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A knock on his office door had him jerking his gaze up. His cheeks went hot. Hoping his visitor hadn't caught him dazing off, he waved the man in. The process server, Lewis, stepped through Raith's already-opened office entrance and paused just inside. "Guess who I just got a warrant of arrest for?
Raith quirked a brow. "Who's that?"
"Max Kettle."
"What?" Raith blinked in surprise. "He's out of jail already?"
Lewis nodded. "He's been out a few months. And he's already had time to break his parole and disappear off the grid without checking in."
Raith shook his head and snorted. "Why am I not surprised?"
"Man, I still remember when you arrested him after that drug bust," Lewis spoke in awed reverence. "I have never seen anyone hate the way that guy hated you. I was so sure he'd come after you as soon as he got out of prison."
Raith grinned and fell back in his seat to rock the chair. "Guess he wasn't as hot and bothered to pay me back as he thought he was, huh?"
If it'd been months since he got out, then it was more than likely the guy wasn't going to try anything against him now.
"Guess not," Lewis said even as his attention was drawn out into the main part of the station. "Damn," he murmured, successfully distracted. "That lawyer lady sure is hot, isn't she?"
Raith glanced up. He had one of those offices with the glass walls, so when he lifted his face, he saw Willow DeVane in the main part, talking to a desk clerk.
Swallowing, he wiped at the sweat that popped out on his brow. Shit, was it time to hear the news already? It could only mean one thing if she was here in person to tell him. She would've just called, or not even bothered to update him if it was merely a false alarm.
"She knows my name, you know," Lewis cooed in delight.
Raith wouldn't have been surprised at all to see little hearts circling the deputy's head. Lewis glanced his way and touched his own shoulder. "She touched me right here. Did you see when she did that at the courthouse the other day? It made my whole arm tingle. I thought I was going to have a heart attack."
Raith snorted. "You're such a loser."
"What?" Lewis said defensively as he glared at Raith. "I bet you're just jealous because she doesn't even know who you are."
"What makes you think she doesn't know—"
"Raith?" a cool, feminine voice said from the doorway.
Lewis spun around and Raith would've busted a gut
laughing at the startled expression on the kid's face if he hadn't been so busy ogling her himself. Instantly, the sweat on his forehead trickled down his temple.
She'd said his first name.
He couldn't remember her ever saying his given name after the night she learned it. But the very sound of his name coming from her lips did him in. Keeping his casual pose as if he didn't want to surge to his feet and eat her whole, he remained slumped back comfortably in his chair. All the while, his fingers clamped around the armrests and his guts knotted painfully.
"Come on in," he said in a voice that meant he'd rather she didn't.
Willow gave the other deputy an engaging smile and murmured in a husky tone, "Morning, Lewis. Keeping Officer Malloy here in line?"
Lewis swallowed loudly and could only manage a jerky nod.
Willow's grin cooled a few degrees when she transferred her gaze to Raith. She didn't say anything and didn't move toward a chair to sit but held his stare for a good two seconds. Then she glanced away and scoped out his office with a curious glance.
"I guess Lieutenant's a pretty high position after all. You have your own office."
Raith didn't think he could take much more of this polite conversation so he sent a pointed look toward Lewis, who didn't look like he was going to step away from her any time this millennium.
"Shut the door on your way out, will you, Lewis?"
The clueless moron finally realized he was being dismissed. "Oh!" He pulled his eyes away from Willow. "Sure, sure." He stumbled backward toward the exit. "Bye, Miss DeVane."
