He nodded, his hand coming to her elbow as he steered her toward the edge of the festivities, toward a park that had a blocked view of the show so no one had gathered there. “Will this work?”
She nodded. “I’m sorry I ran off before,” she said in a rush. “I should have stayed and talked. It was childish of me to run away like that.”
“No, it’s okay,” he started. But she wasn’t done.
“It was childish,” she insisted. “Before, when I said that you were too good for me, that was partially why. I run. I run away. I ran away from this town when I was in high school and part of me feels like I’ve been running ever since. That was what I was thinking when I said I didn’t deserve you, but I—”
“I hide.”
She’d had a whole speech planned and had just gotten started but those two unexpected words had her stopping and staring, temporarily sidetracked. “What?”
He cleared his throat and tipped his head down, moving even closer so they were nearly touching. “You make me out to be some paragon of perfection,” he said, his lips tilting up in rueful amusement. “You keep saying things that make it sound like…like I’m so sure of who I am and what I’m doing—”
“Aren’t you?” she interrupted. She didn’t mean it like a challenge, more like…she didn’t quite believe him. He seemed to have it all figured out.
He always had.
“No,” he said with a small smile and a shake of his head. “I’m figuring things out just like everyone else.”
“Oh.” She shifted from one foot to the other, this intimacy between them both amazing and terrifying at once. She licked her lips as she thought of all the things she had to tell him, but he beat her to it.
“You might run from your problems, but you’ve helped me to see that I’ve been hiding behind responsibilities and obligations to others.” He cleared his throat. “My job and my family…they are all important to me, but it’s too easy to put my own desires on hold and say that it’s because of duty rather than admit the truth.”
“What’s the truth?” It came out as a whisper because she didn’t want to break this moment. This honesty. It was heady and intense and…she wouldn’t run from it. Not again.
“The truth is, I got burned. The one time I went after something that was just for me, I got burned.”
“Shelley,” she guessed.
He nodded. “Now I know that it was never meant to be between us.” He reached out and touched her hair before dropping his hand to his side. “Seeing you again, getting to know you…I see now that she and I would never have worked. I saw what I wanted to see in her and she did the same. It wasn’t love, just…”
“A childish crush,” Vanessa supplied, her own lips quirking up too. “Yeah, I’ve had some experience with those.”
He gave a short laugh that seemed to pierce some of this thick tension and her lungs swelled as she drew in a deep breath of air and let it out slowly. She still had to say what she’d planned to say, but he continued and she couldn’t bring herself to cut him off.
“You and everyone else seem to think I’m some…saint.” His gaze met hers and held it. “I’m not a saint, Vanessa. I’m a man. Just a man. And I have plenty of flaws.”
She wanted to argue, but held back. Who was she to tell him he was perfect? He might have flaws, but she was rapidly starting to believe that he might be the best man she knew.
“I haven’t been brave about following my dreams and my passions.” He scoffed. “Even this sheriff’s business, it was only thanks to Colton’s prodding and your confidence that I took the plunge.”
“You would have—”
“And love,” he continued as if she hadn’t spoken.
Her protests died in her throat as her heart did a little leap of excitement at his use of the L-word.
“I haven’t been brave when it comes to love,” he said simply, his eyes fixed on hers. “I didn’t allow any relationships to get too far along that I’d get hurt. I didn’t put myself out there, and maybe…” His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, his gaze never leaving hers. “Maybe that’s because I haven’t met the right woman, but I have now, and I don’t want to make the same mistakes I’ve made in the past. I don’t want to lose out on what I want because I’m too afraid of taking a risk and putting myself out there.”
His hands came to her arms and he tugged her closer. “I don’t want to lose you.”
Her eyes widened. Her lips parted. Her heart leapt into her throat. No matter what happened, she knew without a doubt this was a moment she would never forget for as long as she lived.
I don’t want to lose you.
The words were still echoing, making her chest ache with unshed tears. She didn’t want to lose this either!
He gave his head a little shake in frustration. “I don’t know what that means for us, but I know we can work it out. I don’t want to hold you back, but I can’t just let you go, so if that means that I give up this election, or we do long distance until my term is done…or maybe—”
She cut him off with a kiss. He stiffened in surprise before groaning, his lips slanting over hers to deepen the kiss.
She was tempted to give in to it, to just let her actions speak for her, but he deserved better. Regretfully, she pulled back and his gaze moved over her face like he was searching for something, his hands cupping her cheeks so she couldn’t look away.
“Vanessa, I’m trying to say that I will leave for you, if that’s what you want. This isn’t the only town that needs a deputy, and I can always come back and visit, and—”
She put a finger over his lips. “Well…this is awkward.”
His brows shot up as she took a step back. “I was waiting around to tell you that I want to stay in Cyrano.”
His brows hitched up even higher. “What?”
She nodded. “I’m staying.”
He pulled her close again and this time she let herself relax into his arms, now that she’d said what she’d needed to say. He still looked confused, and she couldn’t blame him. “You want to stay,” he said, not sounding convinced.
“For a while at least,” she said. “Until we figure out where this is going.” She patted his chest.
He blinked. “You’d really do that for me?”
She smiled. “I would. But, it would be for me, too. I don’t know much about my future right now, but I know I don’t want to spend it running, not from myself and not from…” She swallowed. He’d used the word, so she wouldn’t run from it. “I don’t want to run from love, either.”
His eyes grew unbearably warm, the depth of emotion there overwhelming and sweet. Her insides went into a tailspin and she was lost. Officially and irrevocably…she had lost her heart to this man.
“Being here has made me realize that the girl I was…she’s still a part of me. This town has good and bad memories, but they’re all a part of me. They make up who I am just as much as the choices I make today. It’s time to stop running from my memories and start embracing them. Figure out how to be the woman I want to be going forward.”
“I think you’re awfully perfect right now,” he said.
She smiled, his words making her heart clench with happiness. “Thanks. I’m pretty proud of who I am right now. Making a choice to be brave and to embrace the unknown…”
He arched his brows. “It’s scary, right?” He gestured between them. “This whole falling thing?”
Her smile grew. “I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s scared.”
“Definitely not. But this…” He tightened his hold on her, pressing her against him so they were leaning against each other. “This we can figure out together.”
She nodded, a wave of emotion making tears prick the back of her eyes and her throat feel choked, but this feeling was nothing like sadness.
It was a level of happiness she’d never before known. It was a happiness she hadn’t even known was possible.
“So,” he started. “How do we do this?”
She laughed. “I have no idea.” She toyed with the collar of his uniform. She needed to make sure that from this point forward she was never anything but honest with this man who was so brave and genuine. “I can’t promise I’ll want to stay here forever…”
He grinned. “I can’t promise that, either. Who knows who we’ll be and what we’ll want four years from now?”
She nodded, her lips tilting up as she realized he’d said four years—the length of a sheriff’s term in this county. “So, you’re still in this election, then?”
He nodded. “As long as I have my campaign manager at my side.”
She laughed. “There’s no place I’d rather be.”
18
Trent’s parents were having way too much fun with this.
“And look at this one here,” his mother said, pointing to a very happy, very chubby toddler Trent wearing nothing but chocolate on his face and a pair of Spider-Man Underoos.
“He was adorable,” Vanessa cooed.
Trent grimaced at his father, and his father just laughed in return. “This is your fault, son. Maybe if your mother had more opportunities to embarrass you in front of dates, she wouldn’t feel the need to highlight every one of your most humiliating moments to this one right here.”
His father beamed at Vanessa, but she and his mother were too focused on the photo album on her lap to pay them any mind.
Trent shook his head. He didn’t regret not bringing other women home, because it made this moment all the more special.
“Oh, would you look at the time,” his mother said, her eyes widening in alarm. “I’ve kept you too late.”
“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.” Vanessa held up the photo album with a teasing grin in his direction, the smile so genuine and filled with laughter, it took his breath away.
That was happening a lot these days. So much so, Colton was starting to mock him about having lost his cool entirely over his new girlfriend.
As if Colton was one to talk.
Between the two of them they were officially grinning fools these days. And tonight…well, tonight he couldn’t wait to see even more of those smiles.
Tonight he had a plan, but he was a little afraid it would backfire.
“Well, go on with you. I know you two have a busy social calendar what with all these campaigning events,” his father said.
Trent nodded. It was true. For the past two weeks, he’d let Vanessa have her way with him. Dressing up in a suit and tie for every schmoozefest that came along, and glad-handing every business owner on Main Street.
He didn’t mind it—it was actually nice to get to know the people he wasn’t familiar with before—and it was an excellent excuse to have Vanessa at his side every moment he wasn’t on duty.
But it was also proving to be…unnecessary.
Vanessa said as much as they walked out the door in a flurry of kisses and hugs. She wrapped her arm around his as they headed toward his car. “You know, if you wanted a break tonight, I think we could afford to skip the Elk’s Club shindig tonight.” She grinned up at him. “We all know you’ve got this in the bag.”
He dipped his head with a chuckle. He didn’t want to brag, but…it was looking like he’d win by a landslide. “All thanks to you,” he said.
She laughed. “I think you mean, all thanks to Chip.”
He gave his head a shake. “He sure isn’t doing himself any favors, is he?”
She gave a cute little snort of amusement.
He tipped his chin down again with a grin. The more comfortable she was with him, the more she acted like herself, the more he was certain of his love for her.
It was love, no matter how crazy that might be.
“He’s been digging his own hole,” she added. “And I can’t say that I mind. He’s made my job even easier than I’d expected.”
He nodded. Chip’s behavior at the festival was just the tip of the iceberg. Since then he’d been spouting off about Trent or Vanessa or anyone else who rubbed him the wrong way. He got drunk and belligerent at more than one campaign event and had managed to insult half the town.
His true colors were showing, and he was alienating any goodwill he might have once had.
“So?” Vanessa looked over at him when they were both in the car. “What do you say we cancel on the dinner?”
He shot her a smile. “Already done.”
Her brows shot up. “You canceled? Then…” She looked out the window as he drove them away from his house and hers. Away from downtown. “Where are we going?”
“I signed us up for something different instead,” he said.
Her eyes widened as they pulled up in front of the high school. “Trent…why are we at the high school?”
“Because the alumni committee is holding a summer dance for local teens tonight and they needed chaperones.”
Her gaze turned to meet his, laughter in her eyes along with confusion. “And you thought that this would look good for your campaign?”
He shook his head. “No. Chaperoning was just the only way I could get us in. Turns out, high school dances aren’t as easy to crash as country club fundraisers.”
She laughed and the way her eyes danced made him feel twenty feet tall. “And you wanted to crash a high school dance…why, exactly?”
He reached for her hand and tugged her close so he could finally kiss her like he’d been dying to do for the past two hours at his parents’ house. “We’re going to a high school dance together because I never got to take you to one when we were young—”
She opened her mouth to protest but he stopped her with a finger over her lips. “And because I know this school holds a lot of unpleasant memories for you. If you’re going to stay here in Cyrano with me for any length of time, the least I can do is help to replace your bad memories with good ones. What do you say we make some new memories, you and me, right here?”
She leaned in and kissed him again. When she pulled back her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Oh Trent, that is the sweetest thing I ever heard. But I need you to know, I’m not hung up on the past, not anymore.” She reached out and touched his cheek gently. “I’m much more interested in planning a future.” Her smile turned shy and sweet. “With you.”
Happiness exploded inside of him, making his chest ache and whole body feel like he was fully alive for the first time in his life. “Well then, Vanessa Shea, I very much hope you will go inside and enjoy this night with me, because when it’s done…I have a very important question to ask.”
He didn’t add that he even had the ring and flowers and a bottle of champagne waiting, as well. This night would be one they would remember forever and he didn’t plan on rushing a single minute.
Her eyes widened with surprise as his words registered, but before she could speak or ask any questions, he kissed her.
Epilogue
One Week Later…
The Java Lava had never seen so much celebrating.
Gina smiled at the sound of Trent’s laughter as she helped the caterers bring out the cake. Vanessa had booked the place out weeks ago for a victory party—that was how confident she’d been that Trent would win.
She’d been right, of course.
But tonight they weren’t just celebrating his campaign victory, they were celebrating their engagement as well.
“To the happy couple!” Colton shouted and raised a glass, prompting the coffee shop full of revelers to do the same.
Gina finished what she was doing to pick up a glass of her own, ridiculous tears stinging her eyes at the scene before her. Her brother had never been happier than he was since he’d met Addison. And Trent…well, she didn’t know anyone who deserved love and happiness as much as the new sheriff.
He’d spent so many years taking care of everyone else, and now he’d finally found someone who was his equal and his better half.
Vanessa was grinning up at him now as they toasted to each other before sealing it with a kis
s that had everyone cheering.
Gina sniffled a bit but the sound was thankfully drowned out by cheering and laughter as the new couple kissed and grinned and basically made no secret about how happy they were now that they’d chosen each other over all else.
Neither of them tried to deny the fact that there would be issues ahead—careers to manage and old demons to face. But they’d decided to face all those obstacles together.
And that was…
She sniffled again.
That was really just…so sweet.
She turned away and started sorting the utensils so no one would notice the tears that were starting to well up in her eyes. She was so happy for everyone. She really was.
She just wished that she wasn’t such a disaster when it came to love.
Out of habit, she reached for her phone to make sure it wasn’t on silent.
It wasn’t.
Of course it wasn’t. She’d checked eight times already today, and that was just since the party had started. Her phone was on, it was working, she had reception…
It was just her boyfriend who hadn’t called. Or responded to her last few texts.
“Gina, come join us,” Colton called out.
“We need you in the pictures,” Vanessa added.
She forced a smile before she turned around. There was no way she’d let her own less-than-jubilant love life burden her friends. Not on their big day. “Be right there!”
Billy was busy, that was all. He had a lot of businesses to oversee and it was selfish of her to expect him to be doting on her at all times. Hadn’t he all but said as much last time he’d come to visit?
Still…
She couldn’t stop this nagging sensation that something wasn’t right.
She turned around and was just about to join her friends when an alert from her phone made her jump. Billy!
Billy: Sorry I’ve been MIA, babe. Work’s been crazy.
Gina grinned like a fool. Of course that was it. She’d known that was it.
Gina: No worries! I miss you, that’s all.
She waited for what felt like an eternity, ignoring the shouts from her friends who had already started digging into the cake.
Fake Dating the Hometown Deputy: A Sweet Standalone Romance (Fake Dates Book 2) Page 13