Page 34 of The Aster Valley Collection, Vol. 2

“Let’s get this off and put you under a quick shower. You’ll feel better, and then the EMT can bandage you up.”

After helping him bathe and dry off, I slipped into his bedroom to find him some clean, comfortable clothes. I could tell his mom wanted to go into the bathroom, but I shot her a look. “He’s not dressed.”

Her nostrils flared, but she nodded. As soon as I had clothes from his dresser, I returned to the bathroom and helped him into clean boxer briefs and some athletic pants. I left the T-shirt off so the EMT could bandage his shoulder and arm abrasions first.

When I reached for the door, Finn stopped me.

He was back to being his fresh, freckly self, and I took a minute to drink in his beautiful face and sexy body.

Even with the scrapes and bruises, he was stunning, and my heart thumped with the certainty that I wanted him to be mine.

Not just today or this week or even this month while he was in Aster Valley, but somehow…

somehow I wanted him for much longer than that.

Until he got sick of me and forced me away from him.

It would never work. I knew that. He lived in LA, and I lived in Colorado. But the bone-deep need to care for him and make sure he walked through the world feeling loved and appreciated was a part of me suddenly.

“I’m not leaving,” I said, in case he was going to apologize and try to release me again.

“I don’t care what you say. I’m not leaving here, and I’m not leaving you.

At least until you’re feeling steadier.” I couldn’t deny I was needed at the office.

As soon as I could get him settled and resting, I’d probably have to head back in.

The edge of his mouth curled into a soft smile.

“Good. I don’t want you to go yet. I decided to be selfish and keep you.

But I’m really hungry. Would you mind finding me something to eat while the medic does her thing?

I would ask the PAs to grab me something, but they were pretty spooked when I fell, and I’m not sure I trust them to go into town without spilling the beans to someone. ”

I let out a breath and nodded. “Of course. I’ll call the diner. Sometimes the owners’ son will deliver if they’re not too busy.” I remembered he knew who Solo was. “I never did ask you what you and Solo were doing at the park that day.”

His radiant smile returned, reminding me of how happy he’d been in the park. “I’m helping him and his friends learn Shakespeare. He said if he doesn’t pass his summer school class, his dads will make him quit the diner. I think he’s saving up for a car.”

When I opened the bathroom door, his mother rushed over. “Oh, my poor baby!”

I leaned over and pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “I’ll be back. Any special requests? I’ll get enough for a crowd.”

He shook his head and mouthed thank you as his mother and the EMT quickly ushered him away from me.

When I called the diner, Pim answered and admitted they were too busy for delivery. I placed a large order of burgers and sandwiches and headed out to pick them up. On the way back to town, I called Tess to give her a quick update so she would know where I was and why Shawn might get called in.

“As long as Finn’s okay?” she asked.

“He’s just a bit banged up. I think it terrified him, though. He looked pretty spooked, and so did the two production assistants who saw it happen.”

“Why doesn’t he use a stunt double? It doesn’t make any sense.

” I appreciated her concern and completely agreed.

But I also understood how he’d gotten himself into his predicament.

He’d been treated like a child for so long, and rock climbing was one of the activities that made him feel competent.

To be an accomplished rock climber and let someone else film your rock climbing scenes would be hard to bear.

“It’s a long story. Everything okay with you and the baby?” I asked her.

“Yep. This little monster is on a salad kick which is probably a good thing. Tell Finn if he wants a couch potato buddy to watch movies with, I’m his gal.”

“I will. Call or text if you need me, okay?”

“Declan?”

“Yeah?”

“You don’t have to be everyone’s person, you know.”

She knew how hard that would be for me to hear regardless of how right she was. “What if I want to?” I teased her. I knew she didn’t mean to imply I shouldn’t be there for Finn. She was more selfless than that.

“I’m just saying, I’m okay for a while. Go be with Finn.

He needs you. Besides, your friend Truman brought over a basket of fresh veggies from his garden and asked if I wanted to come hang out at his spice shop this evening.

He’s doing some kind of seminar on homeopathic stuff for preggos and new parents.

He said it’s a good place to connect with other Aster Vallians who are…

what did he call it?… ‘harboring a fugitive.’” Her laugh rang out and made me smile.

“I forgot to tell you that. I died laughing. He’s freaking adorable. ”

When I arrived at the diner, I quickly ended the call and made my way inside to pick up the food. Solo was finishing packing everything up at the front counter.

“Hey, Sheriff,” he said with a smile. “Your crew at the station are going to love you today.”

“I’m off duty,” I said. “Taking it to Finn and some folks up at the lodge.”

He glanced over where Pim was busy taking someone’s order. He lowered his voice. “Ah. Well, tell him I said we’re on for another session on Wednesday night.”

“I’ll let him know. Hey, Solo? You’ve been doing some odd jobs for Mrs. Brainthwaite. Any chance you know what’s going on with her car?”

He looked at me in confusion as he swiped my credit card through the machine. “What do you mean? Is it acting up? I’m not really good with mechanical stuff about cars.”

“No, nothing like that. I keep meaning to ask you about this. Her car has been taken out of her driveway several times and left around town. She said sometimes she loans it to you…”

Suddenly, Solo’s face widened in fear. “Sheriff Stone, you have to know I would never, ever use her car without permission. I promise.”

I shook my head and tried reassuring him. “No. Sorry. I didn’t mean to imply you took it. I was only wondering if there’d been a misunderstanding or anything.”

He pursed his lip for a minute while my receipt printed out.

He slid it with a pen over for my signature.

“Are you sure… I mean… she’s kinda getting up there.

And sometimes she gets a little confused?

I wonder if maybe she’s forgetting loaning it to someone else or…

I don’t know. But I told my dads about a time earlier this summer when she called me the wrong name.

They said it sometimes happens when you get older, but it seems like it’s happening more and more. ”

Shit. I was going to have to figure out how to handle a delicate situation. But I was glad Solo didn’t have anything to do with the joyrides. When Finn had mentioned him wanting a car, I hadn’t known what to think.

“Okay, I’ll handle it. Thanks.” I picked up the big bags of takeout containers. “And tell Pim and Bill thanks, too.”

“You’ll tell Finn about the… thing?”

I nodded. “Promise.”

When I got back to the chalet, it was a damned circus. I handed most of the food bags to the PAs and told them to take everyone outside to the picnic tables and hand out the food. I recognized both the director and the show runner right away.

It took all of my self-control to put on my diplomatic mask. “Nolan, Shelly, nice to see you again.”

Nolan’s eyes widened comically, and he turned to Shelly as if to ask her what the hell the sheriff was doing there. She shrugged and kept her eyes on me.

“Sheriff, what can we help you with?” she asked.

I held up the remaining bag of food. “Burger delivery for the leading actor. Aster Valley is a full-service town.”

While they stood there trying to figure out what the hell I’d meant, I slipped past them into Finn’s bedroom.

“Please stop, Mom,” Finn was saying, pushing her hand away where she seemed to be doing that mother thing of putting the back of her hand against his forehead. “I don’t have a fever. I’m fine. I just want some peace and quiet for a little while. Can you please?—”

He noticed me standing by the door, and his lips curved into a smile. His face had a bandage on it, and I noticed another on one of his elbows. He’d managed to get the T-shirt on and was partway under the covers in his bed. His hair had partially dried into a mismatch of brown waves.

“Hey,” I said. “Still hungry?”

Finn sat up a little and swung his legs over the edge. “Starving. Let’s go eat at the table in the kitchen. I don’t want to get food in the bed.”

Things were awkward between Finn’s mom and me before Finn realized we hadn’t exactly been introduced. “Declan, this is my mom, Lola Heller. Mom, this is Declan Stone, the sheriff of Aster Valley.” His eyes sparkled at me despite how tired he looked. “And my friend.”

I shifted the food to my left hand and reached out my right to shake hers. She was obviously hesitant, maybe unsure of why local law enforcement was on the scene.

“Nice to meet you, ma’am,” I said. “Excuse the uniform. I came from work, but I’m not here in any official capacity.”

She seemed to relax at my words and consented to a handshake. The three of us moved out to the living area of the small chalet and sat at the table. Nolan and Shelly still stood in the open space and stared at me like I was a bomb about to detonate. I ignored them and began unpacking food for Finn.

He looked a little better, but seeing the bandages pissed me the fuck off. I wanted to speak my mind, ask in a loud obnoxious tone why the climbing supervisor hadn’t been on set for one of the most challenging technical climbing scenes of the entire film. But it wasn’t my place.

As Finn had said, I was a friend.

And I had to trust him to manage his own career the way he saw fit.

Until his mother didn’t freaking shut up.