Sweet as Honey (Aster Valley #2) - Lucy Lennox Page 0,3

the road to intervene when Mr. Stanner shoved Mr. Sweet, got into his vehicle, deliberately smashed my bike into an old billboard, and fled the scene.”

By this time, several shop owners and customers from storefronts nearby had wandered out to see what the excitement was, no doubt alerted by the deputy’s obnoxious and unnecessary siren.

“Now, calm down, sir,” the deputy said, moving his hand to his service weapon. I wanted to roll my eyes, but I didn’t dare make a move showing any disrespect. I was already the outsider, a biker who’d gotten into a scuffle the minute I’d arrived in town. What were the chances they’d take me at my word?

I looked over at Truman, expecting him to verify my version of events. Instead, I saw him practically chewing his bottom lip off with nerves. His face was pale, and his antennae had begun to wobble again.

“You okay?” I asked quietly.

“Not so much,” he answered breathlessly. “Forgot to tell you that Erland Stanner, Patrick’s uncle, is also the sheriff. I’m gonna probably pass out.”

Even though he’d given me a warning, it took my brain a minute to process it. Within seconds, he was tipping forward toward the pavement. I lurched into action, grabbing him around the waist to keep him from breaking his face. But I must have spooked the deputy because suddenly, I was surrounded by two deputies with their weapons drawn, one of whom was shouting into the radio on his shoulder while various shopkeepers and customers screamed bloody murder and ran around like headless chickens.

When I straightened back up with the man-sized bee in my arms, I caught the eyes of an older, white-haired gentleman sitting at an outdoor cafe table a few yards away. He was sipping daintily from a porcelain teacup and had an overgrown purse dog curled up at his feet. His eyes sparkled as he looked me over.

“Oh good,” he said in a lazy drawl. “We could use some excitement around here.”

What the hell kind of place had Tiller and Mikey moved to?

Truman shifted in my arms. “Don’t tell them I was the one tending the flowers,” he said in a hazy slur. “Don’t want anyone to know it was me. That’s why I’m in disguise.”

Was this one of those Colorado hippie towns where everyone was smoking weed all the damned time?

I glanced back up at the young sheriff’s deputy, who seemed to be gathering his courage to try and take me down.

“Mr. Rigby, sir,” he said in a firm voice. “Put the chickadee down and step away from him. We have you surrounded. You’re under arrest for… for…” He tilted his head toward one of the other deputies, who stepped over to whisper in his ear. Then he cleared his throat. “You’re under arrest for the destruction of private property and the taking of a hostage while resisting arrest.”

I was in some kind of fairy tale, and they had it all wrong.

“First of all, I believe it’s a bumblebee, Deputy,” I corrected, stepping forward.

And that’s when they pulled out the Taser.

2

Truman

When Sam went down, I went down with him.

It was ironic, really, since I’d done my very best to avoid actually meeting the man in person up till now. But, because I had the worst luck in the world, here I was, lying flat on his chest with my nose pressed against his cheek.

When I’d first set eyes on Sam Rigby back in March, he hadn’t noticed me, but I’d definitely noticed him. It had been snowing heavily, and Sam had been up on a ladder helping fix the sign out front of the diner. After asking around, I’d learned Sam was friends with the couple who’d bought Rockley Lodge. He’d come up from Texas to do some repair work for them over a long weekend.

I hadn’t really decided how I felt about him at the time, which, of course, was a total lie. The truth was, I got all heart-fluttery around him. But I shouldn’t have. Sam’s shoulders were broad, and despite being devastatingly handsome, his face was set in a permanent scowl. He was big and mean-looking. In other words, he scared the bejeebers out of me. I was easily intimidated on my best day, but when I encountered a tall, strong guy with a stern face… let’s just say my fight-or-flight reaction only had one setting.

And it wasn’t fight.

But for some reason, I’d been drawn to him. I’d stared at him every time I’d seen him in town