Page 88 of Kissing the Sheriff
“I did not,” he shot back.
“All right, so either yesterday or today was the final straw. Besides, you can’t deny that you love her. I can see it in your eyes, Conrad.”
He gaped at him. “At least Sterling lectured me about making up my mind. But you, you’ve made it up for me, haven’t you?”
“Well someone has to. Otherwise, you’ll drag your feet like your horse, and before we know it, we’ll be on a ship to San Francisco and you’ll be moaning and groaning about missing Cassie and that you should have asked her to marry you and on it will go, making all of us miserable. Is it too much to ask to have you tell the woman how you feel?” He rolled his eyes theatrically. “Really, do I have to make everything work around here?”
Conrad plopped himself down on the first step. “You’re right.”
“What? You’re agreeing with me already?” Phileas sat beside him. “You do love her.”
Conrad nodded. “I believe I do.”
“Then do something about it. Talk to her, kiss her again!”
“It’s not that easy, Phileas. She doesn’t want to speak to me. She made that perfectly clear earlier.”
“She’s confused. Your kiss probably caused all sorts of things to rage in her heart.”
Conrad looked at him. “Rage? Really, do you have to make everything so dramatic?”
Phileas shrugged. “I can’t help it, it’s my nature. But never mind about that, what are you going to do?”
Conrad got to his feet. “Something special. Cassie’s been through too much to have me just march into the sheriff’s office and declare my love.” He smiled.
“So, whatareyou going to do?” Phileas asked.
“First, I’m going to pay a visit to Alma.ThenI’m going to march into the sheriff’s office to declare my love.”
CHAPTERTWENTY
Cassie did her best to avoid Conrad the rest of the day. She purposely came home after he, Phileas and Billy left, then got up early the next morning and went to the sheriff’s office. She should pick apples after she had her dinner but wasn’t sure she could keep from having to speak to Conrad.
It was obvious his kiss didn’t mean the same to him as it did to her. She thought she’d died and gone to Heaven. To him, it was a peck and nothing more. He said he didn’t regret it, but was he telling her he was glad he stole it?
“I’m making this into something bigger than it is. He’s leaving. Leaving, leaving, leaving!” She quickly looked around the sheriff’s office. She hoped no one outside heard her.
She sat back in her chair and tried to think about other things. Like spending time with Letty before she left with Sterling. She had a gut feeling that’s what would happen and though she didn’t like it, she wasn’t going to do or say anything to jeopardize her friend’s happiness. If Letty wanted to go, then let her.
She left her desk and paced the office. She’d have to figure out how to get through the next couple of weeks. She supposed she could go hunting. Yes, that would take up a few days. In fact, she could put Conrad in charge of things while she was gone.
She smiled at the thought, then went to write out a list of duties for him. If she kept him busy enough, she wouldn’t have to spend time with him at all.
The door opened and her shoulders slumped. Doggone it, just when she was about to start her list. “What can I do for … Conrad?”
He entered, closing the door behind him. “I’m sorry to barge in on you like this.”
“So am I,” she muttered.
He took a deep breath, and she noticed he had one hand behind his back. She leaned to one side to try to get a peek.
Conrad smiled and produced a bouquet of wild flowers. “For you.” He came to the desk and set them before her.
She looked at them. “What are these for?”
“Well, I wouldn’t call them a peace offering, exactly.”
She stared at the flowers. “More like an ‘I’m sorry I kissed you and it meant nothing’ offering?”
