His expression shutters before he shoves his hands into the pockets of his uniform pants. “Hey.”
“Hey.” I manage to squeak out.
He clears his throat. “Did you have a good first day?”
“I did. Busy.” My voice is polite, formal-sounding.
“Good.” He glances toward the door, then back at me. “How was the rest of the party?”
“Fine.” I sound like I’m worried he’s going to try to sell me something. Which is the exact opposite of how I feel.
I would very much like him to sell me something.
If anything, his eyes grow even more distant. “Great. Well, have a good night.”
“You too,” I mutter.
Then he turns and walks off.
I stare after him.
A swell of loss washes over me. He wants nothing to do with me.
And I have only myself to blame.
Charlie
* * *
Ryder and I are already in my office when Jessica strolls into the department at eight fifty-nine the following morning. Through the glass, I watch Jeanene point in the direction of my office. I watch Jessica walk past the men and women who work for me. Watch as they all pause to study her as she marches across the floor in her black dress and stiletto heels.
I grip my pen and work to compartmentalize my lust.
She made herself clear yesterday. She’s been a roller coaster since the second she sat down next to me, so her quick reversal is the expected outcome. I’m not even surprised.
She’s pure chaos. It was always going to be the way.
Lucky for me, I’m good at detachment.
After I adjust, I’ll slip right into it, like I always do.
The door to my office is open, and she stops at the threshold, as if there’s an invisible force field preventing entry. Her lightning-blue eyes drift to the chair next to Ryder.
I gesture her in.
“Good morning, Sheriff.” She offers a weak smile as she slides into the empty seat. “Ryder.”
“How’s city hall treating you so far?” He narrows his watchful gray eyes on her, before looking to me.
“It’s been fine.” She opens the cover of her tablet and settles into the seat, crossing her legs.
He frowns at her.
I grit my teeth and try not to think about what her thighs looked like when her skirt was bunched up while she straddled me.
I shake off the thoughts.
Ryder and Jessica are both looking at me with the expectation I should be speaking. I shift my attention to the woman who now occupies a ridiculous percentage of my thoughts and hold out my hands. “This is your show. What can we do for you?”