Page 14 of Wandering in Love
I grumble, and he smirks.
“See you tomorrow, Wildflower.”
In the corner of my eye, Ian stiffens at the use of my nickname. Will knows exactly what he’s doing, winding up his brother on purpose. I shake my head at the both of them and follow Momma out.
Chapter Seven
IAN
Eva got back almost two weeks ago. She’s been working at the ranch damn near every day with Will and Johnny. I’ve stopped by a few times to check in, and every time I do, they’re flirting with her. It’s driving me nuts. Will’s doing it on purpose to get a rise out of me and it’s working, which just makes me more irritated.
I’ve never been a possessive man. Not once did I care if other men were around the girl I was dating. She would be free to flirt and have a good time, dancing and drinking at the bar. Didn’t matter. But not Eva. All these fuckers swinging their dicks at her is going to drive me straight to the nuthouse.
It’s Friday, with snow on the horizon for next week. These boys will be at the bar, getting rowdy and carrying on. I’m sure there will be a fight or two to break up. It means I’m in for a long night.
I have a few deputies, but everyone works on Friday and Saturday. Every. One.
I’m sitting at my desk, making sure we have everything we’ll need for the incoming snow, when the door opens.
“Hello. Can I help you, sir?” Stacey’s voice carries through the small space.
“Yeah, I’m looking for Eva Rojas.”
My head snaps up, eyes taking in the stranger: tan skin, dark, curly hair, and brown eyes. He’s tall and lean. Honestly, he looks like he could be related to me.
Stacey is stumbling over her words, not sure what to say. Pushing my chair back, I stand, shoving my left hand into my pocket. A deep-seated need to claim Eva hums through my body. I lean against the door into my office, pretending to be relaxed when I’m anything but.
“What do you need with Eva?”
The man looks me over much like I did for him, stopping at the badge on my chest and the gun on my hip.
“It’s personal.” He crosses his arms over his chest.
“Anything you need to say to my wife will go through me first.” The words tumble from my lips, the rightness of them shielding my heart.
“Wife?” His eyes bug out of his head.
Stacey smirks and drops her head to hide it.
“I’m Sheriff Ian Rojas, and you are?” I step forward, offering my hand in a handshake.
“Funny, she never mentioned a husband.” He’s trying to get a reaction from me, catch me in a lie.
“She’s a wild one.” I can’t see my own face, but I can feel how cold my smile is, how hard my eyes are. “Your name?”
“Brad Rodriguez.”
He doesn’t shake my hand; he just tries to stare me down. But I’ve been up against worse. He doesn’t intimidate me.
“How do you know my wife, Mr. Rodriguez?”
He smirks before answering. “I’ve been fucking her for the last six months.”
“Must not have been that good if she came running back to me not two weeks ago.”
Brad stiffens, his shoulders tight with tension, hands clenched into fists.
“Sheriff,” Stacey interrupts, breaking some of the tension. “It’s about time for your next appointment.”