Honeysuckle Summer (The Sweet Magnolias #7)(28)

Carter walked slowly back to his cruiser. When he neared the radio station, Sarah was off the air. She’d apparently been in the studio and had seen him, though, because she popped her head out the door.

“Did you say yes?” she asked.

He regarded her innocently. “To what?”

“The chief’s job. I know Howard was going to talk to you about it.”

“Now, how did you know a thing like that?”

She gave him a pitying look. “You really haven’t been here long, have you? Small town, active grapevine. Grace Wharton knows everything, and now that I’m on the air here, I’m the first person she likes to tell.”

“So all of Serenity will know about me maybe taking the job of Serenity police chief by tomorrow morning when you go back on the air?”

“I’d say sooner than that. It’s lunch hour at Wharton’s. Grace has probably told most folks already that you and Howard were huddled together over coffee.”

“Are there any secrets in a place like this?”

“Not for long,” Sarah said. Her expression sobered. “Which is why if you’re not serious about Raylene, you should probably back off. The word’s already out that you’ve been hanging around. It’ll embarrass her if it turns out you’re playing some kind of game.”

He frowned at the suggestion. “Why would I be playing games?”

“You wouldn’t be the first man who couldn’t resist a challenge.”

“I’m not interested because she’s a challenge,” he said. “You’re selling her short.”

“Not me,” Sarah said. “I know Raylene. I know how amazing she is.”

“And I’m just starting to figure that out.” His gaze steady, he gave her a warning. “Keep an eye on me, if you feel the need to, but don’t make the same mistake I did with Raylene and jump to conclusions. It would be a disservice to Raylene and to me.”

To his surprise, she beamed at him. “Good answer. You dropping by later to share your news?”

“If the Serenity grapevine is so hot, what makes you think she hasn’t already heard?”

“She probably has, but I’m sure she’d like to hear the details straight from the horse’s mouth.”

“Then I’ll be sure to drop by on my way home.”

In fact, he thought, it would be the perfect ending to a very surprising day.





7




Raylene had baked three batches of cookies that afternoon, rather than the single batch of chocolate chip she usually made at midweek. She knew it was probably ridiculous to be baking extras just in case Carter came by, but she hadn’t been able to stop herself. She’d even lined an extra tin with foil, then packed it with an assortment of not only chocolate-chip cookies, but oatmeal raisin and sugar cookies as well.

After she’d closed the lid, she shook her head. Was she just a little smitten, after all? It had been a very long time since she’d been tempted to make a sweet gesture to impress a man. Her attempts to please Paul with special desserts or gourmet meals had never had the desired effect. Most of the time he’d found some way to demean her best efforts and make her feel like an idiot for even trying.

Ironically, the result had been that she’d tried harder. She owned more cookbooks than most women accumulated in a lifetime. She experimented constantly with new recipes. Now she had an appreciative crowd at the dinner table each evening. Even Tommy seemed to love her cooking almost as much as he liked hot dogs and pizza.

Tonight she was making an easy beef Stroganoff recipe. The meat had been simmering in a slow cooker most of the day. There was enough to feed an army.

When Sarah walked in the door, she sniffed the air appreciatively. “Stroganoff?”

Raylene nodded.

“Perfect. There’s bound to be enough for company.”

“Company? Is Annie coming over and bringing the kids? Not that the baby is eating real food yet, but Trevor can eat his own weight. He’s exactly like Ty was when we were kids.”

“He can, indeed, but they’re not coming over.” Sarah’s eyes glinted with mischief. “This is guy company.”

“Travis isn’t company.”

“No, he isn’t, but Carter is.”

Raylene’s gaze narrowed. “What makes you think Carter’s coming by? Did you invite him? I told you not to interfere in this.”

“No interfering,” Sarah swore. “I saw him earlier. He has news he wants to share.”

“Tell me,” Raylene commanded.

“Not me. It’s his news.”

“Since when have you ever kept hot-off-the-presses news to yourself? It’s not in your genetic makeup.”

“I’m reforming,” Sarah said airily. “When he gets here, why don’t you tell him to invite his sisters over, too. We should celebrate.”

“Celebrate what?”

Sarah merely grinned. “I’m going to take the kids for a walk before dinner. That’ll give you time alone with Carter when he arrives.”

“And what if I don’t want time alone with Carter?” Raylene demanded, trying to keep a frantic note out of her voice. Of course, the problem was that she did want to spend time with him. She just didn’t think it wise.