Read Online The Sheriff and the Mayor by Starla Kaye - Free Book Online Page B

you. We’re both strong, both capable
of dealing with a lot.”
    “I’m
coming!” he yelled suddenly to someone else, probably one of his brothers. Then
he said in a quieter tone, “Promise me you won’t make yourself sick taking on
too much.”
    “I’ll
be fine.” His concern really did touch her.
    How
much was too much? Excitement about the month of community events had been at a
high level this afternoon. Everyone had an idea. Everyone needed her opinion
and wanted her involved with every idea. And she, of course, hadn’t been able
to refuse anyone or anything. Just as Dalton had implied, she hadn’t been able
to say No. He definitely wouldn’t want to hear that.
    “Wish
I could be there with you tonight. I could really use some of your warmth, your
tenderness,” he said, sounding discouraged and tired. “Wish I could be with you
every night this week, as usual.”
    She
wished it, too, but she understood, really she did. “Next week.” She swallowed
disappointment. “We’ll be together the next week.”
    “Dammit,
I’m coming!” he yelled again. After he calmed a second, he said, “I’ll try to
stop by your place tomorrow sometime. Maybe we can go to lunch.”
    “Sure,”
she answered, although she didn’t actually think he would stop by. Besides, she
probably wouldn’t be home. She had a lot to do, but she wasn’t going to remind
of that. “Go deal with your brothers. Get some rest, too.”
    “Hell
but I miss you, Cassie.” She heard the truth of it in his fatigued tone.
    “Same
here, cowboy.” It would be a long night sleeping alone, again.
    ***
    She
raced around all over town Monday trying to get a handle on what had been
decided Sunday. She’d had to meet separately with the town council members
because they hadn’t been able to get together as a group. Getting their
approval, she’d then had to meet with several of the people from yesterday
about having gotten approval on their idea. She’d had to go to the high school
to meet with the cheerleaders who wanted to pull together a last minute float
for the parade on Saturday. And the ladies of the Grangeville Society had
requested a meeting, too.
    Easing
her tired body from her car, Cassie realized that she hadn’t had a second to
herself all day. Normally this was the time of day when Dalton showed up for
supper and to settle in for the night with her. No matter how stressful her
day, she always looked forward to seeing him. Tonight, though, she was ready to
drop into bed, sleep the sleep of the dead.
    She
walked like a zombie into her terribly lonely feeling house. It would be that
way all week without him here. Plunking her baggy purse on the breakfast table,
she blinked back tears. Darn it all, she wanted him here. Now. She ached to
feel his big, strong arms around her. She needed to hear his voice, even if he
were just arguing with her some more.
    Swiping
at a tear that slipped down her cheek, she heaved a distressed sigh. When had
she become so dependent on Dalton to be happy? Her need for him was almost
scary.
    He
hadn’t managed to see her today, which hadn’t surprised her. Of course, she’d
been scrambling like a wild woman, too. Her only chance to see him had been
when their vehicles had bypassed each other earlier and they’d shared waves.
    Not
enough. She needed a Dalton fix. But she was too tired to take a chance on
driving out to the ranch.
    She
dug in her purse for her cell phone and sank onto a chair beside the table.
Punching in his number, she waited impatiently as it rang. One time, two,
three, four, five, at six it usually went to voicemail.
    Frustration
curled through her. Why wasn’t he answering?
    Just
as she was giving up and pulling the phone from her ear, Dalton growled out,
“Can’t talk now.” He disconnected before she could even open her mouth.
    What
the hell!

 
    Chapter Five
    Somehow
Dalton made it to his bedroom. He’d managed to hang up his hat down in the mudroom
and toed off his boots as