This past week or so has really been something else. Being with Vic feels so right. I'm amazed at how comfortable I am when we're together, considering how nervous she made me before.

Even though everything between us is so perfect right now, it's still only been just over a week since we got together. I'm really happy how things are, and I want to make sure they don't move to fast. I'm not ashamed of Vic by any means, but I'm not sure I'm ready to let everyone else in on our relationship just yet.

Work probably isn't the best place to have this conversation, but I need to talk to her about this while I still have my nerve.

"Vic! Can you come in here?"

She appears a minute later in the doorway, leaning on the frame. "What's up?"

"Come in and shut the door."

She shuts the door and starts to walk towards me.

"Lock it."

A grin creeps onto her face as she takes a step backward to flip the lock before walking over to me. She comes around to where I'm sitting and pulls herself up to sit on my desk.

I haven't seen her yet this morning. She looks good today. Then again, she looks good every day.

She smiles down at me and I can't help but smile back. I'm kind of regretting what I called her in for now.

"Yes?" She fishes, I'm assuming wondering why I called her in here.

"How are you?"

"Fine, how are you?"

I nod, "Good."

I really could just stare at her all day.

"Okay, I'm glad we got that out of the way." She lets out a nervous laugh. "Is there anything else?"

"Yeah, uhh, kinda."

She stares back at me, waiting for me to continue.

"Are you going to out to the Red Pony tonight? For Henry's thing?"

She pauses slightly before answering. "I didn't remember that was tonight, but yes, I should probably make an appearance."

I nod. I know it sounds terrible of me, but I was almost hoping that she was going to say she had plans and couldn't go. This would be the first time being out in public together since we became involved.

It takes her a moment but I see the realization hit her face. "Do you not want me to go?"

"No, it's not that, of course you can go." I pause trying to figure out how to say this without hurting her feelings. "I just don't think I'm ready for us to go together."

I'm not sure why, but the next thing she does is smiles.

"It's okay, we don't have to go together."

"I'm trying, I just…"

She cuts me off. "Babe, I said it's okay."

She scoots over on the desk so she's in front of me. "I know you're not ready for everyone to know, that's okay. We can both still be in the same place without it being weird, can't we? Just treat me like your friend… or deputy, whichever you're more comfortable with. As long as you don't completely ignore me it's fine."

I let out a sigh of relief. She never ceases to surprise me.

"You know, I should be a little offended. Am I that big of a bitch normally that you'd think I'd be mad about you not being ready?"

"No, not at all."

"Good answer," she says through a smile as she slides off the desk and lowers herself onto my lap.

She begins running her fingers through my hair, teasing me. "I might have to hold out on the alcohol tonight, I don't know if I'll be able to keep my hands off of you while under the influence."

She begins to run her hand over my chest where my shirt is missing a few buttons at the top.

It's crazy to me how the simplest touch from her drives me absolutely crazy. I clear my throat, trying to swallow the lump in my throat. "Huh. Yeah we don't want that."

She leans her face in closer to mine, hovering her mouth over mine. "I don't know how I'm going to do it. I'm not sure I'll be able to resist the urge."

"Mmmm, it is a rather strong urge isn't it?" I slide my hands up her thighs to her waist.

"The strongest," she whispers in my ear making me cave.

I reach my mouth up to hers, and I feel her sigh through the kiss. She's the one to pull away after a couple of moments, leaving me wanting more.

"This might be harder than I thought."

She laughs, our foreheads touching when she does. "Buck up, cowboy."

She places a kiss on the tip of my nose before sliding off my lap and heads for the door. "I'll be at my desk if you need me," she calls as she walks away down the hallway.

Around lunch time, she pokes her head in my door. "Do you want anything to eat? I'll go grab something."

I've been on the phone all morning, but now that I think about it I haven't eaten yet today. "Sure. The usual, please."

"You got it." She starts to close the door.

"Vic?"

"Yeah?"

I look back at her for a moment before speaking. "Thanks," I say as I give her a smile.

She grins and shakes her head at me before whispering, "You're welcome, dear," a little sarcastically.

Once she shuts the door, I get back to work and make a few phone calls. I have just hung up the phone when she strolls back into my office.

She sets the bag of food on my desk and pulls up a chair to eat with me.

"Henry said to tell you hello."

I nod my head and take the burger that she's handing me.

"Hello to Henry. And thank you." I give her a smile, but what I really want to do is reach over and kiss her.

She smiles back genuinely. "You're welcome."

After lunch, Vic goes back to her desk and eventually gets called out to the scene of a car accident. I sent Ferg with her since I have some errands to run at the bank.

As I'm walking into the bank, an elderly woman named Dorothy Hudson is coming out at the same time. She stops me by putting a hand on my arm.

"Walter, I'm so glad that Cady is alright. That was a close call earlier, don't you think?"

Huh?

"Hi, Dorothy. What are you talking about?"

"Didn't that deputy of yours tell you?"

I'm really hoping that Dorothy is just old and senile. I'm starting to get nervous.

"She must have forgotten. What happened?"

"Well, I'm not exactly sure, but I was at the Red Pony for lunch today when some dirt bag came and was looking for Cady."

"Okay…"

"But that deputy of yours, that pretty girl… she must have been able to tell something was off with this guy because she stood in front of Cady like she was a lioness protecting her cub."

She turns around and stands in front of me, holding her arms out to the side, apparently imitating Vic.

"Wait, so some guy tried to attack Cady?"

"Well, I'm not sure exactly." She turns back around to face me "I was sitting in the corner so it was hard to hear, but he came in looking for Cady. She wouldn't let him at Cady, and when he charged forward at them, it looked like she broke his nose!"

I feel my eyes grow wide. She broke some guys nose over lunch and she didn't mention it?

"He was whining on the floor and she pulled him to his feet and drug him out of the bar and he never came back in."

I'm not really sure what to say back to Dorothy, I'm at a loss for words. I feel a little stupid saying that I don't know about an altercation involving my daughter and one of my deputies.

"Well… it sounds like I missed quite the show."

"It really was something!" She exclaims. "I'm surprised your deputy didn't tell you."

I smile. "Maybe she's just waiting for the right time."

She smiles back. "Maybe. Well, I better get going, Sheriff."

"Alright, you take it easy, Dorothy."

She waves at me as she turns to leave. I walk inside to take care of my business quick so I can go back and have a talk with Vic.

How could something like that happen without me knowing about it?

I wasn't even there, but I can't get the image of Vic standing in front of Cady out of my head. I've always known that she's a great cop with smart instincts, but this is more than that. She protected my daughter at a time when I wasn't around to do so.

I'm not sure how I feel right now. I want to yell at Vic and hug her at the same time. What the hell is going on?