Page 91 of Out to Get Her
“So, what do you think?” Erin bit her lip in an uncharacteristic display of hesitancy.
Samantha barely resisted the urge to forget all about the shop and meet those lips with her own.
She looked around the space. She imagined it just as Erin had described the plans to her during several evenings when Erin had been processing ideas out loud. Samantha had learned quickly that her girlfriend was an external processor.
That is when she utilized any processing time at all.
Samantha cherished those verbal brainstorming sessions. She loved the sound of Erin’s voice. The fever and pitch of her idea tornadoes. Her energy was contagious, and Samantha was just glad to be in her orbit to soak it all up whenever she could.
“I think it’s going to be fantastic,” Samantha said. “You’ve already got it halfway there.”
After the paperwork went through, Erin dove right into setting up the place and making plans. She’d finished painting the walls a couple of days ago and couldn’t wait to show Samantha.
“Do you really like it?” Erin bit her lip again. “It’s a little brighter in here than the swatches I showed you.”
The sun streaming in through the street-facing windows did bring some intensity to the color. But the pale yellow looked even better this way.
Erin had wanted some color in the store, but not too much. Something to add interest, but nothing that would compete with the beautiful items she and her fellow artists and craftspeople would be showcasing.
“I think it’s even better than I imagined. Very sunny. Very you.”
Erin laughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever been called sunny before.”
“That’s because you never let people see the real you before.” Samantha moved closer and tucked a streak of pink behind Erin’s ear. “I’m grateful every day that you let me in.”
A shy grin spread across Erin’s face. Samantha pulled her close and gave her a quick kiss.
“Seriously, I love it. It’s perfect.”
“It’s not even close to finished,” Erin said.
“I know, but your vision is coming through loud and clear every step of the way. I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks. I couldn’t have done it without your support.”
“I doubt that,” Samantha said. “I’m pretty sure you could do just about anything you got your heart set on.”
“Maybe. But having you in my corner definitely helps.”
Samantha squeezed her hand. “Good.”
“Speaking of people in one’s corner. You still meeting with Trey’s mom after work?”
Samantha’s first order of business after she won the election was to reach out to Trey to see if she could chat with his mom sometime. And not about him.
Since Trey’s mom worked in healthcare, she had connections to EMS and crisis workers. Samantha wanted to set up a volunteer network of emergency, health, and social workers to take some calls the police department really shouldn’t be handling. Cases like Trey’s. New Orleans had launched a similar kind of crisis intervention unit, and they were going to discuss what they might be able to implement in more rural areas.
Erin had been right. Samantha couldn’t handle everything on her own. Nor should she. Some things were better handled by other more qualified people.
Trey’s mom was intrigued by the idea, even if she was a little skeptical at first. But she was willing to discuss potential logistics with Samantha.
The plan was to have the volunteers respond to sensitive calls along with the police for now, and Samantha would work on her end to build a permanent program into the town’s budget. Once she was officially police chief, she’d have more say in making something like that a reality.
“Yeah, I am,” Samantha said. “Shouldn’t be too late, though. Want to come hang out with me and Dexter at my place after?”
They’d been spending a lot of time together over the last few weeks, and they’d realized it was easier with Dexter to have Erin come over at night. Samantha wanted more than anything to ask Erin to move in. Yeah, it was fast, but it felt right.
Samantha didn’t want to spook Erin, though. So she held back. For now.
