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When Dad retired, they’d talked about traveling and seeing the world, but then he’d fallen ill, and everything had been downhill from that point on. It broke my heart to see him so old and infirm and Mom so broken.
“I know, Mom. I’m sorry, I have to go, but I’ll check in with you at lunchtime, okay? As soon as I can.”
“Okay, sweetie, I’m sorry I called. I just…”
“It’s okay, Mom. You can always call me anytime.”
My cell vibrated, and a message from Connor lit the screen on my work-issued phone. It was for people to contact me about the job, not about whatever fresh hell he was doing.
Connor:Morning Sheriff. Long time no see.
Connor: One beer?
Connor: Maybe nachos?
Connor: I won’t touch you.
Connor: Unless you want me to
Neil: This is a work phone.
Neil: Stop messaging this number.
Connor: One beer, and I’ll stop
Neil: No
I waitedwith morbid fascination for another message, but nothing came through, and even that pissed me off.
Fuck, it was as if he had no respect for my position at all. He lived only to mess with my town’s rules and my carefully maintained boundaries, and now he was pushing it with me. I still had outstanding paperwork on the Abraham Wild rifle case, which wasn’t going away soon, even though Abraham wasn’t pressing charges. Not to mention, I still felt anger when I imagined the landslide at the ranch swallowing Connor whole because he’d been an idiot.
Anger. Frustration.
Lust.
But damn, the way he had held me, the way he’d touched me. At that moment, he’d owned me. The kiss was fierce and consuming, a force of nature matching the storm outside. It was as if all the pent-up frustration and tension between us had exploded into that one electrifying moment. His lips were demanding, his grip possessive, and I felt a spark I’d never experienced.
And then I’d kissed him back like some horny teenager by the bike racks after school.
I couldn't forget the feel of his body against mine, the taste of him, and how he made me lose control. The attraction I felt for Connor was undeniable, a pull to the danger in him I couldn't rationalize away. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw and felt him, which drove me crazy. The intensity of that kiss lingered, a constant reminder of our raw connection. Connor had gotten under my skin, and despite my efforts to push it aside, the memory ofthat kiss kept resurfacing, leaving me confused and unsettled.
“… I said I wanted to sue them for lost time. Can I do that?”
I’d been half listening to Gary Thompson, who’d spent ten minutes on the phone complaining about the detour around town. He had a point, but his constant whining started grating on my nerves after the first minute.
“I’m not a lawyer, Mr. Thompson. I suggest you call someone in Collier Springs to see if they can help.”
He huffed and sighed, and I hoped the blustering would calm. He might threaten to sue the county, but would he follow through?
“I’ll do that, Sheriff,” he concluded after a prolonged pause.
“Goodbye, Mr. Thompson.”
The door opened as soon as the call ended, as if the person outside had waited for me to finish the damn call. Bessie flew in like her ass was on fire.
Seeing my sister so flustered could only mean one thing, and I was already standing.
“Is it Dad?” I asked, but she shook her head and settled herself in the opposite chair, and I sat down again. “I just thought… Mom called, saying he wanted to see Clive.” I didn’t mean to mention that to make Bessie feel guilty, but she flushed and dipped her head.
