Page 17 of Paws and Claws (Saltwater Grove Romances #4)

17

TABITHA

S unlight streamed through Tabitha's living room windows. Her latest canvas featured dark, swirling storms of purple and black - a perfect reflection of her current mood.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," she muttered, dabbing angry strokes onto the canvas. Paint splattered onto her already stained overalls. "Getting into a bar fight over him of all people."

Her wild magic sparked around her fingertips, responding to her agitation. A nearby empty paint tube crumpled itself into a ball.

"And now he probably thinks I'm just some out-of-control witch who can't keep her temper in check." She threw her brush down, leaving a streak of purple across her worktable. "Which... okay, maybe I am. But he didn't have to be such an ass about it."

Tabitha flopped onto her paint-splattered couch. The morning heat was already building, making her tank top stick to her skin. Her ceiling fan spun lazily overhead, doing little to help.

"What am I supposed to do now?" she asked her half-finished painting. "Let Mr. By-The-Book handle everything while I sit here like a good little witch? Yeah, right."

But the thought of trying to track down the Hunters alone made her stomach twist. They had those devices now - who knew what else they were capable of? And as much as she hated to admit it, Dominic was good at his job. Really good.

Tabitha dragged herself to the kitchen, her bare feet padding across the cool tile floor. The coffee maker gurgled and sputtered as she poured herself a fresh cup, the rich aroma filling her nostrils.

Back at her easel, she stared at the moody painting before her. The dark swirls of purple and black reflected her earlier anger, but now they just looked... sad. Her wild magic sizzled softly around her fingers as she picked up a brush.

"God, I'm such an idiot," she muttered, dabbing lighter shades into the darkness. "He was just doing his job. Being all... Dominic-y about it."

She smiled despite herself. "Maybe I should apologize." She chewed her bottom lip, adding streaks of silver to break up the gloom in her painting. "Though he'd probably just lecture me about proper apology protocol or something."

The thought didn't annoy her like it usually would. Instead, she found herself missing his lectures, missing the way his jaw would clench when she deliberately pushed his buttons.

"What if he's done with me though?" The brush trembled slightly in her hand. "I mean, I did tell him my life was none of his business."

Her wild magic sparked in response to her anxiety, making her coffee cup rattle on its saucer.

"Easy girl," she whispered to her magic, taking deep breaths to calm herself. "We've screwed up bigger things than this."

A sharp knock at her front door made her jump, splattering paint across her shirt. Her heart did a weird little flip-flop in her chest.

"Coming!" she called out, then immediately regretted it. What if it was Bruce? Or worse - what if it was Dominic coming to tell her he never wanted to work with her again?

She glanced down at herself - paint-stained clothes, bare feet, and she was pretty sure there was purple paint in her hair. Great. Just great.

Another knock, more insistent this time.

"Just a minute!" Tabitha called, frantically trying to smooth down her hair while simultaneously searching for shoes. "Keep your pants on!"

Tabitha swung open her front door. Her heart skipped when she found Dominic filling her doorway. He looked imposing in his sheriff's uniform, his shoulders squared, and his jaw set in that determined way of his. Her wild magic tingled under her skin in response to his presence.

"Can I help you, Sheriff?" She aimed for casual, but her voice came out softer than intended.

"I owe you an apology." His green eyes met hers directly. "I shouldn't have come down so hard on you the other night."

Tabitha crossed her arms, trying to ignore how good he smelled - like cedarwood and citrus. "That's... unexpected."

"I heard what the fight was really about." He took a step closer, his presence making her painfully aware of her paint-splattered appearance. "Someone was talking trash about me?"

Heat crept up her neck. "Maybe." She shrugged, aiming for nonchalant. "She wouldn't shut up about you being this horrible person, and I just... snapped."

"You actually defended me?" His lips quirked up slightly.

"Don't let it go to your head," she replied with a half-smile. "I just hate when people judge others without knowing them."

"Like I judged you?"

"Yeah, well..." Tabitha sighed. "I'm sorry too. For saying I wouldn't work with you anymore. I was angry and-"

"I want you back on this case," he cut her off, his voice carrying that commanding tone that probably worked wonders on his deputy. "If you're willing."

Her heart beat faster but she forced herself to stay cool. "Miss me that much, Sheriff?"

"Maybe I do." The intensity in his gaze made her breath catch in her throat.

"Well..." She stepped back from the doorway. "You might as well come in then. We've got Hunters to catch."

He hesitated for just a moment before stepping inside, his presence somehow making her cluttered living room feel smaller. Tabitha's wild magic hummed contentedly, happy to have him back in her orbit even if she wasn't ready to admit that to herself.

"Just don't lecture me about the mess," she warned, closing the door behind him.

"Wouldn't dream of it." His smile held a warmth she wasn't used to seeing. "At least, not today anyways."

Tabitha watched as Dominic moved through her cluttered living room with surprising grace. He paused at each canvas, studying them with an intensity that made her fidget with the hem of her paint-stained shirt.

"This one's interesting," he said, stopping before a canvas dominated by swirling blues and silvers. "It looks like... movement frozen in time."

"That's exactly what I was going for." Heat filled her cheeks at his accurate assessment. "It's about dancing in a thunderstorm."

His eyes fixed on hers. "You dance in thunderstorms?"

"Sometimes." She shrugged, trying to ignore how his gaze made her pulse quicken. "When my wild magic gets restless."

He moved to another painting, this one featuring a phoenix rising from abstract flames. "These are good, Tabitha. Really good."

"They used to sell better." The words slipped out. "When Sarah and I had our gallery."

"Sarah?"

"My former business partner." Tabitha's wild magic crackled softly around her fingers. "We had this amazing little gallery downtown. But then we fought about... well, everything. My temper got the best of me, things got broken between us, and that was that."

"What happened?"

"What always happens." She let out a bitter laugh. "I lost control. Scared her off. Story of my life, really - I'm basically my own worst enemy."

Dominic turned to face her, his broad shoulders blocking out the morning light from her windows. "You shouldn't give up on this."

"Easy for you to say, Mr. Perfect Record."

"I mean it." He stepped closer, close enough that the smell of his cologne made her head spin. "You've got real talent. The way you capture emotion in these pieces... it's raw. Honest."

Tabitha's heart stuttered. She tried to play it cool, but his words touched something deep inside her. "Thanks," she managed, her voice coming out soft. "That's... that actually means a lot to me."

His green eyes held hers, intense and unwavering. "I'd buy one."

"You would not," she scoffed, but pleasure bloomed in her chest.

"Try me." His lips curved into that rare, genuine smile. "Name your price."

Tabitha felt a rush of warmth inside her. "Maybe I'll give you one for free," she said, tucking her hair behind her ear. "You know, as a thank you for not completely giving up on me after the bar fight."

"I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions like that," Dominic said softly, touching her arm gently. "I didn't realize you were just trying to defend me."

"Yeah, well." She looked away, trying to hide how his proximity affected her. "Maybe we both need to work on our tempers. And actually talk things out instead of assuming the worst?"

"Agreed." His eyes found hers with that intense focus that made her wild magic hum. "Partners should be honest with each other."

"Partners?" Her stomach did a small flip at the word.

"Professionally speaking that is." He moved to examine her newest painting, the one with the storm clouds. "And speaking of being honest, I've been thinking more about those magical incidents."

Tabitha perched on the arm of her couch, watching him study her work. "What about them?"

"The Hunters are known for their advanced tech." He turned to face her, all business now. "What if they used their equipment to simulate magical attacks? Make it look like someone with wild magic was responsible?"

"And then pin it on me." The pieces clicked into place. "That's why the woman in the photos looked like me - they planned this to make it look like a paranormal did it."

"Exactly." He stepped closer, his presence commanding. "We need to find their lab. Whatever they're using to create these false magical signatures, it has to be nearby."

"And probably well-hidden." Her wild magic sparked with excitement at the challenge. "Between your detective skills and my magic, we might actually have a shot at this."

Dominic's phone rang, cutting through their conversation about the Hunters. His shoulders tensed as he checked the screen, and Tabitha could practically see him shifting back into sheriff mode.

"Blackmane," he answered, his voice dropping into that commanding tone that caused her wild magic to tingle. "I'll be right there."

He hung up and turned to her, his eyes intense. "There's a situation at the station I need to handle."

"Duty calls?" Tabitha leaned against her paint-splattered worktable, trying to ignore how attractive he looked when he was all business.

"Always does." He moved toward the door with that predatory grace of his, then paused. "I'm glad we're working together again. This time try not to punch anyone on my behalf?"

"No promises." She grinned.

After Dominic left, Tabitha stood in her doorway watching his retreating form. The morning sun caught his dark hair, and her chest tightened with an unfamiliar feeling. She closed the door and leaned against it with a smile on her face.