Page 34 of Lion’s Den

“Aren’t we going to the interrogation room?” Cam knew that’s where he’d intended to take them.

“That depends on Sedona. If she spills whatever she knows voluntarily, we’ll stay in decent comfort. If she holds back, we’ll go to the interrogation room and wait for Elliot.” He bared his teeth in a fake smile. “However long it takes for him to finish what I assigned him to do.”

They’d be waiting a long time for the sheriff’s brother, and on top of that they’d have to endure a long interrogation, too. Great. David knew how to hit where it hurt the most.

Cam’s vision of a long, intimate dinner at the steakhouse faded to a mere shadow of its former glory. He wanted badly to have that date with Sedona. He also wanted, no, needed, that conversation where he learned things about her that no one else knew. That’s the level of intimacy Cam dreamed of having with this woman.

David cleared his throat, staring pointedly at him.

Oh, man. He knew that look. Trouble was his middle name today. He closed his eyes briefly, then manned up. “Sorry. I was distracted.”

“No kidding.”

Cam swallowed hard. “It won’t happen again.”

“Better not, Deputy. If it does, you will work nights until you’re ready for retirement. Am I making myself clear?”

“As glass, sir.”

“Report from the hospital on Julio?”

“I don’t know, sir.”

David’s eyes blazed. “I better not have heard that right, Sims.”

“I was driving, sir. No texting while driving. Sedona messaged Maria.”

The other man narrowed his eyes, then turned his gaze on Sedona. “Report. Now.”

“Julio is going to be fine. He has a couple of cracked ribs and a sprained wrist. Otherwise, he’s perfect.”

Relief flooded Cam. What great news! He feared his buddy had internal injuries. To find out that he didn’t have serious injuries was the best thing Cam had heard in a long time.

David dropped into his chair and leaned his head back. “Thank God. I thought he would be in the operating room right now.”

“Same. When can we expect Elliot?”

“In the next thirty minutes. Tell me what you want for lunch, and we’ll have it delivered.”

Cam turned to Sedona. “This does not substitute for our date tonight. I want that understood before we order.”

She laughed. “Got it.”

“Good. Now, what would you like for lunch?”

Sedona shrugged. “I’m not picky. A cheeseburger and fries works for me if a vanilla shake comes with them.”

That sounded good to him, too. “Two cheeseburgers with the works, fries, and two vanilla shakes.”

“That sounds good to me, too.” He walked to his office door. “Esther, I have a lunch order for you to call in.”

While he and his assistant talked about food, Cam turned toward Sedona. Her arms were wrapped around her middle, and her lips chattered. He tugged her gently to her feet and pulled her into his arms.

She moaned. “Oh, man. You’re warm. That’s it, Cam. I’m claiming you and your body heat for my own.”

He chuckled and tightened his grip on her. “Guess I’ll have to stay close so you can collect.”

A moment later, David returned and pulled up short. “Got something to tell me, Sims?”