Page 47 of Promise Me a Forever Texas Love

Ada bit back a smile. “I’ll get that right out.” She headed back to the kitchen while Adele exchanged a look with Arlene as she took the coffeepot from her, then headed to the coffee counter.

“So . . . sheriff,” Arlene said as she wiped an invisible spot on the counter with her apron. “Have you talked with Laura lately?” Laura was the sheriff’s estranged wife and Tully’s mama. Tully had high hopes that her parents would get back together. Arlene seemed to have those same hopes. Her eyes gleamed as she glanced at the sheriff. “I hear she’s thinking about moving back to Promise Springs now that Tully is married and no doubt will be giving y’all some grandbabies soon.”

Sheriff Gentry took a sip of his coffee. “Tully isn’t pregnant, if that’s what you’re fishing for? And as for Laurie’s plans, you’ll need to ask her.”

“Well, I might just have to do that. We’d all love for her to come back to town . . . as I’m sure you would.”

Sheriff Gentry scowled at Arlene’s retreating back. The man had one mean-assed scowl. Huck had always been nervous around the sheriff. And with good reason. But his love for Cadee and Camden overrode his nerves and he smiled at the sheriff.

“So how’s everything going? Catch any criminals lately?”

Sheriff Gentry didn’t seem to think his joke was funny. The scowl stayed in place as he took a sip of his coffee then directed his steady gaze at Huck.

“There’s something we need to talk about.”

The words had all Huck’s plans with Cadee splintering like weathered wood. The sheriff knew. Somehow, he’d figured out Huck was responsible for robbing the gas station and was about to spill the beans in front of the A-Sisters. Because even though Adele, Arlene, and Ada were busy making coffee, wiping down tables, and cooking the sheriff’s eggs, they were still listening. And once they heard all the sordid details, they would be spread around town by nightfall.

Huck didn’t care about the townsfolk knowing. He cared about Jaxon’s disappointment when he found out. And Cadee’s. How would he explain robbing the gas station to them? How would he explain it to Camden?

His first instinct was to run. To make some stupid excuse and get the hell out of there . . . and Promise Springs. But running wouldn’t fix anything. And he wasn’t some scared kid anymore. He was an adult. He was a father.

“Yes, sir,” he said. “There is something we need to discuss.”

Sheriff Gentry nodded. “I guess Jaxon mentioned me looking for a good carpenter to make me a porch swing. Since you made the bar at Honky Tonk Heaven, I figured you wouldn’t have any trouble handling the job.”

Huck stared at him. “A porch swing? That’s what you wanted to discuss?”

The sheriff’s cheeks turned pink and he cleared his throat. “Maybe you could keep it down.”

But it was too late.

Arlene had stopped wiping off tables and was grinning like she was the one getting a swing. “You mean a porch swing that’s perfect for cuddlin’ with a special someone, sheriff?”

The sheriff shot her an annoyed look before he returned his attention to Huck. “I’d be willing to pay you extra if you could get it ready by Thanksgiving.”

“Thanksgiving?” Adele peeked around the coffee machine. “Hmm? I think that was when Tully mentioned Laura is coming back into town.”

Ada appeared in the pass-through to the kitchen, grinning as brightly as her sisters. “I believe you’re right, Adele.”

Sheriff Gentry blew out his breath. “Fine! Since it seems that a man can’t get a decent meal, or even a bland one, without being interrogated like he’s some fugitive from the law, I’ll tell you. I’m trying to get my wife back! Now are my egg and toast ready, Ada, or not?”

“Almost, sheriff.” She glanced at Huck. “What’s this about you making the bar at Honky Tonk Heaven? Did you really make that long beautiful mahogany bar all by yourself?”

Huck didn’t know why he blushed. Maybe because no one in town had ever complimented him. “Yes, but only because the bar Tully ordered got lost in shipment.”

“And a lucky thing too,” Arlene said. “I doubt it would have been as pretty as yours.” She glanced at her sisters. “Are y’all thinking what I’m thinking?”

Before Huck could blink, all three sisters turned to him and spoke at the same time. “He can make our new coffee bar!”

Huck stared at them. “A coffee bar?”

“Yes,” Arlene said. “We’ve been dreaming of having one of those rustic wooden coffee bars like they have in big city coffeeshops. But Leroy, who helped us renovate Daddy’s newspaper office into Grounds For Divorce, is more utilitarian than creative.”

Ada nodded. “Which is how we ended up with a laminate countertop that looks more like a diner than the chic coffeeshop we envisioned.” Huck wasn’t about to point it out, but Grounds For Divorce would need more than a rustic wood counter to make it chic.

“So would you make us one?” Adele asked. “We’d be willing to pay whatever you think is fair.”

Since the thought of making a coffee bar intrigued him, he nodded. “Sure. I’ll be glad to make y’all whatever you need. But I won’t be able to get it finished quickly.” He still had to work nights at Honky Tonk Heaven, and he wanted to spend as much time as he could with Camden . . . and hopefully Cadee.