“I didn’t have anything to do with my brother’s plans or any of the fires,” Shelby blurted out.
“Well of course you didn’t, sweetheart.Levi, don’t be so rude to my guest.Shelby honey, come on in, we were just getting ready to have some pie and wait for Wesley,” Mrs.Hart said, stepping in front of Levi and welcoming her inside.
She stopped in her tracks.“Maybe I better not.I don’t think he’s going to like finding me here after everything my family has done.”
But Mrs.Hart just stepped out onto the front porch and put her arm around Shelby and guided her into the foyer.
“You didn’t have anything to do with it.”
“I’m sorry about the fire on your property.I really just wanted to say I didn’t know about it, but I’ll pay for any repairs.I mean I promise I had nothing to do with it but I’m also not going to let my brother smear my family name.”
“Tosh, you don’t need to pay for anything.Levi already built me a new and improved, fireproof mailbox.And you can’t go around cleaning up your brother’s messes with your inheritance.That is not what your grandfather would have wanted for you.”
“No, I guess you’re right.”
“Was that the only reason you came to town?”Wes’s deep voice sounded from behind her and she spun to see him in the doorway.
“I came to finish my book,” she said feeling like she was in the spotlight with Wesley’s brothers and grandmother looking on.
He stepped in and took over the space.
“And?”
“And imagine my surprise when I saw all those signs announcing your run for sheriff?”
He sighed.“I was planning on telling you, in person.I had a change of heart.After the second set of fires, I realized it wasn’t that the town needed me.I need this town.It’s in my blood.I like helping my neighbors and the town I was raised in.”
“I understand.I never expected you to be interested in me long term.”
Then Wes stepped closer.“But I’m interested.More than interested.I want my small town and you.And I know that’s selfish, and really bad timing after I just arrested your brother, and threatened to arrest your father too.But I think we can make this thing work long distance Shelby.I want to keep seeing you.”
“You do?”
“Yes, very much.Did you know, as sheriff, I can actually do a lot of work remotely.And once I have a new deputy sheriff, I don’t have to run everything myself.”
Then she closed the space between them and reached up to put her arms around his neck.“That is good news, because I decided I’m going to stay in Sandy Point, permanently.”
Then his mouth was on hers and he kissed her like he was never going to stop.When they finally broke apart, they were the only two people left standing in the foyer.
“You’re moving back?”he asked.“Are you sure?”
“I sorta already did.”
“You did?”
“I’ve been back since Monday, but I needed to see what it would be like for me to be here even if my family or you didn’t want me to be.Then I saw all those signs about your bid for sheriff and you never said anything.So I figured I better get ready for you to tell me it was over.”
He kissed her again.“I’m sorry, it all happened so fast, and I wanted to tell you in person.I needed to make sure you knew I wasn’t choosing this town over you.”
“So you thought eventually you could just convince me to stay?”
“I hoped,” Wes said with a cocky grin.“You did say I make the best grilled cheese you’ve ever had.”
“Among other things,” she said.
“On that note, I think we should go back to my place and discuss terms, maybe determine which bed we find the most comfortable?Yours or mine.”
“That might take a lot of research.”
