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Dax’s eyes widened and he stiffened. “What? No, I don’t have time for that. I’m already responsible—”
“I’m sure you can delegate some of that. Wasn’t that why I gave you that promotion a few weeks back? Adeline hasn’t been able to work as much, and we need more help.Sheknew how to delegate. Are you suggesting I made the wrong decision?”
Dax clamped his mouth shut.
Sarah couldn’t deny the amount of pleasure she got from seeing him flustered. The best part was that he’d done this to himself. He was the only one responsible for the predicament he was in.
Her pleasure was short-lived. Dax taking her on meant she wasn’t going to be able to rid herself of him. No matter where she went, there was little chance that she’d be alone. She bit back a groan. This was just great.
* * *
The scenery flewby as they sat in Dax’s truck in utter silence. The only sound she heard was the whirring of the engine. Dax had a decent vehicle. It was clear he took care of it. Despite being a work truck, it didn’t have a scratch on it. How was that possible? She’d seen every car, truck, and ATV that had driven onto this property since she’d arrived and not one of them looked as nice as this one.
Sarah wouldn’t be able to move even if she wanted to for fear that he would chastise her for doing something wrong in his precious truck. Without turning her head, she glanced at his hands, where they gripped the steering wheel. Tight enough to turn his knuckles white. His easygoing attitude from this morning had been completely wiped from his countenance. So, this was the tipping point. He only wanted to pester her if he wasn’t being ordered to.
“Sorry,” she muttered. Great. Now he had made her feel guilty over something she didn’t have any control over. If she had told Zeke no, Dax would have most assuredly told Zeke she was a liar and that they needed to do something about her training anyway.
“Why are you apologizing?”
She lifted a shoulder.
“Well, don’t.”
“Okay.”
He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. “I meant what I said to Zeke. I would still rather be stuck with you than see you get hurt.”
Sarah huffed. “You have a strange way of showing it.”
A strange kind of sound burst from his lips. It was like the combination of a laugh and a cough. She turned and stared at him but knew better than to ask him if he was okay. Instead, she turned her focus out the window. “How long did you say you’ve known Zeke?”
“I didn’t.”
She fought the instinct to look at him again. If he wanted to tell her, he would. She was slowly getting used to the way Dax communicated. He wouldn’t use ten words when two would suffice.
“Tell you what, you give me something, and I’ll give you something.”
“I’m not interested in playing that game, Dax.”
“Suit yourself. But the offer will remain open as long as you want it to.”
“Like I said. Not interested.”
At some point they’d arrived in town. Dax pulled up in front of the sheriff’s station. “Enjoy your lunch with youruncle.” He nodded toward the building. “I’ll be back in an hour.”
She pushed open the door and slammed it shut without saying a word. She didn’t need a babysitter, and she was quickly getting the feeling that was exactly what Dax would become. Well, there was no turning back now.
4
Dax
Dax tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, then ducked his head and peered at the sheriff’s station. Sarah was late. She was supposed to have come out about ten minutes ago. If the time on the dash got any later, he was going to head inside himself and remind both the sheriff and Sarah that the world didn’t revolve around them.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Where was she?
He let out a sigh and pushed open the door to climb out. Just as he put his feet on the sidewalk, Sarah and the sheriff emerged from the building but stayed on the top step. His eyes narrowed. Had she been crying? No. He was imagining things. Her eyes looked a little more pink than he’d remembered, but then again, he hadn’t been paying much attention to her when he dropped her off.
