“I am up for the task.I just have a sheriff’s race to win and then I can really dedicate the time to it.”
“You don’t think my brother is still going to try to stay in the race do you?”
“He can certainly try, but it’s going to be really difficult for him to convince people he respects the law when the evidence is stacked against him as the town arsonist.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t you ever apologize for what he did.And you hold your head high in this town.You’re Shelby Bell Shepherd, famous, brilliant author and Zeke’s favorite granddaughter.”
“True.”And Shelby could almost feel Pops smiling down on her, like he always knew she would find her place in Sandy Point and with Wesley Hart.
“Are you two coming in for some pie or what?”Gran hollered.
“We better get in there, because my gran has been mad at me ever since you left town without coming over to have a meal with her.”
“Does pie count, or will you be making us grilled cheese too.”
“Baby, I’ll make you anything you want.”
“So many options,” she teased as he took her hand and led her into his grandmother’s kitchen.
“Everyone, I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Shelby,” Wes said.
Shelby could feel the heat of a blush bloom in face.But every member of the Hart family just smiled at them like they were the last to know that she and Wes were already in a relationship.
“I knew you’d figure it out, Wesley.You are my favorite grandson, after all,” Gran said.
“Oh come on,” Levi whined, and his fiancée Missy laughed.
Dalton just smirked as if he knew he was the real favorite.
Shelby accepted a piece of pie and a side hug from Mrs.Hart before they all sat down at the large kitchen table.She enjoyed listening to the loving banter between the brothers and Brooke, Dalton’s fiancée, and Missy both took turns asking Shelby easy get-to-know-you questions.She suspected they already knew all the answers but appreciated letting her have the chance to tell them.If she was going to be dating Wes, she was likely going to be seeing them a lot and she wanted them to like her.But an hour later Wes insisted it was time for them to go.As soon as they were outside, she realized how much she wanted to be alone with him too.
When he pressed her up against the side of her truck and kissed her, his hands roamed down over her curves and she wanted to rip off both their clothes.
“Your place or mine?”he breathed as he nipped at her earlobe.
“Yours is closest.”
“Smart—let’s leave your truck here and get it in the morning,” he said, then was dragging her toward his truck.
They barely made it out of the driveway before Wes’s right hand was up high on her thigh, his fingers sliding between them to rub between her legs.
“Wesley, you’re going to need to pull this truck over if you’re not careful.”
“So you did miss me this week.Did I have anything to do with your decision to want to stay in Sandy Point?”he asked, his voice gruff with desire.
“It’s been so long, I’m not really sure what you mean.”
Out on the dark road that led back into town, Wes pulled the truck over and slid his seat all the way back.“Come here and let me refresh your memory.”
“In the truck?”
“Yep.”He unbuckled her seatbelt then cupped her between the legs.“I guarantee you’re going to be happy you did.”
She unzipped her jacket and climbed over the center console to straddle his lap.
“We have too many clothes on,” she breathed as she peeled off her coat and then lifted her sweater off so she sat in only her jeans and bra.
