Page 193 of Sin With Me

“Hi,” I greeted the Waters. “I’m so glad you came. It’d be weird just knowing Erichere.”

“It looks like you already know Missy quite well. And we heard you helped the Sheriff out with his computer.”

“Missy was the one who told me about the fest. And Sheriff Lowes needs to get a new laptop to get his work done. It really wasn’t a big deal.” I waved my hand sitting down at the table.

Mrs. Waters continued staring at Missy. “Poor child. She really does need more friends.”

“Why do you say that?” I started digging into pie that reminded me of our first date in NewYork.

They gave each other a knowing look, as if contemplating whether to say anything.

“She came to our town as an orphan. Father Perry found her wandering by a forest on the outskirts of town, and the church took her in. They eventually donated the spare home they had for all the work she’s done, but she’s always seemed so lonely and sad. I’m so happy to see her coming to her own. It’s been too long since I’ve seen a smile on her face. Look at those eyes, aren’t they beautiful?”

Missy’s face had felt familiar and welcoming since the day I met her. And yes, it was those eyes that had drawn me the first day I saw her at the general store.

With a side glance, I saw Eric talking to Derek and his brother again. And that’s when Claire made her first move of the night, strolling toward him, grasping him around his waist from the back, and turning him toward her. She stood up high on her toes and pressed her lips to his. My stomach turned. Everything inside me twisted into tight knots. Eric finally set the plates to the side, grasped her wrists and pulled away with force. Thankfully he was not happy about her little surprise, and neither was I. I made a mental note to have a chat with the bitch once I got a chance.

“She’s just trying to make trouble, dear. Don’t pay any attention to her,” Joannasaid.

“You mean I’m not the only one she rubs the wrong way?” I chuckled, a hint of nerves trailing on my voice. There was no way I’d let her get away with kissing myman.

“You’ve got good instincts, Emma. I never understood why Eric dated her at all. They had nothing in common.”

But neither did Eric and I. After all, I came from the big city, and he was born and raised in a small town. Could we really make this work? There was just too much standing in our way. The distance, and our way of life was too different. I’d made a decision to conquer the first on my own, try to work from Ogden for a while and see how we could manage, but could I really stand living so far away from my family?

Eric once again had our plates of food in his hands, carrying them from the other side of theroom.

“Hi Mom, Dad,” he said to his parents, setting the food aside before kissing his mom on her cheek and shaking his dad’shand.

“May I have this dance?”

“You haven’t eaten…”

“A lady never says no to a dance,” his mom whispered in my ear, nudging me lightly.

“Please?” The need spilled from his lips, tightening my belly. “We can eat later.”

“But I’ve never danced country.”

“Don’t worry. I’lllead.”

He pulled me into his arms, and the two of us began dancing in the middle of the dance floor. Only two more couples joined us, swaying to the motion of dinner music, but it didn’t seem to bother anyone.

“Did you wash your mouth?” I asked.

“I wanted to drink bleach after that. I’m sorry, Emma. I didn’t know she would stoop solow.”

I could feel my body sink into Eric’s. His shoulders finally relaxed as he kissed the top of my head. “I don’t want you to feel what I know I would, because I’d kill if another man with such intentions got within a few feet ofyou.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

He brought me closer to his body, wrapping me completely in his arms, soothing any worry that may had crossed my mind. “Emma, I’m sure that wasn’t the last time she tries to pull something tonight.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she’s in the right place in my town.” I smiled. “After all, I’m expecting to be a permanent resident heresoon.”

It still seemed impossible when I thought about it. Since the moment I got here, I felt like I was living out a dream – far away from New York, letting go of the stress and the fast pace of life. Eric tightened his grip around me, and I leaned my head against his chest. As we danced, a face I recognized flashed at the side entrance. I froze as Eric continued the rotation and turned back to see him again, but he wasgone.

“What’s wrong?” Eric asked.

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