28. Chapter 28
Chapter 28
Maci
S utton and I decide to load the Jeep and check out the festival for a bit. My photography slot was only scheduled for a portion of the day, and he won’t be able to haul out the trailer for a couple more hours.
The collapsible wagon full of props rolls behind him while I carry my camera bag. Sutton refuses to let me handle it all even though I did this morning. We cut across the closed street between a coffee shop and a bank on our way to overflow parking.
The Jeep beeps as I unlock it from the key fob and step down from the sidewalk and head to the back. My feet crunch and I look down instinctively to find the cause of the unexpected noise.
“What the fuck?” Bits of glass are scattered below my door. Snapping my eyes up to the window, I find it busted in. “Holy shit!”
Sutton pops around from the other side, hands empty. “What’s going— what the fuck?” His eyes scan the damage to my car and the surrounding glass.
Shaking my head incredulously, I assess the small lot. All the other vehicles seem to be intact. My eyes dart between cars as I hurry around the passenger side to put the camera bag in. I scan the interior, including the glove box and console. Nothing is missing. Not that I keep valuables in my car. I slam the door shut with more force than necessary .
“Yeah, it's the one labeled overflow parking.” Sutton hasn’t moved from his place near the driver-side door and is now on the phone. I mouth, who’s that? He mouths back, 9-1-1.
Sutton’s voice is low and steady as he speaks to dispatch. I scan the exterior of my car. There’s no other damage.
He comes up behind me, placing both hands on my shoulders and pulling me against his chest. “Are you okay?”
“I’m pissed,” I hiss, and then take a breath, “but I’m okay.” My hand presses the bulky hidden pocket on the right side of my vest. It doesn’t matter. I was somewhere else entirely and what would it have done?
Sutton’s hands slide around my front and I slip my fingers over his, guiding them to settle on my hips. “They’re sending police this way.”
I turn in his hold to face him, grabbing onto his arms. His hands haven’t moved from my waist. His touch always has such a grounding effect on me.
“Thank you. I don’t know how long this is going to take. You can head out if you need to.”
His eyes turn furious. “Are you fucking crazy? I’m not leaving you alone. Someone bashed in your goddamned window.”
He’s never shown this side of himself, but then again, how well do we really know each other? I know he isn’t angry at me. I press my hands on his chest. “There’s nothing you can do.”
“It doesn’t matter. Until we figure out what happened here, you’re not leaving my side.” As if to punctuate his statement, his grip tightens on my hips as he pulls me closer to his body. I don’t know if it’s the sentiment or the touch stirring things inside me.
“I do not need a babysitter,” I say carefully. “I’m wound up, too, but seriously…I’ll make the report and go from there. Let’s not go overboard. ”
“You are high as a kite if you think I’m letting you wander off alone after you’ve been targeted.”
I push back from him. “I don’t appreciate you acting like I can’t take care of myself and I float aimlessly through life. And who says I was targeted?”
He takes a large step forward, pressing me into the rear fender, and angles his head down. “I don’t think you’re helpless, Maci. In fact, I think you’re really damn strong. The fact remains that your vehicle was vandalized and I see that as an act of aggression on you. I happen to be fond of you. So you can consider me your personal ball and chain for the time being.”
I stare up at him. His eyes are gleaming, and as serious as he is, I can’t help but think it’s the most words he’s said at once. My heart does one of its stupid somersaults even though he’s being ridiculous.
“Fine.” My voice comes out scarcely above a whisper.
His shoulders relax minutely. “For the record, I was going to invite you over for family dinner tomorrow, but you don’t have a choice now.”
I can’t help the corner of my mouth tipping up at him. “Little early to meet the parents, don’t ya think?”
He gives me a look I can’t decipher, but we’re interrupted by a police cruiser pulling into the small parking lot. Sutton waves him down, giving me a pointed look. “You already know my mom.”
A man with skin that looks too smooth to have ever seen facial hair steps out of the car. His brown eyes land on Sutton immediately.
“Sutton.” The officer dips his chin in greeting and shakes Sutton’s hand as he approaches, then places his hands on his utility belt in that way officers often do. I’m not even a little surprised that they know each other. His gaze slides to me. “I’m Officer Callahan. Casey.”
“Maci McCullough.”
“Nice to meet you, Maci. So what happened here? ”
I show him the broken window and explain that nothing was taken. He jots down several pieces of information in a tiny notepad and shoves it into his uniform pocket when he’s done. “Do you have time to give an official statement?”
“Sure,” I say with a shrug.
“Okay, I’ll grab a form from my cruiser. Can I get your ID to put in some preliminary information?”
“Of course.” I pull my wallet from my camera bag in the trunk and hand two cards over, setting the bag near the edge of the cargo area.
When I turn back, Officer Callahan is looking at me over the cards speculatively. “Do you have a firearm on you?”
Sutton’s head snaps my way. I ignore him. “Yes.” Rather than reaching, I point carefully at the right side of my vest. “Do you want me to remove it?”
He looks between Sutton and me. “No, just hang tight and I’ll grab the form.” He starts to walk back to his car, but shoots over his shoulder, “No reaching,” and grins.
Sutton’s eyes haven’t left me and I finally return the look, saying nothing.
“Firecracker seems so much more fitting, now.” One side of his mouth tips up.
My lips press together, hopeful he doesn’t question me right now. We live in Texas; it should be no surprise when someone has a gun, even if some people are surprised when that someone is a woman.
Officer Callahan returns with the form and a clipboard. Thankful for the distraction, I begin writing while he takes a few photos. “There was no other damage?”
“No, just the window. ”
Sutton hasn’t left his post at the rear of my car, arms crossed, alternating between scanning the surrounding area and watching me. He can be a sentry if it makes him feel better. There’s nothing he can do now.
When I hand over the form, Officer Callahan explains detectives will check on camera footage in the area if there is any, but I don’t get the impression much is going to come of the incident for now. Much to Sutton’s dismay, Casey neither confirms nor denies the idea that I’ve been targeted, but he advises me to be more alert for a while, just in case.
“Thanks for your help, Office Callahan,” I say as we’re finishing up.
“Casey,” he corrects. “You’re obviously a friend of Sutton’s, so that makes you a friend of mine.”
Sutton, watching Casey, doesn’t acknowledge me as I glance his way. “Casey,” I correct.
“Good to meet you, Maci. Wish it was under better circumstances.”
“Me, too.” He gives Sutton a nod before turning and heading back to his car as I wave.
Sutton turns to me. “You have two options.” I get the distinct feeling he’s about to offer me two choices he can live with. “We can do some shuffling of vehicles and I can sleep on your couch tonight, or you can stay at my place.”
I open my mouth to tell him precisely how over the top he’s being, but he can see it written all over my face. He stiffens and leans into me again. “Don’t.” His eyes bounce back and forth between mine. “Don’t try to argue with me on this, Firecracker.” I snap my teeth together. “Your house or mine.”
This isn’t the Sutton I’m used to. The quiet, part aloof, part easy going rancher. The Sutton before me is prepared for battle, determined to protect me. How foreign.
Not relenting, I whisper loud enough for him to hear, “Did you forget the part where I have a weapon? ”
He shakes his head. “I don’t care what you’re packing. Until I see you use it and know you’re not going to shoot yourself before someone else, you’re not getting out of my sight.”
I balk. “You are being completely ridiculous!” His signature, hidden smirk teases the corner of his mouth. My stupid body reacts with lust, which fuels my anger. I thrust my hands onto my hips. “I took a class. I had to show I could use it then. I go to the range regularly.”
“I don’t care what some gun-toting yahoo saw, however many years ago you got your license.” His eyebrows raise in slight challenge, knowing I’ll try again.
I huff and study the asphalt. I’m trying to reconcile my need for independence with someone genuinely caring so fiercely about me. It’s been a long time since I could count on someone I haven’t known half or all of my life. And even some of those I can’t.
He bumps me playfully with a shoulder, still crowding my space and drawing my eyes back up to his. They mirror the heat building inside me and all of my resolve melts.
He smirks openly and backs up. “My place then.”
Sutton gets as much of the glass out of the driver’s seat as possible before tossing the blanket I used for the shoot over it. I can tell it’s not his preference, but we have to get it back to Nana’s and he has to move the trailer, so we make do.
Nana’s drive isn’t really ideal for turning around a truck and trailer, so I’m not surprised when Sutton opts to park on the street. He busies himself sealing up my window with things from the garage while I schedule mobile repair to come out.
The pumpkins find new homes on the stairs and around the front porch before I head in to pack an overnight bag.
Before long, the storm door closes quietly behind Sutton. The magnetism between us is palpable. I loved playing with magnets when I was younger. The closer they got to each other, the harder it was to keep them apart. It’s the same sensation I feel when Sutton’s around. It's how I know he’s leaned against the wall outside my bedroom door even though his steps were silent.
“Have you ever been hunting?” His low voice floats through the doorway while he remains out of view. I suspect he’s giving me privacy, just in case.
A pair of pants dangle over my open duffle as I pause to answer. “Are you asking because you’re convinced someone is trying to assassinate me and therefore want to make sure I’m still alive in this room, while still providing me privacy? Or do you actually want to go hunting?”
He laughs heartily against the wall and I race to the doorway. “Do that again.”
He looks so casual leaning against his shoulder and facing me with a wide grin. “Have you been hunting?”
“Yes, sir, I have.” His grin disappears and his eyes turn hungry. I raise my eyebrows at him as his works jaw back and forth.
“Would you like to go again?”
I roll my eyes. “Can’t you just ask what you want? Yes, Sutton, I will be happy to hunt with you.” I give his free shoulder a small push before heading back into my room, feeling a playful tug at my ponytail as I do .
“I don’t know if you could sit still long enough to shoot anything.”
The tease brings a smile to my face.
I throw the last few items into my bag and zip it up. At my door, Sutton motions for me to pass him, snatching my bag as I do. I’m not even a little bothered. His chivalry is growing on me.
He waits at the edge of the porch while I lock up, then walks side-by-side with me out to his truck. I absolutely do not touch the door while he loads my duffle into the backseat. I’m not sure he’s even noticed my restraint when he opens it for me, until I pass him to climb in and he leans in to whisper in my ear, “Good girl.”
And I nearly melt.