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“And why’s that?”

“Because you’ve never shown any interest in me before, and I think you’re bored.”

She quirks a brow. “Bored? I can assure you, I have plenty to do rather than be bored.”

“Good.” I pluck her hand off my badge, but still keep my fingers wrapped around her wrist. “The next time ya get bored and wanna flirt with me, do me a favor and don’t. Because you’re startin’ to send me wrong messages, and I might do somethin’ I can’t take back.”

“Who said anythin’ about ya takin’ things back? Maybe I’m just waitin’ to see if you share the same…interest.”

“Are we twelve?”

She smiles at me, but it doesn’t reach her eyes this time. In fact, I think I’ve hurt her feelings because the weight of her hand implies she wants me to let go of her, and I do.

“Ya better hope not, Dodger. Because if this is how you try to charm a woman, being as old as you are, no wonder ya don’t have one. I always assumed you didn’t want a tarnished reputation, and we both know how important your position is to you. However, as brave as ya are for takin’ the role, I’m not so sure if you’re valiant enough to take a risk. Which means, my so-called little crush on you would’ve been for nuthin’.”

“You don’t have a crush on me.”

“Don’t I?” She takes a step back, and I feel the loss of that closeness between us immediately. Like she severed something that could’ve gone one way but was too dangerous to do.

Which means everything she said was right.

My job means too much, and I’ve worked my ass off to get where I am now.

Fucking Adeline and a fallout could be drama I don’t want to partake in, but like I’ve said before, if I could get her, I could keep her.

I think.

She’s a feisty little thing for a Southern belle.

And I like that shit about her.

“You tell me, AK. I can’t read your mind.”

“Find out, Sheriff.”

She begins to move away, but I block her path because I want the words out of her mouth, and I’m tired of this back and forth.

“Nah, I wanna know now,” I press adamantly, getting into her space. “Because if ya think I haven’t thought about it, you’re wrong. If you believe I haven’t wanted to fuck you and take you out, you’re also wrong. But I’m not about to make a move on you when all you do is flirt, and I’ve known you for as long as I can remember. You’ve dated more than me, everyone but me⁠—”

“You act as though I dated everyone in town, Dodger,” she retorts sharply, scowling up at me now.

“Ya did. But I’ll give you a handful of them that ya didn’t. And that handful included me.”

“You were datin’ Mary Ann.”

“I dated her for several months, maybe a year, and that should’ve stopped you. You’d tease me, sure, but this type of flirtin’ thing is new.”

“Because ya don’t pay attention to me.”

“I pay attention to ya just fine. You’re just blind.”

Her expression softens and, when I think I’ve gotten through to her, Adeline just amps up the game and bores daggers into my face.

“I don’t have a crush on you? Happy?”

No.

Because she’s lying.