Big Daddy Sheriff (Big Cedar Daddies #1)

Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

Alyssa’s car had given up a few miles before she reached her destination.

Now she was walking down a lonely stretch of two-lane, Southeastern Oklahoma highway.

At least the scenery was gorgeous.

The majestic beauty of towering trees—along with the scent they provided—was all around her. The green, rolling mountains were breathtaking. It looked a lot like Arkansas, but being from Little Rock, she didn’t really have views this beautiful.

She stayed off the road as much as possible and kept a close eye out for snakes and other critters. She wondered how far it was to Grace’s house. She’d never actually been there. Grace and Theo always came to her when the three got together.

How would they respond to her just showing up like that? She’d tried calling several times, but it went straight to voicemail. Now she was about to show up on their doorstep unannounced. Would they be okay with that?

Grace was her best friend. She’d never turn her away. Alyssa just hoped her impromptu, and hopefully extended visit wasn’t an inconvenience.

She heard the roar of an engine behind her and turned to see a giant truck coming around the curve. It zipped past, the swooshing air causing her to be a bit unsteady on her feet. It was a logging truck. That made sense. The timber was dense in this area.

Thankfully, the truck rolled past her without stopping. She was already nervous walking along the country road. And every time she heard a vehicle—which wasn’t often—her stomach muscles clenched as fear that it was Lana pursuing gripped her.

But Lana had no way of knowing where Alyssa had gone.

That fear still crept up on her once again when she heard another vehicle. She could tell it was slowing down to stop even before she turned around to see who it was. Spinning slowly, she held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest.

Instant relief filled her when she saw the lights atop the dark SUV and realized it was a cop.

She stopped and waited for them to get out.

When they did, the sight nearly took her breath away.

The cop was a strong, tall, dark, chiseled specimen of a man who looked like he’d stepped right out of one of her fantasies and into reality. For a moment, she thought that maybe she was indeed dreaming.

But the gravel crunching under his boots, along with the warm breeze and chirping insects, reminded her that this was reality.

“Good afternoon, ma’am,” he said.

“Good afternoon,” Alyssa replied.

He pinched the brim of his Stetson and gave a slight nod. “My name is Marshal Quinn Hardin. I’m from over in Big Cedar. Everything okay?”

He wore an easygoing grin that instantly put her at ease. That deep voice helped, too.

She couldn’t explain why exactly, but she felt safe. Safer than she ever had. Sure, he was a lawman and protected people. That was his job, after all. But what she felt went beyond that. She never wanted to leave his presence. For the first time in longer than she could remember, she felt as if everything was going to be okay.

That is ridiculous, she told herself. You have no idea who this guy is. He’ll move on in a few minutes, anyway.

But for as long as she was in his presence, she was going to enjoy the warm sensation.

One thing was for sure: Marshal Quinn Hardin would be visiting her dreams for quite some time.

Hello, Dream Daddy. Welcome to my fantasies. Get comfortable. You’re going to be in ‘em a while.

Remembering his question, she said, “Yeah. My car broke down back there.” She looked beyond him, in the direction she’d been walking from. She couldn’t see the stalled vehicle from there, since the road had curved, but it wasn’t too far back.

He nodded. “I saw it a moment ago. Looks like it had some steam coming from the engine. Did it overheat on you?”

“Yeah. Wouldn’t you know it? I was close to my friend’s house, too.”

“You’re visiting someone here local?”

She was suddenly nervous. She wasn’t doing anything wrong, but being questioned by a cop tended to have that effect on folks.

“My friend Grace Jameson.”

The marshal smiled. “Oh. I know Grace. And her Daddy Theo.” The look on his face revealed that he felt as if he’d just said too much.

Alyssa couldn’t help but smile. And grow excited. Did this handsome man before her know about Daddies and Littles and things like that? He at least knew about Grace and Theo’s dynamic.

What if he’s a Daddy?

The excitement she felt left as quickly as it had come on.

It doesn’t matter. A guy this hot already has a woman. And he sure doesn’t want the desperate, down on her luck, chubby girl. Dream on, Alyssa.

Remembering his question again, she said, “Yeah. Grace is my best friend.”

“Well, I’d be happy to give you a ride to their place. You’re only a few miles away. But I’m afraid they aren’t home. Unless they’ve gotten back.”

The way the marshal said it made it seem as if the couple hadn’t merely run an errand or left to grab a bite to eat. A sense of dread started in the pit of her stomach and spread throughout her core.

“They left town?” she said.

“Yep. Just a little camping excursion. Hiking down near Broken Bow. They’re due back in the morning. But if they knew you were coming, they might come back?—”

“It was a surprise,” she said glumly.

Her mind raced. Did she have any other options? She tried to recall how much was in her account. Did she have enough for a motel room? Of course, that car trouble was going to run her some money. But even still, surely she could cover one night’s stay.

“Tell you what,” the marshal said, “I’ll call dispatch and request a tow. Then, I’ll give you a lift into town and we can figure this out. You don’t need to walk along this road, though. Anyway, you’ve got a couple of miles yet before you’ll hit Big Cedar, and it’s the other way.” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder.

“I thought they lived in Big Cedar,” she said.

“I guess technically they do. But they’re a ways outside of town.”

Alyssa had the fleeting thought that perhaps she should ask for proof that this man was really a cop. Anyone could impersonate an officer. All they had to do was buy some lights for their car, a uniform, and a fake badge. Or in this case, only the lights and badge. The marshal wasn’t wearing a typical uniform, instead sporting Wranglers, a tight black t-shirt, and cowboy boots.

He looked damn good in it all, too.

But as she pondered her question, she realized that there was no need to see more proof. Not with him. Somehow, she just knew.

And she felt safe.

Absolutely safe.