Page 34 of A Deceitful Pact

“Sawyer.” I nod my head politely and swerve past him so I can get to my patroller.

“How have ya been?” He chases after me.

“I’ve been fine,” I assure him, opening my door and placing the white paper bag on the console before I get in.

“I’ve been trying real hard to give you that space you wanted.” He hovers around me awkwardly like he wants some kind of pat on the back. “You ready to talk, now?”

“Not right now.” I shake my head, and when I go to close my door, he grabs it firmly and crouches down beside me.

“What were you doin’ in the drugstore?” he asks in that low, husky voice that makes my pussy flutter. Even when I’m trying to be mad at him.

“I was picking up a prescription.” I rest back in my seat and sigh when I realize I’m going nowhere while he’s crouched beside my open door.

“A prescription for what? Are you okay? Are you?—”

“It’s personal,” I cut him off and put my hand up to Loretta Chambers as she passes. She’s, of course, staring at Sawyer, wondering what he’s doing, and I’m sure soon the whole town will have some wild theory cooked up as to why.

“Show me.” He gestures with his head toward the bag.

“Are you being serious?” I look at him and huff a laugh.

“If it’s just a prescription…show me.” He thinks he’s so fuckin’ smart, and the fact it makes me want to smile reminds me why avoiding him is my only defense.

“If I show you, will you go away?” I challenge.

“Sure.” It takes him a while to answer, but he eventually straightens himself up, and keeping my eyes focused on the windshield in front of me, I pass him the bag so he can check for himself.

“This is–”

“Old man Harris’s hemorrhoid cream.” I finish the sentence for him before snatching the bag and the box from him. “I told you it was personal.”

“What are you doing with old man Harris’s hemorrhoid cream?” Sawyer stares at me blankly.

“I remembered what you told me about him being alone and only coming to church on Sundays, and thought it would be good to check in on him from time to time.” I shrug like it’s no big deal because I don’t want him thinking he’s had any influence on me.

“That’s really thoughtful.” When I glance up at him and see that he’s smiling, it almost makes me give in to one, too.

“Yeah, well, not much else to do around here, especially when the locals tend to take the law into their own hands.” I go to reach for the handle of my door, but Sawyer quickly crouches back down.

“I thought you were getting a test because ya know…” His eyes rest on my stomach.

“Well, you were wrong, and even if I was, it wouldn’t concern you. We had an agreement, remember?”

“Screw the agreement, Riley. We both know it went way beyond me being a fuckin’ donor when we started spending all our free time together.”

“Your idea, not mine.” I shake my head and refuse to let him convince me otherwise.

“Maybe, but what about all those nights you came to me, or the nights you fell asleep next to me in my bed?” He looks at me with those beautiful, blue eyes that almost send me back under his spell.

“Bad judgment calls. Now, if you could stick to your word and let me go, I’m sure Mr. Harris will be needing this.” I wait for him to stand up and move out of my way before slamming the door, starting my engine, and taking off a little faster than I should.

* * *

I focus on the road all the way out to Harris’s ranch, trying not to think about how sad Sawyer looked, or how much I’ve been missing him. If I think about it, all I wanna do is cry.

When I drop off his prescription, I politely decline the offer he makes of tea, but I have no choice in taking the dozen eggs he insists I have for my troubles.

I drive back home, hating that the place feels so tainted now. I don’t feel safe there anymore. I’m constantly looking over my shoulder, feeling as if someone’s watching me, and although I’m sure it’s the Gendrys who invaded my home and placed that photograph on my bed, I have to be wary of others, too. I still haven’t sussed out the Sullivans, Jace and his uncle may smile as they pass me in the street, but I can tell they hate me being here, they see me as a threat, and that means I can’t rule them out as suspects.

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