Page 75 of Cautious Love

I groan and follow her out the door. Pulling up to the diner I put the truck in park, and glance at the clock. I’m ten minutes late. I’mneverlate.

“Um, hello,” she says with mouth full of attitude.

She taps her lips and I chuckle. “Sorry,” I grunt and lean over pecking her lips.

“This is far too easy,” she whispers.

That’s how I feel, but I didn’t want to say the words.

I grab her hand and kiss her knuckles. “Easy isn’t bad, Shy.”

“I know, but…” she trails off and shakes her head as if she doesn’t want to say what she’s thinking.

“I’ll see you later?” she asks.

I nod. “I have to go to the ranch today, remember?”

Something flickers across her eyes.

“Your car will be waiting for you when you get off work.”

“You don’t have to do that, I can walk down the street,” she sighs.

“I said your car will be here, and it will.”

She shrugs and gives me her keys before hopping out. “Have a wonderful day,sheriff.”Shiloh giggles and nearly skips into the diner.

Yeah. I’m sunk.

Picking up my pace into the station I head straight for my office and feel the stares on my back. My staff probably wonders what’s going on since I’m completely off schedule — the downside to being a punctual, habit driven guy.

Daisy brings in my coffee with a smile, and I smile back.

Her’s drops and I frown.

“What?” I ask her.

“You smiled at me,” she says.

“What do you mean I smiled at you?”

She shakes her head like she’s in shock. “Youneversmile at me.”

“I smile,” I say, frowning.

“No, Ledger, you don’t,” she says, clearly amused.

I lift the mug to my lips. “Well, I guess I do now.”

Her brow lifts, and she crosses her arms. “You met someone didn’t you?” she asks.

I nearly spit my coffee out. “Why would you say that?”

Daisy snorts and shakes her head. “Ledger, I applaud you for being all professional, but this is a small town, and everyone knows you and Shiloh are a thing. You made that perfectly clear at the Wooden Cowboy when you danced with her. I was trying to be polite.”

I lift my hat off my head and run a hand through my hair. “Welp, was bound to come out sometime.”

Daisy smiles and wiggles her shoulders. “Is this a ‘Ledger got laid and smiles at everyone’ kind of smile?”