8. Luke
luke
I should have stopped sneaking into her place after I had her.
You would have thought that after a weekend of hardly leaving my bed, tangled in my sheets, sweaty and panting would have somehow sated my need for her. Taking the proverbial edge off. But it didn’t.
Not even close.
We’d spent the entire weekend naked in my bed, literally only tossing on gym shorts to get the food I’d ordered to be delivered. It had been incredible. Until Sunday night came and she needed to leave.
She had things at home to do, orders to prep for, so fuck me, I had to take her home.
I hated it.
I’d told myself that first night that I wouldn’t go to her place.
But after almost an entire night of tossing and turning, jerking off to the thought of her as I buried my face into the pillows that smelled like her, I gave up the fight.
Dressed in my usual dark joggers and dark long-sleeved shirt and baseball cap, I walked down the quiet streets and took my place just outside her window.
But this time, it wasn’t enough. Not after I knew how soft her skin was and how good it felt to be in bed with her. How she smelled after coming.
I snuck in.
Knelling at the foot of her bed, I even dared stroke her face when the temptation grew too much to handle.
And I hadn’t stopped.
She’d had me over, and I’d pretended to walk back home when I’d just walked around and then snuck into her backyard.
For the last week. It wasn’t like I didn’t see her or we didn’t text or even fucking talk on the phone.
We did. A lot. I was just so incredible addicted to watching her, being close to her, I couldn’t stop myself.
There was an overdriving need, almost animalistic, primal in its own way that couldn’t get me to stop.
And tonight? It wouldn’t be any different. I knew it, didn’t try to talk myself out of it. I just accepted it like I knew the sun would be rising the next day. I needed to figure out a way to have her spend the night. Or to get her to ask me to stay over.
For whatever reason, she hadn’t. I had a feeling it was because she was in just as deep in love with me as I was with her.
I stepped out of my work SUV and shut the door as my hands rested on my utility belt while I scanned the Moonlit Pines Farmers Market.
Some people walked by with smiles I returned before I found my woman’s spot.
Slowly, trying not to rush, I made my way over to her booth.
The green tent was easy to find, and I wasn’t surprised to see that even though there was almost an hour left, she was mostly sold out and still had a line of people waiting to be taken care of.
I stood around, not hiding the way I watched her. Why would I? I wanted everyone to know she was mine. We hadn’t made things official, but that would be changing today. I stopped at the flower booth about six spots away from Olive’s cookies.
“Hey, Sheriff!” Libby, the owner of the local flower shop, smiled. “Looking for anything in particular?”
“I’d like something pretty.”
“All my flowers are pretty, Sheriff March.” She grinned just as her best friend, Jackie Robles, our local social media influencer, stopped by. Her pink hair made it hard not to notice her.
“Ooo, is it for someone special?” Jackie asked, taking the seat Libby had just vacated.
“It is,” I answered, not surprised to see the shock on both their faces. “Someone very special to me,” I added, and the women looked at one another with knowing looks.
“Hmm,” Libby said, setting her arms on her hips as she looked around. “Could it be for a certain cookie-making genius?” I chuckled but didn’t give much else away. With a knowing smirk, she nodded, “I’m going to take that as a yes.”
“That would be a good guess.” The look Libby gave me was one full of joy.
“I knew that girl would get caught one day.” She grinned.
“Caught?” I chuckled.
“By a good man. You are good man, right, Sheriff?”
“I like to think so.” If you didn’t could my late-night stalking.
“Good. She deserves a good guy after?—“
“Lib,” Jackie quietly warned, something I knew was uncharacteristic for her. Jackie was bubbly and colorful, usually letting everything hang out.
“What?” Lib said. “It was a long time ago, and he should know.”
“It’s her story to tell.” I glanced over my shoulder at my girl, who was currently smiling at a mom with a double stroller and a puppy on a leash.
“Look, Sheriff, when it comes to Oli, just… just make sure your intentions are clear. She might seem tough and like a bit of a hardass who doesn’t care, but…
there’s a reason why she keeps men at arm’s length.
” I nodded. I knew all about Olive’s asshole ex.
She’d told me about it our second night together.
“Thank you for the warning.”
“Now… knowing that, do you still want flowers?”
“I do. She’s mine. And it might be a little messed up for me to tell you this when I haven’t told her yet, but… she’s going to be my wife one day. These flowers are the first of many I’m going to give her throughout the rest of my life.”
“Well… I would suggest the sunflowers.”
“And roses!” Jackie added.
“Make it beautiful. I’m going to ask her to be my girlfriend.”
“Oh my god! That is so cute!” Libby fawned.
“I didn’t even know guys still did that,” Jackie added. Fuck, that made me feel old, but I didn’t care.
“Okay, Sheriff.” Libby pointed at me. “I wasn’t sure if you had any game since you haven’t been seen with anyone, but now, I get it.
” I grinned and didn’t say another word as they both got to work creating the most beautiful bouquet for my woman.
After paying and tipping them, I walked over.
The farmers market was almost done. A couple of vendors had already started to pack up with less than fifteen minutes left.
Olive spotted me; it was hard not to with the giant arrangement of flowers in my hand. Her beautiful eyes widened, and the box she had in her hand slowly dropped back to the table in front of her as I approached. My heart was racing.
Oli was blushing by the time I reached her table, and everyone around us faded away. There could have been a million people waiting for her, but I didn’t care. The only thing I saw and noticed was her. She was already shaking her head, her hands on her hips in a sassy stance.
“What are you doing?” she asked, but I didn’t stop. I simply went around the table she only let me walk behind once before. “Luke!” she gasped, and I grinned. The moment I was within reach, my free hand pulled her close and I rested my forehead on hers.
“Hi.”
“Hey.” She giggled. “What is this?” I brought the flowers between us.
“These are for you.” I handed her the bouquet. Shyly but so fucking sweetly, biting down on her bottom lip, she brought the bouquet up to her nose.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “I’ve never gotten flowers before.” The smile on my face grew wider.
Oh yeah, this is the first of many arrangements my woman will be getting from me.
“They’re a little something I hope softens you up to what I need to ask you,” I admitted.
“Uh-oh, that sounds dangerous,” she teased. “Why do I feel like you’re up to something, Sheriff?”
“Because I am.” When I kneeled, her eyes widened. The few shoppers and other vendors around us gasped. I held her hand in mine. “I like you. A lot. Shit, honestly, I love you. I’m in love with you, Olive Trejo.”
“Luke.” Her lips opened and shut, and I leaned in as I brought her hand up to my lips, pressing a kiss on top of her fingers.
“Will you be my girlfriend?” Some snickered and others giggled while most ooed and aahed, but I tuned them out.
“I love you. I know this is fast, but you’re it for me.
If I didn’t think you would run off after hitting me with the flowers, I’d be asking you a whole other question.
That’s how serious I am about you, Cookie.
” She stared at me for a moment, and the longer the silence drew between us, the sweatier my hands became.
But it was when I slowly realized that her eyes had become suspiciously wet and her lip started to wobble that I stood up, carefully placing the flowers on the mostly empty table before holding her face with both hands.
“Olive?”
“Yes,” she answered softly but with confidence.
“Yes to the first question, and maybe wait a couple of months for the other, but I’m pretty sure the answer will be the same.
” Joy washed through me, and I lifted her up, swinging us around her booth, semi-aware of the people around us clapping and snapping pictures.
“I won’t let you regret this,” I whispered into her ear as I set her down.
“You better not,” she sniffled with a sassy expression on her face before she hip-checked me. “Help me pack up so we can go home and celebrate.” She pressed her hand to my shoulder.
“Put me to work, boss.”
“Girlfriend,” she corrected. Fuck if that didn’t have a good ring to it.