Chapter 2

Mia on the other hand, just couldn’t seem to find that attractive. Maybe it was because her father and mother always treated her as an equal not a child and because of that she always felt that the boys in high school weren’t that appealing to her. Although Liam was older than her and more mature, but she always felt as if he were a male friend, and could never see him in the boyfriend role. Regardless, it wasn’t as if she had any spare time on her hands for a relationship anyway.

The next day she discovered that Lisa wasn’t lying about the new deputy sheriff. Lisa’s dad had phoned over an order from the diner for the guys and her father asked her to deliver it. Normally Joan would do the deliveries because she loved to visit with everyone, but since this was her day off it was Mia’s job.

“Hi honey,” Said Eleanor, the clerk as Lisa came in the front door, “Ted said he ordered lunch for the men. Did Joan go to her nephew’s wedding?” She slung the phone over her shoulder. Obviously she was in the middle of a call when Mia came in and just interrupted it to talk to her.

She grinned looking at the receiver on her shoulder, “Hi Ellie. Yes, she did. Aren’t you on the phone?”

Ellie shook her head, “It’s just old Mrs Herman thinking the neighbour is spying on her and her poodle again.”

That made Mia laugh because Mrs. Herman’s neighbour was at least ten years older than her and she was in her mid seventies, “Maybe you should set them up on a date. They’re both widows.”

“I’m tempted, maybe then she would quit calling me to talk about her haemorrhoids.” She said as she rolled her eyes. Then she lifted the receiver and listened for a second before setting it back on her shoulder, “Now it’s psoriasis.”

Mia burst into another fit of giggles and shook her head at her, “Where did you want this?” She lifted the box of sandwiches in her hands.

‘If you don’t mind hun, I’ll just let you through and you can take it in the back, I’m a little busy.” She grinned as she pointed to the receiver before reaching under the counter and pressed a button causing a distinct buzz to sound.

“Thanks.” Mia reached for the door while trying to balance the box of sandwiches. A chorus of greetings went off from the men and woman in the room when she walked in and she gave them a brief curtsy with a grin causing them to laugh, “A woman bearing food is always a welcome sight to a room full of hungry men.”

“More than you know,” said Liam practically jumping out of his chair to help her by taking the box from her hands, “By the way, when are you going to go out with me?” He flashed her a flattering grin as he tossed a wrapped sandwich to Merrill, who caught it easily, “Corned beef, yuck, how do you eat that?”

“All about the taste buds Liam.” He said as he unwrapped it and took a healthy bite and groaned

“I already told you Liam—“

“That I was just a friend.” He looked down at her, “Yeah, but I’m thinking we should change that.” He gave her what he thought was his most charming grin, but it didn’t affect her at all. Liam never had a problem getting women, but for some reason Mia never fell for any of his tricks. It was unfortunate, because he really liked her, but she’d made it clear that she only saw him as a friend.

She gave him a warm smile, “Not today, and don’t hold your breath” she teased and waved, “See you all later.”

Numerous, ‘bye Mia—honey’ came from the group as she turned to leave just to bump into a wall. At least she thought it was, but walls didn’t grunt.

Slowly she guided her eyes up a thick chest contained within the familiar deputy uniform to the tan skin at his neck, stubble dusted jaw and onto one of the most handsome rugged faces she’d ever seen including striking green eyes with gold flecks contained within. “I—I’m so sorry.” She stuttered.

It was odd that neither one of them moved after that impact, but just stood there toe to toe. Suddenly she became more occupied with the warmth of his body and his distinct masculine odour. Yet, both of their eyes remained locked on one another. Then she felt it. Although she had to admit, a ‘spark’ didn’t quite cut it. It was more of a flash fire and when he spoke the warmth spread quickly through her whole body. Oh my.

“Mia.” He said in a low deep voice, almost intimately and Mia blushed completely because it wasn’t question. He knew exactly who she was.

The buzz of the door sounded at that moment, “Coming through!” rang a masculine voice behind them.

Although she didn’t look at him, Mia recognized it belonging to Justin Lang as he pushed man through the door holding on to his arm. As it was she and the new deputy were standing in front of the door and when Justin spoke, he circled his long arm around her back and curled his fingers at her ribcage to pull her out of the way. His hold was so surprising that she near gasped. Then to her surprise she felt it tighten for an instant but he still didn’t release her. However he still didn’t move away from her and now she could feel her chest make contact with the warmth of his body sending shivers through her. She was so spellbound by the large man’s proximity that she barely heard the conversation behind her.

“What do you have there Justin,” said Liam.

Oddly enough, the newcomer was making enough noise to draw attention from them, so no one seemed to notice the embrace the large deputy had on Mia.

“Sit down punk!” he shoved the guy into a seat before answering Liam, “this guy thought he could try and hide the bag of coke he had, then when I discovered it he had the balls to swing at me.”

“Not to bright.”

“Screw you.” Said the guy and guided his eyes to Mia, “Well, yum, yum. Speaking of screwing—“

“Shut up,” said Justin flicking his apologetic eyes to Mia who was wide-eyed.

“Come on, I’ll see you out.” Said the man still holding on to her waist causing her to quiver from the sound of his voice. Again she felt his hand on her, but he’d taken her arm this time.

“You don’t need to see this.”

“Hey big guy,” called the thug, “When you’re done with her bring her back in—I don’t mind used goods!”

“Shut the hell up!” Justin cuffed him hard across the side of the head this time and the man howled.

“Oh God.” She said thoroughly embarrassed at his words as the Deputy led her outside.

“Don’t listen.” He said beside her.

“I’m trying.” She said softly. It was already forgotten as his hand tightened around her arm in reassurance. Mostly she was trying to calm her thudding heart at his touch.

Once outside he turned her gently to face him, “Since I already know your name, my name is Gage Hart.” He said with a sensuous smile while tipping his hat.

“Hi.” She managed. The man made her absolutely breathless, like she’d just run a marathon.

“I’ll be seeing you around Mia.” He gave her a sinful grin before he turned and went back into the station.

Mia must’ve stood there for five minutes absolutely stunned. Never in her life could she imagine the type of feelings he instilled him her in only a few minutes of having him touch her. She started wondering if maybe it was because she was so vulnerable after her mother’s death and she felt so lonely since. Her father tried to comfort her, but it just wasn’t what she needed. However, was this man? Just that smile he gave her actually made her mouth water. My God, anything else he did would probably have her drooling. One thing was certain, that was a dangerous attraction which actually frightened her a little. Maybe it had something to do with not ever having a man touch her like that. He seemed to know that she wouldn’t protest. She’d seen it in his eyes and oh, what amazing eyes he had. Also when he’d held her about the waist, and she recalled the strength in that gesture. His arm was solid and hard. It was obvious that he was confident in his ability to handle a woman and not have her protest because that certainly was the last thing she would do. For once she wouldn’t disagree with Lisa’s opinion of a man. Everything she said was right on the nose. Sighing heavily she turned and went back to work thinking that he was a dangerous attraction and way out of her league.

Gage went back into the building but he turned and watched the woman with intelligent eyes through the glass of the doors. He made sure she couldn’t see him, just like he’d been doing for the past few months when he watched her. He’d heard the boys in the station talk about her, but it certainly didn’t do her justice and it if weren’t for his years of experience of keeping his expression unreadable, he probably would have let his jaw drop. He knew she was pretty because he’d been watching her, but up close she was stunning, almost in an exotic way. Her hair was black but under the sun he could see subtle streaks of red. She wore it in a braid but it went to her waist and he was sure it was a soft as it looked. She had a lovely oval face with high cheeks, a soft bow mouth, and large sapphire eyes surrounded by thick lashes. Her skin was nicely tanned, but not too much like she’d been spending time in a tanning booth but more of being outside under the sun.

Then there was the way she reacted to his touch. He felt her stiffen and heard her breath pause when he wrapped his arm around her waist to move her out of Justin’s path. She was the type of woman he could have held all day. Then, when those soft breasts of hers pushed up against him, he felt the overwhelming urge to bend his head and kiss her. Somehow he didn’t think she’d protest. Gage knew women, because he had his fair share and he knew how he looked to them, but he actually reacted to this one completely surprising himself.

“She’s pretty, isn’t she?”

Gage had forgotten about Eleanor. He turned to look at the older woman who had a glint of knowledge in her eyes. “She is.” He said honestly.

“She’s single honey.”

Gage actually grinned, “I heard.”

Eleanor chuckled, “I suppose you have.” She said leaning forward on the counter suddenly dropping her smile, “However, a big man like you is in his prime and if you start going after that sweet young thing, you be careful about not hurting her. Mia’s a doll and everyone loves her, I mean everyone. She just lost her mother too. So if you hurt her, you’ll have half the town wanting to string you up.”

Gage had heard all of that too, but it wasn’t going to dissuade him. Not much could frighten him with his past and after that brief meeting he already knew he wanted her. “I hear you Ellie.” He said as charming as he could followed by a rakish grin causing the older woman to blush. Something she never did.