Page 3 of Wild Bliss

Had he taken a bunch of drugs and forgotten he’d done it?Should he see if Doc Burke was here? He probably was. What would he tell him?Myeyes only want to look at the new girl and damn she’s pretty.

She turned his way and looked at the martini in Callie’shands, her eyes going wide as though she’d finally seen heaven.

Or was she looking at him?

Wasn’t there a broom closet in this place the Harpers hadalready christened? It wouldn’t be the first time some adventurous touristtried to get him alone for a memorable time. He wasn’t sure why a tourist washere, but she’d probably stumbled in and everyone welcomed her because she wasobviously sweet and friendly. He would welcome her boobs. They pressed againsther sweater, round and tempting, and he could already feel them in his hands,feel the silk of her hair as he pushed it back so he could kiss the soft skinof her neck.

The woman started walking his way and Sawyer wondered if Tywas here somewhere and could watch the dog for a little while.

Maybe he should ask her to dinner.

Definitely a medical emergency.

“That’s Sabrina. She’s Elisa Leal’s sister,” Callie wassaying. “She’s so sweet. She teaches kindergarten. We all love her.”

A schoolteacher?

“Elisa is my new deputy, Mel’s daughter,” a familiar voicesaid. Nate Wright’s deep tones finally broke the spell. Sawyer turned, and thesheriff stood there with his wife. He wasn’t in uniform this evening, but therewas no way to mistake the air of authority he oozed. “Sabrina’s only here for afew days. She lost her momma a couple of years back, and then she nursed hersister through cancer. She’s a good one.”

A good one. A sweet woman. A freaking schoolteacher, andhe’d thought about banging her in a broom closet. He’d done things Sabrina Lealwouldn’t be able to imagine. Now that he really looked at her he could see theway she smiled at him, expectation in her eyes.

This wasn’t a woman looking for a quick lay. She would needlove and affection and attention, and he had none of those things to give toanyone. The most he could give a woman was a good time in bed and a slap on theass as she left, preferably before morning because he slept better alone.

Sabrina Leal approached the bar, her eyes on him and himalone.

She felt the pull, too. She just didn’t understand what abad fucking bet he was.

He had the sudden urge to ask her to dance.

He did not dance.

He did not play bartender for friends at a Christmas partywhere kids ran around and people danced and exchanged gifts like they were somesort of a family.

Sawyer didn’t have a family.

“Hi, I’m Sabrina.” She held out her hand like they weremeeting at a fucking church social. “What’s your name?”

Sawyer felt the weight of the sheriff’s eyes on him,honestly the weight of the world on him, and said the only thing he could thinkof. “No. Nope. I’m out of here.”

He strode away, not looking back. When he got to the Jeep itwas only habit to let the dog in. He thought about leaving her behind, too,since someone in that warm, friendly, homey building would surely take bettercare of her. But then she was in her seat, and he couldn’t kick her out.

Not even the baddest man in all of Bliss County would toss adog out into the snow a few days before Christmas.

He heard someone call his name and turned the engine over.

He drove away and didn’t look back.

* * * *

Sabrina watched the gorgeous man stride away. Tall and sohandsome it nearly hurt to look at him, she’d felt something when their eyeshad locked, but it was obvious he hadn’t felt the same thing. He’d felt theopposite, apparently, since he’d run.

Everyone in Bliss was so friendly except the one man who’dcaught her eye.

It had been a long time since she’d connected with a man.She’d started to tentatively dip her toe into the dating pool back in NorthCarolina, though she was almost certain she wouldn’t be there for long. Hersister had found a home here, and if there was any way, she thought she mightcome west, too. Oh, not to Bliss. There wasn’t even a school here for her towork at, but maybe one of the larger towns. It wouldn’t be perfect, but itwould be good to be closer to her sister.

“Don’t take him personally,” the sheriff said, moving aroundthe bar. “I’m afraid Sawyer is not the friendliest guy in town.”

“Well, you always look at him like he’s about to dosomething illegal, so of course he’s not comfortable. You have to becomfortable to be friendly,” the woman Sabrina was almost sure was his wifesaid in a tone that let her know this was well-worn territory.

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