Page 22 of Falling for the Sheriff

“I thought I could just put everything behind me and carry on as if nothing happened. But every day became harder. I found myself wondering, is today going to be another bad day? The worry alone was enough to ruin a good day, so I decided I needed to get out of the city. I started looking for jobs online, and I applied for this one. When I got it, I had no idea you were here. I was just looking for some relief.”

“But did you see me here that first day and know who I was? The way you were looking at me…”

“I was looking at you the way I was because I was attracted to you. You were beautiful. Youarebeautiful. When we were introduced, I knew your last name sounded familiar, but all the records had your legal name, no Nina. It wasn’t until you told me the story of your parents that I put two and two together. It had nothing to do with the way I saw you or the way I fell in love with you. I love you, Nina. I love you so fucking much, and I don’t know what I’d ever do without you. You’ve gone from someone I wasn’t allowed to touch to someone I’d die if I couldn’t touch. You and me, we’re meant to be. Call it destiny or fate or some divine gift from your parents if you want. You and me, we’re written in the stars.” Without another word, he pulls my lips to his and kisses me soft and slow, but full of love and passion. I forget everything else. I forget my worries and concerns. It all falls away with just the slightest touch from him.

He pulls me against him and carries me to the bedroom, where he covers my body with his. The rest of the night is spent in a blur of body parts, moans, gasps, and ecstasy.

Days turn to weeks, and weeks turn to months. The summer flies by and changes to fall, and fall gives way to winter. The roads on the mountain are covered in deep snow, but the fire burns hot and keeps us warm. We snuggle up every chance we get. Bryce and I have settled into a nice rhythm with things. With the center being completely finished, I’ve quit my job at the police station. Now, I spend my days making the final decisions for the center. I decorate rooms, order the necessary materials needed for classes, and start the interviewing process to hire some staff. And as I’m no longer employed by the station, Bryce and I are finally able to come out of the cabin we’ve been hiding in. We’re a real couple now who go out on dates and can be seen touching and kissing. I’ve never been happier.

Some days, I still have a horrible sense of worry when he leaves the house, but I’ve been able to control it by telling myself our town is safe and that my man knows what’s best. He knows how to handle any situation thrown his way, and he’s finally gotten the I’m-single-and-have-no-one-to-worry-about mentality out of his system. Now, he makes decisions based on what’s best for the both of us.

When he’s not at the station, and I’m not at the center, we spend our time on the couch in front of the wood-burning stove. We cuddle and watch TV while I sketch out the new plans to extend my—our—cabin. He likes to watch me sketch, and oftentimes, he has good ideas that I incorporate into the plans. My one bedroom, one bath cabin will soon be a full-sized house with three bedrooms, two baths, an office/studio for me, and a workout room for him. We’re also planning on recreating Red’s patio that I love so much, and we have more plans for the property, like adding a barn, and, maybe one day, owning horses and other livestock.

We’re nice and settled with some plans for the future, and right now, I couldn’t ask for anything more.

In the morning, we go our separate ways—him to the station and me to the newly built center. Everything is almost ready, and we have our grand opening in a week. There’s so much to do and not a lot of time to do it in. Bryce has had to throw down the hammer a time or two and make me come home at night when I’m too engrossed in my work.

Today, I managed to unpack a load of stuff that had come in for the art room. There are easels all set up with a canvas on each one. There are drawing tables, light tables, and even a pottery wheel. There are rows and rows of shelving to hold paint, brushes, and other supplies. And this is only one of the classrooms. We’re also going to offer woodworking and computer classes to teach kids everything from typing to coding. There are many other rooms for tutoring and studying, along with a library. I’m overwhelmed with happiness that my dream is finally coming to life.

When I finish with the art room, I lock up behind me and leave for some lunch. I drop by The Place, pick Bryce and me up some burgers and fries, and take everything to the station.

“Look who’s back,” Claire says when I walk in.

I smile as I approach the counter. “Hey, how’s everything going?” I ask, pausing by her for a quick chat.

“Good. How’s everything with you and Mr. Hottie in there?”

I laugh. “Amazing. Hey, the grand opening is next week,” I start, but she cuts me off.

“I’ll be there.”

“Is he busy? I brought him some lunch.”

“He’s in a meeting right now.” She points toward his office.

I peek around the corner and see him at his desk with a man I don’t know sitting across from him. “Who’s in there with him?” I whisper back to Claire.

“His name is Dan Carter. He said he is the Chief of Police back in Denver.”

“I wonder what he wants,” I say mostly to myself.

“Rumor has it he’s here to beg him to take his job back in the city, but who knows?”

Dread fills me. If he wants Bryce back, will he go? I want to say no, but part of me wonders if he’d want to. I mean, no doubt there’d be more money, a bigger office, and a nicer car in it for him. City stations go all out, unlike our little station here. They have the best money can buy while we have hand-me-downs from the school or things the state sent over. Worry consumes me.

I leave the food on the counter. “Claire, will you give Bryce his lunch when he’s finished in there?”

“Sure, no problem.”

Without another word, I turn and walk out, suddenly scared of losing Bryce to a whole new threat. Many times over, I’ve worried about his job taking him from me, but that would’ve been involuntary. If he gets an offer he can’t refuse, his job will still be taking him from me, but it would be voluntary. He says he loves me, and we’ve been planning out our house, but nothing has been done yet, and it’s not written in stone.

I climb behind the wheel of my car and take a deep breath. I tell myself to calm down. Bryce will explain everything when he gets home tonight.If he tells you, you’ll know he’s not planning on going anywhere.But if he doesn’t tell me right away, I know I’ll be a nervous wreck. I mean, waiting will only mean he’s not ready to break the news to me yet or that he doesn’t know how to go about it.

I push the thoughts from my mind as I head back to the center, more than ready to keep my head down, immerse my work, instead of worrying for no good reason.

FOURTEEN

Bryce

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