Lux told me about her parents a long time ago, so I always kept an eye on her Grams. I send one of the boy scouts in town to cut her grass in the spring and summer, and I have the local builder clean her gutters out twice a year. We got some pretty bad ice a couple of times this winter, and I made sure to salt her steps before she woke up to go get the paper. They didn’t have anyone else looking out for them, and I wanted to help in some way. If I’m honest with myself—which I don’t like doing—I know I’m pretending when I say I’d do it for anyone else in town.
I push the door a little and look at the stairs that lead up to the apartment. I’ve only been up here one other time, but that was before it was sold. One last look over my shoulder and then I decide I should check on Juno just to make sure she’s safe. I know I said I’d keep my distance, but I’m also the sheriff.
The stairs are narrow, but I take them in no time and see the apartment door is wide open. “Jesus, it's like a neon sign for crime.”
Without thinking, I walk in and I’m struck silent by the image that greets me. Juno is standing there in short shorts, a hot pink bra, and a glass of wine. She looks up at me and freezes for only a second before she puts a hand on her hip and raises that damn stubborn chin of hers.
“You make it your business to walk into people’s homes now?” Her eyes narrow like she’s pissed, but I see the blush creeping up her neck.
“I do if their fucking doors are wide open. Why are you half naked for the whole damn town to see, Juno?”
“You got a warrant?” She takes a sip of her wine and raises an eyebrow.
“I could take you in right now for underage drinking and indecent exposure.”
“I dare you.”
“Put some clothes on.” I glance around the apartment for something and see a sweater on top of a cardboard box. I pick it up and toss it to her, and she just lets it fall to the ground out of spite. “Damn it, Juno.”
“I can’t decide if you like saying my name or if you can’t stop yourself.”
I take a step toward her, and she places her wine on the table next to her. She grabs the sweater and slowly lifts it over her head and makes a show of covering up.
“Happy?” she asks as she crosses her arms over her chest.
“Not in a long fucking time.” I clench my fists at my sides because she’s undoing me again. “Not since the day you walked into my life.”
She flinches, and I wish I could take the words back because they didn’t come out how I meant for them to. Since the moment I met her, she’s been driving me crazy, and I have no control. I wish I could go back to a time when I could have more than a single thought without her invading my mind. But there’s a dark part of me that whispers I’d never let that happen.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Why are you here?”
“The lights were on, and the door downstairs was unlocked. I thought maybe someone had broken in.” The lie rolls off easily, but she doesn’t believe it.
“A chicken can’t take a shit in this town without you knowing about it.”
“Watch your mouth.” It’s out before I have a chance to think about it, and she smirks with the challenge.
“It’s my fucking house,” she taunts, daring me to do something about it, and God, how I want to.
“So it is.” I tighten my jaw so hard it cracks. “You should lock your door; someone could break in.”
“When exactly was the last time Pink Springs had a breaking and entering, Sheriff Cross?”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her just last week, but we both know it’s been longer than we’ve been alive. The worst thing that happens in this town is kids getting drunk on the football field after hours and throwing up in the bleachers.
“Why don’t you get back to your patrol and we can pretend this never happened.” She dismisses me so easily it cuts down the center of my chest. When I turn around to leave, I hear her say softly, “Just like the last time.”
I close my eyes tight, and I want to go back to her, but there’s too much between us. She doesn’t want me, and what I did to her in that kitchen broke whatever shine I had for her. My chance is gone, and it’s my fault, but I don’t have to stay here and let her pour salt in the wound.
“Lock up when I leave,” I say without turning around.
4
Juno
“Looks hot, Juno,” Wes says from behind me while I stare in the mirror at my new nose ring. I’ve always wanted one but never pulled the trigger on it. “Anything else you want me to pierce for you?” I see him smirk in the reflection of the mirror, and I roll my eyes as I turn to face him.
I’d be a liar if I said I’ve never thought about having a few piercings elsewhere, but I don’t want the first time a man is all up on my tits to be when I’m getting them pierced.
“What do I owe you?” I say instead of answering him. I grab my bag off the counter and take my wallet out.
“How about a date?” This guy is relentless.
Wes is exactly the kind of guy I think most people would picture me with. He’s got tattoos all up his arms and chest, and I’m sure he’s got a few piercings hidden here and there. With his black hair and dark eyes, he really has the bad boy thing going on, but it’s not for me.
Since he moved here a few years ago to open his shop, the girls in town have been falling all over him. I’m not going to join the club of women that have been in his bed. Besides, I really like Wes as a friend. He moved back here to take care of his own grandmother, and we like a lot of the same movies and music.
“I’m not dating right now. My plate is so full I don’t have the time.” I give my normal excuse, and he smiles and shakes his head.
“Shot down again.”
“I think you’ll live. You have every woman in town falling all over you.” When he cringes, I wonder why. Most guys would be proud of the trail that follows him.
“They have this weird idea of who and what I am. It’s getting old.” That might be true, but it can’t be getting too old. I heard he went out with Kimmy a few weeks ago. You really can’t hide shit around this town.
“I feel you on that one.” I tuck my hair behind my ear and think it might be time for a change of color.
I’m looking for a fresh start, and I think getting my nose pierced is an act of rebellion. Why do I try and push Cooper’s buttons? I can’t help myself, and it’s almost pathetic at this point. I know I do these things to try and get his attention, but I need to let him go. It’s clear he’s made up his mind about us, and that’s never going to change. I know my age is part of the reason he tries to stay away from me, but I think it also has a lot to do with how I look and act. I’ll never be that beautiful blonde I saw him talking to yesterday.
“Didn’t you want to talk to me about something?” he reminds me.
“Oh yeah, I wanted to mention I’ve finally closed on the studio. I’m still coming up with ideas for classes, but if you ever have something in mind or want to do a show, I’m open for that.” Wes is an incredible artist, and a lot of people actually drive all the way out here to get their tattoos from him.