21. Ledger
Ledger
Going through my room, I change and look out the window of my bathroom that faces the street. It’s quiet. No odd cars, no one walking around. It is midnight, but that’s usually when the crime starts happening. I can’t have a car stationed outside. We’re too understaffed, and I’m on my own.
Grabbing my shotgun and phone, I post up in the living room. Luckily, one of my comfortable chairs wasn’t destroyed like my couch. I fill a glass of water, start some coffee, and take a seat.
It’s crossed my mind that Grey or a friend might come back for seconds and wait for me to come home, so I need to be prepared.
His motive remains unclear, but knowing the man he is, I wouldn’t put petty crime past him.
It’s the only way he can get back at us without having to face his other illegal activities.
This was always in the back of my mind, but I told myself he wouldn’t.
But he had the balls to do this, so it’s possible my first mistake was underestimating him.
Then again, if this wasn’t just Grey, and it’s the Kensingtons, that could mean a lot of things, including Will being made.
I dial Luke, hoping he knows a little more.
“Hey boss.”
“Hey, have you had a check-in with Will?” I ask him.
He sighs. “No, I haven’t. He missed it earlier today.”
“Shit. So then his next check-in is when he reports back for his suspension review,” I mutter.
“Yeah, if he’s not there, then I think we’ll have to respond sooner rather than later,” Luke says.
“Alright, if anything changes, let me know.”
“Will do, and uh, boss, I heard about your house,” he pauses. “Do you think it was them?” he asks.
I sigh, rubbing the exhaustion from my eyes. “It was Grey. But I can’t be sure if his father put him up to it, almost like a warning to Shiloh.”
“What are you going to do?” he asks.
I huff. “Find him and arrest his ass.” Even if I shouldn’t or can’t.
“He made it easy, didn’t he?” Luke says.
“We were looking for something actionable to get him, and this definitely did the trick.”
“Assuming you can get proof,” Luke says.
The stuffed animal won’t do the trick. “I don’t think it will be difficult to find out. But the problem is Calder called and told me Grey wasn’t at home. So maybe Will saw something.”
“Alright, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight,” I mumble and hang up.
“Ledger?” Shiloh’s sleepy voice calls. I look over my shoulder and she comes around the chair.
“What are you doing?” she asks, observing the shotgun leaning against the chair, my glass of water in one hand and my handgun in the other.
“Keeping watch,” I mumble.
“That’s … encouraging,” she mumbles and scoots into the kitchen.
I listen to her rummage around and pour coffee into a mug. She comes back around and sets the coffee on the small table next to the chair. Grabs my gun, setting it next to the coffee, and climbs onto my lap.
“If you’re staying awake, then I am too,” she says, tucking her nose into my neck.
I don’t know how, and I’m not sure I understand why, but feeling her body next to mine makes every muscle relax.
“You can touch me, Sheriff,” she mumbles into my skin.
I huff and rest my hand on her thigh. She smiles against my skin. “I can move if you want me to,” she says.
“No, nope, you’re fine here.” It doesn’t matter if it’s tactically not the best position. I’m enjoying this way too much.
She giggles and kisses my neck, and pauses. “Are you afraid they’re going to come back?” she whispers.
“The more I think about it, the more I don’t want to be caught unaware, so yes, maybe. I know I said otherwise, but I didn’t want to worry you. I figured I’d handle it.”
“Thank you,” she whispers.
I hum, and she sits up, handing me the coffee. I sip it, and she takes it back, drinking some.
“So, are you going to tell me what we’re going to do on our date?”
I grin. “That would give away the surprise, though I think I’ll have to pivot with this … interruption.”
“It’s okay, we can go to the diner or something.”
I shake my head and squeeze her thigh. “You wanted something here. I will make it happen.”
She bites her lower lip, trying to hide her smile.
“I like it when you do that, you know?” I say, staring at her mouth.
“Do what?” she asks.
“Smile. It’s beautiful, you don’t do it often.”
“I do it more than I have in a long time around you,” she says.
I smile at her.
“I could say the same for you,” she whispers.
“Ditto,” I grunt.
She sighs and leans in, rubbing our noses together.
“I’m on watch, Shy,” I mumble.
She looks me in the eye and smiles. “We have to figure out how to stay awake,” she says.
I huff. “Trust me, I’m wide awake.”
She shifts on my lap, and I swallow the groan.
“I’m aware,” she whispers.
“Shiloh,” I warn.
She sighs and pecks her lips on mine.
“You’re trouble,” I mumble.
“You already knew that when you married me,” she whispers.
“Oh boy, did I.”
“Kiss me, Ledger.”
“You’re so demanding,” I mumble.
“Then do what I tell you,” she says, her voice sultry.
“I’m usually the one giving directions.”
She huffs. “Well, it looks like I just took the reins and—”
I grab the back of her neck and pull our mouths together, cutting off whatever catty comment she was about to make.
She sighs into my mouth, and it’s a good thing I’m sitting because my knees feel weak. I’ve kissed her a handful of times, but I want countless more. I want to feel her lips on mine so much that I lose count.