He paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded. “You know what, I’d love that,” he replied.
“I’ll get dressed,” she said coyly, flashing him a playful little grin. As much as she knew she would have enjoyed lounging around naked with him, they had stuff to take care of, and she wasn’t going to be the one to hold him up.
“While you’re doing that, I’m going to call Xavier really quick and tell him we’re running to town and that I’ll fill them in on everything when we get back.” He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead, then stepped in the hall to make the call.
When she was dressed, they walked down to his truck. He looped his little finger around hers, holding on gently, like he was making sure she didn’t drift away. She could hardly keep the grin off her face. She knew the other women would have a ton of questions for her if they saw the two of them together, but honestly, right now, she was finding it hard to mind much. Maybe she wanted people to see them like this, just to make sure it was real.
He offered her a hand to help her into the truck, and she rolled down the window as they pulled away. It was another beautiful day, and the sunshine filled the cab. Sarah snuck a look at him out of the corner of her eye, and felt her chest flutter slightly again. It felt so damn good to be with him like this.
“It’s gorgeous today,” she remarked, holding her hand out of the window and swimming it through the cool air.
“It really is,” he replied, his eyes lingering on her for a second longer than necessary.
She laughed, her cheeks flushing slightly. It was like he could hardly keep his eyes on the road, the sight of her too exciting to deny. As he drove, he reached over to rest a hand on the inside of her thigh. His touch was strong and grounding, and she couldn’t stop stealing glances at his hand. It was so new, but at the same time, his presence was so familiar, as though this was where the two of them had always belonged.
For a moment, even though she knew it wasn’t going to last long, she felt as though the weight of everything that was going on around them was lifting from her mind and she could finally relax. Of course, she knew it wasn’t that easy, but she was happy, and with Lawson, and she just wanted to take a moment to enjoy it.
He pulled the truck to a halt in the town square, and he offered her a hand to help her out. He dropped a kiss on her cheek before he looked over toward the jail.
“You going to be alright?” he asked her, concerned.
“I’m just going to the store.” She laughed. “I’m going to be fine.”
“You better be,” he warned her playfully, and she kissed him again. She couldn’t get enough of him right now. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
She watched him walk toward the station, then turned and headed in the direction of the store. As she made her way across the street, her attention was drawn to the bar she and her friends had been to last night. She paused when she reached the sidewalk. Maybe she could just pop in for a minute and ask about those guys from last night? See if they were regulars or passing through. Help put her mind at ease.
Even though there was a Closed sign in the window, she knocked on the door, and a moment later, an older woman’s face appeared through the glass before she opened the door to greet her.
“Everything alright?” she asked.
“Sorry to bother you,” Sarah blurted out. “I just… I wanted to ask you about a couple of guys who were in here last night?”
“The ones who ordered those drinks for you and your friends, you mean?” she asked, nodding knowingly.
“You’ve got a good memory. Yeah, those guys,” Sarah replied. “Have you seen them around before?”
“I have,” she responded. “They pass through here on their way to work a few times a year. Not exactly the most clean-cut guys you’ll ever meet, but they’re harmless enough.”
“Right,” Sarah said, breathing a sigh of relief. “Sorry to bother you. Thanks.”
“Sure,” the woman replied, and she closed the door again and set about taking care of whatever she had been doing before Sarah had interrupted her.
Sarah closed her eyes for a moment and inhaled deeply. See? There was nothing for her to worry about—those guys had just been trying their luck, hitting up her and her friends in the hopes they might turn out to be single. She didn’t have to read anything else into it.
She hooked her bag over her shoulder and headed off toward the store, feeling a little lighter. She knew that last night had just been her fear and anxiety getting the better of her, and she was a little embarrassed about it. Even though Lawson had told her there was no problem with her playing it safe, she couldn’t help but wonder if he was secretly rolling his eyes at her behind her back.
No, he would never have done that, and she knew it. He just wasn’t that kind of guy. What you saw was what you got with him. It was one of the reasons she liked him so much.
“Sarah?”
She startled, then grinned when she saw Lawson coming toward her, then cocked her head, a little confused.
“I thought you were interviewing those guys today?”
“I was supposed to, but Sheriff Willis is out right now. I guess I should have called first,” he replied. “You need a hand with that grocery shopping?”
“Oh, I could always use a big strong man to help carry the bags.” She laughed, handing him the reusable ones she had brought with her. “Here, you take these.”
