Val
“Wade, I didn’t expectyou so soon after Halloween.” I lean my elbow on the counter to prop up my chin. “I figured you’d have your little sub tied up in bed where she’s safe and sound.” Flashing him a wink, I grab my notebook to take his lunch order.
“Funny. I had to let her free to go to the bathroom.” His smirk tells me that probably isn’t far from the truth
He glances down at my pen and settles into one of the stools opposite the bar. “The usual, but also a few questions about that night.”
“Let me get your fries started and I’ll be right back.” Brisking into the kitchen, it feels…empty without Sawyer.
Damn him and his magical dick. It’s all I can think about now.
Well, and his mouth.
Maybe I should have let him come back over?
No, I needed to prep for the week. It’s hard to concentrate when I’m making the “oh” sound.
“Okay, whatcha got?” I grab a diet Coke and slide onto one of the other seats since it’s just us in here at the moment.
“Did you notice anyone else with Max?” He pulls out a booklet similar to mine.
“Shit, Wade. You were here. I never stopped running.” I did see Sawyer without a shirt for the first time.
Not that Wade would care.
“Wasn’t he alone?” I thought that’s what Sawyer had told me.
But the sheriff shakes his head. “It’s starting to sound like he has accomplices in the shenanigans. Not just his mother, either.”
“Whew. More than the judge? Boy, that’s fucked up.” I didn’t think Max had the ability to organize all the shady shit that’s been going on with the Black Gulch.
Although, every now and then, the biggest idiot can get lucky.
“Do you know how many?” I try my damndest to remember more than the feel of Sawyer’s teeth on my thighs after the party.
“Nope. I’m chasing hind tit on this one,” he grumbles, stuffing his notepad back into the breast pocket of his shirt. “I just know that asshole was saying to Elena he was gonna take her back to someone else. You ever remember Max coming in here?”
“Shit, not in years. I thought he might have swung through around Matt’s funeral.” I shrug.
I didn’t really want to see him. Max was always a bit of a miscreant when I knew him.
“In fact—” I tap my finger against my lips as I stand. “I’d say it was when Sarah died was the last time I saw him.”
Wade snorts and raises his voice so I can hear him while I make his food. “Yea, no mystery there. Ford was hot to fucking trot to find him. He even got a hold of him once.”
I can hear him chuckle over the sizzle of the grill.
It’s quite a feat if Max survived Ford.
Chris didn’t. There’ve been others. How many are left on Ford’s “list”?
A shudder moves down my spine.
I’m glad I’m on Ford’s good side, but I don’t envy his wife dealing with his demons.
Maybe that’s why I’m drawn to Sawyer?
He’s sweet.
