I Know You Love Me (7 page)

"Were you planning on wearing this today? I mean, I found it lying on your bed when I came in."

Tightening his hold around her, he nuzzled her neck. She was babbling. She was cute when she babbled.

"I laid it out for you to wear. Guess you could say I had high hopes for tonight."

Allison ran a finger slowly down his face and across his lips. “Do you love me, Drew? Is that why you've been acting so strangely? Jimmy says you're acting weirder than normal, doing crazy things you've never done before. You asked me to marry you, but you've yet to profess your love for me, and no, calling me Love doesn't count."

"Promise not to run away if I say yes?” The smile that crossed her face made him even more ready to finally have her in his bed.

"If you say yes, my dear Sheriff, your life will never be the same again. I take these matters very seriously."

"Yes Allison, I do believe I am quite thoroughly in love with you.” Drew closed his eyes to fully enjoy those words. After Sam had abandoned him during their first year of marriage, he didn't expect to ever feel love again. He'd even gone out of his way to avoid it. Then he met this beauty, and after a few days of being told what to do, ignored, and pushed away, she had him firmly wrapped around her little finger and completely smitten.

"Well then, Sheriff, I think we should retire for the evening. We have a long couple of days ahead of us.” Allison absentmindedly ran her fingers down his chest. “Tell me, Drew, do you own a suit?"

Laughing, Drew stood with her firmly in his arms. “Yes, Love. I own a suit, and I completely agree that we should go to bed now."

The last things he expected after the way she'd been acting was for her to get aggressive. Her kiss held such passion, it blew him completely away. “Good Lord, woman. Where did that come from?” Her sweet laughter was the most heart-warming sound he'd heard in years.

"Consider that my way of telling you that I think I love you too."

"Woman, you'll be the death of me."

"Are you complaining, Sheriff? Because..."

"Excuse me. Sheriff, you're needed...sorry, I didn't realize you had company...Miss McKay?"

Allison hid her face against Drew's chest in embarrassment. Damn the man for interrupting him now.

"You were saying Deputy?"

"I saw nothing. I see nothing."

Drew smiled in satisfaction. The boy knew he was still on a thin rope for his earlier misdeeds and needed to watch his back or he'd lose his job yet.

"What is it, Michael?"

"It can wait; you're busy."

Drew waived the thinly veiled excuse away. It never stopped Michael before when he had a woman in his house, so why now?

"I'm just negotiating my future, Michael. Think our town can handle having Allison around fulltime?"

Michael frowned and threw Allison an impressed look. “Depends on whether or not you and Jimmy can live peacefully with her around."

"I think we'll be fine, won't we, Love?"

Allison smiled softly at him and kissed his lips. “Jimmy won't be a problem; we've come to an understanding. Now, I think I'll leave you two boys alone to talk shop while I go freshen up."

When she stood to go, Drew gave her ass a sharp swat, relishing the look of repercussion she threw him before entering the bedroom. “What's up, Michael?"

"There's an emergency down at the station. They need you to settle a dispute."

Drew wasn't about to let anything spoil his first night alone with his new fiancee. “Get Jimmy to deal with it. He's the one on duty tonight."

Michael snorted in annoyance. “He's out on a call and told me to get you. He said, and I quote, ‘Get the Sheriff and make sure he brings his lady along.’”

"Give me five minutes.” Drew curbed his annoyance at the intrusion, hating every second of the time it would take away from his alone time with Allison. At least Jimmy thought to suggest he bring her along. She wouldn't feel like he abandoned her this way...he hoped.

"Allison, sweetheart, we need to go down to the station for a....” Seeing her with her hair completely down for the first time since they met threw him for a loop. The woman was a knock out. “You should leave your hair down all the time. You look beautiful."

"You, my dear man, are biased...well, either that or horny. Besides, I can't go anywhere; I left my pants in Jimmy's bedroom."

Drew laughed and picked up the phone. He'd completely forgotten about that little detail. They had been on their way to bed, so she hadn't needed her suitcase until morning. Besides, he liked her pants-free.

"Hey Jeremy, can you please run over Allison's jeans? Oh, and she needs her suitcases, too. So you may as well drop those off while you're at it.” Hanging up the phone, he flashed her a grin. “See, all settled. Jeremy said he'd be right over."

"Drew, this is work, not play. I should stay here."

His grin widened as he slipped his arms around her waist. “Jimmy said to bring my girl along, and that's what I'm doing."

"Drew?"

They both turned toward the sound of Jeremy's voice. “In the master bedroom, Jeremy."

"Hi. Here's Allison's...wow, Ali. You wear Drew's jersey better than you do Jimmy's. Just don't tell him I said that; I'll be eating my own cooking for a month if he found out."

Allison laughed and ruffled his hair. “I promise it's between us."

Jeremy frowned and pulled away. “Hey, stop that; I'm not a kid anymore. You're gonna mess up my hair."

Drew grinned and took the suitcases from the kid. “Hey, Jeremy, if this thing at work takes too long would you mind keeping Allison company tonight?"

The way his eyes lit up at the opportunity, Drew knew if Jeremy were older he'd have some stiff competition on his hands for his girl's affections.

"Sure. We could have another game night, or watch a movie, or..."

Allison giggled and walked into the bathroom. “Sleep, Jeremy. That's all I'll be good for tonight, once I take my pain medication. All I really want before that is a nice tall glass of wine."

Jeremy turned to go make her wish a reality. “I'll make sure Jimmy's bed is made and ready. I can even come to pick you up later if you need me to. We could stop at the liquor store for that wine you asked for."

Drew laughed at his eagerness. “You go do that, and we'll call you if she needs a ride.” Jimmy wasn't going to be anywhere near his house tonight, so there was no harm in letting Allison stay with Jeremy while he took care of the emergency.

He watched the kid leave with an extra bounce in his step. Walking toward his closet, he stopped long enough to step into the bathroom to brush Allison's neck with a kiss before getting his uniform. “I'm going to change my uniform, be right back."

"Promises, promises. You just want to look spotless for your admirers. By the way, where did Jeremy drop my suitcase?"

"I put it by the bed, but I think he left your jeans in the living room. Want me to get them?"

Laughing, she stuck her tongue out at him and headed into the living room to grab her jeans. Allison loved the layout and decor of his house. It felt homey and secure. Drew had done a good job making himself a home. The furniture was old, but serviceable, and extremely comfortable. He took care of his belongings. That told her a lot about the man she'd fallen in love with. Feeling a hand on her arm, she was surprised to find Michael leering at her.

"So that's what you're all about. You aren't what I'd call beautiful or even that good looking. Yet you have the two most powerful men in town willing to share you to keep you."

Allison stepped away before Michael could get a better grip on her arm, disgust flowing through her at the look of lust in his eyes. “Don't be crass, Deputy. I know exactly what I am and what I'm not. I don't need someone like you to remind me of my short-comings."

"You must be hell in bed, Lady, to jump from Jimmy's bed to Drew's in the same night...now that's impressive. I don't think anyone's pulled off that little stunt before."

She felt like she'd been covered in filth, and wanted nothing more than a hot shower to clean off his slimy touch. “Deputy, either you leave this house or I will. You decide!"

"How about I keep you company later tonight while the Sheriff is busy? I can let you convert me the way you did them. I don't mind..."

Allison recoiled in disgust. This was what she'd wanted to avoid. Men like Michael were the reason she'd had her rules and why she never broke them. Damn Drew and his irresistible charms.

"I won't stand here and be insulted by you."

Michael didn't stop. “Don't leave, baby, you haven't—"

Drew came out of nowhere, grabbed Michael by the shirt collar and lifted him off the ground, cutting off his air flow. Allison couldn't watch anymore and took the opportunity afforded her to escape. All she'd wanted was a normal, peaceful life...she obviously wouldn't find that peace being married to Sheriff Drew Perry.

[Back to Table of Contents]

Drew was pissed; he couldn't believe Michael had the nerve to hit on his girl so soon after the file room incident. The man was getting way too arrogant for his own good.

"You will apologize to my fiancee once I find her, and you will mean it, or I will do worse than merely fire you, you stupid fuck."

Michael's eyes bulged in terror. “Fiancee? But she...she..."

"She what?” The growl in Drew's voice terrified Michael even more, and he backed away from him holding his hands out ineffectively in self-defense. It took Drew less than a second to get past Michael's defenses and pick him up by the collar again, lifting him a foot off the ground.

"Drew, put me down; I can't breathe. You can't blame me for thinking that,” Michael whimpered, his hands clawing desperately at Drew's hands.

"Thinking what, Michael?” Drew repeated his voice lowering as he firmed his grip before pushing his Deputy away in complete disgust. Allison would never forgive him if he hurt the ass, no matter how much the man deserved it.

Rubbing his neck, Michael threw Drew a glare. “That she's a little slut."

The feeling of Drew's fist connecting with Michael's face felt good. The man had been slowly and steadily moving in on his territory, trying to become him. Well, it stopped now. Allison was that woman you met once in a lifetime, and he wasn't giving her up for anyone—especially not some kid who thought he could out-play his betters.

"Call my fiancee a slut again, Michael, and they'll be permanently wiring your jaw shut. Touch her again, and it will take a miracle for the doctors to put you back together in one piece. Women can be friends with men without having sex with them. Now, get out of my house, before I ignore the urge to kill you."

Rubbing his jaw, Michael sneered arrogantly. “You're still pissed that in the end, Bonnie chose me over you!"

"Bonnie be damned. You can keep her. She isn't worth my jealousy or my time. You just remember that my Allison is off-limits to you and every other man in this town."

"Does that threat include Jimmy?"

Drew didn't like the surprised sound of Michael's voice; it didn't bode well for future problems. “Allison's relationship with Jimmy is her business and no one else's."

"Wow—a woman you're willing to share. She must truly be incredible in..."

That was his breaking point. Drew's fist flew to land against Michael's face so hard the man hit the wall behind him and slid down to land in an unconscious heap on the floor.

"I told you to be respectful to my girl!” Grabbing him by the collar, Drew dragged the man out onto the front porch, ignoring the furniture Michael accidentally bounced off of on his way out of the house. Locking the door, Drew headed off to the station, where he hoped he'd find his woman.

Seeing her car gone, he floored the gas pedal, making it to the station in record time. Allison would never forgive him if he shirked his duties. The plan was to go in take care of the emergency and then find her. It occurred to him that with Allison as his wife, this town would never suffer from his neglect; she'd make sure their needs always came before her own. He filed that thought away for future examination. There had to be a way to properly balance the two necessities he'd soon face.

Entering the precinct, he stopped only long enough to pull aside a rookie. “Frederick, send a car to my house and collect Michael. You'll find him on my front porch, unconscious. Dump him in the drunk tank and leave him there until I tell you to let him out."

"Sheriff?"

"Move!” Turning to face the rest of the precinct, he made his way toward his office. “Talk to me, people. What's the..."

Jimmy was the first to respond. “Drew, could I see you in your office for a moment? The other matter can wait a few minutes."

Drew was torn between the urge to laugh and the desire to strangle Jimmy for the new delay.

"Fine, but if you're about to tell me that you want my job, then the answer is no. I don't want my woman calling anyone Sheriff but me."

Jimmy grinned and shrugged. “I had to give it a shot. Why don't you give me a few minutes to lay out the reasons I think I deserve the job more than you."

Walking into his office, Drew's whole body relaxed upon seeing Allison sitting there, nervously adjusting her glasses. “Baby, thank god you're here.” Pulling her into his arms, he ran a soothing hand through her hair to stop her from trembling. He'd been so worried about her, to find her safe relaxed him.

"I didn't know where else to go. He was being so horrible, I couldn't stay there anymore. Drew, this isn't going to work."

His arms tightened around her. “He was out of line, and he paid for that. I'm so sorry, baby. It will never happen again. I give you my word on that. Please forgive me?"

Allison shook her head and backed out of his arms. “I can't, Drew. I can't stay here and have men like that proposition me...or worse, force their attentions on me. That was part of the reason I left the band. I just can't do this, Drew. This was a big mistake."

Drew fought the urge to go finish off Michael and focused on Allison. She was scared. He didn't blame her for that. Michael was twice her size and could have easily overwhelmed her if he'd caught her alone. A man like that had no business being a police officer, and it was time for Drew to remove him from the force once and for all. That it took a situation like this one to make him realize it was unforgivable.