dry but since her feet were still wet from the lake in her kitchen, she pulled her thoughts together. “Thank you. I wasn’t sure what to do since Billie is previously engaged.”

It didn’t go unnoticed by Hank how small and soft her hand was. He wondered if the rest of her felt that smooth, but he wouldn’t let his mind wander there. Or at least he was trying hard not to but failing. City girls attempting to make a life in the country…it rarely worked the way they planned. Hank knew from personal experience. He gestured to the front door. “Let me grab the beer and I’ll give Billie a call.” He didn’t wait for her to answer as he made his way to his SUV, pulling his cell from his back pocket. He tapped the screen, and put it to his ear. As he waited for Moe to answer, he grabbed the twelve pack of Yuengling out of his car. “Moe, Hank, I need Billie over at the old Meyer’s place now.” Hank was climbing up the steps just as he was pulling the phone from his ear and tucking it back into his pocket.

Arissa’s focus was on the beer. “You really brought beer.” Her gaze lifted to his and she was feeling the need to brace herself again. The dispatcher had undersold his appeal.

“Jo said you needed beer.” Hank looked down at the box of Yuenglings he was carrying, then back to Arissa. “If you don’t, it doesn’t go bad.” He walked past her and back to her kitchen where he waded through the water, and placed the twelve-pack in her fridge. The sound of water moving under his feet didn’t sound as bad as when he first got there.

Arissa had been thinking maybe she wasn’t cut out for a small town, what with the only plumber unwilling to tend to an emergency because of a dart game, but the sheriff coming to the rescue, bringing beer, all because his dispatcher told him she needed it, she was willing to give the town a chance. And if part of that decision was based solely on the sight of the man standing in her kitchen…people based decisions on far less every day. “Would you like a beer?” she asked, following him back outside, then realized he was on duty and answered her own question. “You’re on duty.”

“That I am.” He nodded and took a seat on the top step of the porch stairs. “What brings you to Summerville?”

Arissa joined Hank on the steps, which seemed smaller with his large frame taking up most of the space. Her eyes zeroed in on his legs and the muscles of his thighs. She looked away, resisted the urge to bite her lip, but damn. She was surprised there wasn’t a higher crime rate in Summerville with this man as their sheriff. She suddenly felt inclined to get into some mischief. Realizing he’d asked her a question, she replied, “I’ve always lived in Charleston, but I wanted something different, wanted something more. Saw this place…” She gestured to the house. “And fell in love with it and the town.” She chuckled and added, “Despite my attempt at adding an indoor pool in the kitchen, it’s a great house.”

Hank watched as the bottom of her shorts inched further up her thigh when she sat down. The skin looked so smooth, his hands fidgeted to touch it. He folded them between his spread legs so he didn’t reach out and do just that. Hank chuckled. “It is a great house. Just needs a new shut-off valve, but the Meyers were too cheap to pay the hundred bucks for one.” He looked at her. “So, Charleston, huh?” Hank asked, looking to get more information out of her.

“So the lake in the kitchen is from a known problem. I suppose that’s a good thing.” Arissa would be having a conversation with her inspector. If the town knew about the problem, he should have. She put that away for now and answered the sheriff’s question. “I work there. Well, I did, but as editor for Southern Charm magazine, my work can mostly be done online, so…” She glanced back at the house. “I moved out of the rat race.”

Hank nodded and shifted his gaze when he realized he was focusing on her mouth and how it moved. His eyes scanned the street as he spoke. “Women around here love that magazine, so be prepared to be bombarded with questions.” Hank paused and waved to a couple walking by. “Yeah, Charleston is not my thing, either. Just go there every now and again.”

Arissa rested her hands behind her, watched the couple Hank waved to walk by. “Charleston is all I know, but that,” she said, her eyes moving to him as a smile played on her lips. “Waving to your neighbors, a sheriff who stops by to shut off the water and brings beer. I was missing that. You get lost in a big city. I didn’t like the feeling of being lost.” She paused, looked across the street to her neighbor who wasn’t at all hiding that she was watching them. “I want to put down roots. This seems like a good place to do that.”

Hank caught Maureen watching them and knew by five that evening the whole town would know of his visit. He looked at Arissa. “It is a good place, but…” He gestured with his head to Maureen. “One thing about small towns, Sweetheart, everyone talks.”

Arissa followed his gaze. “I’m beginning to understand that, but if they’re talking about me chatting with the…” She almost said sexy sheriff but caught herself. “The sheriff, I’m okay with that, but warning noted.” Her smiling eyes met his when he glanced her way. “Have you lived here your whole life?”

“Even talking to the sheriff is gossip,” Hank said on a chuckle, and looked at his boots. “Yep, I have. Been the sheriff for eight years now. Not much