Yep. Super. Weird.
“Enjoying that?”
“Oh yes. God. I never knew that would feel so good . . . “
He froze and she groaned. Please don’t stop. Thankfully, he started up again immediately. “No one has ever massaged your feet?”
“Nooo.”
“You’ve never had a pedicure before?”
She opened her eyes, staring over at him. “Is that strange?”
“What? No. I just thought all women did that shit. Kiesha talks about them like they’re the necessity of life and without them she’d die a sad, lonely death. She actually told me that once when she was begging for a longer lunch break to go get one.”
She giggled. Whoa. What was that? She slammed her hand over her mouth.
His eyes twinkled as he stared down at her. “You’re cute when you do that.”
“What? Make weird giggling noises?”
“They’re not weird. And yeah, the giggling was cute. So is the way you slam your hand over your mouth when you think you’ve said something you shouldn’t. Now, let’s get you settled.”
“I’m settled,” she said, confused.
“You’re still stiff and looking at the door like you’re contemplating running.”
Shoot. She hadn’t even realized.
“Sorry.”
“I know this is a bit overwhelming, especially when you’re out of the hospital and probably feeling a bit weak.”
More than a bit.
“B
ut you don’t have to worry so much, okay? Give me some of your worries. I have big shoulders.”
“You seem to have enough on your plate. You’re the sheriff. Shouldn’t you be at work right now?”
He shrugged. “Took a few days off. Got a lot of vacation time owing. And the town isn’t going to go to rack and ruin if I’m not around for a bit.”
“You sure about that?”
“Don’t worry, my deputies have me on speed dial. Along with most of the town. If something goes down, I’ll know about it.”
“I don’t want to put you out or anything. Or make you use vacation time for me—”
He reached over and placed that big hand over her mouth. She froze in shock. “Hush. You’re not making me do anything. I want to be here with you.” He removed his hand and gave her a stern look. “Understood?”
She licked her lips and nodded. “I didn’t expect you to turn up at the hospital. Well, I didn’t expect anyone to. But especially you, after I . . . “
“Sent me packing?”
“Yeah.”
He nodded. “I’ve been hurt in the past, wanting someone who didn’t want me back. I told myself I wouldn’t do that again.”