Page 9 of Lost Hours
“Whoa.” He lurched back.
“Dude,” Gabe said. “He issodead.”
Nolan bolted down the line until he caught sight of their local mayor squeezed into the locker. His purple-colored skin told Nolan all he needed to know.
“We need to get out of here and call the sheriff,” he said, but as soon as the words left his mouth he wished they could be calling anyone but Sheriff Mina Park.
She was the most amazing woman he’d ever met, but she didn’t think he was quite so amazing. Their summer fling had ended badly, and he didn’t have a clue how she would react to seeing him again, not to mention finding him with a dead body.
3
Mina planted her hands on her hips and surveyed the scene ahead of her. She’d gotten her wish. Sort of. She got the excitement she craved as multiple units sat outside the Tidewater Mansion, lightbars running, illuminating the night and declaring a murder had occurred. One discovered by Nolan Orr. By her summer fling. By the man she’d hoped never to see again. The man she couldn’t forgive.
Yet, here she was. Set to interview him.
With gritted teeth, she pounded up the steps, past the deputy on duty, and through the spacious and opulent mansion. Her sergeant had shared the preliminary details, including the big life-altering fact that Nolan and his team had found the body.
Nolan. Here. Unbelievable.
She’d known she would eventually cross paths with him. Sure she would. Her office might be in Seaside Harbor, the county seat, but she lived in Lost Lake, and the place was too small to avoid him forever.
But why couldn’t that day be in the distant future? Maybe in passing on the street in town. Not here. Not with him as a prime witness—maybe suspect—in a murder investigation where they’d be thrown together.
She paused outside the dining room. The LLL team, along with Harmony Vance, the mansion’s caretaker and leasing agent who was always on duty when the building was leased, were waiting for her. She took a breath. Then another. And stepped forward.
Her body failed her, and her feet came to a dead stop. Nolan stood on the far side of the room facing his team, who were seated around the table. A single look at his profile and everything turned to mush. Just as it had when she’d fallen in love with him.
Okay, fine. You might be over the heartbreak, but the mere sight of him can still make your knees weak. So buck up and be careful.
She took another one of those deep chest-heaving breaths and started into the room.
He turned. Locked gazes with her. Her footsteps faltered again. That compelling attraction he’d always had for her radiated across the room as if drawing her to him. She’d never been able to fight it in the past.
So what? She was a sheriff now, in charge of a murder investigation, and she would fight it today. It would take everything she was made of, but she would succeed.
Please help me not make a fool of myself with him and to see the way to successfully work with him.
She curled her fingers into fists and strode forward, passing Deputy Banfield, located right inside the door. The tall guy, built from hours at the gym, raised his shoulders in a kind of salute.
She gave him a nod of acknowledgment and a thankful smile. It wasn’t easy babysitting witnesses to keep them from comparing stories, but he’d been first on scene and had followed protocol.
Secure the scene. Make sure no one was in danger. Separate the witnesses if possible. Not possible in this case so babysitting was his only option.
She stopped in front of Nolan, widening her stance as if somehow a strong position could make up for the fact that he was more than a foot taller, and she had to look up to him.
“Nolan.” Was all she could say without her voice cracking.
“Mina,” he replied, sounding equally uncomfortable.
She ignored Harmony for now and turned to the team. “It’s good to see all of you. Not under the circumstances though.”
Gabe snorted. “I never thought we’d lay eyes on you again. Not with the way you dumped Nolan.”
She blinked at him. “What? I?—”
“Now is not the time for that.” Nolan eyed Gabe.
“It’s your deal, man, so I’ll shut up.” Gabe shrugged and sat back.
