He paused at the door. “Phone call?”
“Aren’t I entitled to one?”
He arched a brow. “Once I check out the information you’ve given me.”
“Wouldn’t it be easier if I just called my cousin? She’s helping me move in today.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “What’s your cousin’s name?”
“Sarah Grant. She teaches elementary school here.”
The sheriff froze. “You’ll get your phone call,” he growled.
###
“Sarah!” Libby rushed over to her cousin and hugged her tightly, blinking back tears of relief. It was so good to see a familiar face.
Sarah Grant returned the hug. “Libby.” She stepped back, turning to the tall, dark haired man who had entered the room with her. “This is Chase, my fiancée.” She shared an intimate smile with him.
“What?” Libby almost squealed.
Sarah beamed and held out her hand. Libby gazed at the large solitaire diamond on her cousin’s left hand ring finger and then turned her gaze to the man standing next to Sarah.
“The Chase McCord?” Libby couldn’t help the cheeky grin that lit up her face. “Sarah’s told me a lot about you. Except for the fact that you‘re engaged.”
“It only happened last week.” Sarah blushed. “I wanted to tell you in person.”
Chase’s lips tugged upwards and he wrapped an arm around his fiancée. “And she’s told me about you, too. But she didn’t mention that you’re an alleged con-artist and car thief.”
“He’s an idiot.” Libby scowled. “A total jackass. Anyone can see I’m not a criminal.” She was not going to think about the sheriff’s dark brown eyes or tall, muscular frame. Or lips that looked perfectly kissable. Nope.
“Jake Morgan happens to be a friend of mine.” Chase raised his hands to ward off Libby’s death-ray glare. “I didn’t say I agreed with what happened here. But Jake probably thinks you can’t be too careful.”
Sheriff Jake Morgan. The name definitely suited him. What a shame he was so - so--
Libby blinked as he appeared in the doorway. “Miss Grant, you’re free to go,” the sheriff said gruffly. “Sorry for the mix-up.”
Mix-up? Practically being arrested and interrogated was now being called “a mix-up”? She blew out a deep breath she didn’t even know she’d been holding.
Sarah must have seen the expression on her face because she hastily said, “Thank you, Jake. Come on, Lib.”
Libby raised her chin as she strode past the sheriff. If she ever saw him again, it would be too soon.
“Miss Grant.” She paused, hating the fact that she did so. Reluctantly turning around, she raised an eyebrow. “Yes?” She forced her tone to be completely businesslike.
“Your purse.” He held out her handbag. “Your car is in the parking lot.”
A flush stole over her cheeks. “Thank you.” She took it from him gingerly, careful not to let her fingers touch his. She remembered the tingle she’d felt when he’d escorted her to his vehicle on the highway. She didn’t want to experience that again. No way.
She walked out of the station into the dusky January twilight, Sarah behind her. Libby heard Chase say, “Thanks Jake,” before he caught up with them.
Libby breathed in the frosty air, her breath forming a white cloud in front of her face. “Oooh!”
“I take it Jake isn’t your favorite person right now.”
“You’ve got that right, Chase.” Libby ran her hand through her blond curls. “And I don’t want to think about him or what happened this afternoon ever again.”
Sarah put her arm around Libby. “Let’s get you settled in at the cottage. Chase can get us some pizzas.”
“And wine?”
Both women looked hopefully at Chase.
He chuckled. “Pizza and wine coming right up.”
###
Libby hummed under her breath, placing returned books on the trolley. She’d been working at the library for almost a week now, and seemed to be getting on well with Mrs Bird, the head librarian and only other employee.
She’d quickly settled in her cute two bedroom furnished cottage, three blocks away from the library. One of the perks of living in Coldwater Springs, besides hanging out with Sarah, would be the chance to walk to work in the warmer weather.
Libby glanced down at her soft peach sweater and gray slacks. Somehow her outfit managed to highlight her figure in all the right places and the colors flattered her hair and pale skin. According to magazine articles, there were tons of guys out there who liked a woman with a voluptuous figure. So where was her guy?