “Maybe later. So, are you going to tell me why you were looking for me earlier?” she asked.
    Max finished chewing, set his fork down, and wiped his glistening lips on a napkin before meeting her gaze. “It’s your cousin, Bethany. She’s gotten herself into a wee bit of a fix. I’m afraid I’m going to