Page 72 of Moon Blind Hearts
Sheriff John laughs. “You’d be right. I think Lennox has taken a liking to Naomi, but he hasn’t crossed any boundaries yet. All I can do is keep watch.” He tips his hat. “I’ll be seeing you?—”
“Oh my god!” a woman interrupts. She’s wearing a “Stagborn Strong” t-shirt, her phone out like she’d been in the middle of recording a video of herself. “Are you the three cowboys from The Velvet Rodeo?”
Oak, Cash, and Sawyer all freeze.
The Sheriff frowns and looks between them and the woman. “The hell is The Velvet Rodeo?”
“Oh my god!” the woman continues. “You are!” She immediately leans in and takes a selfie with their frozen looks of panic. “I’m a huge fan!” she says, grinning.
“I don’t know what is going on,” Sheriff John says, looking at them all. “Someone care to explain?”
I’m sure I’m the color of a tomato as I try my hardest not to start laughing at the awkwardness of it all.
“They only run the best cam channel!” the woman tells the sheriff. “The Velvet Rodeo. It’s super hot. You should check it out.”
“Shit,” Oak grunts, glancing at the others. “So much for being anonymous.”
The Sheriff barks out a laugh. “A cam channel. You’re kidding me.”
Cash shrugs, clearly less embarrassed than the other two. “What? Like you’d expect something more proper from Udder Nonsense Farms?”
Sheriff John laughs. “You ain’t wrong. Though I won’t be checking it out. Sorry, guys. I really don’t want the image of your naked asses tattooed on my brain.”
“Thank god for that,” Oak grumbles. “Maybe don’t tell anyone?”
“Oh, it’s too late for that,” the Sheriff laughs, pointing to the woman. She’s across the street now with a large group of women. We watch her point to us and gush and then move on to the next. “Looks like y’all are about to be extra famous around here.”
Laughter bubbles up my throat and tumbles out, until I’m doubled over with it. The other three join in.
“What a way to launch your bid for mayor of Steele,” Sawyer teases. “We’re gonna have to make some funny campaign signs.”
“I haven’t said I’m going to run yet,” I remind him, still chuckling at how ridiculous this all is.
“I know, but you will,” Oak answers, hugging me close.
“How do you know?” I ask.
Cash and Sawyer come in closer, until I’m surrounded.
“I can see it in your eyes,” Oak murmurs. “You’re about to Legally Blonde all of this.” He leans in. “Imagine the look on your father’s face.”
“Oh, you sure do know how to tempt me, Oakley Grymes,” I tease.
He presses his lips to my neck. “Can I tempt you into something else?”
Grinning, I thread my fingers with his. We rush back to the truck, speeding away from the celebration, confident that everyone is safe for now.
We giggle the entire way.
It’s the first time in my life I’ve ever felt so free . . .