There was no credence to the suggestion Annette was the one doing the chasing, not when I made it clear to everyone watching she was mine.
There was no denying we had a history, one that transcended our roles of sheriff and bookseller.
There was no hiding the relief I felt when she climbed off that stool and I was certain everyone saw it on my face, too.
She'd played her part well with that flare of fire when I'd tried to relieve her of her bag. No one could argue there wasn't heat between us.
I knew Annette's family wouldn't be at The Galley but I also knew this would get back to them. And I wasn't done. No, we had another stop on our route before heading home.
"Jackson," Annette said slowly, glancing up at me, "can we talk now?"
I led her across the street, toward the alley behind her shop, and took her in my arms. I'd never believed the touch of another could soothe me down to my core but Annette, she was my balm.
"I missed you today," I whispered. "Yesterday, too. I don't want to miss you anymore."
She nodded, her head rubbing against my chest as she moved. "I missed you, too," she confessed. "But I have a lot of things to say and I think I should say them."
"Can you talk and pack at the same time?" I asked. "Because I meant it when I said I was taking you home now."
Annette stared at me for a moment, her wide, dark eyes blinking up at me as if I'd spoken another language and she needed time to translate. Eventually, she said, "I can't. I can't talk and pack, I have to say this now."
"Okay," I said. "Go ahead. I won't rush you."
She brought her hands to my chest, her gaze locked on the buttons running down my shirt. She bit her lip, hesitating before she spoke.
"I'm just learning how to do this. I'm—I'm going to make mistakes. I'm going to push you away because I don't know what to do with big feelings and big love but I want to get better at it. At this." She tapped her chest and then mine. "At us."
"I'm going to pull you right back," I said, scooping her up in my arms and backing her up against the building. I wanted her body pressed to mine but I also needed some help staying upright. "I'm going to want everything with you and you're going to have to tell me when to slow down. I can handle it, I swear. Just tell me what you need and promise you'll give me a chance to adjust."
"I love you," she whispered, a deep valley of awe in her words. "And I want to let you love me, even when it's scary and overwhelming."
"I've loved you since the first moment I set eyes on your ankles," I replied. "I saw you from my office and my heart broke free from my chest and climbed into your hands."
I kissed her then, fast and hard, just like we'd fallen for each other. She tasted like wine and comfort, and I found myself rocking into the heat between her legs. I was exhausted and in desperate need of sleep but my cock was ready to go all night.
"Isn't this illegal?" she asked against my lips. "Public indecency or something?"
"That's why I'm trying to take you home," I said, groaning as the friction spiraled through me. "Quick. We're running upstairs and getting all the things you need for the next day or two. Your favorite whisk, the rolling pin you favor, aprons with flamingos on them, a few of those white dresses I like so much. Just the basics. Panties are unnecessary."
"Whisks, rolling pins, aprons," Annette repeated. "What am I making with those things?"
"Anything you want," I said. "Anything at all. I want you with me and not just for one night. I want you to stay. Stay for a long, long time, Annie."
She ran her teeth across her bottom lip, humming to herself. I was prepared for an argument, braced against her certain refusal.
"But no panties? Is that your way of getting around previous restrictions on touching my underwear? This is one conversation we can have while we pack, you know. We don't have to do this up against my building."
No argument. No refusal. Just me and Annette, trying our damnedest to do this thing. With or without undies.
"If you insist." With regret, I set Annette on her feet and let her lead the way to her apartment. "I'm just throwing out some ideas here but I think we can live happily with a no-panties rule. Seems mutually beneficial to me."
Annette shook her keys at me when we reached the landing outside her door. "See? Keys. For the lock. The one on the door."
I brought both hands to her backside and squeezed. "What? You think I'm going to reward you for seeing to the most basic safety procedures? No, beautiful. Not happening."
She hooked a glance at me over her shoulder, her eyes a pair of inky pools in the darkness and her lips pressed together in a pout. I couldn't resist that face. It was the same one she used on me that first night, when she didn't want to be alone in my bed.
"What if I asked nicely?"
