Five
Ben drove to the outskirts of town and toward what locals called “the country.” It was where people lived who didn’t like the bustle of crowded streets but still wanted the benefit of a short drive to the beach. We passed a few stores spread out miles apart and the hidden gem of a golf course that only townies knew about.
He kept driving until he steered onto a long, winding dirt road lined with massive oak trees that ended at a single red brick house with a matching-colored barn, which had a lake behind it. “This is pretty. Did you move?”
“Nope, this isn’t mine. There’s someone I want you to meet.” He turned off the car, getting out.
I followed and breathed in the calming fresh air as a light breeze caressed my cheek. “Ben, we’re trespassing. Who lives here?”
He hadn’t had time to answer when the door flew open, and an old man walked out, wearing well-worn jeans and a big cowboy hat.
I knew him instantly, even though I’d met him only once. Retired Sheriff Malcolm Michaels. Ben’s grandfather. The lines on his face were rough from years in the sun. A pink scar marred the left side of his face. The story of how he’d gotten that was still used in our training sessions on how to handle more than one perp at a time. He was a legend, and I was standing in his yard.
“Benjamin,” the sheriff said, bounding down the steps with more energy than I’d be able to muster at his age. “It’s about time. I’ve been waiting.”
“Gramps, I’d like you to meet—”
“Elizabeth.” He finished without needing to be told my name. “I’ve heard great things about you, Ms. Cross.”
No way. He knew my name. “You have?”
“Sure. I have a standing lunch date with your boss, and there’s nothing he likes better than to brag about his hot-shot detectives cracking cases. I hear you busted a burglary ring that was targeting guests at the hotels.”
My cheeks heated. I was almost embarrassed that he knew my accomplishments. “I didn’t do it alone.”
Malcolm nodded. “Modest, too. Why don’t you two come in and sit a spell?”
I followed Malcolm into his home. It was exactly how I’d expected it to be. Comfortable and inviting furnishings, family pictures and achievements covering the walls, along with a shrine on the fireplace mantel to the late great Helen Michaels. God rest her soul.
Malcolm appeared next to me. “That woman was downright rotten. She said what she meant and meant what she said. She was the strongest and most stubborn woman I’d ever met.”
“Then why’d you marry her?” Ben chuckled in passing on his way toward the kitchen.
“I had to. She hogtied me on our first date and owned more guns than I did.”
“Ben must take after her.” The comment slipped before I could stifle it. “He blackmailed me into spending the day with him.”
“I can’t say I’m surprised.” Malcolm rested his arm around my shoulder and led me into the kitchen where Ben was pouring three glasses of tea. “When they know what they want, they tend to get it. Sorry, darling. Or should I say welcome to the family?”
Only a few more hours till the wedding, and then I could lock Ben out of my life and add this day as another bad trip down memory lane. “Oh no, it’s not like that. Ben’s my brother’s best friend.”
“Don’t let her fool you, Grandpa. I’ve loved this girl since I met her.”
“Is that so?”
“I brought her to meet you, didn’t I?”
“I suppose you did. This is a first you know. Many before you have tried to finagle a ring from this kid. Some think he’s a good catch.”
“I never threw my bait in the water.” I smirked. The way this day was going, I was beginning to question that decision.
“I see.” Ben handed both of us glasses of tea before leading us to follow him out onto the deck.
The lake water was crystal clear, so blue and beautiful…glittering as the sun’s rays danced across the surface. Crickets chirped somewhere nearby. We took a seat at the patio table, and in that instant, I noticed the similarities between Ben and his grandfather. Not only did they have the same chiseled cheekbones and chin, but they had the same mannerisms. Both men released identical sighs as they relaxed into the seats. They liked it here, and who could blame them?
“So, Elizabeth is going to arrest them, and you’re going to try your best to get them out of jail. I’m sure there’s some pretty heated fights in your future.”
The Michaels men seemed to have one-track minds. I tried spelling it out for them. I wasn’t dating Ben. I didn’t have a future with him, and there was no way in hell I was going to let his job affect mine. I’d worked too hard to get to where I was. “I don’t think that will be a problem seeing how, after today, he won’t be in my personal life.”
