Chapter 5
Chapter Five
SASHA
Ismile as I toss my phone back into my purse as the Lyft driver comes to a halt behind the antique shop. Thankfully, my car wasn’t towed.
“Harry, right here is fine.”
Harry and I got to know a little about each other on the short ride to my car.
He’s twenty-two years old. Aspires to become an actor on Broadway in New York.
So he’s saving up his money to make the move.
Gig work is one of his three jobs. He’s also a lifeguard at the aquatic center and a bartender at Treasure, the local bar.
“Welcome to Lupton.”
“Thank you.”
“And Sasha, I want to see you in the bar tomorrow night. First round's on me.”
“I’ll be sure to tip you well.”
He grins, then it fades. “I wish you all the luck with grumpy Sheriff Drake. He’s very rough around the edges.”
I chuckle. “I’ll see if I can spruce him up a bit. Make him more tolerable.”
We both laugh, then say our goodbyes as I exit the rear door of the sedan.
The heat is manageable this morning. How I long for a shower. Good thing I brought a week’s worth of clothes. I had hoped to wrap up this issue within a day or two, but planned to stay a week if needed.
Fitch was a delight to talk to this morning. I could tell he wanted to ask me out on a date, even in my haggard state. But he didn’t. Which is good because I’m not here to date. I only want to find out who ruined my life.
I drive to the nearest hotel down the street.
Once I’m settled, I’ll walk around the city.
This time I’ll get to know each shop owner and the employees before I probe about the wire transfers.
I hate to admit Sheriff Drake was right.
It could’ve been any shop owner on the main street.
It was presumptuous of me to target the antique shop.
I hope I never see Everett and Breann again.
But in this small town, I don’t think that’s logical.
The second I hit the end of the parking lot, the cold air pours out from the vents. It feels so good.
I didn’t expect to hear from Sheriff Drake this morning after I left the station.
He wants to interview me for the secretary position.
That’s great. I know he wasn’t offering me the job, but it felt good getting under his skin.
All I need is a good night’s rest and I’ll be ready to take on the burly sheriff.
Rolling my suitcase through the hotel lobby, I approach the front desk.
“Good morning,” the front desk attendant greets.
“Good morning,” I reply.
“Welcome to Lupton Hotel. My name is Shamera. How may I help you?” she asks.
“I’d like to reserve a room for the rest of the month.”
I rather book the hotel for longer than I need. Just to be on the safe side.
Her long, skinny mocha fingers fly over the keyboard. “Let’s see what I have available. The summer is our busiest time of year. We’re always booked up.”
Her jaw drops. “We only have tonight available.”
“What?”
“There’s one other hotel and a motel in town. I’ll call them on speaker and see what they have available.”
“Shamera, thank you.”
Where will I stay if the hotels are booked? Maybe they have Airbnbs.
Fifteen minutes later, I walk into my hotel room.
Can’t believe this is happening to me. I’ll figure out where I’ll stay for the rest of the month after a hot shower.
I refuse to think about the sheriff while I shower because it will only make me want to do naughty things to myself.
I’m not in town to fuck the sexy sheriff either.
My eyes close briefly and I imagine his large hand curl around my neck as his green eyes hold mine. ‘You’ve been a very bad girl.’
I bite down on the corner of my lip, and my eyes slowly open.
I notice my finger circling my taut nipple of its own free will.
Just because his scent drives me mad doesn’t mean I have to give into him.
No, Sheriff Drake and I can never be. I’m returning to Charleston as soon as I can get my life back on track.
The man smells delicious — forest floor, chocolate, and toasted sugar. I sniff the air: melted caramel, lavender, and sea salt. Great, my aroused scent has returned. Better take my scent suppressants. I don’t want any alpha catching wind of me. And certainly not the sheriff.
Clean clothes never felt so good against my skin. I sit in Spout, a quaint coffee shop down the street from the hotel. While sipping a cappuccino, I comb through the Airbnbs in the area. They cost a small fortune. I might have to stay in Lunnerville, the next town over.
“Evan, any luck renting out your camper for the summer?” I hear someone ask.
I peek up from my laptop in the comfy chair near the window. Two men stand in line dressed in t-shirts and khaki shorts. They look to be in their late twenties.
“Nope. It seems like only kids are interested. Can’t have anyone destroying my baby while I’m away.”
I wonder what kind of camper it is. I consider leaving my laptop on the chair. My eyes move around the semi-crowded shop. Never know who’s a thief these days. I pack up my belongings and march to the two men.
“Excuse me. I overheard you have a camper for rent?”
A smile lifts his lips. “Yes. I’ll grab my coffee and we can chat.”
The three of us move to a nice-sized wooden table.
After Evan, Mike, and I introduce ourselves to each other, I tell Evan and Mike my situation.
Evan is more than happy to rent his camper to me since I’ll be working for Sheriff Drake.
I log into Evan’s website, view pictures of the cute little camper, then pay the five-hundred-dollar deposit.
I ask him to wait to call the sheriff until tomorrow.
I tell him he’d be in a better mood. He agrees.
It seems no one wants to deal with the sheriff.
I can’t tell him I haven’t actually gotten the job yet. I need a little time to persuade Sheriff Drake to hire me.
“Did anyone inform you that Sheriff Gavin Drake is a grumpy asshole?” Mike asks.
Gavin Drake, huh? Such a nice name for such a grumpy man.
“No. I witnessed it firsthand.”
My brows pinch together. “I thought sheriffs who run departments were usually older. He looks pretty young. How old is he?”
“Gavin’s thirty-three. His dad, Fred Drake, held the sheriff’s job for decades. Gavin’s brother Tyson also wanted the role, but their father recommended Mayor Willard appoint Gavin instead. It made sense Tyson was only twenty-three then,” Mike explained.
I recalled when I was arrested, the sheriff had issued an order to Tyson. Now that I think about it, they do have similar facial features. I wonder if his brother is as grumpy as him? I tuck that into my memory bank for later. Just in case I need it.
I tell them what happened with Everett and Breann.
“Those two are meant for each other,” Evan adds. A scowl deepens between his inky, thick brows. “And they are not a true representation of our town.” His black hair curls around his ears and stands on his head like he ran a hand through it after getting out of bed.
These two look like they played high school football.
“They are pretty bad,” I laugh.
“They are,” Mike agrees.
He’s easy on the eyes with his short blond curls and brown eyes.
“Get this. Sheriff Drake gave Everett a ticket for manhandling me.”
“That’s great. He deserved it,” Evan says.
“He had no right to grab you like that. I want to knock him out for that,” Mike growls.
If they weren’t off to play in their band across the country next week, we’d be besties.
I take a chance and tell them about my gallery and the wire transfer. Evan tells me I should file the report like the sheriff suggested, because Everett is a shady character.
I leave the coffee shop feeling better than I have in weeks.
My phone buzzes in my pocket as I stroll up the street back to my hotel.
“Hey, sis, how’s it going in Lupton?”
“It’s a mess here. I got into a fight with a couple of townspeople and spent the night in jail.”
“Sasha, you only went there to question people, not to get into trouble.”
I nod like she can see me. “I’m fine. Tara, I’ve decided to stay here and get answers.”
“What? For how long?”
“Until I find who stole from me and destroyed my reputation.”
“Maybe I should come there and help you find who did this in a more subtle way.”
What if I ask Fitch for help? After all, he did put in a good word with the sheriff about the job.
A sly grin lifts my cheeks as I take in the cute shops. “No. I have a plan.”
“Good morning,” I sing as I walk through the doors of the Morgan County Sheriff’s department.
I walk in with a bag resting on my wrist with two boxes of donuts inside.
A boxed jug of hot coffee in one hand, and a to-go carrier of gourmet coffee in the other.
I think the coffee shop Spout is my new favorite place to relax in this little town.
I notice they have a fireplace. I bet it’s cozy in the winter.
The officers stare with open mouths as I step into the office space. A few officers call out good morning.
“Where can I place the goodies?” I ask.
Fitch appears out of nowhere. I’m careful not to look in the sheriff’s office.
“I’ll take those from you,” he says, leading me to a table near the coffee machine.
“Thanks for the treats,” he says.
“You’re welcome,” I respond as my eyes move to the sheriff’s office.
So much for not looking.
He’s wearing a different scowl this morning. One that reads he wants to go back on his decision to interview me.
“Fitch, wish me luck.” I beam.
His eyes move over me once in approval.
“Fitch, get back to work,” Sheriff Drake barks out.
“Good luck,” Fitch says before darting into the garage.
“Ms. Walker, in my office. Now.”
My eyes move over the concerned faces. “Enjoy the donuts and coffee, everyone,” I say as I walk toward the sheriff’s office.
“May the Force be with you,” one of the officers says.
Damn, it’s going to be that bad. I need a quote from Star Wars.