Page 24 of Shelter for Sharla

“So you blame yourself.”

“Of course I blame myself. My dad’s been gone for a few years now. It’s my responsibility to help her out, and I knew that rail was broken.”

“But you’re busy.”

“I shouldn’t be too busy to take care of people I care about. And that, my dear, is a lesson I’ve taken to heart.”

“Guess that’s good for me, huh?” she said and gave a little giggle.

“Yes, it is. Now, what time do you have to be in bed in order to get up and go to work?”

“I usually hit the hay about ten.” Her hand slid down his chest and rested on his belt buckle. “But I guess we could hit it earlier.”

“Nope. No sex tonight. Just sleep. And cuddling. Lots of cuddling.” Carter ran his fingers through that dark hair and smiled. Regardless of the fact that she’d been the one to bring up having sex that night, he’d been the one to bring her news that set her on edge, and having sex with her would feel like he was taking advantage of her. He wasn’t doing that. And the idea of her snuggled against him all night warmed him all over. “Anything you need to get done?”

“I was finishing up laundry when you called. Could you help me fold it and put it all away?”

“Of course. Tell me what you want me to do and I’ll do it.”

Ten minutes later, Carter found himself turning socks and folding panties. Some were Sharla’s and some were obviously Chelsea’s, and for reasons he didn’t understand, that didn’t seem weird to him at all. It seemed… comforting. He was doing domestic things with a woman who made himwantto do domestic things with her. Hewantedto help her clean up the dinner dishes. Hewantedto help her finish up the laundry. He just wanted to be with her.

At ten before ten, his hand slapped her ass playfully and she laughed aloud. “Time to get ready for bed. You need your rest,” he said, grinning.

“Yes, officer!” she answered, giving him a fake salute.

“I’m going out to get my bag. Be back in a second.” He watched as she retreated into the bathroom before he headed out the front door. It wasn’t far to his car, maybe twenty-five feet, and Carter popped the trunk and pulled the duffel out.

As soon as the lid closed, it hit him?the sensation that he was being watched. Knowing where a pair of eyes might be was nearly impossible, but he certainly didn’t want them to know he could feel them out there. Moving slowly, Carter headed back to the house, listening closely to the sounds around him. He’d almost decided he’d imagined it when he heard it.

There was a distinct rustling in the bushes across the street, faint but noticeable to his trained ear, and there wasn’t a breeze. He hadn’t imagined it. There really was someone out there watching him.

But they weren’t. They were watching the house, of that he was sure. No way was he planning to tell Sharla. He’d just keep an eye out, and in the morning when he got up, he’d go straight to the HopkinsvillePolice Department and tell them what he suspected. He hoped like hell they’d help him keep an eye on her.

He was the sheriff of TriggCounty. He didn’t want to move to ChristianCounty, but he would if he had to.

Chapter 5

Carter felt better,but only a little. When Sharla got up to go to work, he left too, and he sat in his car and kept watch until she pulled out of the drive, but still no sign of anything or anyone amiss.

Instead of HopkinsvillePolice, he went to the ChristianCounty Sheriff’s Department. SheriffGlen Dowd was an old friend of his, and Carter figured if there was a way to get some eyes on Sharla, Glen would be his best bet. He wasn’t wrong either?Glen had promised him not only to send a guy by while she was home, but to also talk to the police chief in town and see if they’d help out too. Thankfully, Glen said he didn’t need details and that Carter’s request was enough to satisfy him. Carter made a mental note to take his friend out to dinner when the investigation was over and everything was settled.

It was around eleven when he finally made it to the office, but he didn’t feel bad about it. His officers were able to run things, and he never had to worry. Sure enough, he walked in to find the coffee pot full and everyone out on patrol except JustinWatson, who’d stayed behind to man the office. “Mornin’, sheriff,” he called when Carter stepped through the door.

“Mornin’, Watson. Anything going on?”

“Mrs.Davis called and said that man was following her again, so I called her husband. He said he’d have a talk with her.”

“Alzheimer’s is horrible,” Carter agreed with a nod.

“Yep, it is. Byron’s bringing a guy in. Caught him pulling a trailer with an engine block on it, and it looks like it’s the one that was stolen from Graham’s house last week.” Carter’s cousin, GrahamMelton, had reported it stolen. He’d be glad to get it back.

“Good. Anything else?”

“Uh, yeah. You got a call from some FBI guy. Livingston?”

“Yeah. CruzLivingston. He’s going to help out with the investigation into Palmer’s death.”

“Sweet! Didn’t know you had big guns coming in! Said he’ll be here Wednesday afternoon.”

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