“Hey, gorgeous.” I pull my brother’s girlfriend in for a hug. Flirting with her started as a way to piss off Cooper. Now, it’s stuck.
Staring over her shoulder, I see the raven-haired beauty as she takes in my cruiser. Then my face. And she can’t hide the recognition fast enough for me to miss.
Embarrassment. That’s what’s written all over her face. The pretty pink cheeks give her away.
Letting go of Aubrey, I turn my focus to my new tenant. “We meet again.”
“Again?” Aubrey chimes in.
“Yeah, I um, sort of got pulled over after we hung up the phone.”
Turning to Aubrey, I splay my hand over my heart. “My own sister-in-law, facilitating a crime. How can I be taken seriously in this town?”
“Oh, shut up. You know she’s new in town.”
“That’s why I let her go.” I wink at her, holding out my hand. “I’m Wyatt Keaton. Although, the way Officer Keaton sounded on your lips–”
“Jesus, Wy! She’s been in town for like twenty minutes and you’ve already propositioned her, not once, but twice?” Aubrey smacks my shoulder.
“No.”
“Yes,” my goddess says at the same time.
Aubrey rolls her eyes, but introduces us anyway. “This is Sophia Black, my best friend, from North Dakota.” The line sounds rehearsed.
A normal person might not catch onto it. But, I’m trained to find the lies. I know Aubrey too well to think she’s telling the truth. Only, I promised not to look into her friend. So I’m stuck getting only what I’m given. For now.
Sophia holds her hand out to me, and instead of shaking her hand like she’s expecting, I take her delicate fingers with the red manicure into my bear paw of a hand and bring them to my lips, kissing her skin softly.
“Enchante, my goddess.”
“Oh, God. Go back to work, Wyatt. This is honestly even too much for you.” Aubrey walks to the back of Sophia’s car laughing.
“I take it I’m not all that special then?” Sophia asks, her arms crossed over her chest, taking me in like she’s trying to evaluate my every move.
“On the contrary, you are quite special.” I sigh. “However, quite off limits, unfortunately. So I promise to behave and put my red flag away, hidden from your fantasies.”
“Well, shucks. How ever will I live?”
My dick stirs at her comeback. So my goddess likes to play.
Nope. Stop. Off. Fucking. Limits,I repeat to myself over again.
She’s still standing in front of me. Staring. She’s rendered me speechless, and I can’t even remember the last time that’s happened. All the comebacks that pop to the tip of my tongue need to stay there. Just like my pants need to stay on around her.
“Do you need help getting your stuff in? I’ve got twenty before I need to be back at the station.”
She stares at me for another moment before letting a low chuckle escape her lips. “Sure. Truck’s full. Take your pick.”
Adjusting myself subtly, I follow, grabbing what looks like the largest suitcase. She doesn’t have much for moving her whole life across the country. Although, there have been quite a few packages arriving on my doorstep in Aubrey’s name. I was instructed to place them in the bedroom here.
“Thanks, Wyatt. We’ve got it from here. You can go home for a few if you want an actual break.” Aubrey stands between me and Sophia.
“Yeah, okay. I put the deliveries in the bedroom as instructed, and my number is on the counter if you need anything.” I nod, and step out of the home that feels tighter than it normally does with the tension.
Maybe I’m imagining it. But the way Sophia’s gaze skidded along my uniform, I’d be willing to put money down that I’m not the only one who feels the chemistry flowing.
She’s even the first woman since the accident that left my cheek marred with a red scar from a gunshot wound that hasn’t commented on it or even let her gaze linger. It makes me feel like the old Wyatt again.
