Page 69 of Cautious Love

He looks between us and walks out the door.

“Daisy, I need you to get suspension paper work prepared please!” I yell.

She pops around the corner. “For who?” she asks.

I frown. “That’s for me to worry about,” I grumble.

Luke chuckles and walks out my door. “Don’t take it personally Daise, you know the boss man is always grumpy. Can I run down the street to get you a latte?”

“Oh I couldn’t bother you to do that,” she says sweetly.

I watch him from my desk put a hand on his chest and smile. “It would be my pleasure.”

She giggles, and he saunters away with his head a little bigger.

Chapter 17

Ledger

Rollingintotheparkinglot of the Wooden Cowboy, I spot Fletcher and Tatum with Cooper and Mae, then June, Sterling, and Gracie walking toward them. I back my truck into a spot and meet my family.

Fletcher called and asked if I’d come. I think they all assume I don’t have any friends or go out much. They aren’t wrong, but in my defense, I have a lot of plates in the air, and I’ve had very little interest in doing anything other than going straight home after work. But this time Shiloh is working, and I’m making a point of lying to myself and pretending it’s not because I want to be around her. The more time we’ve spent together, the less I want to work, and the more time I’d like to dedicate to her.

She’s my wife,but she’s not mine.

I’m trying not to be nervous about seeing her, but I am, and I don’t know how to feel about it. I don’t get anxious often, but she has an uncanny ability to make my heart feel like it’s going to punch out of my chest and question my recent life decisions.

“The long lost prodigal Sheriff has returned,” Fletcher says clapping me on the back.

“I should arrest you for that,” I mutter.

“What do you think, honey? Should we try handcuffs? Ledger’s going to loan me some,” Fletcher says to Tatum.

She rolls her eyes and punches him playfully in the stomach.

“Hi Coop, hi Mae,” I say nodding my head to both of them.

Mae waves and Cooper grins widely. “How’s it going, cuz?” he asks.

I shrug because I’m not entirely sure how to answer that question. It’s not good at work, but it’s because of the case. But at home? It’s fine, but it could be better with Shiloh.

“A man of many words,” Coop says.

Sterling, June, and Gracie lead the way into the bar, and when we walk through the doors, my eyes immediately find the curly blonde, wild-haired woman, stopping me in my tracks. She’s wearing a black tank top that dips low over her chest. Her hair is barely restrained in a ponytail and she’s leaning over the counter reaching for something and I don’t think, gravitating to her because I know Jedidiah is sneaking a peak at my wife, and I’m begging him to try something cuz I’ll throw his ass in the drunk tank. I’ll abuse my power for her.

Leaning against the bar, I watch her sling beers and mix drinks. The Wooden Cowboy is not known for its mixed drinks, but they do a few that are alright, like an Old Fashioned. Shiloh peels an orange and runs it around the rim, and Jed’s beady eyes haven’t left her.

“Pretty sure you were kicking up dust,” Sterling says nudging me.

“Shut up,” I mumble.

He chuckles and looks in the direction of Shiloh. “How’s that going?”

I glance at him, and he’s grinning because he knows I’m screwed, my best friend knows me better than I’d like to admit. We’ve always balanced each other out over the years, he’s thedaredevil I’m the one that keeps his head on his shoulders, literally and metaphorically. There’s a reason he fights wildfires, and I maintain a rule of law.

“There’s nothing going,” I tell him, my eyes still on Shiloh, but I can’t help myself as they drop to her ass.

“Yeah, and my name isn’t Sterling Simmons, the sky isn’t blue, and June Bug and Gracie aren’t about to get into trouble.”