Destined (The Rangers of Ridge County #1)

Chapter Fifteen

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

EMMETT

I burned an entire pot of coffee.

My mind was being pulled in a million different directions. Unfortunately, not to the unpleasant smell seeping from the break room coffee pot until far too late.

For a split second I considered throwing back a cup like a shot of tequila. I just needed the caffeine—it didn’t have to taste good. Then I thought of my deputies and decided they didn’t deserve that kind of cruelty from me. Especially not after the day we’ve had.

And they still had hours left in their shifts.

Me? I wasn’t sure when I would go home.

I made the decision to head over to Sips without much thought. Everything I lacked in food—and beverage—preparation, Greer had in spades. Plus, Rory always brightened my day without even trying.

It was only a block away, and I could use the fresh air.

Knowing good coffee was in my future, I couldn’t get away from the smell of burnt tar fast enough. I tossed the pot in the sink and vowed to wash it as soon as I returned with something we wouldn’t have to choke down. I hurried into my office, grabbing my coat from behind the door and my sunglasses from my desk. I spotted the open file laying there and averted my eyes before I could get lost in it again. I flipped it closed and locked my office door. I needed sustenance if I was going to survive this case.

“Coffee’s on me today,” I tossed over my shoulder and was met with cheers. At least the morale in the office wasn’t too low.

I nodded to the few locals I passed on my trek up Peak Street, but the sidewalks were pretty deserted this time of day.

Walking into Sips, I eyed the decent afternoon crowd gathered and made my way to the back. Though, I stopped dead in my tracks at the sound coming from the gorgeous woman standing beside my sisters.

Fuck . Millie’s moan hit me straight in the groin. Clearing my throat, I repositioned my stance and watched as all three women’s heads swiveled my way.

“Emmett!” Rory exclaimed as she hurried toward me. Like I said, people couldn’t help but smile with Rory’s attention on them, not even me. She’d always been my sunshine sister. I hugged her back but didn’t take my eyes off of Millie.

Her curls were spilling over her shoulders and down the back of her deep red coat. She had on skintight jeans that hugged her thighs in a way that had me mesmerized.

“What’re you doing here?” Greer huffed as Rory loosened her hold and backed away.

If Rory was the Ranger Family’s sunny day, Greer was our storm cloud. And that was no slight toward Greer.

She told it like it was. She was our realist—the one who kept us all grounded and in check.

People forgot that rain could be refreshing, too.

“Do I need a reason to come visit my sisters?” I asked innocently.

“What do you want?” Greer deadpanned, not fooled in the slightest.

Rory scoffed, but Millie smirked in my periphery.

“I would be demoted as sheriff if I let Dorothy or the deputies drink the sludge I just made,” I admitted with a chuckle. “So I came for as many to-go coffees as I can carry.”

I glanced over at the display case and noted the slim selection. Business must have been good this morning.

“I’ll take any snacks you have left, too,” I added.

My gaze found Millie again, but she was staring down at her furry snow boots .

“What are you ladies up to?” I asked, hoping to dispel some of the mounting tension.

Her ocean blue eyes met mine, but Rory answered first, “Millie stopped by to visit, and I’m headed home to start getting ready for my date with Jeremy.”

Millie turned to Rory and voiced the exact question I had been planning to ask. “Who’s Jeremy?”

“Just some guy I met yesterday in the Valley,” Rory shrugged. “Neither of us had plans for Valentine’s Day, and I thought it might be fun to have a low pressure date for the holiday.”

Today was Valentine’s Day?

I probably should have realized that before now.

Thankfully, I didn’t have anyone to buy a last minute gift for.

I hadn’t taken a woman on more than a couple of dates since becoming sheriff almost two years ago. Though, I’ve had a fair amount of one-night stands with tourists at the ski resort in Spruce Heights.

Nothing long-lasting.

Or recent, now that I gave it some thought.

I didn’t have the time.

Millie’s eyebrows pulled together as she bit her bottom lip, and the movement garnered my full attention.

Something I might have been more embarrassed about if I wasn’t close to sweating out of my coat at the thought of her mouth somewhere else. I took a step toward the counter in an attempt to cover my growing erection.

How juvenile.

Thankfully, Greer had her back to us, placing heart shaped cookies in paper sleeves. Otherwise, she would have been in for quite the show.

“What are you two doing this evening?” Rory asked, directing my thoughts back to the file on my desk.

“I wouldn’t be caught dead spending such a romantic evening with Emmett,” Millie blurted, and I felt my entire body recoil at her harsh words. Rory gasped, and I might have even growled at the insinuation. Apparently, I only knew how to act like a feral dog around the woman .

I didn’t worry about answering Rory’s question, though. I would be at the department all night.

The case that landed on my desk this morning had me concerned. But neither my sisters, nor Millie, needed to know that. I tried my best to keep all the darkness of the world from gracing their doorsteps.

Obviously, I was going to have to try harder.

I pulled out my wallet and threw four twenty dollar bills onto the checkout counter—which would be more than enough to cover my total and leave my sister with a hefty tip. I gathered up the drink carriers and bagged snacks in a way that would—hopefully—prevent me from spilling any of it on myself.

“Love you,” I grumbled to my sisters before offering a quick nod to Millie.

Then I was back outside and headed in the direction of the only plans I had for Valentine’s Day.