Page 52 of A Deceitful Pact

He manages to smile back despite looking hurt.

“Like I said, anything you need.” I stand back up and start heading for the door, when the need I feel is to kiss him again.

“Sawyer.” I turn back to face him when I think about the other problem I need to fix. “Can I trust Jace Sullivan?” I ask, knowing that this man would never let anyone hurt me.

“I trust him with my life, and from the sounds of it, he owes you a favor,” he points out

“I guess he does.” I let myself out and start making my way over to the station so I can retrieve Billy McGee’s phone from my drawer. It’s time for Jace Sullivan to know what he’s really facing and, maybe, if he’s as smart as everyone tells me he is, he might wanna work together.

SAWYER

TWO WEEKS LATER

“How’s she doin’?” I look across Jace’s yard to the porch where Maddison is sitting with her friend, holding her new baby son.

“She’s doin’ amazin’. Look at her, she's a natural.” He stares at his wife proudly for a few moments before returning to work on fixing the fence.

“So what brings ya here?” He wraps more wire around the fence post and pulls it taut.

“I know you and Riley spoke the night of the wedding, and I wanna know what you spoke about.” I give it to him straight. I don’t wanna push things with Riley, not while we’re in a good place. And although we ain’t even close to where I wanna be, I gotta be grateful that she’s not ignoring me, and that she agreed for me to be with her for the birth.

“I thought you would have asked her that yourself.” He sniggers as if he’s on to me, but I don’t bite. “Don’t play dumb, I heard all about you storming out of the wedding, and I’ve seen the way you look at her. It’s sure different from the way you’ve looked at all the others.”

“There’s nothing going on,” I tell him firmly. “I just need to know that everything between you and her is okay.”

“Everythin’s just fine. We talked some things over and now we’re… singin’ from the same hymn sheet, as Jean would say.”

I can tell he’s keeping something from me, which disturbs me because Jace usually tells me everything.

“Who’s the girl?” I nod my head in the direction of Maddison’s friend. She was a bridesmaid at the wedding a few weeks ago, and I’ve heard the bunkhouse boys talkin’ about her at the bar.

“Her name’s Kendra, and I guess she’s caught the Clearwater Creek bug because she’s decided to stick around. Ya interested?” He raises an eyebrow at me.

“Nah, she’s pretty, but I’m giving myself a break.” There’s only one girl I want, and although I’ve given up on trying to understand her, I’m gonna make her my sole focus for the foreseeable.

“You’re giving yourself a break?” Jace bursts out laughing. “I guess it’s just as well. Kendra’s already got those clowns battling it out over her.” He gestures with his eyes toward Kyle and Tyler.

“Brothers going for the same girl? That’s a car crash, right there,” I point out, passing Jace the mallet he needs. “Good luck with it, boss.” I slap Jace on the back before heading over to the porch to say goodbye to Maddison.

“He’s getting big.” I cross my arms on the wooden railings and peek over at the baby in her arms.

“He is. Gonna be big and strong, just like his daddy.” Maddison lifts him up and places him on her shoulder. “How are you doin’, Sawyer?” she asks as if she’s expecting some kinda confession outta me.

“Me? I’m just fine. Was just stopping by to check in on ya all and see ya had everything ya needed.”

“How kind, isn’t that what Riley stopped by to do yesterday?” Maddison’s friend pipes up, and I don’t miss the glance the two girls give each other.

“What can I say? Folks in this town care about each other. I guess it must be rubbin’ off on her. You all good now? Ya know, after the...” I turn my attention back to my best friend's wife.

“Fine, thanks for asking.” She smiles as she pats little JJ’s back.

“While you were…ya know, did you think about what kind of pain relief you might have wanted?”

“Not really.” She looks back at me strangely.

“I was just thinking that if it were me, I’d want one of those needles in the back, make that pain good and gone.”

“Well, a needle in the back wasn’t an option. Someone was in a rush. Do you want to hold him?” she offers, and for some reason, I panic.

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