Page 4 of Rhett

Ignoring me, he pulled out a cell from the pile of clothes in his hands, then dropped the garments onto the grass.

Flicking his finger over his phone, he pressed it to his ear. “Sheriff Ward, this is Henry. You better get your ass over here, pronto. I found a hybrid trespassing on my land.”

CHAPTER3

RHETT

I glanced up from my laptop when I heard several rapid knocks on my door.

“Yes?” I demanded.

The door opened, and Josie from Yonder Biscuits stood in the doorway with a basket clutched in her hands.

“Can I come in?” Her full lips curled up in a seductive smile.

Send her away,my inner jaguar demanded.We don’t want her.

I couldn’t agree more. Nothing about Josie appealed to me. Yet here she was—again—at the station, trying to flirt with me.

I stood up, striding over to the front of my desk. “How can I help you, Josie?” I crossed my arms.

I smelled the lust rolling off her body as she licked her pouty pink lips while she gazed at me like I was a steak on the menu.

She walked inside my office with an exaggerated sway to her curvy hips. “I brought you some freshly made biscuits.” She held out the basket.

My jaguar laughed.Why is this owl-shifter trying so hard? Not interested.

Ignoring him, I said, “Thank you. But as I’ve told you several times, I don’t take gifts from residents.”

Her pink lips pouted. “I don’t see why.” She hooked the basket handle over her arm.

“Because I said that I don’t,” I said, eyeing her coolly. “Anything else?”

She batted her eyelashes. “I’d like to invite you over to my place for dinner tonight. I have a nice pot roast with your name on it.” She pushed out her ample breasts.

I don’t care if she has a whole cow. The answer is no,my animal protested.She’s not our fated mate.

“Josie, I’ll have to decline… again.”

Josie had been inviting me to her place for dinner for over five years, but I wasn’t interested in having dinner or anything else with her. I’d made it clear to her—and all the other single females in town who’d invited me over for dinner—that I was not interested in fucking around and that I was waiting for my fated mate.

She stepped closer. “Look, Sheriff, I don’t know how much blunter I have to be.” She flicked her blond hair with one hand. “But I’m offering myself to you. You and I can go far together. You have the power, and I’m the best-looking female in this town.”

My animal scoffed.Please, she’s far from the best-looking female in town.

“Protector…” She inched closer. My nostrils flared when I smelled her unpleasant scent of burned toast. “We’re a perfect match.”

“You’re not my fated mate.”

“How many times do I have to tell you that doesn’t matter?” She cupped my jaw.

“Hands off, Josie.” Her touch made my skin crawl.

Reluctantly, she removed it. “I don’t see the problem,” she whined in a high-pitched tone. “You’re in your forties, for Pete’s sake. If your mate hasn’t shown up yet, she never will.”

“You’re not my female and never will be.”

“But we can have lots of fun together.” She licked her lips. “Until your mate comes along.”