Page 20 of Wildest Forever

“Thanks Pace,” her cheeks turn pink as she grabs a paper cup and gets started on my coffee. I wait patiently, but I'm not waiting long when she holds out the steaming cup and hands me a paper bag.“I popped a couple of treats in there for your mom too,” she smiles innocently at me and my heart constricts in my chest.

I find her attractive, but not enough to want to pursue, not that it matters anymore because soon I'll be a married man... all to help out a neighbor.

Giving her a soft nod as I take the bag from her grasp, I turn on my heel and make my way back down to my office. Reaching for my keys in my front pocket, I hook my finger around the keyring then slip them in the door, letting myself in.

My office is not big, but it's ample for me.

I normally have someone else work here, Avery, but after everything went down, I sent him off for leave until I needed him back.

So going forward, it was just me, myself and I.

Not that I minded, I was left alone.

It only causes a problem if I have someone held in the cells over night, but that's a rarity.

Kicking out the wheel of my office chair, I slump down into it and place the brown paper bag and coffee on the desk before I switch my computer on and wait for the machine to kick in.

Sitting back, I cross my feet at my ankles, fingers locked together and in my lap, as I stare out the large window, the town quiet for now, but give it an hour or two and everyone will be about their day.

The chime from the monitor has me focused on that and I settle myself down to work, losing myself in a couple of hours of admin work and to be honest, I needed this today. I needed the distraction, if only for the morning.

Locking up behind me,I walk towards the truck and place the brown paper bag with the goodies for mom on the passengerseat. My phone connects to the Bluetooth and I pop it into the cradle as I dial my mom's number.

She answers on the first ring.

“Hey ma, I’m on my way home now, all okay?” I ask as I reverse out of my space and pull onto the quiet roads of Lovelock Bay.

“Yes, all is fine, I'll put the kettle on,” and I can hear the smile that taints her lips.

“Perfect, see you soon,” I cut her off as the radio begins to play soothing country music, the voice ofLainey Wilsonfilling the car, my fingers tapping on the steering wheel to the soft beat.

The drive is short and it's not long before the tires are crunching down the long and winding drive of our ranch. I see Riggs and Tripp talking to Conrad as I pull into the space in front of the garages and cut the engine.

Stepping down, I grab the bag and slam my driver’s door.

“Lunch?” Riggs calls out and I flip him off.

“For ma!” I shout back and push a wide smile on my face then climb the steps onto the porch, the step creaking beneath my boot and I make a mental note to fix it this weekend.

Twisting the handle, I step into the house and the smell of a freshly baked pie fills my nose and my stomach grumbles.

“Ma!” I call out, kicking off my boots before I toss my hat on the side table.

“In here,” she replies from the kitchen, and I duck my head around and see her sitting at the table with two cups of tea.

“Hey,” I smile softly as I place the bag on the table, and she looks at me. “I went to Sunny’s for breakfast this morning, she put some treats in there for you,” my head tilts slightly as I narrow my gaze on her.

“Oh, thank you,” she says, rolling her lips and peeking at the contents that sit inside the bag. “That’s very kind of her, please tell her thank you.”

Dragging a chair out, I sit down next to her and reach for my cup of tea.

“Work okay?” she asked, wrapping her fingers around the mug and bringing it to her lips.

“Yeah, just working through paperwork, never ending,” I roll my eyes, and she gives me a ghost of a smile. “Being Sheriff is not how I imagined it when I was a kid, chasing down bad guys with my pistol and a patch work pony,” and that causes her a laugh, her face lifting to look at me.

“You should know by now my sunshine boy, that life isn't like the ones we dreamed up as children,” and I nod, swallowing the thickness down.

“I know,” I whisper as she pulls out a chocolate muffin, swiping her finger through the frosting before popping it into her mouth.

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