Page 35 of Warrant

Itwashappening again. I’d make sure of that. No way I was letting this woman slip through my fingers. But if I forced the issue right now, it would push her even further away. I didn’t want her to ban me from coming into the sheriff’s office or anywhere else she was—how else would I make her fall in love with me?

“Fair enough,” I managed to choke the words out even though I didn’t want to say them.

She gave me a nod, a grim look of determination on her face. She thought this was over. She was dead wrong. This was going to end the way I wanted it to. But I was going to have to take my time and be patient. I’d have to approach her like I would a wild animal. Coax her closer. Teach her to trust me. Then she’d be mine.

She walked me out toward my bike when I started whistling.

She frowned. “Why does that song sound familiar?”

“I pew pew’d the sheriff,” I sang, slightly off key.

She rolled her eyes. “That’s not even the lyrics.”

“It’s a copyright thing,” I said with a shrug.

She laughed at me. “You’re so weird.”

And yet here she was laughing at me, thinking we were ending this on a civil note. That we were both in agreement to her ridiculous idea that we weren’t going to have sex again—or anything else—in the future. She’d soon learn differently. But not yet.

CHAPTER 14

Ainsley

The next morning, I was getting dressed on my second day off and worrying over what I was wearing. Not because I actually cared, but I was about to meet up with women. Usually women cared about things like clothes and shoes. I didn’t. But Ididcare about what theymightcare about, so then Ididcare about what clothes and shoes I was wearing. Not confusing at all. I eyed my reflection in the mirror as I messed with my hair. I sprayed some hairspray on the flyaways on the top of my head and smoothed them down.

It only took me a few minutes to walk to the nearby café and as soon as I stepped through the door I spotted Harlow.

She waved at me, then cocked her head. I was only about halfway across the room, when she exclaimed. “You’re glowing.”

Every eye in the café turned to me as my stride stuttered a little.

Good…Lord… Don’t blush. Don’t blush. Don’t blush.

There was an entire table full of women sitting with Harlow and they were all either smirking or outright laughing.

“Don’t mind her,” Melody, the local town judge said with a laugh. Thank God there was another familiar face here. Though I saw that Rae, the coroner/funeral home director was there, too.

“Hi,” I said, giving them both smiles as I slid into the empty chair next to Harlow.

“What?” Harlow asked, looking over at Melody.

“You don’t point that out,” Melody told her.

“Why not?” Harlow asked, looking around.

“Because if she’s not pregnant, then it means she’s probably been the recipient of some mind shattering orgasms,” a blonde woman pointed out.

My jaw dropped open. One, how the hell did she know that? And two, no. No two. I blew out a breath as the table erupted in laughter.

“That’s Kaisa,” Melody said, motioning to the blonde.

“She’s one of the county commissioners,” Harlow added.

“Oh, so I have you to thank for my job,” I said with a grin.

She laughed and waved a hand. “Trust me, we were desperate to get someone new in here.”

“And get Denison out,” a brunette sitting next to her added. “I’m Maya. Another commissioner. The third couldn’t make it today, but she’s hoping she’ll be available the next time we get together.”