Page 26 of Sheriff's Dirty Secret
“Thank you,” she whispered. “I’ve never gotten flowers before.” The smile on my face grew wider.
Oh yeah, this is the first of many arrangements my woman will be getting from me.
“They’re a little something I hope softens you up to what I need to ask you,” I admitted.
“Uh-oh, that sounds dangerous,” she teased. “Why do I feel like you’re up to something, Sheriff?”
“Because I am.” When I kneeled, her eyes widened. The few shoppers and other vendors around us gasped. I held her hand in mine. “I like you. A lot. Shit, honestly, I love you. I’m in love with you, Olive Trejo.”
“Luke.” Her lips opened and shut, and I leaned in as I brought her hand up to my lips, pressing a kiss on top of her fingers.
“Will you be my girlfriend?” Some snickered and others giggled while most ooed and aahed, but I tuned them out.
“I love you. I know this is fast, but you’re it for me. If I didn’t think you would run off after hitting me with the flowers, I’d be asking you a whole other question. That’s how serious I am about you, Cookie.” She stared at me for a moment, and the longer the silence drew between us, the sweatier my hands became. But it was when I slowly realized that her eyes had become suspiciously wet and her lip started to wobble that Istood up, carefully placing the flowers on the mostly empty table before holding her face with both hands.
“Olive?”
“Yes,” she answered softly but with confidence. “Yes to the first question, and maybe wait a couple of months for the other, but I’m pretty sure the answer will be the same.” Joy washed through me, and I lifted her up, swinging us around her booth, semi-aware of the people around us clapping and snapping pictures.
“I won’t let you regret this,” I whispered into her ear as I set her down.
“You better not,” she sniffled with a sassy expression on her face before she hip-checked me. “Help me pack up so we can go home and celebrate.” She pressed her hand to my shoulder.
“Put me to work, boss.”
“Girlfriend,” she corrected. Fuck if that didn’t have a good ring to it.
9
olive
I lookedaround my room for the millionth time and huffed with frustration.
Tossing my hair up in a messy bun, I got down on my knees to look under my bed.
“Where are you?” I said to no one.
A cardigan I wanted to wear now that the temps were dropping was nowhere to be found. It was one of my favorites since Scarlett had made it for me, and it was one of a kind. Not only that, it was super comfy and would have gone great with my outfit for my date with Luke.
The doorbell rang. Speaking of.
I got up off the floor and hurried to the door. There he stood. Handsome in his uniform, looking too good to be true.
“Fuck,” he cursed, his gaze eating me up. “Turn,” he said, twirling his finger.
Even though I loved when he did this, I still rolled my eyes. I had to make him work for it still. But honestly, I had a feeling he wouldn’t mind putting the work in for the rest of his life. I slowly spun around, loving the way his gaze gobbled me up.
“You’re too beautiful for words, baby,” he mumbled as my eyes caught his bright blues, and he leaned in for a kiss.
It had been a month of us being an official couple.
Not only had he met my siblings, but my parents as well. And to my surprise, everyone loved him. Loved us together. Everything had been great. Perfect. Too good in a weird way.
Maybe it was me? The pessimist in me waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop. To discover my sexy sheriff’s dirty little secret and push him away.
“I’d pay out my pension to know what you’re thinking about.”
“It’s nothing.” I shook my head. “Not worth that much, that’s for sure.” His thumb stroked my face.
