Chapter 5 #2
“I did, but that’s not the point right now.” She holds up a hand. “Just listen. I get how it looks, but I need to talk to you urgently.”
“So, you hunted me down?”
“Yes, but it’s not what you think.”
“Then explain yourself.”
“My name is Jessica Moore!” she screams at me.
Everything comes to a screeching halt and goes deathly quiet.
Ice rushes through my veins, and for some reason, I think of Sam’s words.
I couldn’t have heard right. “What did you say?”
“I’m Ryder’s sister, Jessica Moore.” She takes a deep breath, like she’s attempting to calm herself.
This cannot possibly be happening.
Out of all the women I could have hooked up with on this planet, I picked her?
When I don’t speak, she puts her hand on her flat stomach and shifts on her heels.
“I was at my parents’ house on Saturday, and my dad wanted to watch Ryder—you know, for bragging rights.
So you can imagine my shock when you appeared on the screen.
” She gestures like I have the audacity to exist. “My brother’s boss!
Of all people. Obviously, I had no choice but to track you down because we have a mess to deal with. ”
I stare up at the clear blue sky. “You’re Jessica Moore.”
She nods. “Yes, Sheriff Charlie Radcliffe, I am.”
“Ryder’s baby sister.”
“Yes.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Who’s moving here on Thursday.”
“Correct.” She nibbles on her lower lip.
I meet her gaze and bellow, “And is the fucking brand-new city attorney!”
“Correct again.” She sucks in a breath, and it does amazing things for her cleavage. I do my best not to get distracted.
I growl at her. “Of course you’re a lawyer.”
She scoffs. “What else would I be, Cop?”
I take a step closer, forcing her to crane her neck to look at me. “So, let me get this straight. No names, no personal information, and one night only has now turned into being tied to you both personally and professionally for the foreseeable future.”
Her lightning-blue eyes search my expression. “Unfortunately, yes.”
“This is a nightmare.” I’m going to see her all the time. This woman I haven’t been able to get out of my mind is going to be a daily part of my life.
“Yeah, pretty much, which is why I had to come find you.” Her dark lashes flicker. She shifts closer to me.
Even with the shock, we’re like magnets, the chemistry between us buzzing below the surface.
I blow out a deep breath. “You thought the best way to deal with this mess was by tailing me home?”
“The other option was to blindside you at the party on Saturday.”
“That’s it? Those were the only two options you could think of?”
“Yes.”
“You never heard of a phone?”
“Would your front desk clerk hand over a call to you?” She pokes a finger in my chest. “I was going for discretion.”
“Tailing me all over Revival wearing a red dress is the opposite of discretion.”
“You jerk! You should be grateful I was nice enough to take our future professional relationship into account.” In her agitation, her breathing has kicked up, and I try to keep my attention off her breasts.
But it’s really fucking hard.
“I don’t want to be attached to you,” I grit out through a clenched jaw.
“I don’t want to be attached to you either.” Her tongue sneaks out over her lower lip.
My dick immediately gets hard for her. “I can’t be around you.”
“Look, my intention was to use you for sex and never see you again. I don’t want this.”
“Neither do I.” Despite our words, we’re far too close.
“It can never happen again.” She tilts her chin.
“Agreed.” I do, but she’s just right there waiting for it. Waiting for me.
“Never.” The word sounds pornographic from her lips.
Like she’s begging me.
I’m five seconds away from doing something incredibly stupid, but then one of the department’s black SUVs pulls onto the street.
“Fuck.” I step back from her. I’d completely forgotten about him. “It’s Ryder.”
She swings around to see the car. “What’s he doing here?”
I shoot her an exasperated look. “You can’t tail a cop and expect there to be no repercussions.”
She lets out a frustrated breath. “With you, there are always repercussions, aren’t there?”
Through gritted teeth, I say, “This is your fault.”
“It is not.”
“You’re pure fucking chaos.” We have fifteen seconds until he pulls up. “I hope you’re quick on your feet, counselor.”
“Watch and learn, Sheriff.”
“Take my lead.” I pull her to the side of me.
She jabs me with an elbow. “Get the fuck out of here. You take my lead.”
“Not the time for a power struggle, Jessica.” Her name sounds right on my tongue, like it was meant to be there.
“I’ll have you know, I was trying to avoid this, Charlie.” She emphasizes my name like it’s something foul.
I scowl down at her. “You’re a walking, talking disaster.”
“I hate you,” she hisses as the car pulls up, and Ryder slowly rolls down the window.
The woman is completely unpredictable. I need to get ahead of her before she makes everything a thousand times worse.
Ryder puts his aviators on the top of his head and looks back and forth between Jessica and me. “Now this, I’ve got to hear.”
I start to speak, but she jumps in, beaming at her brother. “Hey, Ryder. What are you doing here?”
He studies her, and by the expression on his face, every ounce of trouble I expect from her is confirmed. “Well, Jess, I’m here because you’re tailing the county sheriff in our sister’s car, and for the life of me, I can’t imagine why that might be.”
Once again, I open my mouth to go on the offensive, but she’s already talking. “I’m sorry, but that information is classified.”
Ryder glances at me. “This is my sister Jessica, or have you two met?”
“She intro—”
She cuts me off. “This is all one big misunderstanding, but I can’t really explain things right now.” She attempts to make her eyes wide and innocent and fails miserably. “I would get in a lot of trouble if you forced me to tell you, so you’ll have to trust that this doesn’t involve you.”
I work to contain my utter exasperation with her. She’s making this into a mystery he’ll need to solve, and now, I’m unable to provide some sort of reasonable explanation.
An explanation I don’t have, but I’m positive would have come to me, given enough time.
Ryder shakes his head. “I don’t trust you at all.”
“Mean.” She tsks, frowning. “What have I ever done to you?”
“Are you going to give me an answer or not?”
“Oh my god, you’re so dramatic. You’re not the boss of me. I don’t have to tell you shit.” Then she gives him a smile so dazzling, it damn near twinkles.
Ryder shifts his attention to me. “You’re awfully quiet over there.”
If she’s going to use the worst strategy in the world, the least I can do is take advantage and dump the entire thing in her lap. Since she’d do the same, I don’t feel the slightest compunction about it.
I put my hand in my pocket. “If I’d had any idea your sister was following me, I wouldn’t have called it in, now, would I?”
At least I’m not lying to him.
Why didn’t I follow my instincts and forget protocol? I could have had her alone on a deserted highway, but I had to go set an example.
“I suppose.” His voice is slow and measured. Ryder is no idiot. Even if he can’t fathom a reason for this strange turn of events, he knows bullshit when he hears it.
“At some point, this will make sense, but until then, my lips are sealed.” Then Jessica mimes locking her lips and throwing away the key.
Ryder studies the two of us.
To her credit, she doesn’t fidget under the scrutiny.
Instead, she looks bored and studies her manicure.
Those pale-pink nails of hers made a mess of my back. I still wear the evidence of her, and considering the fevered wildness between us, I can’t imagine she’s not the same.
I want to find out.
I want to rip off her panties and manhandle her.
If I’d trapped her on the road, I could have held her against the car and shoved my fingers between her thighs.
This is not a helpful train of thought. Nor is it appropriate, considering our new reality. Whatever happens, no matter the circumstances, I need to keep my hands off her.
I don’t do ties. I don’t do attachments or complications.
I don’t do any of those things, and she’s all of those things on steroids.
Ryder’s gaze narrows. “In that case, Jess, since you’re in town on a surprise visit, you’ll come join us at Sam’s.” Before I can wish them well and make it clear I’ll be on my way, he says, “And since my sister here is so keen to talk to you, you’ll come too.”
And that’s how, instead of sitting on my dock enjoying the peace, I ended up sitting next to Jessica Moore, not peaceful at all.