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“Ohhhh, C’mon now Sheldon. Don’t be like that,” she coos.
Sheldon? I guess that’s why he just goes by ‘sheriff’.
“How ‘bout we just forget about this whole business? Lois has a story coming, don’t you Lois?” Her eyes bore into me and I feel my head pumping, wondering how fast I could type something resembling a news story in the next ten minutes.
“You and me Sheldon, we can go get some coffee, maybe a slice of pie?” Barbara drawls, practically melting over the sheriff who even makes her look young by comparison. The guy’s ancient.
Barbara’s eyes narrow back on me, feel like she’s gonna fire me and be done with it… when I hear a familiar coughing chug from out on the street.
“Blake!” I hear myself squeak, tearing my eyes off the other two and rushing to the window.
Sure enough.
He has come.
He’s come for me, at least, I hope he has.
“Blake…?” they both announce, turning to face me and then I feel them coming over to the window, watching him get out of my car, pocketing the keys like they’re his.
He jogs up the side stairs, and we all listen as he opens the door to the rooms where I lived, he must have found the address in my car. His weight creaks the ceiling and in seconds he’s trotted back down to the front door of the office.
I sigh.
But the silence that follows says it all, even as his huge frame squeezes through the door of the tiny office and he pops his neck, eyeing the sheriff for a moment, then Barbara, not relaxing his gaze until he sees me with a half-smile.
But he’s not happy.
I feel the whole room freeze, not sure if it’s my own gasp I hear or Barbara’s or even the Sheriffs.
“Blake… Barnes?” The sheriff says, finally. Hardly able to deny his presence looming over him.
I notice Blake’s knuckles, flexing into fists and I can’t help but do what comes naturally.
I rush to his side, only able to breathe when his firm hand is on my hip, gripping me closer to him.
Where I should be.
Maybe where I should’ve stayed in the first place.
“I told you you’re mine. You’re with me from now on,” he says in that low tone, that commanding, husky voice I know and love.
The man I know I love.
“I’m all yours Blake,” I assure him. Making sure I add, “Barnes,” to the end of my statement, but he doesn’t flinch.
It doesn’t matter. He’s got me. I know I’m his.
With everyone else’s jaws dropped, Blake announces himself, cool as a cucumber.
“I am Blake Barnes and Lois was, is a guest in my own house. What business is it of the police or your newspaper for that matter?”
“Your house!” we all chime, all three of us. I notice my own voice sounding the most surprised.
“Well, sort of…” Blake adds, then asking me quietly, “Is that where you’ve been staying, up there?” he asks, his eyes darting up to the ceiling.
I flush with embarrassment, nodding a yes as I lower my head.
He growls to himself and I notice Barbara sauntering over, losing interest in the Sheriff in a second as she starts to eye Blake from his head to his toes, pausing at all his best features along the way.
I feel a stab of jealously, but Blake’s hand slips into mine and gives it a gentle squeeze.
Telling me what’s what, that I’m his girl.
“Blake Barnes,” Barbara coos, practically draping herself all over him.
She pushes me out of the way, but Blake keeps hold of my hand.
“I think we could do a whole issue on you, Mr. Barnes. You could keep all the sales from the paper too, along with any other payment you’d like to consider,” she says huskily, teasing him with her eyes and puckering those damned lips.
But Blake’s not having any of it. He shifts so suddenly that Barbara has to catch herself on a desk to stop from falling on her face as her heels give out from under her.
“No thanks,” Blake says politely, brushing Barbara off as he draws me closer to him, but it’s the Sheriff’s turn to interrupt now.
Chapter Twelve
Blake
I knew coming after her, especially seeing she’s with the law would expose me.
I also know, that the media will want to feed on me and the story for at least a year.
But I can’t, I won’t spend another minute with Lois out of my reach.
No matter what it costs or takes.
And as for that hole she’s been staying in? No more of that, she’s coming home with me. Today.
Our home. I’ll start cleaning the place up.
Right after I explain myself to mister twenty questions here, plus Lois looks like she has a ton of her own.
I owe her that much, I guess. And I will always tell her the truth.
“How ‘bout you start by explaining just where you’ve been, Mister Barnes? We can get to the alleged claim of ownership of property later,” Sheriff Sheldon wheezes, puffing his cheeks as he takes out a notebook, licking a pencil.
