“Shit!” Grayson curses.

I jump out of the truck when it finally rolls to a stop. “Pap!” I race over to where he’s working with Sheriff Dixon to replace the broken glass with plywood. “Are you okay? What happened?”

Wrapping my arms around his waist, he hugs me back tightly. “I’m okay, Livy. It happened while I was gone with Fletch.”

I breathe a little easier knowing he wasn’t here, but my anxiety is still through the roof.

What would have happened if he had been here?

“I’m so sorry. I’ll never leave you again.”

“Now don’t go bein’ silly, girl. I’m fine. Even if I had been here. I can take care of myself. I’m just glad you weren’t here to deal with this bullshit.” I can feel the anger and frustration vibrating inside of him, steeling his voice.

I look up into his troubled eyes. “Any idea who it was?”

“Who the hell knows.” Pap shrugs. “I have a lot of people angry at me right now. Could’ve been anyone.”

“What if they come back?” Terror courses in my blood just thinking about it.

“Then I’ll take care of them.” The quiet fury in Grayson’s tone pulls my attention to him. “Walt, if it’s okay with you, I’ll stay in the guesthouse. At least until this shit is over with, and I know you two are safe out here.”

“I appreciate that, son, but it’s not necessary. I can handle ’em.”

“I know you can, but the more eyes the better. I’m trained for this shit. Let me help keep Liv safe.”

Sheriff Dixon breaks in. “I agree with Grayson here, Walt. I’m sure this won’t escalate to anything more but it’s better to be safe. He’s my best deputy, having him here is a good idea,” he says, clapping Grayson on the shoulder.

Pap remains silent, digging in his stubborn feet. I can tell no matter what he says Grayson isn’t going anywhere, and I don’t want any tension between them. “I want him here too, Pap. Who knows what else will happen once the trial starts.”

I hate to even think about it.

He stares down at me, his weary expression softening before he gives a nod. “All right.”

Grayson nods back then looks at Sheriff Dixon. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Sure. You can walk me to my truck. I gotta get goin’,” he says, before looking at Pap. “I’ll let you know if we find anything, Walt. Keep me informed if anything else comes up.”

“Will do, Willie, thanks for helpin’ me board this up.”

“Anytime.”

Grayson follows the sheriff to his Patrol truck, leaving Pap and me alone on the porch. My arms are still wrapped around him, my head resting soundly on his chest. I close my eyes, inhaling his comforting scent. I’m not ready to let him go yet. Not after knowing what could have happened to him.

“Life was easier when I didn’t have to share you,” he says, drawing my attention back up to him. He looks away from Grayson then back to me, a wry smile tugging at his lips. I know he’s teasing, but I have a feeling part of him means it.

It’s been just the two of us for so long now.

“I missed you,” I tell him, needing him to know I’ll always be here.

No matter what.

His arms hold me tighter. “I missed you too, but I’m sure you had a great time, and that makes me happy.”

Smiling, I reflect on my time with Grayson and the memories we made this weekend. “I did. It was wonderful. It’s so beautiful and peaceful there. Grayson even took me fishing.”

“Fishing?” he asks in shock.

“Yes,” I reply. “But I wasn’t very good at it.”

“I reckon not.”

I playfully slap his chest, making him grunt out a chuckle.

“Now don’t be gettin’ all riled up. I just mean you don’t have it in ya to be a fisherman is all. You’re too kind to hurt another livin’ thing. Just like your mama was.” His expression softens as he mentions my mother. “I’m really glad you had a good time.”

“Thanks. Me, too.” I look back to Grayson. He’s still talking with the sheriff. Their conversation seems strained, tension radiating from both men. All of Grayson’s easiness from this weekend is completely gone.

“He’s a good one, Livy,” Pap remarks.

“Yes, he is,” I reply softy, not taking my eyes off Grayson. “I’m in love with him, Pap.”

He expels a heavy breath and hugs me closer. “I know, darlin’. I know. Just remember who loved you first, all right?”

I smile, my heart warming. “I’ll never forget.”

*

Later that night, once Pap turns in, I walk quietly out the back door and make my way over to the guesthouse to see Grayson, the soft glow of moonlight guiding me through the darkness.

After supper and the dishes were done, Grayson left to get himself settled. Pap insisted I go with him, but I refused, wanting to spend some time with him since I was gone all weekend. I also wanted to give Grayson some time to himself.

Just because I want to be with him every waking second doesn’t mean he wants that, too.

He seemed distracted and tense during supper tonight. I’m not sure if it’s what we came home to or if whatever went down with the sheriff has him upset, but it bothers me to see him that way.

We didn’t talk about me coming over after, so hopefully I’m not intruding. I gently knock and patiently wait for him to answer, suddenly feeling nervous for some stupid reason. I begin to think he may have fallen asleep, and I’m just about to turn around and head back to the house when the door swings open.

Holy moly.

Grayson stands in the doorway in nothing but a pair of worn jeans that hang low on his lean hips. The top button has been left undone as if he just threw them on in a hurry. My gaze roams up his powerful body, taking in every line and ripple of muscle stretching his taut skin, remembering what it felt like beneath my fingers as he moved inside of me. His usually messy hair is wet, and there are tiny beads of water glistening on his strong chest. The image of him naked in the shower renders me speechless, weakening my knees.

He watches me with a cocky smirk, as if he can read my dirty thoughts.

Heavens, Liv, get a grip.

“Uh.” I snap my mouth shut and clear my throat, searching for something to quench my sudden thirst. Before I can attempt to speak again, Grayson lifts me up to meet his lips, claiming them in a possessive way I’ve come to crave. My legs wrap around his waist, and a moan escapes me as his tongue thrusts past my lips, deepening the kiss.

Moving inside, he kicks the door shut, pressing my back against the hard wood. My fingers thread through his damp hair, the clean smell of soap mixed with everything that is him, impaling my senses and rushing through my body in a wave of delicious heat. I whimper when he thrusts his cock between my legs, hitting me right where I need him most.

“You make me so goddamn hard when you look at me like that, baby.”

“Uhmmm,” I mumble breathlessly, like an idiot.

He pulls back with a chuckle—amused by the effect he has on me. I take the moment to catch my breath, my chest heaving as I try to recover from all the wonderful things this man evokes in me.

“Why the hell are you knocking at your own damn house?” he asks.

“Well, we didn’t talk about me coming over, and I didn’t want to impose or bother you.”

His smile vanishes. “Never,” he says, his tone firm. “You could never bother me. I want to be with you every fucking second of every day. So next time you walk your pretty little ass in here like you own the place…since you do.”

I giggle.

“Got it?” he asks.

I nod. “Yeah, I got it.”

“Good.” He drops his forehead against mine, giving me the intimacy I love. “Never be unsure with me, Liv.”

He really seems bothered that I was. “I’m sorry. I could tell you were upset at supper. I didn’t know if you would want some time alone.”

His eyes close and he blows out a frustrated breath. “No. I’m the one who’s sorry. I’m pissed off about what happened here while we were gone, and my talk with Dixon only made it worse. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, baby. Just know that no matter what kind of mood I’m in, I always want you, Liv. I always want your company. Never doubt that.”