Chapter 21
twenty-one
. . .
LANE
The night of the first responders’ gala, I might’ve taken extra care with my appearance. I’d gotten a haircut that morning, had groomed my beard, and made sure my nicest suit was dry-cleaned so it was perfectly fresh and pressed in anticipation of the night.
I had to remind myself frequently that Sutton was not my date. We were merely roommates who both happened to be first responders. Going together was convenient. Nothing more.
Still, I waited at the bottom of the stairs for her to make her appearance like a nervous teen waiting for his prom date.
And when she did? She took my fucking breath away.
I had no idea where to look first.
Her hair was left loose, something she rarely did, swept to the side with a silver comb studded with crystals. The ends were curled and draped over her shoulder and down her back.
Normally, Sutton didn’t wear a lot of makeup, and though she did tonight, it only served to enhance her natural beauty, not take away from it.
Her eyelids were coated with a metallic bronze shadow that caught and refracted the light, making her amber irises seem to glow, lashes darkened and lengthened with mascara.
Red coated her lips, the most vibrant part of the whole ensemble, dangerously drawing my attention right. there. Giving me all kinds of ideas.
And god, the dress. It took everything I had not to groan. The fabric was pale blue and studded with beads. It had thick straps but a neckline that plunged a bit, showcasing a tantalizing glimpse of her cleavage, then draped all the way to the floor, clinging to every dip and curve of her body.
She paused halfway down the stairs, staring at me expectantly, and I cleared my throat, searching for something to say.
“You are radiant.”
I had no idea where that came from, but Sutton grinned, extending her hand so I could help her the rest of the way down, and I smiled back, satisfied I’d said something that pleased her.
“You clean up pretty well yourself, Chief.”
Chief.
The nickname she’d given me a long time ago, even though she knew I would never work for a department where that could become my title one day.
She was extending an olive branch, and I would happily accept it.
After helping her into her coat, we headed outside and sped off toward town.
The gala was being held at the local American Legion post, which was the only event space in the county large enough to accommodate all first responders, their partners, and high-ranking community members who had purchased tickets to attend this evening.
Upon walking inside, I almost didn’t recognize the room. The space had been transformed into a sort of winter wonderland, like being on the inside of a snowflake. The aesthetic matched Sutton’s dress perfectly.
Our first order of business was a trip to the bar, though Sutton only ordered soda water, then decided to scope out our seats.
Thankfully, we were sitting at the same table. The rest of the seats would be filled by the mayor, his wife, the superintendent of Dusk Valley schools, her wife, and, shockingly, my baby brother and his wife.
“Fancy seeing you here,” Aspen grinned, pulling Sutton in for a hug.
Crew reached out for a fist bump, which I obliged.
“Please,” Sutton said, rolling her eyes, and I frowned in confusion. Aspen giggled, and Sutton turned to me. “Aspen and Reagan are the reason I look like this.”
“We just provided the dress and accessories,” Aspen protested, but she studied me, as if gauging my reaction to Sutton’s ensemble. I sensed a protectiveness there, like this little pixie of a woman would go to bat for Sutton at the first sign of trouble.
I loved her for that, and for how perfectly she loved my brother.
Aspen and I had gotten off to a rocky start, especially since I’d tried to drive her out of town after she’d nearly been murdered in a fire by a crazed serial killer.
All I’d accomplished was driving her into Crew’s guest room, which wound up being the best thing that ever happened to either of them.
Now, she and I were on much better terms, so it wasn’t strange for me to draw her into a hug.
“Thank you,” I whispered in her ear.
She pulled back and winked.
Dinner was a sit-down affair, and I passed the delicious meal—which was catered by Bonnie, who owned the diner—in conversation with the mayor.
Mostly he talked, and I listened. Being the sheriff put me in a more diplomatic role than I would’ve liked, but I luckily rarely found myself in situations where I had to comment on local politics.
I preferred to keep my head down and protect the citizens of this county as best as I could, and I knew the mayor preferred it that way as well.
Once dinner was over, the mayor rose and headed to the stage at the far end of the room, where he approached the microphone.
“Good evening, everyone!” Polite applause ensued. “First, I want to thank Bonnie for the delicious dinner.” He waved toward the doors to the kitchen, where Bonnie stood, throwing her hands up awkwardly as the applause rose in volume.
“Secondly, we appreciate all the community members who purchased tickets for tonight. All money raised will be going directly to the women’s shelter, which is an organization near and dear to all our hearts.”
I blinked in surprise as the crowd roared. The mayor brought out the director of the shelter to hand over one of those comically large checks with an impressive sum printed on it.
That was the first I was hearing of this. The funds raised went to a different organization every year, but now more than ever, I was grateful for the help the women’s shelter would be getting. For years, I’d been secretly donating to them myself.
Once the noise died, the mayor once again approached the mic.
“Before I let you all go to enjoy the rest of your evening, I do have one more agenda item to attend to.” The audience perked up, myself included. What was he up to?
“I’ve lived in Dusk Valley my entire life and have been mayor for longer than most of you have been alive.
” He chuckled self-deprecatingly, and we all laughed with him.
The mayor was in his seventies and had been elected when he was only thirty.
For over four decades, he’d represented this city, and I was proud to work for and alongside him.
“Nothing warms my heart more than seeing someone I personally watched grow up give their all in service to this great place we call home. For over a decade, this woman has mended and healed the people of this county, being a cool, calm, and collected presence for our citizens in their worst moments. She has never feared, never faltered. Every time she’s on shift, whenever those bells go off, she’s ready to do everything she can to save lives.
Most recently, that included the life of our esteemed sheriff.
Without her quick thinking, calm under pressure, and hard work that day back in August, he wouldn’t be sitting with us today. ”
Oh, shit.
Slowly, I turned to Sutton, who looked back with wide eyes.
“Did you know about this?” I murmured.
“No!” she hissed in response.
“So it is my honor to present our very own Sutton Rausch with these Lifesaving Medal of Valor and Distinguished Service Awards, not only for saving Sheriff Lawless’s life, but for her years of incredible service to our community. Miss Rausch!” he called. “Could you join us?”
With a dazed expression on her face, Sutton rose and walked toward the stage.
I also got to my feet, clapping and cheering louder than anyone else in the room, my chest swelling with pride.
This woman was incredible, the most gorgeous person I had ever laid eyes on, both inside and out.
I needed her to know that—if it wasn’t obvious from the raucous applause she received from the crowd, which had also risen to give my girl a standing ovation.
That’s what she was.
Mine.
I was certain of it. More sure than I had ever been of anything else in my life.
I was done fucking around.
It was time to make it a reality.
She accepted her awards, which included some bars and a medal she could add to her dress uniform. After, she posed for a thousand photos then finally left the stage, and the mayor released his captive audience to drink and dance.
Before I could reach her, Aspen got to Sutton first, drawing her into a hug and murmuring words that were too low for me to hear but had Sutton grinning.
Next was Crew, and when my brother clung to her for a little too long, my jealousy got the better of me. I shoved him and dragged Sutton away, leading her out onto the dance floor, where I pulled her close, intent on never letting her go.
Sutton seemed fine with it, draping her arms around my shoulders, her body fitting tightly—perfectly—against mine. Right back in the place she always belonged.
“Be careful, Chief. Your caveman is showing.”
I chuckled low. “You love it.”
“I feel some type of way about it,” she agreed.
Pulling back enough to look down at her, I smiled softly. “I’m proud of you, sunny.”
She rolled her eyes. “I got the award for saving your life, so you would be.”
I shook my head. “No, it’s more than that.
I mean, yeah, we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now if you hadn’t done everything in your power to keep my heart beating that day, but that’s not the only reason I’m proud of you.
” Letting her waist go momentarily, my fingertips danced down the length of her arms, pulling them tighter around my neck.
Bringing her closer. Then I ducked my head so my lips were against her ear.
“After your assault, you could’ve taken a different path.
” She stiffened slightly at the mention of her rape, but didn’t pull away, and I pressed forward.
She needed to hear this, and I’d needed to say it for a long time.
“You could’ve let it dictate your entire life.
You could’ve let it ruin you. Instead, you became the kind of person anyone can turn to in their time of need because they know you won’t let them down.
You are the strongest person I know, Sutton, and you make me a better man because of it. ”
“Lane,” she murmured, my name leaving her mouth on a breath that tickled my throat.
Lifting my head, I looked down at her again. Her amber eyes were swimming with emotion, open and honest and raw. Shining with hope.
I wanted to reward her bravery.
Bringing my thumb to her bottom lip, I brushed against the curve, dragging it to the side. Some of the bright product there rubbed off on my skin.
“This is some fuck me red lipstick, sunny. You wear this just for me?”
She grinned. “Maybe.”
“You gonna let me mess it up?”
“Are you asking if you can kiss me?”
“Yes.”
Sutton glanced around at the room full of the who’s who of Dusk Valley. “People will see.”
“Let them.”
And I dropped my mouth to hers.
The laws of the universe dictated that the world kept spinning, but it did so without us, because my entire existence halted when our lips met.
I’d gone over fifteen years without this, but I had never forgotten the way she tasted. Sweet and fresh, like pure sunshine in human form. After a few seconds of chaste contact, I tilted my head, changed the angle, and took Sutton deeper.
She opened for me on a gasp, and I slipped my tongue into her mouth, brushing against hers. She met me stroke for leisurely stroke, hands finding the nape of my neck, fingers burying in my hair with a slight tug.
I groaned against her, fingertips pressing deeper into the flesh of her hips. I wanted to consume her, to mark her, to make it obvious to everyone within and beyond these walls that Sutton Rausch belonged to me.
Sutton let go of my hair, hands sliding down to my chest, fisting briefly in the lapels of my jacket before applying slight pressure—pushing me away.
I detached myself with a groan.
“Why’d you stop?”
“We can’t get carried away, Lane. Not now, not…here.”
Unashamed, I lifted my head and opened my eyes, finding almost everyone in the room staring at us, even as the band played on, oblivious to their loss of attention.
The song ended, and she stepped out of my arms, hand surreptitiously covering her smeared lipstick.
“This isn’t over.”
She smirked. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Then she walked away, Aspen meeting her halfway as she beelined for the bathroom.
Crew, of course, approached me, wearing a shit-eating grin.
“Way to make a spectacle of yourself.”
I punched him on the shoulder. “Fuck you.”
He pointed at my mouth. “That’s not exactly your color.”
I groaned, carelessly swiping my coat sleeve against my face, removing the evidence of that kiss.
“I hate you,” I told Crew.
My little brother merely smiled wider. “I’m happy for you brother.”
As I watched Sutton disappear behind the bathroom door, I couldn’t help smiling.
“Me too, brother. Me too.”