Page 20 of Falling for the Sheriff

She stands up and wraps her arms around my waist. She rests her head against my chest. “I really am sorry. I didn’t want to wake you earlier. You’d barely gotten any sleep.”

I hug her tightly. “It’s okay. It’s not your fault that I didn’t charge my phone. I was just hoping to wake up with you in my arms instead of an empty bed.”

She looks up at me with her shining blue eyes. “I should get back to work.”

I place my finger beneath her chin and hold her a moment longer, just long enough to kiss those thick lips of hers that I love so much. “Lunch at home today?”

She nods. “Sure.”

Sure? I wonder what’s up with her today. Maybe she just didn’t get enough sleep. I shrug it off and leave her office, heading for mine.

At lunchtime, we each drive our own vehicles back to her place, and she gets busy making us both a sandwich while I pour us each a glass of iced tea. We sit at the kitchen table, eating insilence. Finally, I can’t take it anymore. “Is something wrong?” I ask, taking a sip of tea.

“No. Why would you think that?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. You’ve just been acting strangely today.

She offers up a small smile. “I’m just tired. I’m cranky when I don’t get enough sleep.”

I laugh. “Noted.” From now till the end of my days, I’ll forever make sure she gets a full eight hours of sleep.

When we finish eating, I help her clean up. She’s washing our dishes, so I walk up behind her after wiping down the table and wrap my arms around her stomach. I pull her back to my chest and press a kiss to her shoulder. “Why don’t you take the rest of the day off and catch up on some sleep?”

“That’s a good idea. I already finished my tasks for the day—as long as nobody’s computer crashes.”

“I’m sure they can manage,” I whisper against her soft skin.

“Okay, if you insist.”

“I do.” I lean around her and press a kiss to her mouth. “I’ll be back after dinner.”

“Come on,Sheriff Moore. Come out and celebrate with us. It’s my last night here,” Ben says.

“Alright, one drink,” I agree. The guys start piling out of my office, so I grab my phone and call Nina.

“Hello?” she answers.

“Hey, baby. I just wanted to call and tell you that I’m going to be a little late tonight. It’s Ben’s last day, so we’re all going for a round of drinks.”

“Aww, I didn’t know he was leaving. Where’s he going?”

“He got the job in Denver.”

“Okay, well…tell him I said good luck.”

“How exactly am I supposed to do that? You’re out sick, remember?”

“Oh yeah. Well, don’t tell him anything. I’ll see you when you get here.”

“Okay, baby.” I hang up the phone and grab my jacket, ready to hit the bar with my guys.

We make it to the bar, and the place is mostly dead, which is good because it gives us more room. The guys get a round of beer, and I order a glass of bourbon, then we all sit around the big round table. Everyone is telling Ben how much they’re going to miss him, what a pleasure it was to have worked with him, and how he’s going to do great work in the city. All I can think about is all the dangers that await him there. I don’t want to scare the kid out of moving on and bettering himself, but things in the city aren’t anything like what we have going on in this town. I send up a silent prayer that he’ll be alright.

“So, boss, tell me what to expect,” he says, leaning forward on the table and holding his beer with both hands.

I let out a laugh. “Nah, I don’t want to scare you,” I say, taking a sip.

All the guys laugh like I’m just giving him shit.

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