“Hey, Sheriff, I was wondering if you ran into anyone last night by the name of Damon Durcett?” Jackie asked. Word traveled fast in his town, but usually not for newcomers or people passing through.
“Yeah, I was running his paperwork now.”
“Oh, great,” she said with an overenthusiastic smile. “One of his family members reached out to see if we knew his whereabouts. He didn’t arrive home this morning.”
“Well, you can let them know that he wasn’t arrested, so his location is unknown.”
“Oh, okay,” she replied, sounding a bit frustrated.
“Something wrong, Jackie?”
“No, no. I just hate when we have to play the middle man, you know?”
“I agree. Have there been any other calls today?”
“No, sir. Though, I didn’t want to mention anything, but I figured you ought to know. The Lady Busy Bees are concerned that you’re wearing yourself thin.”
He knew Jackie wasn’t a member of the elusive gossip group of Carson compiled with the older generation of local women, though he supposed maybe she was trying to vie for a spot. But he wasn’t sure why they had been keeping tabs on him, unless it was to make sure he stayed away from their coveted girls. Add that to the reasons he should stay away from Shelly. She was automatically grouped in that category as a friend of the Connelly sisters.
“Well, tell them I send thanks for their concern. I was hoping to send a budget increase to the mayor requesting more help. Actually, the paperwork is complete if you could fax it over to his office. It’s there on the top of that stack,” he gestured, then returned his attention to the computer with a man that didn’t seem to fit the description listed.
Preston didn’t listen for Jackie to leave, simply assumed that she completed the task he requested, so when he heard a subtle cough a few moments later, he jumped in alarm in his chair.
Looking around the monitor, Preston was surprised to see a smiling Shelly and Abel with an annoyed Jackie.
“Sorry, sir. I told them you were busy.”
“No, it’s fine,” he told his assistant as he stood from his chair and moved around the desk. In the corner, Ace finally woke from his nap and scurried over to his new best friend. “Thanks for showing them back, Jackie. You can take your lunch now if you’d like.”
“Yes, sir. Can I get you anything?”
“Actually,” Shelly chimed in. “We were hoping you’d join us.”
“Sure, that sounds nice.” He watched as Jackie turned and left the office, stopping in the break room along the way back to her desk.
Preston leaned against the door jamb when they were alone and asked Shelly, “Is that what really brought you by?”
“I’ve had my fill of peanut butter and jelly this week. I figured it was time to venture out to town now that I have the cabin all set up. Plus, Abel has been begging to see you.”
“Really?” he asked, glancing down at the boy playing on the floor with the dog.
“Yeah, and I wanted to stop by the fabric store.”
“Alright, well, if you don’t mind hanging around for thirty minutes or so for Jackie to get back, I can join you.”
Quietly he showed her to a set of chairs against his office wall, and he could see he surprised Shelly as he took the seat next to her. The man he was researching would be there when he returned from lunch, but he’d only have Shelly alone for a short time.
As they sat quietly for a few minutes, he broke the silence and asked if they had any trouble getting everything moved into the cabin. When Shelly had signed the rental agreement, she had explained that she hired movers out of Asheville to move the items from Cassidy’s garage.
He missed what she was saying as she gestured wildly with a smile. Preston was drawn to her wide smile and excited eyes, finding himself leaning closer to her with each word spoken. She hypnotized him.
“Preston, are you alright?” she asked and he realized that he must have been staring at her.
“Yes, sorry. I was thinking about someone that I pulled over yesterday. But don’t worry about it.”
From outside the office, he heard the alarm of the door ping as someone walked through. Alexis called out that she was in for the afternoon, which allowed Preston to leave with Shelly.
They stood in unison, which caused them both to laugh, something he realized he didn’t do often enough. It sounded rusty even to his own ears. Abel asked if they could bring the puppy, but Preston suggested leaving him with Alexis to keep her company and the boy nodded his approval, rushing out to the front area with Ace following closely.
Turning slightly toward Shelly, he realized how close they were in the tight confined space of his office.
“Ready?” he managed to ask in a hoarse, gravelly voice, unable to pry his eyes from Shelly’s.
With the way she licked her lips, drawing his attention to the plump flesh, Preston realized that she was as entranced as him.
“For what?” she questioned.
Unable to refrain himself any longer, his attraction for her bursting at the seams, Preston reached out and cupped her face with his left hand, his right hand grasping her waist. With a gentle tug, he pulled her toward him, and her body moved without hesitation.
“For this,” he said just before his lips captured hers.
***
Shelly must be living a dream. Preston, the man she had dreamt of the last three nights, the man that seemed to have her body under his spell, the man that was a cop, was kissing her. Not just kissing her, he was rearranging everything she thought she knew about seduction. His mouth was an undiscovered tool that only he could wield to perfection. And when she gasped for air at the surprise from the feeling of his lips pressed against hers, he unleashed an instrument that almost brought her to her knees. His tongue brushed up against hers and Shelly felt her body grow limp in his arms. She had never felt so fully possessed by a kiss before, never felt so lost into herself to where she could feel every nerve ending firing. It was both exciting and terrifying.
“Wow!” a childish scream of elation sounded through the building. Preston pulled his lips away from hers, but their bodies were still pressed firmly against each other.
“Wow is right, kid,” he said in awe, lustful eyes gazing down into hers as if seeing her for the first time.
Her moment of desire was quickly squashed by the sound of her child, which caused fear to rise at a rapid pace.
“Preston,” she warned as she took a step back, his hands dropping from her body and face. “That shouldn’t have happened.”
“What do you mean?” he asked, the square jaw ticking as he cocked his head. “From what I could tell, you seemed to enjoy it as much as I had.”
“I did, but. . .what I mean is. . .we can’t do this.” Shelly’s hands moved back and forth between their two bodies. “I don’t need a complication in my life. I have my son to think about.”
“And I would be that. A complication,” he stated matter-of-factly.
“No, what I mean is. . .” she tried to backpedal, but could tell that she was failing miserably.
“It’s okay, Shelly. It was just an innocent kiss. I’m sorry I instigated it. It won’t happen again.”