Keeper of the Golden Dragon's Heart (The Cedar River Series) (19 page)
Read Keeper of the Golden Dragon's Heart (The Cedar River Series) Online
Authors: Gemma K. Murray
Lance and Cameron were coming to help me hang my curtains. I couldn’t believe that I was actually good friends with my childhood terrorizers. They’d helped build this place and for once, I realized the good friends I had in this community.
I missed Bowie something fierce. Brady told me how furious Bowie had gotten when he found out I’d gone out with Lance. Lance and I had shared one more kiss and while we both admitted it was nice, nice wasn’t going to cut it. We hung out as friends and that was it. More often than not Cam and the twins went with us when we went to Pine Bluff, but Brady neglected to mention that little fact. I think Brady secretly liked stirring the shit.
I had a plan, but I told no one what it was. Now that I had a job, a car and a house, I was ready to see if Bowie had worked through his stuff. I had had to work through a lot of shit after being locked in a cage. There were still times when I woke up screaming. Brady would come in to my room and hold me until I went back to sleep. I was a work in process.
Finally, it was June. The weather had taken a turn for the better. The night was warm enough and I knew for a fact that my gorgeous sheriff was working the night shift. I had gone out to buy an outfit specifically for this occasion. A short black skirt and a black see through blouse sans underwear, but it would be the shoes that would get his attention. They were black gladiator-style platform heels. They were sexy even if they weren’t on my feet. I had painted my toenails ‘slut red’ and I was ready.
I opened the garage door at Mama and Papa’s. Sure enough there sat the most prized possession in Bowie’s world. I opened the door and slid in. The keys were flipped up in the visor. This car had muscle and I was about to let it shine. I popped in my Nickelback Dark Horse CD and carefully backed this beauty out of the garage. I saw the outdoor light come on as I pulled out. Mama stepped out on the porch with a smile and a wave.
The streetlights were on when I pulled onto Main Street. Our little town was almost completely re-built. We were back, and better than ever.
I sped down Main Street and out of town. As I passed where the patrol car sat I watched the lights come on as he pulled out, hot on my ass. I was laughing as I turned off onto a little dirt road. I watched him in the rearview mirror as I led him on a chase to a deserted country lane. Then, I pulled over. He turned his spotlights on and walked behind the car. I watched as he looked at the license plate and shook his head. He shined his flashlight in the car.
“Are you aware that you are driving a stolen car?” he asked.
“Oh, am I? Does that mean you’re gonna arrest me, sheriff? Because I can think of lots of things we can do with a pair of handcuffs and a few hours.”
Bowie dropped his head and laughed. “Anastasia, what are you up to?”
“All kinds of hellraising.”
“Get out of the car,” he said as he opened the door.
I walked around the back of the car and stood in the light so he could take in the whole scene.
“By all that I hold holy, Anastasia Plum...where the hell is your bra?”
“Oh, did I forget that? Then, that means I probably forgot my undies when I walked out of the house tonight, too,” I said feigning innocence.
He chuckled. “Those shoes are lethal. I believe they may illegal in this county.”
“Only to you, sheriff.”
He stalked toward me, “What are you doing, Ana?”
“Proving that I am your mate, that I want you and only you. That I can handle anything you throw at me.”
He caught me around the waist, “Are you sure about that?”
I slid my hand down the front of his pants, “Is that a gun in your pocket or are you just happy to see me, sheriff?”
He moaned as he said, “I’m always happy to see you, my little hellraiser.”
Epilogue-Anna
Bowie proposed to me with my mother’s engagement ring on the beach at sunset. It was simple, but romantic. Bowie moved into my cabin with me while he had the cottage he wanted for us built. We made peace with the incident that led to our miscommunication. Every now and again, I had to reassure him that I was fine. He’d kiss me and all would be well again.
The knock on the door startled me from my thoughts. “Anastasia, are you ready?” Papa asked.
“Yep,” I replied as I let him into my bedroom. I turned so he could admire the dress I’d chosen for this special day.
He wiped a tear from his eye, “You look like an angel, Ana.”
Epilogue-Bowie
The music was beginning to swell and the French doors to the deck opened. Framed in the doorway on my father’s arm, she looked stunning. The ivory dress she had chosen was perfect.
My breath caught in my throat as I looked at her.
Brady was my best man. His hand rested on my shoulder as Ana made her appearance. If you asked me what flowers she carried, I couldn’t tell you. She was the only thing I saw as she walked across the deck in front of our family and friends. Well, that and the bump hidden by her bouquet. It was a small bump, and if you didn’t know it was there, it wasn’t obvious.
At sunset, we said our vows to become man and wife. As we shared our first dance, I looked deep into her eyes and saw my future in the woman in front of me; my lover, my best friend, my mate.
We danced the night away.
When guests flooded the dance floor, Ana whispered in my ear, “You think anyone would miss us if we disappeared for an hour?”
I looked around and said, “They might.”
She grinned, took me by the hand and led me to the beach with a table cloth she’d stolen from the tables.
“C’mon, Sheriff. Let’s go break a few rules.”
I laughed as she kicked off her shoes and we ran across the yard, hand in hand. A few guests were laughing and applauding as we disappeared into the night. People would be talking for years about the day the sheriff married the hellraiser.
Table of Contents
Keeper of the Golden Dragon’s Heart
Keeper of the Golden Dragon’s Heart
Keeper of the Golden Dragon’s Heart
