Square jaw, straight nose. Even soaking wet he exuded that rugged look all the girls seemed to fall for. He wore the same concerned expression as the sheriff and it reached an ache she held deep inside. One she thought she’d long since tucked away.

Lane rubbed her arms to cut the chill seeping in despite the muggy temperature as the deputies walked toward her.

“Lane, I’m going to have Deputy Lynch take you home.”

“Oh, no. I can drive myself, Sheriff.” She glanced down at herself, feeling entirely too aware of her muddied clothes and limp hair hanging over her shoulders. “EMTs said I’m good.”

Sheriff Huggins looked like he was trying to decide if she was telling him the truth. “You have my number. You call me or Byrdie if you need anything.”

“I will.” She grabbed her backpack from the back of the ambulance. “I promise.”

Lane could read the hesitation in the sheriff’s face, but after a minute he let out a breath. “Okay, but I want Deputy Lynch to take one of the squad cars and drive you to your car.”

Even without the finality in Sheriff Huggins’s tone, Lane wasn’t going to argue. She was wet, cold, and not about to walk through the trees to get to her car. “Deal.”

Sheriff Huggins pulled her into another one of his hugs and kissed her forehead. “I’ll check on you tomorrow.”

Blinking back the emotion, Lane gave a tight-lipped smile and followed Deputy Lynch to a squad car.

“Where are you parked?” he asked after she had climbed into the passenger seat.

“The Ogeechee Park lot. West side of the river.”

“I know it.” He nodded as he started the car. “I usually park down the river, but today I parked farther up. Found the trail that led me to the bridge.”

Lane’s insides cringed. Change the subject. “Storm’s passing.”

“That’s the thing about storms, right? Come in quick and then leave just as quickly.”

“Not all storms.” Lane watched a drop of rain trickle down the window. “Sometimes they stick around and make life miserable.”

“I’m sorry I scared you.”

Lane turned in her seat. The deputy’s eyes were focused on the road. “What?”

“Back in the woods. I didn’t mean to scare you.” His hands tightened around the steering wheel. “Or at the bridge.”

It was like a weight had settled over the car and silent seconds filled the space between them. Lane unbuckled her seat belt and opened the door as soon as Deputy Lynch pulled into the parking lot. “Thanks for the ride.” She picked up her backpack and started to climb out but stopped. She held her bag up. “I take pictures. That’s why I was out there today.”

Deputy Lynch’s jaw flinched before his lips pulled into an easy smile. “Sure.”