Page 58 of Seducing the Sheriff
I eyed the glasses suspiciously. “Wait. How did you know I was bringing wine? Don’t tell me Mary-Beth called you.”
“I won’t tell you then.” He chuckled at my horrified expression as he turned to the grill. “No, you’re safe, sheriff. I bought wine earlier. That’s how she knew I liked it.”
“She could have told me,” I grumbled. “I’d have brought something else.”
“This way we have another bottle the next time you have to make it up to me.”
“What makes you think I’m going to do it again?”
Greg grinned at me over his shoulder. “You’re a cop. The sheriff. Of course you’re going to do it again.”
I shut up and poured the wine. My boyfriend knew me too well. And didn’t that give me the warm and fuzzies.
I sat back, appreciating the warmth from the chiminea, and let him take care of me for the evening, content to be in his company, and not have to be the one in charge.
The steak was done to perfection and aside from the bugs who seemed determined to nose-dive into my wine, it was a perfect evening on the porch. I felt the stresses of the week easing out of my tired muscles as I laughed and chatted with Greg.
I’d never been with anyone who I could be as relaxed with as I was with him. Of all the towns Greg could have picked to settle in, he chose mine. What if he’d chosen somewhere different? I couldn’t help the shiver that went through me.
Greg must have caught my shudder, because he said, “Cash? Are you okay?”
“Just thinking.”
“About?” He squinted at me. “You’re not thinking about work, are you?”
I shook my head. “No, about you.”
“Well, that’s better. I like it when you think about me.”
“I do too. You’re all I want to think about.” I took a sip of my wine. “I had a sliding doors moment. What would happen if you hadn’t picked Charming to live in?”
“But I did, and so did you.”
I thought about that for a moment. I could have chosen another county to work in. But I picked Mustang and decided to live in Charming. “We were meant to be.”
“We were, although another time, maybe we could do it without the body in the closet.”
“That would be a good idea,” I agreed. “Wait! You’re planning a next time already? Is that with me or someone else?”
Greg elbowed me in the ribs.
I yelped and clutched my glass. “Hey, mind the wine.”
“You’re the one who worries about next time.”
It took me a moment to comprehend. Then I remembered my freak-out about there being a second time when we’d not even had our first time together.
“I don’t worry about that now.”
He tangled his legs with mine. “Of all the places we could have ended up, Charming is the best.”
I grunted.
“You, me, alien butt cookies, and…don’t forget to buy Rosie a bunch of peonies tomorrow.”
Warmth spread through me. He was kind enough to think of my assistant. Greg was the perfect boyfriend and all mine. I’d never let him go.
“Not tomorrow. The day after. Tomorrow I’m not moving from your side.”
