“And then?” I press, gently this time, wanting to hear what made him follow me like he has.
He looks up and finally meets my eyes, holding my gaze in a bold move. “And then I saw you.” He explains, his voice steady and sure. “I saw you by the barn and then… Fuck, you must think I’m crazy.” He grumbles, turning away from me to study the small kitchen sink as he wrestles with himself. Unsure what the right thing to say, I keep silent, waiting for him to gather his thoughts.
“Honestly, I’m not sure what I saw. I can’t explain it, but I knew I had to follow. So… I did.” He says with a shrug. God, his voice. That deep, gravely tone cuts right through me and I feel it rumbling in my core. I want to feel it against my skin… feel his words teasing across breasts and rumbling against my chest.
Unable to help myself, I take a step towards him, my legs moving of their own volition, closing the distance between us. Forcing myself to pull up short, I stop just before I reach him, keeping a couple inches of space between us. I’m drawn to him. I can’t explain it, I can’t help it. I need him. Yet I can’t bring myself to make that last little move, to touch him and seal my fate.
Kaden reaches a tentative hand up, slipping it behind my neck, his fingers tangling into the hair at my nape. The action is so natural, like he’s done it a thousand times, my body responding to it by melting against him like it’s my favorite thing in the world. At this point I’m not sure which one of us is moving in, maybe it's both of us, but he’s so close I can feel his warm breath fanning across my lip. All I would have to do is lean up ever so slightly and press….
“Wait…” he says, pulling back, just enough to look down into my eyes. “I don’t even know your name.”
That realization breaks whatever tension had been between us and I let out a brief laugh, turning and putting some distance between us again. Without turning back to face him, I say, “Ava. My name’s Ava.”
“Okay, Ava.” The sound of his rough voice curling around my name almost makes me weak in the knees. Jesus Christ, this is a mess. “Well then, Ava, want to explain why I’d find the Mayor’s new corvette if I opened up the pole barn back at the cabin?” and just like that, any warmth or confusion leaves his voice and he’s all Sheriff again. I shouldn’t feel a pang of loss and regret at the change.
“What makes you think it’d be there?” I ask, playing dumb, still not ready to turn and face him.
“Come on Ava, we both know it’s there. I may not know what the fuck is going on, but I know it’s there and that you are the one I’ve been after.” The double meaning in his words isn’t lost on me and I can’t help the scoff that slips out as I turn, finally facing him.
“The one you’ve been after, huh? Do tell.” I goad, wanting to get a rise out of him. Kaden doesn’t respond though, instead he leans back against the counter, crossing his ankles and arms in a casual pose. Ah, the make the perp sweat and spill their guts to fill the silence strategy. How cute.
“I have a better question for you, officer.” I say, adding more than a little sneer to my voice on the last word. “Have you ever wondered how the mayor of a small town in the middle of nowhere can afford a brand new, tricked out corvette? Or the one before that?” his face doesn’t show any change at my challenge, so I push a little harder. “Okay, well since you appear to have me figured out, have you ever tried to see the bigger picture? Have you tried to see the connections between what you think I’ve done?”
That did it. His brows furrow slightly, and I can see the muscles of his arms tense. “So, you admit you’re the thief I’ve been tracking.” He asks, attempting to deflect again.
“Nice try. But I’ll make you a deal. You forget about the car… and any of the other things you might want to connect my name to, and I will connect all the dots you so clearly haven’t been able to see.”
“What makes you think I’ll just let you off?” he asks, skeptically.
“Because I know you don’t care about some petty theft. You want to do what’s right for the town and its people, and that’s all that matters to you. I can respect that, and I know once you hear what I have to say, my silly little discretion will seem like child’s play in comparison.”
I can tell he doesn’t trust me, and me all but admitting I am behind what I’m sure is a giant stack of unsolved cases on his desk doesn’t help. I’m hoping dangling a carrot like that will be enough for him to at least listen.
“Fine. Tell me.” He says, standing a bit straighter.
“Negative. We need to wait until morning to head back into the cabin and call someone who can explain it better than I can.” I can see him getting ready to argue with me, but I cut him off, “But I promise you, I will get him to tell you what he knows. A deal is a deal.”
“The sun will be up in a couple hours; can we just head back to the cabin now?” He asks.
“Yeah, no dice there, bud. My brother is there doing unspeakable things to my sheets most likely, and I don’t want to be anywhere near that shit, no matter how much I like his woman.” I say, unable to hide the smile that
