without Callie needing to know his real purpose for going. She had offered to let Mooch stay with her, saving Nick from having to ask her if she’d mind keeping an eye on the fur ball. While he had no problem with the dog riding shotgun with him, he didn’t like Callie being alone in Spence’s house right now. At the very least, Mooch would warn her if anyone came snooping around.
He cruised through town, swinging by the building that housed both the Snowberry Creek City Hall and the police department. The chief of police’s parking spot was empty, which was disappointing. He drove on toward the small hardware store a few blocks farther down the street.
The woman at the counter pointed him in the direction of the locks. Callie hadn’t said if she was operating on a budget, but it didn’t matter. He would pay for the damn things himself if it came to that. It didn’t take long to pick out the best locks the store had to offer, and Nick bought out their entire supply of window locks. Hopefully, it would be enough to secure the ground floor. He would order more once he knew how many windows the house had.
Back out in the truck, he considered his options. It didn’t take a genius to know that Callie wouldn’t appreciate him discussing her business behind her back. That wouldn’t stop him, though. He owed it to Spence to make sure his woman was safe.
His woman, not Nick’s. It was amazing how much that truth hurt. He was definitely the understudy in this little play, not the star.
Pulling out of the parking lot, he decided he’d do one last pass by the police department. The parking lot was still empty, but as luck would have it, he spotted the police chief walking into the coffee shop. Should he stop or not? When a parking space opened up across the street, he took it as an omen that he should. More likely it was him grasping at straws for an excuse.
The coffee shop was empty except for Gage Logan and the woman behind the counter. They both glanced in his direction as soon as he stepped through the door.
“Do you have a minute, Chief?”
The lawman studied Nick for a second before nodding. “I need to meet my daughter at school in a few minutes. If you don’t mind talking while we walk, I’ve got time.”
“Sounds good, sir.”
The police chief smiled. “Call me Gage. We don’t stand on much formality around here, and ‘sir’ brings back too many memories of when I was in the army.”
Nick gave him a long look, noting the air of quiet authority the man wore like a second skin. “I’m guessing special forces.”
“And you’d be right, even if it seems like it was a lifetime ago. I’m having an iced coffee. What would you like? I’m buying.”
“I’ll have the same.”
They waited in silence until their drinks were ready. Gage dropped a few bills on the counter. “Thanks, Bridey. By the way, this is Nick Jenkins. He’s a friend of Callie’s and served with Spence.”
Bridey’s welcoming smile faded a bit at the mention of Spence’s name. “Welcome to Snowberry Creek, Nick. I was sorry to hear about Spence. I went to high school with both him and Callie. Spence was a good man.”
Her comment, meant to console, triggered a new stab of grief, but Nick hid it behind a smile. “That he was.”
Gage led the way toward the door. “We’d better get going. My daughter nags if I’m late.”
Grateful for the change in subjects, Nick asked, “How old is she?”
“Nine going on thirty.” Gage shook his head with a rueful smile. “Seriously, I can barely keep up with her now. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like when she starts dragging boys home.”
Nick laughed. “Maybe some of that combat training you had will come in handy.”
“Don’t think I haven’t considered it. So what’s up, Nick? I’m assuming you didn’t track me down to discuss the joys of being a single parent.”
Nick waited until they were outside to broach the reason he’d sought out Gage in the
He cruised through town, swinging by the building that housed both the Snowberry Creek City Hall and the police department. The chief of police’s parking spot was empty, which was disappointing. He drove on toward the small hardware store a few blocks farther down the street.
The woman at the counter pointed him in the direction of the locks. Callie hadn’t said if she was operating on a budget, but it didn’t matter. He would pay for the damn things himself if it came to that. It didn’t take long to pick out the best locks the store had to offer, and Nick bought out their entire supply of window locks. Hopefully, it would be enough to secure the ground floor. He would order more once he knew how many windows the house had.
Back out in the truck, he considered his options. It didn’t take a genius to know that Callie wouldn’t appreciate him discussing her business behind her back. That wouldn’t stop him, though. He owed it to Spence to make sure his woman was safe.
His woman, not Nick’s. It was amazing how much that truth hurt. He was definitely the understudy in this little play, not the star.
Pulling out of the parking lot, he decided he’d do one last pass by the police department. The parking lot was still empty, but as luck would have it, he spotted the police chief walking into the coffee shop. Should he stop or not? When a parking space opened up across the street, he took it as an omen that he should. More likely it was him grasping at straws for an excuse.
The coffee shop was empty except for Gage Logan and the woman behind the counter. They both glanced in his direction as soon as he stepped through the door.
“Do you have a minute, Chief?”
The lawman studied Nick for a second before nodding. “I need to meet my daughter at school in a few minutes. If you don’t mind talking while we walk, I’ve got time.”
“Sounds good, sir.”
The police chief smiled. “Call me Gage. We don’t stand on much formality around here, and ‘sir’ brings back too many memories of when I was in the army.”
Nick gave him a long look, noting the air of quiet authority the man wore like a second skin. “I’m guessing special forces.”
“And you’d be right, even if it seems like it was a lifetime ago. I’m having an iced coffee. What would you like? I’m buying.”
“I’ll have the same.”
They waited in silence until their drinks were ready. Gage dropped a few bills on the counter. “Thanks, Bridey. By the way, this is Nick Jenkins. He’s a friend of Callie’s and served with Spence.”
Bridey’s welcoming smile faded a bit at the mention of Spence’s name. “Welcome to Snowberry Creek, Nick. I was sorry to hear about Spence. I went to high school with both him and Callie. Spence was a good man.”
Her comment, meant to console, triggered a new stab of grief, but Nick hid it behind a smile. “That he was.”
Gage led the way toward the door. “We’d better get going. My daughter nags if I’m late.”
Grateful for the change in subjects, Nick asked, “How old is she?”
“Nine going on thirty.” Gage shook his head with a rueful smile. “Seriously, I can barely keep up with her now. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like when she starts dragging boys home.”
Nick laughed. “Maybe some of that combat training you had will come in handy.”
“Don’t think I haven’t considered it. So what’s up, Nick? I’m assuming you didn’t track me down to discuss the joys of being a single parent.”
Nick waited until they were outside to broach the reason he’d sought out Gage in the
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