Page 10 of Falling for the Sheriff
It’s a quick glance, probably innocent, but it feels like a violation. He sees her, sees the soft curiosity in her eyes, the slight part of her lips. And for a split second, she’s not here with me; she’s just a beautiful woman he’s appreciating.
The possessiveness that surges through me is immediate and vicious, a snarl in the back of my brain that saysmine.
She isn’t. Not officially. Not even close. But the thought of another man looking at her, wanting her, makes my jaw clench so tight it aches.
I force a smile, tapping my fingers in a restless rhythm against the tabletop. It feels more like a baring of teeth.
“Thank you. Everything looks amazing,” I say, but the words are tight, strained. My focus isn’t on the food or on Kinsley. It’s pinned on him, waiting for him to look away from her.
A wave of cold, grim satisfaction washes over me when he finally does, following Kinsley back toward the kitchen. The air around our table feels clear again, the tension in my shoulders easing just a fraction.
The rich smell of grilled meat and spices finally hits me, and my stomach growls in response. I’m starving, all right. Seems I must be craving both the food and the woman all at the same time.
Alice’s eyes lock onto the basket of onion rings. It’s like everything else in the noisy bar just fades away. She doesn’t just eat one; she devours them one at a time. Her eyes flutter close for a second as she crunches down, and a soft sound of pleasure escapes her.
One that hits a little close to home, to the sounds she made when it was just us and a bed.
“Oh my god,” she mumbles around the mouthful, quickly covering her lips with her fingers. She swallows, laughing a little at herself. “I’m so sorry. I have no manners tonight. It’s just…my cravings have been all over the place lately. Right now, my body is aching for anything fried and salty.”
I watch her, completely captivated. The sheer, unapologetic joy she takes in a simple onion ring is the most attractive thing I’ve seen all night. “Don’t you ever apologize for that,” I say, my voice low. I lean forward, nudging the basket closer to her.
She blushes, picking up another ring. “It’s just a weird phase. I’ll probably be onto something else next week.”
Reaching over to steal one of her cheese-coated fries, I feel her eyes as I devour it. If I have to guess, she’s fighting not to scold me for stealing.
“When those cravings hit, you text me. Whatever you’re aching for, wherever you are, I’ll bring it to you. No questions asked.”
Her eyes go wide. “Atlas, no. I couldn’t. That’s… that’s a huge bother. You don’t need to do that.”
“I wouldn’t mind.” The truth rolls out of me far too easily. “I’ll take any excuse to see you. Nothing is a bother when it comes to that.”
Her lips part on a soft, startled breath, and for a second, I think I’ve said too much, moved too fast. But then, as if she needs a shield, she suddenly shoves another onion ring into her mouth, hiding behind the bite.
She nods, a quick, jerky motion of surrender. Slowly, she swallows, and her voice is quieter, laced with a new, daring curiosity when she speaks. “What if I don’t want food? What if I want something else?”
My mouth twitches. I can tell her that whatever she wants, I’d stop at nothing to get her. “Anything you want. But I’m just a cop, and the town only pays so well.”
But I’d get her a diamond ring. Even if I don’t have enough money, I’ll find a way to make it happen.
The meal goes smoothly. In between bites, I pick out information one question at a time. Aiming to get to know her, I learn her favorite color is purple, her favorite flowers are carnations, and learn that her hobby through her shy admittance is collecting magnets. Her fridge is littered with them.
While I do not enjoy talking about myself, I find myself answering every question she shoots my way with an ease that surprises me. She asks about the job, not with morbid curiosity, but with a genuine concern that makes me want to be a betterman. She asks about my family, and I tell her about my stubborn mother and my sister’s three hellion kids.
Hell, she’s the reason I’d want kids at all. Now that there’s a possibility, that may be why I’m clinging on so tightly.
Once our plates are clear and Kinsley’s returned with the bill, I’m not ready to call an end to this. Despite our surroundings, tonight has been one of the best in a long while.
The roar of the bar fades into a distant, meaningless hum. It has grown a little more crowded since we first arrived.
“How about we get out of here?” I ask, my voice barely rising above the noise, meant for her ears only. I gesture vaguely toward a group of guys cheering as their team scores, but the motion feels clumsy, my attention already pulled back to her like a magnet. “It’s getting kind of rowdy.”
She follows my gaze and nods, and the curve on her lips softens. “It’s a shame to end things so soon,” she says, and my own heart echoes the sentiment. “Maybe we can walk the food off? Stroll the town for a little bit. I can’t imagine I’ll be any safer next to the sheriff.”
The world narrows to the sound of her voice, to the promise in her words. A walk. More time. My heart doesn’t just skip a beat; it stutters, trips, and free-falls somewhere deep in my chest, leaving me breathless.
The truth of these feelings is a physical ache, a sweet, piercing certainty. She’s more than just on my mind; she’s the one shaping my thoughts. She’s not just the one I love; she’s the very foundation my heart beats against.
A few rough syllables is all I can manage, my throat tight with a feeling too vast for words. “Yeah. I think I’d like that.”
