Chapter 5 #2
We walked back toward the front of the house, and I noticed Xavier’s rental SUV parked near one of the main houses. My stomach did that annoying flutter thing again, and I forced myself to look away. He must’ve come in behind me.
“That the wedding planner’s car?” I asked, trying to sound casual.
“Yeah. Xavier’s been stopping by to plan Lucas’s bachelor party with Logan.” Dakota followed my gaze. “You met him yet?”
“Unfortunately,” I nodded. “He’s… somethin’ else.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” Dakota grinned. “I heard he gave Dolly a run for her money the other day.”
“Nearly got himself killed, is what he did,” I replied. “Good thing I was there, or she might’ve done him in after the comments about her coffee.”
I chuckled despite myself, but the sound died when the front door of the main house opened and Xavier stepped out onto the porch.
He was wearing those same tight jeans from the other day, but he’d swapped the mesh shirt for a thin white t-shirt that somehow looked even more expensive than the mesh.
His dark hair was perfectly styled, and even from this distance I could see those light brown eyes scanning the property until they landed on me.
“Sheriff,” he called out, a smile spreading across his face. “What brings you out here? Someone finally report me for crimes against small-town sensibilities?”
I felt my jaw tighten. “Official business,” I said, keeping my voice neutral.
“Official business,” he repeated, coming down the porch steps with that confident stride that made it look like he owned the place. “How mysterious. Are you investigating something?”
“Like I said, official business.” I turned back to Dakota. “Get me that list when you can. I’m gonna take a look around the property, see if there’s any other signs of disturbance.”
“I can show you around,” Dakota offered.
“I can help too,” Xavier chimed in, now standing close enough that I caught a whiff of his cologne.
Something expensive and citrusy that had no business smelling that good.
“I’ve been all over this ranch the past few days.
Logan and Lucas have been showing me around.
Maybe I noticed something.” He glanced down at his feet.
“Might need to borrow some boots though. These sneakers aren’t really made for mud. ”
I glanced down instinctually, noticing the white sneakers already caked with mud. He had small feet for a man.
“That’s not necessary,” I said quickly, remembering myself. The last thing I needed was Xavier following me around while I tried to focus on actual police work.
“But I want to help,” he insisted, those eyes fixed on mine with an intensity that made my collar feel too tight. “Besides, I’m bored. Lucas and Logan are in there talking about seating arrangements and I can only pretend to care about whether Aunt Martha sits near the dance floor for so long.”
Dakota looked between us, and I could see the amusement flickering in his eyes. Traitor.
“Actually, Sheriff, it might be helpful,” Dakota said. “Xavier’s been spending a lot of time watching Colt work with the students. He might’ve seen something we missed.”
There was a sudden surge of jealousy that made my stomach twist, catching me off guard. Xavier was watching Colt?
“I know he’s taken,” Xavier said, cocking his hip to one side as he locked eyes with me. “But damn he’s good to look at.”
I felt my jaw clench so hard I thought my teeth might crack.
Colt. Of course he’d been watching Colt.
Everyone watched Colt—the man looked like he’d been carved from stone and dipped in charisma.
He was also Eli’s partner, an insatiable flirty, and completely unavailable.
And, if the rumors were true, he and Eli weren’t prudes when it came to inviting other guys home for a little fun.
“Well, Colt’s got a job to do,” I said, my voice coming out rougher than I intended. “And so do I. So, if you’ll excuse me—”
“Oh come on, Sheriff,” Xavier interrupted, that playful smile still dancing on his lips. “Don’t tell me you’re the jealous type. I was just making an observation. Colt’s attractive, sure, but he’s not really my type, anyway.”
I didn’t want to know what his type was. I absolutely did not want to know. “Jealousy has nothing to do with it. Like I said, I’ve got work to do.”
“What about those boots?” Xavier pressed, gesturing toward his mud-caked sneakers. “Seriously, I’m going to ruin these if I keep walking around out here. They’re Balenciaga.”
I had no idea what that meant, but judging by his tone, I assumed it meant expensive.
Dakota cleared his throat. “I’ve got some spare boots in the barn that might fit you. Follow me.”
“Perfect!” Xavier clapped his hands together like Dakota had just offered him a winning lottery ticket rather than used work boots. “Wait right there, sheriff. I’ll be right back!”
I watched them head toward the barn, Xavier’s tight jeans leaving very little to the imagination as he walked. I forced myself to look away, focusing instead on the prints in the mud. Work. I had work to do. That’s what I needed to concentrate on.
Not Xavier’s beautiful and perfectly sculpted ass.