Chapter 15

15

"Hey Sarah." Caleb smiled at his big sister standing at the end of their table, but he was painfully aware of Grace's rigid posture and white-knuckled grip on her coffee. His concern deepened. Seeing Sarah was freaking her out.

Fuck.

He shouldn't care. Caring meant forming connections, and connections left you vulnerable. But for the first time in what felt like a lifetime, he teetered on the edge of an emotional precipice. He wanted to be there for Grace, to support her through whatever trouble she faced.

"Grace. This is my sister, Sarah. Sarah, this is Grace."

Sarah steepled her hands on the table. She looked as immaculate as ever. Her sheriff badge shone and her uniform was creaseless. "Hi Grace."

Faint color filled Grace's cheeks, but the bruise on her face was still visible. His jaw flexed. That wouldn't be happening again. Not while he was around.

"Hi. Lovely to meet you." Grace's chest rose and fell too fast.

God, he was slow off the mark today. After everything Grace had been through, of course, she would freak out faced with a sheriff. Especially one as intimidating as Sarah. Hell, she intimidated him sometimes.

"Grace…?" Sarah raised her eyebrows, making no bones about her interest. Her curiosity was one reason she made such a damn good sheriff.

"Grace Henderson." Grace extended her hand.

Caleb suppressed a frown. The men chasing her had called her Bailey.

Sarah shook her hand, then rocked back on her heels. "Are you new in town?"

Caleb held up a hand. "Spare us the inquisition. Grace is just passing through. Her car was totaled by black ice and Mitch is fixing it up for her." He suppressed a sigh. It felt so wrong to think about Grace leaving.

"I see." Sarah smiled, and this time it was one of genuine warmth. His sister was a badass sheriff, but she also had one of the biggest hearts of anyone he knew. "I hope your car is fixed soon."

"Boss?" Her deputy at the counter raised two travel cups.

"That's my coffee. I better go add my sugar before Walter tries to put me on a diet or something." Sarah inclined her head. "Grace. it was a pleasure. I'm sure my brother will be a perfect gentleman, but if not, you know where to find me."

"Sarah…"

She bent and kissed him on the cheek. "Will you be at mom and dad's barbecue next weekend?"

Caleb glanced at Grace.

"I'm not sure." He wasn't sure of anything anymore. All he knew was that he didn't want to let Grace out of his sight. And not just because he was worried someone was going to take a shot at her. "I'll let you know."

"You do that." Sarah headed to the counter to collect her coffee.

He pushed up from his seat. He needed to speak to Sarah but not in front of Grace. She was spooked enough. "I'll be right back." He pressed down on her shoulder.

"Caleb—" Grace looked up.

"I just need a quick word with my sister. I'll only be a minute." He gave her hand a squeeze before joining Sarah at the counter, where she was pouring an immense dose of sugar into her travel cup.

"You know some women would get palpitations watching you do that?"

She gave him the side eye. "Just as well I don't give a shit. What's with this woman? She's pretty. You've come out of your self imposed celibacy?"

"That's rich coming from you." He twitched his eyebrows upward.

Sarah smiled. "There's always hope. For both of us, huh?"

Louisa slid two boxes of pie across the counter.

"Thanks Lou." Sarah sipped her coffee. "Thank God for caffeine. I need it when I'm on duty with Walter. He challenges the last thread of patience in my body." She nodded toward her deputy, engrossed in conversation with an old-timer in the nearby booth. "So, relationship stuff aside, you just drove past her?"

Caleb met his sister's gaze, the weight of their shared history hanging in the air between them. "Something like that."

He trusted Sarah implicitly, but as the sheriff, she lived in a world of black and white, a luxury he could no longer afford.

"I see." Sarah pinned him with a knowing look. "She's strung as tight as piano wire, Caleb. You know it, and I know it. What's going on?"

He hesitated for a moment before answering. "She's not telling me much. Anything going on with you?"

Sarah sighed. "You should know as well as I do. I can't discuss police business."

"Sis?" He folded his arms across his chest. Family first.

"Should I be looking for something in particular?" Sarah's lips firmed to a line, her eyes searching his face.

"There are men looking for her."

Grace was still in her seat, but she looked ready to bolt any second. Her pie was untouched, her hands clenched under the table.

"Men? You need to give me more than that."

"Her ex sent them to find her, to bring her home. They were chasing her in Brodie wood. They were armed."

Sarah's hand froze mid-sip, her coffee cup hovering inches from her lips. Her forehead crinkled. "I don't like armed strangers running around my town."

"Me neither." Caleb held her gaze.

"I'll see what I can find out." She pushed away from the counter.

Caleb grabbed her arm. "Low key."

She glanced down at his restraining hand, a flicker of amusement dancing in her eyes. "Baby brother, when have I ever been anything but?"

"Thanks." Caleb released his grip.

"Right. I've got sheriffing to do. Catch you later." Sarah flashed him a grin as she headed for the door.

Caleb turned his attention back to Grace, his mind already racing ahead to the next step. Her arm still needed an X-ray.

He'd agreed to no hospitals, but that was okay. He was creative.