To think she used to enjoy the smell of rosemary! Now, it just reminded Marianne of her crushing humiliation in front of Sheriff Trent Wild.

A few days after their initial encounter, Marianne still had the sheriff's smug expression firmly fixed in her brain. It probably didn't help matters that she found Trent Wild more than a little irresistible…to look at. His personality was a different story. The last thing she needed was someone tall, dark, and fixed in his ways sniffing around while she tried to forge herself an independent place in the world.

"Thanks a lot, Aunt Celia," she muttered to herself as she dropped her chin into her hand. "It's not like everyone wants or needs to be looked after."

Still, Marianne couldn't help the way her eyes traveled occasionally to the front doors of the Honky Tonk. The wireless at her new house was still buggy, so she had been forced to bring her laptop to the bar to research specifics on brewing with rosemary. She might be able to concoct a fragrant, refreshing pale ale out of the inadvertent mess she had made of the garden…but every time she got close to defining and jotting down the perfect recipe, she couldn't help glancing up to check the parking lot for a police car.

Trent had warned her he would stop in again, hadn't he? Well, what was taking him so long? It's not like Marianne wanted him hanging around, obviously, but not knowing when or where their paths might cross again made her nervous. Better to get it over with. She was determined to see him again, if only to confirm to herself that she had exaggerated the memory of his strong jaw, his dark eyes, his easy smile that sent shivers racing through her—

A car door slammed, and Marianne jumped. She slid down off her bar stool and hurried to the entrance, only slowing her pace at the last second to appear outwardly more calm and collected than she felt. On the inside, her heart thundered with excitement…and the storm only worsened at the sight of Trent Wild strolling up to the curb. She barely noticed the woman with him.

She hadn't exaggerated him in her memory, not in the slightest—only today, Lockhart's sheriff was out of uniform. It seemed unfair that he should look so totally at ease in blue jeans and a T-shirt; it seemed unfair that he should make the off-duty ensemble look so damn good. Weren't sexy civil servants supposed to be a revelation when they were all dressed up, and not the other way around? At least, that was what every made-for-TV chick flick she had ever seen had told her.

But this wasn't a romantic comedy. This was a man who might, at any moment, turn from ally to nemesis if she didn't watch herself. She should probably keep that in mind.

"Sheriff Wild!" Marianne exclaimed as she pushed open the door. "To what do I owe the visit?"

"Don't act so surprised to see me." He grinned, and Marianne's stomach flipped like she'd just dropped over the edge of a rollercoaster. "I told you I'd be around to lend a helping hand, didn't I?"

Marianne flushed. "But I don't need any—"

He interrupted her protest by thrusting a hand out toward her. Marianne blinked in surprise and accepted the bundle of packets Trent gave her. The blonde beside him grinned, her eyes flicking happily between the two of them as if she were afraid of missing a single expression.

"What is this?" Marianne asked.

"Little welcome present," he said. "Coriander. Enough to last you through more than a few potential mishaps."

Marianne heated to her ears at the implication, but she couldn't deny that his gift touched her. “Thank you.”

She turned to the woman at his side. Trent's partner was pretty, young, and bubbly. Marianne smiled in surprised delight when she noticed that the earrings dangling down past her heart-shaped face were in the shape of pint glasses. Marianne couldn't help liking her on sight…even if she were in a relationship with Trent.

Why the hell should it concern you? Marianne wondered as she smiled big and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. You really think a guy who makes a uniform look that good would still be single? Get over yourself, Marianne.

Still, she couldn't shake the impression that Trent had been checking her out from the moment they first met. Did he just have a wandering eye?

"Marianne, I'd like you to meet my brother's girlfriend, Sabrina," Trent introduced the two of them. "She's the adventure coordinator down at Wildhorse Ranch."

"Oh?" Marianne's eyebrows shot up. She tried to keep any noticeable relief out of her voice. "How do you do, Sabrina? It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Right back at you!" Sabrina shook her hand, crisp and chipper. "It's great to finally meet you! Have you met Trevor yet? He's Trent's twin brother."

"Marianne just moved to the Bend," Trent explained. "I doubt she's had time to make it out to the ranch or that my brother has had much time in his busy schedule to make it off."

"So true." Sabrina pulled a face. "It's been so long since anyone saw him in town that Trent keeps getting mistaken for Trevor today. Must be because he's out with me."

Trent grimaced, and Marianne caught the expression before it quickly vanished again. What was that about? Didn't Trent get along with his brother? Less than two weeks in town, and she was already finding local mysteries to investigate.

"Come on in." Marianne held the door open in invitation. "I was just, well, trying to do a little of everything." She swept a hand toward her open laptop. "I was fixing one of the bottling lines before I got distracted. I could definitely use a break from work for a minute."

"We won't get in the way," Sabrina promised as the three made their way over to the brewing room viewing window. "Oh, wow!" Sabrina cupped her hands around her face as she gazed in. "Would you look at that buildout? I can't believe how much you've been getting done right under our noses!"

"The tarps outside do a good job of concealing it all," Trent remarked. Marianne shot him a look, but she couldn't read his expression as he spoke. She had a feeling she didn't need to. He had stated his opinion of the bar's renovations loud and clear upon their first meeting.

"I'm not hiding anything, if that's what you're implying." She fisted her hands on her hips. "I have every permit in place. All that's left to do is varnish the floors and tweak a few things on the assembly line."

"And grow some coriander," Trent reminded her. "I suppose you intend to do that overnight?"

Marianne bristled, but Sabrina wheeled back around to her before she could retort. "You really do look almost ready!" the blonde enthused. "When do you expect to throw open the doors?"

"Well…all I really need to do is wait for the floors to dry overnight," Marianne said hesitantly. "I guess technically everything's in place to open in a week if you just wanted to use the space, but I need another month to have enough beer brewed. I was planning on opening in time for the Spring Festival."

Sabrina exchanged a look with Trent, alerting Marianne that something was up. They might not be boyfriend-girlfriend, but they certainly conspired as if they had a long history of working as a team.

"Why?" Marianne asked the two of them suspiciously. Trent cleared his throat and backed off from the window as Sabrina took over.

"Because," Sabrina said, "we just came from the town hall. A major water pipe broke, and they sprang a pretty nasty leak overnight. There was supposed to be a big meeting held there next week, but they have to do some major repairs. We wondered if…"

Sabrina caught her lip between her teeth and nudged Trent. "The town's been buzzing about your renovations," he added. "We came over to see what sort of shape you were in. If you agree to it, I'll report back to the mayor that they can host the meeting here."

"Oh, wow." Marianne touched her forehead to reorient herself. A million and one doubts scrambled to hold her attention, and all of them presented themselves to her in Simon's voice. Thankfully, the lone thought she heard in her own voice rang the loudest: opportunity.

"Only if you agree to it," Sabrina put in quickly. "We know it's short notice. Actually, it was Trent's idea that we ask you." Then, before Marianne could even think of a sufficient comment to express her surprise: "Oh, wow! Get a load of all this stuff!"

The “stuff” Sabrina referred to—and there really was a load of it—was all the old furniture and torn-up equipment Marianne had deemed redundant during her renovations. For a lack of any better solution, she had temporarily piled it all up against the wall in the Honky Tonk's main lounge.

"I actually wasn't sure what to do with it all," Marianne admitted. She was still trying to wrap her head around their unexpected offer. "Do you know a dump I might take it to?"

"Dump?" Sabrina exclaimed shrilly. "You're just going to throw all this in the trash? You're sitting on a goldmine, Marianne!" She gesticulated wildly toward the pile like she had just uncovered a fairytale dragon hoard.

No matter how much Marianne squinted, she couldn't see what Sabrina saw. "You want it? You'd be doing me a favor by taking it, actually."

"Really?" Sabrina squealed.

"Don't mind her." Trent came up on her left side unexpectedly; his shoulder brushed hers gently, and Marianne experienced an unexpected flood of warmth at the connection. "She's fanatical about upcycling. But if there's anything you want us to take with us, we came in my brother's pickup."

"Are you leaving so soon?" The question was out of her mouth before she could think to hold it back. Trent raised an eyebrow at her, and Marianne flushed. "I mean…I meant the two of you. Obviously. Don't you want a quick tour? If you're going to bring the Honky Tonk up as a viable option with the mayor, you should at least see the rest of it."

"The two of you go ahead." Sabrina waved them off without looking, transfixed by the trash pile. Marianne found herself admiring the way the other woman could see so much possibility in the stuff she had deemed worthless. Marianne considered herself a dreamer, but she was also practical. She was good at exercising her imagination in the brewing room, but outside of it she sometimes came up short.

She exchanged a look with Trent to see if he was still game, and he nodded. They left Sabrina behind them as they strolled back toward the brewing room. Marianne swiped her keycard, and Trent pushed the door open first so he could hold it for her.

She had an ulterior motive in all this, of course. She was determined to prove to Trent that the Honky Tonk's next evolution was a good idea for Lockhart Bend.

He was her first critic. Time would tell if he was her toughest.