Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
The sheriff is here. I sent him a text message, letting him know the thief would be waiting for him on the front porch. I don’t want Nash to hear me being arrested, don’t want him to know until after it’s already done. This will be hard enough as it is.
Glancing one final time around the cabin, I make sure everything is in order. I pause to give kisses to Frankie and Beans. They’re the world’s best little doggies, and I’ll always love them. Just like I’ll always love my handsome mountain man.
Finally, when I’ve dawdled as long as I dare to, I square my shoulders. It’s time to face the music. I can’t start the journey of becoming a good person unless I own up to what I’ve done.
I’ve spent years running from my past, terrified that there was something wrong with me. But being with Nash has taught me that little Randy was never the problem. She was a sweet kid, worthy of all the love in the world. She was just with people who for one reason or another couldn’t give her that love.
Nash would, a little voice inside whispers. I know it’s true. If I stay here, Nash will give me all the love in the world. But I’ve messed everything up, and I have to try to fix it. I have to make things right.
With that thought, I walk out the front door to greet the sheriff. Despite my history of thieving, I’ve never been the type to be nervous around law enforcement. Maybe it’s because I’ve slipped out of charges so many times. But today for some reason, I do feel nervous.
He pulls his sunglasses off his face and nods to me. “I’m Sheriff Luke from the Courage County PD.”
“I’m Laura—Random. The thief Nash called you about.”
He squints as he looks me up and down, clearly trying to assess me. I wonder how much excitement a small town sheriff sees. There’s not much crime in this town, at least not that I’ve observed since I arrived. “Are you the one who attempted to steal watches from Nash?”
I start to nod then realize he probably needs verbal agreement. “Yes.”
His gaze travels beyond me to the front door. “Is Nash inside?”
“Could we not get him?” I ask with my heart pounding. I don’t want him to experience this, to remember me being arrested.
“Afraid not. I got to figure out what happened here,” he says.
Before I can plead with him to change his mind, the screen door opens with a bang and Nash is outside. I don’t have to turn to hear the strain in his voice, “Hey there, Luke.”
Luke seems to relax at Nash’s words, the crease between his eyebrows lifting. It’s then I realize he was worried about Nash. But I’d never hurt him. He’s the most precious person in the world to me, and I wish I’d get the chance to show him that. Instead, all we got together was a couple of stolen days.
“Just following up on your call,” he says. “You reported a citizen’s arrest.”
I cringe and turn to watch Nash. I wait for him to agree and let me go with Luke. No one has ever wanted to keep me anyway, and it’s better like this. At least then he won’t tell me to leave one day.
Nash rubs the back of his neck. “About that. I think we had a bad connection and you misunderstood me, Sheriff.”
My heart skips a beat at his words. He’s not turning me over to the police. It’s not exactly a proposal, and he won’t want to keep me. But I still have my freedom and that’s something.
Luke looks between the two of us, and I see the moment he connects the pieces. “Well, alright then, folks, have a nice day. But don’t go calling me in the middle of the night during one of your sexy little games again.”
“Course not, sheriff,” Nash agrees. “Sorry to drag you out here.”
I watch Luke leave, pretty sure he’s muttering something under his breath about roleplaying and how the men of this town are crazy.
“I’m free to go,” I murmur to myself, the knowledge finally sinking in. All of the dread and fear I’ve been carrying for the past two days melts away. I’m finally free to start over.
“The hell you are,” Nash is behind me in an instant, pulling me into his arms. “You may have come here to steal from me. But what you really stole was my heart, and I’m never letting you go.”
I let out a soft breath. My limbs feel shaky after the encounter with Luke, and I turn in Nash’s arms so I can look up at his face. I search his expression, looking for any sign that this might be a cruel trick of fate. “Do you mean that?”