Suddenly Preston felt like a child about to be reprimanded. He knew the cabin wasn’t going to come up to snuff for a woman that had recently traveled the world.
“I. . .er. . .if it’s not right for you, I can call Cassidy and her brother Austin could probably help you find someplace to rent. If I remember correctly her younger brother Jameson bought a bunch of houses in a rundown neighborhood to flip them.” He was rambling. He always rambled when he got nervous and Shelly made him tenser than he had ever been around a woman.
“Preston.” She interrupted his internal musing by placing her small hand on his exposed arm. “It’s beautiful. Honestly, it’s way better than anything I could have imagined. Are you sure you want to rent this? You could get a good a lot more if you sold it.”
“Yeah, but then I’d have to share the land or sell a parcel of it. And I don’t know if you’re aware, but there aren’t a lot of people that want to live on the sheriff’s property.”
“Which is strange because I would think a lot of people would think that would be a bonus.”
“What about you?” He asked curiously.
“What about me?”
“Is it a bonus for you?” He hadn’t flirted with a woman in a long time. Usually, it wasn’t necessary to get his needs fulfilled, and with the way Shelly’s cheeks turned the faintest shade of rouge, Preston figured he hadn’t forgotten how.
“I. . .um. . .” she started, then paused to lick her lips. Preston’s pants tightened around his hips as he watched her soft pink tongue brush against the soft flesh. He wanted to feel that tongue slide against his own. “I haven’t decided yet.”
“Want to change that?” his voice sounded deep and husky to his own ears, and he wondered if she caught the double meaning.
“What?”
“I mean, do you want to see the inside and decide if it’s worth it to live on the sheriff’s property.”
“Oh! Yeah, lead the way.”
He took a step forward and walked up the small porch before opening the front door for her. What he really wanted to do was lead her back to his house and show her all the ways he was very good at changing her mind.”
Standing to the side as she entered, he tried to hide his smile as she gasped in surprise, but he failed miserably.
“Seriously?” she questioned, spinning on her heels to look at him. “Everything in here is exactly what I would have chosen. Everything.”
“So, you like it?” he asked.
“Love it! Preston, it’s amazing. How did you do all of this?” Shelly began to walk around the open living room and kitchen before her gaze landed on the large yard on the other side of her cabin, complete with a fire pit and gazebo.
“I confess I didn’t do it all. I painted and made sure all electrical, plumbing, and HVAC were up to date, but Cassidy orchestrated an ambush on me this weekend. So, the furnishings were chosen by Sydney and Nikki.”
“Ah, that explains it,” she replied with a knowing look, one he was sure her son received far too often. “Sydney gave me the weirdest look this morning, like she knew a secret. Makes sense now.”
“Do you have any questions or see anything you want to be changed? I still have the receipts.”
“My only question so far is which way to the bedrooms.” Preston joined in her chuckle as he pointed down the hallway where they came to Abel’s room first.
He had asked the women to keep any themes to a minimum. He remembered how quickly he grew out of superheroes and race cars. What they had decided on was a room filled with navy blue and lime green accents. The entire far wall was filled with floating shelves so that Abel could fill them with whatever he wanted.
“Hey, is this my room?” The young boy scurried into the room, holding the dog in his arms.
“Sure is.”
“It’s awesome! What do you think, Ace?” he asked as he stared down at the puppy.
“Ace?” Preston inquired.
“Yeah, I hadn’t heard you call him a name yet, and while we were walking, we decided on the name Ace.” The boy spoke as he looked down at the dog, he had bestowed a name upon, but then stopped and glanced up at Preston with wide eyes filled with worry. “Is that okay?”
“Oh, yeah, sure. Ace is a great name for him. Thanks for helping me pick it,” Preston said without missing a beat, reaching out to rub the top of Ace’s head. “Ready to see the master?”
“Abel, keep the dog in your room, please. Preferably in your arms so he doesn’t get dirt and hair everywhere, okay?”
Preston wanted to chime in that it wasn’t a big deal, but Abel agreed without even the slightest hint of a temper tantrum.
Preston guided Shelly from the smaller bedroom, pointing at the one full bath across the way that they would share, before leading her to the door at the end of the hall.
“Now remember, the Connelly girls chose everything in this room. My only input was the paint color. So, if you hate it, you’ll have to take it up with them.”
She giggled at his comment as she pushed past him into the room and Preston vowed that he would do his best to make her smile and laugh whenever he could. Just as he went to follow her inside the room, the phone in his pocket vibrated. Glancing at the number on the screen, he knew he’d have to take the call and told Shelly he’d be just outside taking a work call.
As much as he hated the interruption, it served as a hardy reminder that he needed to keep his distance from Shelly. His job required him twenty-four-seven and that left no time for a relationship. It didn’t help that his assistant knew his whereabouts at all times.
“Hey, Jackie. What we got?”
***
Shelly was glad that Preston had stepped away from the room. Her body was wound so tight she was afraid she’d spring loose like a jack in the box. Leaning her hip against the queen-sized bed, Shelly pressed her hand to her chest. Her heart was pounding and she felt like she had run a marathon.
It took a few deep and steady breaths, but finally, Shelly found herself relaxing. Well, as relaxed as much as she could in a room that smelled like fresh paint and Preston. His scent was everywhere and she wasn’t sure if she wanted to bask in it or run.
“Mom,” Abel shouted as he came dashing into her room with the puppy tucked safely in his arms. “Look what Ace can do!”
Without placing the dog on the floor, Abel asked the cute beagle to give him his paw, to which he complied dutifully.
“That’s great, Abel.”
“I taught him that like two seconds ago. He’s super smart. Do you think Sheriff Savage would let me watch him sometimes? That way I get practice for my own.”
“Um. . .sure. We can ask him later though. I’m sure he has a lot going on. You know, as Sheriff, he pretty much keeps the entire town safe. Isn’t that neat?” she pried, enjoying how Abel’s eyes widened in awe.
“Really? So, he’s like the town superhero.”
“That’s one way to look at it.”
“Wow,” Abel said with a dazed look in his eyes, until the puppy licked his cheek, causing them both to laugh. “I’m going to take Ace back outside. I love my room!”
“Alright, just be careful,” Shelly reminded her precocious son. It’s not that Abel was in trouble frequently, but he had a knack for getting into things he shouldn’t be. She supposed that was like many children.