“Fine,” he blows the word out and I nod once before standing and walking right out of his office.
I don’t acknowledge Kelly. I don’t go back to work.
I go straight to my car, then to my house to pack a bag. I can’t be in Dogwood Ridge right now. I only hope I’m welcome in the one place I want to go.
CHAPTER 17
RHODES
As I wrap a towel around my waist and tuck it into place, I hear someone knocking on my front door. My eyebrows furrow together because I’m not expecting anyone. Who could it be?
I debate grabbing a pair of sweatpants, but when the knocking happens again and is more insistent the second time, I stride straight to the front door. The third knock starts just as I reach the door, this time a staccato rhythm has my heart pounding in my chest.
Is something wrong? Did something happen to Helen? Should I have checked my phone first?
Without thinking, I swing open the door and freeze.
Helen’s eyes widen before her gaze sweeps down my body and then back up. Where the first perusal is fast, like she’s shocked with what she finds in front of her, the second time is not. As she looks me over again, I can feel the slow caress of her eyes against my skin.
She takes in the few rogue droplets of water as they slide down my chest. When she takes in the tattoo on my ribs, she licks her lips. My cock takes notice and I already know I’m going to make a fool of myself.
But I can’t find it in me to care.
Not when my woman is standing in front of me. As I look her over, I notice how she’s dressed in comfy clothes and has a bag slung over her shoulder. The sight of it has my heart pounding in my chest.
She’s staying the night? Fuck, yes.
As I look at her face, I can see the anxiousness there. Protectiveness surges in my chest along with fierce loyalty reserved only for her. Always for her.
“Do you,” her voice is husky with an edge of need but some of it is gone after she clears her throat and starts again with a shake of her head, “do you always answer the door like this? Because if you do, we might need to have a conversation about boundaries and proper etiquette.” Her eyes flick down to my dick which is obviously happy to see her. She arches an eyebrow as she meets my gaze again and sasses, “Sheriff.”
“Sweetheart,” I drawl and step aside to let her walk through the door.
The moment she does it’s like my vision sharpens predatorily. She’s here. In my space. Again.
I never want her to leave.
“I’m not sure I can talk to you like this.” She waves her hand in my general direction while making sure she isn’t looking at me.
It’s fucking adorable.
“Helen,” my voice is rough and the edge of steel in it is easy to hear.
“I’m serious,” she insists and even stomps her foot a little. When she looks toward me, she covers her eyes with her hands but then peeks out between her fingers. “You’re very distracting.”
When I step closer to her, she makes a little squeaking sound which has laughter rumbling in my chest. “You’re adorable,” I murmur, feeling the room, feeling my entire fucking existence pulling closer as if we’re all that matters.
“I’m not adorable,” she scrunches up her face, but it doesn’t do a damn thing to make my words untrue, quite the opposite.
“Are you going to give your man a kiss hello?” There’s a challenge in my words and when she peeks up at me, I wiggle my eyebrows lasciviously and garner a blinding smile for my efforts.
I’ll be a fool for her. Happily.
As long as I get to see her smile. If I can get her to laugh too? Talk about a good fucking day.
“You’re silly,” she whispers the words, but I can see the way her eyes glaze over with need.
“I’m dead fucking serious, Sweetheart.”
