Eric

by Amy J. White

  She walks up to me, thumbs looped in her belt. “Stop staring at me like you’ve never seen a woman before.”

  Yep, definitely hard now. And in big, deep trouble.

  Chapter 4

  Destiny

  Driving around, I’m surprised to find myself enjoying more of Eric’s company. After our brief encounter at the bar, I spent the entire night at my hotel room fighting the buzzing happening in my body, sending my hormones into overdrive.

  Something about this man…. The moment he got close, the smell of him made it hard to keep my body directed away from him.

  When he spoke, he was so sweet and respectful, yet I know something more carnal – a desire? – lit behind those gentle eyes.

  Stop it. Remember why you’re here? Do you really want to have your heart smashed by another good-looking guy?

  Eric drives the truck under a makeshift parking garage belonging to the most beautiful house I’ve ever seen. It’s a Colonial with towering spires instead of the typical Victorian box-like shape. A round window protrudes from its front, wrapped around by a porch leading back behind it.

  Bushes cover its white and black painted body, the front flowerbeds in full bloom with summer blossoms.

  It takes me back to my days in Alabama when my grandmother and I sat on the front porch drinking sweet tea and giggling through stories of when my dad was young.

  “This is my favorite,” Eric says.

  “It looks beautiful. Are you sure no one lives here? It’s so well kept.”

  A large smile forms on Eric’s face. He sticks out his chest, hands on hips. “Thanks. I’ve been taking care of it. Repainted it too!”

  My eyes drift over the bright white and sharp black paint. It’s so distinctive and elegant. I’m not sure what to say other than, “You painted this? It’s gorgeous.”

  Eric’s hand rubs the back of his neck while an adorable tint of blush paints his cheeks. It’s adorable enough I almost laugh, stopping myself at the last minute.

  “I want to buy it eventually. Been putting down payments on it for a while now, but I might have to sell it.” His tone is melancholy as he speaks.

  “Sell it? Why?”

  “Because the idea of buying it all revolved around my having a family to enjoy it. Sadly, I hadn’t really found anyone in town I wanted to do that with.”

  Despite my feelings towards my ex, my heart softens. Guilt at comparing two men who clearly weren’t even close in personality or attitude welled inside me. There was a time I shared the same feelings about family and wanting to settle down.

  As if on their own volition; my feet take me closer to him until we’re almost touching. “What an absolute shame to hear that. It’s a gorgeous place.”

  A thought I know I shouldn’t have strikes me. No. Don’t even think about it. Don’t even insinuate it. My mouth starts moving before I can stop it. “It’s not the same as having a family, but would you consider maybe a temporary roommate?”

  I’m an idiot. A complete and total illogically thinking idiot right now!

  I never thought it could happen, but Eric’s smile beams brighter. “Really?”

  Clearing my throat, I gesture a clipped. “Yeah, I mean, it’s a nice place. Hate to see it go into the hands of someone else when you clearly love it so much.”

  “That would be nice. Thank you.”

  Damn soft voice. Damn gorgeous hair. Damn hypnotizing eyes. Damn, damn, damn! “Sure. So, where do we go to talk about signing?”

  Eric pulls up to the real estate office, his hand dropping to his lap. By the way he’s acting something about going into this place bothers him. “This is where things involving real estate happen.”

  “You don’t seem enthused about this. If you’re not sure, we don’t have to do it.” Something inside me aches at the thought he’s having second thoughts. It shocks me to experience it since I’m hell-set on not letting myself fall for this man who so easily managed to get passed my walls.

  He shakes his head. “Nah, it’s not that. I’m overjoyed you’re willing to room with me. It’s more who we have to deal with.”

  That made more sense. We hardly knew one another enough to already start hating each other.

  “You’ll see what I mean soon enough,” Eric says, pulling his keys from the ignition and opening the door.

  I drop down the other side, my boots crunching the gravel.

  Eric walks up the cement steps to a building resembling a saloon from the frontier days, opening the glass door. “Coming?”

  On the window is printed large block letters reading:

  Buchanan Real Estate

  Finding Good Homes for Good People

  “Yeah,” I say, joining him.

  We’re met with a small room with three desks crowded in the space. A larger room is in the back also containing a desk revealed through the open door.

  From it, I hear the voice of a woman seemingly prattling on with someone over the phone.

  One woman, a petite lady looking like she could be a model sitting behind the desk smiles at Eric, glancing at me; then back at him. Her total disapproval is evident in the smug turn up of her nose into the air.

  “Eric!” The same voice from the phone caws across the room like a gaggle of geese.

  Its owner is another bouncy blonde with breasts any woman in Miami would pay thousands to have them. Her golden hair is situated in a bun at the top of her head. Eyes as blue as water stare at me much like her friend at the front desk.

  “Why Eric, I’m surprised at you. So many beautiful women here and you choose to go with the big city cop?” She ignores me, throwing her arms around Eric’s neck.

  Good grief, even in a Podunk town like this, I can’t escape these model shaped bitches. I roll my eyes, turning away.

  “Get off Brittany. I’m here to pay the rest of the payment for the Colonial. You know the one. As for her, she’s my new roommate and a nice young woman. Treat her with respect or I’ll talk with your old lady again.”

  I raise my hand to stifle a laugh. In the reflection of the window, I see the appalled look on the woman’s face as she steps back, a pouting look on her face.

  Chapter 5

  Eric

  The next few days we spend the time Destiny isn’t at work helping her get her things into the room she’s chosen to inhabit as my roommate. With each passing second, I know I’m not content with the arrangement, settling on it for now because it gives me a chance to make small talk and learn more about her.

  Her walls remain somewhat erect so I start sharing more about myself – where I went to school, how it was for me, how much of a loner I was and still am for the most part. It looks like the plan is working since she starts talking about herself too, though not as open as me.

  Surprisingly, she doesn’t have much save for a few suitcases full of clothes and couple of pieces of furniture and soon we find ourselves sitting on the front porch enjoying cold beers.

  “Did you always want to be a cop?” I ask.

  A slight breathy chuckle comes from her. “My dad was a cop as was his dad. Guess it kind of runs in the family.”

  I bite my lower lip to hold back the niggling question in my mind. Here goes. “Seeing anyone?”

  I don’t think I’ve seen eyes as wide as hers when she looks at me. Unlike the previous days, she exhibits a strange blush. It’s so damn adorable, I can’t help but snicker.

  She returns to her serious face making me regret my action almost immediately.

  Without a word, Destiny pulls herself to her feet and goes inside, her beer left on the porch.

  This is going to take more work than a damn home renovation.

  I heave out a sigh watching the sun set below the mountain range. How can I get her to open up? She’s closed tighter than a clam shell.

  Picking up my phone, I dial the number of the only woman I’ve ever been able to talk to. It rings a couple of times and Ryley answers.

  “Hey, Ry. Look, I need your help
.”

  Ryley laughs. “Let me guess, the sexy deputy not giving you what you want?”

  Okay, ow! As if that wasn’t a kick to my manhood. I scrub my hand over my neck. “Knock it off. I need some advice. Yes, I like her, but every time I try to get her to talk to me about anything personal, she clams up.”

  A few “hmms” come over the phone, followed by, “Honestly Eric, I’d let her get settled. Work seems to be the only thing she lives for. Give her time to deal with whatever she’s dealing with and be there for her when she breaks, because I’m betting she will. Maybe show her some of that charm you had when you walked Rachel down the aisle in place of her dad and sister.”

  Remembering that special day made me smile widely… It’d been an honor to help Rachel and pass her on to Chaz. “Maybe you’re right.”

  “Speaking of that, have you heard what’s been going on around here?” The last two words rose up a couple of octaves when she said them.

  I told her no, opening up the floor for her to ramble on about a string of thefts going on lately in the surrounding area. They’d gotten so close to Buchanan, some of our citizens started worrying they might be next.

  “That’s odd. Nothing like that happens here,” I say.

  “Right! Apparently, the ones responsible come from some place in Georgia. It’s a regular Bonnie and Clyde scenario. People have gotten hurt! My God, my mother just texted me and said people have gotten killed. No wonder everyone around here is a nervous wreck.”

  I can’t help but worry too. Nothing this eventful happens around here, not since those mudslides a few years ago that cost Chaz’s brother, Nick, his life, or Rachel’s sister, Sandra, drowning after attending a party.

  “Are they coming this way or is this something not immediate?”

  “Not sure. Ethan’s been watching the news. He’s pulled his rifles out of the safe and now we sleep with them nearby. God, what’s wrong with this world?”

  Good question. “Don’t worry. Ethan’s got you and the kids covered. I’m sure Lilah and Chaz are safe and you know we don’t have to worry about Casey.”

  She gives me an “I guess so” and thanks me for listening. I do the same and hang up.

  I wake a few days later to find Destiny walking back through the front door in full uniform. She had assumed the night shift at the station and been made aware of the so-called thefts going on.

  “Good morning,” I say, filling a plate for her.

  “Morning,” She says. I don’t miss the looks of her eyes over my half-naked body before sitting down at the bar where I place her food. “You didn’t have to do this.”

  I shrug a shoulder. “I know. I wanted to though. Thought it might help you a little!”

  Destiny eyes the food, and I feel her burning gaze on my back when I turn.

  After talking with Ryley, I know what to do to get my sexy cop’s attention. Pretend I don’t want her as badly as I do.

  That’s right, look all you like. Soon I’m getting that gorgeous body underneath me and those thick legs spread so I can bury my cock in you.

  “You remind me a lot of someone,” She says.

  The blunt words feel like a hammer against the back of my head at the impromptu honesty.

  I look over my shoulder to see her pushing the eggs around.

  “Someone good or someone bad!” Open up, don’t stop now, and keep talking to me.

  “A bit of both, actually.”

  I position myself to lean against the counter, arms crossed over my chest.

  Whatever I started doing, it worked and I had no intention of interrupting whatever was happening right now.

  Chapter 6

  Destiny

  What am I thinking? Am I really going to open up to this man? My eyes stare at Eric’s sculpted, naked chest. Okay, this absolutely gorgeous man I’m losing a battle against my libido for.

  Over the course of the two weeks I’d been here, Eric changed from trying to force me to open up to listening to me when I feel like talking. He doesn’t judge anything I say or condemn the decisions I’ve decided to tell him.

  Since the recent threats of a road crew responsible for robbing different places in the surrounding area, I’ve had later and later hours on the radio, staying in contact with the neighboring police stations. Coming home exhausted, I always see Eric preparing something for me to eat along with fresh coffee despite my telling him many times he doesn’t need to.

  Each time, he does the same thing; offers a crooked grin, shrugs a shoulder and tells me he knows.

  No matter what I try to tell myself, my heart thumps upon seeing that sexy dimple that comes out to play when he smiles. My fingers itch to run over the defined muscles of those shoulders, back, arms and chest.

  He’s not my ex. He’s done nothing but try to help ease me out of my shell, waiting until I was ready to tell him what I wanted.

  “Who do I remind you of?” He repeats his question.

  Well, better now than never. “Back in Miami, I fell in love with someone who ended up hurting me worse than any bullet wound. It’s not really you specifically, it’s men in general. Ever since then, I guess I –”

  “You decided to protect yourself? To choose to see all guys the same instead of being hurt again?”

  I nod. Eric’s words aren’t condemning. They aren’t judgmental. They almost sound understanding.

  I watch him turn his head to stare out of the window over the sink. “I know how you feel. I was the same. In a place like this, we all went to school together. All knew each other. No one really saw me in high school accept for one girl.”

  My eyes widen.

  “Ryley was the only one who ever said hello to me or offered me any attention. I fell hard for her. In a way I loved her even after she left. When she returned she reunited with her forever crush and they wound up getting married. It broke my heart even though Ethan is a friend, it still aches to know the woman I loved so much fell for and married another guy.”

  He doesn’t have the same story as me, but somehow I know where he plans to go with it. Eric’s experience made him feel betrayed by someone he considered a friend, even though he seems to love this Ethan like a brother.

  “Ever since then, I’ve been a bachelor. A lone wolf no one ever thought would find the one he was meant to be with.

  I dare a swallow in the lingering silence.

  We don’t have the same experiences, but somewhere inside, I feel like Eric understands exactly what I mean more than any man in my life, even my dad. Emotions rage within my body the longer I stare at this beautiful, broken man looking out the window.

  Buchanan was originally meant to be a temporary place, yet I find that I’m liking it the more time I spend here.

  Is it possible you are who I’ve been looking for? Eric Stanton, are you the one who can heal me? Is it possible we can help heal each other?

  I open my mouth to speak only to have my words cut off by the ringing of my phone.

  “Deputy Williams.”

  Eric watches me. I see him in my peripheral.

  My eyes widen at the news. “Where? Alright, I’ll be there soon.”

  “What is it?” Eric stands close enough I become aware of his towering height and heat of his body. The look in his eyes is nothing short of worry.

  “I have to go. There’s been a break in at one of the farmer’s barns. Apparently his daughter witnessed it and is scared out of her mind.”

  Eric’s shuffling tells me he wants to do something to help me.

  I smile and shake my head, shocked at the desire I suddenly have, not to leave him because of overwhelming concern for his safety.

  “I’ll be back by dinner. I know you have a few houses to renovate today and some work on Ethan’s barn.”

  I turn to leave only to have my wrist gripped in a strong hand. My eyes meet Eric’s.

  “Call me. Promise me you’ll call when you get to the office.”

  Again, my heart flutters and now I know for s
ure. There is something about this man. Something I’m willing to put aside years of hurt to let him get close to me. Why and how he did it so easily, I don’t understand.

  Truth is - I’m not sure I care.

  Farmer Bronston follows me around the barn while I survey the scene. Examining the chain and locks, I see the clear indication of bolt cutters being used.

  “I don’t understand it,” Farmer Bronston says. “There’s nothing much in here save for a few tools and crates of homemade whiskey.”

  The tools definitely seemed like something a thief might want. “They might be in need of some money. Tools are easy to hock at pawn shops.”

  Another theory involved pressure from being chased across the states by authorities. From my experience, criminals – especially inexperienced ones – often panicked when things go too hot. They make mistakes and that’s when people get hurt or worse.

  I turn to the other deputies, saying, “This means they’ve made it here. Tell everyone in town to lock their doors and windows, report suspicious activity and for Christ’s sake, don’t try to play the hero.”

  Chapter 7

  Eric

  The nail goes in easily with each hit of the hammer. My nerves are on edge with what I plan on texting Destiny and asking of her. The arrival of the ones responsible for the range of thefts going on has put the town on edge. Some of them have contacted me, asking me to install bars on their windows and bolt locks on their doors.

  It keeps me busy but nothing distracts me from pursuing the woman I want more than anything in my life. My heart thuds against my ribs, dizzying me to the point of needing to stop.

  Clouds have moved in, bringing with them a cool breeze reminiscent of a summer storm. I shimmy down the ladder to grab the bottle of water waiting on me at the bottom.