“Wait.” Stepping forward, I try to lend my support. “You said nothing was wrong with her brake line?”

  She turns on me quickly. “I wasn’t lying to you. My brakes didn’t work when I pressed the pedal.”

  Whoa, talk about backfires.

  “I believe you.” Holding up a hand, I look at Bud. “Maybe you need to check it again. I can’t have a member of my team driving around in an unsafe vehicle.”

  “I checked all the lines for leaks, and I added brake fluid.” Bud huffs, getting defensive. “When it comes to safety, bad brakes are just the tip of the iceberg with thing. This truck has no airbags, no shoulder restraints—”

  “That’s enough,” Britt interrupts. “If you added brake fluid and checked the line, that’s all you can do.”

  “I’ve got a cousin with a newer-model Ford he’d probably be willing to sell you cheap?” he offers.

  “I appreciate it, but I’m not looking to part with my dad’s truck.” Her tone is short, and she takes the clipboard to sign the receipt. “Thank you, Bud.”

  I understand how she feels. I still have items I collected from my dad’s personal belongings after he died. Things like his old sheriff’s badge, a watch he always wore, a bottle of his favorite cologne.

  Still, when she climbs into the cab of that truck after everything Bud just said, my hand shoots out to catch the door before she closes it. “You want me to drive it to your mom’s for you?”

  Her brow quirks. “I think I remember how to drive my truck.”

  I don’t recognize this tense, protective surge in my gut. “Just don’t go too fast. Owen and I’ll be right behind you.”

  Her lips press into a line, and for the first time this afternoon, her demeanor softens. “Are you worried about me, Sheriff?”

  Stepping closer, I clasp her arm, pulling her closer. “Yes.”

  A little smile breaks across her face, and she cuts her pretty eyes up at me. “I’ll be careful.”

  Reluctantly I shut the door and walk back to my own vehicle. Owen’s sitting in the second row with Zander galloping all over his lap. “Are we going to Gram’s now?”

  “Yeah, we just have to follow Britt to her mom’s house. She’s leaving her truck there.”

  “How come?”

  “There’s no place to park it at her apartment.” And that truck’s a fucking death trap, I don’t say out loud. “She’s going to borrow Gram’s bike.”

  “I like to ride bikes!” He hops onto his knees behind me, his voice growing louder. “Maybe we can all ride bikes together!”

  “Sit down and put on your seatbelt. You’re spending the night with your grandmother, and Ryan and your cousin Pinky are coming over.”

  “Yay!” He jumps his zebra in the air. “I’m going to show them my new card trick!”

  My eyes are glued to the orange pickup in front of us that’s very obediently following all the rules of the road. “That’ll be fun.”

  We finally reach her mother’s house, which is close enough to town that she could probably walk. I wait as she pulls her vehicle to the side and tucks the key in the visor.

  My brow furrows as I watch her slowly walking back to the truck. She’s in simple jeans and a long-sleeved, white tee. Her blonde hair is in a ponytail on her shoulder, and a loose wave hangs just past her eyes on her cheek. I like to push it behind her ears when she’s sitting on my lap looking up at me. She’s so damn pretty, but she still seems troubled.

  “Dad says you’re riding Gram’s bike!” Owen jumps onto his knees to greet her as soon as she climbs into the cab of my truck. “I have a bike, too! Maybe we can go for a ride one day!”

  Her face relaxes into a smile, and she gives his hand a squeeze. “That sounds like fun! I haven’t ridden a bike since I was… Heck, I don’t even remember how long it’s been.”

  “Do you still remember how?” Concern enters my son’s voice. “I can teach you. I just learned last year, so I know all the steps.”

  “You never forget how to ride a bike.” I reach back to touch his shoulder. “Sit down and put your seatbelt back on.”

  He obeys with a loud huff, but it’s short-lived. Mom’s house is only a few blocks from Gwen’s, and we’re there before he can finish doing what I asked. Alex’s Tesla is also parked in the driveway, and as soon as we stop, his four-year-old daughter Penelope bursts through the door to greet us, squealing all the way.

  “Bubba!” she cries, jumping up and down at the edge of the sidewalk, waving her chubby arms over her head like a little pink cheerleader.

  “Daaad!” Owen groans. “Make her stop calling me that.”

  “I’ll try, but you still call her Pinky.”

  “That’s because she’s pink! Her hair is pink, her skin is pink…”

  “I think Bubba is sweet.” Britt bites back a grin as she looks from me to my son.

  “I’m not her brother!” He growls as he opens the door and roughly climbs out of the truck, going straight to his little cousin. “It’s Owen, not Bubba.”

  “Bubby!” Pinky throws her arms around his waist as if she'll try and lift him off his feet. He unhooks her hands and pulls her by one to the house, yelling for his uncle Alex.

  “I don’t think she cares if he calls her Pinky.”

  “She thinks Owen hung the moon.” I open the door, reaching back to grab his overnight bag. “My son, on the other hand, is going through a no-nicknames phase.”

  Not even Froot Loop.

  “It must be fun to have siblings.” She climbs out, walking with me slowly to the house, where she waits as I place the bags inside the door.

  “It has its moments.”

  My mother’s beach cruiser is parked behind her car. Last night, I drove by and went over everything, polished the seat, oiled the chain, checked the tires. It’s in pretty good condition, considering it hasn’t been ridden in years.

  “It’s adorable!” Britt places her hands on the handlebars of the light-blue bike. “It even has a basket!”

  “Not much use for running errands without a basket.”

  “And a bell?” She flicks her finger over the silver bell, and it emits the classic ring-ring sound, which makes her laugh. “Are you sure she trusts me with it?”

  “I don’t think my mom will ever ride this bike again.”

  “Did something bad happen?”

  “Nah, I think she’s scared she’ll fall off. Doesn’t want to break a hip.”

  “I guess that makes sense.” Taking her bag off her shoulder, she places it in the basket. “I should get going. Let you visit with your family.”

  “Hang on.” I catch her hand, pulling her closer to me. “You okay? It seems like something’s on your mind.”

  Her palms are flat against my chest, and my arms are around her waist. “You don’t think this is risky? Anyone might walk out and see us.”

  “I don’t care.” She’s warm against my body, and I lean down to run my nose along the line of her hair. I really want to kiss her, then I really want to fuck her. “I’ve missed driving you around town, watching you in action, finding the bad guys.”

  A smile curls her lips, but her eyes remain downcast. “Have you turned up anything on the Kiawah lead?”

  “Not yet.” I exhale slowly, releasing her. “Without a name or an address, we might not ever. So many people are scattered throughout those marshlands in little nooks and crannies. It’s all dead ends and one-way dirt roads, like trying to find a needle in a haystack.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that.” She walks over to the bike, and a friendly voice interrupts us.

  “Hey, Britt!” My brother Alex walks out to the patio, and her eyes lift. “How you doing, girl? I haven’t seen you in ages.”

  “Alex! Hey!” She steps over to give him a hug. “Last time I saw you was when you left for Pensacola. You’re looking sharp.”

  “This is not my normal dress code.” Alex glances down at his brown suit. “I had to meet with some buyers this afternoon, or I’d be in jeans and a Henley.”

  She dusts his shoulder. “It’s very nice.”

  “Thank you.” He does a little head nod. “I heard you’ve joined the force. Working with this old grump. How’s that going?”

  I’m ready to push back on the “old grump” description when Britt’s light voice stops me.

  “He’s not that grumpy.” She gives me a little wink. “And I’m not really on the force. I’m just helping with this new case.”

  “She’s really good.” I lean against my mother’s car, crossing my arms. “Britt found our best lead so far.”

  “I don’t know about that.” Her cheeks flush, and she twists her fingers.

  It makes me want to pull her to me again, cover her hands with mine, and make her feel safe.

  My brother laughs. “If he says you’re good, you must be a freaking genius. Aiden never gives compliments.”

  “Thanks for all the support.” I swear, this guy.

  Britt grins up at us. “Well, I’d better get going. I’m meeting up with the girls tonight for a little sleepover party.”

  “Tequila shots and tickle fights?” Alex teases, and she laughs, joining right in.

  “Followed by jumping on the bed in our underwear.”

  “Sorry, what was the address again?” He arches an eyebrow.

  “I’ll never tell.” She bats her eyes, and this flirty little exchange is pissing me off.

  “Well, you girls have fun. Come by the distillery sometime, and I’ll give you a tour.” He points to me. “I’ll see you in a few minutes?”

  “I’ll be there.”

  Alex heads to his car, driving away in the growing twilight, and I walk with Britt and the bike to the road. Again the fucking tightness is in my chest, and the thought of her riding to town alone in the dark has me on edge.

  “I could drive you to town.” I lightly steady her arm as she climbs on the bike.

  “I’ll be okay. You need to visit with your family.”

  “Maybe just shoot me a text when you get there? Drivers don’t always watch out for bikes around here, especially not at night.”

  She lifts her chin, wrinkling her nose adorably. “How did I ever make it to twenty-eight without you?”

  “I’ve been working in law enforcement too long.”

  Her hand covers mine on the handlebars, briefly giving it a squeeze. “I’ll text you. Have fun tonight with your brothers.”

  “Have fun at your tickle panty party.”

  Another laugh and she pushes off, riding away in the dark. I stand at the edge of the driveway with my arms crossed, watching her go and wondering how it happened. How did I get to the point where I’m standing here, watching her ride away while mentally restraining myself from driving after her?

  It’s happening. The thing I don’t believe in, the thing I rejected years ago, is sneaking its way into my chest again, and I can’t seem to stop it.

  CHAPTER 16

  BRITT

  “My signature scent!” I throw my arms around Cass’s shoulders as she enters my small apartment carrying a bag of her homemade lotions. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

  “It’s the least I could do.” She pats my arm, placing the bag on the bar beside three shot glasses. “Don’t want you to start vabbing.”

  It’s the first time the three of us have been together for a slumber party since I left for Greenville, and I’m so excited… And maybe a little distracted by thoughts of Aiden.

  And my mother’s ominous tarot reading, which I’m still working to compartmentalize in my brain. I’m not letting her scare me anymore or doubt my judgment. Still, if she knows something that will help me solve this case, I have to tolerate her eccentric behavior for a few days.

  “I just barfed a little in my mouth.” Piper twists the top off a bottle of tequila and pours each of us a shot.

  “Why? What the hell is vabbing?” I call over Shania Twain blasting from my Bluetooth speaker.

  Piper puts the bottle on the bar, I take a quick picture of it with our three glasses and send it to Aiden with a text, Tequila shots starting.

  He was so cute this afternoon. All six-foot-sexy of his grumpy self towering over me, wanting to drive my truck and then asking me to text him when I got home. It’s something I’ve never had in my whole life—someone watching over me, wanting to keep me safe. I’ve always been on my own in that department, and I like this new situation.

  I like Aiden Stone worrying about me.

  “You haven’t heard of the ickiest TikTok trend?” Cass’s eyes widen dramatically, and she takes her shot glass, holding it high in the air. “To the Whoopass Girls, together again!”

  We clink and do our shots fast, snatching up lime wedges and sucking the juice as we squeal. Edward sits up and barks at our noise, which makes us laugh.

  “You’re upsetting the Notorious D.O.G.” Piper walks over to scratch his head and calm him down while Cass continues with her explanation.

  “Vabbing is when you dab your finger in your vag then put the juices on your neck like cologne. To attract a man… or a woman, I guess.”

  I’m halfway to the refrigerator when I stop in my tracks. “That is not a thing.”

  “I don’t know how common it is, but that’s the definition.”

  “For starters, it doesn’t make any sense.” I take out a ginger ale and carry it to where Piper is standing by the bar. “Unless you have an infection or you’re on your period, vaginal secretions have no odor.”

  “Don’t be a scientist.” Piper bumps my hip as she pours three more shots. “Just be grossed out like the rest of us.”

  “I mean, it’s not that gross. It’s your body’s fluids. It’s not dirty. I imagine the theory is it works like pheromones—”

  “Please stop!” Cass closes her eyes, holding up her hand. “I will keep you in Ocean Gardenia for the rest of your life if you promise never to put pussy juice on your neck.”

  I snort a laugh, sipping my drink. “Is that all it takes to get my signature scent for life? Oh no! Don’t look! I’m going for it!” Holding out my finger, I lower it towards my crotch.

  Piper slaps my hand away and does another shot. “Again, I barf.”

  Cass leans over the bar, giving me wide eyes. “Joke all you want, Miss Afternoon Delight. I happen to know you don’t need any vabbing to bag a man.”

  My eyes widen, and Piper slams her shot glass on the bar. “What the fuck? Britt’s having sex? You’ve only been in town a week! Who are you having sex with?”

  Heat shoots from my chest to my neck to my face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

  I scamper away from the bright lights of the kitchen to hide beside Edward on the couch.

  Cass is hot on my heels, laughing. “Don’t even try to deny it, Britt Bailey. You’re a shit liar.”

  “You’re making shit up! How do you even know what I’m doing? I’ve been working all week.”

  “You were working, all right. Grinding.” She circles her hips like a hula dancer. “Your mother and I got an earful, and it was possibly the most embarrassing moment of my life.” She’s instantly serious, heading back to the kitchen. “I need my second shot.”

  “My mother heard us!” I squeal, jumping off the couch and following her to the kitchen. “I need my second shot.”

  Piper stands watching us both with wide eyes. “I need you at the paper, Cass.”

  “I might take you up on that.” She does her second shot. “Two seconds into the banging and moaning, I made an excuse and got the hell out of the Star Parlor. I haven’t decided if I’m ever going back.”

  Pressing both palms to my flaming cheeks, I walk back to where Edward sits on the couch watching us. “That’s how she knew,” I say to myself. “And I thought she was getting some kind of psychic message.”

  “Who is Britt having sex with?” Piper yells.

  “Huh?” I turn, and Cass crosses her arms with a sly grin on her lips.

  “Do you want to tell her or should I?” Reaching out, she grips Piper’s shoulder. “Get ready to have your hair curled.”

  My eyes widen. “You are the worst! I can’t believe you’d listen to what I’m doing up here.”

  “Excuse me for not being deaf!” Cass cries. “You were having loud sex in the middle of the afternoon with your windows wide open.”

  Snapping my gaze to the windows, I drop onto the couch in realization. “I didn’t even think about the windows.”

  “Sounded like you had a one-track mind to me.” Cass laughs, skipping over to sit beside me. “Don’t freak out. I think it’s good you’re knocking boots with the sheriff. It increases the chances you’ll stay!”

  “The sheriff!” Piper cries. “You’re sleeping with Aiden Stone? How is that even possible? He’s completely closed. Not to mention since his wife died, he’s a total grouch.”

  “He didn’t sound like a grouch to me.” Cass winks. “He sounded hot.”

  “This is all very cringe.” I am literally dying. “Did everyone in town hear us?”

  “I’m sure everyone on the sidewalk did.” Cass notes, and I wail, dropping my head onto her lap. “If it makes you feel better, it was a relatively quiet afternoon. Well, except for, you know… You two.”

  Another wail, and Cass laughs, wrapping her arms over my back.

  Piper sits on my other side, rubbing my arm. “Be happy you’re getting some. It’s been so long since I’ve had sex, I think my hymen grew back.”

  “You gave birth.” Cass shoves her shoulder. “That hymen ain’t ever coming back.”

  Piper puts her hand over her heart. “I’m just a girl standing in front of a boy asking him to give me an orgasm.”

  “I’m just a girl looking for a boy who knows how to give me an orgasm.” Cass rolls her gray-blue eyes. “Seriously, men settled the West, they were pioneers, they charted new territories, created maps. You’d think they could find the clitorus.”

  Piper snorts into her beer. “From what I understand, Britt has no idea what you’re talking about.”