Page 54 of Stables

“What is it? Is it the sheriff?” She glances up and down between me and my phone.

“Are you staying for supper? It sounds like Dixon is grilling steaks.” I unfold from the couch, but catch her expression of abject surprise before I turn away.

“Um. No thanks, I’m not infringing on a dinner date.” A smile dances over her lips. “Think he’ll go gentle on ya since you’re still gimped up?”

“Funny. He’ll make one for you too I think?” My knee doesn’t really hurt anymore, and my ribs only twinge if I try to pick up Paisley. Even the discoloration around my eye has faded.

The only real sore spot is where Matt pinched my cheek against my back teeth last night.

“I appreciate it, maybe another time. Did you buy them?” Her mouth pinches when I return with two white packages out of the freezer.

“No. He brought me a whole cooler of beef.” I purposefully picked the smallest one for myself.

The other weighs heavy in my hand. It’d be a twenty dollar cut if I bought it myself.

Maybe more.

She stands and meets me at the counter. “Char, he’s got it bad for you.” There isn’t any humor in Libby’s voice this time. “Is he pushing you? Do you feel safe around him?”

There was a moment like this three years ago, she asked almost identical questions about Matt.

I had answered with a nervous trill because there was doubt already tugging in the back of my mind.

My palm covers hers on the beige formica, then I take a deep breath to really focus. “I can honestly say, I do. He’s been a total gentleman. In fact, he almost acts like he’s afraid to touch me.”

Except last night, for that brief second when he caressed my face.

I swear that’s what it felt like.

And I want more.

She leans in and scrutinizes me. Her lips turn into a satisfied smirk. “That’s what I thought. You lied to my face about Matt, but zero falses detected.”

Twisting, she calls over her shoulder to Paisley. “Say ‘Daddy Dixon’!” Libby flashes me a wide grin before she winks and prances back to the couch.

“Daddy Dee.” Paisley falls backwards onto her playmat in exaggerated laughter.

My head shakes on its own. “You’re gonna cause all of kinds of chaos and won’t even be here to see it.”

“That’s the best kind.” Libby leans into the back of the seat and bats her eyes at me. “It leaves everyone guessing.”

With the waning sun, I hear gravel crunching outside and the slam of a truck door.

“It sounds like your chef has arrived. Time for me to skedaddle.” Libby tucks a loose lock of her blond hair behind her ear then drops a kiss to the top of Paisley’s head and slides on her boots. “I’ll be here tomorrow, you can tell me how it goes.”

I roll my eyes, but give her a hug. “Thank you for hanging out with me.”

Libby doesn’t let go. “I’m so glad you have someone else watching out for you too. It makes me feel better when I’m not here.”

She backs away, glancing through the window when Dixon’s large silhouette passes. Her fingers cup around her mouth. “Find a sock or something for the door, ‘kay?”

Her tongue pops out as she giggles and runs outside.

Oh my god. I love her and hate her. She’s gone too fast to see the fire take over my face.

There’s a few more heavy sounds from the porch. Dixon seems busy out there.

Should I check on him?

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