21. Colton

Chapter 21

Colton

Settling into my chair at the table, I let out a long sigh. I don't want to leave Leslie and Sophia home alone today. I know they'll be fine, but I want them with me until I know where Jimmy is. How did things become so complicated so quickly?

"Morning," Sophia mumbles as she stumbles into the kitchen.

She bumps into the counter and almost falls three times before I jump out of my chair and lead her over to the table. As soon as she's sitting, I slide my untouched mug of coffee in front of her and chuckle when she breathes it in like coffee is her lifeline.

"I take it back. You're the hottest guy I've ever met."

"I'm fairly certain you'd tell any man with coffee that." I smirk .

"And you wouldn't be wrong," she mutters as she lifts the mug to her lips. "Dang, you get bonus hotness points. This is really good."

"It's the hazelnut creamer. Makes all the difference in the world."

"Well, I might marry a man who makes hazelnut creamer."

As soon as the words are out of her mouth, her eyes widen to a comical level and her gaze snaps to mine. I burst out laughing and shake my head. This right here is the Sophia Robinson I expected to meet, not the boy crazy one.

"Oh my gosh. That didn't sound the way I meant for it to. That's so gross."

"It's ok, little one. We can blame it on your lack of caffeine and lack of a filter." I pat her on the shoulder as I head back over to the coffee maker to pour another mug for myself.

"Thank you for taking care of her," she says softly.

"Who?"

"Zoey. It killed me to see her barely living because of Jimmy. I always hated him and thought she could do better. I didn't understand why she stayed with him for so long, but now I do. She had no choice."

"I'm just glad your family and Mason stepped in to help."

"They're pretty amazing like that. You'll never find a more caring family than the residents of Mulberry Lane and their extended families."

"Mulberry Lane sounds like it belongs in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere." I frown at her. I know she's from right outside of Philadelphia.

"You mean like Maple Springs?" She smirks, amusement lighting up her eyes.

"Well, at least we have hot guys here."

"That's yet to be determined. No one has taken off their shirt yet for me to confirm that."

I reach for the hem of my shirt, more than happy to confirm Sophia's suspicions, when a hand reaches around and holds the fabric in place.

"If you keep trying to strip in front of my cousin, you're going to give me a complex. You're only supposed to strip around me, got it?" Leslie slips in front of me and stares up at me with those big honey-colored eyes.

"Can I strip right now? We can hurry to our room." I wiggle my eyebrows .

"I'm pretty sure you need to get to work, Sheriff." She places her hand on my chest and stands on her tiptoes to press a soft kiss to my lips.

"But I don't want to," I groan.

Since we started dating, we've barely been alone. All I want to do is throw her over my shoulder and lock us in our room for the rest of the day.

Sophia's awesome, but she's killing me by staying here… Maybe I can convince Pecker to take her out for dinner some day this week. Anything to have some alone time with my girl.

"Pecker!" I lean to the side as he walks past my door, trying to get his attention. I almost fall out of my chair in the process, but luckily, I'm firmly planted in my chair by the time he turns around and enters my office.

"What's up, Colt?" He leans against the door frame with his arms folded across his chest.

"Are you doing anything tonight?"

"No…" he says slowly, narrowing his eyes on me. "Why?"

"Well, I wanted to do something with-"

"Are you asking me out on a date, sir?" A slow grin spreads over his face, making me want to punch him.

"No! I want to ask Leslie on a date, but I can't do that."

"Why not?"

"One word. Sophia." I roll my eyes.

"Hey, she's really nice." He pushes off the door frame and takes a step closer.

"I'm not saying she isn't nice, Romeo. I just want some time alone with my girlfriend. I asked her out the day before Sophia rolled into town. I haven't gotten to take Leslie on a date yet. Hell, I've only kissed her once and it's killing me. She's sleeping in my bed and yet I can't touch her."

"Wanna tell me what actually happened with this guy Jimmy?" Pecker slowly lowers himself into the chair on the other side of my desk.

"Only because Leslie gave me permission to discuss this with you before I left for work this morning." I lean back in my chair and covered his face with his hands, slowly dragging them down. I don't want to talk about this. I don't even want to think about it. "They dated in college. He was sweet and attentive. Slowly but surely throughout their four years in college, he became more and more abusive. It started when he was drinking and turned into him trying to run her off the road when she tried to break up with him. Eventually she confided in her uncles and they got her out of there. Mason was in the military with Ollie and remembered him talking about Maple Springs. He contacted him right away and Ollie helped her get a job at the elementary school. She's been hiding out here since."

"Wow, that's awful. I'll never understand how a man could lift a hand to anyone, let alone someone they're supposed to care about." Peck shakes his head.

"From my understanding, she ended up in the hospital a few times throughout the years they were together. When he ran her off the road and drug her back to their apartment, I think she realized just how much trouble she was in."

"Did she move in with you because of Jimmy?"

I nod my head, letting out a long sigh. "Yeah. After she told me what was going on and how no one knew where he was, I didn't want her in that house all alone. There are only a few houses on that street and I don't want something to happen to her. If she's at my place, she's safe. I know there won't be a creep peeking in her window or waiting for her to come home alone. "

"Is she comfortable living with you?" Peck pins me with a look.

I could get offended by his question, or I could be grateful he's looking out for Leslie. I'm choosing to go with the latter. He's a good guy, I don't think he's trying to offend me, he's just making sure Leslie is comfortable.

"Yeah, she says she is. I'm letting her take the lead in our relationship and she knows it. I told her if she wants anything other than a hug, she needs to initiate it or tell me what she wants."

"So… you want me to ask Sophia to go to dinner with me tonight?" Peck arches a brow in my direction.

"I'd love it if you could. If you don't mind."

"Mind? I'd love nothing more than to ask her out. I'm just not sure she's going to agree to it."

"Let me handle that." I wave him off, more than happy I'm finally going to get a night alone with Leslie.