He stepped in front of me. “Brin…”
Then I felt it. A rage so clean, so powerful, I was surprised I didn’t levitate, my body was shaking so hard. “My name is Sabrina King. You can call me Ms. King. Because that’s all I am to you now, sheriff. Now get the fuck out of my way.”
I didn’t know what he’d been about to say, but it didn’t matter. He must have realized that, too, because he did as I asked and stepped out of my path.
I drove back to the ranch. Made sure all the doors and windows were locked. Got my gun back out from the storage unit, took Romeo, and went to bed.
And I stayed there for three days until Ronnie came and got me.
* * *
GARRETT
The Bar—A Week Later
Jack walked to where I was sitting at the bar. This time I didn’t have to ask; he just poured the whiskey and slid in front of me. I knocked it back in one shot and then pushed the glass in his direction again.
“You going to get drunk?”
“That’s the plan,” I said as I waited for him to pour the second glass. “But see that strapping young deputy sitting at the end of the bar? I’m paying him to drive me home. Out of my own pocket. Wouldn’t want you to think I was abusing taxpayer dollars.”
“Why is he sitting at the other end of the bar?” Jack asked as he pushed another drink in front of me. This time I just sipped it.
“Because I don’t want company.” That wasn’t true. I ached for company. Just not my deputy’s.
“If you were going to get shit drunk and brood, why didn’t you just stay home?”
“Because she’s there.”
“Hmm. Thought I heard Sabrina was back at The King’s Land. Her sisters and her sister’s fiancé were in here this week,” he said, explaining why he might have an idea of where she was.
God, just hearing her name hurt. Sabrina. What the fuck did I do? I took another swig of the whiskey. I had done the drink-at-home-to-oblivion thing most of the week. Working hungover had sucked. At least tomorrow I was off. But I hadn’t been able to take being in my home another minute.
“It still smells like her,” I admitted. “Fucking lasagna and brownies and the bed sheets… I’ve washed them twice but she’s there. She’s still fucking there.”
“Hmm.”
“What?”
Jack shook his head. “Just trying to figure out what’s got you so upset when you dumped her.”
“I didn’t dump her,” I growled. I’d yelled at her. Called her a liar. Pushed her away because she was getting to me. Making me want things I told myself I couldn’t have.
That first night I’d spent angry at her for leaving and not fighting back. The second night I’d debated with myself if I should go get her back. That’s when I decided to get drunk instead.
By the third night the doubt started to creep in. Maybe I could have Brin as mine. Maybe I could let myself be the man who worshipped at her feet…who loved her.
But on the heels of that was the memory of what I’d said to her.
I cringed now even thinking about it.
“Not what her sister said. Ronnie, is it? I asked her where Sabrina was. That I hadn’t seen her around, and she said she was at home getting over being dumped by you. Have to say she seemed pretty pissed at you when she said it. You might want to avoid The King’s Land for the foreseeable future. Especially tonight.”
“What’s tonight?”
“The big engagement party,” Jack said. “That’s why it’s dead in here.”
I looked around and it occurred to me that it was quiet. Not typical for a Friday night. I had completely forgot about the party. And then it occurred to me how stupid a party was.
