Sheriff's Dirty Secret, page 7
I hated cleaning me off her with my shirt. I liked the idea of her wearing me, painted with me. Even so, I carefully wiped away the remnants, taking care of cleaning her up before I relaxed and settled her closer to me. We sat in silence for a long moment as the sweat dried on our bodies and our skin cooled down.
“What are you thinking about, Cookie?” She bit her bottom lip before she spoke.
“We didn’t use a condom, Luke.” Luke. Jesus, I didn’t think I’d ever get tired of her saying my name. Focus dumbass! She’s talking to you. It’s important.
“We didn’t.” My hand moved to her thigh, resting on the inside. “I’m clean,” I shared, and she nodded, her shoulders slightly relaxed.
“I am, too,” she shared, but there was something in her eyes. A worry I wanted to erase. “The thing is... I’m not on the pill. I was,“ she quickly added, “but I took a break because I was thinking about getting an IUD and then got busy with work and growing my business and… well, here we are. I don’t know what I was thinking… We got caught up in the moment.”
“And that’s more than okay with me.” I could see she was having a hard time processing what I’d just said. “Don’t put one in.”
“One?”
“An IUD.”
“Don’t…” she stuttered and stared at me. “Luke, I felt how much you came. Both times. If I don’t get on something and you don’t cover up that monster dick of yours, you know what will happen.”
“And?” I dared her to say it out loud. The image of Olive round and swollen with my baby, our baby, flashed in my head. Fuck. It made my spent dick slowly wake up.
“And?” She laughed, the sound only making it harder for me to keep my cock from getting hard all over again. Oli shook her head. “You’re crazy.” She smiled, but it was that worry in her eyes that still held on that kept me from pushing forward.
“About you, Cookie. Only crazy about you.” I kissed her forehead, knowing she had no idea of just how crazy I really was. With a sigh, I knew this was a conversation we needed to have. “I can head out in the morning and pick up a Plan B and condoms,” I offered and meant it.
A quick thought popped into my head about poking holes in them or even pulling the rubber off and not letting her know until it was too late. But I couldn’t do that. Not to my woman. She was ambitious and had worked hard to get her cookie shop to where it was. Not only that, but she also had a lot of goals. When it came to Olive, I paid attention. I’d heard people talk to her. Lola had mentioned the brick-and-mortar spot Olive wanted.
I would never do anything to jeopardize her dreams, only encourage them. No matter how much I wanted to see her pregnant with my kid.
“Just like that?” She apparently expected some kind of argument from me.
“Just like that,” I confirmed, my hand toying with ends of her hair. “I want you, Olive. I told you that. I…” love you. The words were on the tip of my tongue, but I didn’t let myself say them. Not yet. I wasn’t stupid enough to not know that Olive was gun shy, and I’d already pushed her enough for the day. “I like you. A lot,” I confessed
“I like you, too, Luke.”
“I really like you saying my name.”
“Hmm,” she hummed with a smile on her lips that made her seem more relaxed than I’d ever seen her.
“Ready for bed?” I asked. She licked her lips.
“Bed? Your bed?” Her eyes dropped to my mouth like she wanted my kiss. Unable to hold back, I moved my fingers between her legs and stopped when she spoke again. “I’m scared,” she whispered but, weirdly enough, leaned in.
Spreading her legs wider to give me more access to her, but I didn’t explore. I simply stared at her.
“Of me?” I asked. A cold rush washed through my veins.
I fought the urge to look around the living area to see if I’d left something of hers behind. Something that would have helped her figure out my dirty secret. She nodded, but it was the mischievous glint in her gaze that set me at ease.
“If you made me come that hard standing up in your living room, I can only imagine how you’ll ruin me on a bed,” she teased, and my body slowly started to relax.
“Cookie, I’m the ruined one.” I nuzzled her nose, loving the way her laughter felt like a balm to my soul.
8
luke
I should have stopped sneaking into her place after I had her.
You would have thought that after a weekend of hardly leaving my bed, tangled in my sheets, sweaty and panting would have somehow sated my need for her. Taking the proverbial edge off. But it didn’t.
Not even close.
We’d spent the entire weekend naked in my bed, literally only tossing on gym shorts to get the food I’d ordered to be delivered. It had been incredible. Until Sunday night came and she needed to leave.
She had things at home to do, orders to prep for, so fuck me, I had to take her home.
I hated it.
I’d told myself that first night that I wouldn’t go to her place. But after almost an entire night of tossing and turning, jerking off to the thought of her as I buried my face into the pillows that smelled like her, I gave up the fight. Dressed in my usual dark joggers and dark long-sleeved shirt and baseball cap, I walked down the quiet streets and took my place just outside her window. But this time, it wasn’t enough. Not after I knew how soft her skin was and how good it felt to be in bed with her. How she smelled after coming.
I snuck in.
Knelling at the foot of her bed, I even dared stroke her face when the temptation grew too much to handle.
And I hadn’t stopped.
She’d had me over, and I’d pretended to walk back home when I’d just walked around and then snuck into her backyard. For the last week. It wasn’t like I didn’t see her or we didn’t text or even fucking talk on the phone. We did. A lot. I was just so incredible addicted to watching her, being close to her, I couldn’t stop myself. There was an overdriving need, almost animalistic, primal in its own way that couldn’t get me to stop.
And tonight? It wouldn’t be any different. I knew it, didn’t try to talk myself out of it. I just accepted it like I knew the sun would be rising the next day. I needed to figure out a way to have her spend the night. Or to get her to ask me to stay over.
For whatever reason, she hadn’t. I had a feeling it was because she was in just as deep in love with me as I was with her.
I stepped out of my work SUV and shut the door as my hands rested on my utility belt while I scanned the Moonlit Pines Farmers Market. Some people walked by with smiles I returned before I found my woman’s spot. Slowly, trying not to rush, I made my way over to her booth. The green tent was easy to find, and I wasn’t surprised to see that even though there was almost an hour left, she was mostly sold out and still had a line of people waiting to be taken care of.
I stood around, not hiding the way I watched her. Why would I? I wanted everyone to know she was mine. We hadn’t made things official, but that would be changing today. I stopped at the flower booth about six spots away from Olive’s cookies.
“Hey, Sheriff!” Libby, the owner of the local flower shop, smiled. “Looking for anything in particular?”
“I’d like something pretty.”
“All my flowers are pretty, Sheriff March.” She grinned just as her best friend, Jackie Robles, our local social media influencer, stopped by. Her pink hair made it hard not to notice her.
“Ooo, is it for someone special?” Jackie asked, taking the seat Libby had just vacated.
“It is,” I answered, not surprised to see the shock on both their faces. “Someone very special to me,” I added, and the women looked at one another with knowing looks.
“Hmm,” Libby said, setting her arms on her hips as she looked around. “Could it be for a certain cookie-making genius?” I chuckled but didn’t give much else away. With a knowing smirk, she nodded, “I’m going to take that as a yes.”
“That would be a good guess.” The look Libby gave me was one full of joy.
“I knew that girl would get caught one day.” She grinned.
“Caught?” I chuckled.
“By a good man. You are good man, right, Sheriff?”
“I like to think so.” If you didn’t could my late-night stalking.
“Good. She deserves a good guy after—“
“Lib,” Jackie quietly warned, something I knew was uncharacteristic for her. Jackie was bubbly and colorful, usually letting everything hang out.
“What?” Lib said. “It was a long time ago, and he should know.”
“It’s her story to tell.” I glanced over my shoulder at my girl, who was currently smiling at a mom with a double stroller and a puppy on a leash.
“Look, Sheriff, when it comes to Oli, just… just make sure your intentions are clear. She might seem tough and like a bit of a hardass who doesn’t care, but… there’s a reason why she keeps men at arm’s length.” I nodded. I knew all about Olive’s asshole ex. She’d told me about it our second night together.
“Thank you for the warning.”
“Now… knowing that, do you still want flowers?”
“I do. She’s mine. And it might be a little messed up for me to tell you this when I haven’t told her yet, but… she’s going to be my wife one day. These flowers are the first of many I’m going to give her throughout the rest of my life.”
“Well… I would suggest the sunflowers.”
“And roses!” Jackie added.
“Make it beautiful. I’m going to ask her to be my girlfriend.”
“Oh my god! That is so cute!” Libby fawned.
“I didn’t even know guys still did that,” Jackie added. Fuck, that made me feel old, but I didn’t care.
“Okay, Sheriff.” Libby pointed at me. “I wasn’t sure if you had any game since you haven’t been seen with anyone, but now, I get it.” I grinned and didn’t say another word as they both got to work creating the most beautiful bouquet for my woman. After paying and tipping them, I walked over. The farmers market was almost done. A couple of vendors had already started to pack up with less than fifteen minutes left.
Olive spotted me; it was hard not to with the giant arrangement of flowers in my hand. Her beautiful eyes widened, and the box she had in her hand slowly dropped back to the table in front of her as I approached. My heart was racing.
Oli was blushing by the time I reached her table, and everyone around us faded away. There could have been a million people waiting for her, but I didn’t care. The only thing I saw and noticed was her. She was already shaking her head, her hands on her hips in a sassy stance.
“What are you doing?” she asked, but I didn’t stop. I simply went around the table she only let me walk behind once before. “Luke!” she gasped, and I grinned. The moment I was within reach, my free hand pulled her close and I rested my forehead on hers.
“Hi.”
“Hey.” She giggled. “What is this?” I brought the flowers between us.
“These are for you.” I handed her the bouquet. Shyly but so fucking sweetly, biting down on her bottom lip, she brought the bouquet up to her nose.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “I’ve never gotten flowers before.” The smile on my face grew wider.
Oh yeah, this is the first of many arrangements my woman will be getting from me.
“They’re a little something I hope softens you up to what I need to ask you,” I admitted.
“Uh-oh, that sounds dangerous,” she teased. “Why do I feel like you’re up to something, Sheriff?”
“Because I am.” When I kneeled, her eyes widened. The few shoppers and other vendors around us gasped. I held her hand in mine. “I like you. A lot. Shit, honestly, I love you. I’m in love with you, Olive Trejo.”
“Luke.” Her lips opened and shut, and I leaned in as I brought her hand up to my lips, pressing a kiss on top of her fingers.
“Will you be my girlfriend?” Some snickered and others giggled while most ooed and aahed, but I tuned them out.
“I love you. I know this is fast, but you’re it for me. If I didn’t think you would run off after hitting me with the flowers, I’d be asking you a whole other question. That’s how serious I am about you, Cookie.” She stared at me for a moment, and the longer the silence drew between us, the sweatier my hands became. But it was when I slowly realized that her eyes had become suspiciously wet and her lip started to wobble that I stood up, carefully placing the flowers on the mostly empty table before holding her face with both hands.
“Olive?”
“Yes,” she answered softly but with confidence. “Yes to the first question, and maybe wait a couple of months for the other, but I’m pretty sure the answer will be the same.” Joy washed through me, and I lifted her up, swinging us around her booth, semi-aware of the people around us clapping and snapping pictures.
“I won’t let you regret this,” I whispered into her ear as I set her down.
“You better not,” she sniffled with a sassy expression on her face before she hip-checked me. “Help me pack up so we can go home and celebrate.” She pressed her hand to my shoulder.
“Put me to work, boss.”
“Girlfriend,” she corrected. Fuck if that didn’t have a good ring to it.
9
olive
I looked around my room for the millionth time and huffed with frustration.
Tossing my hair up in a messy bun, I got down on my knees to look under my bed.
“Where are you?” I said to no one.
A cardigan I wanted to wear now that the temps were dropping was nowhere to be found. It was one of my favorites since Scarlett had made it for me, and it was one of a kind. Not only that, it was super comfy and would have gone great with my outfit for my date with Luke.
The doorbell rang. Speaking of.
I got up off the floor and hurried to the door. There he stood. Handsome in his uniform, looking too good to be true.
“Fuck,” he cursed, his gaze eating me up. “Turn,” he said, twirling his finger.
Even though I loved when he did this, I still rolled my eyes. I had to make him work for it still. But honestly, I had a feeling he wouldn’t mind putting the work in for the rest of his life. I slowly spun around, loving the way his gaze gobbled me up.
“You’re too beautiful for words, baby,” he mumbled as my eyes caught his bright blues, and he leaned in for a kiss.
It had been a month of us being an official couple.
Not only had he met my siblings, but my parents as well. And to my surprise, everyone loved him. Loved us together. Everything had been great. Perfect. Too good in a weird way.
Maybe it was me? The pessimist in me waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop. To discover my sexy sheriff’s dirty little secret and push him away.
“I’d pay out my pension to know what you’re thinking about.”
“It’s nothing.” I shook my head. “Not worth that much, that’s for sure.” His thumb stroked my face.
“I don’t know about that. I’m pretty sure every single thought is worth that and more.”
“You’re sweet.” I playfully rolled my eyes.
When he winked at me, butterflies started to flap their wings in my lower belly. It was crazy. We’d done so much together already, you would have thought those kinds of feelings would have gone out the window. Especially when there wasn’t an inch of my body his mouth hadn’t touched more than once this past month.
“How was your day?” he asked as I pulled away and grabbed my purse.
“Good.”
“Just good?” Luke’s head tilted. I knew what he wanted to know. I could see the excitement in his eyes. Excitement for me. I’d never had a partner who wanted nothing but the best for me and actually meant it.
“Okay,” I sighed dramatically. “Better than fine.” I laughed. His eyes grew expectant, waiting for me to share. I jumped, and my hands clapped together. “I got the order for the ski resort for the Valentine’s Day cookies!” I announced. A loud cheering noise erupted from him before his strong arms wrapped around me. Before I could look up at him, he spun us around and around until I was half dizzy when he set me on the ground, his arms still resting on my hips.
“I fucking knew they couldn’t turn you down.” I smiled and sighed, resting my head on his chest.
I’d been a bundle of nervous energy this morning, all amped up and worried about the meeting. It would mean providing an assortment of Valentine’s Day cookies both for the continental breakfast they offered and the ones personally given to the guests when they checked in. Thankfully for me and my nerves, Luke had been more than happy to distract me into a sweaty panting mess, even if it meant he’d been late to work. I still couldn’t believe it. I was so close to getting my own shop I could taste it.
“We should go out and celebrate instead of just having a movie night.”
“Na.” I shook my head. “I’m honestly looking forward to going to your place and having a quiet night. I also made these for dessert.” I reached for the box I’d baked just for him.
“Oh?” He looked inside the box. “New recipe?” I nodded, and he looked at me like he had won the lottery. “I’m such a lucky man.” My breath hitched while everything inside of me went all mushy.
“Because of my cookies?” I guessed. He leaned in, hovering his lips right over mine.
“Because of you. The cookies are just a bonus, beautiful.” It wasn’t the first time he’d said that to me, but every time he did felt like a promise. Like the most beautiful thing someone could tell me. And I knew that I not only loved him but was completely his. Mind, body, and soul.
“I love you, Luke,” I whispered. Surprise flashed in his blue eyes. It wasn’t the first time I said it, but it was the first time I said it to him without him saying it to me first.
