Page 2 of Sheriff's Dirty Secret
Olive was beautiful.
Curves and sweetness with a heavy splash of sass. Not to mention an incredible ass. But it was more than the physical that drew me to her. It was the light inside of her that shone so brightly, so real, I just wanted to stand in front of it. Shield it from the world ever trying to dim it.
“Your phone number?” She snorted.
“My number?” she repeated and rolled her eyes. “Fine. Here you go.” She handed me her business card. “Now you can place your order over the phone or on my website.”
“What if I don’t want to place an order but talk to you?” I was pushing my luck and knew it.
“Sheriff—“
“Luke,” I corrected, wanting more than anything to hear her say my name. It was alwaysSheriff.
I moved closer, hating the table that stood between us. I’d sat back there two weeks ago, when she’d let me for some reason. I had even helped her pack up, hoping she would take me up on my lunch invite.
Instead, she thanked me, handed me a box of the most sinfully delicious snickerdoodles she had waiting in her car as a thank you, and left me standing there wanting more. But if I was being real, I had a feeling I could spend a hundred years with the woman in front of me and still be greedy for more.
“Sheriff.” She sighed. All I could think about was how I wanted to hear her say my name. Her not doing it was driving me crazy.
But fuck me, that was the problem! Something wasn’t right with my head when it came to Olive Trejo.
Not only did I want her, but it was like no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get enough of her. It had started slowly, but this obsessive drive was taking control. I went places I knew she’d be at. Drove past her street late at night countless times, all to make sure she was okay, to give me the peace of mind I needed.
Fuck, I’d even parked on the block behind her street and walked around the perimeter of the small cabin she rented. Lurking around like some kind of thief in the night, sneaking peeks through windows to see the inside of her place. Shit, I’d even stood outside her bedroom watching her sleep under the moonlight.
I’d been tempted to pick the lock and walk right in, slink through her small home and kneel before her bed as she slept. But I hadn’t crossed that line.Yet.
I knew it would only be a matter of time this thing inside of me, this obsession, would take over, full blown, and I wouldn’t be able to stop it.
“Look, Sheriff, I’m not sure—“ she started to go on, trying to shake me off and push me away. I’d heard the drill last week and this weekend when weaccidentallybumped into one another at the local brewery.
Shit, I was sure I would hear it again when she saw me at the grocery store tomorrow. I knew her schedule down to the T. And even if I didn’t, I knew how to find her. I’d always find her.
“So, like I said, thank you again for all your help two weeks ago and everything, but I don’t think this is going to work out.”
“Work out?” I repeated.Oh! My little baker thinks she has a choice about ending up with me? the thing inside me wondered with growl. I didn’t mind a challenge. A little game of cat and mouse was good; it never hurt anyone. Just the thought of chasing Olive made the blood in my body rush south.
“I’m not into dating.” The Big Bad Wolf inside of me started to grin.
“Who said I want to date you?” I asked, standing at my full height. She looked up at me those pretty, dark chocolate eyes locked onto mine.I want to claim you. Make you mine. Keep you forever.The words were lodged in the back of my throat. Luckily, they didn’t slip out.
“Well…” She blushed, and time stood still.
My beautiful, bold, sassy baker blushed for me. Fucking hell, it made the front of my pants tight. Or tighter, as the case would be. My girl wasn’t the shy kind. It was what had made her stand out. She didn’t hold her tongue, and even if I had been on the brunt end of it, I loved that about her.
“The department was asked to do career day at the high school, and I thought maybe it would be something you would be interested in. But I’m sorry for bringing it up.” It wasn’t complete bullshit, but it got me out of keeping my size-twelve boot out of my mouth. I wanted to high five myself for the quick scheming.
“Sheriff.” Her pretty mouth opened and closed, like she wasn’t sure what to say. I forced my body to relax. To drop my shoulders some as I shrugged and schooled my face not to show how I felt.
“It’s fine. I’ll take a dozen chocolate chip cookies.” I pointed at the treats on the table, quickly changing the subject to see how she would react.
“Oh, umm…” Her brows bunched, and she got to work, putting the treats into a pretty, olive-green box and sealing it with a sticker that showed her logo.
“Here you go.” I handed her two twenty-dollar bills and took the box of cookies. “Thanks for these, Miss Trejo.” I nodded. Before I could talk myself out of figuring out a way to stay a littlelonger, I walked away. But not without feeling the heat of her gaze on me.
My girl might have tried to avoid me, but somehow, karma was on my side today and the tables had turned.
The realization was a double-edged sword.
