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Connor sauntered over, a sly grin on his face. “I’ve got a job and wanted to ask you some questions.”
“A job for who? Quinn?” I asked, my irritation growing. “I wish you’d stop meddling in my town.”
“My town, too,” Connor replied, his grin widening into a challenging smirk.
We stood there in a silent standoff, tension crackling between us. I couldn’t help but notice how sexy he was in his black jeans and jacket. He needed to shave, but he was rugged and dangerously appealing instead of looking disreputable. The memory of his stubble against my skin made me burn, and my erection was uncomfortable in my uniform pants.
Connor took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. I felt trapped between him and the side door into the office. My pulse quickened, and anger anddesire mixed into a potent cocktail that made it hard to think straight.
Ishouldpush him away.
Ineedto pull him close.
“Got a PI gig, tracking down a sibling. What do you know about Ezekiel Miller?” he asked, his tone more serious now.
Miller? The bull rider who’d passed through town and then stayed a while. He’d been with LouAnne Carter for a year and, if I remembered correctly, had a cute as-a-button daughter called Hope, Charity, or something like that. LouAnne lived way out of town with her son Archie, the same Archie who was now living up at the Lennox Ranch because LouAnne was ill and in rehab. Who would hire Connor to find him, and why? Was this something to do with LouAnne and the adoption of Archie? Why didn’t I know?
Why did Connor know something that I didn’t?
“Who hired you?”
“Confidential.” He rested a hand on the jamb behind me, and I tried to ignore his closeness and the way his voice sent shivers down my spine. The heat between us was unbearable. I could feel my anger rising at his intrusion and how my body responded to him.
“The sheriff’s office cannot assist you now,” I said.
He leaned in, his lips dangerously close to mine. The mixture of anger and desire was too much, and I shoved him away hard enough to put some space between us.
“Back off, Connor,” I growled, my voice rough with frustration.
He stumbled back, surprise flashing across his face before he composed himself. “Yes, sir,” he deadpanned.
I watched him walk away, the frustration and desire still churning inside me. Connor Mason was trouble, no doubt about it. But damn if he didn’t make life interesting. At the last minute, he stopped and faced me.
“Later,” he said.
I wasn’t sure if I wanted that to be a threat or a promise.
I turned my back on Connor, the tension still crackling between us. Without another word, I headed inside, trying to shake off the frustration and confusion that seemed to cling to me whenever he was around. Solomon watched me with a concerned expression as I took off my coat.
“Neil,” he said, stepping forward. “Lewis and Wyatt got called out to the Carter farm, and there are issues with wild animals.”
“Again?” Everyone knew it was the Carter kids causing trouble, not animals, but their children could do no wrong as far as the Carters were concerned. Solomon shrugged in a “yeah, right” kind of way.
“Could I ask you a favor?” he asked.
I nodded, hanging up my coat. “Sure. What do you need?”
“It’s Abraham,” he began, worry etched into his face. “I haven’t heard from him since last night, and I know he’s a grown man, but could you go do another welfare check on him at some point? No rush?”
I agreed, feeling a pang of concern. “Of course. He was okay last time I visited, quiet but calm.”
“Yeah, I know. Too quiet.”
“He’s on my list, so I’ll head there soon. Jason is with us today.”
“He’s already been in and filled in all the forms,” Solomon advised, tapping the folder on his desk.
“He has?” I thought he’d been sitting outside on his phone waiting for me.
