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“You didn’t have to burn bridges with the mayor, though,” I gently reply. “We could’ve used his cooperation.”

“A man like Hamilton doesn’t cooperate. He just gaslights you into the next century,” Lucas replies. “Honestly, I think we got more out of rattling him than we would’ve if we’d kept things light and breezy. Did you see the way he kept stealing glances at that painting? I’ll bet you there’s a?—”

“Safe hidden behind it,” I finish his sentence for him, laughing.

Mitch can’t help but laugh as well. “I saw it too. Our only issue is that we’ll need probable cause and some hard evidence before any judge will sign a search warrant for Hamilton’s office.”

“I’d say their behavior and body language confirmed they’re definitely involved. Maybe you could use that as ammunition to broker a better deal with Johnson and Jade,” I suggest.

Mitch comes close and my heart starts pumping faster while Lucas watches us, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

“I have to admit, I love it when you speak to us in legalese,” Mitch says, his hot breath tickling my face.

My pulse is racing, and I’m at a loss for words, my lips mere inches away from his. My fingertips tingle with sheer longing to caress his beard along with every other inch of his body. A silent longing is building up between us.

“Legalese,” I chuckle.

“We’re rubbing off on you, aren’t we?” he replies with a playful wink.

“A rather pleasurable side effect of our collaboration, I’ll admit.”

“You were fearless in there,” Mitch whispers. “I liked that. A lot.”

“I’m glad.”

He smiles and steps back, then politely opens the passenger door for me. “Back to the station.”

“Yes, sir,” I quip, then almost jump into the seat when Mitch catches me with one arm, damn near crushing me against his hard chest as Lucas laughs and gets behind the wheel.

“Say that again,” Mitch growls, desire burning in his brown eyes.

I’m practically melting, my hands splayed across his broad chest. I can feel his ripped pecs twitching beneath the layers of his shirt and jacket as liquid heat gathers between my legs.

My panties will be drenched by the time we reach the station.

“Say what again?” I ask, my voice but a whisper.

“You know what.”

Holy hell, this is so hot and hilariously inappropriate, given I’m pretty sure Jerry is watching us from one of the town hall’s windows. Mitch’s presence is all-consuming and too imposingfor me to ignore him, though. Besides, I want to see where this leads.

I give him a sly grin as I peer into his eyes. “Yes, sir…”

“That’s a good girl,” he replies, giving my hip a firm squeeze before he lets go.

By the time I’m in the back seat, I’m aching to feel this man buried deep inside me.

10

TASSIA

Despite the constantly developing ramifications of the investigation, despite the overwhelming sense I get when I look at the whiteboard in the bullpen, and despite the intense progression of my liaisons with the hot sheriff and his equally hot deputies, I find myself more clearheaded than ever.

As I stare at the mugshots of Johnson and Jade, deep in thought, I realize there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. The evidence room is nice, but this is giving me a whole new purpose.

“Lucas wanted me to give this to you,” Sherry grumbles as she dumps a folder on the desk beside me. “It’s the Farrah Hanson file.”

“Thank you,” I reply with a smile, briefly looking around.