A Bad Day for Sunshine (Sunshine Vicram #1)(126)

Zee walked up just as Auri and Cruz stole away to a corner, ostensibly to check their phones.

“Mrs. Moore brought muffins,” Zee said, gesturing toward the lobby.

Sun looked over at the giant basket of the cursed pastries, wondering what could possibly be next.

“According to the muffin count, the world is going to end sometime in the next week.”

“Great,” Sun said.

Zee gave her a quick hug before heading toward the widow.

A woman spoke beside her. “This was quite beautiful.”

Sun turned to see Mayor Lomas standing next to her, holding a paper cup of something red. “Mayor. Thanks for coming.”

She nodded, the tips of her bob brushing the tops of her shoulders. “Of course. Have you thought any more about my offer?”

“Offer?” she asked, confused. “Oh, you mean ultimatum? Find out who the mythical Dangerous Daughters are or else you’ll expose my sordid past?” She leaned closer to the pretty blonde. “I think some high school kids beat you to the punch.”

A sly smile stole across her face. “Oh, I bet there’s more. Something you don’t want getting out. Am I right?”

What on earth could she know?

“I just hope you find them. You know, for Auri’s sake.”

A wildfire erupted in Sun’s core. “Did you just threaten my daughter?”

“Why would I do that?” she asked, then turned to walk away.

She went to stop the woman when a shadow slid over her. She looked up and into the startlingly handsome face of Levi Ravinder.

Drawing in a deep, calming breath, she said, “Pretty brave, Ravinder. You showing up here since we never finished processing your arrest.”

“He was a friend.” Clean-shaven, possibly for the first time in years, he wore a charcoal jacket and a black button-down that set off the darkness in his hair and contrasted with the warmth of his amber eyes.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” she said. “You left in a hurry the other night.”

“I had places to be. Are you going to charge me or not?”

“With a felony count of having places to be?”

“With murder.”

“Ah. We’re still investigating.”

“Well, let me know.”

“You’ll be the first.” Her focus kept wandering to the hand wrapped around a coffee cup from Caffeine-Wah, his long fingers dark against the white paper. When it looked like he was going to leave, she said, “I didn’t get a chance to thank you. For the other night. You went above and beyond, and I’m not sure how to repay you.”

He turned her jaw to get a better look at the thin red line across her neck. His touch sent a shock wave of electricity shooting through her.

His amber eyes glistened as he studied the wound. “I was almost too late.”

“Almost is okay. I’m good with almost. I saw your truck parked at Barbie’s this morning.” Barbie was an amazing mechanic. “I hope everything is okay.”

“Routine.”

“I would offer you a ride home, but I don’t think you’d want your family seeing me drop you off.”

The look he planted on her, glittering and dark, sent a warmth spiraling through her entire body until it pooled deep in her abdomen. He leaned closer and asked, “What have I ever done that would make you believe I give a single, solitary fuck what my family thinks?”

Auri’s voice wafted toward them, breaking the spell he’d temporarily placed her under. “Hi, Levi.”

He tore his gaze away and offered her daughter his complete attention. “Hey, Red.”

“You clean up well,” she said, and Sun almost snorted.

He flashed her a blinding smile and pulled her into a hug. “Back atcha.”

She beamed at him, and Sun saw something there. Something pure and unconditional. Her daughter loved him. Possibly as much as Sun did, though in a very different way.

Zee walked up then and gestured a greeting to Auri with a nod before giving Sun her attention. “Sheriff, can we talk in your office?”

Quincy stood behind her. Auri left Levi’s embrace long enough to give Quincy a hug, then she returned to Levi and summoned Cruz with a wave. “This is Cruz,” she said to him.

Levi gave the kid a once-over, then, as though Cruz had met his approval, offered his hand.

“Mr. Ravinder,” Cruz said. “I like your moonshine.” When Levi lifted a brow, he rushed to add, “Not the taste. I’ve never tried it. I don’t drink.” He cast a nervous glance at Sun. “I mean, the fact that you sell moonshine. Legitimately. Without that whole crossing-state-lines and revenue-men-knocking-down-your-door thing.”

“Yes,” Levi said, his eyes shimmering with humor. “That does help.”

Before she burst out laughing, Sun turned to Auri. “I’ll be back in a jiff.”

Her daughter let out a loud sigh. “The demands of being a sheriff. We’re going to run over to Caffeine-Wah and pry the truth out of Richard and Ricky if it’s the last thing we do.”

“The truth?” Levi asked.

“They have a supersecret eyeliner trick we’ve been trying to steal for years.”

“Ah.”

Sun laughed softly and leaned in for a hug. “Give ’em hell, and remember—”