AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His heart stuttered in his chest. He’d made a point to keep people at a distance, only letting a select few in. Love wasn’t supposed to be in the cards for him, but looking into those whisky-colored eyes, he should have known he was a goner the very first time they glared at him.
“You, stubborn?” he joked, but really all he wanted was to wrap her up in his arms and never let her go. Keep her safe from whatever danger was coming for them.
She pushed his chest, and he caught her hand as he dipped his head and captured her lips. He might not be able to get the words out, but he could damn well show her.
Chapter 21
Allison woke up feeling refreshed and ready for round five with Reid. The man was insatiable, and she wasn’t complaining. Eventually, they had to drag themselves out of bed to go to the festival. If she didn’t show, her family would wonder where she was and send out a search party. If they found her in Reid’s bed, Mom would have started planning their wedding.
Wedding. It was an odd thought. For so long, Allison never thought she’d meet someone and settle down, but she was starting to realize that no one was ever right because they weren’t Reid. Until now, she hadn’t even known that she’d compared every single man she’d dated to him. It was subtle, but her subconscious had been working overtime without her knowledge.
Not that she planned on marrying Reid. In hindsight, even though she’d known him for over a decade, she barely knew him at all. Though she knew his heart, and for her, that was the only thing that really mattered.
They pulled into the festival and past the designated parking spaces to a private sector for the patrols. Reid put the cruiser in park and turned to her. “Remember to be on the lookout. Always be aware of your surroundings. Don’t let your guard down.”
Allison held her hand up. “Save the lecture, officer.”
“Sheriff.”
“I know. I just like to see you get all pissy over it.”
“You’re a pain in my ass.”
She leaned toward him and smiled. “And you love it.”
His hand snaked around her head and pulled her close until their lips came together. A girl could get very used to this.
He rested his forehead against hers. “Just be careful.”
She kissed the tip of his nose. “You have nothing to worry about. I’ll be with my entire family. Let anyone try to break through that wall of people. And if they do, my mother will run them off with her flipflop.”
“This is serious.”
Allison patted his chest. “Lighten up, Sheriff.”
“Where are they meeting you?”
“Presley will insist they get fried Oreos as soon as they get here, so I know I’ll find them there.”
“I have to check in with my deputies and make sure there are no issues.”
“I think I can manage without you.”
“I’ll get someone to walk you.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“After everything I told you, how could you think it’s not?”
“Because I don’t think Louie is the one messing with me.”
“How can you know that?”
“I don’t for sure, but my reporter instincts have kicked in, and I’ve been thinking about it. The first threat I received was before Louie got out.”
“He could have had someone send it.”
“Fine, but then that begs the question, why me? Why not go to you directly?”
