Page 5 of Awakening the Sheriff
I wasn’t usually this open about my personal life, but I trusted Jack.
Jack blinked in surprise. “A guy like you? I find that hard to believe.”
“Believe it or not, being sheriff doesn’t come with a built-in dating service,” I quipped, but my smile felt hollow.
“Maybe one day you’ll walk in here and find your princess charming,” Jack said.
“Hey, if you can make that happen, sign me up. But at this point, I doubt it.”
“Aw, come on, Auden. You’re a good-looking guy and a great sheriff. There’s got to be plenty of people who would love to date you.” He seemed baffled by my admission.
“Thanks, Jack, but I’m past chasing after happiness. These days, I’m just hoping for contentment.”
“Contentment?” Jack furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?”
“I’m forty-eight, man, and on top of that, I’m a single dad with a busy job who lives in a small town where the chances of meeting new people are slim.” I sighed, then caught myself. I wasn’t here to unload my baggage on Jack. “Anyway, we were talking about you, not me.”
“Right,” Jack muttered. “But, Auden, don’t sell yourself short. You deserve happiness just like anyone else.”
“Appreciate the sentiment, Jack.” I offered him a small smile. I needed to shake off the melancholy that had settled over me. It was starting to annoy me. “I need to check on Ennio.”
My brother kept assuring me he was fine, though the bruise forming on his right cheekbone looked anything but. Fir had checked him and said it was a minor injury, which eased my fury somewhat. He was taking Ennio home with him to keep an eye on him, and I thanked him profusely.
Celebrations in the bar had returned to their expected volume, and after a quick chat with some town folks, I stepped back outside into the frigid air. Within seconds, the warmth of the bar was a distant memory.
“I’m fucking freezing my balls off,” I muttered, stuffing my hands into my pockets.
How much lower had the temperature dropped? My breath formed frosty clouds, disappearing into the dark night sky. In the distance, faint laughter and cheers echoed through town, a reminder it was still New Year’s Eve and we had hours to go until morning. Hopefully, this brawl was the last disturbance of the night, though I wasn’t expecting to see my bed until dawn.
If only I could be with my friends, who were undoubtedly having a grand time. Maybe next year. They’d already set up a dinner for this Saturday, which would be my evening off, and I planned on being there.
For a moment, I could almost forget the lingering ache in my chest, knowing that whatever the future held, I’d face it with friends by my side. With two precious daughters, a job I loved, and the best friends in the world, I had no right to mope. I was a blessed man, and I’d better not forget it.
2
KEATON
Iawoke in a stranger’s bed, the sheets tangled around my legs and the lingering heat of the man who’d fucked me into the mattress radiating against my back. I didn’t know his name, just that he was big, strong, and could fuck like a madman. Exactly my type. And he’d been polite enough to let me sleep, so bonus points for that. My mind was foggy, but my body felt relaxed and satisfied. This should last me for a while. Hopefully.
Warm sunlight streamed through the curtains, announcing a new day. Shit, had I slept here through the night? That hadn’t been my intention. Carefully, I untangled myself and swung my legs over the side of the bed.
“Hey,” said a deep voice from behind me. “You’re leaving already?”
I turned to face last night’s companion, his toned, furry chest beckoning me as much as last night when we’d met. “I’ve got to pick up my kids at ten.”
I pulled on my underwear.
“Ah, the joys of fatherhood.” He grinned lazily. “Well, it was fun while it lasted.”
“Definitely.” I smiled back at him as I grabbed my shirt from the floor and slipped it on.
“If you’re ever back in town, let me know. Wouldn’t object to a repeat.”
I considered that for a moment. Repeats weren’t part of my usual approach, but the man had an exceptionally nice-sized dick and knew how to use it, which was a somewhat rare combination. It had been the perfect way to ring in the new year. We’d danced, kissed, swapped sloppy but phenomenal blowjobs in a bathroom stall, and then I’d gone home with him for an encore.
“Sure. I’m in Seattle once a month.”
“I look forward to hearing from you.”