Page 14 of Protected by the Sheriff (Magnolia Falls #2)

Olivia

A fter all my employees, family, and friends arrive at the shop, they all pitch in to help clean up the mess.

Not only that, but Mason also takes charge.

He makes calls, including arranging for a handyman to replace the broken windows and doors.

The man exudes control, and it’s such a relief for someone else to take the burden on their shoulders.

To my surprise, he also takes care of me.

Mase is constantly walking by, rubbing my back, kissing me on the forehead and placing his arms around my shoulders, offering me comfort. I don’t know what I would do without him. With everyone’s help, Branded is ready to reopen within days.

A single plea for help and miraculously, they all show up to help clean and repair the shop, their energy filling the space.

Kate’s lunch is a hit, but the highlight for me is seeing my niece and nephew’s smiling faces.

While I love children, it’s unlikely I’ll ever have any myself.

A family just isn’t in the cards for me.

Savannah’s are the closest I’m going to get, and I love them both as if they were my own.

Kenzi and Ashton are amazing little people.

Kenzi saw too much in her young life watching her bio dad abuse Savannah.

When Savannah ran, Kenzi was the reason she finally broke free.

With Declan’s love and overprotectiveness, Kenzi has opened up and become a carefree, happy child, just as she should have always been.

Declan adopted her, and he’s never treated her as anything other than his daughter.

I love that Savannah and Kenzi found that and that’s one reason I’ve been so set on not having a relationship with Mason.

I don’t want to do anything that puts any stress on Savannah or her little family, now that I know she’s safe and happy with Declan.

I admit, it’s getting harder and harder to keep Mason at arm’s length.

He’s got me in a chokehold and when I saw the state of my shop this morning, the first person I thought to call was Mason.

Not because he’s the sheriff. It’s because I longed for someone to take care of things—and if I’m honest, take care of me, too— and he stepped up and did a great job.

The look in his eyes when our gazes lock shows me that my time is up. Mason is at the point of no return, and the determination in his stare sends a shiver down my spine.

I feel someone walk up behind me and place their arms around my shoulder. Mason looks over with a murderous glare.

“Ready, babycakes? I’m going to give you a ride home and stay with you as long as you need,” Knox says smoothly.

In a moment of panic and knowing I won’t be able to resist Mason if he takes me home, I nod and walk away with Knox, who has me wrapped in his arms. I feel nothing but Mason’s stare on my back as he follows us out to Knox’s truck. A feeling overwhelms me, almost like I’ve betrayed him.

Knox is a looker for sure. He’s tall, broad, and muscular, with sexy tattoos and closely cropped hair. But he doesn’t make my heart race.

Before the truck pulls away, I chance another look at Mason, and we lock eyes. Honestly, it’s exhausting trying to resist him. What if I just give in to him? He’s who I feel drawn to and who I feel like I can’t live without.

What’s the worst that can happen? If we don’t work out, we are going to have to both be adults for Savannah and Declan’s sake. That’s just all there is to it. One thing I know for certain is that I’ve never felt as safe as I do when I’m in his arms.

God, I feel like I’m spiraling, my thoughts pushing and pulling me in opposite directions. Too tired to make a decision, I let Knox drive me home, telling myself it’s easier this way.

When we pull into my driveway and Knox unbuckles his seat belt, clearly expecting to walk me to my front door, I stop him.

“Thanks for the ride home, Knox. I’ve got it from here.”

“Don’t you want me to walk you inside and tuck you into bed, Liv?” He looks at me with hooded eyes I know are more than friendly.

“No thanks. I’ve got it from here,” I reiterate, knowing I don’t want to cross that boundary with an employee.

What I really want is Mason, but since I opted to ride home with Knox, I’m alone. Lonely, scared, and I want to kick myself for being such a confused mess.

Knox leans forward, and I see he’s going to kiss me. In a panic, I turn my face and his lips land on my cheek, missing my mouth.

Looking at him, I see a brief flash of disappointment in his eyes, before he looks away and says, “Goodnight, Olivia.”

After leaving Knox and watching him pull away, I unlock my front door, switching on lights as I walk to my bedroom.

Mason’s driveway and back porch are directly visible through the window.

My wait isn’t long; he arrives a few minutes later.

He cuts the headlights of his car, then I watch as he walks to the door.

Something stops him, and he looks toward my house before bowing his head.

I know he’s contemplating coming over, and something inside me is begging and pleading that he does.

It’s not his fault I’m giving mixed signals.

He needs to come over, force his way in, and hold me tight.

I need him, but I don’t want to look desperate.

Why can’t he just take over and steamroll my life until he’s where I want him to be?

I realize I am the one at fault. He’s made it clear he’s ready to move forward with a relationship, but I can’t stop the niggling worry in the back of my head.

So much could go wrong, but if he left me no choice, I could be free of guilt if it goes badly.

I know it’s a cowardly way to think, but I can’t help being pulled in both directions.

Knox was willing to bring me home, and I know he was willing to come in.

I agreed to ride home with him, and I decided to walk away from Mason, but he didn’t protest. No, he let me leave.

This makes me wonder if I’m reading too much into the pull between Mason and me.

I want him but does he want me or am I reading too much into it?

Knox wouldn’t be a poor bet, but I don’t feel the unbearable pull between us I feel with Mason.

Knox is a friend and nothing more. An attractive friend, but one I wouldn’t be jealous of if he started dating Hadley or Piper.

I’d be over the moon for them if that happened.

If that happened with Mason, I’d lose my mind with jealousy.

Exhausted, I gratefully collapse into a hot shower after dropping my clothes on the floor. I’m disappointed that he didn’t come into my house and fuck the anxiety out of me. A man who asks before acting is not what I want. I need a man who takes what he wants—takes what belongs to him.

My heart knows I’m Mason Walker’s. Now all he needs to do is figure that out.