Page 42 of Sheriff's City Girl

He nodded, his eyes dropping to the pan for a second before flickering back to mine. “I don’t know what she told you, but you should know that it was never serious with Brittany—and it was also never a real relationship.”

Oh, so just like us.

My stomach tightened, but I forced a nod and a pleasant look. “Okay, well thanks for letting me know.”

He hesitated. “No, I don’t think you understand. I took her out on a couple of dates, and then she just… wouldn’t go away. I can be a bit of a pushover when it comes to keeping the peace, and she was always threatening to start rumors—which would’ve ruined the upcoming election for sheriff. I didn’t want to lose my job.”

“That’s awful,” I commented, understanding the gravity of what he was saying—and now understanding what Lily meant when she said Brittany was bad news. “I’m sorry that happened.”

“Oh, it’s fine,” he chuckled. “I just hate that she’s back in town. She’s always stirring things up around here, and not in a good way.”

“I’ve heard.” I gave him a weak smile as he flipped the steaks.

We spent the next half hour discussing lighter topics like the café and the town, and I was thankful for it as my appetite returned. I helped him make our plates and grabbed us a couple beers as we headed for the table in the dining room. The food made my mouth salivate, and I took a seat across from Mason, who eagerly dug in.

“So, what kinds of things does Jess like to do?” I asked, cutting into my medium cooked steak. I took a bite, the meat melting in my mouth. “Oh my gosh,” I groaned. “This is so good.”

Mason chuckled, his blue eyes twinkling under the dining room lights. “Thanks. I’ve always been told I can cook a mean steak. But as far as Jess, I don’t have a straight answer for ya. She spent a long time playing sports in her younger years—and she’s a real good piano player. But right now… She just wants to focus on her social life. I’m not sure how I feel about it.”

I nodded, sensing his concern. “Teenagers are so difficult. I remember being that age. You’re so focused on figuring out who you are that it’s easy to get a little lost.”

“Yeah, I was so caught up in football and baseball, I didn’t have much of a social life. When I wasn’t doing that, I was working out on the Lowe Creek Ranch.” He smiled as he said it, and I could see the nostalgia in his eyes.

“That’s such a rich experience to have growing up,” I commented, continuing to shove my face with steak. “Kind of like this food.”

He burst into laughter. “Okay, now you’re just trying to flatter me.”

“Maybe so,” I giggled, meeting the heat in his gaze. My thighs clenched under the table, and suddenly, I couldn’t wait to be done with dinner.

“You mind if I take a quick shower?” Mason asked me an hour later as he put up the ceramic plate back in the cabinet after washing up. “I’m all for hard work, but I’m ready to smell something other than cattle and horse manure.”

I laughed, loving the way he had loosened up this evening. “I don’t blame you, though I have to admit that I didn’t pick up on the stench. Maybe I’m just getting used to it.”

“Maybe so,” he smirked, before turning and heading toward his master bedroom. “Why don’t you find us a movie to watch?” Mason called over his shoulder.

“I can do that,” I said, heading into the living room and picking up the remote. There was something about the easy-going evening that felt right with Mason, and for a time, I had forgotten about the impending news that I really needed to share with him.

I’m having your baby.

I chewed the inside of my cheek as I thought about his reaction to that. There was no way that it would go over the way I wanted it to. I mean, this was the first real date between us—unless the horseback riding one counted. But even then, that made date number two. Things had been rocky at best between us, and I wasn’t going to share until they settled down. Not to mention, I had no desire to trap Mason with the pregnancy…

No, not right now. I’d tell him once I was a little further along.

I picked out a thriller, hoping that it was a genre he was okay with watching. It was hard to tell exactly what kind of movies he would be into—other than westerns or something. I could definitely see Mason enjoying those old school films encompassing the wild west.

The sound of the shower turning off caught my attention, and my body buzzed at the thought of a dripping wet Mason stepping out of the shower. The thought was straight out of a wet dream—no pun intended. I found myself standing to my feet, lust getting the best of me.

I’ll just tell him I found a movie…

Excitement continued to build as I made my way to his room, hoping that I wouldn’t catch him too off guard. However, as I made it just outside his door, he poked his head out, his hair still damp under the hall light.

“I was hoping it was you,” he smirked, his blue eyes darkening with a familiar hunger. “I would’ve invited you to conserve water, but you know… I try to be a gentleman.” There was a glimmer of amusement in his voice as I took in his bare chest, sculpted from physical labor and probably a gym…

It should be a crime for a man to look so damn good.

I was too lost in the view, and it wasn’t until he grabbed my hand that I broke away from the awe. He pulled me to his chest, and his hard shaft pressed against me through the towel. I tilted my head back, taking a moment to get lost in his eyes as he leaned down, brushing his nose to mine as his lips pressed against my mouth.

Readily, I let his tongue slip through, and a light moan rattled my throat as he tasted every inch of me. His hands matched the greed of his kiss, and he stopped to take a breath—and pull my blouse over my head.

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