Page 9 of Caught With the Sheriff

“I hope that I’m not bothering your wife,” Willow huffs.

Grinning at her angry red cheeks, I reach in and grab the bags. “I’m not married, little sprite.”

“I didn’t ask that,” she growls, her cheeks red, her eyes darting left and right.

“Come on, baby. Time to eat.”

She follows along behind me, huffing angrily. My mom eyes me and raises a brow.

But she doesn’t say a thing.

“You’re staying to eat, right?”

Shaking my head, I grab a sandwich and hash browns and some silverware. “I’ve got to get Willow’s house fixed. I’ll be back later.”

I kiss my mother’s pale cheek and she sighs. “You’re going to explain this later.”

I grin at her cheekily. “I’d expect nothing less from you.”

Then I take one last look at my little sprite and head back to my car and pull out.

Time to get that damn house fixed up so the next stalker doesn’t think he can break in and touch my girl.

Unless he wants to go home in a bodybag.

CHAPTER 4

Willow

Standing in the doorway to the kitchen, I stare at the older woman who’s bustling around trying to get plates and silverware set up at the table as the adorable little girl buzzes around her like she’s on about six shots of coffee.

“Memaw! Did Daddy get my pancakes?”

“You know that he said he did. Give me a minute and I’ll get them out for you.”

“Can I help you with anything?” I say, my voice so soft I’m surprised she hears me over the kid.

She turns and smiles at me. “Absolutely not. You just sit yourself down and get comfortable. I’ll get everything set up. I hope you’re hungry. It looks like Jasper bought the whole damn place out this morning.”

The little girl shakes her head, whistling. “Memaw. You said a bad word. You have to put a dollar in the swear jar!”

The older woman smiles at her. “You know darn well that it’s only a quarter. Don’t try and cheat me, young lady.”

“How are we gonna go to Disneyland if you don’t pay more?”

I laugh, startled.

The older woman’s silvery gray eyes laugh at me. “Claudia settle down in front of our guest.”

The little girl smiles and sits down, grabbing for her plate when her Memaw puts it down in front of her.

“I can’t believe Daddy got me pancakes today! It’s not even Saturday!” She slathers it with butter and syrup and takes a bite, growling under her breath.

The other woman shakes her head. “Since Jasper didn’t bother to introduce us, I’ll do it. I’m Maggie Lockhart and this wild thing is his daughter Claudia. And you are?”

“I’m Willow Wilder,” I say, blushing bright red.

“Well, sit down, Willow Wilder. What would you like for breakfast?”