25. Harlan
Chapter 25
Harlan
I double-check the backpack sitting on my kitchen chair to make sure that I have everything we might need for the concert today. Maisie’s getting Audra ready, and then we’ll head to the event grounds.
Instead of staying with me again last night — what I would have liked — Maisie went back up to her apartment after we got home from my dad’s place, and while I promised that I wouldn’t push, that I’d let her call the shots — I want her with me. In my bed. In my home. Under me and panting my name as an orgasm rocks her petite frame.
Slow down.
She’s in charge.
But the wait might kill me. We’ve kissed, we’ve cuddled, and with every bit of intimacy between us — I want more. More of Maisie, more of her and Audra in my life.
Baby steps, Harlan. You’ll get there.
She could still decide to leave.
The thought pinches something in my chest. I don’t want her to leave. I don’t want her and Audra to go, even when she has the funds to replace her camper. I want to watch what’s between us grow.
And that’s a scary fucking thought.
I’ve gotten to my age without getting attached to a woman. Being the sheriff means that I’m more circumspect in my relationships, but none of the ones I’ve ever had come close to what I feel for Maisie.
“Hey, you ready?”
I turn toward the back door and there she is.
Short, tousled waves sit just above her shoulders, she did something different with her makeup to make those silver eyes look smokier — darker and mesmerizing. She’s got Audra propped on her hip, one arm strap of the baby carrier looped over her forearm and every ounce of me tightens in want.
“Yeah,” I grunt, my voice deeper, gruffer. Tension tweaking my tone as the early afternoon sun paints her in a rosy glow.
I step toward her, drawn to every bit of her and drop my lips to hers in a light kiss — wanting to deepen it, to take us both for a dive into deep dark waters until this incessant ache for her gets out of my blood.
If it ever leaves my blood, though I’m starting to have my doubts.
“Mmm.” Maisie blinks her eyes open, the silvery blue like a gunshot to the gut.
I run my hand over Audra’s head and drop a kiss to her forehead. “She gonna be okay in the sling most of the day?”
Maisie nods. “I usually wear her as much as I can. So she’s used to it. That and her car seat. I got really lucky, and she doesn’t mind either.”
I nod and go back to the backpack, zipping it closed, though I have to squish the sides together to make that happen.
“What’s that?” she asks.
“I figure this would be easier than the cross-body diaper bag. I’ve got diapers, wipes, snacks, sunscreen, one of those travel changing tables, and this little floppy hat I found at the store the other day.”
“A floppy hat? The other day?”
My cheeks heat as I pull the hat out of the front pocket and hold it up. I saw it at the baby store near the big box stores a few towns over and thought I should grab it just in case, but now I wonder.
I scratch a hand through my beard. “Yeah. I figured we’d get roped into something outdoors, and I don’t want Audra to get overheated or burned by the sun.”
Something in Maisie’s eyes soften and she wraps her hand around my waist. “Thank you.” There’s a million meanings to the words. Gratitude. Affection. Relief. Safety.
“You know I packed almost all of the same things into her diaper bag and put it in the car, right?” Maisie asks with a squeeze to my midsection.
“That’s fine, we can use that for backup, but this will be easier to carry around.”
“Is it allowed in the venue? Don’t they usually have clear bag policies for concerts?”
“I know most of the security team, I don’t think they’ll stop us.”
Maisie smirks. “VIP treatment?”
I shrug. “Guess so. Come on. Boone and Jem are already there, and the others have left, we’re meeting in the parking lot.”
We load into the SUV, and I opt to take the back roads to the venue .
Sunlight spills over Maisie’s shoulders, the light just as drawn to her as I am. Her arm hangs out the window, fingers playing in the wind, and I rub circles into the silky skin of her thighs, bared in her denim shorts. This softer side of Maisie is like my own addiction. Seeing the tension leave her shoulders and the guarded skepticism gone from her gaze the best of highs.
Maisie’s hand drops over mine and her fingers twist between my own. It’s not the first time she’s initiated contact, but it still packs a punch when she does.
Before I’m ready for the car ride to end, we’re pulling into the venue. The parking lot is busy, but not as packed as it was earlier this week. I grumble as Maisie pulls her hand from mine, not wanting to share her or Audra. Wishing I could keep the bubble around us a little longer, I relent and resign myself to sharing her with my family for the next little while.
Maisie pops out of the car and waves to my family who are busy getting their own bags from their cars.
I pull the backpack from the back seat and pull out the sunscreen, squirting some into my hands. Maisie holds Audra while I rub the lotion into her arms, legs, face, and any showing skin. After she’s covered, I drop the hat onto her head and tighten the string at the bottom so that it doesn’t go anywhere.
She looks cute as a button nestled in her mama’s arms. I want the memory of this for myself. I pull my phone from my pocket, and Maisie smiles as I snap a quick picture.
“Here. Give me your phone.” Jem’s voice comes from behind me. “Go stand with them.” She takes the device out of my hand, and I move to Maisie, looping my arm around her waist and resting my hand on Audra’s shoulder.
“Smile! ”
My lips curve of their own accord as the floral scent of Maisie drifts to me. I need to buy my sister-in-law some flowers or something in thanks.
Once Jem is satisfied with the picture, she hands the phone back to me.
“Can I wear her?” The sound of my brother’s voice comes from behind me, and Maisie laughs lightly.
“Jedd, I think you just like me for my daughter.”
I grab the carrier from the backseat and shut the door to the car, beeping the locks and watch as Maisie hands her daughter off to him.
“I mean, you’re pretty awesome, but Audra’s my girl. We’re gonna be besties. Just you wait and see.”
Irrational jealousy toward my brother hits me like a sucker punch. I don’t want him claiming any part of Maisie or Audra and the need to stake my claim overrides the logic that my brother is just being my brother.
In two quick steps, I loop my arms around Maisie’s waist and drop my lips to hers in a hard kiss. My mouth devouring hers. The gasping sigh she lets out like a fire in my bloodstream.
Her lips are so damn soft under mine, and I want nothing more than the world to disappear. For twenty damn minutes.
Pssh. Like that’d be enough time.
When I break away from Maisie, I shoot my brother a glare that could incinerate concrete.
Maisie clears her throat. “Uh. Sure. Jedd, you can carry her. If she gets heavy, just let me know and I’ll take her back.”
“Come on guys. I want to get a good spot for Tally Monroe’s show,” Duke calls to us, already halfway to leaving us behind in his haste .
“Hold your horses. We’re coming,” Jem says as she slings her own clear backpack on her shoulders.
Maisie falls in step with Jem and asks, “What’s that about?” She nods toward Duke.
Jem rolls her eyes. “He’s obsessed with her. Total fanboy. I think he has every album she’s ever released.”
“Ah. That makes sense I guess.”
“She has a great voice, you’ll see when she starts, she really took off in the last year since she left her old label and is one of the headliners today. Should be a good crowd.”
I snort. Duke’s been obsessed with Tally Monroe since her first single dropped five years ago. Being his own boss let him travel the West Coast for the few times her concerts didn’t come to Idaho, and he’s never missed at least one of the shows on her tours.
We make it through security, and after buying a pair of noise-canceling headphones for Audra, we start to walk through the row of merchandise stands.
There are DJs from the local radio stations set up in the main aisles before the venue stage, and my shoulders tighten when I see Cormac talking to one of them.
“What an asshat,” Finch says from my left.
“Is he really doing an interview with a radio station during a concert?” Rhett asks while shaking his head. “Desperate much?”
The rest of my family chimes in with their own pithy comments and a niggle of concern hits me.
Should I be doing that? Should I be campaigning to keep my job? Every street corner in Everette is covered with signs for Cormac’s contestation of my position, and I haven’t done shit to fight back against it other than some digging on Cormac.
Digging that was lucrative, but I’m not sure if it’ll be enough to keep my job if it comes down to it.
“Hey, you okay?” Maisie asks. Her hand reaching to rest lightly against my bicep.
Spellbinding eyes. So fucking pretty I could get lost in them — I want to get lost in them. Anything to escape this doubt that my job isn’t safe.
She’s so close. The brush of her against my chest quiets the turmoil in me until those lightning struck eyes hold me steady. I drop my forehead to her and relish the press of her skin against mine.
“Yeah, Sunshine. I’m okay.”
And I will be.
Lightly — so damn lightly — I lift my hands to frame her face. Her concerned gaze is stuck on mine, and I drop my mouth to hers in a kiss that’s full of the feelings that I’m scared to put a name to, basking in the taste of her, the feel of her in my hands.
A wolf whistle sounds behind me, breaking the spell. My brothers are all grinning at us, and Jem’s face is covered in a blush.
Guess we got a little carried away.
Duke scoffs and rolls his eyes. “Come on lovebirds, shows starting in ten minutes.” With that, he turns and walks off toward the audience area at the back of the venue grounds.
Maisie’s light laugh is music to my ears, more confidence soaks into the trilling sound.
“It’s never a dull moment around you, sheriff.”
I thread my fingers through hers and tug her behind me after my family.
Little does she know, she’s the excitement. My life before she barreled into it was boring and gray. She’s a sunburst of color, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to keep her safe — with me.