CLAIMED BY MY GRUMPY SHERIFF

Claimed By My Grumpy Sheriff

Small Town Sheriff, Enemies To Lovers, Fake Relationship, Forced Proximity, Grumpy Controlled Hero, Slow Burn Chemistry

Emily’s eyebrows rise. “I knew your offer wouldn’t be for free. Why do people always do something nice, expecting something in return. It’s like a human flaw, something we were all created with -”
I stop her mid-tangent. “Not that I’m not interested in your little speech on human flaws, but I really need an answer to this, Emily.”
“An answer to what?”
“My parents are coming over in a few weeks. And I might have told them I have a girlfriend to get them off my back.”
Her eyes widen. She doesn’t speak for several seconds. “You have a girlfriend? Shit, how have I never met her? How do I not know about her?”
I might be imagining it, but I sense a little hurt behind her questions. But there’s no reason she should be hurt, so I brush it off, quickly correcting it.
“No, Emily. I don’t have a girlfriend. I don’t have the time for one if I’m being honest.”
“I told you, married to your job. It’s not healthy, Sheriff Bates,” she says, shaking her head.
I narrow my eyes. “Would you just let me finish one sentence? Please,” I grit out.
She nods with a cheeky smile. “Carry on.”
“Would you be my girlfriend? Or should I say fake girlfriend, for when my parents come around?”
Her green eyes are wide as she stares at me. “I know you didn’t technically ask me out, but is it too much to give a girl a box of chocolates while you fake ask her out? More romantic that way.”
“I’m not going for romance, Emily,” I tell her.
“Of course not. You wouldn’t even know how. Honest question, when’s the last time you got laid?”
I glare at her. “You did not just ask me that.”
“Pretty sure I did, Sheriff,” she states, batting her eyelashes. “You gonna answer or not?”
I blow out a frustrated breath, pinching the bridge of my nose. Although at the mention of sex, my body heats, and considering she’s in such close proximity, it’s no wonder all sorts of desires in relation to her pop up in my mind. But it’s not just her proximity, if I’m honest. Even when she’s nowhere near me, she somehow sneaks her way into my head.
Maybe it has to do with the fact that she keeps popping up everywhere. And now I’m inviting her into my house. Fuck, I must be a sucker for torture.
I need her though.
“You’re the most aggravating person I’ve ever met,” I say dryly.
“That’s not an answer,” she sings.
“You don’t deserve an answer,” I reply. “But trust me, Emily. I’m not out of practice. If I were in bed with any woman, I would get her screaming.”
My voice goes lower on those last words, while Emily’s expression switches to intrigue coupled with a hint of nerves. She swallows softly, avoiding my eyes.
“Okay, that was information I didn’t need to know.”
“You always want information you have no business knowing,” I accuse.
“True, God gave me an annoyingly curious mind.”
My head tilts to the side as I stare at her. “You still haven’t replied to my offer.”
She ponders it for a moment. “If I’ve got this right, you’re offering to let me stay at your house for as long as it’ll take to renovate mine. And all I’ve got to do in return is pretend to be your loving, doting girlfriend for a day or two?”
I nod, trying to ignore the way my heart speeds up when she says the words loving and doting.
Emily grins. “You’ve got yourself a deal, Sheriff.”
I watch as she skips over to my car, whistling a happy tune. The woman’s house almost burned down today, but you’d never know it by looking at her. She’s filled with endless cheer, but I know it’s all false. A way to cover up the emptiness inside her. An emptiness we both seem to possess.

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