Chapter 5
Tanner
TODAY IS A PILE OFdog shit.
I have more paperwork than I’m thrilled about on my desk and this morning I had a call out to a crime scene all the way past Austin.
I received word this morning that a person of interest in the attempted homicide of a man from West Virginia is hiding down around Rock Springs. Apparently, the woman had poisoned her husband’s coffee with arsenic. She must be a real gem.
This is also why I will never settle down. There are no good women left who can be trusted. Not that I have the time to date someone seriously or even get married with work and my family, but it’s cases like this that remind me not to dream. Hit it and quit it. That’s all I’m available for and the women I see know that.
As I pull the door to the cafe opened, I think about the petite blonde that I have done my damndest to stay away from for the last three weeks. The one with trouble in her eyes and a wariness of the badge that should give me pause. But no matter how hard I try, there she is, dancing at the edges of my mind. I can’t stop.
She’s also the only one who heats my blood and stiffens my cock these days. Ain’t that just a bitch.
The bell dings as I pass through the door and damned if I had any luck at all today it would be bad because there she is bent over a table, her perfect, heart shaped ass on display as she wipes down the table top. I stiffen in my jeans uncomfortably and try to remind myself that she’s not for me, but my dick won’t have it. He wants her.Badly.
I take a deep breath and head for my new favorite table—one outside of her normal section—and wave to Russell as I pass by.
“Hey, Tanner,” Jeff says as I pass by their table. “How’s it going?”
“Good, man,” I respond. “Living the dream. How are y’all?”
“Good, good,” he says.
“Gunner?” I ask.
“Can’t complain,” he smiles at his wife. I touch the brim of my white hat—myRangerhat—as I look to Ellie and Ari and then move along to my table.
I breathe a sigh of relief as I slide into the booth and look around to see who might be watching before I adjust myself under the table.
“What’ll it be?” she asks in a soft voice. I look up from my phone and see the girl with honey colored hair and warm brown eyes. The girl who has starred in all of my dreams and X-rated fantasies for the last three weeks. It’s becoming a bit of a problem.
“Club sandwich and a coke, please,” I answer.
“Coming right up,” she says before scurrying away like a little mouse—a damned sexy mouse—one that has all of my predatory tendencies rising up to the surface to play big cat for her.
I shake off the naughty thoughts playing in my head when she carefully drops my plate and drink on the table in front of me.
“Thank you,” I say. She just nods and scurries away again. I shake my head and then tuck into my meal.
When I’m just about done with my sandwich, I pop the last bit in my mouth and toss my napkin on top of my plate. Russell comes over and drops the most magnificent looking slice of pie in front of me—my favorite pie.
“On the house,” he says.
“Fresh?” I can’t help but ask him.
“Made just this morning,” he smiles.
“Maw maw’s recipe?” I ask, feeling hopeful. I haven’t had a fresh strawberry pie since my Grandmother and my mom got into another row about who was the best baker in the family. I haven’t wanted anyone but hers or moms and neither of those two are giving up their grudge anytime soon. My belly is sad for the loss but that’s mom and Maw maw.
“Better,” he says with pride all over his face.
“I don’t believe you,” I narrow my eyes on him.
“Go on, try it,” he says sitting down across from me with his own slice of pie.
I scoop up the first bite of flakey crust and sweet, sugary strawberries. The flavors explode on my tongue and I moan at how good it is. He’s right, it’s amazing. Almost better than Maw maw’s and mom’s put together and no one will get me to say otherwise. Not that I would actually say that out loud. They would both have my ass.
