Liz's Luck [Appledale 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) Read Online Free Page B

elegantly around the store. Soft music played within the store.
    “Yes, it’s all fixed now,” Liz answered with a smile. She was relieved she could get it fixed so quickly. Once she turned in the police report to her insurance company they would reimburse her.
    “Come on, I’ll take you to the station to sign your report. I have to deliver Ryan his lunch,” Lacy offered with a smile. “It’s too cold to walk. It should snow soon, and Ryan would groan if he heard me say this, but I can’t wait. It’s so beautiful, especially for Christmas. I plan on making him help me build a snowman, too.”
    “I agree with you. It’s not Christmas without snow. If Ryan builds a snowman, take some pictures because no one will believe Sheriff Serious would do that.” Liz laughed, grabbing her coat and purse and following Lacy outside. Lacy’s soon-to-be husband was a very serious man, but with Lacy he was all smiles.
    “I know.” Lacy laughed, getting in the car. “I have to hurry back. Poor Stella has been so sick with the smell of the food, and I told her as soon as I get back I’ll cover her shift so she can go home. Being pregnant sounds rough. She is either throwing up or aching somewhere. Thank God Ryan wants us to have time together before we have kids. Watching Stella is making me nervous.”
    Liz laughed, checking her makeup in the car mirror, a habit she picked up from her mother. “Yeah, I hear you, but I guess once she holds that beautiful baby it’ll all be worth it.”
    Helen, the receptionist, greeted them warmly when they walked into the sheriff station. “Hello, girls. Ryan’s in his office and I’m going home for lunch. Adam made homemade chicken soup, perfect for this cold day,” she said, eagerly putting her coat on. Adam was her husband and he took care of the farm while Helen worked in town.
    “The perfect man, one who cooks. Hang on to him, Helen,” Liz teased her. Helen was one of her faithful customers and Liz liked the elderly woman a lot.
    Helen smiled warmly. “Oh I am.” She grabbed her purse. “I am sorry to hear about your window, Liz, terrible news. Let Gabe get a hold of those kids and he’ll scare the daylights out of them. He is good at that.”
    Lacy and Liz walked into Ryan’s office. Ryan was sitting at his desk, looking over some papers. “Lunch delivery, Sheriff,” Lacy announced dramatically, opening his door and setting his lunch down on the desk. Whatever it was smelled delicious. Lacy held her hand out playfully as if expecting a tip.
    Ryan stood up and kissed Lacy passionately instead. “I am starving.” He winked at Lacy then turned and hugged Liz warmly. He had gotten to know Liz through her friendship with Lacy over the last few weeks. “I heard you had a rough night, honey, and I got all the details from Ethan on how you went to investigate all alone in the dark and how you could’ve gotten hurt.”
    Liz rolled her eyes and sat down. “That man needs to come into the twenty-first century. I lived alone in Chicago and can take care of myself without some big he-man tagging along.” Her dad had made sure that Liz took self-defense classes since she refused a bodyguard.
    Lacy laughed when Liz rolled her eyes at Ryan. “You tell them, Liz. Ryan could update his thinking, too.” Lacy gave Ryan a smug smile when he frowned at her remark. “I’ll see you both later. I have to hurry back since Stella is going home sick.”
    Ryan looked at his homemade roast beef sandwich and offered Liz half. “No thanks. I’m going to the diner for lunch after here,” she said. “Should I be worried? I’ve never had any problems since I’ve been here and I don’t think I’ve pissed anyone off lately. Well, Ethan and Gary,” she confessed. “So I’m hoping this is just a random act by some bored kids.”
    Ryan got a surprised look on his face and asked her, “Gary Peters, the bank manager?”
    Gary was snobbish, which hadn’t made him very popular in a small town