Sarah pushed a hand through her curls. She had been doing her best to keep the memory of the kiss from her mind, but having them bring it up like this, it was impossible not to remember the pressure of his fingertips on her hips, the way he pulled her into him like he needed to be as close to her as possible. The way his hair felt between her fingers.
“It was…it was just a kiss,” she told them finally, dropping her chin to her chest. She couldn’t believe she was talking about this with them. She knew they were going to demand the details.
“Oh, my God, finally!” Bailey exclaimed, tossing her hands up in the air. “I think that means I win the betting pool.”
“Tell me you’re kidding,” Sarah replied.
Bailey laughed. “Yeah, yeah, I’m kidding,” she assured her. “But what was it like? Was it everything you hoped it would be?”
Sarah bit her lip. “It was…a lot,” she admitted. “It came in the middle of an argument. He was telling me that he wanted me to go, and I was making it clear that I didn’t want to leave. We were arguing about it, and I kept challenging him, getting in his face, and then all of a sudden, we were just…kissing.”
“Whoa!” Bailey exclaimed. “That sounds kind of hot!”
“It was intense,” Sarah said, biting her lip. She remembered the feel of it, the heat moving from his body to hers, like they were silently communicating something between them. She couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if they hadn’t been arguing, had just been having a regular conversation, and not in public. Would they have kissed more? Taken their desire in a different direction?
“Did it feel good to get everything out in the open like that?” River asked.
Sarah sighed. “I guess it would have, if it hadn’t come in those circumstances,” she replied. “I can’t figure out what he wants from me, if anything at all. And that kiss, it just made everything way more confusing. It’s just such a mess.”
“I can imagine,” Bailey told her kindly. “But you should cut Lawson some slack. All the time I’ve known him, he’s been friendly but a little closed-off. He’s more serious, overly cautious. Of this place and the people he cares about. With everything that’s gone down lately, I think it’s brought out the more protective side of him. He just wants to keep everyone safe and thinks it’s his responsibility to make sure that happens. Not get wrapped up in feelings.”
“I guess so,” Sarah admitted. “But I feel like I shouldn’t have to put up with all this back and forth. If he wants me here—if he wants me at all—he should come out and tell me. Even if he doesn’t want to act on it now. I have a right to know and for him to not push me away.”
“In a perfect world, for sure,” River mused. “But think about everything he’s been through in the last year. What we’ve all been through. It’s not that much of a surprise that he would struggle to share his feelings. He might think it would make him too vulnerable to open up like that.”
“Yeah, him trying to send you away could be his way of telling you that he wants to keep you close,” Bailey suggested.
“And how would that work?” Sarah asked skeptically.
“Hey, I can’t read the mind of any man,” Bailey protested, holding her hands up. “Maybe you just have to give it time. Talk to him about how you feel.”
“And maybe kiss him again?” River suggested.
Sarah couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m pretty sure that would just make everything more complicated,” she replied. But, at the back of her mind, she felt a tingle of excitement at the thought of feeling his mouth on hers again, feeling his hands wrapped around her, that strong, protective grip that made everything make sense.
“Well, whatever happens, I’m staying,” Sarah announced as she started to pull some of her clothes out of her bag. “If he thinks he’s getting rid of me that easily, he’s going to be in for a surprise.”
“Agreed,” Bailey replied. “We’d stage a protest if he tried to get rid of you, don’t worry.”
“Good to know you guys have my back.” She laughed, and she got up to give River a hug. Honestly, she didn’t know what she would do without these women. They were her family just as much as this place was her home.
Chapter Nine
“I’ll catch up with you in the morning, alright?” Lawson told Xavier as they stepped out of his office. “We can figure out exactly what we’re going to need to pull this off. And how many favors we’re going to need to call in to make it happen.”
“Sure. And don’t forget the sheriff,” Xavier replied. His eyes were filled with certainty and focus. He might have been reluctant to get involved with this in the first place, but now that he was in on it, Lawson could tell he wasn’t going to let anything get in the way of seeing this through.
“Right,” Lawson confirmed. “After we run through everything one more time tomorrow, I’ll give him a call and fill him in on what we’re doing. Maybe he can make a few inquiries of his own. That way they won’t lead back to us.”
It had been a long day of planning. Cade and Aaron had left a short time ago to handle a couple of things they needed to tend to, then go spend time with their women. Lawson and Xavier had continued working on the case, jotting down a few details to follow up on the next day. Afternoon had rolled into evening and now, it was time to take a break. They needed to rest and clear their heads for what was to come. And Xavier was anxious to get back to Hannah, check in and spend some time together.
Which meant there was just one person Lawson needed to speak to now.
Sarah.
She had been on his mind all night, that kiss replaying in his head more times than he could count. More than that, though,the pain on her face when he had stayed silent at her demand to know how he felt about her. He had frozen, torn between wanting her close to him and wanting her to leave for her own safety. He couldn’t find the words to express that. Now, he could see how much it must have hurt her, and he would do everything he could to put that right.
Because she was his priority right now. Everyone else on staff at the lodge was coupled up, and they all took care of each other. They could deal with their own stuff on their own terms. But Sarah? Sarah was out on her own, and still struggling with the impact of what had happened with Jed, whether she was willing to admit to it or not. And he intended to do everything in his power to help her.