The words sting, but I don’t show it.
“Sheriff, I gave you a pass today, but don’t you ever put your hands on me again.”
After a moment, he storms past me and intentionally bumps my shoulder with his.
I slam the door behind him. Dax comes out and lets out a long and loud whistle.
“Sheriff Rose is about to blow a gasket. Of all the women in this town,” he says, shaking his head.
“Nothing I can do about it,” I shrug. I’m done with this conversation because my relationship is private.
Chapter 31
Eden
Me:I’ll call you when I get home. I’ll be done in about an hour.
The three dots pop up and stay that way long enough for me to think he’s writing something long, but I’m wrong.
Rip:Ok
It took him three minutes to type two letters.
I grin, but shake my head at him. The man gives nothing away while giving everything at the same time. But I have time. I’ll get all the answers I need from him.
Eager to get out of here, get home, and shower, I sit at one of the computer stations and enter my final notes of the day. I also need to make it clear to Rip that we are keeping our relationship quiet until I can sit my parents down and tell them myself.
Serena and Randall Rose have always told their kids that we are free to love who we want, but I doubt they consideredsomeone in my new boyfriend’s line of work. Whatever that is, since he’s not telling me, and I refuse to believe small-town gossip. Despite how open-minded my parents are, they’ve also always been protective of us, especially my dad.
I shake my head, determined to focus on work now and figure out my personal life later. I have my back turned to the door, but the office is empty since I saw my last patient forty-five minutes ago. I’m engrossed in my notes until I hear a crash at the front desk.
“Pam, are you okay?” I ask without looking back. Our receptionist is efficient, but she can be clumsy.
I hear the chimes of the front door, followed by heavy footsteps. In addition to Pam, there are four other physical therapists here. Everyone goes quiet. Even the soft music that was playing overhead stops.
I get a feeling in the pit of my stomach, but I talk myself out of it. He wouldn’t be here. I told him I would call him later, and he agreed.
Yeah, because your new man is the type who takes orders.
“C-Can I help you?” Pam asks with a stutter.
Resigned, I know who it is.
“Mr. Ripley,” Pam adds.
“I’m here for Eden,” his gruff voice replies.
I hear another crash and feel my coworkers' eyes on me. The silence is now deafening. I save my work and face the front of the office. He takes up almost the entire space, not just physically. His energy is larger than life.
His lips curl into the smallest of smiles when he sees me. I give him a subtle wink and stand. Oscar, my direct supervisor, jumps ahead of me.
“What do you want with Eden?” Oscar asks.
“What the fuck do you think I want with her?” Rip says.
I quickly cross the room and put a hand on his chest to calm him down. Everyone seems shocked at the gesture. Pam puts a hand to her mouth to drown her gasp.
“Eden, d-do you want me to c-call your dad?” Oscar stammers.
