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I’m so relieved when the front door opens and Jade walks in that I could sing. And nobody wants to hear that off-tune shit. “That was quick.”
Jade drops her purse on the front counter with a thud. She’s put on makeup since I saw her this morning, but it’s not enough to mask the exhaustion. My fist balls at my side at the thought of her worthless soon-to-be ex-husband. A reminder that my to-do list is getting fucking longer by the minute. Jurisdiction be damned. “Guess I was bored.”
I feel Aurora’s gaze assessing the situation and dare to steal a glance her way. The curiosity I expect to see isn’t there, but there’s certainly a hint of jealousy. Does she think I’m with Jade?You’re fucking imagining that. I wish I could let this little scenario play out a bit longer for my own amusement, but the memory of Aurora’s shiny eyes does me in.
“Gray, meet my sister Jade.”
Jade slaps the cash on the counter and looks over to Aurora. “You in for anything good?”
“Jade,” I warn.
“I haven’t murdered anyone,” Aurora says, flicking her gaze to me, “yet.”
“Pity.”
“It’s early.”
“I like her,” Jade says to me, a mischievous twinkle in her hazel eyes that suggests she’s onto me. Though my baby sister hasn’t been home since I took over as police chief, she knows me well enough to see right through this situation. I’m immediately regretting having Jade pull money from my safe to bail Aurora out. But I couldn’t damn well put my own name on the dotted line without creating one helluva conflict of interest.
“Don’t go anywhere,” I tell Jade as I head to the cell with the keys.
“Where would I go?” I hear the pain behind her snark and double down on my personal promise to make the asshole who hurt my sister pay.
I unlock the cell and block Aurora’s eager exit. It’s a mistake because that cloud of lavender hits me square in the face. For a full three seconds, I forget I’m on duty. I shake away the inappropriate fantasies too fucking eager to invade my thoughts. I need a cold shower worse than a damn haircut. “Gray, if you miss your new court date—”
“I won’t.”
“You owe my sister five hundred dollars.” I don’t need anyone, other than Jade, knowing where the money really came from. “She won’t get any of that back since that’s what you owe the court. You need to pay her. Got it?”
“If you’d let me have my purse, I’ll give her two hundred of it now.” Aurora takes another step forward, as if there’s any room to do so. My dick rebels, twitching against my zipper. If I don’t move, I’m going to have a very fucking awkward situation on my hands. I relent and step aside.
“One more thing,” I call to her, watching her yank the purse from my desk. I’ve been violating all kinds of police procedures since I brought her in. Patting her down for weapons before I put her in that cell might’ve cost me my sanity. Why toe the line now?
“I’llmakethe court date,” Aurora snaps as she shuffles through her purse. I have to swallow a groan when she goes for that damn lip gloss. If I knew what was good for me, I’d look away as she applies it. Instead, I invite the self-torture of watching that wand run along her pillowy lips and turn them a shinier pink.
“You should get a lawyer.”
“A lawyer?” Aurora’s smugness disappears instantly.
“For your court appearance.”
“It’s a parking ticket.” She hands a wad of cash to my sister. No doubt hard-earned tips. I can’t help but wonder if she was saving that money for something else. “Wouldn’t a lawyer cost more than the five hundred?”
“The judge…” I scrub a hand over the back of my head as I approach the front desk, searching for the right words. “Let’s just say he’s not…friendly.” Cantankerous asshole with a penchant for throwing the book at people who steal his parking spot is more accurate. But I’ve rattled Aurora enough for one day. “Just something to keep in mind once you get your court date.”
“Am I free to go?”
I’m as reluctant to let Aurora leave as I am eager to keep her with me. It’s a pull like nothing I’ve ever experienced, and it started the first damn day I laid eyes on the youngest Gray sister. If I had any sense, I’d wash my hands of this whole situation and let us get back to our separate lives. But I also can’t let her navigate that court appearance without help.
Turns out, I’m a glutton for fucking punishment.
CHAPTER5
Aurora
The diner’s unusually busy for a Thursday afternoon, courtesy of theThe Caribou Creek Breweryevent that’s coming up this coming weekend. It’s brought an onslaught of tourists to town, eager to sneak in one last vacation before the snow flies.
Busy is exactly what I need.
