Page 72 of Flawless

“What about your career?” she demanded. “You think you’re the first Sheriff to resign over personal reasons? Trust me, you’re not.” A slow smile spread across her face as she snapped her fingers. “Don’t you remember when you were in high school and Sheriff Mathers had to resign when he was caught having an affair with one of his deputies?”

I shook my head in disgust. “Yeah, I remember.”

“At least you wouldn’t be resigning in shame. You’d be leaving to uphold the values they all elected you for, honey.” She sat next to me, covering my hand with hers. “Every single person who voted for you did that because they know the kind of man you are. Strong. Trustworthy. Honourable. You do what’s right. And right now, that means going to Nashville to be with the woman you love and the baby she’s carrying. Everyone will understand that.”

I wasn’t so sure. According to social media, people in my county saw Rylee as a backroads balladeer with a gritty reputation who was trying to lure me into her seedy world. It was no secret I’d only known her for a couple of months and she was young enough to raise a few eyebrows. But I didn’t care what anyone thought. I wanted her. If she’d have me.

“See, I agree with you, Mama. Resigning feels like the only option. I know I’ll find something in law enforcement in Tennessee. If not in Nashville, maybe in Franklin or Clarksville.” I ran a hand over my head. “I don’t know. I’d figure it out. I’ve done every damn job there is on the force. Maybe I’ll run for Sheriff there, when the time is right. All I know is I have to be with her.”

She looked sympathetic as she curled her hand around my forearm. “What are you not telling me?”

“She doesn’t want me to resign. Or sell my house. Or shake up my whole life for her. Truth is, she’s afraid it won’t work between us, and I’ll resent her because I made these changes.”

“Would you resent her?” she asked, gently. “If things didn’t work out?”

“No.” I shook my head, feeling the weight of my decision testing me. “I’d regret it if I didn’t even try.”

“Then there’s your answer,” she said, slapping my arm. “You know what you need to do. Resign, put your house on the market.” She laughed. “Sell everything you own. Then tell Rylee you did it because you wanted to. And you’ll stand by your decision, no matter what happens between y’all.”

“You make it sound so easy,” I said, shaking my head at her, unable to hide my amusement. “Aren’t you gonna miss me?”

She wrapped her arm around my shoulders. “Honey, Rylee’s having our first grandbaby. You’ll be seein’ more of us than you did when you lived under our roof.”

I rolled my eyes. “Great. I won’t tell Rylee that part.”

She smacked me upside the head. “You hush now. That girl loves us already.” She snapped her fingers, her eyes sparkling. “I just had an idea. Ohhhh, your daddy’s gonna love this. We should retire too. Sell the ranch. Sell all of it. And buy a place in Tennessee!” She jumped up. “Not in the city, of course. We’re not city people. Just a couple of acres in the country with enough for a garden, some chickens⁠—”

“Mama—” She was like a runaway train when she got an idea in her head. “Don’t you think you should talk to⁠—”

“Oh, it’ll be perfect,” she said, holding her hands together. “Austin and your sister will wanna start a family of their own before long too. She’s not getting any younger either, ya know.”

I hid my laugh behind a cough when she glared at me. “Sorry.”

“And you’re all so busy,” she said, waving a hand through the air. “With your careers. Just think about it. You wouldn’t have to hire a stranger to look after your babies. Not with me and your daddy around.”

I covered my hands with my face, knowing this was a battle I couldn’t win. I just hoped Rylee wouldn’t be as wilful as my mama.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Rylee

I was so nervous. It was my first ultrasound and Cam was coming to the appointment with me. It had been a couple of weeks since I’d seen him and our phone conversations had been frequent, but brief. It felt like he was just checking in to make sure we were okay. But he hadn’t mentioned the possibility of moving forward with our relationship since I shot him down.

I’d regretted that every second since, but in the moment, I panicked.

I hadn’t had a healthy role model growing up. I didn’t even know what a good marriage was supposed to look like, except for the few friends who’d managed to pull it off.

I was a commitment-phobe and a trainwreck when it came to relationships.

And this guy, who had his whole life figured out, wanted to bet it all on me.

That was crazy! Wasn’t it? Or was it crazy for me to ask him not to?

I didn’t even know anymore.

All I knew was that I missed him more every day and was watching the hours crawl by without him sleeping next to me.

His smile was grim when he stepped off the elevator and I met him in the hall. “Hey, you look great.”