Chapter 39 Jagg
JAGG
Ipushed out the front doors of the station and into the blazing sun. It was only eleven in the morning and the humidity was already stifling.
Damn this heat.
Damn Colson.
Squinting, my gaze landed on the show-stopping beauty leaning against the fender of a red Chevy Cheyenne. One dog in the back, one in the front. Her arms were crossed over her chest. Sexiest damn thing I’d ever seen.
A small smile spread as our eyes locked.
My stomach dipped, and for the first time, I realized why they called that butterflies.
God, the woman was gorgeous. Tunnel-visioned, I crossed the scorching asphalt, sweat beginning to bead on my forehead, although I was certain it had nothing to do with the heat.
She was wearing those damn cut-off jean shorts again and a plain V-neck T-shirt that, despite its loose fit, draped over her curves like satin. A worn pair of Birkenstocks covered her feet. A purple baseball cap that read “Life is Good,” on her head.
The T-shirt shirt rippled in the breeze, just enough to hint at an erect nipple that I knew wasn’t because she was cold.
Was she thinking about the kiss, too?
I had to fight from swiping the sweat on my brow as I walked up. I didn’t want her to know the effect she had on me, although, based on the widening grin, she did.
Max paced back and forth in the bed, tail wagging, a long pink tongue panting against the heat.
I swear the dog actually smiled when he saw me.
Brute was in the passenger seat, a flash of silver irises sparkling in the sun.
The pit eyed me as I walked up, but the single flick of his long, thin tail gave him away.
I figured that was the closest thing to a smile I was going to get from that one. Progress.
It was a weird moment. Very… relationshipy. My woman, my dogs, coming to see me at work.
In my dreams, anyway.
“What a motley crew,” I quipped.
With a mind of its own, my hand drifted forward and tucked a wayward strand of curls behind her ear.
It took everything I had not to lean down and kiss those lips, sparkling with a gloss, that I knew from last night, was sweet and minty.
I noticed she’d put on some makeup and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was for me. I hoped so.
“Thank you for the new tires. How much do I owe you?”
“Twenty-thousand dollars.”
She grinned. “Wow. Five thousand a piece, huh?”
“Yep. Those rims aren’t silver, they’re platinum,” I winked. “Only the best for you and those stinky mutts.”
“Well, in that case, put it on my tab, then.”
“It’s racking up.” I grinned, flicked another strand of her hair. A flirty move. I was a damn high school kid again.
She cocked her head and met my grin. “All that instant coffee, beef jerky, and processed meat from the cooler really ticking up the total, huh?”
“It’s all organic.”
She laughed. “You wouldn’t know organic food if it slapped you in the face.”
“This coming from the Takeout Queen herself.”
“You’ve really gripped onto that, haven’t you?”
“I want you to stay put, Sunny. No take out, or curbside whatever. How many times do I have to tell you? Stay out of public until this thing blows over.”
She stepped forward, closing the inches between us, a flash of desire in those eyes.
I licked my lips.
“And I want you to be less demanding,” she responded, in a low, sultry whisper. “More asking—less telling.” Her finger ran down my chest, blazing a trail of heat under her fingertip.
If the front door to the station hadn’t opened, I would have kissed her right there.
We both cleared our throats and took a step back as Tanya sauntered to her car, eyeing us the entire way.
“Did you get my note?” I asked.
“I did and it only took two cups of coffee to decipher the script. You write like a kindergartner.”
“I was doing long division in kindergarten.”
“But not learning dangling participles, apparently.”
“No, what’s that? A type of ambiguous grammatical construct where a misplaced modifier could be misinterpreted as a word other than the one intended? No, I have no idea what a dangling participle is.”
“Show off. Anyway, yes, I got the note that read: ‘Gun on counter. No home. Ryder expecting you. Ten o’clock, station.’”
“Never claimed to be a poet. You didn’t go to your house, did you?”
“Technically, no.”
My eyes narrowed. “I don’t do technically.”
“I drove by.”
“You didn’t stop? Didn’t go in?”
“No. I promise.”
“Good girl. Anything new?”
“No, thank God. Just total destruction with the word ‘witch’ gleaming in the sunlight. At least it hadn’t been burned down.”
“We’ll get it fixed. One step at a time, beginning with Max.” I ruffled the dog’s ears, fur disbanding into the sunlight. “Is he ready for his big morning of sniffing Julian Griggs’ clothes and hopefully leading us to his killer, otherwise known as this mystery third person from your attack?”
“He sure is. We’ve already practiced a bit.”
“Good. How was Ryder when you stopped by?”
“I don’t know.”
“What do you mean? He wasn’t there?”
“He was there. On a horse in the field.”
“He didn’t greet you?”
“No, and that’s fine. I drove to the cages, played with the dogs for a while, leashed-up Max and Brutus and then was on my way.”
I made a mental note to chide him for not at least saying hi. And when did I become big on manners?
“Alright, well, get in. We’ll drive around to the back.” I opened the passenger door to her truck.
“Uhhh, no, you get in.”
“No ma’am. I’ve been wanting to drive this beauty since I first laid eyes on her.”
“She might disappoint you, Jagg.” Sunny pinned me with a gaze anything but playful—and oh, so loaded.
“Doubt it.” I winked. “Get in.”
Brute eyed me as I settled behind the shiny, wood steering wheel, then he took his place between us. I fired up the engine, a smooth, low rumble. She was definitely no disappointment.
“Max good?” I glanced in the rearview.
Sunny rolled her eyes.
Of course the genius dog was good. I slowly started through the parking lot and rounded the brick building.
“Why did Brute come along for the ride?”
“He has a vet appointment after this. Might get some steroids for his shoulder. Seems to be bothering him more lately.”
I glanced down at the dog, who bowed his head, embarrassed by the conversation. I understood that feeling.
“So,” Sunny said, glancing over her shoulder at Max. “How do you want to do this?”
“We’ll take him to the picnic tables in the back. I’ll bring Griggs’ clothes outside and let him do his sniffing thing.”
“Sounds easy enough.”
Easy enough. Ha. I thought of Colson and how many prying eyes would be watching us from the window.
My next thought surprisingly was… bring it.