Read Online A Penny for Your Thoughts by Bess McBride - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Bess McBride
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“Chief, you look like death warmed over,” Patty chuckled. “Up late?” she grinned.
Matt’s lips twitched and he shook his head, determined to keep Patty at bay. He poured himself a cup of coffee and turned to face his inquisitor while trying to appear nonchalant as he leaned against the counter. Running a quick hand through his wet hair, he debated how best to throw his trusty desk sergeant off the “scent” of romance. Too confused about Penny’s sudden reappearance in his life to actually think straight, Matt could only respond with a foolish grin and an even more foolish attempt at a joke.
“I’m always up late, Patty. Crime never sleeps. You know that.”
Patty arched an eyebrow, pursed her lips and favored him with a pointed look.
“Mmm hmmm... And how is Mrs. Brown this morning, Chief?”
“I’m sure she’s just fine, Patty.” His smile broadened. “Although her car was broken into last night...or rather this morning. Did Sam leave the report on your desk?”
“It’s right here. Says that you responded to the scene with him. That sure was nice of you.”
Matt ran a hasty hand over his heated face. “Well, she is an old friend.” He dropped his eyes to his cup for a second. “We’ve got this sudden rash of criminal activity in town. I have no idea what’s going on.”
“Me either, Chief, but your Mrs. Brown seems to be involved in several of them. No chance she did the bank robbery?”
Matt eyed Patty doubtfully. A big grin lit up her face, and he relaxed. She was kidding. She’d been with the department for years, long before he’d come on board. She knew everything about everybody.
“I doubt it, Patty, but I’ll sure ask her the next time I see her. How’s that?”
“Sounds good, Chief. I wouldn’t want you to miss a possible suspect because you’ve got stars in your eyes.”
Matt blinked at the less than subtle innuendo and rubbed his chin while trying to think of a retort. Patty swallowed a smirk, gave him a pleasant nod and returned to the paperwork on her desk.
“Well, you know the state motto, Patty. Stars fell on Alabama.” His shoulders shaking with barely suppressed laughter, Matt headed for his office.
Without raising her face from her computer, Patty got the last word.
“Mmm hmm... That would be stars from above, Chief, not from Michigan. You’ve got a stack of messages on your desk.”
Matt grinned but didn’t turn around. He opened the door of his office and stepped around to the front of his desk. He set his coffee cup down and dropped heavily into his chair. He was so tired his bones ached. Not enough sleep. He glanced at a bunch of pink message slips in the middle of his desk but made no move to look at them.
Pulling open a side drawer on his desk, he moved a few papers aside and pulled out a small photograph.
Penny’s younger face grinned at the camera...at him. She stood behind a dark-haired five-year-old Travis with her arms crossed in front of his small chest, both of them beaming for the camera. A sparkling blue river ran behind them with a massive emerald green mountain filling the backdrop. The picture had been taken on one of their camping trips; he’d forgotten which one. Penny wore a dark blue sweatshirt and beige shorts.
She hadn’t changed much in fifteen years, at least not physically. She looked as beautiful now as she did then.
Matt set the picture down on his desk and picked up his cup of coffee while he stared at it.
Of all the places he’d looked for her after his divorce, he’d never thought to look in Traverse City. He assumed she’d married, changed her name. Of course, he could have called her mother to find out where she was, but he’d lacked the courage at the time. Maybe he hadn’t tried hard enough because he wasn’t sure if he could go through the emotional roller coaster of loving Penny again. She had been a handful. There was no doubt about it.
Matt leaned forward and picked up the
****
“Chief, you look like death warmed over,” Patty chuckled. “Up late?” she grinned.
Matt’s lips twitched and he shook his head, determined to keep Patty at bay. He poured himself a cup of coffee and turned to face his inquisitor while trying to appear nonchalant as he leaned against the counter. Running a quick hand through his wet hair, he debated how best to throw his trusty desk sergeant off the “scent” of romance. Too confused about Penny’s sudden reappearance in his life to actually think straight, Matt could only respond with a foolish grin and an even more foolish attempt at a joke.
“I’m always up late, Patty. Crime never sleeps. You know that.”
Patty arched an eyebrow, pursed her lips and favored him with a pointed look.
“Mmm hmmm... And how is Mrs. Brown this morning, Chief?”
“I’m sure she’s just fine, Patty.” His smile broadened. “Although her car was broken into last night...or rather this morning. Did Sam leave the report on your desk?”
“It’s right here. Says that you responded to the scene with him. That sure was nice of you.”
Matt ran a hasty hand over his heated face. “Well, she is an old friend.” He dropped his eyes to his cup for a second. “We’ve got this sudden rash of criminal activity in town. I have no idea what’s going on.”
“Me either, Chief, but your Mrs. Brown seems to be involved in several of them. No chance she did the bank robbery?”
Matt eyed Patty doubtfully. A big grin lit up her face, and he relaxed. She was kidding. She’d been with the department for years, long before he’d come on board. She knew everything about everybody.
“I doubt it, Patty, but I’ll sure ask her the next time I see her. How’s that?”
“Sounds good, Chief. I wouldn’t want you to miss a possible suspect because you’ve got stars in your eyes.”
Matt blinked at the less than subtle innuendo and rubbed his chin while trying to think of a retort. Patty swallowed a smirk, gave him a pleasant nod and returned to the paperwork on her desk.
“Well, you know the state motto, Patty. Stars fell on Alabama.” His shoulders shaking with barely suppressed laughter, Matt headed for his office.
Without raising her face from her computer, Patty got the last word.
“Mmm hmm... That would be stars from above, Chief, not from Michigan. You’ve got a stack of messages on your desk.”
Matt grinned but didn’t turn around. He opened the door of his office and stepped around to the front of his desk. He set his coffee cup down and dropped heavily into his chair. He was so tired his bones ached. Not enough sleep. He glanced at a bunch of pink message slips in the middle of his desk but made no move to look at them.
Pulling open a side drawer on his desk, he moved a few papers aside and pulled out a small photograph.
Penny’s younger face grinned at the camera...at him. She stood behind a dark-haired five-year-old Travis with her arms crossed in front of his small chest, both of them beaming for the camera. A sparkling blue river ran behind them with a massive emerald green mountain filling the backdrop. The picture had been taken on one of their camping trips; he’d forgotten which one. Penny wore a dark blue sweatshirt and beige shorts.
She hadn’t changed much in fifteen years, at least not physically. She looked as beautiful now as she did then.
Matt set the picture down on his desk and picked up his cup of coffee while he stared at it.
Of all the places he’d looked for her after his divorce, he’d never thought to look in Traverse City. He assumed she’d married, changed her name. Of course, he could have called her mother to find out where she was, but he’d lacked the courage at the time. Maybe he hadn’t tried hard enough because he wasn’t sure if he could go through the emotional roller coaster of loving Penny again. She had been a handful. There was no doubt about it.
Matt leaned forward and picked up the
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