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“And I”—Reed’s voice lowered—“get the best job of all … gazing into your beautiful blue eyes and holding your hand.”
From any other man she’d dated, that line would sound cheesy. Reed was far too tough to ever be cheesy. From him, that line made her warm all over.
Was this all an act for Reed? Why wouldn’t it be? He was acting the part as a friend and the sheriff. This was all on her. She’d grabbed him and kissed him today, then told him about Garret stalking her. She had to think analytically. Reed was saying all his sweet lines to play the part, but he was actually focused on his job and had his detectives backing him up because he was smart and covered his bases.
Of course he would act like the impressive law enforcement officer he was and make the fake dating scenario look real. It made sense, and it was in her best interest and the best interest of the Delta family secret. She should be very grateful to Reed for stepping up like this, and she was, but she was also humiliated that she’d let herself get emotionally invested so easily and quickly.
She’d allowed herself to get lost in his dark gaze and think all the touches, the compliments, and especially the kisses they’d exchanged meant something deeper to him. He was simply doing his job and being an incredible friend to her and her family, just as he’d always been. She was assigning deeper meanings to everything he did and said. While he so impressively appeared to be staring deeply into her eyes and complimenting her, he was actually doing his job and being hyperaware of everything. He knew exactly where his deputies and Garret were located. He was brainstorming how Garret could’ve possibly tracked her.
If he was head over heels for her, he wouldn’t have been able to remember his last name.
She scoffed at her silly thoughts. She was thankful he was such a professional. That was what she needed right now. Not a boyfriend. She needed to be professional and in control like she usually was. She couldn’t let herself get lost in him. It would be dangerous for the condition she had to manage at all times and even more dangerous for her heart.
The waitress brought the appetizer sampler and Esther graciously retrieved her hand so it would stop warmly pulsing in his grasp. She focused on the food and carrying on a conversation about how the legalizing of marijuana in their state had increased traffic deaths, violent crime, and underage usage. Esther did reluctantly admit that there was a state revenue benefit to the legalization and asked his thoughts about less police time and money wasted on marijuana-related arrests. Reed argued that it was a wash, as they had so many more hospitalizations and traffic issues related to marijuana use that it was hard to claim the legalization helped free up his deputies’ time.
It was interesting and enlivening to debate with Reed, even about something serious. She’d eaten all of her yellow curry and shared a mango cheesecake with him before realizing the dinner date had gone exceptionally well. With the exception of sadly recognizing they weren’t really on a date and the creep Garret was lurking somewhere outside.
“I interact with a lot of police and SF,” Esther said. “You know the law much better than most.”
“Thank you. I try.”
“Did you ever consider law school?”
“It was my original plan.” He drank some water and admitted, “But my mom and brothers needed me.”
Esther gained even more respect and appreciation for him in that moment. He’d put his family before his own hopes and dreams. She’d taken the military route because she loved and respected the armed forces, because she wanted to increase the training Papa had instilled in her, and because she hadn’t wanted a mountain of debt coming out of law school. She’d worked hard and everybody at home had supported her and cheered her on. She couldn’t imagine being responsible for her mom and siblings as a college grad.
“And you can’t beat being the hot sheriff.” He winked at her.
“Ah,” Esther gasped. “You’ve heard too many women say that, haven’t you, honey?”
He shrugged, his brown eyes sparkling at her, but he admitted to nothing.
The waitress brought the bill and Reed smoothly put a credit card in and handed it back as Esther yanked her credit card out of her bra and tried to hand it over. Reed’s eyes widened. He cleared his throat and said, “I thought you had nothing personal on you.”
She held up the thin, plastic credit card, showing him both sides. “No way is this a tracking device.”
Reed acknowledged that with a bob of his head.
“I wanted to pay,” she said. “You’re doingmea favor here.”
Reed waved the waitress off with a smooth smile. He focused back on Esther. “You’re doing me the favor, going out on our first date.”
Esther sucked in a breath. This was fake. It wasn’t a date. But if it was … Reed had no idea that his clock was ticking. Two more dates and she’d walk away. She’d fully enjoyed the conversation and being the woman the hot sheriff was gazing so deeply at and complimenting with his words and his gaze.
That was all. No deep commitments. That was Esther. That’s how she stayed emotionally stable.
“Garret’s driven away,” Reed quietly informed her, breaking her from her thoughts. He must have an earpiece in and be the king of multi-tasking, as he hadn’t slowed their conversation or broken concentration on her throughout the entire dinner.
She nodded, even as she deflated inside. She’d been completely invested in the interesting and stimulating conversation and she’d also let herself slip far too easily, assuming he was totally into her. He was only half there, focused on his job. She was both impressed and foolishly sad.
“Josh just came on duty and is following him.”
“Sorry to add to your deputies’ load.”
“It’s okay. The valley is pretty quiet, so they don’t mind doing a little more than writing speeding tickets, dealing with stoned campers, and having to haul Clark Finland out of the Owl every few nights and throw him in a cell until he sobers up and stops hitting on the bartender or other women in the bar.”
Esther shuddered. Clark Finland thought he was a womanizer and had said crude things to every woman Esther knew between the ages of fourteen and forty. She knew her brothers and cousin Colton had either thrashed him or threatened to thrash him on far too many occasions.
