Page 52 of Naughty by Nature

Chapter 16

“I think I’m in love,”Cheyenne said.

Payton gasped on the other end of the line. “What?” she squeaked. “You’ve only been there for a week.”

Cheyenne winced. “I know. Seems like it’s been longer. Payton, I never knew a man could be like this. I mean, I’ve seen Mama and Daddy together but I thought they were flukes, you know? And seeing you guys together it was kind of the same. I never imagined I would find a guy that made me think of forever like Sheridan Lane does.”

“Wow,” Payton breathed. “That’s a hell of a turnaround. I mean, you could barely speak to the man.”

“I know,” Cheyenne sighed. “And there was no reason for that. I mean, I think I just worried that when I talked to him all he would be able to see was me bloody and broken and useless that night, you know what I mean? I didn’t want that. But I don’t think he does. He looks at me like … I don’t know. Like he sees more than anyone else ever has.”

Her voice drifted away as she thought about the morning. They’d met in the hallway. He had an armload of clothes in front of him, and Cheyenne had blushed as she saw the swim trunks on the very top. Sheridan had grinned at her embarrassment.

“Want me to wash your suit? You’ll need it tonight.”

Her embarrassment had exploded, and she’d whirled away to get the suit, and to give herself a moment to breathe. When she’d returned, though, he’d been grinning like a fool. She’d tossed the suit at him and was about to turn away when he’d grabbed her hand and pulled her back. His eyes had gone soft.

“I won’t tease you anymore if you don’t want me to, but you’re so cute when you get flustered.”

He’d kissed her then, right there in the hallway, his tongue gliding into her mouth, the dirty laundry between them. Cheyenne couldn’t remember ever becoming so aroused so quickly as she did during that kiss.

She shifted in her chair. She was still wet, and throbbing.

“Cheyenne!”

“What?” she snapped.

“I called your name and you didn’t answer me.”

“Oh, sorry.” She could feel her cheeks heating again. “I was uh, thinking about something else.”

“Obviously,” Payton laughed. “Probably something about six five, with yummy hazel eyes and dark hair.”

“Yes, you’re probably right,” she admitted. “I’m hooked, Payton. He said he wants to marry me.”

“What?” Payton screeched. “Are you joking?”

“No. He asked me on another date— you heard about the mess yesterday right?— then he said, let’s just skip the dating and go straight to engagement. He says he’s ‘nuts’ about me, and I make his house a home.”

“Wow… yes, I heard about yesterday. Wade is a douche. You know that. Brock said you threatened him with back child-support. Brilliant, I thought, because he was always more concerned with himself than anyone else. And did Sheridan say the word love?”

“No, but he hinted at it. And we… well, we didn’t have sex, but almost.”

Payton gasped again. “Dude, you’re killing me! Seriously? Good for you! You’re not a nun anymore.”

Cheyenne chuckled. “I was never a nun, but I think everything happens for a reason. In a crazy way I’m glad Wade returned because it made me look at Sheridan in the right light.”

“Yes. He really is a good guy, Cheyenne, and I’ve thought for a long time that you guys would be good together, if you ever gave him a chance.”

Cheyenne smiled. “Well, I’m giving him a chance. We’re learning each other right now.”

“Good for you. You deserve so much, Cheyenne. You and the girls.”

“They love him,” Cheyenne admitted. “They brought me a paper this morning. They’d taken an official poll and four out of four kids thought that we were good together. My three also voted to stay at the sheriff’s house rather than go back to our own. They also added a paw print to that paper, which I assume was Daisy’s vote.”

Payton laughed. “I hope you write all this stuff down. Those kids are precious and they deserve to have a dad that loves them. It sounds like Olivia is on board too.”

“I think so. She gave written approval for them to move in. I’m sure the girls talked her into in, but I love that she actually went along. I’m falling in love with that kid. I try not to overstep my bounds but I want to love on her.”

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