Page 4 of Sofa King Devotion

I was used to showing off and being the center of attention for years. That’s part of being on the rodeo circuit. You’ve got to sell your personality as much as your skills, but it’s a hard label to shake when you step away from the sport.

“Goddamn,” Rhodes says quietly to himself.

I look up from my thoughts and see the What the Stitch ladies coming down Main Street. “What?” I glance at them and then around us, wondering if I missed something.

“Nothing,” he says and shakes his head like he’s coming out of a fog. He swallows hard, and I pat him on the back because I’m worried he’s choking. “I’m fine.”

Rhodes pushes me away as he glances back at the group one last time. Huh, maybe he’s got a thing for older women.

Chapter Three

LANE

It’s impossible to avoid Sawyer when the man is everywhere! I can’t turn around without seeing his truck parked nearby or him walking around. I’m not sure what to make of it. I’m starting to wonder if it’s me. I'm so keyed up that I'm noticing something normal and making it bigger in my head.

I huff an irritated breath and remind myself that this is a small town. I run into everyone every day, so I’ll do my best to avoid him as much as possible. I still can’t get over how I threw that shirt at him. I must have momentarily lost my mind. But the more I’ve thought about it, the more upset I’ve gotten. As soon as I get naked, Sawyer runs. That isn't good for a girl's ego. He's probably seen a hundred naked women.

Peeking out from the curtains of my furniture shop, I see Sawyer's truck is once again out there. It was there yesterday morning and now again today. I really need to speak with Rhodes.

Our normal delivery company, Broke Back Movers, handles large pieces for us. Right now, they are on their honeymoon, so I need to find someone else to help me. That reminds me I need to make Nick and Greg a wedding present.

Rhodes is always hiring teens from the high school to do odds and ends around the hardware store. I'm sure he'll know of a couple of boys who can help me with the piece I made for the auction.

If I get them to drop it off, I won't have to go myself. I know my sister won’t be there because I dropped a bag of clothes off at her new man's house yesterday. I don't anticipate them leaving that house for a few more days.

The last thing I want to do is stand at the back of the auction, watching all the ladies in the room scream and cheer over Sawyer as they bid to win a night with him. I roll my eyes thinking about it but then remind myself it’s for a good cause.

The auction is raising funds for the after-school programs. I'm sure that Sawyer will bring in a good chunk of money, so I shouldn't be annoyed. Too bad I can't seem to control it. If I had the ability to manage my emotions, I would not find myself already partially in love with Sawyer.

Checking my watch, I know I'm running out of time. With no choice, I exit my shop and head over to the hardware store. The bell chimes as I enter, and I glance around.

"Afternoon, Lane," Rhodes says in greeting.

"Hey." I don’t see Sawyer anywhere. I guess just because he’s parked outside of the hardware store doesn't mean he's in here.

"Can I help you find something?" Rhodes asks, drawing my attention back to him. "Or someone?"

"Actually, you could help me find someone."

"Who do you need to find?" Sawyer says from behind me.

"Holy crap!" I hiss, spinning around. I’m met with a wall of chest that I know belongs to Sawyer, but at least this time it's covered. "Where did you come from?"

"I've always been right here, kitten." He has the audacity to reach up and tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. "Just waiting for you to realize it."

When I stare up at him, he doesn't have his normal playful smile. Usually, I take most of his remarks as jokes, but right now I'm not so sure he’s joking.

"I didn't see you yesterday,” I tell him, and his brows lift. Okay, I saw him, but he wasn’t tracking me down and annoying me. He was around but at a distance.

"Really? Because I saw a whole lot of you."

"Sawyer!" I gasp, smacking his chest.

"So the rumors about Sawyer leaving your place early yesterday are true then," Rhodes drawls from behind me.

"You're perpetuating rumors." I spin back around. "It's not what everyone thinks."

Rhodes's expression is skeptical.

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