Stud Muffin (Donner Bakery #2) - Jiffy Kate Page 0,113
says, popping his head out when he hears us talking. “Step inside, please.”
Giving Cole one last dirty look, I walk past him and into Sheriff James’s office and the wind is knocked from my sails.
Cage is perched on the edge of the desk with the cockiest smirk I’ve seen in a while… at least two weeks.
And it’s the best damn sight in the world.
Chapter 32
Cage
“What…” She pauses, her big green eyes growing in confusion. “What are you doing here?”
I laugh, looking over at Sheriff James and Cole, who are standing by the door to the office. “Oh, you know… I was burning up the pavement, trying to get back to Green Valley in a hurry,” I tell her, a smile pulling at my lips. “Might’ve forgotten to slow it down a little on my way into town.”
“Oh,” she says, her perfect lips pursing. “So… am I here to get you out of jail?”
Sheriff James laughs. “We’ll leave you two to it… fifteen minutes, tops. I’m going to need my office back for official business.” He turns to walk out, but then stops. “And no… funny business.”
“Thank you, Sheriff.”
“Am I not in trouble?” she asks as she watches them leave and then turns her attention back to me. “I’m confused.”
Shrugging, I push off the desk and walk toward her. “Cole is the one who pulled me over. He was kind of giving me the pat down over leaving town… you know how those small town cops can be.”
She smiles, shaking her head. “Total pricks sometimes.”
“Yeah, well, I thought it was better to tell him that I was coming back for good… for you… so he didn’t find a reason to arrest me. He’s a little protective of you,” I tell her, thinking back to how the big guy went from being an asshole cop to a squishy teddy bear when he realized my intentions, where Tempest is concerned, are honest and good. “I like him.”
“He’s good people.” She smiles, her eyes sweeping over me, drinking me in. “Except when he arrests me,” she adds. “Mind telling me how I ended up here?”
“We thought it’d be fun… apparently it’s a slow night for the GVPD, so he made a call to Sheriff James and then the rest just happened,” I admit. “We were going to cuff you and the whole nine yards, but Cole said he’d rather keep his balls intact. Apparently, Anna is already wanting another baby.”
She laughs, biting down on her lip. “So you came back…”
“Yeah,” I tell her, closing the distance between us. “See, there’s this girl… and she drives me crazy…” Lowering my head until our foreheads are pressed together, I inhale deeply, getting my first good breath in weeks. Ever since I followed her home and turned around and left, I’ve felt like there’s been an elephant on my chest. But being here, touching her, I already feel lighter.
“Sounds like too much trouble,” she whispers, leaning into me. “You sure you want that kind of trouble in your life?”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” I tell her. “I’m also pretty crazy about her.”
“That’s good because she’s crazy about you too.” Wrapping her arms around me, she squeezes. “She’s really glad you came back… and in case you need to hear it again, she’s sorry.”
“She’s forgiven,” I say, kissing the top of her head and hugging her to me.
Sighing, she laughs lightly. “Damn, I could kick your ass for this.”
“Cole said you’d say that.”
Leaning back, she tilts her face up to look me in the eye. “I can think of a way you can make it up to me.”
“Oh,” I laugh. “So, I’m now indebted to you? I thought you were the one with some groveling to do.”
“You want me to grovel?” she asks. “Like on my knees?”
Grabbing her hand, I pull her to the door. “Where are we going?” she asks, a breathless laugh escaping. “I thought you wanted me to grovel?”
“We’re going to need longer than fifteen minutes.”
She stops, yanking my arm back until my chest is flush with hers. “How long?” she asks, her expression turning serious. “I need to know… how long are you here for? Because, as much as I want to be with you, I can’t give you my heart if you’re just going to leave me down the road.”
“As long as you’ll have me,” I tell her. “I sold my house in Dallas… well, it’s on the market. Drove my car back. I’m here to stay.”