“Already have, Ms. Lauren. I will work my darndest to make things better in her life and mine.”
As she walked to the library, Lauren experienced a deep sense of freedom and purpose. There was a tangible difference in working with the people here and working corporate back home. The feeling of making a difference was much more immediate and tangible. Maybe this was a sign that she really should move forward in building her own consulting business.
Turning a corner, her phone vibrated and she reached in her bag and answered it without hesitation when she saw Reese’s face and name.
“Hello, my darling,” she answered in a posh English accent.
“Uh-uh. No. Who you fuckin’, because ain’t no way you’ve shifted into your playful place unless you’ve had some smex.”
Lauren laughed as she put her earbuds in and placed her phone back in her bag.
“I am not having smelly sex, you deviant. I’m...making the best of my time away.”
“In other words, you’ve found somebody’s business to be in.”
“Yes. My own.”
“Mm-hmm. Well, I’m not trying to ruin your vibe, so I’ll call you back when?—”
“What happened?” she asked, deflating.
“The wedding isofficiallyoff. Venues paid, guests notified. Derrick made a whole production of thanking everyone and assuring them all gifts received would be returned. He even saidsome shit about him acting in ways that hurt you, and I quote,I will forever regret that I was not the man she deserved to have. Totally sidestepped the wholeI screwed her sister and got her pregnantpart.”
Lauren closed her eyes, bracing for the wrenching pain she’d felt when her mother and Lahn expected instant forgiveness after they told her their news.
Her engagement was officially over.
She should feel something, but there was nothing but silence and numbness. Maybe life decided she’d felt enough. And maybe she had nothing left to grieve.
“What are you doing?” Santiago called out in irritation. “Meditating on how much more mayhem you can cause? Didn’t I tell you to stay out of trouble when I dropped you off?”
She opened her eyes and smiled at him with overwhelming gratitude. She didn’t want to think about Derrick and Lahn, she didn’t want to think about home.
“I vaguely remember you saying something about staying out of trouble, yes, but you made it sound like more of a suggestion than an order.”
He stepped around his cruiser onto the sidewalk, stopping directly in front of her, his glasses on, hat on his head, uniform crisp and dry despite the humid day. Her fingers itched to reach out and smooth away a wrinkle that didn’t exist.
“You should know by now that you can’t intimidate me by crowding my space.” She leaned into him and sniffed. “Why do you smell like sin, Sheriff?”
He leaned closer but looked down the road behind her as if waiting for something to appear. Maybe his patience.
“I think you like it, Lauren,” he said roughly, his voice a resonant vibration that worked its way from her ears, to her nipples, and down to her clit. She very much did, and did not, like it.
“I think you thrive off of sowing discord. I think you want me to put my hands on you so you can make me the bad guy. But it doesn’t track does it, not when you come to me when you need to feel safe. I don’t know what all you’re planning at the council meeting, but if you make one more incendiary or misleading statement, meddle in one more thing, I will lay my hands on you so hard and so long even your screams will turn silent. You don’t want that Ms. Green…so behave.”
He turned and walked back to his car.
After he drove away, she remembered to take a breath.
“Who the hell was that?Damn!”
Lauren nearly tripped over her feet. She’d completely forgotten her friend was on the phone; had heard everything through her Bluetooth earbuds.
“Thatwas Sheriff Santiago Stillwater. The most controlling, overbearing, grumpy man I have ever met.”
“He sounds fucking hot.”
Lauren rolled her eyes and smiled. “Get off my phone, Reese.”
