He looked irritated, then he nodded. “Fine, if you’re still determined to go in—”
“I am.” She needed some normalcy. Something to take her mind off everything. At least that news report hadn’t mentioned her. It gave her a bit more time before people found out what her father had been accused of.
“Then I’ll stay in the waiting room.”
“Don’t you think that’s overkill? I wasn’t even mentioned on that news clip. People have no idea who I am around here, and, even if they did, I can’t see anyone here trying to hurt me.”
“You never know what people might do. I’m coming with you, or you don’t go.”
She scowled at him, but he just crossed his arms over his chest, clearly not willing to bend.
Stubborn, arrogant male.
“We leave in twenty minutes,” she told him. “I have errands to run in town first.”
As she came down the stairs fifteen minutes later, feeling calmer and more in control of her temper, a vehicle pulled up outside. Travis, who’d been sitting on the sofa with his laptop out, got up and moved to look out the window. She noticed he stood to the side. Habit? Had to be.
“Sheriff just pulled up.”
“Jake? Wonder what he wants.”
Travis opened the door.
She pushed past Travis with a smile. “Hey, Jake. Want to come in? Want some coffee? I’ve even got some pancakes left over.”
“What? I tho
ught you said they were all gone?” Travis complained.
She stared down at his stomach pointedly. “You ate three servings. Any more and I’ll have to roll you out of here.”
“You calling me fat, woman?” he grumbled.
There wasn’t an inch of fat on him.
“I’ll take the coffee,” Jake said with a nod, walking inside. The sheriff didn’t smile much. It wasn’t in his nature. He and Curt had that in common. Although she remembered Curt smiling a lot when she was younger. But perhaps she was just remembering him through the eyes of a child. Maybe he’d always been this serious and intense.
“What can I do for you, Jake?” she asked.
“Actually, I called and asked him to come over,” Travis said. “If we’re all staying a bit longer he’ll need to know what’s going on.”
Oh, right.
They spent the next few minutes bringing Jake up to speed. Feeling agitated, she got up to refill everyone’s coffee. After she put the coffee pot back and moved to the table, Curt grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her close to him. Warmth filled her.
“That’s why the two of you came here? To tell Jenna?”
“And to protect her,” Curt said.
Jake’s eyes narrowed. “You think there’s danger?”
“A lot of people are going to be upset when the news gets out,” Travis said. “Shareholders, employees, people who will be mad over Jenna’s dad’s possible guilt.”
“Any reason to think she’s in danger from this British guy?” Jake asked.
Curt shook his head. “It’s unlikely, but until we know where things stand it’s best to be careful.”
What if the worst was true? What if he was guilty?