Page 9 of Muffin Top
I blew out a breath, returning to the giant skeleton I'd been tasked with wrangling into a wizard robe. "It's a shit story."
"I've got nowhere to be."
I frowned, keeping my hands busy as I bent the skeleton's elbow, shoving its arm into the sleeve. "The short, sad story is Dad died and Mom just doesn't know how to cope without him. She fell into a depression, rang me hysterical one night because she didn't know how to pay the electricity bill and the company had turned the power off." I shook my head. "I moved back home and started working for the local station about three months ago. The old Sheriff had decided it was time to retire but didn't have anyone with enough experience to take over. I figured I'd already moved back; may as well throw my hat in the ring." I shot her a wry grin. "Never expected to get the damn thing."
"Was the election close?"
I chuckled, "no. I won in a landslide."
She laughed, then sobered. "I'm sorry about your dad. I went to the funeral. He was a good man."
That hole in my chest began to ache. "Yeah, he was."
We decorated in silence for a while, murmuring softly when we needed something, positioning the display just so.
"I think we're done," Honey finally said, stepping back and putting her hands on her hips. We both looked at the display with a critical eye. Fall colors, leaves and pumpkins framed the skeleton in its wizard robe. Standing in warrior pose, arm outstretched with a wand held in one hand, it threw a little magic across the window – represented by twinkling fairy lights, to wrap around a scraggly scarecrow who was balancing precariously on a black yoga ball in order to save him. The scene was both clever, and humorous. Strangely, it also made perfect sense for her business.
"I like it." She declared. Honey bumped me with her hip. "Thanks for staying to help."
"No problem."
She moved then groaned, one hand coming up to massage the back of her neck. "I'm glad you offered. Not sure I could have got it done by myself tonight."
I caught her hand, gently pulling her closer. When only two inches separated us, I reached a hand up, brushing stray hairs away from her cheek. Honey's bright blue eyes were wide, her mouth slack as she stared at me in… surprise? Confusion? Shock?
The devil in me awakened, whispering temptations that I could no longer deny. "You offer relaxation to your clients," I whispered into the quiet. "But you're tight right now."
She blinked at me slowly. "I'll try and get in some time with one of my guys tomorrow, if Collins is back on board."
"How about," I slid a hand up her arm, moving to rest it on the nap of her neck. "You tell me what to do. I can't guarantee it'll be perfect, but it should help a little with the tension."
"I… I don't know…" She stammered. "I mean…"
I gently applied pressure to the back of her neck, finding the tight ball of muscles. She groaned, eyes closing as I continued to gently massage the tight muscles.
"Okay," she whispered, eyes still closed. "But only because this feels amazing." She opened one eye, her lips lifting in a cheeky grin. "But no one can ever know I let an unqualified therapist as hot as you work here. The line would be out the door, but I'd be getting sued from your lack of technique by next week."
I chuckled, keeping up the pressure. "I'm not interested in helping out the single ladies of this town. Just you."
She laughed, stepping back and moving down the hall to one of the treatment rooms. I followed her like a lost little lamb, unashamedly checking her out in the process.
"Don't lie, Sheriff. I asked around about you today and all I've heard about is your baked-goods harem."
I groaned, pausing in the doorway to watch her make her way around the room, setting up the bed with fresh towels and turning a small pot on to warm the massage oil.
"I never asked for the food. And I've never taken anyone up on the dinner offers." Though I liked the fact she'd asked around about me.
"It must be so hard being the most eligible bachelor in town," she threw a wink my way.
Harder than you'd think, babe.
My cock twitched, enjoying her sass a little too much.
"Okay," she studied the set up for a moment then nodded, immediately wincing once again. "We're good to go."
"Where do you need me?"
"Give me a second to take my top off and settle on the bed. I'll call when you can turn back around."
