“I saw you and Kenzie Miller run out of Whole Hog last night. What are you doing sniffing around her?”
Oh boy, would he be pissed if he knew I did far more than sniff Kenzie. I had her on her back crying out in pleasure and showing her there’s a whole world outside of Storm Canyon and I can be the one to give it to her.
I smirk. “Just making myself at home. I hear mountain folk rival the south for hospitality,” I jest.
“I know your type. You run through and cause a whole mess of trouble, and then you’re gone, leaving us to clean up after you. She’s a good kid. Don’t go fucking around and breaking her heart.”
She’s not a kid and the fact that the community still sees her as one probably pisses her off. Does me.
But I’m going to stay silent for now.
He pushes off from the door, straightens up and looms over me, his cowboy boots give him a few inches of purchase. “We take care of our own kind out here and I won’t have you disturbing our town.”
I outright laugh. “Please, don’t give me that man-with-a-heart-of-gold bullshit. Only thing you give two shits about with Kenzie is making sure you have someone to bring you lunch every day.” I’m getting riled up, something I rarely do over women. “I can see how nice a life you live, Sheriff, in your big mansion, while your “folk,” I do quotes around the word, “like Kenzie make do in trailers, dilapidated houses, and probably some sleeping in their cars. You don’t know me beyond a rap sheet… but I will tell you this. I could give Kenzie the life she deserves more than this place can.”
Sheriff Briggs’ dark gaze softens and I’m a little taken aback by the move. He eyes me up and down and retreats a few steps from my door.
“I said my peace,” is all he offers me before getting back into his patrol vehicle.
I stay in the doorway, watching the sheriff make his exit from the parking lot. My blood is pumping, a simple conversation like that should never get me this riled up.
Is it Kenzie? She tasted sweeter than a malt shop’s prize milkshake but there was something more…
The dreamy look of wanting more in her eyes, and the way her smile lit up when she leapt at opportunity.
Fuck me, I’m in seriously deep sh—
My phone goes off on my bedside and interrupts my thoughts. And it concerns me. The phone’s a fresh burner.Who the hell could be calling me?
Answering the phone, I don’t say anything right away, my already boosted heart rate picking up pace.
“Dean, don’t just breathe into the phone like a creeper.”
I breathe a sigh of relief, recognizing the gruff, two pack-a-day smoker voice of Morris anywhere.
“Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” I relax and slump onto the bed, staring up at the mysteriously stained ceiling. It made sense for Morris to have my number, I bought the burner phone off of him after all.
“I tried you yesterday but you didn’t pick up.”
“I was busy…” A smile easily slips over my face as I think of strawberry blonde hair and soft, bubblegum pink lips.
“Get un-busy. Tig wants you in on the next job.”
My smile disappears as quickly as it came. I cut Morris off as he starts in on the details. “No. I’m out, Morris. I made that pretty clear leaving town and literally disappearing,” I growl.
He’s quiet and I can hear him exhale from a puff of his cigarette. “You know that’s now how it works, Dean. Tig has to let you go, and if he hasn’t, then you’re not out.” The plastic of my phone creaks as my grip tightens on it. “You do this job and I bet Tig would consider it,” Morris adds.
“I gotta go.”
“Be seeing you,” Morris chirps as I hang up.
I slip on my jeans quickly, tossing my denim jacket on for good measure. It’s sunny out but this mountain air chills me. Grabbing my keys, I make my way out of my hotel room and run smack dab into sunshine itself.
“Kenzie!” I exclaim, grabbing her to keep her from toppling over. My arms instinctively wrap around her, pulling her in close. She smells of morning coffee and fresh strawberries.
“Dean,” she gasps, as if caught as off guard as I am. “I… I was just coming…” A blush creeps onto her round bubble cheeks.
“What are you doing around here?” I ask, a twinge of jealousy coating my words. Is she visiting someone?