Gage

Chapter 3

Gage

I groaned at the sound of my alarm clock going off. The weekend was officially over and I was honestly contemplating whether I needed a job or not. I looked out the window to see the sun beginning to rise over the mountains, lighting the sky up in beautiful colors.

Sav loved watching the sun rise. Don't Gage. Don't even go there this morning.

I peeked my head into Marley's room and saw she was still snoozing. I made my way into her room and sat on the edge of her bed.

“Peanut, wake up.” I said softly while nudging her shoulder. She groaned and rolled away from me. I chuckled. She was not a morning person. Not one bit.

“Time to get ready for school.” she groaned but sat up. Her hair going in every direction. “Morning baby girl.” I said and she smiled and kissed my cheek.

“Morning Daddy. Can I go to the farm after school today?”

I sighed and ran my hands down my face. “I don't know, baby girl.” I said and she frowned.

I still don't know this woman. Wren. God her name sends goosebumps over my body. She did great with Marley during the riding lesson. Was patient, made her laugh, she clearly knew what she was doing. If anything she might have been better than her parents. I sent a silent prayer up to make sure they did not smite me where I sat. But despite all of those things I was still wary. It did not negate the fact that I didn't know this woman, I don't know how she is around kids. She could be a criminal for god's sake. I could run a background check while at work today. I know Anderson said everything would continue on as planned, but this?

I looked at Marley's face, her cheeks still a bit chubby from her baby weight and it was always used to her advantage when she batted her pretty little eyes and poked her lip out.

“Fine. We will see how today goes, but you will call me when you get there and keep me updated. Do you understand?” I tried to keep a stern face but when her smile poked through and her dimples appeared her whole face just lit up. It was impossible to be anything but happy when looking at her. She was a ray of sunshine in a sea of storms.

She wrapped her arms around my neck and repeated. “Thank you.” so many times I lost count. She ran off to her bathroom to get ready for school and I scolded myself for being such a sucker.

I tightened my utility belt and put on the rest of my uniform. I pulled my gun out of the safe and latched it in its holster. I combed my hair as I looked at my reflection in the mirror.

I felt so hollow inside. I used to always have my mornings with Savannah. She would put on her makeup while I would poke at her and play while getting ready myself. I felt so god damned lonely and I hated admitting that to myself. I would never tell another soul but to myself? I missed having someone with me. I missed my wife.

She hopped in my police cruiser and I let her flip the lights and siren on for a few seconds before we pulled out of the driveway. Keeping up our daily routine. That was one of the things they said in grief counseling was routine was key.

“Buckle.” I said and she huffed but fastened her seatbelt and we made our way to school.

The drive was short, but the school drop off line was always going to be the absolute death of me. IT was so slow, so disnorganized, and filled with PTA moms who took one look at a widowed father and salivated like Pavlov's dogs. Don't get me wrong a man has needs but I haven't touched a woman since Sav, and I don't plan on it. My myself and I are doing just fine.

My mom scolds me every time I see her about it though. She tells me I need to get back out there. That Marley needs a mother figure. The first time she told me that I lost it on her. I laid into her repeatedly telling her I would never replace Marley's mom. The venom I spit to my mom and the look on her face after I was done berating her damn near broke me. I didn't even mean to say it all. Once I started talking though it was like word vomit. It wouldn't stop.

I took a right hook to the face from Axel that day. That was the first and only time Axel had ever struck me, but I don't blame him one bit. My mom had been so hurt by my words that she ran off crying and didn't speak to me for weeks. It took tons of groveling to repar the damage I broke that day.

When I was finally ready to listen to reason she told me she wasn't suggesting I replace her mom but give her a mother figure, someone else to love. Savannah would always be her mom but she has enough love in her tiny body that she can love someone else too. Though I agree, I am not ready. I don't know if I ever will be.

The cars inched up and it was finally our turn at the drop off. Marley kissed my cheeks and whooped the sirens again and her classmates squealed in delight. She hopped out of the car and ran to the front door of her school.

I tried to put it in drive fast enough, but Sherry crossed the loop and leaned on the driver side door of my car. My aviators were on so thankfully she didn't see me roll my eyes but I faked the best smile I could when she looked at me.

“Morning officer.” she said trying to sound as sultry as possible. Did she not realize this was not the time nor the place? Not that I had ever reciprocated any flirting or interest at all.

“Morning Sherry.” I said and closed my mouth hoping she would just go away.

Don't get me wrong she was a beautiful woman but I wasn't interested. She was vain and shallow. I had seen the way she treats those she thinks are below her and I've seen the way she sneers at anyone who trys to even make conversation with me. So yes while she was beautiful and had a body any man would want to worship, she was absolutely ugly within and that ruined it all. Her husband had divorced her last year she has been trying to sink her claws in me ever since.

“Did you have a good weekend?” she asked trying to make conversation. There was a line of cars behind me waiting to drop their kids off and get to work, but she didn't seem to care.

“We did. Got to go to work. Have a good one.” I said tipping my head that was covered with a worn out ballcap.

That was one thing I liked about a small town was I could get away with adding my own “flair” to my uniform as Marley likes to say.

She bit her lip and leaned in a bit trying to flash me her chest and again I was thankful for my sunglasses hiding the massive eyeroll that I couldn't control. “I'm free this weekend. The kids will be at their dad's. Want to grab a few drinks with me?”

Jesus Christ. I gritted my teeth and clenched my jaw. I'm not sure how many times I've turned this woman down but she never takes no for an answer.

“Cant. I don't have a sitter and Marley and I were going to the springs to visit her grandparents. Thanks for the offer though” I said trying to be polite. She frowned but nodded and muttered a maybe next time and stepped away. Thank f**k.

I was making my usual patrols through this tiny town. Smiling at everyone that I passed by. One of the things that drove me to the small town was the low crime, the low traffic, and not having to deal with city life. I couldn't handle the city life or being an officer in such a large town anymore. Not after my last call in the springs.

I gulped and shoved that memory deep deep down while I helped Mrs. Henly load her trunk with her groceries. I had parked and walked through the streets trying to enjoy the weather and stretch my legs when I saw her struggling. She was 90 this year and still insisted on doing things on her own. She patted my cheek and offered a thanks before driving off and I continued my patrol.

It wasn't until I was stopped dead in my tracks watching the woman who has been occupying my thoughts and making my d**k hard without my own damn permission walking out of the feed store.

Her raven hair was down her back and she didn't have a single ounce of makeup on. She had on a coral colored sundress that revealed tanned legs that I had the itch to run my hands up to see if they were as soft as they looked. She hadn't noticed me openly gawking at her yet. She was beautiful no doubt and I did infact find out she had a clean record.

Wren Lewis, 24, no criminal record, regular volunteer at the church and homeless shelters during her highschool years here in Silverton. Moved to New York for college where she met and got engaged to a James Kepler. James is a lawyer in the top of his field in New York City. They bought a house together, or I should say James bought a house shortly after they graduated and they had lived there up until Wren's parents and brother died.

Though I have been wondering where James is. I haven't spotted a ring on her finger either. I wonder if they split or if she is just trying to hide the fact that she's engaged. Either way I wasn't opening up that can of worms. I was still pissed at how she abandoned her family and only came back to take their legacy and fortune, But I could admire her from afar, right?

“You might want to shut your jaw before a fly makes it a home.” My partner chuckled. “Oh and you got a bit of drool riiiiight there.” he said pointing to my chin. I wiped my jaw just to be met with dry skin and I glared at him.

“She is hot.” he said eyeing her and I growled. He looked at me and laughed shaking his head and continued on his patrol with me.

“Don't even think about it.” I warned him as we walked through town. My eyes kept going to her the closer we got. He chuckled under his breath but didn't offer an answer. Noah is my best friend so it made sense that he would tease me about this right now.

“Wonder if she's single.” he asked dubiously as he chuckled and jogged ahead of me after I punched his shoulder.