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What the fuck? Weird.
Dad could have driven them both home. He's not drinking tonight for that exact reason. Why isn't Abu going home with Papa?
Through one of the big, picture windows out in the hall overlooking the snow-covered mountains with the groomed ski runs and the lifts dangling above in the moonlight, I watch Hawk open the front door of his official, sheriff department SUV and wait patiently while Abu climbs into the front seat. Then Alice slides into the rear and the unit pulls out of the lodge's parking lot and disappears into the distance.
* * *
Hawk
Terra Diaz turnson her heel and walks away from me. Again.
As I watch her go, I think it's probably just as well. There's not a chance in hell I'd be able to hold her in my arms and spin her around the dance floor without pulling her in too close to me. Holding those sinful curves of hers possessively and letting her feel what she does to me.
This isn't the time or place for that. It's a family event and even though I'm here in uniform.
When I accepted the post in this tiny, mountain community, I wasn't fully aware of just how much time I'd be putting in. Being the only law enforcement officer in town means being on duty twenty-four/seven, except for the few days a week when the sub-station in Keller's Ferry is on call.
My steps take me closer to Terra. It's not something I think about and it's sure as hell not something I do on purpose. The curvy little beauty has me under a spell and it's I'm drawn toward her. I'm one hundred percent obsessed and my obsession is one hundred percent wrong.
When I came up here a couple years back, Terra was just out of high school, barely even legal. That made it easier to ignore the way I noticed her presence any time she was around. Which is plenty, seeing as how her family has become like my own.
She's still too young for me. I'm fourteen years her senior and I've got no business looking at her the way I do. Not to mention the thoughts I have about her when I'm alone in my own home with my fist wrapped around my aching cock in the night.
I fought it at first. I tried not to notice the way her body has rounded into womanhood, the way her long, black hair sways above her ass with her confident strides-- usually away from me after making some smart-ass remark.
My girl's got a sassy mouth on her and rebellious streak a mile wide. She doesn't take well to being told what to do and her willfulness only makes me want to claim her more.
Every day I see her growing more beautiful, strong and confident like the other women in her family, and I've had to come to terms with the fact that this need for her is more than lust.
The hunger that gnaws at me more with every day that Terra isn't mine goes beyond obsession. I am smitten with the curvy little Latina rebel and I won't be sated till she's my wife.
From the edge of the room, my eyes follow Terra. Her eyes glance over at the bar where plastic wine glasses sit filled and lined up for the taking by the guests that are of age.
Technically, Terra could be drinking tonight and I'd have no say in the matter. When her eyes flick from the bar toward me, I know she's thinking the same thing. Sizing me up, deciding if she wants to push her luck-- or rather— my buttons.
When she veers in the other direction and heads for the table where her grandmother and Alice McAllister are huddled together with a line of small, plastic shot glasses between them-- no doubt filled with whiskey-- I'm not sure how I feel about it.
I want to praise her for making the better decision, but I'm also disappointed that she didn't give me an excuse to give her shit for not being twenty-one yet.
There are few things I enjoy more these days than catching Terra in the act of bucking the system. Just so I can get a taste of her passion while she reminds me that I'm not the boss of her. Just so I can torture myself with thoughts of all the ways I want to hear her beg me to change that.
Alice leaves the table where Terra and Marcia continue to talk and my spine stiffens as I watch her head my way.
"My friend and I could use a ride home, officer." She doesn't even slur as she wraps her arm through mine flirtatiously.
"Alice, there are designated drivers here tonight for that." I pat the bony hand wrapped around my bicep and smile down at the old woman.
The green eyes staring up at me are not smiling back.
This woman is in her eighties for fuck's sake. How the hell is her hand so damn strong? I don't think I could pry her grip off my arm if I tried.
It's been like this since I got up to the Ridge. I still remember the night the Brick and Porter opened in town. When I agreed to give Vera Jones and Mable Hart a ride home, Current Jones warned me not to let his grandmother and her friend talk me into any detours-- but I didn't listen.
That was the night I got pulled into the seedy underbelly of Moonshine Ridge's local crime syndicate.The Infamous Four have been blackmailing me into aiding and abetting ever since.
We're talking real crime; trespassing, breaking and entering. Hell, Vera and Mable stole a whole herd of goats out of the Diaz barn last year-- with my help.
Alice is still looking up at me, waiting for my answer.
