Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 19554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 98(@200wpm)___ 78(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 98(@200wpm)___ 78(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
"Why are you doing this for me?" Suspicion and relief war in her gaze.
"Because I won’t let you spend the night in a fucking jail cell." I don't really know how to explain the whole water and love-at-first-sight situation. That's a conversation for another day.
"Thank you." She rushes over and throws her arms around my waist, giving me a big hug. Fuck. My cock grows painfully harder as I breathe in her delicate floral scent. When she steps back, I groan from the loss of her closeness. "Will I be able to get a hearing early?" she asks, a touch of concern creeping back into her voice. "I really need to organize my van this weekend if I have any hope of getting everything ready to start taking clients Monday."
"We'll get you in front of the judge as early as possible. Once that's taken care of, I'll help you get your van ready for customers. Don't worry, gorgeous, we'll be able to get it ready to go by Monday."
Chapter 4
Emily
I linger in the dimly lit corner of the Sheriff's Office, a mix of disbelief and gratitude swirling around inside me. Instead of spending the night in a cold jail cell, I've been given a reprieve. How did I get this freaking lucky? Oh well, I’m not going to complain. As I watch Ashton rummage through the storeroom, an electric vibe flows between us, and I know this is more than just a traffic stop for him, too.
Ashton finally steps out of the small closet with gray sweatpants and a matching sweatshirt. "Here," he says, handing them over. "These are from the emergency stash. Figured you could use some comfy clothes to change into."
I take the clothes, feeling the soft fabric in my hands. "Thank you." I smile. "What else do you have in there? A stash of snacks?" My stomach growls, reminding me that I haven't eaten since breakfast.
"No, the snacks are hidden inside Dillon's desk." He laughs, his deep voice sending goosebumps down my spine. "We keep basic essentials in the emergency closet. You know, toiletries, extra clothes, and cozy stuff in case we need to help someone out." He glances at me with a frown on his face. "Are you hungry?"
My rumbling stomach answers for me. "I'm starving."
"I'll order us some dinner from the diner." He pulls his phone from his pocket. "Does a cheeseburger and fries sound okay to you?"
"It sounds like heaven." Right now, I'd eat just about anything.
He finishes typing on his phone and glances up to smile. "They should be delivering it soon."
I can't help but smile even under the unusual circumstances. "You certainly know how to make a girl feel welcome in the most unconventional way," I say, hugging the warm clothing to my chest, relishing how easy it feels to be around him.
"Oh, wait…" He pulls a small toiletry kit from the closet. "Toothbrush, toothpaste, and face wash. You can use Dillon's private bathroom to freshen up for bed."
I appreciate his thoughtfulness more than I can say. "Thanks for everything," I reply, looking directly into his eyes. A flicker of something unspoken passes between us, sending a warm rush coursing through my veins.
"You're welcome." He grins and steps close. My breath pauses in my throat as he stares down into my eyes.
I'm not sure who moves first, but the next thing I know, his warm lips are moving over mine, leaving little sparks behind. I groan and snuggle closer to his muscular body. When he finally pulls back, I stare up at him while my brain circuits attempt to fire.
His phone dings, interrupting the moment, and I sit on the plaid sofa while he runs to the front door to grab our food.
Our dinner comes at the perfect time. While we eat, Ashton tells me about his relationship with the sheriff. It was easy to see they have more than a boss-employee relationship. The easy conversation helps to ease the sexual tension filling the room around us.
After we finish eating, I excuse myself to head to the bathroom. I lean against the closed door for several minutes while my heart pounds away in my chest. Once I'm sure my knees won't buckle, I drop the toiletry bag on the counter and get to work. I brush my teeth and splash cold water on my face. Looking in the mirror, I see the reflection of a woman who's had a crazy day. One moment, I was speeding down a deserted back road; now, I’m getting ready for bed in some small-town sheriff's office and enjoying the company of a surprisingly hot deputy who turns my insides to mush with one look.
When I return to the main area, I find Ashton rearranging furniture to set up a makeshift bed for me on the old plaid sofa. A plaid blanket and crisp white pillow lie invitingly atop the cushions. "Here you go. Your bed for the night. Courtesy of Sheriff Dillon's emergency supplies."