9. Colton

Chapter 9

Colton

Leslie takes the seat across from me at the table and tries to avoid my gaze.

Two can play at this game, sweetheart.

I'll stop at nothing to become her best friend and figure out what's going on with her. I no longer need to be here for Tucker. At least not as much as I have been over the years. He has Skylar back and the two of them are doing really well. They're making me realize how much I truly want to find a wife to settle down with.

Maybe Leslie would be interested to fill that position.

The thought runs through my head, but I shake it away. That's crazy. She doesn't even want to talk to me, there's no way she'd let me in that much.

"Please… don't give up on me. I just need time. I'm not used to letting people in. "

The vulnerability in her eyes when she said that, I don't think I'll ever forget it. It was the first time I saw behind the carefully constructed mask Leslie wears on a daily basis.

"So, are you coming, Uncle Colt?" Riley plants her little hands on her hips and glares at me from her spot next to Leslie.

"Coming where?" I frown, realizing I was daydreaming about Leslie instead of listening to my niece.

"To Christmas dinner! Gosh! Do you ever listen?"

She lets out the most dramatic sigh and I slowly turn my head to Sky, giving her a really look.

"What?" She asks innocently.

"Don't you dare ‘what' me! You did this! Riley used to be sweet and loving towards her Uncle Colton. Now, she's sassy and impatient. I blame it all on you."

Tucker chuckles at the head of the table, but he doesn't care. He's always loved the sassy women. I swear the sassier the better when it comes to him.

I don't want that. I want someone sweet and loving. She can bust my balls, but I don't want someone who I'm going to constantly butt heads with.

"Aunt Leslie, will you come to Christmas too?" Riley blinks up at her .

Leslie's gaze snaps to Tucker. She opens and closes her mouth, but nothing comes out. Tucker nods his head with a smile, telling her he's fine with Riley calling her aunt.

"Oh, uh, I'm not sure. When is Christmas?"

"Next Sunday," I say slowly.

"Wow, I didn't realize it was so close. I normally don't celebrate it."

"What? You don't decorate a Christmas tree, or open presents, or hang your stockings?" Riley stares at her like she's crazy. "What about dinner with your family?"

"Well, my family doesn't live around here and I don't travel home." She shrugs her shoulders. "I never have anywhere to go, so I just stay home and pretend it's a normal day."

"I'll pick you up at two on Christmas," I say before I can stop myself.

I can't let her be alone. That's unacceptable.

My family and Tucker's have gotten together for holidays for as long as I can remember. Willow always says it's because Tucker and I would sneak off to find Sky anyway. By having our family together, she just had to convince the Barren's to let Skylar come over.

This year, Paster Barren and Marie are joining us. They've put forth a lot of effort recently in being there for Skylar and making up for the past. My heart breaks for them. I can't imagine losing a kid the way they lost Skylar.

"You don't have to do that," Leslie says softly.

"You're right, I don't." I sit a little straighter and keep my entire focus on her. When her gaze meets mine, I lean forward, making sure she understands what I'm saying. "I don't have to pick you up. I don't have to see you at all if I don't want to. And let's be honest here, I don't do things I don't want to do."

She swallows hard and her eyes glisten just a little bit more. Good, I'm upsetting her. I want her to realize I'm not talking to her because of some crazy sense of duty. I'm doing it because the vulnerable woman behind this mask she wears might be the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. And now that I've caught a glimpse of it, I want more.

"I want to pick you up, Les. I want to spend time with you, so stop fighting it. I won't give up."

She takes a deep breath and as she blows it out she nods her head. A slow smile spreads across my face. I feel like I've somehow gotten my way, even though I'm not sure I have. I guess only time will tell.

"Aren 't you just the cutest thing ever," Leslie coos to Duke who's sitting happily in her arms. She's adorable with the kids.

She's going to be an amazing mom. I could see her with a whole slew of kids running around. She'd be calm and sweet no matter what's going on. I can see it so clearly. And I kind of want to be a part of it.

The thought hits me out of nowhere and makes me pause. I've never been drawn to anyone enough to picture forever with them. Whenever Tucker talked about Skylar like that, I'd roll my eyes. I always believed they belonged together – everyone did really – but I never had that sort of experience myself. Now, I get it. I want to spend time with her. I want to get to know her better.

She could be my future.

"Ok, let's go back to Mommy because I think it's time for me to get home. I'm exhausted. Yes, those kids at school are exhausting." The way she baby talks to Duke is cute. She's getting the biggest smiles out of him.

Leslie hands over the baby and says something to Skylar I can't quite hear.

"Is my shirt done, Tuck?" I ask without glancing away from Leslie.

"Nope. You have another ten minutes. "

"Cool, I'll get it from you tomorrow." I wave him off and stand to my full height.

"You can't wait ten minutes?" He asks with amusement lacing his words.

"Not tonight."

"Don't forget what I said." He narrows his eyes on me.

"Yeah, yeah. I know. And I've stayed away up until now, but… things changed." I flip him off.

"Holy shit. I never thought I'd see the day." He chuckles at me.

"Shut up. I don't need the peanut gallery getting involved." I wave a hand in his face without looking at him. Hopefully I'll hit him in the face.

Leslie stops talking to Sky and turns towards us. After she says goodbye to Tucker, she turns towards me. Before she can open her mouth to tell me goodbye, I place my hand on her lower back.

"I'll walk you out. I'm leaving too."

"Don't you want your shirt?" Sky asks.

"Not now, Sky Sky. I'll get it tomorrow." I roll my eyes. Why does everyone need to be so obsessed with my shirt? I couldn't care less and neither should they.

"Ok," Leslie says softly, letting me lead her towards the door .

She grabs her purse off the table and waves at Tucker's family as we exit the house. As soon as the door is shut behind us, I spin her around to face me.

"What are you doing now?"

"Um… Going home? Going to sleep?" She rubs her hands up and down her arms. It's definitely getting chilly tonight. Winter's moving in and fast. I'm worried this blizzard is going to hit us hard.

"That sounds boring." The corner of my mouth lifts into a lopsided grin.

"Oh, really?" She chuckles. "And what exciting plans do you have, Mr. Sheriff?"

"I love it when you call me sheriff," I murmur, taking a step closer to her.

"W-what?" Leslie stutters as her chest heaves with a breath. She's definitely affected by me, I don't care what show she wants to put on. Now that I've caught a glimpse behind that mask, it's easier for me to see through it.

"I said, I love when you call me sheriff. You're one of the few people in town who don't act like me being the sheriff is a joke." I reach up and tuck a strand of her dark hair behind her ear. My fingers drag down her neck, making her shiver .

"You're a good sheriff. I know you care about this town and you go above and beyond to protect it." She swallows hard, her eyes searching mine.

"What do you mean? How would you know that?"

"Well, for starters, whenever I've seen you at Maverick's bar, you don't have more than one drink. I think you're always on guard, always ready to step into the sheriff role, even if you're not on duty."

"That's correct. If someone needs me, I want to make sure I'm in full control of myself." I nod my head, surprised she's noticed.

"You always stop to help anyone in the town, even the people like Mrs. Goods who refuses to accept you're not the same person you once were."

"God says you're supposed to love everyone. It doesn't matter how they've treated you." I lift my shoulder in a shrug. "I was raised to kill everyone with kindness."

"You care about this town more than anyone else I know. It's actually really adorable," she says softly.

My lopsided grin turns into a full-blown smirk. I wrap my arms around Leslie and engulf her in my embrace. I'm shocked when she hugs me back. Normally she stands there stiffly and it's awkward. But tonight, she's full of surprises .

"Do you want to watch a movie together or something? I'm not ready to go to sleep," I murmur.

"Only if you don't mind coming to my house. I guarantee I'll be asleep before the movie is over, and if I'm not, I won't want to drive home."

"Sounds like a plan. I'll follow you home." I press a soft kiss to her forehead before letting her go.