up at the sky silently
praying for a bolt of lightning to take him out at that moment.
“Sheriff. It seems some things never change. Once an ass always an ass.”
Franki’s reaction to Brandon was so relaxed that it just ratcheted up Roman’s
tension more.
“This”—he gestured around them wildly—“is not my fault, damn it.”
“I wouldn’t be standing here if you hadn’t run over my bike, so technically,
it’s all your fault.” She grumbled, her full lips curling up into a sexy snarl that
made his balls ache. Why in the hel did he find her anger sexy? She was a damn
confusing woman.
“She’s got ya there, Romeo,” Bran said with a chuckle. “How are the repairs
going on your motorcycle, Miss Scott?”
“Franki, please. And as of last night, Vin had fixed everything he could on it,
and he was waiting on parts.”
“So you’re sticking around for a bit then, huh?” Bran wasn’t being firtatious,
but Roman still felt jealousy kicking up in his chest at the easy way Franki spoke
to the other man.
“Looks like I’m stuck here.” Franki said with a nod.
“Well then you should join us this weekend for the town’s annual fair and
barbeque. It’s not much compared to the kind of affair they put on in St. Paul,
but—”
“Thanks, but I’m not really much of a fair kind of girl.”
Franki’s interruption seemed to surprise Bran who gave her a strange look,
and then stood a little straighter frowning at Roman. “All right. Roman I assume
you’ll be there?”
Talk about being put on the spot. Bran may as wel have just said, “Prove
you’re willing to work for her.”
“Wouldn’t miss it. Marilyn’s planning on making up something special for
the pie eating contest this year. I heard her mention strawberries and chocolate.”
Roman said refusing to meet Franki’s eyes. He was going to use this as an
opportunity. If he could show her how good life was in Montford, maybe she’d
relax and give the place an honest chance once they found her sister. Franki
needed a stable place to put down some roots, and there was no better place than
Crawley Creek Ranch.
“Good, because I’m a judge this year.”
Franki snorted at Bran, “Good grief, what is this place? Mayberry? The
sheriff is the pie contest judge, and you’re probably on the town council and the
school board too. The only thing you’re missing is a sidekick deputy.”
Roman instinctively took a step forward placing his body between her and
his friend. As much as he knew Bran would never harm Franki, he also knew how
seriously Brandon Bowers took his job. The words she picked had struck their
mark.
“Excuse me Ms. Scott, but I happen to believe that the more involved the
sheriff is in the town’s comings and goings the better off the community is. I can
tell that our way of life doesn’t quite suit you. Good luck getting your bike fixed
and getting back home.” Bran’s words were curt but he gave them both a polite
nod before he spun on his boot heel and walked away. The tense line of his spine
assured Roman that the sheriff was pissed.
When Franki didn’t respond to the tart goodbye, Roman turned to face her
full on and folded his arms over his chest. “Are you doing your best to piss off
everyone you meet?”
She shrugged and looked away, but not before he saw the hurt in her eyes.
Maybe she didn’t even realize how catty she sounded when she spoke to people.
“Look, I get it. You’re stressed about your sister, and you’re in an unfamiliar
place, so you’re on edge, but please stop trying to push people away. I can help
you. I want to help you. Hell, Bran could be one of the fastest ways to find your
sister, but you just went and insulted him.”
“I don’t want to involve the police. It could get Vivi hurt.” She said
immediately turning a shade too pale for his liking.
“I know, that’s why I didn’t bring it up to him, but think about it, Franki. I’ve
talked
praying for a bolt of lightning to take him out at that moment.
“Sheriff. It seems some things never change. Once an ass always an ass.”
Franki’s reaction to Brandon was so relaxed that it just ratcheted up Roman’s
tension more.
“This”—he gestured around them wildly—“is not my fault, damn it.”
“I wouldn’t be standing here if you hadn’t run over my bike, so technically,
it’s all your fault.” She grumbled, her full lips curling up into a sexy snarl that
made his balls ache. Why in the hel did he find her anger sexy? She was a damn
confusing woman.
“She’s got ya there, Romeo,” Bran said with a chuckle. “How are the repairs
going on your motorcycle, Miss Scott?”
“Franki, please. And as of last night, Vin had fixed everything he could on it,
and he was waiting on parts.”
“So you’re sticking around for a bit then, huh?” Bran wasn’t being firtatious,
but Roman still felt jealousy kicking up in his chest at the easy way Franki spoke
to the other man.
“Looks like I’m stuck here.” Franki said with a nod.
“Well then you should join us this weekend for the town’s annual fair and
barbeque. It’s not much compared to the kind of affair they put on in St. Paul,
but—”
“Thanks, but I’m not really much of a fair kind of girl.”
Franki’s interruption seemed to surprise Bran who gave her a strange look,
and then stood a little straighter frowning at Roman. “All right. Roman I assume
you’ll be there?”
Talk about being put on the spot. Bran may as wel have just said, “Prove
you’re willing to work for her.”
“Wouldn’t miss it. Marilyn’s planning on making up something special for
the pie eating contest this year. I heard her mention strawberries and chocolate.”
Roman said refusing to meet Franki’s eyes. He was going to use this as an
opportunity. If he could show her how good life was in Montford, maybe she’d
relax and give the place an honest chance once they found her sister. Franki
needed a stable place to put down some roots, and there was no better place than
Crawley Creek Ranch.
“Good, because I’m a judge this year.”
Franki snorted at Bran, “Good grief, what is this place? Mayberry? The
sheriff is the pie contest judge, and you’re probably on the town council and the
school board too. The only thing you’re missing is a sidekick deputy.”
Roman instinctively took a step forward placing his body between her and
his friend. As much as he knew Bran would never harm Franki, he also knew how
seriously Brandon Bowers took his job. The words she picked had struck their
mark.
“Excuse me Ms. Scott, but I happen to believe that the more involved the
sheriff is in the town’s comings and goings the better off the community is. I can
tell that our way of life doesn’t quite suit you. Good luck getting your bike fixed
and getting back home.” Bran’s words were curt but he gave them both a polite
nod before he spun on his boot heel and walked away. The tense line of his spine
assured Roman that the sheriff was pissed.
When Franki didn’t respond to the tart goodbye, Roman turned to face her
full on and folded his arms over his chest. “Are you doing your best to piss off
everyone you meet?”
She shrugged and looked away, but not before he saw the hurt in her eyes.
Maybe she didn’t even realize how catty she sounded when she spoke to people.
“Look, I get it. You’re stressed about your sister, and you’re in an unfamiliar
place, so you’re on edge, but please stop trying to push people away. I can help
you. I want to help you. Hell, Bran could be one of the fastest ways to find your
sister, but you just went and insulted him.”
“I don’t want to involve the police. It could get Vivi hurt.” She said
immediately turning a shade too pale for his liking.
“I know, that’s why I didn’t bring it up to him, but think about it, Franki. I’ve
talked
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