Page 9 of Rhett

Not intimidated, I scowled at him.

“What took you so long?” I started walking toward him. The closer I got, the more aware I was of the strange way my skin prickled with awareness and my heart raced with excitement.

“Lady, don’t move,” Sheriff Cowboy barked. “Stay right there.”

His cool tone was like a bucket of icy water had been thrown over my head. Glaring at him, I stilled my feet.

“What are you going to do? Arrest me?” I taunted with my hands on my hips, watching him stride over to Naked Cowboy and me.

He whipped off his dark sunglasses, revealing sky-blue eyes. “Don’t tempt me, female.” My skin tingled while his eyes roamed over me from head to toe. It was as if his gaze was stroking me in all the hot, sensual ways I loved.

Jesus,he was the most beautiful man I’d ever laid eyes on. He wasn’t carrying a weapon, and instead of a uniform, he dressed in jeans with a gold shield buckle hooked on his leather belt and a gray shirt that barely contained his biceps.

Everything about this man—except his asshole attitude—made me want to climb him like a jungle gym for kids.

His nostrils flared, and a low growl sounded deep in his throat. The slightly animalistic sound made my nipples throb.

Did he just growl at me?

And what in the hell is going on with my body?

Henry sniffed the air loudly. “You two cut that foreplay shit out. This ain’t no dating show.” He glared at both of us. “This female is trespassing on my land. Aren’t you supposed to be interrogating her?”

The sheriff’s eyes narrowed on me before staring over at Naked Cowboy. “Don’t tell me how to do my job, Henry.” He frowned at him. “And why the fuck are you wearing your hat and not your clothes?”

He scratched his chin. “I was fixin’ to get dressed, but I didn’t have time.”

“All lies.” I rolled my eyes. “I repeatedly asked—no, begged—you to cover your bare ass.”

He snickered. “That you did.” He eyed the sheriff. “She’s one of those uptight nudist haters.”

I slammed my hands on my hips. “I am not an uptight nudist hater.”

“Sure you are. Not once have you checked out my magnificent body.” He waggled his eyebrows.

“That’s it.” I held out my hands to the sheriff. “Handcuff me. Arrest me. Just take me away from this crazy man.”

Naked Cowboy grinned. “Apparently, I’m too much cowboy for her.”

“Henry, get dressed,” the sheriff ordered. “No one wants to see your dingle-dangle bits.”

“That’s not what all the ladies in town say,” he said.

The sheriff crossed his beefy arms. “Don’t make me arrest you, Henry.”

“You ain’t here for me, Protector.”

Protector? Is that some weird nickname for sheriff?

Naked Cowboy pointed at me. “You’re here for beautiful over there.” He winked at me. “In case you’re wondering, I’m single and ready to mingle.”

“I’m done!” I yelled, marching over to the cruiser, opening the back door, and getting inside. “Take me to jail, Protector,” I ordered before slamming the door. I’d rather spend the night in lockup than put up with any more of Naked Cowboy’s crazy talk.

I watched the sheriff step closer to Henry, but I couldn’t hear their conversation.

My eyes drifted down to his ass, encased in well-fitted jeans that left little to the imagination. I whispered, “Damn. Sheriff Stick-Up-His-Ass has a smoking-hot body.”

Suddenly, the sheriff’s head whipped around to stare at me. His mouth was moving, but I couldn’t hear what he was saying, so I opened the door.