Page 16 of Carlos

Carlos’s cheeks tinted red slightly. “I know this probably seems out of the blue. I’ve been thinking about you since we met last February. Do you remember, in Steel’s kitchen?”

Zoe nodded. Oh, she remembered all right. At least then she’d only nearly run into him, unlike at lunch earlier. Manners dictated that she should apologize and thank him, but she couldn’t seem to form the words.

“I understand if you don’t want to. I know you recently lost your husband. I just thought…” Carlos shrugged, a little self-conscious. “Anyway, if you’re interested, Clara, I’d love the chance to get to know you better.”

Zoe stared at him. The last man who had asked her out on a date she had murdered because he turned out to be an abusive, controlling asshole. Clearly, she did not trust her instincts when it came to men.

But, looking at Carlos now… Zoe wished she was someone else, someone who could say yes to him. He looked to be about the same age as her, late twenties. Despite her aversion to the profession, he looked damn good in his beige deputy’s uniform.

Her panic upon opening the door had vanished when she’d seen his nervousness. He’d knocked, hat in hand, to ask her out on a date. That took guts. He didn’t strike her as the type of man who got nervous or bashful easily. It…humanized him. Made her see Carlos and not the deputy.

Regardless, her answer couldn’t change. Even if her heart hated her tongue for what she was about to say.

Since Carlos believed she was Jenna’s widowed niece, Zoe chose her next words based on that lie. “I’m flattered, really. But I can’t. My husband was a cop. The job… It killed him. I can’t…” Her voice broke. “I won’t go through that, or put my son through that, again.”

The disappointment on Carlos’s face nearly had her backpedaling. It was a date, not a marriage proposal. But his gun and his badge were as prominent as his uniform. She had no choice but to say no.

Carlos nodded stiffly. He was rotating the brim of his hat around in his hands. “I understand. I’m sorry, Clara, for your loss.” He made to step away. Zoe had her hand on the door, ready to close it, when he suddenly turned back. “Clara?”

She looked up. “Yes?”

“What if it’s not a date? What if we just happen to meet at the diner one night and happen to sit at the same booth for a nice meal and some conversation?”

She shook her head slowly. “I don’t understand.”

“I haven’t seen you around town. I’m assuming you don’t go out much.” Carlos indicated to the trailer she was currently inhabiting. “I didn’t even know these were back here. This, and what happened at lunch today, tells me you’re not comfortable being out and about. So, what if, rather than us going out on a date, I just take you out to the diner? No pressure, no romance, no implications. We can just sit and chat while you enjoy some of the best apple pie in the state. I’ll be there to help you if you need it and take you home if you get uncomfortable.”

Zoe felt frozen. She couldn’t… She shouldn’t… “I have a son.”

“I know,” Carlos said with a small nod. “If you want to bring him, I don’t mind. Otherwise, I’m sure one of the club ladies would be happy to watch him.”

Jenna certainly would, especially if it meant Zoe was going out.

“I shouldn’t,” she said softly.

He tilted his head, assessing her. “I’m a cop, Clara. I’ve been a cop since I was eighteen years old. My boss has recently quit and I’m basically a shoo-in to be the town’s new sheriff. It’s not glamorous and the hours suck, but Mount Grove is a safe town. I’ve worked hard to make it that way. Accidents can happen, sure, but the people here are good.” Carlos tipped his head back towards the hidden path in the trees. “I have to get going. I’ll be at the diner each day this week for dinner around seven. I hope you’ll join me.”

He started to walk away.

“Carlos!”

Damnit, what the hell was she doing?

He turned back around. “Yes?” There was a small smile on his face and it took Zoe a moment to realize their roles were now reversed.

She couldn’t keep her lips from twitching too. How long had it been since she’d smiled? “Dinner sounds nice.” His smile widened. “Just dinner,” she reminded him. “It’s not a date.”

He nodded once and put his hat on. “Not a date.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow,” he confirmed and then walked away.

Zoe didn’t stop him this time. She slowly closed the door, leaning heavily against it. What was she doing? Date or no, she could not risk going out with the town’s new sheriff. But… Zoe closed her eyes as she took in a shaky breath. Bottom line was, she wanted to.

She was tired of being afraid. She was tired of feeling like a bad mom for keeping her son hidden away. She was tired of being alone.

She’d made her decision. Leaving lunch had been a mistake. She’d panicked when she shouldn’t have. Zoe needed to learn how to live again. It had been three years since she’d killed her husband, and yet she was still acting like she was under his thumb. Not anymore! Zoe was going to go out with Carlos. Regardless of him promising that it wasn’t a date, they both knew it was.