Ed nodded slowly. “Wise call.”
Okay, she was really confused.
“We best go. You ready, Mari-girl?”
“Yep.” Relief flooded her. She’d spent enough time around the sheriff. Even though he didn’t seem a bad sort. For a cop.
“All right. I’ll leave you to your picnic.” Ed gave a tight smile that seemed forced. He turned to her. “No more walking around while you’re reading, Miss Marisol. You could have hurt yourself or someone else. And you could have been in real trouble choking like that.”
“I was only choking because I crashed into you.”
“And you crashed into me because you weren’t watching where you were going.” Ed gave them both a nod before turning and walking around.
Linc spun her carefully to face him, but the gentleness of his hands was at odds with the fierce frown on his face.
“What does he mean you were choking?”
Linc checked her over again for injuries.
What was she thinking? Speeding? And hadn’t they just talked about her habit of walking around with her nose in a book? Obviously, he should have been firmer.
Easy. She only wants to be friends.
Ahh. But that wasn’t what he wanted. He admitted he was hoping to change her mind. Anyway, friends could still be protective, right? Hopefully, she’d eventually trust him with whatever was going on in her life.
He knew it was a risk, showing his cards now. But yesterday, as he’d watched Clint and Charlie declare their love for each other, all he could think of was Marisol. And he knew that was what he wanted with her.
He’d demanded honesty from her, shouldn’t he give it back?
But maybe he’d take her on the picnic first. If she was going to reject him, he’d at least like it to happen on a full stomach.
“What was he talking about, you choking?” he asked.
“He was exaggerating. Seems to be something he does a lot of.” She scowled.
“Marisol, tell me.”
“It’s really nothing. I was chewing on some bubble gum and when I crashed into the sheriff, I kind of just sucked it in. I started to choke. But I was fine. It was just gum.”
He gave her a look and she had the grace to appear somewhat guilty.
“What am I going to do with you, Mari-girl?” he murmured.
“Take me on a picnic?”
He cupped her face between his wide hands. Damn, her skin was smooth. And her cinnamon and apple scent swirled around him, tempting him. He had to fight the urge to kiss her, to see if she tasted as sweet as she smelled.
Slowly.
“I can do that. But we’re gonna be having a chat about all this.”
Her eyes widened at his stern tone. “I’m in trouble?” Her voice was smaller, the words almost childish sounding.
He swallowed heavily. God, she sounded like a Little. He wondered if she knew about age play and Daddy Doms.
He tapped her nose. “How about you tell me? Do you think it was wise to speed? It’s dangerous. It puts you at risk. It puts the other people on the road at risk. Have you had your brakes checked lately? Would they even work that well if something jumped out in front of you?”
She sighed, dropping her gaze down. “You’re right.”