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“If they aren’t able to get shit fixed, is that going to delay things?”
“It could. We need to be able to prove to the bank you’re getting the loan from that the house is worth what they are asking for it. If we can’t do that, they might not agree to give you the loan.” She slides her hands up my chest. “Don’t worry about it. I got this covered.”
“All right.” I slide my hands from her hips to her lower back and drag her closer. “What are you cooking?”
“Ground turkey stroganoff?” she says, and my face must show my confusion, or maybe it’s disgust. Beef stroganoff is one thing. Turkey—I don’t think so. “I promise it’s good and you’ll love it. Or I hope you will.” She puts pressure on my chest and starts pushing me out of the kitchen. “You need to change, then I’ll get you a beer.”
“You’re going all out.”
“I’m buttering you up.”
“I need to be buttered up?”
“My mom knows about us.” Well, that explains Elsie welcoming me to the family when I saw her at the festival. “And Anna asked me to be there tomorrow for dinner when she and Kolter tell my parents that they are pregnant, and I know you have work tomorrow, but I want you to be there.”
“All right, but why do you need to butter me up for that?”
“Did you not hear when I said that my mom knows about us and we’re seeing her tomorrow?”
“Your mom doesn’t scare me, and the minute she hears that she’s going to have a grandbaby, you and I will be the last thing on her mind.”
“Oh, Wyatt.” She pats my chest. “You are so, so innocent. Did you know that my mom is the one who got Anna and Kolter together?” My brows drag together, and she nods. “She did, and today when my mom found out about us, she immediately started talking about us having a baby.”
“Jesus.”
“Exactly, sir.”
“Sir.” I grab her ass, and she laughs.
“I was really proud of you today.” She moves her hands up to my shoulder, then wraps them around the back of my neck. “Your speech was great. When did you come up with that?”
“When I stepped onstage.”
“It was perfect.” Her eyes roam over my face. “You’re going to be a great sheriff.”
“Thanks, baby.” I drop a kiss to her lips, then let her go. “I’m going to get out of my uniform. I’ll be back.”
“I’ll be here.” She turns to the counter as I walk out of the kitchen, and when I see that Storm isn’t following, I call out, “Don’t give him any more treats.”
“I wasn’t going to,” she cries, like she just got caught doing exactly what I suspected she was, and I laugh as I head down the hall to change.
An hour later, with my belly full of turkey stroganoff that was shockingly really good, I slide my fingers through Genevieve’s hair as I watch a young girl get carried away by a kite in the middle of a park in Nashville.
“Babe, this show is ridiculous.”
“That’s because you’re overthinking it. Stop watching it like a cop and just enjoy it.”
“How can I enjoy this when it’s all so far out of the realm of possibility that I wouldn’t be surprised at this point if an alien spacecraft landed in the middle of the city and started abducting people.”
“That would be pretty cool.” She laughs and tips her smiling head back to meet my gaze. “Maybe I should email the writers your suggestion.”
Smiling, I smooth my finger down the bridge of her nose. “You’re a nut.”
“But you like me anyways,” she says softly, having no idea that is a total understatement.
“Come here.” I drag her up my chest and slide my hands back into her hair, pulling her mouth toward mine. As her breath whispers against my lips, her cell phone starts to ring, and she sighs.
“I have to get that; it might be Jessica calling me with their decision.” Reluctantly I let her go, and she reaches for her phone on the coffee table, then smiles brightly before sliding her finger across the screen. “Hey, Jessica.” She gives me a thumbs-up, and I chuckle. “Oh gosh, that’s great news. Are you excited? Me too.” Her smile brightens. “Okay, I’ll get your counteroffer written up and send it over.” She hangs up, then shoves her hands into my stomach and sits up, straddling my waist. “Jessica and Liam are accepting Kolter’s offer.”
