This was a mistake.
A six-foot-four, two hundred thirty-pound mistake wrapped in a tight-fitting blue dress shirt that stretches over his chest, accentuating his wide shoulders and muscled arms.
Matthew has always been handsome. It didn’t matter if it was his football uniform, street clothes, or no clothes. Matthew in his police uniform, though? Criminal.
As in, I’d gladly commit a crime if it meant he would put his hands on me.
Maybe Mae was onto something after all,the devil on my shoulder whispers, and I can feel the color rise up my cheeks.
Matthew notices me staring, his brow quirking up in silent amusement.
“See something you like?”
I shove him away, which only makes him chuckle harder. “You can only wish.”
“You never know.” His gaze darts to the box. “What’cha got there?”
“Why do you think it’s for you?”
That grin only grows wider, a small dimple popping in his cheek. “Because you’re here in the middle of the day?”
I arch a brow, giving him my sternest look. “A little cocky of you to assume I’m here only because of you, don’t you think, Williams? Maybe I came to report that person who was snooping around my house the other day.”
If I thought that would deter him, I have another thing coming. He leans down, his voice turning husky as he whispers, “And maybe you came to see me because you missed me.”
My heart somersaults inside my chest at his husky voice.
Before I know it, he grabs the box from my hand and opens the lid, his face lighting up when he spots the brownies.
“And you got me my favorite.” He grabs one, popping it into his mouth in one go. “Damn, those are go?—”
“Williams!” Sheriff Jenkins barks. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Matthew’s whole body turns rigid at the sound of the sheriff’s voice, any trace of amusement disappearing off his face in a blink of an eye.
It’s like a switch has flipped, and he’s completely changed, a shadow of the person he usually is.
This.
This is his reason for our scheme.
There’s a dull ache in my chest as I watch him for a second longer.
“I thought I told you to?—”
I swallow hard, forcing a smile on my face as I peek around him.
“I’m afraid that’s my fault, Sheriff.” I shoot him an apologetic smile.
The older man’s stance softens somewhat when he spots me. “Jessica, what brings you here?”
“Just stopped to bring Matthew some brownies as a thank you.”
Sheriff’s bushy brows pull together as he glances from me to Matthew and back. “A thank you?”
There is no hiding the skepticism in his tone, not that he tries to do it, and I can feel the irritation rise inside of me.
“Jessica…”
