Sometimes love arrives in the cutest bundle of fur.
Alpha rabbit shifter Jungkook only plans to stretch his legs when he pulls to the side of the road. When a quick shift turns into a brush with death, he's left in the hands of a young boy who vows...
Life with Jimin was pretty great. So great that I was starting to imagine what things would be like if I never left. I was able to fix up a good chunk of the problems we identified, and with each swing of my hammer, it was easier to think of the farm as my home. Or more accurately, that being with Jimin was my home.
And then reality knocked.
Technically, it was the sheriff who knocked on the door at 8:05 Wednesday morning. Jimin and I were just getting out of the shower after a satisfying morning of playtime when the banging at the front startled us both.
Jimin opened up the bedroom window and shouted out toward the door. “Coming! Just a minute.”
“Are you expecting anyone?” I stepped into a pair of jeans then reached for a T-Shirt. It was Jimin’s shirt so it fit snugly against my chest, but I liked having his scent on me. My bunny liked that too.
“No.” Jimin grinned when he looked at me and then picked up my shirt off the chair. It was baggy on his slight frame, but he was bulking up from all his work on the farm. He looked damn good in it. “I’ll be right back.”
I followed on his heels, curious to know who was making an unannounced visit so early, but also desperate for a cup of coffee. When Jimin opened the door and Sheriff Mark was standing on the other side, my heart sank. I knew what he was there for.
Either he had manufactured some reason to arrest me or he was planning to run me out of town. I wasn’t sure which sounded worse. Not until the actual words left his lips and I was faced with the reality I’d been avoiding for weeks.
“Nothing came up on our investigation so you’re free to leave.” The sheriff stared me down, trying to intimidate me. It didn’t work.
“Thank you, sir. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Jimin sighed heavily, obviously relieved. I wasn’t eager to leave quite yet. We had a lot of work left to do, and I don’t think either of us was ready to end whatever connection was building between us.
I winked at him, reassuring him I felt the same way.
“I don’t think you understand what I’m saying, boy.” Sheriff Mark slipped his thumbs into the wide waistband of his trousers and tugged them up as he rocked back on his heels. “It’s not a suggestion.”
Jimin and I both turned to him with slack jaws. In my gut, I knew what he was saying, but I needed to hear him say the words out loud in order for them to sink in. “What are you talking about?”
The man pulled his hands along his belt until they were resting on his weapons. “It’s time for you to get moving. We don’t need your kind of riff raff around these parts. We’re good people here, not looking for any trouble.” He eyed me from head to toe and scoffed. “And I knew from the second I saw you that you were trouble.”
I reached for Jimin and tugged him closer so we could hold each other up. I knew this day was going to suck when it came, but I didn’t think it would come so soon. And I definitely didn’t expect the dread to be as intense as it was. “Yes, sir. I understand.”
“I don’t understand.” Jimin pulled away and balled up his fists on his hips. “Why does Jungkook have to leave? He’s helping me.”
Sheriff Mark pulled his evil gaze away from me and leveled it on Jimin. I had to stop myself from standing in front of him to shield him from the asshole sheriff, but I didn’t want to make things worse for Jimin. He would be stuck seeing that man for as long as he lived in the town. I, on the other hand, would be a distant memory soon enough. Maybe it was better this way.
“It’s okay, Chim. I need to head out anyway. Maybe I’ll still be able to take that job.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” The sheriff nodded to both of us then walked off the porch, no doubt on his way to ruin someone else’s life. When he got to his vehicle, he paused and looked back up at us both. “I trust you’ll be gone by noon, so I don’t have to come back and remove you.”
Before I could say anything in response, he was tearing off the property in a cloud of dust.
We both stood there for several minutes, not sure what to do next. Finally, Chim broke the silence.
“So, you’re just gonna leave? They can’t make you leave if you don’t want to. You haven’t done anything wrong.”
I pulled him against my chest and rested my chin on his shoulder. “I know, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be prosecuted for doing something wrong just because they want me gone.”
“So that’s it? No reason to fight?”
I knew what he was asking, but I couldn’t say what he wanted me to say. I couldn’t tell him that I was starting to fall for him and I’d happily live on that farm for the rest of my life if it meant getting to have Jimin by my side that entire time. “It’s better this way, baby. I’ve had fun here, but I need to get going to my real life now.”
His breath shuddered, but he maintained his composure. After a series of calming breaths, he nodded against my cheek then pulled away. “Well, let’s get some breakfast in you, and then I’ll make you some sandwiches for the road while you pack. You’ve got a long drive ahead of you, and you’re burning daylight.”
“Sounds good.” I swallowed hard to hold back the emotion that was starting to bubble up within me. “Come on. Let’s see if that delicious smell coming from the kitchen is hot coffee.”
Jimin nodded without a word and led me into the kitchen. He forced a brave face as he poured us two cups, but I could see the hurt in his eyes. I wasn’t sure if it was because I seemed eager to leave or because he thought I should stand up for myself with the asshole sheriff. Either way, I hated that look of sadness and needed to get out of town as soon as possible.
If I was stuck staring at those big eyes for any length of time, there’d be no chance of me leaving.
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