Page 38 of Cautious Love

He looks me up and down again, with disgust all over his face. “Fine. I’ll consider this on the house. I’m sure you can afford it now since the Sheriff is probably paying you for your slut services every day, can’t you Shiloh?” Grey says.

“At least I don’t have to go looking for it, Grey,” I say, giving him the fakest smile I can muster.

His eyes widen in fury, and I swear he wanted to lunge for me, but instead he pushes past me and shoves the door so hard it slaps against the building.

“Good one, Shiloh, add another rumor to the list,” Ledger mutters.

I shrug and face Ledger. “At least it’s one about your bigbaton.” I grin, tossing him a wink, and I wouldn’t put money on it, but I think I made Ledger Hayesblush.

I’ve been thinking about what it would be like to be on my knees for Ledger Hayes all day since he left the diner this morning. I know I shouldn’t be thinking about himat all,but I’ve seen the man in grey sweatpants.He’s packing.

His truck is parked in the garage, and I leave my Jeep outside. I have a shift at the Wooden Cowboy, and every inch of me wants to call off, but I keep reminding myself I need the money. I need the tips. My current situation is not forever. Plus, it’s Friday so they’ll be good, but I’m tired. I’m so tired that Tatum Hayes warned me it will take longer to heal if I’m not getting proper rest. I managed to shrug her off, but I could tell she wasn’t happy about it.

“Hey,” I sigh to Ledger, who’s sitting on the couch working one of his puzzles, and beeline for my room.

I reach for my jeans, low cut black tank top, and hesitate. I’m exhausted. Maybe Tatum is right, and I need to rest a little more. I look at my closed bedroom door and then my beautiful,comfortablebed.

It would be so easy to …no. You need money. You have a plan and you need to stick to it. Change and go to work.

Groaning, I put on fresh clothes, use the bathroom, fix my makeup, and head back for the door.

“Do you have a shift tonight?” he asks, stopping me in my tracks.

“Yep,” I sigh.

“Are you alright?” he asks.

I’m better when I’m with you.

“Yep, just tired.”

Ledger nods, but his expression is unconvincing. Great, he knows my tells now. I wonder what else he’s picked up on.

“Okay, I’ll see you later.”

“Yeah,” he grunts, and I rush out the door before I call in sick and sit next to him on the couch. Well, notnextto him, maybe one cushion away and then —

“Shiloh!” Ledger calls from the front door.

“Yeah?”

He jogs up to me standing right outside the garage, and I force my eyes to stay on his face instead of looking at the style of athletic shorts he’s wearing.

“Will you call me if Grey shows up? I … I have a bad feeling about him, and it’s not wise for you to be in the same room with him. Could you do that for me?”

My stomach aches, and it’s not from hunger. “Sure, but that means I should probably have your number.”

“Oh yeah, that makes sense,” he says, and I hand him my phone.

He types it in and passes it back to me.

I look at the contact and can’t help my smile. He didn’t put ‘your husband’. There are no emoji’s it’s onlyLedger Hayes.

“Ledger?”

He spins around and I don’t think I just do, and walk up to him and slide my arms around his waist. Clearly, I caught him by surprise because it takes him a second to hug me back.

He feels so solid, so warm against me. His arms feel like steel and safety.