Sheriff’s City Girl

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Mason

“ Y ou know how many sheriffs stop and eat breakfast somewhere? Lots of them. You wouldn’t see it in every movie if it weren’t true,” Jackson, a deputy in my department, urged as he kicked the door of my old Bronco open with his cowboy boot.

“I prefer my breakfast,” I grunted, reaching for the bagel in a plastic baggy on the console. I wasn’t one for a big breakfast—and not to mention, it cut into time that we needed to be working. The department was understaffed on a busy day and overstaffed on a normal one.

Jackson gave me a side eye as he hovered just outside on the passenger side. “Listen, Sheriff, with all due respect…” He pointed to the food in my hand. “Don’t bring that in with ya. Talk about an insult to the chef.”

“And I am saving money.” I shrugged. “I don’t see a problem with it. You’re buying a meal. It all evens out.”

“And I’ll buy your meal this morning to avoid the embarrassment,” he shot back at me. “Leave the damn bagel, Mason.” Jackson was a good fifteen years younger than me, but since he had started at the department, we had become friends of some sort.

With a grunt, I tossed my preferred breakfast back down on the console. “We’re wasting precious work time.”

“Yeah, okay,” Jackson rolled his eyes. “Once you see Emma Fisher, the woman who opened this place, you’re guaranteed to change your mind.” He slammed the passenger door shut on my 1970’s Bronco, and I let out a sigh. I gave zero shits about Emma Fisher. She could be the Queen of England, and I still wouldn’t be thrilled about it.

Reluctantly, I slid out and shut the door, locking it before I stepped up onto the sidewalk of Main Street in Millfield, Texas. It was hotter than usual for an October morning, and the air felt heavy with humidity.

“I bet it’s gonna rain today,” Jackson commented as we neared the entrance of the café. “She’s done a really good job with this old building,” he added, gesturing to the brand new windows lining the old brick building. Millfield had the historic charm of most western towns, and Main Street was the central hub for the history, lined with old 1800s styled buildings.

“Good to see the space being used,” I agreed, thinking of how long this spot had been left empty with the ‘for lease’ sign hanging outside. Not many people moved here, but not many people left, either.

“Yeah, maybe it’ll stimulate the economy.” Jackson chuckled as he opened the door, the scent of baked goods and fresh coffee slamming into my nostrils like a freight train.

Holy shit.

“That smells amazing, ” I groaned as I took a step in.

“I told ya.” He patted me on the shoulder as he followed me in. Both of us removed our cowboy hats, Jackson revealing his pale blonde hair while mine was nearly black—with a little gray these days. “It’s a sit anywhere kinda place,” he added as he led the way to a back booth.

I took in the little posh bakery, decorated in a very… non-western way. It made me feel as though I had walked into a hippy surf shop in California or something—and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.

“She’s a quirky lady,” Jackson remarked as if he had read my mind. “Just wait until you see her though. I’m not into older women, but she’s something else.”

I rolled my eyes. “I ain’t got enough fingers and toes to count the times you’ve said that about a woman.”

“Nah, I know. I mean, I wouldn’t ever go for her, but still. You get what I’m sayin’. And she’s real nice, too.”

“Are you trying to play matchmaker or something?” I snapped, growing annoyed. “Because you and I both know how well that works out.”

“It doesn’t because you never agree to any dates.” Jackson let out a sharp breath as he leaned back in his seat, folding his arms across his chest. “You’re a miserable human being—and I don’t know how you get elected year after year. You’re the biggest fuddy dud this town has to offer.”

I laughed, shaking my head at him as he sat there pouting like a damn kid. “Someone’s gotta be serious around here—and once you’re the parent of a teenager, you’ll understand.”

“Oof,” Jackson shuddered. “What’s Jess up to now?”

“She’s got some new friends that I don’t like,” I began, irritation brewing just at the thought of them. “She’s got a good head on her shoulders, but I don’t like—” I stopped mid-sentence as I caught sight of a woman appearing from the back room .

Holy…

Her honey-brown hair cascaded down her back, pulled out of her face with a loose low ponytail. Her petite frame was clad in an olive-green dress that went all the way to her ankles, dotted with some sort of little floral pattern. Whoever she was, she reminded me of some sort of gypsy, wearing some kind of fabric in her hair and silver bracelets and necklaces. And while she wore a loose-fitting dress of sorts, it sure as hell still teased at the curves beneath.

“That’s Emma,” Jackson said, his voice sounding distant in the moment.

I ripped my eyes from hers, suddenly aware that my lips were parted. Clearing my throat, I reached for a menu, ignoring the smirk on my deputy’s face. “Huh.”

“Told you she was something,” he chuckled, his eyes darting in her direction.

“Good morning, Jackson,” a sweet, airy voice said. I kept my attention on the menu, already knowing who was saying the words. The tone matched the vision of a woman I had just seen.

“Mornin’ Emma,” he said in his heavy Texas drawl. I fought the urge to roll my eyes, already knowing he was laying the charm on thick.

Just like always.

This is why I never run around with the young deputies.

“You must be Sheriff Hewitt.”

I forced my eyes up from the menu, meeting a pair of dark green eyes dotted with hues of gold—even her eyes were magical. “Morning,” I managed to grunt, my mouth growing drier than the West Texas desert.

“Jackson told me he was going to bring you here,” she beamed, her whole face bright. There was a hint of crimson in her cheeks, but I didn’t let it get to my confidence. After all, she might be the prettiest woman I’d ever seen in this county, but there was no way in hell I’d be chasing her.

I didn’t go there with women anymore.

“Will you be having your usual?” She turned to Jackson when I didn’t answer quickly enough.

He comes here enough to have a usual? Has he been doing this on shift time?

“Yeah, I think I will.”

“And what can I get for you, Sheriff? It’s on the house this morning. I like to support our local law enforcement—the first visit, anyway.” She giggled afterward, shooting me a playful wink that made my heart stop.

“I, uh…” I glanced down at the menu. “I usually just have a bagel for breakfast. I don’t like to eat anything heavy…”

“Perfect, how about one of our homemade bagels? Would you like anything on it? I have strawberry cream cheese that is to die for.”

I rubbed my jaw, taking in her high cheek bones and plump lips— she looked like something to fucking die for. “Yeah, that’ll do. Thanks.”

“Coffees for you both, too?”

Jackson and I both nodded before she walked away. I watched her go, admiring the way her hips swayed, the fabric of her dress moving as if there was a gentle breeze in the café.

“You might wanna wipe that drool off your nose, boss,” Jackson snickered, before bursting into a full-blown hearty laugh. “I mean, I know she’s a looker, but damn , I think that’s the first time I’ve ever seen you stumble over your words.”

“Shut up,” I grunted, reaching into my pocket for my cell phone. It was full of notifications, mostly spam emails, but I saw a text from my best friend, Lucas.

You wanna work the security for the Lowe Creek Ranch Annual BBQ?

I let out a heavy sigh. “I don’t know why he ever even bothers to ask me.”

“What?” Jackson furrowed his brow. “You talkin’ to yourself again?”

I shot him a warning look, tempted to remind him that I could fire him as quickly as I had hired him. “It’s for the Lowe Creek BBQ shindig that gets put on every year.”

“Ah, yeah. I’m actually taking a date this year to it.” Jackson sounded more than proud of himself.

“Well, you’ll have to alternate a security shift with me, so hopefully, she’s the patient kind.”

His shoulders slumped. “Aw man, come on. It’s Genna Williams. You know how long I’ve been working on getting her to say yes to anything ? For-freaking-ever.”

“Yeah, you still gotta work.”

Jackson looked for a second like he might protest it, but he didn’t—probably because Emma returned with two cups of coffee and a basket of sugar and cream. “Thank you, ma’am.”

“You’re both very welcome,” she chirped, meeting my gaze for a split second. I nodded to her as a way of saying thanks, and she lingered for a moment… My stomach tensed with a flutter, but I pushed it off.

Mason Hewitt doesn’t date. Women are nothin’ but trouble.

She pulled her gaze from mine, leaving me feeling disappointed, regardless of the rules I’d set for myself. “I’ll be back with your breakfast in just a sec.”

“You’re really hung up on her,” Jackson reiterated as soon as she was out of earshot again. “You know you could just ask her out, take her to the BBQ and dance. I’ll bet she ain’t even heard of it.”

I shook my head. “Nah, I gotta work the early shift of the night, and I’ll be trying to keep an eye on Jess.”

“She’s a sophomore in high school, Mason,” Jackson pointed out. “You gotta let the girl breathe a little. I was tryin’ to figure myself out when I was that age, and that’s hard to do when your dad is up your ass all the time.”

“You still ain’t got yourself figured out,” I joked, covering the fact that I knew he had a point. I was kind of a helicopter parent when it came to Jess, but…

I had seen a lot of bad in the world, and I just wanted to protect her from it.

Emma returned with our breakfast before we could carry the conversation any further. “Here you boys go.” She sat down a bagel with a pink-tinted cream cheese spilling from the sides while setting some sort of pastry in front of Jackson.

“Thank you, ma’am,” I beat Jackson to the punch this time.

“You’re welcome. Try it,” she motioned to the bagel. “I just love to get new feedback from customers. It makes my day… Well, or ruins it,” she added with an enchanted laugh.

I swallowed my nerves and took a bite of the warm, crispy bread. The strawberry cream cheese was sweet, adding to the fluffy texture of the bagel. “Holy…” my voice trailed off as I chewed. “This is good. ”

Jackson burst into laughter. “I told you, you just had to try it and you’d see. This is by far the best place to eat in town now.”

“Thank you,” she beamed. “I’m so glad you like it. We serve lunch and dinner as well, though I keep most of our meals on the lighter side. For that reason, we close at eight.”

I nodded, still trying to process the delectable breakfast. It put my usual to shame. However, before I could finish chewing, someone called for Emma, and she gave us both smiles.

“Enjoy your meal. Don’t worry about ringing up at the front. Like I said, this one’s on the house.” She tapped the table and then disappeared, off to take care of others.

“So you approve?” Jackson eyed me.

“I gotta give it to you on this one. This is pretty damn tasty.”

And I bet Emma is, too.

The thought was startling, and before I beat myself up for it, my phone rang. I picked it up, answering. “Sheriff Hewitt.”

“Hey,” Lindy, one of the deputies, answered. “We got a problem off County Road 90. Tim Reef’s cattle are out.”

“Again?” I groaned.

“Yeah, but there’s a vehicle accident involved this time.”

“ Shit. Be there shortly.”