21

WAS THAT THE DOORBELL?

Grace stopped toweling her hair dry, opened the bathroom door, and poked her head out.

Ding dong.

Her ears hadn’t been playing tricks on her.

Pulse picking up, she tossed the towel onto the bathroom vanity and finger-combed her hair.

Could Nate be paying an impromptu call? Yes, he was working on the holiday, but if he happened to be passing by, it was possible he’d decided to stop in and share a soda—or an iced tea.

A visit from her favorite sheriff would definitely add a touch of zing to an otherwise very low-key Fourth of July. The highlight of her day thus far had been catching up on laundry and giving the perennial gardens that rimmed the house a long-neglected weeding.

She jogged to the front door and peered through the peephole.

What on earth?

She unlocked the door and pulled it open.

“Surprise!” Eve grinned and held up a large bag with the logo of their favorite St. Louis barbecue place.

“I brought the drinks.” Cate lifted a carrier containing four cans of soda and two mango iced teas.

“What are you guys doing here?”

“Melting in this heat.” Eve fanned herself with her hand. “If you don’t ask us in fast, we won’t have to bother nuking our dinner.”

“Enter.” She stepped back.

Cate swept past her into the coolness and headed for the kitchen, Eve on her heels.

Grace padded barefoot after them. “I need answers.”

“What? You aren’t happy to see us?” Eve opened the fridge and slid the bag of barbecue in.

“You know I am. But I thought you”—she pointed at Eve—“were planning to spend the day with your new husband, and you”—she swung her index finger toward Cate—“were working.”

“Change of plans. You want a bottle of your tea?” Cate filled a glass with ice and popped the tab on a Diet Sprite.

“In a minute. I’m waiting for answers.”

“Pushy little thing, isn’t she?” Eve directed the comment to their eldest sister, but the twinkle in her eyes took the sting out of her words. “And here I splurged on the best barbecue St. Louis has to offer to brighten up her Fourth of July.”

“And I brought sparklers for later.” Cate opened her tote bag and pulled out a handful of them.

Grace waited them out. Once her sisters were on a roll, there was no stopping them. They’d explain this spontaneous social call when they got good and ready.

Cate took a sip of soda. “Where’s your sheriff?”

“Working—like I thought you were supposed to be.”

“I ended up putting in twenty-four hours straight on a double homicide Monday. Sarge rearranged the schedule so I could get some shut-eye today.”

“Instead, you came here.”

She hiked up one shoulder. “I slept for five hours.”

“Where’s the fiancé?”

“Working. He got pulled in to help with a breaking case. Such is life in law enforcement.”

“That’s my story too. Get this—Brent got called in to cover for Cate.” Eve raised her hands in a what-can-you-do gesture and pulled a soda out of the carrier.