Sarah and Savannah both said. Zach watched TJ break off a conversation with Aiden Marshall. The scowl on both boys’ faces gave the sheriff a bit of a pause, and he hoped there wasn’t anything going on there. Aiden was the son of one of the partners in the local bank. He was a good-looking kid, a talented athlete, and Mr. Popular at school. He was always respectful to Zach, but something about the boy made Zach’s radar go on alert.
He didn’t seem like the sort of kid who would make friends with TJ.
But then, it didn’t exactly look like they were friends, did it?
Mandy certainly looked a little concerned. Now, there was a sweetheart. Mandy was dyslexic and as a result had struggled in school both academically and socially. But she was as nice as could be, cute as a button, a blessing to her struggling mom, and a darn good basketball player. He hoped TJ would continue to treat her with friendship and respect.
Aiden let out a laugh and gave TJ a good-natured slap on the back. TJ grinned, and Zach thought, Well, good.
TJ stepped up into the bus, pausing on the stairs to give a quick, backward glance toward Savannah. She smiled and waved. Zach resisted the urge to give a fist pump.
The bus pulled out at 10:05. “You did make arrangements for Heavenscents, right? You still have the rest of the day off?”
“No.” Disappointment washed over him like a cold rain before he noted the teasing light in her eyes. “I have the rest of today and tomorrow morning off.”
Zach grabbed her hand. “Bye, Sarah.”
Grinning impishly, Sarah waved her fingers. “Ta-ta.”
Zach cursed himself for having walked to the park rather than driven, and he all but dragged Savannah out of the park. He didn’t realize he was close to breaking into a jog when she let out a little laugh, pulled her hand from his, and said, “Whoa there, big boy. If I trip and twist my ankle, that will compromise both of our styles.”
“Sorry. I’m just a little anxious.” His gaze fell upon the creekside cabins at Angel’s Rest, and for a moment he considered checking in, but his better sense prevailed. What he needed was privacy with his woman, not to become the lead item on the Eternity Springs gossip hit parade.
“I think I’m just afraid that my radio will go off before … well, before.”
She returned to his side and slipped her arm through his. “If I weren’t a good citizen, I’d see that the battery in your radio somehow got lost.”
“Sounds great, but then I’d have to arrest you.”
“Would you use your handcuffs? I kinda miss those days.”
His jaw gaped. “Savannah Sophia Moore. Did you just make a joke about jail?”
Laughter bubbled from her. “I’m happy, Zach. This was such a great morning with TJ. Didn’t he look great? No nose ring, and he’s down to one piercing—although I’m pretty sure those others were all fake. And now I don’t have to work and I can spend some time with you. My heart is singing.”
“Give me half an hour and the rest of you will be crooning harmonies.” He took hold of her hand and brought it up, pressing a kiss against her knuckles.
The look she gave him then was downright wicked.
He made it to Reflection Point in record time. What followed once he got her into his house, into his bed, rocked his world. Somewhere between the first fast, furious coupling and the second one, which was slow and sensual, a certain knowledge whispered through his mind that he wasn’t prepared for. One that actually frightened him a little bit. It almost had him reaching for the phone to cancel today’s events.
But then Savannah put her mouth on him and sensation drove all thought from his mind. It didn’t return until it was too late. He could hear the whop whop whop of the helicopter approaching Reflection Point.
He sprang out of bed. “Quick, Peach, we need to hit the shower and get dressed. I lost track of time and Logan will be here in minutes.”
“Who will be here?” she asked, sitting up, clutching the sheet to her breast. “What’s going on?”
Zach walked into the bathroom and turned on the hot water. “I intended to ask you, but then I got distracted by … you. You’re not afraid of flying, are you?”
“Flying!”
Zach stepped into the shower and called, “Helicopter. Since our time is limited, I didn’t want to waste time traveling. Logan