Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
Shelby
Thinking ’Bout Me
After she and Doctor Hart had a serious conversation with her pops about making some changes, she ran to the town market to get some fresh groceries.
Then picked up a few sandwiches to go from the diner and headed back to the hospital to take Pops home.
He’d been sleeping and she hated to wake him up but needed to get them back to the house so she could start on the laundry.
Her grandfather had hardly been keeping up with house chores before he broke his hand, now he was definitely not capable.
“I’m sorry I’ve caused you so much work today, Shelby,” he said as they pulled into his driveway that she’d spent an hour shoveling when she first arrived.
“Pops, helping you out is not work. You know that. Was it work when you taught me to fish, or about literature, or how to sail?”
“Well now you did have a tough time with the concept of tides.”
“I was seven.”
They both laughed.
“Uh-oh, looks like the sheriff is next in line. I wonder if he’s really eager to do my long list of chores, or if there is some other reason he’s here,” Pops said, giving her a sideways glance before he unbuckled his seat belt.
“He got to witness me and Samuel arguing earlier, so he’s probably just worried I’ve rolled into town to cause trouble.”
“Not my Shelby Bell, she’s an angel,” Pops said, and they both exited the truck.
Wes was by the passenger side door before Shelby could worry about her grandfather losing his footing again, but Pops waved him off.
“I’m alright, Sheriff, but you can bring in those groceries my girl picked up.”
Shelby carried their sandwiches and grabbed one of the grocery bags from the back seat of her truck, but Wes was quick to grab the other two.
“I was going to help shovel the front path but found it was already taken care of.”
“I spent the first hour doing that and then discovered Pops was nursing his hand. Samuel showed up right after I got him to admit he’d hurt himself in a recent fall,” she said in a whisper, as they all walked up the flat path to the front door.
“Pops, why don’t you have a seat in your chair, and I’ll bring you some tea and this sandwich on a plate, with some fruit.”
“Careful, Shelby Bell, I won’t let you leave if you spoil me.”
“Deal,” she said over her shoulder as she led Wes into the kitchen.
The sink was full, the trash needed to be taken out and the floors needed a good scrubbing.
“Looks like you could use some help inside too.”
“I doubt the city pays you to clean houses. I appreciate you checking on Pops.”
Wes had set the groceries on the kitchen island and stood now with his legs spread wide and his arms over his chest.
“If you think we’re going to pretend I didn’t hear what your brother said to you, you’re wrong.”
“It’s not really any of your business.”
Wes just nodded. “I was sorry your dad interrupted us this morning.”
Shelby avoided his eyes as she washed and dried a plate and put the hot water on for tea, then pulled out the apples to slice for Pops’s lunch.
“I’m sure I won’t hear the end of it but since I don’t talk to my family much it doesn’t really matter.”
“So how is that going to work out then? Because it looks like someone is going to need to stay with your grandfather for a while.”
“I don’t know, I wasn’t expecting all of this,” she said, throwing her hands up. “I need some time to get this house cleaned up, and then I can think about how to take care of Pops while avoiding my family.”
Wes closed the space between them and reached out to grip her arms, turning her to face him. Then he lifted her chin, so she was forced to look him in the eyes.
“Do me a favor. Once you get this place cleaned up, can you let me know what needs fixing?”
“Sure.”
“Will you call me if your brother shows up and starts getting aggressive again?”
“He’s harmless.”
“If there’s one thing I know for certain, people are never what they seem. And your brother made it clear he’s worried you’re going to outmaneuver him for a very large fortune.”
She pulled out of his arms. “I’m not after anyone’s fortune.”
“I can see that. But I don’t want him to get the chance to try to intimidate you.”
“Fine. You’ve done your duty. You checked on Pops’s welfare and made it clear if my family tries to run me out of town you’ll make a good witness.”
Wes closed the space between them again.
“I’ll make more than a witness Shelby.”
She looked up and saw the hunger in his eyes.
Even now as they talked about her dysfunctional family, the attraction between them was like a live current, drawing her in.
He leaned down and kissed her, completely disarming her as his teeth bit her bottom lip before his tongue delved inside her mouth.
Like pulling a trigger, the instant desire for him shattered her resolve to pretend nothing had happened earlier.
Her heart pounded and her entire body reacted.
Wes’s hand cupped the back of her head as he kissed her with so much passion she was forced to wonder what it all meant.
Did he feel the same intensity of emotion spike each time they touched or was she just a convenient distraction?
Then the sound of shuffling feet broke through and he pulled away. But when she opened her eyes it was just one of the empty paper bags that had fallen to the floor.
“I need to get back to the office; you get your pops settled. But call me tonight with that list,” Wes said.
Shelby refocused on the plate she was making and decided now was not the time to ask what the heck was going on between them.
Her entire life was in an upheaval and there were too many unknowns.
Each seemed more perilous than the next.
She quickly exited the kitchen with the meal and a water for Pops.
But then returned to the kitchen for the hot water for Pops’s tea.
“Let me see your phone,” Wes said, waiting for her back in the kitchen.
She dug it out of her pocket, unlocked it and handed it to him.
He typed in his number and then she watched him send a text to himself.
“Now I have your number, and you have mine. No excuses.” Then he kissed her again and walked out to the living room where her pops sat. Shelby followed but hung back a bit and watched as Wesley sat next to Pops on the ottoman.
“Mr. Shepherd, any items off the top of your head I need to fix?”
“Besides that worried, sad look on my granddaughter’s face, the railing on the deck is a little shaky.”
“Is that how you fell?”
“Man to man, I don’t much care for all this fuss, but I’m also smart enough to know that I’m not getting any younger. Between the railing and the ice, I was a goner.”
“Probably lucky you only broke your hand.”
Zeke nodded and sighed. “I guess I probably need to find someone to help around here and someone to check on me from time to time.”
“I’ll fix that railing if you promise to let Shelby help you find a solution.”
“Course if I can convince my Shelby Bell to stay in Sandy Point then I’ll have you both here to fuss over me.” He laughed. “Not a bad solution—probably should’ve broke my hand sooner.”
For the first time since she’d arrived Wesley’s face broke into a big smile, the left side hitching up a little higher than the right, and a dimple poked into each of his cheeks.
It was like the finale of a fireworks show and just like that she was back in high school falling for his easy charm, and he had no idea.
“My gran demanded I head out to her house this evening, but she mentioned she’s been on a baking spree during the storm. So I’ll try to bring you some pie tomorrow when I’m back to fix that railing.”
“You’re a good man, Sheriff Hart,” Pops said. “And your gran happens to make the best peach pie I’ve ever tasted.”
“You get some rest,” Wes said standing.
Shelby walked him to the door.
“I’m sure I can fix the railing,” she offered.
“I’ll be back either way tomorrow, but if you need anything tonight, please use that number.”
“Okay,” she breathed.
Then she watched as Wesley walked to his sheriff truck.
His broad shoulders and tall, hard body wrapped in a crisp uniform were impossible to ignore.
Wesley Hart had been the heartthrob at their high school and had grown into a gorgeous man who she suspected was garnering even more attention in this town than he did back in high school.
What had she been thinking of hooking up with him?
Now she was going to have to stay in town and see him everywhere.
And if anyone else found out she’d been staying at his home during the storm, she was going to have a hard time pretending she hadn’t loved every second of it.