Sheriff’s Pregnant Ex by Leslie North

7

Afew nights later, Brian found himself in his living room again, staring mindlessly at the television. He was beat, too tired to walk up the stairs, after an eighteen-hour day. God, he’d be thankful when the rodeo was over and things at the sheriff’s office returned to normal.

He leaned back against the couch and sighed. “Normal” would mean catching up on all the work that had been set aside temporarily. He’d put off reports from last week, but he’d stayed late that night to try to wade through some of them. The county prosecutor would need the documents soon for a few criminal cases. Brian had worked until his eyes hurt before making his way home.

Although his house was quiet, a tense atmosphere seemed to pervade every corner. That had been the way of it since his disagreement with Caitlin in the kitchen. He wasn’t calling it a fight. Angry words hadn’t been exchanged, not really, but it had been clear that she wasn’t happy with him. He hadn’t been very happy with himself, for that matter. He should have realized more about what she’d gone through back then. His family had taken Ethan in—why had no one asked whether it was okay for Caitlin to be left behind?

He flipped the channel, looking for anything that wasn’t serious. Caitlin had been on his mind too much, and for the first time in his career he’d felt distracted at work. Her face, her voice, the fact that she was only feet away from him at night interfered with his thought process.

And they hadn’t cleared the air. He wanted to, but he wasn’t sure where to begin. Tonight probably wouldn’t be a good time for it anyway, since she was already in bed, likely asleep. With her early morning shifts, he was reluctant to disturb her.

His eyes were half-closed when he heard footsteps on the stairs. He sat up straighter and turned to the doorway.

“Hi,” she said. Her hair was mussed from contact with a pillow and she wore an oversized t-shirt that looked leftover from their college days.

“Did I wake you? The television’s too loud. I’m sorry about that.” He lowered the volume, kicking himself for being so thoughtless. He was too used to living alone.

“It’s fine. I wasn’t sleeping.”

“Something keeping you up?” He knew she had worries, above and beyond the situation with her parents, based on the texts he’d read and from what she’d said, but she kept a tough front up most of the time. Her “I’ve got this” persona seemed softened by the late hour.

“You, actually. You’re really late tonight,” she said. “I got worried when I heard sirens about an hour ago.”

“That was just a routine traffic stop,” he explained. Mack had gotten a little overexcited pulling over a speeder on the outskirts of town. Tomorrow, Brian planned to have another conversation with the young deputy in which he once again would ask him to explain his reasoning. Brian figured if he asked that same question enough times, maybe it would take up space in Mack’s brain, and he’d learn to think before he acted.

“Oh, good.” Her face brightened with relief. “My imagination was coming up with all sorts of terrible scenarios.”

“Darby Crossing is a safe place,” he said, but he was touched that she was concerned for him. “My evening consisted of paperwork. Nothing too exciting.”

“You could have brought that home,” she suggested. He liked the way she referred to his house as home. It made him feel warm inside even if he knew that their cohabitation was temporary.

“I do sometimes, but I spread it all over the kitchen table and make a mess. I didn’t want to inconvenience you.” Nor could he afford the distraction of having her near when he had to concentrate. He already struggled to do that in his office. At home, it would be impossible.

“It’s your house,” she pointed out.

“I don’t want to be rude.”

That got a smile from her for some reason. “I’ve never seen you be rude in my life,” she said, and he didn’t know how to respond to that. “I like this show,” she continued. “Do you mind if I sit down and join you?”

“Not at all,” he said, and she sat on the opposite end of the couch, tucking her legs underneath her. He turned the volume back up and they watched an old episode of Parks and Recreation. When they both laughed at the same moment, she shot him a smile.

“I don’t know why this show is so funny, but it is,” she said, and he felt the tension between them ease. Watching a show together late at night had the air of a truce between them. He studied her, wondering again what had happened to bring her home and if there was any chance she’d stay.

The fact that she was worried about him and that something bad had happened in the town suggested she cared. Did that mean the town and some of the people were growing on her? He hoped so, because having her around was growing on him.

At lunchtime the next day, Brian entered the diner. He wished he had time to sit down in a booth, order a big meal, flirt with his favorite waitress, and leave an enormous tip—but he was too busy to do more than pick up a takeout order and eat at his desk. He couldn’t help thinking it was a shame that today of all days found him too rushed for a long lunch. Their evening on the couch had done a lot to restore a friendship between them and he wanted to enjoy time with her while he could.

“Where’s Caitlin?” he asked when Aurora brought him his bagged order.

“She seemed upset about something, so I sent her on break a little early. I think she’s out back. I’d check on her, but…” Aurora gestured to the full diner behind her.

“I’ll do it,” he said. His workload was enormous that day, but he didn’t like the thought of her being upset.

He headed to the small parking lot. Caitlin was facing away from him, but her hands covered her face. “Caitlin?” he kept his voice soft.

It took her a few seconds to turn, and he imagined that she was trying to compose herself. “Getting lunch?” she asked, and he held up the bag in a silent answer.

“Want to split it with me?”

“Not hungry.” She shook her head. “I just needed a minute, some fresh air, you know.”

“Aurora said you seemed upset about something.” He could see it on her face, too. “Was your mother in again?”

“No, not that.” Her hands dropped to her waist, and she rubbed them together nervously.

“Then what?” Now that things were friendlier between them again, he couldn’t resist prying a little. If she was in trouble, then he wanted to help—and he hoped that now that they were friends again, she’d let him. “Why don’t you come sit down with me and we’ll talk?” He was almost surprised when she turned and moved past him to sit on a small bench. He sat next to her and waited for her to begin.

“The short version is that my ex-boyfriend stole money from me,” she said after a minute. “I’m trying to recover it, but I just keep hitting roadblocks.”

“How’d he steal it?” Brian asked. The situation wasn’t unusual, but the method varied, and he wanted as much information as he could get so he could help her.

“He accessed my bank account, transferred the money to his own accounts, withdrew it all in cash, and skipped town. And before you ask how he got into my account, I’ll confess that I kept my passwords written down on a cheat sheet next to my computer. Stupid, I know, but please don’t lecture me on that. Seamus taught me several lessons. That was only one of them.”

“Where is Seamus now?” he asked, wanting to find the guy and pound him. “Do you know?”

“The rumor is he’s in Florida where he’s probably hanging out on a beach, enjoying my money, and having a grand time.”

“Are we talking enough money for this to be grand theft?” That would make the difference on how dedicated law enforcement would be to pursuing the case.

“I…think so? I’m not really sure what the line is for that. He took ten thousand from my personal account, and twenty from a business account my friend Maggie and I had set up so we could start our own tattoo parlor.”

Maggie. She’d been the one to text that she couldn’t deal with Caitlin’s guy drama because she was still pissed about her ex. That made sense if they had planned to go into business together and her money had gotten stolen, too.

“I’m trying to deal with the bank to get my money returned since it was illegally taken from my account, but they said that I need a police report because of the amount,” she continued.

“You didn’t file a report?” Anyone would in that scenario unless…she still had feelings for Seamus and didn’t want to see him go to jail. Brian tugged at his collar. It suddenly felt tight, restrictive. He didn’t like the idea of Caitlin with this guy and worse, protecting him, if that’s what she was doing.

“I tried to,” she sighed. “But the officer I spoke to in Austin seemed to think that I was somehow in on the theft—that it was some insurance scam Seamus and I were running together. And that if I really was a victim, then it was my fault. He belittled me about my password and about being too trusting.”

From what Caitlin had told him about her upbringing, being made to feel stupid and insignificant was a definite trigger for her. He took her hand and held it in his. “You should have asked to see a different officer.”

“I couldn’t,” she insisted, her voice rising. “He was threatening to have me charged with committing fraud unless I let it drop. I was telling the truth, but he made me feel so…inferior that I told him to forget it and left the station.”

He wanted to ask the officer’s name and which precinct he worked out of, because the guy shouldn’t be wearing a badge. He’d get to that, but first he needed to do something for her. “I can help you file the report and start the process of getting your money back.”

“You can?” She perked up. “From here?”

“Yeah, come to the station after your shift ends. I’ll need to call the police department in Austin. Just so you know, I plan to report your negative experience,” he said. “No innocent person should be made to feel guilty or inferior by a police officer.”

“You’d never do that, would you.” It wasn’t a question. He felt warmed by her trust in him. She squeezed his hand. “Thank you. Really, I’ll feel like a weight’s lifted from me if I can get even part of the money back. It wasn’t just mine but Maggie’s, too. She shouldn’t have to pay because I trusted the wrong guy.”

“Happy to help you.” He could have let go of her hand then, but it felt right to sit there with her in the sunshine and have her hand in his.

“Caitlin? Can you come back in, hon? We’re slammed,” Aurora’s voice reached them from the kitchen.

“Gotta run.” She jumped up, breaking the contact between them. “Thanks, again.” A second later, she was gone, leaving him to wonder how else he could help her.

* * *

Caitlin walked out of the sheriff’s office into the late afternoon sunshine, feeling lighter and freer. Brian had made some calls and helped her with the police report, which put her on the road to financial recovery. If her money was returned, she and Maggie could put their dream to own a tattoo parlor back together. The building they’d planned to rent was no longer available, but they could begin the hunt for another place.

She owed Brian a huge thank you. She eyed Carly’s Coffee and Treats across the street. Something sweet? It would make a nice dessert for the dinner Brian would likely eat late in the evening when he got home. His schedule was crazy busy with the rodeo so close, and he’d said it would be another marathon work session for him that day. He deserved a treat.

Caitlin headed to the bakery, surprised to find herself the only customer.

“Hi, girlfriend,” Carly greeted her from behind the counter. “About time you walked through my door.”

“Hi, Carly.” Although Carly was a few years older than Caitlin, they’d been friends before Caitlin left town. “Work’s keeping me busy.”

“I hear you there. It’s good to see your face. What can I get for you?”

“I’m hoping you have a whole pie or cake.” Caitlin looked at the pastries and doughnuts in the case, but that wasn’t what she was after.

“I have cakes in the cooler. What are you interested in? Chocolate? Carrot cake? Vanilla with strawberry filling?” Carly offered.

“That last sounds good.” Caitlin paid for the cake and smiled to herself as she imagined Brian’s expression when he found it waiting for him in the refrigerator.

“I’ll box it up for you. Take just a minute.” Carly disappeared into her backroom, leaving Caitlin alone. She wandered to the large front windows and looked out at the downtown area. Other than seeing her mother, being home had been better than she anticipated. Most people were friendly to her, and the familiarity of it all was comforting. In Austin, she’d been very much on her own. Here, there was more of a sense of community.

Not that she planned to stay. Her sights remained set on returning to Austin and opening her business. The path there had just taken a little detour. With Brian’s help, she felt so much more positive about how that detour was going. He came out of the sheriff’s office just then. He didn’t make it two steps down the sidewalk before being stopped. His hands went to his hips, a typical stance for him, as he talked with a couple who were walking a dog.

She shouldn’t stare at him like she was, but…but her feelings for him were getting increasingly difficult to ignore. She’d lashed out at him in anger a few nights back partly because of the encounter with her mother and partly because she’d been hurt that he wasn’t automatically on her side against her mother.

He knew her better than that, or so she’d thought—though of course, she knew that was unfair. As close as she’d felt to Brian at one time, she knew that she’d held a lot back. They both had, or she would have seen the breakup coming. She’d thought that her brother coming home would signal a turning point in their relationship, that they’d tell Ethan that they were together, and that it would mean things were getting serious. But instead, Ethan’s return had signaled the end.

Brian laughed at something the woman said, clasped his hand briefly on the man’s shoulder, and got in his patrol vehicle that was parked at the curb.

“Well, shoot,” a woman’s voice said from nearby. “I should have stopped at the sheriff’s office first.”

“Huh?” Caitlin swung her head to see Brian’s mother, Laura Thorne, standing there. She’d been so lost in her thoughts that she’d missed the sound of the bakery’s door opening.

“I’ve missed him again.” Laura smiled at her. “But I’m happy to see you. Amy told me that you were back in town working for Aurora.”

“Just temporarily,” Caitlin said. “How have you been, Mrs. Thorne?” Again, Caitlin felt bad that she hadn’t contacted the family after Laura’s husband and son were killed in the accident. She also wanted to ask about Cal and how Laura felt about meeting and building a relationship with the son she’d given up for adoption back in her early life, but she wasn’t sure how to approach the topic. Laura’s generous nature seemed to perceive that.

“You can call me Laura now, you know, and I’m doing well,” the older woman said. “Been changes in my life lately. Good ones.”

“I heard.”

She wondered if Cal realized how lucky he was to find himself part of such a great family. What would it have been like to grow up with a mother like Laura, who was kind and giving? She’d had the merest taste of that when Laura had come to her rescue one day when she’d been in the eighth grade. Caitlin remembered that rainy day so well. She’d won the county’s art contest, not just in the kids’ category but overall, up against adults from all over the county, but she’d had to go to the awards ceremony on her own. Her parents had chosen to go to Ethan’s game instead…and then they never came to pick her up. Her painting had been destroyed while she stood in a downpour waiting for them. Laura, an organizer of the contest, noticed her and gave her a ride home. Caitlin had refused to cry in the car, but she’d had to bite her lip to keep her emotions in, especially when Laura was so nice to her.

“I guess you would have, being Brian’s houseguest.” There was no malice or condemnation in Laura’s tone when she spoke. “It was a shock to see Cal, especially since he looks so much like Luke, but I’m happy to know him and know he was raised by good people.”

“I’m glad for you. I guess it’s fortunate the rodeo brought Cal to town.”

“Sure is.” Laura smiled and pointed across to the sheriff’s office. “I meant to stop over there and see Brian after I got a cup of tea from Carly.”

“I could give him a message if you like,” Caitlin offered. “I’m heading home soon myself.” It was funny to think of Brian’s house as home—but it was starting to feel that way. Especially after her time with Brian late the evening before. They’d done nothing more than watch television, but the tension had been gone between them and in its place had been…something she couldn’t quite define. Something she’d thought she’d seen again in the way he’d looked at her, and earlier that day when he’d taken her hand…

She was probably reading too much into it. Any chance of a real relationship between them had ended years ago when he’d chosen not to jeopardize his friendship with her brother by being with her. That had hurt deeply, but she’d understood it, too.

And she’d been completely over it, she’d thought, until she’d come back to town and started spending time with him once more. She couldn’t be falling for him again, could she? Because that would be a mistake. There was no future for them. Caitlin glanced away to where Carly was re-entering the room to prevent Laura from reading too much on her face.

“It’s nothing important,” Laura said about her offer. “I was just going to say howdy while I was in town.”

“Your order’s ready, Caitlin,” Carly called out. “Don’t eat this cake all by yourself. Hi, Laura.”

“Hello, Carly. Can I get a chamomile tea to go?” Laura asked.

“Sure thing.” Carly turned away to prepare the tea, and Caitlin suddenly felt awkward standing there with Brian’s mother.

“Celebration?” Laura asked with a nod to the cake.

“No, just…” Caitlin felt a blush come to her cheeks. “Just a gift for a friend.”

“Lucky friend,” Laura commented. “Carly’s cakes are delicious.”

Caitlin said a hasty goodbye and went outside with her purchase, feeling rattled. People were nice here, too nice. It was almost enough for her to overcome her prejudice against living so near her parents. But not quite. She wasn’t sure anything could do that, including Brian. Even if he confessed his undying love for her, she’d have a hard time sticking around.

When she arrived at his house, she put the cake in the refrigerator, emptied the dishwasher, and stacked the mail on the table where Brian would see it. Everything about living here was starting to be a little too easy, especially the level of comfort she felt with Brian and his home.

She just had to remember that nothing was going to happen between her and Brian. If she let herself forget, she was going to suffer a broken heart, and she’d already experienced that once with Brian.

Slowly, she climbed the stairs to her bedroom, forcing herself with each step to harden her resolve. She’d do right by Aurora at the diner, save her money, and in a few months return to Austin to pick up the pieces of her life. A life that had no room in it for Brian Thorne.