Chapter 10 #3
Neither of us drove. We took Lyfts car service.
I didn’t want to worry about trying to stay sober.
Last night left me in a weird headspace.
The pull deep in my soul to be with my mate is hard to ignore.
Yet here I am. I hated to take a shower this morning, washing his intoxicating scent down the drain.
I did what any sensible mate would do. I rolled up my dress that’s smothered in his scent and placed it under my pillow.
Gavin called twice this morning. His message said, “Thanks for bringing me home last night. We need to talk.”
I sent him a text.
Me: Sheriff, you have nothing to worry about. I don’t remember a thing you said.
Sheriff: I don’t regret one thing I said to you. I’m reminding you that you’re to stay at my cabin until we catch the suspect.
Shit, does he remember everything he said last night?
Me: I’ll be okay. See you in the office on Monday.
As I sip my cocktail, it feels like someone is watching me.
“Hey, beautiful, can I get you another drink?”
“No thanks,” I reply.
“How about a dance?” He asks.
“Sure.” I sip my drink, enjoying the buzz as I dance with a blond-haired guy. I still feel like there’s another set of eyes on me. Probably some other guy. I’m so happy no one knows if I’m a beta or omega.
The song ends.
“Thanks for the dance.” I smile.
He grabs my arm, stopping my steps. “Can I have your phone number?”
“No, I’m not a local. Have a good night.”
“My name is Tom.”
I smirk. “Good night, Tom.”
Jenny loops her arm through mine. “He’s a little obsessed, huh?”
“Some guys think every woman is supposed to have sex with them.”
“More drinks,” she says.
“Yes,” I sing.
We sit at the bar. Jenny tells me about her ex.
“I’m so sorry you’re going through that. He didn’t deserve you.”
Her ex cheated on her, too. I can sympathize. Instead of returning to the dance floor, we dance near the bar. Around one in the morning, we agree to leave early. I step outside and scroll through the Lyft app.
“Sasha,” a familiar voice calls out.
Behind us, a few people step out of the club.
I glance to my right. He stands by the driver’s side of the SUV, wearing a tan cowboy hat that matches his uniform shirt. And he’s wearing jeans. Not uniform pants. I wonder why and shake my head. What is he doing here?
“Who’s that?” Jenny asks.
“My boss.”
“Come on, I’ll introduce you,” I say.
We weave around a couple walking ahead, and my eyes drop to the man on the curb, handcuffed.
“Sheriff, you need a reason to arrest me,” the man snaps.
“Harassment,” the sheriff replies.
“Who?” Tom asks.
“Did you grab her arm?” the sheriff questions.
“Yeah, but I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“You called her a stuck-up bitch, too. I take it you didn’t mean that either?”
“I’m a stuck-up bitch because I wouldn’t take your number?”
“Yeah, you give off that ‘I’m better than you’ vibe.”
A faint voice crackles over the two-way radio as I stand nearby. The sheriff listens. He presses the button on the radio. “Thanks, Barb. Sanchez is a few blocks away on a traffic stop. Send him here.”
“Well, what do you know? There’s a warrant out for your arrest. You’re going to jail.”
I try to ignore Gavin’s show of dominance.
“Sheriff Drake, this is my friend Jenny.”
“Hello, Jenny.”
“Nice to meet you, Sheriff.”
“Boss, I don’t know why you’re here, but I’m waiting for my Lyft,” I lie.
I can tell he’s here for me. Those eyes were the second pair I sensed watching me tonight.
“Cancel it. I’m driving you home.”
“You don’t have to do that, Sheriff.”
“Get in the vehicle, Sasha.”
“Fucking asshole,” I murmur under my breath.
He keeps using that damn alpha bark.
“He seems pretty possessive of you. If he behaved that way over me, I wouldn’t be mad. He’s gorgeous. Imagine how it would feel to be in his clutches.”
She has no idea.
“Sheriff, will you drop Jenny off?” I ask as I reach the hood.
“Oh no. I don’t want to ride in the back of a police vehicle,” she blurts out.
“I totally understand that,” I respond.
I look to the sheriff. “I’d like to wait with Jenny until her Lyft gets here.”
He nods.
Jenny walks over, showing me her Lyft app.
I see police lights approaching. Sanchez jumps out of the cruiser and talks to the sheriff.
“He’s really arresting the guy for touching you?”
I sigh, “Yup, the sheriff is jealous and possessive, and he’s not even my man.”
“My Lyft is here?” She says.
I throw my arms around her. “Tomorrow afternoon we can hit some shops,” I step back.
“No,” Gavin objects. “I’ll go with you.”
“Not going to come between you and your boss. Talk to you soon,” Jenny says, jogging in her stilettos toward the Lyft.
I climb into the SUV on the passenger side, Gavin closes the door, walks to the driver’s side and climbs behind the wheel.
We drive in silence for a while.
“Where did you meet Jenny?” He asks.
I tell him how we met.
“What’s her last name?”
Shit, why didn’t I ask her for it? I made sure to get the full names of Gavin’s omega fuck bunnies. I should’ve asked Jenny hers.
“I don’t know it.”
“Do you know anything about her?”
“Yeah, she’s from New Hampshire. She said growing up she spent summers here. I think that’s what drew me to her. She’s not from here but has a lot of knowledge about the town.”
He doesn’t say anything, but I know he’s turning my words over in his head.
I change the subject. “Gavin, I can’t go to your house.”
“Why not?”
“For one, I’m your employee. Two, it will be hard to resist you. I admit there’s a pull between us.”
I shake my head. “But I’m here on business. Not anything else.”
“The way you felt in my arms last night. I’d never felt so relaxed…and happy.”
He sighs. “I’ve got a case to crack, and you have business to handle. I’ll keep watch outside the camper for now, like I’ve done for the last week.”
My hand caresses his cheek, and he purrs. The safe feeling I get with him soothes my soul.
“If I think for one minute, you’re in danger, I will throw you over my shoulder kicking and screaming. And you’ll stay under my roof. Do you understand?”
“Yes, alpha.”
He kisses the palm of my hand.