Dogwood Days (12 page)

“I hear the coffee, so no. But perhaps you could bring me one of Gracie’s scones?”

“No problem.”

“So how was last night?”

Jefferson grinned.

“That good, huh?” Uncle Sherman asked.

“He’s pretty amazing.” And the kiss he’d gotten on the front porch when Zane dropped him off? Holy hell, had his toes curled. That big rough hand caressing his cheek and those fantastic lips that he’d not really paid that much attention to before, but now he couldn’t get them out of his mind. He planned on kissing Zane again as soon as possible.

“He’s a good man.”

“So you approve?”

Uncle Sherman huffed. “Like you need my approval.”

“Nope, don’t need it. Pretty sure I already have it, though.”

“You do.”

Jefferson heard a car pull into the driveway and grabbed his jacket off the coatrack. “Be back soon. Zane has to go to Woodville today.”

“Don’t forget my scone.”

“I won’t.”

Jefferson hurried outside and found the sheriff sitting in the cruiser waiting on him. Dressed in his uniform. Oh, he was getting kissed. Definitely.

He climbed into the car and didn’t even wait to shut the door before he’d leaned over and hooked his hand around Zane’s neck. He pulled the sheriff closer and kissed him with all the pent-up desire he’d been holding in since last night. Zane grabbed Jefferson and pulled him closer still and tangled their tongues together. Jefferson’s entire body was ablaze. Damn, he needed more than a kiss, but sitting in the sheriff’s cruiser in his uncle’s driveway wasn’t the right place for it.

“Mmm,” Zane mumbled when Jefferson finally pulled away. “That’s a perfect way to start the day.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

Zane made the short drive over to the diner, and they walked in side by side.

Gracie beamed at them from her position behind the counter. “Morning, boys. Did you have a nice dinner last night?”

“Yes, ma’am. Although the food’s not as good as yours,” Zane replied.

“I’ll bring you some breakfast. Jefferson Lee, you need something to take home to your uncle?”

“He requested a scone, Gracie.”

“I’ll get a fresh batch going, then. They’ll be ready before you’re done eating.”

They sat at one of the tables near the window, and Jefferson glanced across the table at Zane. “You’re okay with all this, right? I mean, everybody clearly knows.”

“Yep.”

“’Kay.”

“You okay with it?” Zane asked.

Jefferson shrugged. “Never really thought about it. I mean, they all know what team I play for, but I wasn’t sure if it was okay for you.”

“I made it abundantly clear when I arrived that I date men, Jefferson Lee. A few of the ladies were apparently disappointed that the new single sheriff wasn’t available, but I don’t hide who I am.”

“Good. But, um, you know that everyone is going to be all in our business, right?”

“I expect so.”

“And you don’t mind?”

“What’s to mind? I had an amazing dinner with the best-looking guy in town, and now I get to sit across the table from him at breakfast.”

“That’s nice.”

“Good. So tell me that you didn’t get any sleep last night either. I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“I woke up smiling,” Jefferson confessed.

“That’s good. I’ll do my best to keep it that way.”

“You’re really too sweet. Don’t you have some big dark secret or something?”

“I hate okra. Really hate it. And I’m a mite on the jealous side, so there’s that.”

“You can’t consider yourself Southern if you hate okra.”

“Then I suppose I can’t consider myself Southern, because that crap is disgusting.”

Jefferson laughed and then turned to his phone as it began to buzz. Clover. He hit ignore and stuck the phone into his pocket.

“If it makes you feel any better, I think pickled beets should be banned from the planet. They taste like dirt. I don’t know how anybody can eat them.”

Zane grinned at him, then leaned back as one of Gracie’s granddaughters delivered their breakfasts to the table. Zane had a plate of eggs, bacon, and grits, while Jefferson’s contained an egg, English muffin, and small bowl of fruit. Jefferson shot a glare over his shoulder at Gracie, who cackled and patted her stomach.
Yeah, yeah.
He rolled his eyes at her and turned back to his breakfast and the man across the table.

“She hates me,” he grumbled.

“Nah, she only picks on people she likes. She gives me bacon because I pouted the one time she left it off.”

“I told her one time that I wanted to watch what I ate. And that was like two years ago. She never forgets a thing.”

“Nope, she really doesn’t.”

“So you really won’t be back tonight? What’s in Woodville, anyway?”

Zane grinned. “I’ll be back. Just late. My deputy over there is taking his wife to Asheville for their anniversary, so I’m working for him tonight and tomorrow. I’ll spend the night here, though. It’s only a fifteen-minute drive with lights and sirens if something happens, and they have their volunteer rescue squad there to cover any other emergencies.”

Gracie’s granddaughter returned with the coffee pot in one hand and the diner’s portable phone in the other. “Phone call for you, Jefferson Lee.”

Jefferson scowled at it before taking it from her hand. “Hello?”

“Jefferson Lee Davis, how dare you ignore my phone call?”

“Clover, I’m busy. What the hell?”

“You’re not busy. You’re sitting in the diner having breakfast with the sheriff. Thanks for telling me you had a date last night by the way. Very nice of you. Our friendship is clearly very valuable to you.”

“Oh, shut it. What do you want?”

“Come by my house once you’re done ogling the sheriff.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Jefferson Lee, do not make me march down there to the diner. You will not like what happens.”

“Fine. Sheesh. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Good.” She hung up the phone.

“Clover?” Zane asked.

“How’d you guess?”

“I could hear her screeching. It’s pretty distinctive.”

Jefferson chuckled. “I suppose it is. Wonder what’s got her dander up this morning.”

“Who knows. Although with Dogwood Days starting this weekend, she’s probably got a to-do list a mile and a half long.”

“Oh joy.”

Zane grinned and continued eating his breakfast.

By the time they finished, Gracie had delivered a little bakery box to the table with Uncle Sherman’s scones. Jefferson walked back out to the cruiser with Zane, and they stood there for a moment before the sheriff tugged him closer and gave him a quick kiss. “Can I call you when I get back? It’ll be late.”

“Yeah.”

“’Kay. Have a great day, Jefferson Lee.”

“You too. Be careful.”

Zane climbed into the cruiser and put on his hat. He backed out of the parking spot and waved before he drove off.

Damn. He had it bad.

Jefferson hurried back to Uncle Sherman’s and dropped off the scones. His uncle had one of the ladies from town visiting, so Jefferson plated up the pastries and started a fresh pot of coffee for them.

“Uncle Sherman, Clover asked me to stop by this morning. You need anything before I go?”

“I’m good. You remember Ms. Linda from over at the library?”

“Of course. Good morning, Ms. Linda. Pardon my manners. How are you?”

“I’m wonderful, Jefferson Lee. I stopped by to talk to your uncle about the blog post you did last week.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes. I have quite a few photos of Holly Creek from the past and offered to scan them all into the system if they would be of use to you.”

“That would be wonderful, Ms. Linda. I didn’t know you had all that.”

“Mrs. Delgado left them to the library on her passing. They had quite the collection.”

“I’d love to go through them sometime.”

“I hoped you would. I’ll get to work on them. You stop by whenever you can.”

“I’ll do that. Maybe after the Dogwood Festival is over? I know these next couple weeks are busy for everyone.”

“They certainly are. I’ll look forward to your visit.”

“Uncle Sherman, you all set?”

“I am. The mayor will be stopping by this morning to go over our agenda for tonight’s aldermen’s meeting.”

“Okay, I’m off, then. Back as soon as I can.”

Jefferson grabbed his messenger bag and made the short walk down to Clover’s house. She opened the door and glared at him.

“What? Come on. I’m too happy to deal with you in a pissy mood.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were interested in the sheriff?”

“Can I at least have a drink before the inquisition begins?”

Clover huffed and led him into the kitchen. Stacks of paperwork covered her table, and she looked really flustered. She made him a glass of tea, though, and handed it over.

“Okay, here’s the God’s honest truth. I had no idea I was interested in the sheriff.”

“Really?”

“I swear. It sort of snuck up on me.”

“Well, I’d have never used him to make the mayor jealous if I’d known. I feel quite foolish.”

“Don’t. If you hadn’t done that, he wouldn’t have gotten mad at me, and I’d never have realized what was going on. So see? You played cupid twice in one day and didn’t even know it. Gotta be a new record.”

She smirked and sank down at the table.

“Now what has your panties in a twist?”

“Ugh. You’re so crude.”

“Yeah, and…?”

“And the Dogwood Days events are making me insane. Everyone is so busy, and I am neglecting my shop because all of this is taking so much time, but I don’t dare complain. Every Holly Berry leader for the past hundred years has handled all of these duties with dignity and grace, and I refuse to do any less.”

“Wait. Shop? What shop? Since when do you have a shop?”

Clover rolled her eyes. “I’m thrilled that you think I’m independently wealthy, Jefferson Lee, but yes, I have a shop. I sell crafts online. And do not make one single joke or I really will stab you.”

“Huh. Why didn’t I know that?”

“Because we’ve never talked about it, and I’ve only been in business for a year or so. I mean, I did get some family money when my grandparents passed, and Mama and Daddy gave me the house when they decided to become snowbirds, but still, I have to have an income.”

“You’re amazing. Show me some of your stuff.”

Clover whimpered. “Jefferson Lee, that’s not the problem.”

“I don’t care. I wanna see. Show me.”

“Fine.” She pushed herself to her feet and stomped up the stairs. Jefferson followed. The house was laid out very similarly to his uncle’s, with the bedrooms all upstairs. Clover led him to one and pushed open the door.

“Holy crap,” Jefferson exclaimed. “You made all this stuff?”

“Well, most of it is considered upcycling. I find pieces at different thrift stores and antique shops and fix them up.”

“Brilliant. Honestly, Clover. This is amazing.”

“Thank you. My workshop is actually in the garage. I’ve become quite adept at sanding.”

“You sell stuff at the festivals too?”

“I try. Clover’s Creations generally has a booth, but now that I’m leading the Holly Berries, my time is short. I don’t know what to do, Jefferson Lee. I feel like I’m going to make the town look bad. There are only so many hours in the day.”

“I’m going to regret asking this, but what can I do to help?”

FOURTEEN AND
a half hours later, Jefferson finally made it back to Uncle Sherman’s. Perhaps that was a slight exaggeration, but it really was dark outside, and he’d not managed to eat dinner yet. And he hadn’t heard from Zane, not that he thought he would, but he’d found himself checking his phone throughout the day just in case the sheriff called or sent him a message.

Now he had to get his uncle down to Town Hall for the aldermen’s meeting, so he still wouldn’t have time to eat.

Uncle Sherman was waiting on him when he arrived, eying the clock impatiently.

“Sorry, sorry. Had to run a million errands for Clover. Got some great pictures for the blog, though. So I was kind of multitasking.”

“That’s good. I’m looking forward to getting out of the house for a while. I’m not used to being so cooped up.”

“You want me to give you a push or should I drive us down?”

“Why don’t you drive, and I’ll use the crutches? Dr. Alley said I need to walk some every day now that the swelling has gone down and the boot is properly fitted.”

“Okay. Did the doc stop by today while I was gone?”

“He did. I will need to go back to the hospital for X-rays in a few days to check the healing process.”

“Not a problem. I should still be here.”

“What do you mean, should?”

Jefferson blinked, then sighed. “I….”

“I know. I can’t expect you to stay in Holly Creek forever. It’s just been so nice having you here.”

“I’ve got to have a job, and there’s really not much I can do here, Uncle Sherman. As fun as it is, I can’t live with you and write on the blog forever.”

“If there were something here, though, would you stay?”

Jefferson thought about his answer while helping Uncle Sherman out to the car. “Yeah, I think I would.”

Uncle Sherman beamed for the entire ride to Town Hall. Jefferson wanted to jump off the nearest building by the time the aldermen’s meeting was over, finding it nearly as horrible as the Holly Berry meeting. He’d taken good notes, though, making note of things he thought Zane would need to know.

By the time they made it back to the house, Jefferson wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed. He’d just stripped down to his boxers after getting Uncle Sherman settled when his phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Hey there.”

“Zane,” Jefferson sighed into the phone. He cringed at his ridiculousness. “How was your day?”

“Good. I’m on my way back to my place. I have you on speaker phone, so don’t fuss at me for talking and driving.”

“But isn’t that against the law, Sheriff?”

“No comment. What’d you do today?”

“Died a million slow deaths. You?”

“Chased down a few speeders, harassed a man into cleaning up his yard after the town council got a half dozen complaints on it this week.”