Page 16 of Surly Sheriff
She shot him a glance. “You’re starting a new job on Monday.”
“Tuesday. Picking up my truck in Lincoln on Monday. But Sheriff Holden will understand.” Beau placed a hand on her arm. “I can see staying is bothering you, Rae.”
He was giving her an out. An excuse to renege on her promise.
She sat back on her heels and glanced around, taking in the two shelving units already loaded with stock, the spines of thebooks neatly lined up, ready for eager readers to come and browse and discover the magic within the pages.
The thing was, she discovered shelikedfeeling needed. Liked doing something worthwhile. Helping another person. Seeing firsthand the fruits of her labor and the appreciation of her efforts. Her coding jobs were impersonal. Just her and her computer, no human contact. It had been like that for years. Specifications delivered via email. Programs created and uploaded. Electronic payments.
Rae’s stare settled on the back of the large hand still holding her forearm.
But most of all, she liked the feel of his rough palm on her skin. The way her blood warmed and tingled, and her heart beat a smidge faster. She wouldn’t mind if that same hand moved farther up her arm and continued to caress the rest of her body.
Andthatwas what worried her the most.
She was no stranger to sex. But that, too, she kept impersonal. A carefully selected and vetted partner to fulfil a need when the toys in her arsenal were no longer enough.
But there was nothing impersonal in her reaction toward Beau.
He removed his hand. “Sorry,” he mumbled. “That was out of line.”
“No.” She lifted her eyes. “Actually, that was … fine.”
He smiled. “I’m glad,” he said before returning to the task on hand and passed the next load of books. She checked the author’s name, stood, and stacked them in the correct position.
They unpacked another two boxes in silence, sharing a few looks, but no more touching. Nate returned and called for Beau, and the man handed over the books in his hand. Clutching them to her chest, Rae stared after him, admiring the way the denim hugged his toned ass. She’d love to run her hands over those tight cheeks. Sans denim, of course.
She shook her head and placed the books on the shelf.
*
“I’m going to pop in at the vet on my way home. Want to come with?”
Rae opened one eye and looked up at the man leaning over the back of the very comfortable couch she sprawled across. She ached, head to toe. And fingers. She tried flexing her hands, but discovered it was too much effort.
But to go visit Kismet? Somehow, she would scrounge the energy. She lifted the other eyelid. “Sure.”
Beau’s lips pulled in a grin. “Need a hand?”
“Two. And a new back while you’re at it.” She lifted her arm, groaning as the muscles stiffened by the few minutes of rest protested.
Grunt work washard.
“You did a lot today,” he said, tugging at her feet. She sagged, and Beau shifted an arm around her middle, preventing her from collapsing back down. “Easy.”
Even the escaping snort proved painful. Shereallyneeded to start exercising more.
Beau guided her through the store. “A long hot bath will sort out the soreness.”
“Best idea I’ve heard all day.” Reaching the door, she turned and faced the interior, her gaze drifting over rows upon rows of bookshelves. More than half contained books, and the reading corner with its deep couch — the one Beau had dragged her from — and grouping of armchairs looked homely and inviting. “It’s a great setup.”
“Bella’s dreamed of this for years while teaching. Reading is her happy place, and she wanted to create a space for people to connect and discover the joy of books.”
Rae thought of the dozens of towns’ folk who had popped in during the day, most commenting on how they couldn’t wait for the doors to open. “She’s certainly achieved that. Gosh, I hope she’s feeling better.” Nate had taken his wife home earlier that afternoon, insisting she rest when he noticed her grimace for the umpteenth time. Something about Braxton-Hicks and false contractions.
“He’d have called us if something was amiss. Wait here while I switch off the main lights and set the alarm.”
For the third time that day, Rae watched Beau walk away from her, and the sight was as pleasurable as the first time that morning. And she wasn’t the only woman to think that. She’d noticed the looks of interest he received by the curious ladies — young and not-so-young — amongst the well-wishers today.
