“Back to the meds that were allegedly taken,” the deputy continued. “Lauren doesn’t remember anything unusual?”
“Nope. You can ask her yourself when she’s back at work.”
“Is she out sick?”
Neve pursed her lips. “She came down with a stomach bug sometime last night.” Maybe that was why Lauren had left the tavern earlier than normal the night before.
Shane slid out a pocket-sized spiral notebook and jotted in it. “I’ll see what I can dig up. Meanwhile, keep that cabinet locked.” He jabbed a forefinger at said cabinet.
She held back an eye-roll. Shane meant well—that was his nature—but it was as if he were asking her to take her next breath.
“Oh, and have fun on your date tonight.” His mouth hitched up on one side in a lopsided grin.
“Excuse me? What date?”
He elbowed her playfully. “C’mon, Neve, why else would you be wearing makeup and nail polish unless you were trying to impress someone?”
“Seriously?” she scoffed. “Just because I get my girlie on sometimes doesn’t mean I’m going out with anyone anytime soon.”Not for another eleven hours anyway.
He waggled his eyebrows, the jerk.
She rubbed Mr. Whiskers’s ear and thought she heard a muted purr, which gave her heart a hopeful lift. “Besides, how does a guy even notice stuff like that?”
Shane tapped his temple. “I’m trained to observe, remember? And don’t underestimate the power of the Fall River grapevine.” He cocked his head. “So you and the rich guy up on the mountain, huh?”
“Damn it, who blabbed?”
“So youaregoing out with Cantrell.” He plopped his cowboy hat back on his head and tipped it to her. “That confirms it.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, but his smile only broadened. “Who told you, Shane?”
“A good lawman doesn’t divulge his sources.” He gave the cat more chin scratches.
Who had she brought into her confidence? Charlie’s girlfriend, Joy, when Neve had asked her where to get her nails done—a luxury Neve didn’t usually indulge in—and Luanne, the person who had actually done Neve’s nails. Luanne worked at the Miners Tavern as a waitress, and like many of the townsfolk, she had a side hustle going—namely, she gave manicures in her house.
It had to be Luanne. Joy was a high-flying mergers-and-acquisitions exec used to keeping secrets to herself, but Luanne? Being a gossip was probably in every manicurist’s job description.
“That’s the last time I tellheranything,” Neve muttered under her breath.
The front door flew open, and in walked Reece Hunnicutt. His eyes cut from Shane to her and back again. Pearl, who had been curled up in her usual spot, hopped to her feet and trotted over to greet him. He reached down and gave her head a rub. Reece didn’t have pets, and he wasn’t the type to just drop in, so what was he doing in her clinic? Not that she minded, really—except for the inconvenient way her heart took off at a sprint.
“Hey, partner. What’s up?” Shane drawled. “And when the hell are you coming back to search and rescue? Chelsea’s been asking, and man, wecould really use you.” He parked a fist on his hip and scanned Reece from head to toe.
“The right knee’s still healing,” Reece clipped.
What?
“You’re hurt?” Neve blurted. She handed off Mr. Whiskers to a surprised Shane, dropped to her knees, and started rolling up Reece’s pant leg. All without a thought as to how the optics might appear to anyone walking in—or standing there holding on to a cat.
Shane cleared his throat. “Uh, Neve?”
Annoyed at the interruption, she looked up at the deputy. “What?”
His cheeks were bright pink as he jerked his head toward the man whose pant leg she’d managed to lift to the top of his khaki-colored wool sock. She shifted her gaze from Shane up to Reece. Only then did her position crystallize in her brain.
Whoops.
The object of her medical interest stared down at her with mild surprise—and something akin to amusement—dancing in his eyes. “Can I help you?”
