Page 69 of The Boy With The Sharp Teeth
"Nexttime, please do,” he grumbled. “Look what you made me do."
Sanalaughed. "So, this is my fault now?"
"Ofcourse it is," he drawled, and she could hear the teasing smile edginginto his words. "Tell your preciousengineerto hurry it the hellup so I can get you back."
Sayingher goodbye, she turned back to the small group, their conversation haltingwhen she came back over to them.
"Ishis heart attack averted?" Alessia asked.
Sananodded and smiled. "Yeah, just a miscommunication."
"Ha,"Garrett barked out a laugh. "No, there was no miscommunication. That wasjust a desperate man in a full-on panic."
Sanabit back a laugh.
"I'msorry I failed to properly introduce myself,” he offered his hand to her,“Garrett Owens, I'm Gaulding's sheriff."
Takinghis hand, Sana's eyes widened at the feel of it. Wide and callused against hersoft skin, his hands felt as if they told a story on their own.
"It'snice to meet you," she said as he shook her hand before releasing it.
"Well,everything has been measured," Jax announced. "And I think I willmake a few adjustments to some of the parts ordered but not much. Just a fewdifferent replacements with the brands, some I know that will weather well inthe sea air versus others. But beyond that, we are good to go with the datesyou have set."
"That'sgreat and a relief. I'm not sure the mayor could have handled a delay,"she said, thinking of the overly stressed mayor of Gaulding.
Bothmen smirked as they each grabbed the folding chairs and dismantled them again.
"Thereare bets among the citizens when that man will have a heart attack,"Garrett informed them as they all made their way back to the parked vehiclescloser to the road.
"That'sawful," Alessia said, shaking her head. "That poor man has his handsfull running Gaulding."
Jaxmade a scoffing sound. "What's there to run, really?"
Loadingthe chairs into the back of his truck Jax and Alessia lost themselves in a backand forth banter, one ardently defending the harried mayor of the small townand the other very much poking fun at the man. Sana noted that Jax's normallysedate dark eyes seemed to light up and come alive as he teased his wife.
"Thosetwo are made for one another," Garrett grumbled from her right. "Youwouldn't believe the story of how they met. It’s like something out of one ofthose sappy Lifetime movies."
Sanagrinned. "That just makes me want to hear it all the more."
"I'msure Alessia won’t mind sharing," Garrett said, looking at the pair. “Thepoor girl has to be bored to tears out in those woods with just Jax's ugly faceto look at all day and night."
Sanalaughed as she waved at Jax and Alessia, who paused their arguing just enoughto wave back before climbing into their truck to presumably continue theirargument.
Approachingher SUV, Sana opened the door and gave Garrett a thankful smile. "Iappreciate you finding me, no matter how mortifying it was."
Garrettlaughed, the action softening the strong planes of his face. "Just doingmy duty not only as the local law enforcement but as a member of the family, soto speak."
Sanagave him a confused look.
"TheOwens and the Waatese family go way back, somewhere at the beginning of the familytrees, we are related."
Owens,she repeated in her mind. "Are you by chance related to Wyatt Owens inTarki?" she asked carefully.
"Yep,that's the one," he grinned fully now, and Sana felt her heart clench atthe sight of his sharp canine teeth.
Aknowing gleam glittered in Garrett's eyes as he looked down at her. "Zachtold me you are a part of the family now when he called me. So, in a way,you're a part of my family too."
Stunned,Sana nodded as she continued to stare up at him. So, he was a wolf, too, likeZach. Blinking, she stared at him owlishly as she tried to imagine the wolfwithin him.
