by Ryan, Joya
And she was looking fine.
Fitted black skirt that hugged her hips and stopped just above the knee with an intricate design on her black stockings down to her exceedingly high red heels. Her jacket was gray, wool and fit her perfectly. Her hair tied up tight in a bun and she clutched a clipboard. Tate was in awe of how versatile and beautiful she was.
She didn’t bother talking to Gail at the front desk, instead just lifted her chin at Tate, obviously seeing him stare at her from the back of the room.
“Deputy? A word please,” she called.
The Sheriff mumbled, “If that’s not trouble, I don’t know what is, son.”
Tate wanted to laugh. He had no idea.
“Miss Blake,” Tate said, walking around the partition and out to meet her in the lobby. He didn’t miss how her gaze took in his body in a slow sweep. Did Miss Blake have a thing for uniforms? Maybe just him in uniform? He could hope. Because he was finding out that he was partial to her in a skirt.
Before he could argue with himself, that no, he didn’t hope, that he didn’t want any part of her, his cock twitched in his jeans, calling him a liar.
“You look to be on a mission today.” He smiled, hoping this would soften her obvious intent. It didn’t.
“Aren’t I always on a mission, Deputy?” she said sweetly. A little too sweetly.
“Indeed.” He looked from her sexy shoes up to her matching red lips.
She cleared her throat just a touch, and adjusted her weight, but a blush skated across her cheeks and Tate grinned. He had seen her reaction to men when they looked at her. And yeah, they looked at her alright. Blatantly. Tate tried not to be one of those guys. Because he also noticed that Mia seemed to regard them with either boredom or annoyance. But when Tate looked at her just now? She blushed. And for some reason he felt as though he just won a prize.
“I came to get some information about last year’s Santa’s Sleigh Drive.”
Tate hooked his thumbs at the front of his belt. He was about to ask why, but when he noticed Mia’s gaze snap down to his “belt,” he couldn’t help but grin a bit more. He rolled on his heels just enough to subtly thrust his hips forward. Her eyes snapped back up to his and yep, she was full blown blushing now.
“I ah…” she stuttered and looked through her papers on her clipboard.
“Got sidetracked?” he asked. “Thinking about other things? Things from a previous night, perhaps?”
He grinned and for the first time since he’d pushed Mia through her car, she was a bit speechless.
“You wanted information about last year’s event,” he said, helping the obviously flustered Miss Blake.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I was under the impression that you were last year’s coordinator.” She didn’t need to air quote that last word, the tone of her voice said it all.
“I was. The spot this year is at the courthouse and I have all documents and planning paperwork I could keep but I don’t know why that concerns you.”
“It concerns me because I am heading up the event this year.”
As if his chest was a balloon and her words were the sharp end of “eff you” he exhaled.
“You’re heading up the event?”
She nodded happily.
“Under whose authority?”
That smile got wider and damn the thing could launch ships. “Your mother’s.” Tate’s face fell but she just reached forward and adjusted his nametag. “I’ll give you a day to gather your paperwork and get it to me. I see here that the Sheriff’s Department is in charge of toys this year.” She tapped her clipboard. “I’m going to need you to build some booths.”
“How—”
She shoved a piece of paper at him. “Those are the measurements and dimensions. I need twenty.”
“Twenty?” He looked over the layout she had in mind. Simple enough but, “Do you have supplies for all of this?”
“Well, of course.” She smiled at him like he was some kind of enfilade that lacked a brain. “I went and saw Brett at the hardwood store before I came here. I told him my predicament and, can you believe it, he offered to donate all the wood and supplies to build the booths.”
When Mia bent down a little to flick a fuzzy off her stocking, Tate had a pretty good idea what that woman and her perfect ass could accomplish. And yes, he could believe it.
“So I’ll let you get to that,” she pointed at the paper Tate held. “And it looks like I’ll really be seeing you at the courthouse.”
She turned on her sexy heels and strutted that perfect ass right out of his lobby, pausing only to look over her shoulder and say,
“Looks like we’re partners.”
Chapter Six
“I think she’s ballsy,” Luke said, cutting a small branch off the apple tree.
Tate scoffed and he could see his breath in the brisk winter afternoon. There was no doubt about that.
“I just can’t believe we’re paired up for this. She walked into the department yesterday and talked to me like I worked for her,” Tate said, cutting a branch from a neighboring tree.
With the winter setting in, the apple trees only needed a bit of pruning. So when Luke asked him to help out today, Tate couldn’t really turn his friend down.
“Why haven’t you hired a foreman yet? Shouldn’t he be heading up the crew to do this?”
Luke nodded. “Just haven’t found the right guy for the job.”
Tate just kept snipping away.
“You know I think Mia on this event is a good thing. Annie said it’s kind of what she did in Seattle. She already has me donating five cases of apples and Annie is going to make pies for some kind of contest and to sell. Mia seems to be on the ball.”
Tate nodded. He’d heard something along those lines too. Of course it wasn’t a surprise that Mia made a living at throwing parties. But if there was one person to get people on board with her ideas, it was Mia. Tate knew firsthand how persuasive she could be.
“It’s going to be a long few weeks,” Tate said.
“Will it? Looking at her on a daily basis can’t be that bad, since every time she’s around you can’t seem to look anywhere else.”
Speaking of “looks” Tate shot Luke a clear “shut the fuck up” glare and went back to cutting.
“On the bright side, if she can handle most of this event stuff, you can focus on your campaign more.”
“There’s nothing to really campaign.”
“But this event is the one thing you have going that will show the town a physical reason you’re the best choice for sheriff.”
“I’m the only choice,” Tate said dryly.
“Yeah, but I’ve heard you talk. You worry about the town adjusting to you being the new Sheriff.”
That was true. He’d gotten flack, mostly from the older generation, that Tate was too young to be Sheriff, at least as good of a Sheriff as Branch. Tate wanted his town’s support.
“If you’re tied to this event and it’s a success, it will help show everyone that you care about the community, work hard and are ready to take on the position of Sheriff. All those people straddling the fence will see that you can handle taking Branch’s spot.”
Tate thought for a moment and Luke did have a point. While he’d helped in the past with Santa’s Sleigh Drive and was set to help this year, it could be the thing he needed to prove his competence to the town.
Most of the town turned out for this event and if he could make it good, really show that he genuinely cared about the community to put in extra effort, it could help get voters.
But if Santa’s Sleigh Drive was a total flop?
Then Tate would be seen in a negative light and put a bigger divide between him and the people that he was trying to convince he was Sheriff material.
“This event has to go well,” Tate said. “Because if it doesn’t, it will have the adverse effect of getting voters.”
“Couldn’t agree more,” Luke
said. “So you’ll just have to play nice with Mia.”
If only Luke knew how difficult that actually was.
“That reminds me,” Tate said. “I still need to beat you for all those damn posters you put up around town.”
“What?” Luke smiled. “Gotta nice big shot of your ugly mug in my lawn right now. That’s support!”
“Yeah, right,” Tate mumbled.
He had several trees to get done before they called it a day and all he could think about was the way Mia looked in that skirt, ready to take on anything in her path, and demand from the world.
He smiled. There was something about that woman…
~
With her scarf around her neck and coat buttoned up, Mia locked up the café, and picked up the small crate of apples Annie gave her to take home. Though it was dark and the shops on Main Street were closed, it was only a mile walk. She started her trek down the side walk.
“Good evening, ma’am.”
Mia didn’t have to look up to know who said that.
“Deputy West,” she acknowledged as he kept pace beside her in his cruiser. “You’re either a Ninja or a stalker, but is there a reason you’re following me?”
“Just out patrolling.” He leaned a little to talk to her through the rolled down passenger window. “But I like that you think I’m a Ninja.”
Apparently he missed the part where she also called him a stalker. She glanced his way. His left arm was relaxed as his wrist hung over the top of the steering wheel and his other was on the passenger seat so he could shrug a little to see and talk to her. She caught flashes of his badge from the street lights. He looked so calm and comfortable in his own skin. And that uniform...
Mia looked straight ahead again. Clutched the crate of apples tighter.
“Where’s your car this evening?” he asked.
She didn’t look at him, just kept her eyes forward. “Kyle has it. He’s staying late to run some football drills or something.”
“And you’re not concerned about walking home alone?”
She shrugged. “Kyle’s gear is heavy and he has farther to go. I don’t mind.”
She chanced a look at him and his eyes held something almost soft in them. “That’s nice of you.” The way he said it with a hint of surprise irritated her.
“I can be nice, Deputy. Don’t sound so shocked.”
He chuckled and the deep rumble made something zing to life beneath the surface of her skin. It started in her belly and spread from the tops of her knees to the tips of her breasts.
“Forgive me, Miss Blake. The encounters I’ve had the pleasure of with you have been…”
She arched a brow at him.
“Spirited.”
She couldn’t help but smile, then tried to hide it. He was charming. She liked his word choice too. A word like spirited made her feel less bitchy and more competent.
“Why don’t I give you a ride home,” he said.
She stopped and looked at the entirety of the situation. Hot Deputy she wanted to taste as much as cuss out complete with cuffs and a badge? And he was being sweet to her? Bad combo.
“No thanks, Deputy.”
“Why?”
“Because showing up at my apartment in a police car wouldn’t look good to my neighbors. People I’m trying to get to volunteer to help with Santa’s Sleigh Drive. Besides,” she eyed him, “I never know what to expect with you. Maybe you’ll ticket me for J-walking.”
He gripped the steering wheel. “You don’t know what to expect with me? I could say the same about you, Mia. But we won’t pull up with lights flashing and you’ll be in the front seat.”
The seat next to him? Where she could smell him. Feel his warmth. See all those hard muscles just beneath the uniform and remember how hard and perfect he felt against her body?
Nope. Not a good idea.
“No thank you. I enjoy walking.”
She thought she heard him mumble something like, “Stubborn woman.” Then to her surprise, parked the car against the curb and got out.
“What are you doing?” she asked when he came to walk beside her.
“I can’t let a lady walk home alone, in the dark, carrying apples.” He moved to take the crate from her and she let him.
He seemed like he legitimately was concerned about her safety. The look in a man’s eyes when he was working an angle was obvious to Mia. And no such looked marred Tate’s face.
“It’s not that far. Besides, you really think someone will come mug me for apples?”
Tate shook his head and kept pace beside her. “It’s not muggers I’m worried about. It’s squirrels. They go crazy for these.” He patted the crate.
She smiled. “Well in that case, thank you for saving me from what would be a rabid gang of squirrels.”
“Just doing my job, ma’am, serving and protecting and all.”
His charming grin made her stomach flutter and as their boots scraped the pavement, keeping stride with each other, she couldn’t help but feel a little less cold, a little less alone with Tatum next to her.
“So what are you doing with these?” Tate asked and she looked up at him.
“Kyle is having some of his football friends over after the game on Friday. I’m making my famous dessert.”
He looked at her with wide eyes. “You bake?”
“Oh god no.” She shook her head. “No, I’m a terrible cook. This dessert is three ingredients and only requires a spoon to stir.”
“Well now I’m intrigued.” He nudged her elbow with his and she held back a soft giggle.
“It’s a secret family recipe.”
“I see. Well, I’m glad I can at least assist in the carrying of one of the said ingredients.”
When the street light illuminated his face, Mia couldn’t help but stare for a moment. He looked so handsome and stoic. Like in another life he was the Sheriff of the old west. Fitting. Always on the lookout for criminals and damsels in distress. In that moment, she felt like that woman. The one that got the eye of the most respected man in town. But that wasn’t reality. Because though their history had been short, it was already less than spotless or easy.
They took a right onto Pine Street, and only a few blocks down was Mia’s apartment. On the corner there was a sign sticking out of the yard with Tatum’s face on it.
“A lot of people come into the café and all I hear about is you running for Sheriff.” She lifted her chin at the sign but Tatum didn’t look pleased. “How are you doing with that?”
He glanced down at her as if she asked some kind of right question.
“Fine.”
There was clearly more going on in his head, and she was interested. So she pushed a little.
“Running against the guy that has been your boss for years must be hard?”
“He was my mentor.”
“Oh,” she frowned. “Then that can’t be easy.”
He shook his head.
“Can I ask why you’re running against him? If he was your mentor then…”
“People aren’t always what you think they are,” Tate said quickly. “And I’m not running against him, he’s retiring.”
“Why do you seem so upset by this then?”
He looked at her almost in shock. “Upset?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Typically someone in your shoes would be excited about the job promotion.”
He shrugged. “I have always wanted to be Sheriff, but I guess I didn’t expect it to happen so soon.” There was a finality in his voice that told Mia he didn’t want to talk anymore about it.
“Yeah,” she nodded. “I know how that goes.”
Though they both kept walking, Tate scooted a little closer. “You mean when your mom died? I can’t imagine that was easy.”
Easy? Nothing about her relationship with her mother had ever been easy. Especially because Mia didn’t know for certain if she hated her or loved her. She absently ran a finger over her locket. There was no way to know now, and
it made the hollow place in her chest ache.
“It was unexpected,” Mia finally said. “It was like I was living a certain kind of life, a life I was comfortable with even though it wasn’t perfect. Then woke up with this new, intense responsibility. Suddenly I was in charge of someone else’s future and happiness.” She glanced at Tate. He was staring at her with such intensity it made her chest clench. “I can’t let Kyle down. He’s counting on me.” She laughed but nothing was funny other than her rambling. “I’m sure I’m not making any sense.”
“No,” Tate said instantly. “You’re making perfect sense.”
He looked down at her and she gave a shaky smile. She didn’t know why she just vented to Tate. Maybe because he seemed like he understood on some level. Maybe because she never talked about her mom or how things changed so suddenly and Mia never got a chance to really deal with it. Whatever the reason, she felt a little lighter.
Though she was feeling less and less steady around the Deputy. Something about him made her a little nervous and a little giddy. Like her powerful persona was chipping just a bit and she felt like…a woman.
“Did you know that several people over the years have applied to be the Community Event Planner? And my mother has never hired a single one,” Tate said and kept his eyes on hers. “There is something special about you,” he said softly. “You must have dazzled her.”
She smiled. The little bit of credit he just gave her made her chest feel full of pride and achievement.
“I’m going to do a good job on this,” she said, feeling the need to inform him of her gumption to make this event a success.
He laughed. “I know.” He looked forward once more. “I know you’re still new to all of this and I have a lot riding on this event. So if you want to hang back this year and just observe and learn, I can take care of this.”
“That’s what this is about?” she asked. “You think I can’t handle this?”
“I think that it’s new territory.”
“I think I can manage,” she said dryly. “And I’m not hanging back. I wasn’t hired for the job of Community Event Planner.” The moment she said it out loud, she felt like a fraud. She had gotten caught up in his one nice sentence and didn’t correct him earlier. But she had to now. “This is a trial position. How I do with this event will determine if I’m long term material.”