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If you were to look up the term “stars in the eyes” in the dictionary there would be an image of Denise right now as she stared up at the man currently leaning casually on the edge of her desk.
Cassie Dewell smirked and shook her head, immediately recognizing the newly appointed and temporary Acting Sheriff Beau Arlen. An easy grin and humor lighting his own eyes as he bantered with her clearly smitten office assistant and good friend.
Neither had noticed her yet, so she took a moment to watch their interaction. She remembered when she’d first met the man in the parking lot outside the community center. While not the best first impression, he did manage to talk her into a casual conversion under the guise of helping him with his truck. As that first meeting continued, Cassie had been impressed with his ability to gather information as they had verbally danced. No doubt, he had known that she was also doing the same. In just twenty minutes, she was pretty sure they had measured each other up. By the end, she’d wished him luck and turned to join the support group meeting, still unclear on if the new Sheriff would be an obstacle or an ally.
It wasn’t until later that evening, after having caught up with Jenny and relishing the somewhat more successful than not case, did her initial opinion of the man change. Clearly annoyed that Jenny had let Travis escape custody, his decision to overlook the issue and take any possible repercussions on his own shoulders wasn’t one Cassie would have expected.
Jenny’s own subtle look of surprise was a clear indication they had once again been on the same page.
The three shared a few more drinks that night sharing small talk that was informative but irrelevant. The kind of surface level throwaway conversation that wasn’t too personal but enough to at least get a feel for each other. Beau had then thanked them for their hospitality and excused himself from their company like one would expect from a well-mannered Texan and she’d watched him leave feeling better that maybe the situation wasn’t as bad as she’d originally feared.
“What do you think?” Cassie asked continuing to watch as he left the bar before glancing back at Jenny.
She’d shrugged and sipped at her beer. “Dunno. I mean, I appreciate the backup but it’s easy to say something and another to carry through. He’s temporary, I guess, so maybe it doesn’t really matter.”
Beau’s deep distinctive chuckle and Denise’s giggle in return brought Cassie back to the present. Cassie smiled in amusement before schooling her features and cleared her throat to announce her presence.
Beau was still laughing as he shifted on the desk to look over at her as Denise waved and greeted her. “Oh, Hi Cassie. Didn’t see you come in.”
“Clearly,” Cassie answered walking further into the main office. She gestured towards Beau. “And what brings you here this morning?”
She watched as his grin faltered but then recovered. “Well, I was just in the area and saw the sign. Figured I’d stop in and say hello.”
“Hm,” she nodded, practically smelling the half-truth and narrowed her eyes at him. Cassie was, after all, good at her job.
Beau shrugged, glanced away and back, then caved. “Actually, I wanted to ask you something but figured I’d have a better shot in person than over the phone.” His hands came up almost at the same time as Cassie’s arms crossed over her chest. “Purely professional, I promise.”
Cassie glanced at Denise who’d suddenly grown suspiciously quiet. “What about?”
Beau looked down at Denise who then flicked her hands at him in a “go on” gesture before pushing once gently at his elbow in a show of support.
Cassie’s narrowed eyes moved to Denise.
“Look,” Beau started. “I’ve been on the job for almost two weeks now and, for the most part, I think things are going okay.” He trailed off.
“But?” Cassie’s focus moved back to Beau as Denise propped her chin in her hand and smiled.
“I’m pretty sure Jenny Hoyt is avoiding me and I was hoping you might be able to give me some tips.”
“I thought you said you could ‘handle’ her?” Cassie teased while hooking her fingers to punctuate her reply.
Beau leaned back. He hadn’t moved from his spot on Denise’s desk. His right hip hitched on the edge while his left leg braced his weight. “Yeah, I did,” his smile faltered again. “But there’s nothing to handle when she’s sneaking past my office door and only communicating during the morning briefing if she absolutely positively has to.” His smile faded fully now. “I’m pretty sure she actually ditched yesterday’s on purpose.”
Cassie pursed her lips in thought. Jenny was more likely to be confrontational if there was something wrong. If Jenny was resorting to avoidance instead, well that wasn’t the end of the world but not a great place.
“I’m not sure what you’re wanting me to tell you,” Cassie replied. “I’m not going to breach her confidence. Jenny and I are friends.”
Beau sighed, “And I’m not expecting you to. Sheriff Tubb got out of the hospital yesterday and was able to go home but he’s got a ways to go for recovery and then there’s the physical therapy. There’s starting to be some questions about if he’ll be able to come back.”
Ah, Cassie thought, well that would explain it.
Beau must have seen something on her face because a hint of hope crept into his tone. “So you can imagine the news hasn’t sat well with the department. I’m just trying to keep everyone focused and moving forward. It’d be a big help if that included Jenny.”
Cassie took a deep breath, let it out slowly and then shook her head. “All I can say is you just need to wait for her. She’ll either come around or she won’t and pushing her won’t do any good.”
Beau frowned and suddenly Cassie actually felt a little bad that there wasn’t anything else she could, or would, tell him.
“Just,” she offered softly. “Keep doing whatever you’re doing. Don’t pry. Don’t push. She’ll make up her mind one way or the other.”
He nodded and then the right side of his mouth lifted in a smirk. “Alright I guess. Just hope it all works out for the department. You know, hopefully Tubb makes a full recovery and all this won’t matter anyway.” He moved to his feet and fully smiled at Cassie.
She smiled in return but she could see his gesture for the show it was. “Yeah, I hope so.”
Something in his eyes shuttered.
“Well, thanks for your help,” he said suddenly and tapped the top of Denise’s desk in a move to include her in his gratitude before turning the full force of his grin on the older woman. “Thanks.”
She beamed back at him, “Anytime.”
Cassie frowned as clarity struck and she finally understood the undefined energy she had felt from him since that night at the bar.
Beau was temporary and he knew it.
“Hey,” she called to him as he was making his way to the door.
“Yeah,” he answered back over his shoulder, pausing as he pushed open the office door.
Cassie hadn’t known what exactly she had planned to tell him but she followed her instincts. “Stop by anytime. You know, if you need to talk or anything.”
He just nodded and stepped out into the street with the door closing softly behind him.
Denise sighed wistfully. “I sure hope he takes you up on that offer. He needs… friends.”
Cassie smiled but her eyes followed his silhouette through the glass as he turned and walked away up the sidewalk.
end.