Cooper and I are just locking up my bookstore’s front door for the day when Dylan appears beside us.
He squats to pet Cooper and says, “Glad I caught you guys. There’s something I want to tell you, Sawyer.”
I’m still a little bothered by the earlier Crystal incident that technically wasn’t his fault. However, that doesn’t stop me from saying, “Are you still coming for dinner tonight, or do you and Crystal have plans?”
He stands and runs a hand down his face in impatience. “I sent the paramedics in first. They got the door open while I waited outside.”
I’m trying to keep my mad going, but my smile wins. “That had to be terribly unsatisfying for Crystal.”
“Madge didn’t tell you the whole story, did she?” Dylan takes Cooper’s leash, and we head up the hill.
“Nope. She left out the whole middle part. And the end too, come to think of it.”
“Of course, she did.” He wraps his free arm around my shoulder. “You were probably supposed to get so jealous, you’d fall at my feet and beg me to marry you.”
“Like that’d ever happen.” I snort in a very unladylike manner.
He stops walking. “The marrying part?”
“No, the begging part.” I take his hand and tug to get going again. “The marrying part is more complicated. Things aren’t looking good in my case against my uncle. What would we do if I had to move to the city for a job?”
He grunts. “It’s only forty-five minutes away. We’d make it work.”
“Even if I might not get off until two in the morning? And I have to take care of Brittany too?”
Dylan sighs. “I can be a cop anywhere.”
“And yet you came back to Sunset Cove after the military. Because you love it here. So much so, you’re building a house you’ve so weirdly never invited me to see.”
Dylan chuckles. “That really annoys you, doesn’t it? That I haven’t shown you the house.”
“It really annoys me but I’m not entirely sure why.” Best to be honest with him.
He stops walking when we get to my front porch and faces me. “I haven’t shown you because you’ll probably get all bossy about things. Especially the kitchen.”
He’s smiling, but his eyes aren’t. A dead giveaway that there’s something more here. I need to tread lightly. “For sure, I’d be bossy about the kitchen. But I’m sure the rest is perfect.”
He draws a deep breath, looks away, and then meets my gaze again. “Let’s talk about why I’m terrified to show you the house after you tell me why you’re so scared of Beth and her powers.”
Yep. More to the story. I knew it!
“Deal. But not right now. I need to go inside, put on a happy face, and try to enjoy what might be our last dinner with Brittany. Without crying.”
“You never cry.” He wraps me up in a hug.
I bite my trembling lip before I lose it. “So don’t look tonight if it bothers you.” I try to pull away, but he tightens his embrace.
“Tears don’t make you weak, Sawyer. They show how much you care.”
I plaster my face into his uniformed shoulder and whisper, “I’m just barely holding it together here. Thank you for being so patient with me.” I lean back and stare into his troubled eyes, and my stomach takes a dive. I’ve only seen that look once—when he explained why he couldn’t marry me. “What’s the matter?”
Dylan’s jaw clenches. “I don’t want to do this right now with all…but it’s best if you hear it from me first.”
“What?” I’m being pushed to limits I didn’t even know I had.
“Emily Kingsley came to see me this afternoon. She remembered something about the day Tina died. Emily saw your dad putting the top back on Tina’s drink. When your father turned and saw Emily, he got flustered and almost spilled it before sealing the lid again. Then he said something about needing to get back to Tina.”
I blink at Dylan as my mind absorbs the information. “You can’t possibly think my father could have poisoned Tina.”
“The cup wasn’t at the crime scene, so he’s officially on the suspect list. Which means you and I need to keep our distance. It’ll look bad if I’m investigating my girlfriend’s father. I’ll have one of my deputies deal with your dad, and I’ll handle the rest. Keeps things cleaner that way for everyone.”
Except for me. “We can still call each other, but no chatting about the case, right?”
He shakes his head. “Until the case is closed, we are officially broken up. If this were a bigger town, I’d just remove myself. That’s not an option right now.” He leans down and kisses me. “I hope you’ll take me back after this is over.”
I cross my arms. “You’re breaking up with me? Again? What if you’d shown up at the church all those years ago and we were married right now?”
“I’d be the happiest guy on earth.” Sadness clouds his eyes. “But heartbroken if I’d have to arrest my father-in-law.”
My stomach takes a nosedive. Dylan must think there’s a real possibility that they’ll have to arrest my father. “Instead of breaking up with me, why don’t you let me help clear my dad’s name?”
Dylan sighs. “Trust me, it’s better this way. Maybe you’ll even miss me a little.” He swallows hard, and then turns and walks away.
My knees are shaky, so I slump onto the porch step and tug Cooper close. I need a minute before I go inside. I don’t know what’s hurting my heart worse right now, the prospect of my father being arrested for something I’m sure he didn’t do or of losing the man who might have to arrest my father.
My mind races for a solution, but only one answer keeps popping up.
I’m going to have to find that cup and figure out who killed Tina so I clear my father’s name. ASAP!
As I stand to go inside, another thought hits me with the force of a tidal
