Hiding From The Sheriff (A Southern Kind of Love Book 1)

by Palmer Jones

  He stood up, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, forcing him to cup her bottom. “You win.”

  “I’d like to think we’d both win.”

  He patted her butt. “I can’t talk about Jennifer with you wrapped around me.”

  She set her feet on the ground. He couldn’t sit there and talk about Jennifer with Addie putting images in his mind of her crawling all over him naked. Naked Addie deserved 100% of his attention, imaginary or not.

  He didn’t have any romantic feelings for Jennifer anymore, but his desire for Addie cooled off as he contemplated where to begin.

  “You know she’s my ex-fiancé. Jennifer moved to Statem the beginning of our senior year in high school.” He glanced back at Addie. “We dated off and on the entire year. We were actually broken up when I went to that football camp in California. I asked her to marry me at the end of the summer. We were engaged the entire time she went to college. She came back. I expected us to get married that next year. She told me she’d only marry me if I moved to a bigger city. I refused.”

  Addie stepped in front of him. He looked down at her sweet face.

  “That doesn’t sound unreasonable. Why didn’t you tell me before?”

  “Because I was stupid to think she’d stay here. Small towns aren’t for everyone. You see the same people every day. Hear the same old stories. Everyone knows if you have a cold or you had a fight with your parents. Change is virtually impossible in Statem.”

  “It sounds like an entire town of people who care about you.”

  “Jennifer saw it as a trap. She’d never advance her career. She was an accountant and wanted a career with a high rise and fancy clients. I thought she wanted us to be together as much as I did.” He threaded his fingers through hers, his soul feeling a little lighter for telling Addie. “She’d asked me to leave with her. She’d been offered a job in Nashville.” Kissing the back of her hand, he brought it to his chest. Touching her had made retelling the story easier than before.

  “You didn’t want to leave?”

  “You asked me if I played football in college. I never told her, but I got offered two different scholarships to play football after that camp. I turned it down because of Jennifer. I didn’t want to waste time in college playing football. I was here, working, saving for a future with her.

  “In the end, my dream outweighed my love for Jennifer. She had her goals, and I had mine. We were two different people. Grew apart while she was in school. It got a little messy at the end.”

  Addie rose on her toes and kissed him. “I’m glad you chose to stay here.”

  He shouldn’t want her so bad. It shouldn’t feel like they had a future. They didn’t. Her job, her entire life, didn’t suit him. How could he run for Sheriff while dating a woman who carelessly played with danger and broke dozens of laws?

  “Are you still trying to break into the drug dealer’s computer?”

  The glow of excitement died in her eyes. “It’s my job, Cameron.”

  “No matter what I say, you’ll still do it?” Feeling her body under his hands reminded him how fragile life was.

  “Yes.”

  She hadn’t hesitated, which scared him more than anything. Did she not take her safety seriously? She’d sacrificed her job to ensure his parents were safe. He swore under his breath. He really shouldn’t encourage her.

  “If you have to do it, I can at least keep you as safe as possible. Here.” He released her and took a couple of long steps to the hall closet. “I hate computers.”

  “What does that have…” Her question died on her tongue as he pulled out a laptop, new in the box. “Cameron?”

  It made no sense why he’d condone the activities. Let alone in his own house. But deep down, if it meant risking his profession to ensure, at least for the week she had left, that he kept Addie safe, he’d do it.

  “I got this last year for Christmas and never opened it up. I really do hate computers.” Funny. He was falling for a woman who was a computer genius. He held it out to her.

  “What are you doing?” She clasped her hands behind her back.

  “I’m giving you a present.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t get you something. What are we celebrating?” Her voice hitched with excitement.

  Cameron lowered the box and crooked his finger, wagging it for her to come closer, “It’s been two days since I first did this.”

  He kissed her again. Long. Slow. Relishing every part of her sweet mouth. Her body felt made for his, and he fought against every urge to take her the short distance to his bedroom.

  “Thank you for my gift. I’m sure your mom will be happy that I’m not hogging their computer.”

  “I’m sure she will since you can only use this here.”

  Licking her lips, she eyed the computer and then him. “What?”

  “You heard me. I want you here when you do your job. You said it yourself that you needed a different internet connection. Use mine. Do whatever you need to do.” He linked his fingers behind her back and watched her velvety brown eyes. “Your job isn’t safe enough to do at my mom’s house. At least if you’re here, you’ll have Lacy, who is a big deterrent. Plus, I’ll make sure I’m here more often.” Trying to stay away seemed pointless. “If anything is tracked, I’m armed and ready.”

  She pushed away from him. “You want to babysit me.”

  “No. I want to keep you safe, Addie. And my mom and dad. If what you say is true, you’d put my entire family at risk, which you already admitted might happen. You use this here, go as far as you need to on this guy, and I’ll promise to keep it quiet and, if anything happens, I will protect you.”

  She grunted, crossed her arms, and stared straight ahead. “I don’t need your protection.”

  He leaned down, tired of the games. He motioned between them. “This ‘thing’ between us requires compromise. You want me to tell you about Jennifer. You want me to keep your secret. I have this request, Addie. You use this here. You said you couldn’t do your job while trying to help me. Flip it around.” He took a deep breath as her eyes locked with his. “I won’t be able to do my job if I’m worried about your safety.”

  They stared at each other with their relationship, or whatever it was, laid out before both of them. It wasn’t a fling. Cameron cared about her, and if he interpreted the way she watched him now, Addie cared about him.

  “Simple” got a hell of a lot more complicated because no matter what, he would protect her, and he didn’t see how that urge would stop in six days when it hadn’t eased up in the past fifteen years.

  17

  “Two visits in three days.” Becky leaned across the counter at the Daylight Diner. “To what do I owe this privilege?”

  Cameron drummed his fingers on the pristine stainless-steel counter. Becky kept the place immaculate. She should since she planned on buying it from Ms. Iris in the next year. “I wanted to thank you.”

  She straightened. “That’s a new one. Normally you find something to bother me about.”

  “I don’t bother you.”

  She rolled her blue eyes to the ceiling. “Let’s see. You gave me a ticket two weeks ago.”

  He groaned. “C’mon, Becky. You were sitting at the red light in front of the high school talking on your cell phone. If you only want a warning for distracted driving, you shouldn’t have had an audience of teenagers.” He patted her hand. “Just think of yourself as a role model.”

  “That’s an expensive role to play.” She waved her hand between them. “And after all the things I’ve done for you.”

  “Besides be a pain in the butt, what exactly have you done for me?”

  “I bake delicious desserts and muffins that you seem to enjoy.” She smirked. “In fact, I have a new brownie that I’m putting out at lunch today.”

  Becky’s baking talents could have carried her beyond their small town, but she loved it. She also enjoyed making a profit. Cameron crossed his arms. “You make me pay for everything.
That’s not exactly doing me a favor.”

  “Be happy that I don’t charge you double.”

  It was Cameron’s turn to roll his eyes. “I actually stopped by for another reason. I’m taking Addie to the benefit at Rhonda’s tomorrow night. I didn’t know if you and Nash wanted to meet us there.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “Since when do you assume I’m dating Nash?”

  “I meant as friends.”

  Becky shook her head. “Good. There’s no way I’d date any of you clowns. What about Dewey?”

  “He’s working later, but I’ll ask him when I see him. That way she could meet some people.” He wasn’t sure why he wanted her to meet his friends. She would be back to California in less than a week. He wanted there to be an outside chance she’d come back and visit. Georgia to California would make for one hell of a long-distance relationship.

  “It must be serious if you’re willing to take that chance. Introducing your girlfriend to your friends is a risky move since we know the cranky, bitter, uptight you. Not the shiny, pretty version she sees.”

  “Do I have a pretty side?” He held a hand up. “Don’t answer that.”

  After the meeting with the judge and Addie was cleared, they could date like reasonable adults. Then, he’d have permission to kiss her without the guilt.

  He stood from the stool and pulled out his wallet. “I’ll take one of those brownies.”

  “It’s ten in the morning.” Becky snatched his money. “But I’m always willing to make money.”

  Picking out an outfit shouldn’t be hard. Not at thirty. Addie worked in a freaking department store, after all. Prided herself on being fashionable. But, seriously, what did someone wear to a charity benefit at a place named Rhonda’s Roadhouse?

  She had over a dozen various outfits she could put together. Leggings were the nicest pants she’d brought. After that summer in high school working at a computer store, she swore off khaki pants for the rest of her life. No use in pulling out the blue jeans in the bottom of her suitcase. Those didn’t exactly say “benefit” in her opinion.

  Settling on a navy dress and turquoise scarf, she found her highest heels and opted for no leggings. It might be chilly later, but it looked a little classier. She sprayed on her light floral perfume, shaking her hair to make sure it clung to her longer.

  She turned at the knock on the door. “Come in.” She walked to the mirror, applying lip gloss in a bright, pink berry that always made her happy.

  Mrs. Dempsey crossed her arms and leaned against the door frame. She smiled. “You are beautiful, Addie.”

  The way she said it made Addie pause. Instead of replying with a polite, “thank you,” she waited a minute for her to continue.

  “The benefit tonight is not very formal, I’m afraid.”

  “It’s not?” She glanced down at her two hundred dollar shoes. She always loved a reason to wear them.

  “No, honey. I’m sorry.”

  “For…”

  “I think you may need to change.” She hesitated and looked at her with pity. “Do you mind if I help? I’ve never had a girl to pick out clothes with, but everyone that goes dresses a certain way.”

  “I don’t want to look out of place.”

  She beamed a smile at Addie, as usual, making her appear barely forty. She pushed away from the door frame and walked to the pile of clothes laid out on the bed. “Do you have anything less fancy?”

  “Less fancy?” She took one last look at her shoes. “I suppose.”

  “I don’t want the sawdust to ruin your shoes.”

  Addie took a quick step back. “Why is there going to be sawdust?”

  “On the floor.”

  “Why?”

  Mrs. Dempsey paused and laughed. “You know, I have absolutely no idea. I know Rhonda does it each time she constructs the floor for these things. Here,” she said, motioning to the bed, “do you have any blue jeans among this pile?”

  “Yes.” She moved to her bag in the corner and pulled out a faded pair of jeans. “I have these.”

  “Good. Now, let’s see.” She set out each article of clothing.

  Although it wasn’t like her, a small part of Addie’s heart missed her mom. She needed to give her a call tomorrow. After she figured out what time zone they were in.

  Mrs. Dempsey snapped her fingers. “You know, I bought a tank top during an end of the summer sale. It has a lace overlay along the back I thought was so pretty.” She rushed out of the room, only to return a few moments later with a white tank top dangling from a hanger, the tags intact on the side.

  “Jeans. Tank top. Boots.” She raised her eyebrow. “Do you have other boots?”

  “Just those tall, black ones.”

  She chewed on her lip. “No. That would ruin the look.”

  Addie took a deep breath. “What ‘look’ are we going for? What type of benefit is this?”

  Mrs. Dempsey straightened. “It’s a honky-tonk to benefit a local wounded Veterans program. A local band will play. I expect Cameron to dance with you. Don’t let him wiggle out of it.”

  Cameron danced? The grumpy, dancing, sexy Sheriff. He should use that in his Sheriff campaign.

  “What size shoe do you wear?”

  “Eight.”

  She clapped her hands and gave a small scream for joy before bounding out of the room. Wow. Who knew going to a honky-tonk benefit took so much effort? Addie slipped off her shoes and placed them back into the pouch she carried them in. A little obsessive, but she didn’t care. She’d bought them with her first check from White Rabbit.

  “Here we go.” Mrs. Dempsey held out a pair of socks in one hand and boots in the other, giving Addie no other choice but to take them. “I’ll let you get changed.” She left, almost as quick as she’d appeared.

  Addie stared into space a moment. Oh well for looking good. For some reason, exercise clothes in front of guys didn’t bother her, but blue jeans? She’d tried so hard to look nice for Brian, to keep up her image as always being put together. Sure, she had some nice designer jeans back home, but not the old ones she’d brought in case her notoriously tomboyish friend in Florida forced her to go on a boat or something. Brian hated her wearing blue jeans. And even though she knew, absolutely, that Cameron was a different man, she couldn’t push away the insecurity.

  She looked at her makeup. Overdone now that she was wearing a white tank top that cost, she glanced at the tag. Four dollars. It was cute, but more of a layering piece than a complete outfit. She couldn’t hurt Mrs. Dempsey’s feelings. She’d wear them. She was in the far corner of South Georgia. Taking a deep breath, she repeated to herself that it didn’t matter.

  The benefit was for wounded Veterans. If everyone dressed a certain way, she didn't want to be the one that stood out.

  She slipped it on, the jeans, and the boots before adjusting her makeup. Running her fingers through her hair, she loosened and separated the large curls. Downgrading to a set of pearl earrings, she held up the matching necklace. Might be too much. To cliché?

  Nope, she clasped the necklace behind her neck. There was a reason she’d heard country songs sing about wearing pearls with blue jeans.

  The natural look left her feeling exposed. Young. She’d hidden her geeky side, but being in Statem, taking the past week and a half to remember what she liked and not what Brian expected, had given her a better outlook on life. It wasn’t all about how she looked or what people saw when they looked at her. It also wasn’t about her computer job. She’d connected with new people for the first time since college.

  And now she was going on a date. A real, boy-picks-you-up date. Dinner. Dancing. Complete with a severe case of butterflies.

  But what if Cameron hated it?

  She squeezed her eyes shut. Why did she care about what other people thought so much?

  “Addie!” Mrs. Dempsey called. She glanced at her phone. Seven on the dot. Cameron wouldn’t be late.

  Leaving the safety of her room, she wa
lked through the kitchen. On the other side of the screened door, Cameron waited on the porch, his hip propped against the white railing. Her breath caught in her throat.

  He wore blue jeans, blue plaid button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and boots that were scuffed enough to know they weren’t for show. Thank goodness Mrs. Dempsey was on the porch or else they might not make it benefit. The thought of undoing each one of her uptight cop’s buttons made her pulse race.

  “Here she is.” Mrs. Dempsey smiled and winked. Cameron’s look was a little less subtle and brought an instant flush to her cheeks. Seeing the appreciation and want in his eyes smoothed out her nerves over her outfit. Knowing that giving his mom two thumbs up might be a mood kill, she opted for the subdued approach.

  “Thanks again for helping.”

  Mrs. Dempsey looked as though she might burst with excitement as she watched Cameron. “Y’all have fun. Tell Rhonda I said hi.”

  Cameron held out his hand. “Will do,” he answered, his eyes never leaving Addie’s. Even now, with the attraction between them zinging and zapping, he hadn’t cracked a smile.

  She felt a spike of anger at Jennifer for bringing him to this. She’d given him an ultimatum with an impossible choice, his lifelong dream or her. No one should force another person into that. It’s one thing to give up a dream freely. She’d never ask that of Cameron. He belonged to Statem, on the right side of the law, and as far away from what she did as possible. He let her work right now at his house, but that situation didn’t have any long-term potential. But long-term wasn’t on her mind. Only tonight.

  His gaze didn’t waver from staring straight ahead. His jaw clenched. Would he be like this all night? Stiff. Quiet. Aside from the heated once-over he’d given her when she’d first walked out, nothing else indicated the man even had a pulse.

  She was supposed to be nervous. Not Cameron.

  He held open the door of his truck for her to climb in. Shifting, she braced her feet apart and put her hands on her hips.

  “What’s wrong?”