Page 92 of First Chance

“It was easier to walk barefoot until I got here.” I point to the rocks at our feet, and he nods.

He leans down and swiftly sweeps me off my feet, cradling me in his arms. He doesn’t say a word as he walks us back up to the house, and all I can do is stare at the side of his face and the intensity of it.

“I’m sorry if I caused trouble,” I whisper.

He doesn’t say anything as he deposits me on my feet in front of my door, but he also doesn’t move away. He braces his hands on the door on either side of my head and squeezes his eyes shut before looking at me.

“Don’teverdo that to me again. You might’ve gotten me wrapped up in this fake engagement shit, but do not forget that I am your boss. I told you not to wander.”

“I was just–”

“No! Don’t use that pretty mouth to soften me up. Your adventure starts after you leave this place and not a second before! Do not forget who is in charge here.”

He pushes off the door frame, and I watch his back get farther away through blurry eyes.

That’s the Lochlan that I first met, and not the one I’ve fallen for.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Lochlan

“As her brother, I hope you weren’t too hard on her. As Sheriff, I’m glad she wasn’t out there when whoever threw the rat poison over the fence would’ve seen her.” Jackson’s bagging the pellets into an evidence bag, even though we both know there isn’t any way to trace where it came from.

Jo scared the hell out of me, and I’m having a hard time reigning in my rage. I’m not mad at her, but I’m infuriated that my home isn’t safe enough for her to walk around without worrying about her.

I’m furious that my first thought when I couldn’t find her was that someone could have taken her.

This place should be secure, impenetrable. She should be able to explore every square foot of this property without consequence, but I can’t make that a reality because some fucker wants to harm me. The bears. My grandfather’s legacy.

“It’s better that she’s mad at me but listens to my rules rather than disobey and get herself hurt. It’s the price I’ll pay.”

He glances at me, unconvinced. It’s the same look Hayes usually gives me.

“When you thought someone had her, what was your first thought?”

“What do you mean?” I thought I was going to murder someone, but I won’t admit that to him.

“Where did your mind go? Who was the first person you suspected? Even if it doesn’t make sense in hindsight, our brain works in weird ways.”

“First, I assumed it was whoever has been harassing this place. Then I thought maybe Frank, one of my old parolees, came back to mess with me. He always showed too much interest in her. Then I suspected that her parents sent someone for her.”

“Why would her parents do that?”

“Ahh, well. She told them that she was engaged to me to get out of being set up with Conrad’s campaign manager.”

He blinks slowly at me, contemplating what I just said. “You’re engaged to my sister?”

“It’s fake.”

“This place is turning into a soap opera.” He sighs, shutting all of his evidence into the back of his SUV. “Well, fake or not, I’m counting on you to keep your promise about her safety. Even if she thinks you’re a dictator.”

“She can give me the silent treatment for all I care, I won’t let a fly land on her.”

* **

“This is where my mother expected to showboat my engagement to Austin so all eyes will be on us. Try not to look miserable,” she says slyly as we enter a giant garden party on the lawns of the Biltmore Estate.

This place is historical and fancy, and incredibly out of my element. Normally, I’d lean on her to carry us through an event like this, but as suspected, she hasn’t spoken to me since the night she wandered off.

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