Page 92 of An Unfinished Memory

“Me too.” I soaked her in.

Her hair was down, cascading behind her shoulders, soft and shiny. I envisioned wrapping the whole curtain of silk around my hand and drawing her to me.

“Hey, Sutton.”

She glanced up. A fond smile graced her face. “Hi, Jennings.”

The man I’d practically elbowed out of the way during the street dance stood a few feet from the booth. A curious expression was on his face, but he didn’t shoot me glares. “The roads are getting slick. Thought I should warn people.”

“Thank you.” She gestured to me. “You didn’t officially get to meet Wilder.”

I stuck my hand out. “Wilder Knight. Sorry for our first meeting. I was on a mission.”

“Yeah.” Jennings’s laugh was good-natured. “That was obvious.” He nodded toward the younger hostess who’d seated us. “I came to pick up my girlfriend. Her car’s shit on the roads.”

“Glad you’re looking out for her.” Sutton gave him a smile that would’ve made me hate the guy before I’d gotten her beneath me the night of the dance. “Thanks for the warning, Jennings. We were going to get dessert, but we should go.”

He ducked his head and stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “I’ve been meaning to thank you, but I haven’t been out much since getting together with Freya. But thanks, you know, for being honest. I would’ve been too busy chasing you to see that Freya’s hints about liking to dance were her being too shy to ask me out.”

Sutton’s grin turned wide and radiant. “That’s awesome. If it wasn’t for you dancing with me, this guy wouldn’t have let his caveman brain take over and cut in.”

Jennings laughed, and I wasn’t sure if I should join in or not. Her description was accurate. I should listen to that part of my brain more often.

Jennings gave each of us a nod. “You two have a good night—and a safe drive.”

Sutton and I got our coats on and were ready to go by the time the server returned with the ticket. The roads were getting slippery and snow-covered. As I turned down the driveway, a gust of wind kicked up. Snow filled the air, temporarily blocking the view of the garage. In town driving would be worse, but doable. Any longer and out-of-town driving would be treacherous. Jennings was right to warn us.

“I guess I’ll forgive Jennings for putting his hands on you.”

She barked out a laugh. “It was dancing, Wilder. You’re the only man who’s seduced me in the back seat.”

“I can seduce you in the front seat, too, just to make sure.” I parked behind her spot outside the garage.

“Maybe another time, cowboy. I have a warm house and a big bed that you fit in.”

Her camper was getting hard to see in the snow. In four months, she’d be pulling out for her Black Hills trip.

I had four months to figure out how to take off the first two weeks that I’d officially be sheriff. I didn’t have to tell Ray to know he’d worry that being on vacation right when I took over could be used against me in a competitor’s campaign.

Could I get away for a few days?

Sutton got out of the pickup, a gust of frigid wind blowing in, and called for Oreo. He loped around the garage, used to the winter weather but also knowing it was a one-way ticket for an outside dog to get inside.

“I’m going to put him in the garage to dry off,” she called over the increasing wind.

I opened the garage door for them, then closed us in.The wind and snow were blocked out, bathing us in quiet. Oreo rushed to me, and I gave him lots of pets. Sutton wasn’t the only one I missed since last being in Crocus Valley.

He trotted to the fluffy dog bed Sutton kept for him during storms, and Sutton and I piled inside. I helped her take her winter coat off and hung it up. Mine went next to it, and I took an extra second to look at our garments hung side by side. How fucking right was that?

Sutton pushed her hair back. Her cheeks were red from the few minutes in the cold, and her eyes were still glowing. I hadn’t seen this Sutton in a long time. It was like her light had faded a little more each year she lived with me. I’d been oblivious.

“How about hot chocolate since we missed dessert?” She crossed to the cupboard. No packets for Sutton. She made homemade as often as possible. I realized now her parents hadn’t wasted expenses on processed foods to afford figure skating lessons for her sister.

“I’ll help.”

This was also new. With no TV, I didn’t park myself in front of ESPN and try to forget about the demands of the job. I’d rather be taking Sutton out every night off.

She smiled at me and handed me the milk. “Three cups in a saucepan, please.”

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