“I have no idea.”

“Ballpark.”

“What is this, an interrogation?”

Cate nudged Eve. “She’s avoiding the question.”

“I noticed.”

“Fine. The cop was at least fifty. The sheriff . . . thirtysomething.”

“Married?”

“I don’t know.”

“You did a ring check.”

Refuting Cate’s statement would be foolish. Single women in the market for a relationship did ring checks.

“No ring—which doesn’t mean anything. I’m sure he’s involved with someone.”

“Aha. That must mean he’s hot.” Eve smirked at her.

“Aren’t you jumping to conclusions?” Grace scowled back.

“Am I wrong?”

Grace eyed the door. Could she push past Cate, make a run for it?

“I think she’s seriously interested in this guy.” Eve gave Cate a fist bump.

Oh, for heaven’s sake. She needed to put a stop to this.

“Doesn’t matter if I am. It’s not mutual.”

Both heads swiveled toward her.

“How do you know?” Cate folded her arms, still barring the door.

She was not going to tell them about his visit to her house and the invitation he’d declined.

“Trust me, I know.” She tapped her watch. “I hate to break this up, but I have to stop for groceries on the drive home.”

“If she doesn’t want to talk about him, this guy must have really tickled her fancy.” Eve arched an eyebrow at Cate.

There was only one way out of this, and it wouldn’t be pretty. But desperate predicaments called for desperate measures.

Grace pulled out her keys. “Why don’t I tell you about the bizarre case I got two weeks ago. This guy was herding cattle with an ATV, and he hit a soggy spot on a slope. The ATV tipped over and crushed his leg. He managed to pull himself free, but a storm rolled in, and the cattle got spooked by the lightning and thunder. They stampeded right over—”

“Stop!” Eve clapped her hands over her ears.

“Clever diversionary tactic, Grace.” Cate’s reaction was less emotional, but she’d lost a shade or two of color too. “We won’t ask any more questions about your sheriff—today.”

Grace ignored the caveat, as well as the temptation to correct her sister’s “your sheriff” comment.

“Hey, I listen when you guys talk about your work.” She gave them an innocent shrug. “What do you do if Brent wants to tell you about his day?” Grace nudged Eve with her elbow.

She removed her hands from her ears. “I listen. But unlike you, he spares me the gory details.”

“You’ll keep us apprised of developments with the sheriff?” Cate didn’t budge from the door.

“He didn’t think the odds of solving the case were super high.”

“I meant personal developments.”

“You two are becoming annoying.”

“Just answer this question.” Eve leaned in. “If he asked you out, would you go?”

Go on a date with Nate Cox? Was Eve kidding? She’d accept faster than—

As her sisters suddenly grinned, she narrowed her eyes. “What’s so funny?”

“You. And good luck.” Cate pivoted and opened the door.