Page 9 of Protected by the Sheriff (Magnolia Falls #2)

Mason

A fter leaving my pissed-off neighbor to stew all night, I head to the office the next morning to get ahead on emails and deal with a couple of reports of domestic disturbances.

It’s too fucking early in the morning for wives calling in on their drunken husbands and leaving them locked outside to sleep off their nights at Tassels, the local strip club.

Once I’ve done all I need to do at the office, I decide to make a stop at the local tattoo shop and see what my pretty girl came up with.

There is no way that she’ll entertain wearing stark whites and gray tones.

She’s done something to strike back; I just know it.

My dick hardens at the thought of her feisty little ass getting spanked for whatever she’s planning.

As I walk into Branded by Olivia, I’m hit by the bright hot pink walls and deep purple accent color that is truly reminiscent of Olivia’s personality.

The shop is a reflection of her, filled with her carefully chosen items, creating a welcoming ambiance that speaks volumes about her tastes and personality.

The scent of jasmine and cherry blossom hangs heavy in the air, a fragrance that reminds me of her.

I’ve been here before, but I didn’t take the time to look around.

The short, fairy-like girl with black hair and gauges in her ears, named Hadley, mans the receptionist desk and is currently on the phone. When her eyes land on me, they widen in surprise.

“Sheriff Walker? Two days in a row? We are starting to feel special.”

I can see the artists sitting in their chairs, each working on a client. My eyes land on the huge guy, Knox. He’s a good-looking man, and one I don’t like working around my woman every day.

My woman? I’m not sure why she’s become my woman in my mind, but she has, and there’s no going back.

Knox is taller and more muscular than I am.

He looks at Olivia with something other than respect and friendship, and it pisses me off that he gets to spend his days with her while I have to be away from her.

I’m becoming more obsessed with her by the day, and I don’t know how much longer I can contain my need for her.

No matter who the man was working with Olivia, I think I’d have the same feelings of dislike and jealousy towards them, but the fact that he’s what women consider handsome to look at really burns me up.

There’s never been a woman I felt possessive of before.

My mom and sister-in-law are the only ones I’ve felt this protective towards, but never possessive.

It also isn’t lost on me that I broke my rules when I kissed Olivia, but after feeling her tight little body underneath mine, I want her—no, I need her back in my bed.

The bell announces the arrival of a customer: a middle-aged man in a fitted suit, his salt-and-pepper hair slicked back, a self-satisfied smirk playing on his lips.

The sharp, citrusy scent of his expensive cologne fills my nostrils.

It’s peculiar. This man—his presence somehow off-putting—clearly isn’t a paying customer.

He seems oily and slick, his fake smile somehow amplified by the way he pulls out a handkerchief after opening the door, meticulously wiping his hand, as if the doorknob were crawling with unseen germs.

He approaches the receptionist. “Can I speak to the owner, please?”

Again, I’m hit with the unsettling realization that his smile is a mask—a thin, stretched veil over something cold and calculating. He sniffs delicately, a look of disgust crossing his features, before wiping his hand on the handkerchief again as if to erase a stain both visible and invisible.

I hear her footsteps approaching before I see her. It sounds like little taps of her feet on the tile floor. As my gaze lands on her, I feel my blood pressure rise exponentially.

“What the fuck are you wearing, Liv?”

How dare she flaunt herself to others like this, dammit. As quickly as the thought surfaces, I shut that shit down, reminding myself that Olivia is not, and never will be, mine.

She smirks at me. “I’m wearing exactly what you left me to wear when you stole all of my clothes.” The little brat then turns to the smarmy man in a suit, putting her back to me, and ignores me. She has some nerve.

“Yes, sir. I’m the owner. Olivia Lane. What can I help you with?”

“Mrs. Lane—”

“Ms.,” Olivia interjects. For some reason, I’m hit with the need to hear her say her name is Mrs. Walker. Shaking off the thought, I listen in.

“Ms. Lane, my name is Bryan Richards. I own the development company Richards’ Land and Resorts.

We are looking to turn Magnolia Falls into a resort town by building malls and hotels for families to visit while they are here in the Smoky Mountains.

I’ve previously contacted you via letter, letting you know that there is an offer on the table for your property. ”

As Mr. Richards’ eyes skate around the room, he scowls.

“We, of course, are willing to make a very competitive offer, and I just wanted to make sure you received our letter.”

“I received it, but I’m not interested. Thank you for the offer.” Olivia turns to walk away when Bryan Richards makes the mistake of a lifetime. He reaches out and grabs her wrist, stopping her escape.

“I don’t think I’ve made myself clear, Ms. Lane. This isn’t a joke. This deal is going to happen, and we can do it the easy way or the hard way.”

A growl emanates from my chest. “Get your hands off her. NOW.”

“Excuse me? I don’t believe I asked you to insert yourself into this conversation,” he snaps.

“I don’t believe I said you could touch what belongs to me, so you have three seconds to remove your fucking hands from my woman.”

The eyes of each employee land on Mr. Richards, before ping-ponging back to me.

Olivia jerks her hand away from Bryan Richards and clips, “I said, I’m not interested in selling and there won’t be any further discussion on this topic.”

“Ms. Lane, I’m afraid you misunderstand me; I’m not giving you the option to turn me down. You can take the offer my company has generously prepared, or we can take the building down ourselves. Don’t make me do something that we will both regret.”

Stepping forward, I place my hand on my hip holster, and Mr. Richards’ eyes dart quickly to the gun on my side.

“Was that a threat I just heard, Mr. Richards? I believe the lady said she’s not interested in selling her land or the building that sits on it.

There won’t be any more discussion. If you persist, I will be forced to handcuff you and charge you with harassment and trespassing. ”

All I see is red. I want to protect Liv, and this smarmy fuck is not a respectable businessman.

He’s an opportunist willing to manipulate and bully business owners to get what he wants, and I refuse to stand by and allow him to do that to Olivia or the business that she’s worked her ass off to build.

My fists clench, knuckles turning bone-white. This isn’t just about money; it’s about principle. He’ll learn that some things are worth fighting for, even if it means getting my hands dirty. Liv deserves better than this.

The man steps forward until we stand toe to toe and nose to nose. “You do not want to go against me on this, Sheriff. With my connections, I can ensure you won’t have a job by nightfall.”

“I’m not scared of you, and any threats that you make are recorded on my vest cam. I will be making a report when I return to the department.”

We stay in our standoff for a beat before Bryan Richards turns, handkerchief still in hand, and sees himself out of the shop.

I turn to see tears in Olivia’s eyes. She shudders in fear. I step forward and wrap my arms around her and bring her into my arms. “It’s alright, darlin’. I won’t let him hurt you or this business.”

Liv’s sniffles are my undoing. Picking her up bridal-style, I walk back down the hall toward the back of the shop. Hadley runs ahead and opens the door to Liv’s office for us. With a nod of thanks, I walk in and place her on my lap as I sit on the couch over to the side of the room.

Leaning forward, I press my lips against her forehead.

A soft sigh escapes her lips, the tension slowly ebbing away.

Hadley, ever the observant one, quietly retreats, leaving us in the comforting silence of the dimly lit office.

The scent of lavender from her aromatherapy diffuser hangs heavily in the air, a subtle counterpoint to the lingering adrenaline.

I stroke her hair, whispering reassurances until her breathing evens and the tremors subside into gentle rises and falls of her chest.

After a few sniffles, Liv gets up off my lap, standing and fixing her too-short clothing.

She clears her throat and then puffs out her chest, and I see her emotional wall snap back into place.

“Thank you, Mason, for helping me with that guy. He’s probably not going to bother me anymore after that pissing contest you two had. ”

Standing over her, I reach out and push her hair back from her forehead.

I place a soft kiss there and lock gazes with her.

“If he comes back, call me or the department immediately, Olivia. He’s not on the up-and-up.

Any land developer who resorts to issuing threats like that is not law-abiding, and there is no telling what he’ll do. ”

“I’ll be fine. Thanks,” she says as she turns her back to me. I look down and see her thighs and the bottom of her ass cheeks hanging from the cut-off sweatpants.

“You are not going back out there in those shorts.” Even as the words leave my mouth, I see the exposed skin of her back. It’s velvety smooth and perfect. My mouth waters at the thought of licking her.

“Mason, you took my clothes. I had nothing to wear, and these pants were way too long for me. I had no choice but to cut them into shorts.”

“You didn’t need to cut them THAT short.”

Olivia turns on her heels and raises one eyebrow as she smirks. “Why would you care how short my clothes are?”

Snapping, I grab her hips and push my hard cock into her. “Because this is mine and I don’t want other assholes looking at it. You are mine. Do you understand? Mine!!!” I growl and attack her mouth, shoving my tongue inside and devouring her.

Olivia shoves my chest away and we separate, both panting. “Mason, we have to stop. We can’t keep doing this. Declan and Savannah need us, and if we allow ourselves to give in and this doesn’t work out…” Her voice trails off.

“But what if it does work out, Liv? What if you are meant to be mine? I know you feel this as much as I do, and I’m tired of fighting my feelings.”

“It’s a risk I can’t take. Savannah is my family, and I can’t risk tearing that family apart. She’s finally happy with Declan. He’s good to her and she deserves happiness.” Liv’s eyes water as she looks away.

“What about our happiness, Olivia?”

Liv refuses to meet my gaze; instead, she walks away, leaving me standing in her office alone.

I can’t turn off the feelings I have for her now.

She’s going to fight me on this but like I said, some things are worth fighting for.

I think Olivia Lane is one of those things, and I’m gearing up for the fight of my life.

There are boundaries that I never thought I would cross, but now my mind is wandering into crazy places.

I’m willing to do things I’ve never considered doing before if it gets me what I want.

And what I want more than anything is for Olivia to be mine.

My woman. Wearing my ring and having my last name.

The next thought that enters my mind is truly insane.

Pregnant with my child. I realize this is what I need and what I want.

Olivia needs to take my last name and be the mother of my children.

I’m in this for the long haul, and I’m willing to do anything to make it happen.

I want her tied to me in every way a man can own a woman.

I realized when I saw all her clothes in the closet next to mine that I liked them there. She needs to be in my home and in my bed.

I’ve been terrified of letting a woman have control of my life after everything I witnessed with Declan, but I know Olivia isn’t like Lisa. She’d never do the things that lunatic did.

Decision made, a sense of peace settles over me. It’s a feeling I’ve never experienced before but somehow, it feels right.