Chapter Four
Ranger
It’s seven in the morning when I finally get back to the farmhouse. I’d have loved to stay here last night and help settle Aspyn in, but being a small-town sheriff like this leaves little room for personal matters. I need to work on expanding my team.
The porch light is on, and the front door is still unlocked when I twist the nob. Out here, we don’t have much crime, so I don’t think much of it, but it’s not like Jake to miss locking up. I’ve known the guy since grade school. He’s the one who triple checked his locker before walking away. Hell, I think the dude locks up his fishing gear before he takes a nap by the lake. He wouldn’t leave the front door unlocked unless something else was on his mind, something big.
The second I step into the house, I see the something big.
A camo shirt, a pair of jeans, and one pair of black boxer shorts. There’s no need to use my detective skills. Jake went out of his way to help Aspyn settle in last night, and for some reason, I’m raging fucking pissed about it.
My heart hammers against my chest and blood boils up into my temples, forcing a headache I don’t fucking need. I have about five hours to sleep before we have a delivery coming and I need to be up to help Jake.
Lord, I’m too fucking old for this shit.
I toss my keys onto the counter, pull open the fridge, and bend into the light, searching for something to drink or eat that’ll take me out of my feels and toward sleeping, but the front door creaking open catches my attention.
“What the fuck?” I groan and watch as Aspyn tries sliding out the front door with Jake’s t-shirt still in place. Her long dark hair is a wild mess and her nipples bead hard beneath the fabric .
Lord, I could use that help any moment now.
Visions of her back in the day prancing down the stairs in her nightgown for a glass of water take over my thoughts. I hated those weekends. It’s the reason I stopped hanging out at Ryan’s place. I’d spend two days with a fucking hard-on and blue balls, lusting over his twenty-year-old little sister like a depraved asshole.
Aspyn twists back toward me and her face wrinkles up with regret, though I get the feeling the regret isn’t that she’s leaving, but rather that she’s been caught. “You keep your dogs outside all night long?”
Why do I feel like this isn’t the conversation we should be having?
“Yeah, they’re bird dogs. I don’t coddle them.”
She blinks quickly, narrows her brows, and I feel a lecture coming. “What? It was freezing last night. They should be in the house.”
“The kennels are temperature controlled.”
“Kennels?” Her hands land on her hips. “Come on. We should bring them in.”
“What? No. I just told you… they’re birding dogs. I bring them in the house, and they get soft. Right now, however, we aren’t talking about the dogs. We’re talking about why you’re sneaking out.”
“I’m not sneaking out. I heard dogs barking outside and I was going to see what was going on.”
I dart my gaze down to the garbage bag of clothes at her side. “With your clothes in hand?”
“I just figured I’d pack my car for later while I was out there.” She releases the bag from her hand and closes the front door. “Someone is grumpy this morning.”
“You know you need those brakes checked, right? I can jack it up tonight and replace them for you before you go.”
“No, you’re too busy. Besides, I’m super low on cash. I couldn’t pay for the brakes.”
I shrug. “So, don’t. Let me help you. Also, how are you low on cash? I assumed your parents would’ve left you a decent amount in their will.”
Her face goes pale, and I regret talking. I’m not good at emotional stuff. Never have been, never will be.
“Sorry. You don’t have to answer that. I know you’re—”
“It’s okay.” She sets the bag down on the floor and pulls out a chair at the island. “You’re okay. I, ugh… yeah. How are you? How are things?”
She’s avoiding my question, and I don’t blame her. I was out of line. My God, I suck at this shit.
“Good.” I pour her a cup of coffee. “Well, that’s a lie. I thought police work in Alaska was as bad as it could be, but it turns out this is worse.”
“Even with the promotion?”
“Yeah.” I let out a sarcastic laugh under my breath. “The promotion was the whole police station. I’m currently the sole owner of every problem and crime in Maple Grove. I need to hire someone, but no one wants to work out here.”
“What about Jake? He used to want that kind of job, and he’s got military experience.”
“Ah, he just got home. He needs time to decompress before he knows what he really wants. Whoever I bring in, I want them to stay. The training and shit is a pain in the ass.” I lean up from the kitchen counter. “What about you? You want to come work for a small-town police station? We have twelve hundred people for you to crochet hats for.” I crack a smile thinking back to the god-awful caps she used to gift to people at Christmas.
She smiles. “Hey! You loved my hats, sir. So, if that’s some smart-assery thing you’re saying, you can take it right back.”
“You’re right. I did love your hats. They were very… breathable.”
“I was learning!” she laughs. “You should see my hats now. I should probably have my own crochet shop. I make little animals, too.”
“Do they have holes in them as well?” I glare at her playfully. The truth is, I still have every hat she ever made me, and I still wear them.
“Funny.” She smirks. “I’m glad you haven’t changed.”
“Hey,” Jake’s voice cracks in from the hallway, “what’s going on?” He wears boxers and a downturned gaze that’s set on Aspyn.
My gut pulls at me from the inside as my temperature rises.
“Nothing,” Aspyn says sweetly. “I heard the dogs outside, and I was going to check it out.”
Jake laughs. “Oh yeah? Those are Ranger’s birding dogs, Russ and Rosie. They sleep outside.”
“So I hear.” Aspyn darts a sharp look toward me.
“She wasn’t going to look at the dogs, man. She’s leaving.”
Jake glances toward me. “What did you say to her?”
I laugh under my breath as my muscles bunch and twitch. “Maybe you swung bad dick last night, and she’s running from it.”
“Ya know what?” Aspyn steps further into the kitchen. “When I’m grumpy, bacon and eggs always make me feel better. Let me get you breakfast.” Aspyn moves around the kitchen and pulls out bowls and frying pans as though she knows where everything is and she’s going to avoid drama with some butter and fried food.
“Sorry about the mess.” Jake lowers his head and turns toward the hallway, picking up his clothes.
Why is it that I feel like the overbearing asshole who just got home to catch everyone with their pants off?
“Y’all couldn’t keep it in the bedroom?” My lips squeeze tight. I’m not sure what I’m saying, or why I need an answer. They’re two consenting adults and I’m the asshole who’s ruining the fun.
Jake grins and rounds the counter, pulling Aspyn into his arms. “You jealous?”
She hesitates, and for a second, I wonder why she doesn’t feel comfortable being affectionate with him around me. Clearly, they’re comfortable with each other. They shouldn’t have to hide it.
“Little bit,” I admit, sipping the steaming cup of coffee in front of me. “When did all this happen? I didn’t realize you guys were close.”
Aspyn turns back from the stove and wrinkles her brows. “We’re not. I mean… we…” She glances toward Jake.
“It’s okay…” He kisses her forehead, and I get the feeling they’ve got a secret to share. “Aspyn and I dated on the low for a while back in the day. We haven’t seen each other in like… ten years.”
My stomach hardens and spots flash into my vision. “Ten years? That would’ve made her what… eighteen or twenty? You were… like thirty.” I say the words with contempt, and I mean them. I held back because that’s what I assumed a good guy did. I know for sure the good guy doesn’t fuck his brother’s little sister. “What the hell were you thinking?”
“It’s okay.” Aspyn wipes her hands on a towel as two eggs sizzle in a frying pan behind her. “I wanted him, too.”
“You should tell him.” Jake nudges Aspyn playfully and keeps his tone low, but I heard what he said.
“Tell me what?”
Aspyn bites back a smile and turns away to tend to the sizzling bacon. “Nothing.”
“Someone needs to talk right now, or I’m going to lose it.”
Jake whispers in her ear again, and she wiggles against his touch.
My chest burns and a flash of anger rolls over me. I need to get it together. She’s not mine. She never was mine. She’ll never be mine. I should be happy for my buddy. He has what I’m pretty sure we all wanted. Though, I don’t envy how they’ll ever tell Ryan. Maybe it’s different now that she’s older.
“No!” she giggles, sliding the bacon and eggs onto a plate. “He wouldn’t be interested.” Her voice is low, but again, I hear her.
“I wouldn’t be interested in what?” My tone is admittedly frustrated and I’m being an asshole, but I doubt anyone is surprised by that.
Aspyn looks toward me through long dark lashes. Her mouth opens several times, but nothing comes out.
Shit! What the fuck is she holding back on?
“I, ugh…” She bites back a smile. “For a long time… I fantasized about you, Jake, and Liam.”
Hair rises on my arms and the back of my neck as my breath increases. “What?”
“Yeah.” Her cheeks turn pink, and she covers her pebbled nipples with her delicate arm. “It’s probably really dumb, but I used to imagine taking care of you guys, and you,” her eyes meet mine and a shock of warmth floods through me, “took care of me. It’s really stupid, I know.”
“And you told Jake about this?” My chest aches for some reason.
“Yeah. We talked about it a lot.”
I glance toward Jake. “That doesn’t bother you?”
“No, man. You guys are like brothers, and at the end of the day, all I want is for my girl to feel loved, safe,” he grins, “and satisfied. ”
“Let me get this straight. So, you want a threesome? No wait, a foursome.” I narrow my brows as I say the filthy words to Aspyn. Sure, she’s older, but she’ll always be younger than me… by a lot. And even though we’re miles away from Ryan, talking about sex with his sister still feels wrong.
“Yeah, I guess.” She smiles sweetly. “That would be fun.”
My cock throbs against the zipper of my slacks and I know I have to leave the room right now or I’m going to burst. “Well, that’s good to know.” I swallow hard and stuff a piece of bacon in my mouth before standing.
“You like her too,” Jake announces as though it’s a fact. “I saw the way you looked at her over the years, and it’s not like you’re entertaining anyone else.”
Why is the mere thought of this sending my body into overdrive? Suddenly, I’m a caveman and all I’m thinking about is ripping her clothes off, bending her over, and sinking into her tight little core.
“Of course I think Aspyn is beautiful. Who doesn’t?”
“But it was more than that.” Jake continues to be fucking annoying. “She told me how you guys talked and how you were there for her.”
I glance toward Aspyn and drink her in like I haven’t allowed myself to before. Her long dark hair, her heavy round tits, the way her hips fill out and her ass swells. The way her full, pink lips pinch together when she’s nervous.
Lord, give me strength.
“What’s in this for you?” I glare toward Jake. I’m the first to admit I’m not good with sentiments and spilling them out at the breakfast table is nearly torture.
“I just want Aspyn to feel good. That’s all.”
“A second ago, she was sneaking out. What makes you think she wants this right now?” I glance toward the girl I’ve wanted for ages. “What’s your deal? Why were you sleeping in your car?”
She darts her gaze toward Jake, then back at me. “I want to tell you everything. I really do, but I can’t. And if I’m being honest, I don’t know how long I can stay.” Until now, she’d been rather relaxed when we talked. Now, she’s holding her stomach, her hands are shaking, and her breath has picked up. I’ve known her for a long damn time, and I’ve never seen her like this.
Jake bends to her side and holds her close. I have a feeling he already knows more than me, but that’s okay. He’s better with that kind of stuff, anyway. All I need to know is that she’s safe. And the longer we keep her here, calm and steady, the more we’ll be able to help.
“Okay.” I move around the table and stare at her. “Stay as long as you can. Just promise me you’ll tell me when you’re leaving.”
She swallows hard and tears fall one by one off her face. I want to reach in and wick them away, but Jake beats me to it. Apparently, he’s beat me to a lot of things.
I step forward, my heart slamming against my chest. I’ve never shared a woman before, and I don’t know how this works. I don’t know if I want this to work.
“Look, I’m sorry about everything.” Aspyn sucks in a deep breath. “How about I cook for you tonight? I’m sure you guys are hungry. You’ve been working hard, and it’s been so long since I was in a kitchen. I’d really love to make something nice for you to thank you.”
Back in the day, when she wasn’t crocheting hats with gaping holes, she was cooking the most delicious food I’d ever tasted.
“We’d love that.” I sip from the cup of cold coffee.
Her face lights up and her hands drop back to her sides. “Great! I have all these new recipes I can make for you.” She grins. “I can make some for the dogs, too. They could even come inside and eat.”
I glare at her sweet little face. “Not happening, but I’ll let you feed them scraps.”
“ Scraps? They sleep outside, and they have to eat scraps ?”
I manage a short laugh. “Jake can take you shopping for whatever you need, and I’ll fix up your car tonight. Then maybe… we talk about that fantasy coming true.”
She stares toward me for a long while, shifting her thick thighs together as her cheeks turn rosy. “The one where you let the dogs sleep inside or the other thing?”
I forgot how much her smart mouth entertained me.
Good fucking Lord. What the hell is happening? Who am I? Clearly, I need sleep.
My gaze locks on hers. I don’t want to sleep. I need to see where this goes.
I want to be the one that takes her shopping and makes sure she doesn’t try to sneak off again. I want to hold her, touch her, and make her mine in every selfish way I can conjure. Instead, I say, “Don’t forget, if you try to leave again, I know police statewide, and some out in Georgia too. You won’t get far.”
“That’s tempting, sheriff, because I like to run.” She grins.
I nod and ignore the thrill that little bit of defiance in her voice gives me.