The Truest Thing (Hart's Boardwalk 4)

It wasn’t Michael who came to arrest Ian. It was Sheriff King himself and one of his deputies. Jeff King and Jack weren’t exactly unalike in looks. They were both exceptionally tall (although Jeff was a little taller than Jack), loose-limbed, and had this great masculine swagger about them. They also shared a similar hard, rangy physique.

However, while Jeff was serious, gruff, and earnest, Jack oscillated between brooding and naturally charming.

Jeff bent his head to mine, his eyebrows creased in concern. “Are you sure you’re all right, Emery?”

This close, I could smell his spicy cologne and saw that his blue eyes were a startling shade of aquamarine against his light olive skin. While the deputies of the Hartwell County Sheriff’s Office wore khaki uniforms, Jeff’s was black. It made his eyes pop.

Finding myself under his concerned scrutiny for the first time, my cheeks grew hot. His lips twitched as he took in the sight of my flushed face. He looked at me with something akin to tenderness.

“She’s fine, Sheriff.” Jack’s voice was hard as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and drew me tight to his side.

The sheriff and Jack stared at one another for an awkward beat. How was it possible for me to keep my cool while a man held me at gunpoint but then act like a freaking mortified schoolgirl around an attractive man? It was infuriating!

“I believe I asked Miss Saunders,” Jeff said.

“I’m fine, Sheriff.” And with Jack’s arm around me and him sticking close even as Ian was marched out in handcuffs, I had felt fine. I felt safe and comforted with him here. I didn’t want to feel that way, but I couldn’t deny that I did.

“Well, if we need anything else, we’ll let you know.” Jeff cut me another look. “I can’t tell you how glad I am to know you can protect yourself, Emery.”

It sounded like a pointed comment.

Jack tensed next to me.

I tried not to smile. “Thank you, Sheriff.”

As he walked out of the house, Cooper chortled.

He stood near the sectional. For a moment, I’d forgotten he was there, which seemed impossible. His eyes were on Jack. “I’d be careful there. I think someone thinks someone else is cute.”

Jack huffed. “What, are we in middle school?”

Laughing under his breath, Cooper walked to us. “I need to get back to Jess. Do you want me to send the girls over?”

“Honestly, I’m exhausted now,” I replied. “But if you could send them over in the morning, I’d appreciate it.”

“You got it.” Cooper then enveloped me in a tight hug. For a moment, I was too taken aback to do anything and then as the awesomeness of his hug set in, I closed my arms around him and held on. Tears burned in my eyes. “I’m glad, too, that you can shoot like nobody’s business. I can worry a little less about you being here on your own.”

He worried about me?

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice a little hoarse with emotion. “Thank you for coming to my rescue.”

Cooper chuckled and released me but only to cup my face in his hands and grin. “You’re welcome, darlin’, though it isn’t a hit to my reputation to tell the whole world it was Emery Saunders who rescued me and Jack.”

I laughed softly as he stepped back and addressed Jack.

“You okay?”

Jack held his hand out to him, his expression grim but grateful. “Thanks for being here for her.”

Cooper slid his hand into Jack’s. The vibe coming off them was intense. “I did it for you both.”

“I won’t forget it.”

They released their handshake, and Cooper narrowed his eyes ever so slightly. “We’ll talk?”

“We’ll talk,” Jack promised.

All the while, I watched them and tried not to grin with giddiness. I was so happy for Jack that Cooper was willing to give their friendship another go. It made me forget for a second that Ian Devlin had come here with the intention of shooting me.