Page 55 of Seducing the Sheriff
Who was I to turn down such a charming offer?
Chapter Fourteen
Cash
“Sheriff, are you all right?”
I started at Rosie’s concerned question. Did she have to catch me with my forehead on my desk. Had I dozed off? To be honest, I wasn’t sure. Earlier in the day, I’d caught myself falling asleep standing in the line at Bobcat Stump. If it hadn’t been for young Wildie running into me and jerking me awake, it could have been embarrassing.
“Sheriff?”
I sighed and raised my head. She held a cup of coffee in her hand. Please God, that was for me. “I’m fine, Rosie. A little tired, is all.”
Her concern cleared and instead I saw an expression I recognized instantly. It was one my mom had perfected. I was going to receive a lecture; I just knew it.
And there it was, aimed at me…the wagging finger. Did moms practice wagging fingers?
“It’s barely five in the afternoon,” she said, her tone disapproving, “and you’re asleep at your desk. When was the last time you had a day off?”
“Uh…” I had to think about that.
When was my last day off?
Rosie huffed, one hand on her hip and the cup clutched to her chest. I looked at it hopefully, but it didn’t come any closer to me.
“When you took Greg to Santa Maria, that’s when. No wonder you’re exhausted.”
Really? That was…I had to count. A month ago? That couldn’t be right. I had to have had time out. Well, yes, in theory. Only every time I booked a day off, something happened and I ended up working.
“It’s been busy,” I managed.
She rolled her eyes, like I’d said something stupid. “You’re right. It’s been too busy and you’re tearing all over the county. When are you going to let your deputies do their job? You don’t have to personally guide every cow home or deliver every baby.”
“But—”
“And I swear—” She plowed on, ignoring my interruption. “—you don’t have to deliver Charming’s own shoplifter home just because you promised his mom you’d keep an eye on him. She’s got a car. She’s more than capable of collecting him from lockup.”
I knuckled my eyes. I did do that, didn’t I? And taking home the livestock, and there had been one more baby over-anxious to come into the world.
“Honest to Betsy, Sheriff, you’ll drive yourself into an early grave, and then how will young Greg feel?”
I glared at her. “That’s a low blow.”
Especially as I hadn’t seen Greg for four days because I’d been working stupid hours and had wanted to crash into bed for the few hours of the night that was left. The fact I was so exhausted that I’d gone beyond wanting to snuggle up to my gorgeous boyfriend, was more than wrong. He deserved better. And I needed a cuddle.
Rosie returned my scowl with interest, clearly unrepentant. “What is it with you men. You think you’re invincible or immortal.”
“My mom says the same thing,” I admitted.
“Well, you should listen to her. Moms know these things.” She looked down at the cup, blinking as she seemed to realize what she held. “Here.”
Oh, thank God. I thought I was going to have to fight her to get the precious liquid.
I took the cup and chugged it down. Normally, I’d wait until she left, but I needed the caffeine so freakin’ hard. Rosie stood there, eyes like a hawk fixed on me. I guess she still had something to say. I waited.
“I used to have the same talks with Chief Wally when he was the sheriff,” she said finally.
“You did?”
