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Daphne stopped chewing. “He’s what?!” Her hands landed on her hips, the corn dog sticking out toward him like an accusing finger—a very large, swollen one.
Carter shrugged. “He was only detained for drunk and disruptive behavior, which is a misdemeanor, and we’re not even going to charge him. Deputy Sheriff Cooper only kept him locked up because of being a sex offender and of interest in the case.” A frown creased his forehead. “How do you know about the connection between them?”
She placed the corn dog on the plate and wiped her hands. This time, it was her turn to shrug. “Ask me no questions, and I’ll tell thee no lies.”
“This isn’t the time to— Where do you think you’re going?”
With his angry exclamation chasing her, she skipped past him to quickly walk down the hallway.
“Daphne Fowler! Get back here.”
Ignoring the order, she sped up. Once outside, she turned into a sprint to get to her car. It was time Sheriff Scott realized she was more than a ditzy reporter.
With a bright smile, she waved at him as she passed him by when he came charging out of the building.
“Eat that, you big bully!” The echo of her words reminded her what had caused her second embarrassment of the day.
“Damn! I left my corn dog behind.”
Chapter Ten
Later that evening, Hines Mansion Bed & Breakfast, Provo...
Back in her room at the cozy bed and breakfast, Daphne berated herself for her forward behavior with Carter earlier. What had come over her, openly flirting with the handsome sheriff?
At the same time, Daphne prided herself on being able to predict how a man would react to a blatant dare. Her action earlier had been exactly that. Daring, perhaps even an open invitation for Carter to show she was interested in pursuing him, which was why she had been berating herself ad nauseam ever since.
“The man is in love with another woman, Daphne, or did you happen to forget the intimate scene at breakfast?”
Listening to her own voice only served as another devil’s pat on the back. Acting so completely against her own beliefs and morals was something she had never done before. She paced the creaky wooden floors, awash in regret. But something about Carter had sparked an irresistible chemistry she couldn’t deny. Those soulful eyes, that muscular frame... he awakened desires in her no man had before.
Daphne knew she should respect his commitment to the petite blonde, but the heart-pounding exhilaration of that charged moment in the observation room overwhelmed her senses. The way Carter had gazed at her lips... she was sure he was about to kiss her again.
“Ugh! You’re such a bad girl. Here you are, hoping he would take the hint and come knocking on your door.”
Well, not physically knocking, but at least phone or show some sign the next time they met that he was also attracted to her. With a groan, she collapsed onto the four-poster bed. She had to stop indulging these fantasies. Carter was taken, and she refused to be a home-wrecker. Still, spending more time with him made her pulse race with longing. The thought of never seeing him again after this case awoke an acute ache inside her.
“Ah, well, like I said, you win some, you lose some. This one is just such a sorrowful loss,” she wailed in self-pity. “Get a grip, Daphne,” she muttered. “You’ll help him solve this case and move on, like always.”
But the memory of Carter’s hard lips under hers pierced her heart. She had never lost her head over a man this way before. Fate was cruel, teasing her with this charming, heroic man she could never have. With a sigh, she could only hope these unrequited feelings would fade in time. In the meantime, she would savor every moment with Carter before walking away from him forever.
“Oh Lord, stop the melodrama already!” she snapped at herself. “It’s not as if you’re in love with the man. He’s a sex magnet, that’s all it is. Get the devil over it.”
With her voice still floating through the room, she jumped up to answer the knock on the door.
“Oh!” Her heart skipped a beat. “You’re not from the kitchen bringing my food.”
“Indeed, I’m not.” The dulcet tones of Carter’s voice found resonance inside her, awakening the desires she had just managed to get under control.
“Uhm... wh-what are you doing here?” Daphne retreated as Carter boldly stepped inside and closed the door behind him. His muscled presence made the room suddenly shrink to half its size.
“It’s time, Lovebug.”
“T-Time? For what?” Daphne couldn’t retreat further as the next step brought her against the wall.
“To take the first step.”
“Carter, stop talking in riddles. Just tell me why you’re here.”
