Page 11 of Protected by the Sheriff (Magnolia Falls #2)

Mason

I head to the closet upon waking up the next day.

Naturally, it is meticulously organized, with all my neutral clothing on one side, all the shirts together by color, and pants also matched.

The uniforms are sorted, with like items grouped together.

It is impossible to classify Olivia’s gaudy and loud colorful outfits over there.

My closet’s two sides are comparable to seeing Olivia and me next to each other. Though different, I like her items next to mine. Crazy as they may be, they still feel like they belong there.

After dressing in my sheriff’s outfit of khaki pants and a dark brown button-down shirt, I put on my black belt and gun holster. Then I go for my black shoes. The shoe doesn’t budge as I pick it up.

What the hell? Pulling the shoe again, I realize it won’t budge from the floor. Literally stuck! In my confusion, I try to grab the other shoe, and it’s stuck too. As I frown, attempting to move another pair of shoes, they also remain stuck.

I’m standing among my shoes, trying to understand what’s going on. I decide to try a different pair. Those move, so I pick them up, put that pair on, and return to the ones that go with my uniform. The ones I actually need to wear today are the exact ones I can’t use!

They’re stuck. Pulling with all my strength, the floor groans but stays attached to the shoe. Somehow, that mischievous little minx managed to glue my shoes to the floor. Despite being a little devil, she is clever.

I’m starting to believe I didn’t give Olivia enough credit.

She’s a ruthless competitor and will do anything to win.

I intend to show her I’m also willing to do whatever it takes.

Knowing that she’s playing the game just as hard as I am makes my dick jerk.

A wide smile spreads across my face. This woman is my perfect match.

Entering the diner, I spot her in a corner booth and head over to her. Olivia flinches as her eyes land on me.

“Olivia. Why are you avoiding me?” I ask as I lock eyes with her.

She tries to look away, but her eyes dart around the room, meeting the stares of the residents who are silently watching us. All eyes are glued to the scene, forks laden with food and glasses filled with drinks frozen in place.

“That’s none of your business, Mason,” Liv says as she tries to look away from me.

Leaning forward I place my hands on her table. “Everything about you is my business, Liv.” My eyes bore into hers.

“Please stop. Everyone is watching us,” Olivia whispers as her cheeks turn red.

“Good. Then they can see this,” I say as I lean forward and grab both sides of her gorgeous face, crashing my lips into hers.

Our tongues dance a fierce and desperate battle for control.

It’s a battle I know I’m not going to lose, and I feel the moment she relents.

The touch of her soft lips on mine sends an unexpected spark down my spine.

When I pull away, my thumb comes up and rubs across her bottom lip as I stare into her stunned eyes.

“Bye, Crayola. I’ll be seeing you soon,” I say flatly, shutting down any chance of protest.

The silence in the restaurant is deafening; every pair of eyes is glued to the scene, mouths agape in astonishment.

I didn’t just kiss her; I branded and claimed Olivia for all the town to see.

When we separate, a blush blooms on her cheeks as she hides behind her rainbow streaks of hair.

I turn and walk out of The Greasy Skillet, the bell above the door jingling sharply, leaving Liv trembling and everyone’s eyes glued on her, waiting for a reaction.

I know kissing Olivia in the middle of the diner during lunch hour is going to brand her as mine. The message to the rest of the men in town is clear: Olivia is mine, and you better not touch her. Now, if I could only get Olivia to accept her fate.

After thinking about my next steps to get Olivia in my bed, I now realize something.

The best way I can tie her to me so she won’t be able to leave.

One day, I was watching her with Savannah and Declan’s kids, Ashton and Kenzi.

She’s a natural with kids. My niece and nephew love her, and she really cares about them too. It’s clear.

If I could plant my baby in Olivia’s belly, then she wouldn’t be able to run from me anymore. Family is extremely important to her, and that’s part of the reason she won’t allow us to be together. She’s worried about what would happen if things go wrong.

I’m Declan’s brother and as good friends as Savannah and Liv are, if we don’t work out and things get nasty, she’s worried she will be cut out of Declan and Savannah’s family.

What she doesn’t know is that I will never allow that to happen.

I’m a thousand percent sure that we belong together, and I’ve never thought for a second a woman belonged with me for the rest of my life, but I know Liv and I are destined.

We belong together and there are no takebacks.

I’m too obsessed and in way too deep to turn back now.

A busy morning making house calls leaves little time to think any more about our encounter in the diner, and when I return to the office, I’m exhausted.

As soon as I enter, the receptionist hands me my messages. “Sheriff, Mrs. Harrison called frantic again.”

“What is it this time?”

“Her cat is stuck in a tree,” she informs me.

Drawing in a deep breath and releasing it with a frustrated sigh, I nod, letting her know I heard her and will take care of it.

Mrs. Harrison is an elderly lady and part of the Gossip Squad, along with Mr. Patrick, who owns the hardware store, Elenor, who is the mayor’s wife, and several other older townsfolk.

As a small-town sheriff, I have it easier than most. Crime in Magnolia Falls is low, aside from a few bad apples.

It’s often the retired residents who cause me the most headache—Mrs. Harrison and her damn cat being one of them.

As I pull into the driveway, Mrs. Harrison’s old Victorian house comes into view, and I see her waiting on the wrap-around porch swing.

As I get closer to Mrs. Harrison, who is patiently waiting, I see a tray sitting on the table before her with delicate teacups and a quaint teapot.

“Mrs. Harrison, do you know where your cat is?”

“Sheriff Walker, the cat can wait, for now. Come have a cup of tea with me.”

“Ma’am,” I try, glancing at my watch, “I’m on the clock and want to help you get your cat down.”

“Tsk.” She clicks her tongue. “Don’t worry about my cat Tabby; she’s got nine lives and a heart of gold. That old girl will come home in her own sweet time. Tell me straight, what are you planning to do with Olivia Lane?”

While talking, she prepares a cup of tea, a cube of sugar plopping softly before she hands it to me.

Resigned to facing Mrs. Harrison’s prying questions, I sink into a chair and take a long, hot sip of my tea.

Mrs. Harrison adds, “Anything you tell me is between us.”

Knowing this gossiping old woman will spread anything I say, I can’t help but roll my eyes in exasperation.

No longer concerned with secrecy, I reveal what is already common knowledge. “Olivia is mine,” I growl possessively. “She’s going to wear my ring as soon as I can slide it onto her finger.”

Mrs. Harrison’s face cracks into a wide, warm smile that reaches her eyes.

“Don’t mess it up, Sheriff,” she warns, her voice laced with steel. “Olivia is a sweet girl, and she’s not going to be just another fleeting conquest in your life. I won’t allow it.”

It’s heartwarming that people around town have accepted and care about Olivia, so I allow her demands and agree.

“Olivia’s destiny is sealed: she will be my wife and the mother of my children.”

Mrs. Harrison smiles again, her smile lines deepening around her eyes. “Apparently,” she says, squinting and adjusting her glasses, “I was mistaken about Tabby being in a tree. It seems she was in the house the whole time, sheriff.”

“I guess it’s time for me to get back to the office then.” I smile at the clever old woman.

Turning back towards my car, I hear the distinct sound of Mrs. Harrison’s voice as she dials her phone and starts speaking to someone, probably a member of the Gossip Squad.

Unlocking my patrol car, I head straight to Olivia’s. As I walk through the front door, I see the living room decorated in mismatched but homey décor. Everything makes sense even though it’s not lined up or color coded, and she definitely doesn’t stick with neutral colors like I do.

Walking past her kitchen and down the hall, I go to her bedroom, where the bed is made with a hot pink comforter and purple pillows.

A fluffy, sunshine-yellow shag rug lies on the floor beneath it.

What the fuck? This woman has to be blind.

Nothing matches, and yet the Japanese cherry-blossom smell that hangs in the air soothes me from within.

I search the dresser drawers and see Liv’s panties and bras. Bringing a pair of black lace panties to my nose, I inhale. This game we’ve been playing is getting old. I need my hard cock inside of her tight pussy. There’s no other option for us. We are headed for fire, and I’m ready to burn.

Seeing colorful panties in the drawer means my girl has either stolen them back from my house or purchased more clothes.

There are mostly monochrome colors in the drawers and closet, but some of the other items I remember being in my closet.

Knowing that she’s removed her things from my closet doesn’t sit well with me.

I know bone deep that they belong in my house.

Everything is messy and chaotic, but it’s clean chaos. It’s even endearing because this is totally Liv’s style, and now, I want her chaos in my life.

Her house is much smaller than mine. I own my place, and mine is much more suited to a growing family. I didn’t plan it that way, but it will work out just the same.

As I rifle through, I find her vibrator in a bedside drawer.

Well, that’s not happening without me participating, so I remove it and put it in my pocket.

Nothing is allowed inside that tight, wet pussy besides my fingers, my tongue, and my hard cock.

She’s going to have to sacrifice her vibrator, and it’s going to be destroyed.

A picture of Liv on her bedside cabinet makes me pause.

She’s with an older man and a woman who looks like an older version of Olivia minus the colorful style.

This must be her parents, and her father is dressed in a nice suit while I’m just a blue-collar sheriff.

He’s blonde, with blue eyes, perfect dimples, and his hair is slicked back on his head.

It looks like her father was a high-class businessman, so I hope I can be good enough for Liv.

My eyes gravitate to Liv; she looks the same colorful ray of chaos she is now and just as beautiful as ever, but her smile seems much brighter in the photo. I’ll do anything in my power to make her smile like that for me.

Once I’m done in the bedroom, I make my way down the hall to her kitchen.

When I open the fridge, I cringe. As I suspected, everything is totally disorganized.

How does this woman function in this environment?

There isn’t much food but a few drinks and some old, moldy takeout containers.

It’s too much for me to handle, so I shut the door and then I rifle through her cabinet, where I find a small container of oatmeal and some granola bars.

Obviously, she needs someone to take control and make sure she gets the nutrition she needs.

I pull out my phone and order her groceries with plenty of protein shakes, bars, fruit, vegetables, and lean meat. Can’t have my girl withering away.