Page 58 of Surly Sheriff
She pulled away.Turnedaway.
“I … I …” she stammered, dropping her head.
“Rae.” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “Baby.”
“You should send me away.”
Her tortured whisper tore into him. He brushed aside the hair from her neck and placed a kiss below her ear. “Never.”
“I’m going to hurt you.”
“My risk.”
“You’re crazy.”
“About you, yeah.”
“Beau.” She spun around and buried her face in his chest.
He closed his arms around her without saying a word.
And simply held her.
*
“Told you, it’s a surprise.” Beau grinned and tossed her duffel into the bed of the truck beside the other gear, securing the cover.
“Hmph.” She opened the rear door. “Come, Kismet. Up and in.”
The dog wasted no time scrambling onto the backseat, and Rae attached his harness. Beau rounded the truck, snaked an arm around her middle, drawing her to him. He linked his fingers in the small of her back. “Two days. You, me, our dog. Bliss,” he whispered, and placed a kiss on her forehead. He moved his hands, gripped her waist, and hoisted her into the cab.
Rae needed a break from the bookstore. Bella was still looking for a permanent person, but the brunt of the work fell on Rae’s shoulders. Although capable and willing, she still had her ownbusiness to run and often worked till the early hours of the morning.
Besides, this was his first full weekend off-duty. That it coincided with their one-month meeting anniversary was too good an opportunity to miss.
“Give me a hint,” Rae begged.
Foot on the brake, he pressed the ignition button. “Patience, Rae-Bae.”
“Gah.” She folded her arms and fixed her stare ahead. “Should never have told you my secret nickname,” she grumbled and pushed her lower lip out.
Of course, he’d added his own twist to it. He reached across the small space and curled his hand around the back of her neck. “Love that name.” He leaned in, tugging her closer. “My spunky Rae-Bae,” he whispered against her mouth.
Aah. The feel of her lips parting beneath his … sheer beauty.
And the way she yielded to him … a precious gift.
But he had plans for the day. And yes, while they did include getting down and dirty with Rae, that was for later.
He lifted his head and peered at her. “You trust me?”
She exhaled lightly. “Yes.”
“Then sit back and enjoy the ride.”
“Okay, Beau.”
They chatted about random things. He told her an amusing story about a recalcitrant cow he encountered on US-6 the day before. She shared that Bella’s friend, Ruth, and her two children, did not return to her husband after her Labor Day weekend visit with her parents. Kismet alternated between sticking his nose out a half-open window or stretching across the back in peaceful doggie slumber, subjecting them to one of his malodorous farts.
