I shook my head, threw my hand over it in a wave and walked out.
I headed to the market. I wasn’t going to make burgers tomorrow night because the man knew how to make a burger. I’d grill up some steak, but that meant I needed a grill, so I detoured to the hardware store. The kid working greeted me.
“Hey. Can I help you?”
“Yes, I need a grill.”
“What kind of grill?” he asked.
One that you turned on the gas, it got hot and had a grill grate. “There are different kinds of grills?”
That earned me a surprised yet patient look. “Yes, let me show you what we have,” he said, walking me to the wall of grills. It was like buying a car. Did I want the warming unit or the fryer? A smoker attachment? My head was spinning when I heard the deep voice behind me.
“So like a woman.”
The kid chuckled. I turned to see Killian standing behind me, humor in his eyes, stirring memories of our walk from the other day. It took effort not to take him all in, because no one should look that good.
“Can’t decide?” he asked.
Decide what? My gaze lifted from his arms that looked amazing in that tee. “What?”
He jerked his chin. “Can’t decide on a grill.”
The man should come with a warning. I wasn’t even sure I liked him, but I still wasn’t immune. “I’m cooking dinner for Liam tomorrow night. I was going to make steak, so I wanted a grill, but I didn’t know there were so many to choose from.”
He studied me for a few seconds, but what he was thinking I hadn’t a clue. “You can’t go wrong with the Genesis.”
The kid was nodding his head in agreement.
“Okay, the Genesis it is then. Does it come in colors? I asked.
The kid laughed.
Killian muttered something under his breath. I ignored him.
“Yeah, red, copper, black or charcoal gray.”
“I’ll take the gray.”
“You need it delivered?” the kid asked. “What kind of car do you drive?”
“A Jeep.”
“You’ll need it delivered.”
“Put it in my truck. I’ll drop it off. Don’t forget the propane,” Killian said.
I turned my head so fast I got a little lightheaded. “Thanks,” I said, surprised by his offer.
He nodded his head before he strolled from the store.
The kid called through the headset he was wearing. “Need a gray Genesis. Killian’s truck out front. Tank too.” He looked at me. “I’ll ring you up.”
I stepped outside to find Killian on his phone, leaning against his black pickup. He saw me and ended the call. I wondered who he was talking to, a girlfriend maybe.
“No sheriff vehicle?”
“Not in the budget.”
“Thanks for your help,” I said. “I really appreciate it.”
He nodded his head.
“Where are your dogs?” I asked.
“Home.”
I glanced around while we waited and noticed the pie shop a little ways down. I pointed to it then looked back at Killian. “Pie. I like pie.”
Humor danced in those eyes again when the kid came out with my grill.
Chapter Fourteen
killian
Killian drove behind Cedar’s Jeep. Seeing her that first morning, like some kind of erotic Snow White sleeping in the bed he used when work kept him out late, wearing only her lacey bra and panties, all that dark hair spread out over his pillow and after the night he’d had, he wanted to climb into that bed with her. But she’d been with Liam, so that made her off limits.
He should get his head examined, fucking helping her pick out a grill, so she could cook her lover dinner. What the fuck? It was their walk from the other day that had him crossing the store when he saw her. Not many appreciated how serene the silence could be. She seemed to understand it, not filling it with talk, but taking it in, enjoying it. He’d enjoyed the walk, more than he should have.
They pulled down her long drive, and her house came into view. He’d always liked this place. Old man Heller had been a good man. Many thought he was a prick, but he just liked his privacy and expected others to respect that. In thirty more years, Killian would be the old recluse who used his shotgun to keep people off his property.
She drove to the garage, climbed out and opened it, then pulled her Jeep into it. He parked in front of it, got out and noticed the garden she’d added, filled with flowers. Pots of cobalt blue flanked the garage, spilling over with color, as was the large window box hanging under the windows above the garage door.
He looked around, it was really private, and after the shit she pulled the other day. His jaw clenched. Fucking stupidest thing he’d ever seen, her standing toe to toe with Frank. If his fist had connected, he’d have caused serious damage. Frank had taken a spill at the station, a few times. Needed to keep him locked up longer until he found his balance and the bruises healed. He wasn’t likely to come at her, but the man had more muscles than brains and held a grudge. Fucking hell.
“I think I’ll just leave the grill here because Graham and his crew are starting work in two days,” she said when she joined him.
He already knew but still asked, “What are you having done?”
She gave him that look again. Surprised he was talking to her. He bit back the grin. “A covered porch, ripping out the deck in the back and adding a stone patio with a stone fireplace. Replacing the slider door with French doors.”
“Needs a porch,” he said. “Good place for morning coffee.”
She smiled, and he felt that in his gut. “My thoughts exactly.” She turned to him, seemed unsure, but asked anyway. “Would you like something to drink? A cup of coffee or beer?”
“A beer sounds good.”
He’d surprised her again. “Oh, good, okay. Come in,” she said, walking across her lawn to the front door. He didn’t follow immediately, enjoying the view of her ass in her tight jeans. He glanced around. It was quiet out here. Town was safe, but she was alone with no neighbors for miles. He knew she was from New York, understood the wish for privacy and to be left the hell alone, but someone coming from Manhattan to Little Hill, that was a big adjustment. He’d seen the look in her eyes when he asked if she had a death wish. A chill moved through him to realize she did or had. Some wounds didn’t heal she’d said, what was she running from? He told himself he cared because he was the sheriff, and it was his job. He almost convinced himself of the lie.