Damaged Gods - Page 32

It’s weird. But also… I don’t care. I’m completely enamored by former high-school quarterback Sheriff Russ Roth.

I walk through the gate and do not even look back.

To hell with the monster of Saint Mark’s Sanctuary. And I like Tomas, but he’s part of this whole curse thing. I’m out of here.

Sheriff Roth even opens the passenger door and lets me ride in front with him. I’m pretty sure this is against regulations. I mean he’s got his rifle right there between the front seats.

“Don’t worry.” Russ slides into the car and pats his weapon. “I won’t let it hurt you, Pie.”

I shrug my shoulders up and grin. Damn. He’s very nice to look at.

We pull away from Saint Mark’s and he gets on his radio. “Eileen. I’m 10-8. Heading back to Granite Springs.”

There’s a crackling on the radio, then a female voice. Presumably Eileen. “Got it, Russ. See ya soon.”

Russ picks up his radio again just as we turn back onto the main highway. “Dammit, Eileen. How many times do I have to tell you to use the 10 codes? Act like a professional. I have a passenger listening.”

“Sorry, Russ,” Eileen crackles back. “Understood.” She clicks off, then clicks back. “I mean, 10-4, Russ. See ya soon.”

He puts his radio away and sighs. “She’s my cousin’s wife-in-law’s sister. Not the sharpest tack on the bulletin board, but she tries hard.”

Cousin’s wife-in-law’s sister? I can’t even begin to unravel those words so I just forget I ever heard them.

“So how long have you been out here at the cemetery?” Russ asks.

“Oh, it’s not really a cemetery. It’s a sanctuary.”

He lifts an eyebrow at me and I realize I should shut up about Saint Mark’s. If what Tomas and Pell said was true, then he only thinks about that place when it comes up. And I’m pretty sure that it’s better for everyone if Saint Mark’s doesn’t come up.

“What’s the difference?” he asks.

“I’m not sure.” I wave a hand in the air. “Doesn’t matter. So you’re the sheriff, huh? That’s a pretty big job.”

He chuckles as we speed down the highway towards the town of Granite Springs. “Not really. We’ve got about five hundred people living in town. Maybe a couple dozen more running the farms on the outskirts. We’re a quiet, sleepy little place, Pie. And can I say—that name of yours? It’s…”

“Adorable?” I offer. Since he’s already said that.

He points at me. “So. Damn. Adorable. Where are you from?”

“Philly.”

“No. They don’t have girls named Pie in Philly.”

“Not anymore they don’t.” I laugh.

“So what kind of pie are you? Strawberry? Peach? Cherry?” And ‘cherry’ comes out as a whisper. Like it’s something dirty.

I actually sigh over this. I don’t know what it is about this man, but I like him. He’s on the obtuse side as far as women go, but it comes off as more small-town cute than big-city insulting. “I don’t know,” I say. “I haven’t ever thought much about it.”

Which is a lie. People ask me this question all the time. And I always have an answer. But I’m enjoying Russ Roth’s low-level flirting.

I watch the scenery as we drive. There is a thick forest on either side of the highway, so all I see is trees. But they are nice trees. Fall colors. Brilliant reds and fiery oranges, with a sprinkling of bright yellow. I am beginning to love rural PA. It’s so damn pretty in the fall.

And even though we’re complete strangers and this silence between us should be awkward, it’s not awkward. I’m enjoying the ride and I’m actually disappointed when the quaint town of Granite Springs comes into view.

It’s something out of Gilmore Girls. Only better, because Stars Hollow isn’t real and Granite Springs is. There’s an old downtown with dozens of shops lining the main street. A hardware store, a grocery store, a mechanic and tire place, the post office. Plus a slew of touristy places that sell things like candles and locally made goods like goats’ milk soap. There’s a big feed store next to the police station, but we don’t turn in to the station. We go right on by to the outskirts of town where the tow yard is.

And that’s where we stop.

He picks up his radio. “Eileen, I’m 10-6.”

She crackles back, “Got it, Russ. I mean, 10-4, Russ. But Russ?”

“Yes, Eileen?”

“I’m gonna need you to go out to the old trailer park on 75. There’s a scuffle happening.”

Russ sighs, then looks apologetically at me. “I wish I could stay and iron this all out with you, Pie. But duty calls.”

I salute him. “I can take it from here. Thank you for the ride in, I really appreciate it. And it was a pleasure meeting you, Sheriff Roth.”

I smile stupidly at him. Damn, what is wrong with me? I don’t flirt like this. There’s just something about him that makes me want to capture his attention.

Tags: J.A. Huss Fantasy
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