Page 31 of Naughty by Nature

Chapter 10

Sheridan thoughtit would be nice to pick up the Lowell females with a treat, so he stopped at the coffee shop on his way to the school. He got himself one of the milkshake things, Cheyenne one of those macchiatos and the girls bottles of chocolate milk. He left the truck running for the AC but took his key fob to lock the door while he walked into the school to meet them. All four were waiting patiently. Cheyenne, he noticed, did not have the box or flowers in hand, and none of the girls carried a stuffed animal. Well, like he’d told her before, it was up to her how she wanted to proceed.

One of his many psychology classes had expounded on the fact that rape survivors needed to have control of something. This would be her stand.

They walked out and he asked the girls about their day, his eyes scanning the area. No cars moved at all right now. The summer school kids had been bussed home and there must have been a lull in the employees leaving.

They climbed into the truck and Grace squealed happily to find the chocolate milk. Cheyenne got a pretty flush to her cheeks as she saw the coffee in the cup holder, and he shrugged. “I wanted one of those milkshake things and I felt bad not getting you guys anything.”

She laughed lightly as she ripped open the straw and plunged it into the drink, taking a healthy swallow. “We’re going to get fat drinking these things.”

He made a face at her. “Whatever. You can stand to gain a few pounds. You’ve been worrying too much.”

Her expression softened as if she agreed, but she turned to look at the girls and make sure they were buckled in.

“We need some groceries, Sheridan. Meats and vegetables.”

“I’ll come back in to town after I drop you guys off at the house.”

He could tell she didn’t like the idea, but she didn’t say anything about it until they got to the house. “Do you mind of I go to the store with you? Can we ask and see if Olivia would watch the girls for an hour or so?”

Sheridan was surprised, but agreeable. And so was Olivia, once he’d offered enough cash. Before they walked out the door, Cheyenne asked Olivia what kind of dinners she liked.

For a moment, an incredibly vulnerable look rippled over the girl’s face. “Mom used to make the most amazing lasagna.”

Cheyenne smiled at her, nodding her head. “I can make a decent lasagna,” she promised. “I don’t have time tonight, but I will this week.”

Olivia shrugged like it wasn’t important and turned away.

Sheridan had changed clothes and pulled his personal truck from the garage. As Cheyenne climbed into the cab, it felt very … close. Almost like they were on a date.

Sheridan shook off the feeling. They were going to get groceries. That wasn’t anyone’s idea of a date.

The feeling persisted, though, as they drove through town toward the market. They chatted about inconsequential things and Sheridan tried to keep everything light.

The market was packed, as he’d expected. Obviously people leaving work had the same idea, to pick up something for dinner. With a determined shake of her head, Cheyenne pulled a cart from the line and started wading through people.

Sheridan followed her, not saying anything. He was kind of curious, though, because she put things into the cart he’d never even heard of before. Sheridan found himself curious to try them.

“Do you have a grill?”

He gave her an affronted look that made her laugh.

“Did you seriously just ask this Texan if he had a grill?”

She shrugged lightly, and he loved seeing the color in her cheeks and the excitement in her eyes.

They checked out after a small scuffle about who was paying and were back in the truck within about forty minutes.

Dinner that night was surprisingly warm and friendly. Olivia came up from her dungeon and joined them. She didn’t say much, but she did smile several times at the younger girls’ antics.

Sheridan thought that she enjoyed being part of the temporary ‘family’.

Cheyenne had sent him outside to grill a chunk of pork, then managed to pull together one of the most amazing Mexican dinners he’d ever had.

Sheridan rocked back in his chair and folded his hands over his belly. Man, that was good. His belly hadn’t been so stuffed in a long time.

And as he looked around, he realized that the house felt more like a home right now than it ever had.

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