The fragrant pink azalea bushes lining the flowerbeds of the small town bank made her smile. It was like she’d stepped into a real life Mayberry.
She walked through the doors and made eye contact with one of the two bank officers.
“Miss Witherspoon. What can I help you with today? Perhaps a checking account?” Mrs. Hogard, an older lady with her hair tied neatly in a French twist and wearing a black shift dress, gave her a polite smile.
She held out her key and let it dangle in the air. “I need to open my safe deposit box.”
Since she’d moved to Cloverton, Grace had managed to secure a safe deposit box to keep the rest of her cash. She kept enough cash on hand for food and gas and utilities. Living out in the country and being so isolated made her an easy target for a robbery.
“If you’ll just follow me.”
Grace followed Mrs. Hogard past the three tellers to the vault.
“Did you get a lot of good items at the sale this past weekend?” The woman slid her a knowing look. “Heard you had some company with you.”
Grace pressed her lips together in a thin line. It didn’t take long for word to spread in Cloverton that Sloan had been with her. It was reason to stay away from him.
“I found a lot of items at the sale.” She stopped as Mrs. Hogard pulled her box out from the wall.
“Word is that our handsome police officer was with you. They say you two looked very cozy.”
Grace gaped at the older woman. “We were just walking together. He was kind enough to help me load some things in his truck. That’s all.”
Mrs. Hogard’s face fell. “I was hoping you might be the one for Sloan.” Her lips pressed into a tight line. “After what that two timing Felicia did, he deserves a good girl.”
Her stomach clenched. A good girl. That was so far from what she really was. If only Mrs. Hogard knew the truth.
“Sorry to disappoint you; we’re just friends.”
Mrs. Hogard nodded. “Just let me know if you need anything, dear.” She left Grace alone in the cold vault with her deposit box.
She slid her key into the box and waited for the click of the tumblers. The cool air of the air conditioning vent spilled onto her arms and made her skin goose pimple.
She lifted the lid. She cast a quick glance at the door before picking up a stack of one hundred dollar bills. This was all she had left after she’d paid for her house in cash. Her father’s attorney had made the arrangements for her so there wouldn’t be a paper trail.
She quickly calculated the rest of her money.
Ten thousand dollars.
She had a cushion, but she knew eventually it was going to run out.
Sloan had mentioned a dance instructor job at the high school. Maybe because she’d be teaching after school they wouldn’t need all the proper paper work. It was a small town and people did things differently in a small town, didn’t they?
She counted out a few hundred-dollar bills and locked the box. After she ran by the gas station she’d get directions to the high school.
***
“You going to eat that or daydream all day?”
Sloan looked up as his friend and fellow officer, Mitch Woods, slid into the seat across from him. He had hoped to eat his lunch in peace in the break room. Now that Mitch was here, he knew that wasn’t going to happen.
“I’m eating.” He grabbed the sandwich and took a bite.
Mitch snagged Sloan’s bag of chips and grinned. “Tell me about this new chick in town. Heard she’s hot.”
Sloan narrowed his eyes. The last person he wanted to talk about was Grace. He’d been thinking about her too much as it was. Even in his sleep he was thinking about her.
“She’s not your type.” Sloan gave his friend a hard look. He’d been friends with Mitch for years. Mitch was the town bad boy who’d hooked up with every available woman around. With dark hair and dark eyes and a personality that oozed charm, he’d managed to sleep with half the town’s female population. Every woman, with the exception of Allison, was in danger with Mitch’s smooth charm and good looks. Sloan had made it clear, many years ago, that his sister was off limits to Mitch.
“I didn’t know I had a type.”
“Don’t even think about making a go for her.”
Mitch’s eyebrows shot up and he eased forward in his seat. “Is that because you like her?”
“What? No.” Suddenly he wasn’t so hungry anymore. He shoved his half-eaten sandwich away. He glanced at his watch. Another thirty minutes left on his lunch hour.
A smile grew across Mitch’s face. “Mrs. Hogard over at the bank said I should ask her out.”
Sloan gritted his teeth. “Mrs. Hogard is clearly insane if she is trying to set you up on a date.”
Mitch shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe she thinks I should settle down.”
Sloan laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“You’re funny, that’s what. Did you tell her you’re not the settling down kind of guy?”
Mitch furrowed his brows. “Maybe I am. Maybe I just haven’t met the right woman.” He gave him a shit-eating grin. “Maybe this new chick is the right one.”