“No. Of course not. I mean, I just meant that if you drive into town and people see me hurt then they’ll go all crazy. I saw how they treated Mary Beth last week when she tripped on the sidewalk and took a fall. They were ready to call an ambulance and bring food and pies to her house for weeks. I don’t need that. I take care of myself,” she said.
That was what she thought.
“Then I suppose it could be best to take you home. Do you have a first aid kit there?” he asked.
“I think Dr. Anders had one in the hall closet in the apartment. If not I’ll just improvise,” she said.
He took out his phone as they came to the stop sign and text the words “her house now.” Hopefully Monroe would know to meet him there instead.
* * * *
Alicia eased her head up off of the sheriff’s lap as the truck came to a complete stop. She inhaled one more time, loving the scent of his cologne and the hardness of his thighs as the fabric of his uniform pants tickled her cheek. She felt hot, bothered, on edge, and it amazed her and frightened her. The sheriff was mean, hard, and downright totally out of her league. She was a nobody, and he was the sheriff of Chance, a man women drooled over and talked about, wondering what type of women he liked and how many female residents of Chance he slept with. She wanted nothing to do with that.
Throw in the uniform, this patrol truck with all its gadgets and the gun, the handcuffs and superiority, and hell, she was a nervous wreck.
As she eased up she felt the achiness and downright burning pain. It was crazy. Her thigh was a complete mess. The skin was chafed back and covered in dirt and tiny stone pieces. She wanted to cry and wondered how she would get this cleaned up. She felt embarrassed having the sheriff this close to her with her short shorts on and the tank top she wore for running. She felt exposed and practically naked, but as he tried to help her up she heard the other vehicle pull up and wondered who it could be. The door slammed closed and then she gasped as the sheriff tried to help her upward from the seat.
“That hurts?” the sheriff asked and she nodded her head and tried to make the tears disappear. She prayed nothing was broken. That would be her luck. She would break bones, not know it, and then not be able to take a chance at starting her own store.
“What the hell happened?” She heard Monroe’s voice just as the sheriff got her into a sitting position.
“What are you doing here?” she barked at him, unintentionally of course but it was out of her mouth before she could stop herself.
“I was supposed to meet my brother in town for a meeting. He said he was hung up and then that you were hurt. How did this happen?” Monroe asked.
“I was jogging and his truck came out of nowhere,” she said.
“What? You ran from the woods right out onto the road without even looking. If it weren’t for my quick reflexes and driving skills I would have hit you,” the sheriff stated in anger.
“Whatever. Just help me out of your truck so you both can leave.”
She eased down off the seat with the sheriff’s assistance. Then Monroe placed his hand on her hip.
“That is some nasty damage. You need to clean that out thoroughly.”
“I know. I will.”
“Alone?” Monroe asked.
“How else?” she said and then tried to walk on her own. “Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch,” she said struggling repeatedly to make it to the walkway.
“Goddamn it. Hold on,” Monroe said and scooped her up into his arms. She gasped and held onto him.
“What is with you men picking me up and carrying me? I’ll get there. Just slowly.”
“I’ll get you there faster, and we don’t mind picking you up and carrying you,” he said and she felt her belly do a series of somersaults. What did that mean? She hoped they didn’t think she was flirting or pretending to be hurt. Her thigh stung so badly, the tiny stones were rubbing into her cut skin.
“Key?” the sheriff asked.
“It’s unlocked,” she said to them.
“Unlocked. Anyone could be in there waiting for you,” the sheriff said.
“You telling me that you’re not doing your job and the town is unsafe?” she challenged.
He went to speak and then pointed at her.
“Lock that door for now on.”