“I don’t know. But I guess wanting a woman and not being able to have her sticks with a guy.”
The second the words were out of his mouth, he wanted them back. Wanting Liz and not being able to have her was sticking with him, that was for sure. But she didn’t seem to read anything into what he said.
The department’s secretary stuck her head into his office. “Sorry to interrupt, Chief, but you have a meeting at the town hall in ten minutes.”
“Thanks, Barbara. Hey, can you get a copy of the police report I left on your desk this morning? Kowalski, Elizabeth S.”
“That sounds very official,” Liz said once Barbara returned to her desk. “It’s still a little weird to me that you’re not only a cop, but the chief of police.”
“Sometimes it’s still a little weird to me, too. I think Mitch and I were voted Most Likely to Be Felons back in high school.”
Barbara came back and handed the paper to Liz. “I’m glad you didn’t get hurt, honey.”
“Thank you.” She had very vague memories of Barbara as a child, but she couldn’t quite place her.
“Elementary school secretary,” Drew supplied helpfully once Barbara was gone again.
“That’s right. I think I liked her.” She gave the paper a quick scan and then stood. “I’ll let you get to your meeting. Thanks again.”
“It’s my job.”
She gave him a warm, genuine smile that made him feel like a mini marshmallow dropped into a mug of hot chocolate. “I think the car goes above and beyond.”
“Not for you.” The words hung between them, and he waved them off before she could question his meaning. He hoped. “You know, being Mitch’s sister has to have some perks to make up for what a pain in the ass he is.”
For a fleeting second, he thought she looked almost disappointed, but then she laughed. “As perks go, that car’s pretty sweet.”
After she was gone, he took a second to put his thoughts back in order. He had a meeting to go over a grant he was trying to get to buy the department an ATV so they could help, along with the ATV club’s unofficial trail patrol, police the influx of riders they’d seen lately.
Instead, all he could think about was what a dumb thing he’d said. Not for you. It was pretty sappy, and he could only hope he’d covered it in time. Liz wasn’t for him, and any kind of flirting or innuendo was strictly off-limits in the future.
“Chief.” Barbara had her arms crossed, giving him the look that had almost made his first-grade self wet his pants. “Meeting.”
“On my way.”
It wasn’t far to the town hall and the weather was nice, so Drew decided to walk. He’d still make it in time, as long as nobody tried to stop him on the sidewalk and bend his ear. Halfway there, he heard a familiar horn and turned to see his car coming up the street.
He watched as the Mustang rolled by, doing at least five miles per hour under the speed limit, and his body tightened when Liz gave him a saucy grin and waved.
He’d been right when he lent her the car. Seeing her drive it—seeing her fingers curled around the wheel so perfectly molded to his hand—triggered some deep, primal thrill inside of him. Maybe because, out of all of his belongings, the car was the most personal and seeing her in it meant something he didn’t want to analyze too much. Or maybe it was just seeing a sexy woman in a sexy car. Either way, he liked it.
Chapter Four
Nobody could pull together an impromptu family dinner like Rosie. Liz was summoned to the lodge Friday night because Mitch was home, and Ryan and Lauren were driving up. They usually met Lauren’s ex-husband halfway from their home in Brookline, Massachusetts, so her son Nick could visit his dad, but Ryan had cleared his afternoon to make the drive up for dinner.
His truck, with Kowalski Custom Builders painted on the side, was already there when she drove up the lane and she parked between it and Katie’s ancient Jeep.
The aroma made her stomach growl the second she opened the front door, though she felt it rather than heard it due to the noise level. In honor of her return home, Rose had made a traditional New England boiled dinner and the blend of ham and cabbage and other goodies made Liz’s mouth water.
When she stepped into the kitchen, the conversation and laughter stopped as everybody had to give her a hug and welcome her home. She went down the line, from Mitch and Paige to Ryan, Lauren and Nick, then to Katie, who squealed and threw her arms around her.
“Josh told me you seemed lonely when he visited you in New Mexico. I’m so glad you came home where you belong.”
“Me, too.” Though Katie had spent a lot more time outside than Liz growing up, they’d been the only girls against four boys, so they’d been thick as thieves.
Josh, the only sibling younger than she was, pulled her into a quick hug. “Sorry we’re eating on the early side. We’ve got guests coming in tonight and the first ones will probably get here about six.”