Page 10 of Naughty by Nature

He paused as a shimmer of something crossed her expression. Terror.

Sheridan stood and crossed the room to circle the table, then he deliberately shoved a few chairs aside to lean his butt against it. He was on her eye level, but she had space.

“I want you to think about packing up the girls to come stay with Olivia and me for a few days, just until we can pinpoint him and try to figure out what his plan is. He has no idea where I live, and it’s an added layer of security. I also have a guard dog, and security cameras I can check on my phone. If you don’t want to worry your daddy or your brothers, this is the second best option. I can drive you to and from school, insuring that no one follows us.

“I know it’s not ideal and I’m not saying you’re incompetent. Quite the opposite actually. In all seriousness, I think you’re the strongest woman I know. But you have little girls that haven’t learned to be as strong as you yet. And they have to be your top concern.”

Cheyenne knew he was right, she just hated to admit it. Angry, impotent tears tightened her throat and made her eyes burn. She cursed Wade for the five millionth time, wondering who she could have possibly pissed off so badly in a previous life to be condemned to live in fear the rest of this life.

Sheridan waited patiently, propped against the table behind him. He’d taken his hat off when he’d run his hands through his hair, and it sat on the table behind him. He seemed as frustrated as she was, his greenish hazel eyes narrowed as he waited for her response.

Why couldn’t she have met him years ago, instead of Wade?

No, that wasn’t fair. At one time, Wade had been her knight in dusty armor. That armor had eventually rusted through though.

Sheridan was the kind of man she’d hoped Wade would mature into. He had a job, paid bills, was a responsible adult, and wasn’t ruled by his baser motivations. And he loved his daughter with the whole of his heart, just like he’d loved his wife.

The concern for her girls was right there in his eyes. He had his own daughter, so he understood the care they needed.

Daddy would be so upset with her.

“Is there any way we can not tell my daddy what’s going on?”

Sheridan’s heavy brows lifted. “Well, I don’t know. If he shows up over there won’t it be a surprise?”

“We can tell Brock. He’ll be on the lookout and he can head Daddy off.”

Cheyenne had five hundred thoughts vying for prominence in her mind and it was driving her nuts. Uppermost in her mind was the safety of her girls. That overruled everything.

Being with the sheriff would be safe. Right?

What would other people say, though? Did she care? There could be worse things than to be connected to Honeywell’s most eligible bachelor.

“Okay,” she said finally. Then immediately cringed. This could be a really bad idea.

When she glanced at Sheridan, he had a hard look on his handsome face. “I won’t let anything happen to you or your family, Cheyenne. I promise.”

She took heart in that and nodded. Then she took a deep breath, firming her spine. “Maybe we need to pull Principal Hedges in here to fill him in.”

Sheridan nodded and stood, hat in hand. “I’ll fill him in.”

Cheyenne was surprised when he reached out and rested a hand on her shoulder. But it wasn’t fear that shuddered through her. No, it was something more than that.

The directness of his gaze was almost too much, but Cheyenne forced herself to stand strong.

“It will be all right. I swear to you that we have every deputy in this county as well as the surrounding counties looking for him.”

She nodded, believing him. Sheridan was a good man. If he said he would do something he would. “I thought I was done with all this,” she admitted finally.

He let his hand fall away and fitted his hat to his head. “Life is full of surprises, Cheyenne. Haven’t you figured that out yet? Both good and bad.”

That was so true.

Cheyenne moved to the table to pick up the iced coffee. “This was a good surprise. Thank you, Sheridan. I will savor this for the next hour and try to forget the bad one you brought me.”

He grinned at her. “Maybe I better bring you a gallon at lunchtime.”

Cheyenne laughed, shaking her head. “No, this will wind me up enough.” She paused in the doorway and looked him in the eye. “Thank you, Sheridan.”

“No problem, Cheyenne.”

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