Page 80 of Summer Heat
“It’s on the house,” she said firmly. Then her expression turned hopeful. “It’s the least I can do for our new deputy.”
He coughed and looked around, hoping no one had heard. Not only was Mr. Winterman in hearing range, but he didn’t look the least surprised. It appeared news travelled fast—even when it couldn’t be called news yet.
He’d gotten the job offer from Joe Peterson, the town’s sheriff. He liked Joe. Straight talker, hard worker. Dedicated to his town. But how could he put down roots here, hundreds of miles away from where Lia lived and worked and loved to be? The job had seemed like a boon, the glimpse of a lighthouse in a storm. But Lia was his anchor. She always had been.
“I’ll think about it. By the way, you know anyone who needs firewood? I’ve got extra in my truck.”
She beamed. “See? Already looking out for us. I’m sure I can find some families who could use it. Leave it on the side of the diner.”
He picked up the bag and little cardboard cupholder with two coffees. “Will do. And thanks for breakfast.”
“Sure thing. Oh and Ethan?”
“Yeah?”
She winked. “Enjoy.”
Why did he get the impression she wasn’t just talking about blueberries? God, he hoped there was actually food in here. He was starving, and more importantly, he had no desire to feed Lia beef jerky from his pantry for breakfast.
Though feeding her anything at all would be pretty sexy. Even jerky. But especially blueberry pie. He remembered the twinkle in Natalie’s eye and realized the town of Dearling may be hardcore in more than just their work ethic.
He wanted to show Lia the town. Hell, he wanted to show Lia off, in the town. To tell them she was his, that she was staying. But first he’d have to apologize to her for being an idiot last night… and all the years before. She may have stayed with Chris all that time, but Ethan had never given her a reason not to.
* * *
Lia woke up with a hard knot in her stomach—a combination of dread and relief. Last night had been awkward and frustrating, and strangely enough, seriously arousing. An unlikely combination. Or maybe not so unlikely considering Ethan was involved. That was him rolled into one scruffy, scowling, sexy as hell package.
A warm body heaved a sigh against her back, blowing damp air across her neck. A paw pressed hard against her spine, likely leaving a bruise. And making her smile too. That was another reason she needed to leave.
It would be way too easy to get comfortable around here, even when it was clear she wasn’t really welcome.
Oreo snorted, and a spray of dog snot hit her cheek.
“Lovely.” She sat up on her elbows and squinted into the bright cabin. No sign of Ethan.
His truck was missing from the gravel driveway. Where had he gone?
Didn’t matter. Maybe it was for the best. This way she could squint into the crystalline morning with no one to see her bedhead. She could run barefoot over the crunchy grass to grab her cosmetics bag. Her cosmetic bag, which was inside the overnight bag—she rolled her eyes at her own optimism.
She’d wanted to spend the night… with Ethan. Not lying on Ethan’s bed, awake, knowing he was lying awake on the lumpy futon not eight feet away.
And maybe it was for the best that she could drive away from the tiny, rustic cabin without having to say goodbye. Now she understood why Ethan had bolted that night. The prospect of a morning after made her stomach turn over.
“Don’t look at me like that,” she told Oreo’s mournful stare. He seemed to know what her hurried wash up in the bathroom meant. It was like the walk of shame. Only, her shame wasn’t because of the sex. They hadn’t had sex, but the scorching kiss and over-too-fast full body contact had been nothing short of blissful.
Her shame came from what happened after. The painful knowledge in his eyes that he’d been second best, like some kind of secret. It had felt like she was cheating all over again, even though she was firmly single now. It was too soon for Ethan. Too soon for her.
She couldn’t settle in with a new guy. Couldn’t be the sidekick all over again. Even if Ethan didn’t see her that way, it’s all she would be. It was all she could be, until she’d built a life for herself, without the crutch of Chris or Ethan to lean on.
She searched for a pen and paper to leave a note. Sorry I tried to have sex with you against your better judgment. Going back to Austin so I can feel like crap. Oh, and by the way, I’ll probably masturbate to the memory of your tongue in my mouth and your hands on my hips.
Or maybe she’d write something less humiliating but far more painful. I’m sorry. Goodbye.
Have a nice life.
It hurt so damn much to leave him like this. What if she never saw him again? Or what if she did see him again but he refused to speak to her? It came as a relief then, when she finally did find a pen and paper. Because Ethan had already used them to scrawl a note for her.
Getting breakfast. – E
