He also didn’t like that everyone on the ranch knew there were surveillance cameras set up, and too many knew where they were placed. Whoever had cut the brakes on Mason’s truck and slashed all the tires on the trailers had known exactly where the cameras were. If the culprit was a ranch hand, it made perfect sense they could evade getting caught on tape. Otherwise, Colt would have caught them by now.
He turned off Route 109 and onto Havenridge’s historic Main Street. Like most old Colorado small towns, Havenridge still maintained its charm and character with its late-1800s frontier storefronts and narrow streets. Halfway down the road on his left was the sheriff’s office. He pulled into a parking spot in front of the warm-red brick building.
Instead of going straight in, he walked a few doors down the street to Crumbs Bake-n-Brew. Bells jingled overhead as he opened the door and was bombarded by the mouthwatering scents of fresh-baked pastries. Crumbs had been there when he was a kid, and he remembered the place smelling just as heavenly then as it did now. The interior had changed since he’d last been inside. The floors were a cool-toned polished wood where they’d once been blue-and-white checkered tile. The ceiling was painted flat black, from which hung Edison-style pendant lights. The brick walls were the same but now featured an array of potted plants. Overall, the vibe was welcoming and cozy. He liked it.
“Welcome to Crumbs!”
The young man who greeted him was the spitting image of the previous owner, though Colt couldn’t remember his name. The son, Colt assumed, had striking green eyes, and his magenta-dyed hair was styled in a forward, spiky brush-up. He wore a collared dress shirt that matched his hair color, with a black bow tie and a black apron with the Crumbs logo on it. On his wrist was a leather band with rainbow-colored beads. An embroidered name badge readKieran.
“I’m glad this place is still here,” Colt said when he stepped up to the counter.
“Oh? How long has it been?” Kieran asked with genuine interest.
“Twenty years,” Colt replied as he browsed the menu, handwritten on a chalkboard behind the wood-and-black-surfaced counter. “I guess it was your dad running it, then?”
Something flashed in Kieran’s eyes, and his smile faltered. The change was so infinitesimal no one without police training or who was overly perceptive would have caught it.
“Yep. That was my pops,” Kieran replied with a bit too much enthusiasm. “So, what can I get you today, Mister . . .?”
“Just Colt,” he replied with a smile, and Kieran nodded.
“What can I get you, Colt?”
“I don’t suppose Sheriff Chambers comes in here?”
Kieran’s eyebrows rose, and a light flush rose in his cheeks.Huh. Colt filed that away for another day.
“He does.”
“Great. If you remember how he likes his coffee, I’ll take one for him.” Colt didn’t fail to miss the considering look Kieran gave him. “A black coffee for me and a couple of those amazing-smelling apple Danishes.”
With a curious smile, Kieran rang up his order and then set about preparing it.
“These are fresh from the oven,” he said when he returned with the coffees in a carry tray and a box with the pastries. “I added an extra salted caramel macaron for Ni—er, Sheriff Chambers.”
Colt thanked him and then headed over to the sheriff’s office, wondering idly if Nick had any idea the young baker had a crush on him.
“Hey, Colt,” Nick greeted as Colt crossed the lobby a couple of minutes later. “Everything okay at the ranch? Where’s Mason?”
“Mason is fine.” Colt held up his hand with the bag of Danishes to forestall any more questions. “Wes and Levi are with him. The ranch is fine too. I just came into town to get a few more surveillance cameras.”
“Good to hear.” Nick’s shoulders lowered in relief. He pointed at the bounty Colt carried. “Whatcha got there?”
“Stopped at Crumbs on my way over,” Colt said with a grin.
“Ah . . . The good stuff.” Nick rubbed his hands together and smiled. He tipped his head toward his office at the back of the nondescript open space. Nick’s office was the only room that had its own door, and the two desks that sat in front were currently empty. To the right was another door that led to the small station’s three holding cells. “Come on back.”
Colt followed him into his office and then sat in the chair across from his cluttered desk. Nick accepted his coffee and Danish, and his smile widened when he noticed the macaron. He put the Danish back and grabbed the cookie.
“How did you know I love these?”
“I didn’t. Kieran added it for you.” Colt grinned. “I think he likes you.”
If he wasn’t mistaken, Nick’s cheeks colored too. Nick waved his hand in awhatevergesture and then leaned back and bit into his treat. They sat in silence for a few seconds to enjoy their snacks. Colt had forgotten how good the pastries were at Crumbs, but the coffee alone was worth the drive into town.
“So,” Nick began when he finished his macaron and reached for a Danish. “I know you didn’t come all the way into town to fuck with my waistline.”
Colt snickered and shook his head. Nick had nothing to worry about. The man was an Adonis.
