Page 15 of Forbidden Ride
Chapter Seven
Ieye Sheriff Gunneras he says goodbye to Jenny. I’ve never had a problem with him personally, but my family has given him a run for his money. It wouldn’t have been pretty if he’d tried to take Jenny away from me against her will. Sheriff or not—Jenny’s under my care now. She’smineto protect.
“Thanks for coming by, sheriff,” I say, walking out to the porch with him. He only grunts in response and trudges through the snow back to his truck. I guess he half expected me to be keeping Jenny hostage, which brings me back to the main reason I want to leave this fucking town.
I could never get a fair shake here. I wait until he’s off my driveway and back on the main road before going back to the cabin. The cell tower must be up and running again because Jenny’s on the phone.
“I’m fine, sweetheart.” Her silky voice floats through the space. She leans against the kitchen counter and sends me a gentle smile. And Jesus Christ, I’m hard as a rock again from just her smile. She’s so soft and sweet.
“I’m sorry you were worried. It was just a bad storm and I couldn’t get through. I love you too, baby doll, so much... Okay, put your sister on the phone.”
There isn’t anywhere for me to go, and I want her to have privacy, so I go back outside. It’s gray and the clouds are threatening, but it isn’t snowing. I take advantage of the break in the weather to clear my head. Even though there’s enough wood to last a while, I start chopping.
Sheriff Gunner’s little house call was the equivalent of getting a bucket of ice water dumped on my head, but after one look at Jenny, I’ve already snapped out of it.
I finish chopping wood and stack the logs on the porch. I glance through the front window—she’s still in the kitchen but off the phone.
“Do you know Sheriff Gunner?” Jenny asks the moment I step into the house. I park on the bench and start taking off my boots.
“Not well.” I leave it at that. I’m not lying. I don’t personally know him. I haven’t been in any trouble with the law, even though my family has.
“He’s a blessing to have around. So, I’m sure you overheard a little of my call.”
“Not much.”
“Well, the tower’s back up, obviously, and my kids are fine. So are my brothers, apparently. So I guess there was no need to worry about them.”
I remove my second boot and catch her smiling at me. “Anything else you were worried about?”
“Yeah.” She shakes her head at the floor. “What we were talking about before the sheriff came by. I guess what I wanted to say is that I’m not half as exciting as you probably think I am.” Her eyes flash. “And I never just pick up strange mountain men...”
That makes me laugh. I join her in the kitchen and take her hand in mine. “Officially, I’m a contractor, and technically I pickedyouup.” I tip my chin, waiting for her reaction.
She’s adorable when she laughs. “I’m so out of practice with this kind of thing. I’m just a mom. I don’t get out much.”
I catch her gaze. “Would it embarrass you if I told you I think that giving life and loving your child is the sexiest thing a woman can do?”
“Well, the aftermath isn’t very pretty, and I have the stretch marks to prove it.”
“Don’t you know by now, there isn’t anything you can say that will make me want you less? I love kids, by the way.” I latch onto her elastic waistband with my finger and tug her closer. “So you might as well give up on talking me out of you.” I bend, nuzzling against her ear. “I’ve always had a thing for teachers.”
She chuckles softly. “I think you might be starting to convince me.”
