Page 25 of The Fragile Truth
“Deal.” The last vestiges of his dark mood disappeared in the wake of her playful grin as he motioned with his head. “Would you like to come in while I shower?”
Her eyes lit with humor as her hand went to her hip. “What kind of girl do you think I am?” she chided. “Just because you have those ice blue, penetrating eyes and that adorable cleft in your chin doesn’t mean I’m gonna jump in the shower with you.”
Startled laughter gurgled in his throat, cutting off his air. He coughed to get a breath. His embarrassment, combined with the heat from his workout, popped a net of sweat over his nose. “I assure you my intentions were honorable. I was thinking that you could hang out in the living room, maybe watch some TV while I shower.” It was then that he caught the wicked glint in her eyes and realized she was teasing him. Two could play that game. He made a point of looking at her delectable lips as his voice grew husky. “For the record, if I weren’t such an upstanding guy, you’d be my first pick for a shower companion.”
Shock blitzed through her eyes before her cheeks turned cherry red.
“Aha! Gotcha!” he laughed.
She shook her head, grinning. “Yes, you did.”
His eyes flicked over her. “Not that I’m complaining,” he murmured, “because you look terrific, but are you wearing that outfit to the beach?”
“No,” she giggled. “I came prepared. I brought some clothes to change into. And I grabbed sandwiches and a couple of sides from the restaurant.”
“Wow, a regular Boy Scout,” he drawled appraisingly.
“Girl Scout actually.” She jutted out her chin.
Her glossy hair bounced lightly on her shoulders. The faint freckles gave her an endearing girlish quality. “Yes, you are.” He reached for a lock of her hair and wrapped his finger around it. “I sure am glad fate put you in my path.”
She blinked. For a split second, he caught a trace of some sort of discomfort. It was gone in the next instant, making him wonder if he imagined it. She glanced toward the house. “Shall we go in?” She wrinkled her nose as she sniffed. “You stink.”
Before she could draw back, he encircled her waist, pulling her to him. “You don’t like cuddling up to a sweaty guy?” he taunted.
She giggled, averting her face as she planted her hands on his chest to keep him at bay. “No way.”
He let out a wounded sigh. “Okay, be that way.” He thrust out his lower lip.
“Look at that pout. So darn cute.” She pushed his lower lip back in with her finger.
Ian heard the rumble of a loud engine without a muffler. He looked to the street where a black, jacked-up Chevy Nova was rolling by. A teenage boy hung his head out the back window and screamed in a squeaky voice, “Hold ‘er tight, Sheriff. I got her tomorrow night.” The car beeped as several guys pumped fists out the windows.
Ian recognized the car and driver. “Frankie Crandall,” he muttered.
“Who?” Sadie asked wide-eyed.
“The quarterback for the high school football team. He thinks he’s a big shot. Everybody enjoys tormenting the sheriff,” he grumbled.
“Poor baby,” she cooed. “It’s tough to be the sheriff in a small town.”
“It is,” he countered. “I can’t so much as spit without everybody talking about it.”
She laughed. “Okay, then maybe we should go inside, so you won’t have all the neighbors spying on you.”
He looked around. “Are people watching?”
She motioned. “See the house to the right of yours?”
“Yeah,” he answered warily.
“The lace curtain moved a few minutes ago. Someone is definitely watching us.”
He felt his eyes fly open wide. “That’s Mrs. Vernon. She’s a widow and lives alone. She has lots of time on her hands.”
“She’s making good use of it by watching us.”
“You’re observant.”