Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

“I’m absolutely not,” Abbie said, her tone light but edged with something she couldn’t quite name. “Watching you play farmhand was the highlight of my day.”

Beau’s lips twitched that infuriating smirk of his making a reappearance. “Jealous, Carter?”

“Of a goat?” she shot back, lifting her chin. “Hardly.”

“Not the goat,” Beau said, his voice dropping just enough to send a shiver down her.

Abbie’s heart skipped a beat, but she refused to let him see it. Instead, she rolled her eyes again, though the color in her cheeks betrayed her. “Please. As if I’d waste my energy on that.”

“Whatever you say,” Beau replied, his tone teasing but his gaze sharp as if he were seeing right through her. How was he able to do that, she wondered, when no one else could?

They stared at each other for a long moment. Abbie hated how easily he could frazzle her concentration, how he could rile her up with just a look. She hated it even more that a small part of her liked it.

Finally, she broke the silence. “So, is goat rescue part of your usual duties, or is this just your way of keeping things interesting?”

Beau chuckled, shaking his head. “You’d be surprised how often animals cause trouble in small towns like this. Keeps us on our toes, I’m told.”

Abbie arched an eyebrow. “Well, I’m glad to know the town’s finest are on the case.”

“Glad to know you’re so supportive of the work we do,” Beau said, his tone dry.

“Oh, I’m supportive,” Abbie said, her voice taking on a saccharine sweetness. “I just think maybe you should prioritize actual investigations over livestock retrieval.”

Beau’s smirk widened, and Abbie’s fingers twitched. The thought startled her, and she quickly pushed it aside.

Before she could come up with another retort, her phone buzzed on the desk. She glanced at the screen, her brows furrowing when she saw the name flashing on the display.

“Teddy,” she muttered under her breath.

Beau’s head tilted, his sharp gaze locking onto her. “Teddy Van Meter?” he asked, his tone neutral but with an edge that made her stomach flip.

Abbie ignored the way her heart picked up speed and nodded. “Yeah. Guess he’s decided to grace me with a call.”

Beau crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Find out what he wants. Let me listen. If you don’t mind.”

Abbie shrugged, though the curiosity in her chest was undeniable. Her fingers hovered over the screen for a moment to give Beau a chance to move closer before she hit the green button and then the hands-free button. She couldn’t help but glance at Beau, who was watching her intently. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in his eyes that sent a thrill of satisfaction through her.

He stood next to her and nodded. Abbie wasted no time in answering. “Hello, Teddy,” she said, her voice cool and composed. “What can I do for you?”

As Teddy’s voice filled the room, smooth and confident as always, Abbie’s gaze lingered on Beau. She couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking, whether he was annoyed or indifferent or maybe a little bit jealous.

She smiled to herself, letting the thought simmer as she listened to Teddy’s pitch. For the first time all day, she felt like she had the upper hand.