Page 22 of Diamond

Nash tips his hat. “Appreciate that. I’m getting there slowly. People don’t like too many changes at once around here.”

“What do you make of all this business?” He waves his hand in the air, and I know it’s a test to see where Nash’s loyalties lie.

“Well, I don’t agree with sabotage, if that’s what this is. That fence was deliberately cut in several places. I’ll have a word with Lanzetti, make him aware that I know what happened. I want to see how much he squirms,” Nash says.

I like that answer, and so does my father.

“Are you for or against a big development?” Dad asks, not letting up.

Nash stands his ground. “This town deserves to keep its humble charm. That’s what visitors love about Saddle. We don’t want to see all the character sucked out of the place. I moved here because I want to raise my daughter in a tight-knit community. There are resorts an hour away. We don’t need one in Saddle.”

Dad nods in approval. “Well, good to have you on board,” he announces, then leans over and kisses me on the cheek. “I’ve got to go, sweetie, I’ll be back tomorrow.”

I give him a smile. “Hot date?”

He rubs his hands together. “Deidre is making me a pie.”

Deidre runs the bakery in town and makes the most amazing pies in the whole of Texas.

I shake my head, trying to fight off the idea of them together. Ew. “That’s already too much information.”

Dad grins. “Nice to meet you, Sheriff Calloway.”

“Please, call me Nash.”

They shake again, and I can tell from Dad’s beaming smile, he likes the man.

We watch him take off, Burt on his heels.

“He seems like a good guy,” Nash says.

“He is,” I agree. “The best. He raised me.”

“That’s why you’re so tough?”

“Something like that.” I pause. “I’ve got fresh coffee inside if you’d like a cup?”

I feel his eyes on me as I watch my father’s retreating figure.

“Diamond Velente is gonna make me coffee?”

I glance at him. “I didn’t say I was going to make it, I asked if you’d like a cup.”

He smirks in that way of his. “There she is.”

I start walking, and he quickly follows suit. “Just because you had my pants down the last time we met, doesn’t mean you know me.”

“I’d say I know you a lot more intimately than I did last week.”

I give him a look. “Wise ass.”

“Admit you’ve been thinking about me.”

“I’m not going to admit shit.”

“Okay, but at least admit you’ve been thinking about what I did to you in the barn.”

My breath hitches.