Page 5 of Paws and Claws (Saltwater Grove Romances #4)

5

DOMINIC

D ominic tapped his fingers against the steering wheel of his squad car. He watched Tabitha load art supplies into her motorcycle's saddlebags outside the craft store. Two days of surveillance, and the most exciting thing she'd done was haggle over the price of paint.

"Nothing suspicious at The Hex last night either," Connor's voice crackled through the radio. "Unless you count her karaoke rendition of 'Sweet Home Alabama.'"

Her motorcycle roared to life. For once, Tabitha actually obeyed the speed limit as she wound through downtown Saltwater Grove. Dominic followed at a distance, his lion instincts bristling at playing the stalking game.

"You know," Connor said through the radio, "maybe she's innocent. We haven't had any incidents since we started watching her."

"Or maybe she knows we're watching." Dominic's jaw clenched. "Did you see how she's suddenly following traffic laws? That's not normal for her."

"Could be she's just trying to avoid another ticket. You've given her what, three this month?"

The memory of her smile made his teeth grind. "And she hasn't paid any of them yet."

Tabitha turned into the grocery store parking lot. Through his windshield, Dominic watched her purple hair catch the sunlight as she dismounted.

"Sheriff, permission to speak freely?"

"When has that ever stopped you before?"

"You're obsessing. Maybe you should ask her out instead of following her around town."

Dominic nearly choked. "That's completely inappropriate."

"Just saying, there's a thin line between surveillance and stalking. And you've been volunteering for most of these shifts yourself."

"Because I take my job seriously." Dominic watched Tabitha load groceries into her motorcycle bags. "Someone could have died in that park incident."

"And someone could die from you not getting enough sleep. Go home, I'll take the next shift."

"I'm fine."

"You growled at the coffee maker this morning."

Dominic sighed, rubbing his tired eyes. Maybe Connor had a point about the sleep deprivation. But every time he considered dropping the surveillance, he remembered the fear in those monkey shifters' eyes as live wires sparked around their playground.

"Fine. You take the evening shift. But call me if anything happens."

"You got it, boss. And hey, maybe try counting sheep instead of purple-haired witches tonight?"

Dominic clicked off the radio before Connor could hear his low growl.

The neon sign of The Hex cast purple shadows across Dominic's dashboard as he watched patrons stumble out into the night the following evening. His lion senses picked up the scent of stale beer and cigarette smoke drifting through his cracked window. A tap on the glass made him jump.

Tabitha stood there, her purple hair catching the neon glow. She bent down, bringing her face level with his window. The scent of jasmine and rain hit his nose as he rolled down the window more. His inner lion stirred with interest before he could shut that reaction down.

"Stalking me again, Sheriff?" Her lips curved into that infuriating smile. "You know, you could just come inside like a normal person."

"I'm working." He kept his voice professional despite the way his pulse quickened at her proximity.

"You're always working." She propped her elbows on his window frame. "When was the last time you actually had fun?"

"I have plenty of fun."

"Really? Name one thing you do for fun that doesn't involve a badge or paperwork."

Dominic opened his mouth, then closed it. Sleep. He enjoyed sleep. That counted, right?

"That's what I thought." She laughed, the sound warming the cool night air. "Come on, big bad sheriff. One drink won't kill you. Maybe you'll even learn what fun feels like."

"Your kind of fun usually involves breaking laws."

"Only the boring ones." Her blue eyes sparkled with mischief. "But hey, if you want to sit out here all night watching other people live their lives, be my guest."

She straightened up, and Dominic caught himself leaning forward to follow her movement before forcing himself back against his seat.

"Such a waste," she said over her shoulder as she sauntered away. "All that alpha male energy spent on surveillance duty."

Dominic watched her disappear around the corner, his hands tight on the steering wheel. He knew how to have fun. He went running sometimes.

The memory of Tabitha's laugh echoed in his head. He growled softly, annoyed at how her words had gotten under his skin. He was a responsible adult with important duties. He didn't need to prove anything to anyone, especially not to a troublemaking witch who thought speed limits were optional.

Still, as he sat there in the quiet of his squad car, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that maybe - just maybe - she had a point.

The bell above the Cauldron & Cup's door chimed as Dominic pushed inside, his lion's pride still smarting from Tabitha's jabs. The familiar scent of coffee and magic wrapped around him, somehow both soothing and energizing at once.

Nina orchestrated a symphony of floating mugs behind the counter, her constellation-speckled apron twinkling in the warm lantern light. "Sheriff Blackmane, you look like you need something stronger than coffee."

"Just answers today, Nina." He settled onto a stool at the counter. "What can you tell me about Tabitha Moon's magic?"

"Ah." Nina's hands paused mid-conductor. "That's a loaded question coming from you."

"I need to know if she's capable of causing serious magical incidents."

Nina's cloth swept across the counter, absorbing a coffee ring before it could stain. "I taught her, you know. When she was young. Wild magic isn't easy to control - it's like trying to harness a hurricane with dental floss."

"But she can control it now?"

"Better than most." Nina's fingers sparked purple as she gestured, sending a fresh cup of coffee floating Dominic's way. "She worked hard at it. Probably the only thing she ever approached with discipline."

The coffee smelled like midnight and possibilities. Dominic took a sip, letting the warmth chase away some of his exhaustion. "There have been incidents recently. Dangerous ones."

"And you think Tabitha's responsible?" Nina's eyebrows rose.

"She's not exactly a model citizen."

"No, but there's a difference between speeding tickets and causing pile-ups." Nina leaned forward, her dark eyes serious. "What's really on her rap sheet, Sheriff?"

Dominic ran through the list in his head. "Speeding - lots of speeding. Noise complaints. That time she painted the town fountain..."

"Which brightened up the square considerably."

"It was still vandalism."

"Mm-hmm." Nina's knowing smile made his inner lion bristle. "And how many people got hurt during any of these terrible crimes?"

"That's not the point-"

"Actually, Sheriff, I think that's exactly the point." Nina's cloth snapped against the counter for emphasis. "Tabitha's wild, yes. Reckless, absolutely. But malicious? Never seen it."

The coffee in Dominic's cup rippled as he absorbed Nina's words. The leap from noise violations to endangering civilians did seem steep, even for Tabitha.

Dominic soon slid into his squad car, the leather seat creaking beneath him. His inner lion was restless after the conversation with Nina. He grabbed his radio, needing an update.

"Connor, status report."

"Our favorite purple-haired menace just pulled into her driveway," Connor's voice crackled through. "She's carrying what looks like... wait, are those grocery bags? Living dangerously there."

"Very funny." Dominic's lips twitched despite himself. "Any signs of-"

The radio erupted with static before dispatch cut in. "All units, multiple transformer explosions reported on Oak Street. Power outages affecting three blocks. Fire department en route."

Dominic's heart rate spiked. Oak Street was in Tabitha's neighborhood. His first instinct was to roar 'I knew it!' but something nagged at him.

"Connor, what time exactly did Tabitha get home?"

"About two minutes ago. Why?"

Dominic checked the car's dashboard clock, then pulled up the location of Oak Street on his computer. The math didn't add up.

"The transformers that blew are six blocks from her house. Even if she sprinted from there, she couldn't have made it home that fast." He paused. "And she was carrying groceries?"

"Yeah, looked pretty loaded down. Unless she's secretly the Flash..."

"Her magic's never shown any super speed capabilities." Dominic felt his certainty crumbling. The lion in him hated being wrong, but his sense of justice was stronger. "Stay on her. I'm heading to Oak Street."

"Copy that. And boss?"

"What?"

"Maybe apologize next time you see her? You know, for the whole accusation thing?"

Dominic growled softly. "Just watch the house, Connor."

He flipped on his lights and pulled away from the curb, his mind racing faster than his car. If Tabitha wasn't behind these incidents, who was? And why did all the attacks happen in her neighborhood?

The scent of ozone and burnt metal hit his sensitive nose before he even turned onto Oak Street. Three transformers had exploded, leaving scorch marks up the poles. His lion's eyes picked out details in the darkness - the clean cuts in the power lines and the precise pattern of damage.

This wasn't wild magic. This was calculated. Precise. Everything Tabitha wasn't.

Dominic's headlights cut through the darkness when he finally drove home, his lion's pride struggling with the weight of his mistake. The precise cuts in those power lines kept replaying in his mind - so different from Tabitha's chaotic brand of magic.

"Damn it," he muttered, gripping the steering wheel tighter. His house came into view, but he drove past it, needing more time to think.

The radio crackled. "Boss, you still up?"

"What is it, Connor?"

"Just checking if you're planning to apologize to our favorite speed demon tomorrow."

Dominic's jaw clenched. "I don't apologize for doing my job."

"Your job includes wrongly accusing people?"

The truth in those words stung more than Dominic wanted to admit. He'd let his irritation with Tabitha's constant rule-breaking cloud his judgment. Her wild magic might send sparks flying and turn fountains pink, but she'd never shown the kind of calculated malice these attacks required.

"She's still a menace," Dominic growled, but the words lacked their usual conviction.

"Sure, boss. Whatever helps you sleep at night." Connor mused. "Though between you and me, I think you just enjoy seeing her."