God, Vanessa. I can’t wait to see her sexy face and challenging personality. I’m ready to get the fuck out of here and find Ms. Gordon and find out what she’s doing back in town again, disturbing my peace. Never have I wanted to forget my duties and chase after a woman before. I’ve been on this job for years. Since Boomer started this town, I’ve been his sheriff and I take it seriously. Hell, I’ve done my best to keep my distance from her and let her live her young life and not indulge in this connection, but she slipped up by coming home to me.
“Let’s go.” I end the call and yank him up. I toss him back in the cell after undoing his cuffs. “Get some sleep and sober up.”
Since Vanessa’s eyes met mine, I haven’t thought of anything else. Concentrating on booking Motts had been difficult, taking longer than it should have. The first thing I do manage to do is pull her records for the gun permit and she did request it the day after the date with that fuck off. The poor girl has no luck with men in her short life and now she’s stuck with a Sheriff willing to break the law to have her.
I check my watch and see it’s already four in the afternoon, three hours after she and I crossed paths. Like a fiend I crave another shot of her again especially with that lustful emotion in her eyes.
“Sheriff, there’s been another disturbance. This time it’s at the Castle Apartments.”
“Shit.” I drop everything, turn off my computer monitor and dash out of my office. I’m on my way there because Vanessa lives in the building with her aunt. The drive takes longer or though it seems even though I remember the address easily.
Chapter Three
Vanessa
Can you fall in love with someone on the worse day of your life? Can you look into your hero’s eyes and melt when you’ve nearly met your end? Well, I did. Two and a half years ago, I fell in love amid a fury of sirens, doctors, and a bunch of bikers. Sheriff Jacob Lawrence pulled me from the trunk of a car, taking me in his arms and seeing to my safety.
I’d never been boy crazy, no matter how much I teased Mackenzie about it. Until that moment, as the light flooded the darkness, I didn’t know my heart could truly pop out of my chest from the simple touch of his hand, but it did.
Unfortunately, to him, I’m nothing but another victim, another report to fill out. My grandparents moved me back in with them the second they learned of my kidnapping, so I could easily avoid seeing the Sheriff again.
I thought living in Dallas was for the best, but my poor little heart couldn’t see him, and I just allowed myself to think about him finding someone to marry like the rest of the Steele Riders. They all seemed to be falling like dominoes for the next damsel in distress, and yet I was too young to have been in his sights.
When our fates accidentally collided three months ago, my heart nearly fell out of my chest. He came to my rescue then and I tried to let it go again until I let it slip in conversation to Mackenzie last month. She told me that maybe I misconstrued the situation and I should see what would happen if we met again.
It was a bust.
I hoped that maybe he’d see me again and fall over himself, but all I did was annoy him. He snarled, threatened to throw me in jail, and then warned me off. Could my heart break just a little more?
“Hey, are you okay, Miss Gordon?” I turn to look at my escort home, Jackson Steele. He’s tall and handsome just like the rest of the Riders and a great guy from what I’ve been told. He looks genuinely concerned, brightening that tiny bit of my heart that isn’t shattered. Like all the Steele Riders, he’s pure eye candy, but I only have eyes for the Lawman. Since our paths crossed, I’ve only wanted Jacob.
“Yes, I’m fine,” I mutter, wallowing in my own self-pity while staring out the window and seeing nothing. Sure, we’re passing through the peaceful, simple, and welcoming town, but my mind is elsewhere. I couldn’t enjoy the quaint experience that Steeleville brought with it’s small storefronts and welcoming vibe of small-town living.
He lets out little laugh. “Oh no, that’s not good. My wife uses fine, and I’m in the doghouse for something.”
Despite myself, I give a little chuckle because he’s right about me not being okay. “I doubt that she stays mad at you. Besides, I mean it. I’m doing good, given the circumstances. I just don’t want to go to jail.”