Picnic in Someday Valley (Honey Creek #2)(5)

Thanks to Colby watching over her, Boone’s plan failed. Boone was in jail and Colby was now a Texas Ranger.

But what was between her and Colby had nothing to do with the fire or a crime. She’d simply fallen for him hard. Too hard. She was a sensible, career-minded mayor. She wasn’t supposed to fall in love with the officer assigned to watch over her. But she had, and now that he was transferred to Austin, she missed him terribly.

Maybe she should slow down this time. Take her time with Colby. Get to know him better before she risked their careers. Play it cool. She could say this three months apart had given her time to think, and she wasn’t ready to move to the next level. Colby would understand. He might even be relieved. He was as serious about being a Texas Ranger as she was about advancing in government.

Trooper Colby McBride had been assigned to do a job, then leave town. He belonged in Austin. It made sense to take their time. But she couldn’t talk her mind out of what her heart wanted. She loved Colby.

Her heels tapped the polished oak floor. He was doing his job, she knew that, but she wanted him here. Phone calls couldn’t substitute for having him next to her. Neither did the public encounters they had in court or interviews during the trial. Thanks to her two big brothers who had both been Texas Rangers for years, Colby and she had never found a moment alone when she had to testify at Boone’s trial.

She wanted Colby in her arms, in her life, and in her bed. Slowing down would probably be harder than staying on that egg and grapefruit diet she tried in college. She’d gained ten pounds from celebrating every night after staying on the diet all day.

“Piper!” Autumn, her secretary, yelled from one room away. “You’re going to wear out the floor.”

The mayor peeked out of her office and glanced across Autumn’s always spotless desk. “He was supposed to be here an hour ago.”

Autumn stood and leaned against her office window. Her pregnant belly shined the glass. “I think I see him turning the corner. He’s riding that old Harley. You’ve got to tell him to stop riding that thing or before we know it, he’ll be nothing but bug guts on the windshield of some trucker’s rig.”

Piper kicked off her high heels and ran. By the time Autumn turned around, Piper was halfway down the new metal staircase.

She darted out the back door of city hall and ran right into Colby’s arms.

The Texas Ranger took the blow laughing. He lifted her off the ground and tried to kiss her as he carried her out of the rain. Bold, fast kisses salted by her happy tears.

They were almost inside when Tyrone Tilley walked past. The chubby little man stepped on the grass so Colby could get by. “Evening, Mayor,” Tyrone said formally as if he didn’t notice them midnight kissing on the rainy afternoon.

Piper looked up. “Colby’s back,” was all she could think to say.

“I noticed.” Tyrone tipped his umbrella. “Glad to see you’re home, sir.”

Piper waited three seconds, then she went back to kissing Colby. Maybe she’d tell Colby they’d start taking it slow tomorrow.

Once they were in the stairwell, he let her feet touch the floor and kissed her just like she liked to be kissed. Long and slow with their bodies so close they seemed to melt together.

“I missed you, babe,” he whispered. “I’ve got a three-day weekend, but I have to be back and fully functional Tuesday morning.”

“Three whole days.”

He laughed. “And four nights. Any chance you’re still sleeping upstairs at the Honey Creek Café? We could wake up a few ghosts in that place.”

“Everyone in town will know we’re there.” A perfect weekend lost a bit of its shine. Everyone would watch them, talk about them. They already did.

“I don’t care. You’re my girl. We’ll sleep until noon, then go down and eat, then go back to bed.”

For a long moment he held her, rocking her gently as if they were slow dancing. She didn’t mention that she’d have to do her weekly radio spot at eight o’clock on Saturday, or that he’d probably have to report in to the sheriff and fill LeRoy in on what was happening with Boone’s appeal.

For a while she just wanted them to be a man and woman in love.

In love? Another chip fell off Heaven.

Colby McBride, the man who’d run through fire to save her life, who made love to her like she’d never been loved, who’d do anything for her, had never said he loved her.

He kissed her forehead. “We’ll figure it out, PJ. Right now it’s enough just to be close to you.”

Laughing, she whispered, “The widows want you to come spend the night at Widows Park. They promised to have the downstairs bedroom ready for you and breakfast cooking by seven if you ever came back.”

“Where would you sleep?”

“My room upstairs, and every step on the stairs creaks.” He shook his head. “Maybe I can get Digger to reserve the back cabin for us. Then the only one watching us will be that raccoon.”

“No luck there. Old Digger left for a vacation. Closed up the lodge.”

She could feel Colby’s arms tighten slightly around her and she laughed. “Don’t worry, I’ve got a plan.”

He smiled. “I hope so, because making love in that tiny office of yours will not do for what I have in mind.”