Molly's Man (Haven, Texas 4)

Great. If he gave her a ticket now, he’d look like an asshole. Not to mention he’d probably have the knitting circle and half of the bowling league coming after him with pitch forks. The bowling alley was conveniently located in the next block, which was no doubt where Fred and John were now headed.

Jake flipped his pad over. “Fine. I’ll go talk to her.”

“Here, dear, you’ve dropped a stitch. See?”

Molly had to hold back her sigh as Pearl unraveled half of her knitting. The irony of having someone called Pearl attempt to teach her to purl wasn’t lost on her. She’d thought this would be easy. Most of the other ladies managed to knit while holding down a conversation, and the things they produced were perfect. Gorgeous sweaters and scarves and hats, not that there was a lot of call for those things in Texas, but it seemed it was more about getting together and socializing than anything else.

“Hello, Sheriff,” one of the woman called out.

Her body heated as she glanced up and saw Jake step into the room. Damn, what was it about the man that lit her up? She hadn’t seen him much since that incident with the skateboard. She figured he was avoiding her after that near-kiss.

“Did you come to pick up the sweater, Sheriff? I’ve just now finished it.” Agnes, who was about ninety if she was a day, started to push herself out of her chair, an orange and brown knitted monstrosity in her hands. Jake immediately rushed over, placing a hand on her shoulder to keep her sitting.

“Don’t get up, Agnes,” he told her gently.

Agnes patted his hand. “Such a good man, you are. Here it is, like I promised you. I made it a nice blue. You look good in blue.”

That thing was not blue. Pearl leaned over and whispered, “She’s completely blind. But she’s been working on that sweater for the sheriff for weeks and no one had the heart to tell her it wasn’t blue.”

Jake took the sweater with a smile and obligingly held it up to his chest. It looked about four sizes too big and the color was even worse when you saw the thing spread out. And it still looked better than the scarf she was working on.

“It’s perfect, Agnes,” Jake told the older woman who beamed. “Thank you.”

“You got my Alfie out of that tree. I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to him,” Agnes told him. “You deserve that sweater, dear. Anything else you want me to knit you?”

“Alfie is her cat,” Pearl explained.

Jake looked slightly panicked and she had to fight hard to hold back a grin. As if sensing her mirth, he looked over at her. She raised her eyebrows innocently.

He narrowed his gaze. “I’m fine at the moment, Agnes. But I’ll let you know if I need something else for me. Or for a friend.” He stared pointedly at her. This time she couldn’t hold back her grin.

“Molly, could I speak to you a moment,” he demanded.

“Ooh, what did you do, dear?” Pearl asked.

“Me? Nothing.” That she could think of anyway. Her halo was practically glowing.

“You’ve done something. That’s the voice my Earl, God rest his soul, used to use with me when I’d done something to earn some discipline.” Pearl smiled and patted her shoulder. “You lucky girl.”

She moved away as Jake approached. Discipline? Her ass tingled at the thought. What would it be like to be placed over the sheriff’s wide lap, to feel that big hand coming down on her ass?

Cool it, Molly. He’s been avoiding you. It’s obvious he regrets nearly kissing you.

“Hello, Sheriff.”

He nodded abruptly. “Can you follow me?”

She reached down for her crutch. She was down to just one and she hoped to get rid of it by the weekend so she could head to Saxons with Duncan and Laken. She’d put off going until her ankle felt better. Crutches weren’t exactly sexy.

He frowned slightly and held out his hand to help her rise. She slipped her small hand into his big, warm one. He let go of her as soon as she was steady, though. He moved slowly towards the front door, matching his strides to hers.

He was everything she’d imagined a Dom to be. Protective, commanding, and stern. And it was a bonus he was sexy as hell. If only he was as attracted to her as she was to him.

He opened the front door and pointed down at her car. “What is wrong with your car?”

She pursed her lips. “Um, well, it’s a little heavy on gas, but other than that it’s a pretty good car. Reliable. Comfortable. Plenty of trunk space.”

He sighed.