“Son, you shouldn’t bring groupies here. I should arrest you for public indecency.”
“I’m not with a groupie.” Damn it. Now Rory’s not gonna believe that I’ve never brought a woman here before. “I’m with my wife.”
Rory’s disheveled head pops up and she waves. “Hi, sir.” She’s so fucking cute.
“Wife, meet the sheriff. Sheriff, meet the wife. Don’t tell me you didn’t hear I got hitched.” The label might want that quiet, but I’m sure the town’s been talking.
He squints at Rory. “Aren’t you the librarian?”
“Yes, sir. But I got fired.”
“Sorry to hear that.” He scratches his gray beard. “Been outta town for a while, so I didn’t hear the news.”
I smile, hoping we can avoid getting arrested. “If I promise we’ll get dressed and stay dressed, can we stay a little longer? I’ve got a picnic I need to impress the wife with, but I kinda got carried away.”
Trying not to laugh, he looks away. “Guess I could overlook this one time. As long as you’re not here with anotherwifeanytime soon.”
I hold up my hand. “Cross my heart. Hope to die.” I can genuinely promise to never bring another woman up here. I only brought Rory ’cause she’s special.
“All righty then. I’d say have a good night, but I know you are.”
When the sheriff drives away, Rory and I stare at each other a beat before we both lose it. Then she smacks my chest. “Jace, he could’ve seen us going at it like little feral rabbits.”
I laugh harder and kiss her. “I didn’t even hear his patrol car drive up. Good thing he didn’t get an eyeful of my bare ass.”
She snorts and reaches for my shirt, tugs it on and buttons it up. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”
I take her in. Her messy hair and swollen lips. Her flushed cheeks and bright eyes. “You look good in my clothes, wife.”
She bats her eyelashes at me playfully. “Careful, or I’m going to start stealing more of your shirts, husband.”
I might like that.
The next morning, I get Layla dressed and fed and wait for Rory to wake up.
Paige and Baylee sit across from me, and Baylee waggles her eyebrows at me. “So. How was your date?”
“Good.” Fucking fantastic, but that’s between me and Aurora. Not for the peanut gallery.
“That’s it? Just good?”
“Don’t you have your own house across the street? Go harass Maverick.”
Her grin widens. “Did you do the picnic?”
“Yes.”
“Did she enjoy it?”
Rory shuffles into the kitchen, wearing shorts and one of my t-shirts and looking delectable. She drapes her arms around my shoulders in a hug. “Yes, I enjoyed it.”
“Morning, babe.” Turning, I kiss her, and Frick and Frack squeal.
Layla startles on my lap, and I scowl at my sisters-in-law. “Ladies, please have some decorum. You’re frightening thechildren.” Rory takes Layla, kisses her cheek, and bounces my daughter on her hip.
Just then, Honey bounds through the front door. “How was the date?”
Baylee fist-pumps. “I’m deep in my feels over here from how well it went.”