Greer strolled into the sheriff’s office, giving a cheeky wink at the receptionist behind the desk.

“Don’t you look pretty in that dress. Is it new?” He leaned against the desk as he flirted with the older woman.

Her eyes brightened as she stepped around her desk to give him a big hug; he returned her hug, lifting her off her feet.

“If I had known you were going to stop by today, I would have made you some corn bread. I know how much you love it.”

He sat her back down on her feet; holding her hand, he stared down at it. “Is that a new ring I’m seeing, Ms. Combs?”

“No, I’ve had that the last time you came around. It’s almost time for me to splurge on something new.”

“You should go to the jewelry store in Jamestown; it’s where I bought my woman her ring.”

“I usually go to Dalton’s, but I’ll check out the one in Jamestown before I buy anything.”

“Make sure you tell the manager I sent you.”

“I’ll do that. When are you going to bring that pretty bride over to my house for dinner?”

“This Saturday soon enough? You gonna make me that chocolate cake I love?”

“I’ll go by the store and get everything I need.”

“Then we’ll be there. I can’t turn down a meal from the best cook in the county. If you hadn’t been married, Holly would have never caught me.”

She blushed under her leathery skin. “I see why she married you. I hope you’re spreading those compliments to your new wife.”

“Naw. I don’t want to spoil her.” He grinned. “How have you been doing?”

“Right as rain. I haven’t seen you in church lately. Pastor Dean is no Saul Cornett, but he’ll do.”

“There was only one Saul Cornett.”

“Amen to that. The younger generation will never benefit from him the way I did.” She took her hand away from Greer to wipe a tear that came to her eye. “When I tell people he cured my eyesight, no one believes that I was blind and that he healed me. I wish your grandmother were still alive. She’d tell them he did. When I tell them you were there, I’m sorry to say they still don’t believe me.”

“Don’t let it worry you. We both know what happened, and that’s what counts.”

“Yes, it is.” She walked back behind the desk on her impossibly high heels. “So, did you just stop by to see me, or are you here to see Knox?”

“Knox called me to come in for a talk. You know what it’s about?”

She frowned. “No, there aren’t any warrants out for you, so you should be good. You can go right into his office; he isn’t busy.”

“Thanks, and tell Ezra I said hey.”

“I will.”

Greer lost his affable expression as he strode into Knox’s private office, unperturbed by the sheriff’s face when he saw him walking inside uninvited.

“You could have knocked.”

“Ms. Combs said you weren’t busy.” He sat brazenly down in the chair in front of his desk without asking. “What you need to see me about?”

Knox’s face tightened. “I have a position open for a deputy, and I wanted to ask if you were interested?”

“Diamond put you up to asking me?”

“Yes.”

Greer laughed. “Then you can tell her I turned you down.” Greer started to stand up.

“Diamond may have asked me to hire you, but I think you would be a good pick for the position. I can’t fight the drug problem here alone. I’m spending my time chasing down chicken killers and copper thefts.”

“I have a record.”

“I had it expunged.”

“You can do that?”

“I can do a lot of things.”

“It’s tempting. I wouldn’t mind locking up a few of the Hayes and Colemans.”

“You have to find the evidence. I can’t just lock them up because you hate them. I’d have to lock up half the town.”

“That’s fair, and you don’t have to worry about the chickens anymore. I dealt with that. You kept your word and didn’t tell Diamond about the chickens?”

“I said I wouldn’t.” Knox met his eyes. “Since we’ll be working together, it’s important for us to build a relationship based on trust.”

Greer grinned, getting his meaning. “I won’t stick my nose in your extracurricular activities if you don’t stick yours in mine.”

Knox nodded. “You’ll have to take training classes. When you pass them, I’ll put you on the schedule.”

“I don’t work nights or weekends, or holidays. I’d be willing to work part-time about ten hours a week.”

Knox’s eyes narrowed on him. “We work on rotating shifts.”

“I don’t. I’ll tell you what; I’ll work one weekend a month.”

“One holiday, and I’ll need you to give me at least thirty hours a month,” Knox countered.

“My extracurricular activities need monitoring. I’ll do twenty-five hours a week for you, one weekend a month, and I’ll even throw in one holiday as long as it ain’t Christmas.”

“You want me to call Holly and tell her you only want to work twenty-five hours a week?”

“You want me to call Diamond and tell her she’s pregnant and doesn’t need to take those lunch breaks to get knocked up?”

“How do you know she’s pregnant?”

Greer raised his brow at him. “I took Holly to work today, stopped in Diamond’s office to say hi.”

“She must have been thrilled.”

Greer ignored his sarcastic tone of voice.

“I don’t know how you’ve been fooling her with that pregnancy stick, but she’s got a bun in the oven. You must not want to give up what she’s giving you for lunch,” he wisecracked, tickled at his humor. Who said he didn’t have a sense of humor?

Knox’s jaw clenched. “I’ll call when I get the results of your test back.”

“You do that.” Greer stood up deciding he had given him enough of his time.

“Wait, can you make me another batch of that protein powder you made for me? Rider wants you make him a batch of it, too.”

“You liked it? I told you, you would,” he boasted.

“It better not have any illegal substances…”

“Nope, not one. Nothing that doesn’t grow in my own backyard.”

“Greer…”

He sighed. “I told you, the powder is a mix of my own herbs, roots, and plants I grind up that will help you build your strength, endurance, and build body mass. I’ve been using it on my weed, making it into a liquid to make them grow bigger; figured what works on weed could work for you. I’ve had to come up with something to replace the garlic. It didn’t bother me, but everyone else in the house kept complaining about me smelling.”

“Make me a month’s supply. Between your powder and my lunch breaks, I’ve never felt better.”

“Really?” Greer thought through the ingredients. “Let me know if it has the same effect on Rider’s dick; that way, I know about the benefits before I start marketing it.”

“Don’t tell me I’ve been your guinea pig?”

“Naw.” Greer waved that suggestion away. “You’ve been more like a bear.”

He hightailed it out of Knox’s office, grousing that no one got his sense of humor.

Making his way to Diamond’s office, where he had left his truck, he saw an older gentleman come out of the pharmacy.

“Hey, Dr. Matthew’s, how you doing?” Greer greeted Dr. Price’s grandfather, extending his hand.

“How are you doing, Greer? It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.” The elderly doctor took his hand to shake.

“Can’t complain. How about you?” he asked, not releasing his hand.

“My gout has been acting up, but other than that I can’t complain, either.” The man’s eyes went to the office Greer had just come out of. “You staying out of trouble?”

“You know me. Trouble always finds me.” Greer joked, laughing while pressing his other hand on top of the one he still held.

The old doctor laughed with him. “It’s been good seeing you again. When that new wife of yours gets pregnant, let me know. I still keep a few close friends as patients; keeps me from being bored in my old age.”

“You’re not old; you’re still in the spring of your life. Holly will be calling soon. I don’t plan on anyone delivering my kid but the man who delivered me and my family. It’s a tradition.”

The man’s eyes grew misty. “Yes, it is. I still miss your ma.”

“We all do.” Greer released his hand with a small pat. “You take care.”

“You, too, Greer.” The old man walked away with a new spring in his step.

Greer took another three steps before a pretty woman glowing with health was trying to push a stroller out of the door of the clothing store.

Greer hastened to hold the door for her.

“Thanks, Greer.”

Winter tried to hug him, but using the stroller as a barrier between them, he bent down to look at the small child gurgling up at him.

“How’s Aisha doing?”

“She’s doing good. We just had a checkup. The doctor said she’s behind on the growth chart, but that’s because she was premature. We’re hoping she’ll catch up; as much as she eats, it won’t take her long.” She gave a worried laugh.

“May I?” he asked, holding his hands out to pick up the child.

“Of course. She loves to be held.”

Carefully, Greer picked the little girl up into his arms, cradling her to his chest, staring down into her bright eyes. “She’s beautiful, Winter. I bet Viper is so proud of her he doesn’t know what to do with himself.”

“Every time he goes out, he buys her a new toy. If he keeps it up, we’ll have to add another room to our house just for the toys.”

“A little bit of spoiling never hurt anyone. I hope I’m still around to see when she starts dating, I’ll probably have to lend him my shotgun to chase the boys away.”

“Viper says he’s never going to let her date.”

He held the child closer, pressing his hands harder on her. “Holly is expecting. They’ll be close enough in age that they can play together. I reckon I’ll be keeping an eye on both of them. Can’t have both girls wrapping Viper around his thumb.”

“I didn’t know Holly was expecting. You already know it’s a girl?”

“Don’t know for sure, but a man can dream. I’ve always been hankering for a little girl. I’m gonna name her after my grandmother, Rosalie Adana. Tate and Dustin both say when they have girls, they’re gonna name her after Granny. I have to beat them to the punch; can’t have three Rosalies running around Treepoint.”

Greer placed Aisha back in her stroller.

“No, that would be confusing. Greer, I—”

“I better be going. I’m taking Holly out to lunch.”

He stepped around Winter, walking down the sidewalk toward Diamond’s office. Nodding to several more townspeople without stopping, he saw his petite wife and her tall boss standing outside talking. The direct opposite in looks forging a friendship that he could see lasting a lifetime. While he didn’t mind that his baby girl would be playing with Aisha, there was no way he would let the baby Diamond was carrying become close. He planned to nip that in the bud; there was no way in hell he was going to share a grandbaby with Knox. Sometimes, the God Almighty asked too much.

* * *

“Is he in a good mood?” Holly whispered to her best friend, not wanting to turn around and alert Greer that they were gossiping about him.

“How can you tell?” Diamond asked sarcastically.

“Is he whistling, or does he have his usually grouchy expression on his face?” Holly asked, anxiously waiting to get a forewarning of the mood Greer was in after his meeting with Knox.

“He’s whistling.”

“Then we’re good.” Smiling, she turned to wait for her husband to reach them, her eyes narrowing on him when she saw the fatigue on his face.

“Ready for lunch?”

“Mind if we miss it and do lunch another day? You getting me out of bed early has made me tired. Thought I’d go on home and take a nap.”

She saw her husband unsteadily hoisting himself into his truck. “I don’t mind. Go ahead and get your beauty sleep. I’ll be home after work. Logan is having a sleepover with Chance and Noah, so we’ll have a couple of hours until Dustin gets home.”

Greer’s face blanched. “I’m planning on a long nap. I might be getting a cold. I wouldn’t want you to catch it.”

“Aw…poor baby. I’ll make you some soup when I get home. Feel better.” She stepped away from him, so he could close the truck door. She knew how truly exhausted he was when he let her remarks pass.

When she went back to Diamond, they watched her husband drive away.

“If Knox looked at me that way when I suggested an afternoon in bed, I’d ask for a divorce,” she advised.

Holly shook her head in concern at how tired Greer looked. The stubborn man would rather lie than admit what had made him so tired, would rather plead sickness than admit he wouldn’t be able to perform in the bedroom until his strength returned. His limp dick was one price he would never admit to, even with a gun pointed at his head. Her braggart husband’s gift didn’t come without a price, and she wouldn’t be getting any until he recovered.

Both she and Diamond waved at Winter as she put Aisha in the backseat of her car. She had a good suspicion as to what had exhausted her husband so much.

“You think he took the job Knox offered him?” Diamond asked, reaching for her phone to text Knox.

“Yes,” Holly answered her absentmindedly, her mind on Greer.

Diamond snorted when Knox texted back. “I don’t know how you put up with that man. He told Knox he would only work twenty-five hours a week.”

“It’s more than I expected.”

Diamond’s eyes widened. “You’re not mad?”

Holly shook her head. “I married Greer knowing I wouldn’t be able to change him. I don’t want to. I don’t expect a perfect marriage.”

“You don’t think he told Knox I’m pregnant, do you?”

“I told you he wouldn’t when you told me you were pregnant and I couldn’t keep the secret any longer.”

She let Diamond rattle on about Greer, knowing she was still angry at him. Greer wouldn’t want her to make excuses for him; he wanted everyone to believe he was a cold-hearted a-hole, but she and their family new the truth. That he could walk the streets using his gift; no one would probably miss him if he never came back to town, not knowing he had left a piece of himself behind.

“By the way, what did you expect?” Diamond asked as Knox drove up to take her on their daily lunch date.

“That he would have the sizzle factor.”

Diamond paused getting inside the car. “Does he?”

“He doesn’t have the tongue ring, or the big bike, but he has something better.”

“Like what?”

“A big heart.”

“I’ll take your word for it.” She smiled and got inside Knox’s car. Diamond thought that as a newlywed, she was blind to his faults. Greer had told the truth; he had made a blind woman see. Her.

For the years she had lived with him, she had seen nothing but his faults. It was when he had catfished her that she looked beyond that to realize who he truly was; a man who loved his family with every breath of his being, and that included her. She had become part of the wheel that would carry the Porters into the next generation.

She decided to go back inside her office and work through her lunch hour when she saw Willa come out the back door of the church, waving.

Holly waved back before going inside. It was only when Willa continued waving as she walked toward the end of the church playground to the fence that she got her meaning. Crossing the small street to greet Willa, Holly saw she was holding a bag.

Willa held out the bright pink bag to her. “Greer called me and said he wasn’t taking you to lunch and asked me bring this to you.”

“Thank you, Willa. I was just going to eat an apple I have in the office.”

“He ordered you a chicken salad sandwich on a croissant.”

“Greer knows I love your chicken salad.”

Willa nodded happily. “It’s become one of my customers’ favorite. I usually add a cupcake when someone purchases a sandwich, but Greer told me to put some chocolate-covered strawberries in there for you.”

Holly practically saw her waistband growing; Willa’s strawberries were a decadent treat.

“He knows me and Logan fight over them.”

“There’s enough in there for both of you. How’s married life treating you?”

“Great. How’s the baby doing?”

“Great.” Willa showed her own happiness with her life. “Lucky is practicing his sermon on our boy while I’m working. Which I better get back to. See you Sunday?”

“Yes, see you then.”

Willa went back inside the church as Holly made her way inside Diamond’s office. Sitting down behind her desk, she pulled her bounty out of the bag, nibbling one of the strawberries while she went to the chatroom she and Greer talked on, not wanting to disturb him with a text if he was sleeping.

Kentuckygirl12: Thanks for my lunch. I love the strawberries.

Sharpshooter: I wanted to spoil my woman ;)