Page 34 of First Sight

“Is that so?” Nathan states plainly, not giving the Sheriff any fuel for his fire.

“Where is she?” He asks sternly.

“Not here,” Nathan lies.

“Then, why is her car here?” Shit. That must be why he was in the driveway so long, he was running my plate, making sure it was my car.

“It’s not safe to drive, I dropped her at a hotel in the next town over after we left your office earlier,” Nathan lies again. It’s effortless, he doesn’t even hesitate between each answer, not leaving any room for the Sheriff to question him.

“Which one?” The Sheriff grunts out, obviously frustrated.

“Not sure, it was off of the highway.”

“THEY’RE ALL OFF OF THE HIGHWAY BOY!” The Sheriff shouts, startling me. My trembling returns, my whole body quivering even though I’m doing everything to remain still.

“Sorry, guess you’ll have to go ask around,” Nathan responds, not sounding even slightly fazed by his outburst. “Have a good night, Sheriff.”

He shuts the door, not giving him a chance to respond, ending the conversation.

I don’t move, still listening to see if it’s really over.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Nathan

He knew I was lying. He’s an old fuck, but he isn’t dumb enough to think I wouldn’t have Callie here with me. He’s also not dumb enough to do anything that’s going to get him killed. Man to man, even an arrogant piece of shit like him knows that I’d win. I watch him through the peephole, seeing the options run through his mind like they’re written on his face.

He could try to strong-arm me and use the law as an excuse, but we both know he’s not here because he’s enforcing any laws. No, he’s here to get more information out of Callie, if not more. At minimum he wants to scare her into silence, already making that clear by questioning her validity, accusing her of lying about everything. My biggest concern was that he was going to try to take her. Whatever his plan was, he realized he wouldn’t be able to get through me without a fight.

Seeing the uncertainty play out across his face tells me that he doesn’t know what to do either. He wants all of this to go away, but does he have the balls to risk his livelihood for it?

That question is answered for me when he finally turns to leave. Rubbing a hand across his face, and muttering under his breath, he descends the stairs of the porch and returns to his cruiser.

I wait until he leaves, flipping a u-turn right through my grass -fucker- before releasing the breath I was holding. That could’ve been ugly. I didn’t want to get into a shootout but I wouldn’t hesitate if it came to it. I wasn’t going to let him even an inch through this door, not with Callie hiding just in the kitchen.

I turn towards the subject of my thoughts, still tucked behind the kitchen island. I walk over and crouch down in front of her, her big doe eyes following my every move.

“He’s gone.”

“Was he here to hurt me?” Her voice trembles.

“Only over my dead body,” I say with absolute certainty.

“Nathan…” She scolds me, not liking my callousness about losing my life. She continues, “I wasn’t going to let him hurt you. I would’ve given myself up.”

I grab her face gently with both my hands, needing her to listen to me, to hear me. “Never give yourself up for me. Never.” I stare deeply into her eyes, needing to see it click. I need her to know how serious I am.

“But…”

“No buts, Callie. Promise me,” I demand sternly.

“Fine, I promise,” she grumbles. She does not look thrilled about it, but I’m willing to upset her if it means she won’t do something stupid by wasting her life for mine.

“Good.” I pull her up to stand, wrapping my arms around her, needing to hold her. She doesn’t hesitate at all to wrap her arms around my waist, burying her head into my chest.

Her arm bumps the handle of the gun still tucked into my waistband. It clears my senses enough to remember that I’m still shirtless, and now I have Callie wrapped in my arms, pressed to my bare skin.

I should pull away, but she feels too damn good. Her hands flatten on my back, pressing me firmly against her, needing the connection as much as I do.

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