“The sheriff?” Belle confirmed.
Katy turned back to her long enough to answer. “He’s, like, only the hottest playboy in the entire seacoast.”
“Many women have tried to tame him, but none have succeeded,” Tawny added like she was speaking of a mythical creature.
Belle shook her head. So, the man in uniform was a player. That was no surprise.
“It was like a rite of passage in high school to sleep with Bently Evans around here,” Tina said, dreamily.
“No one’s worried about the diseases he could be spreading?” Belle asked bitterly before she drank the liquid that burned her throat.
All five women turned to look at her as if she’d just said the pope was dead.
“He’s got a reputation, that’s for sure. But, honey, I can tell you from experience that he’s worth the heartbreak. That man has magic fingers, a mouth that should be considered illegal, and a heart of gold.” Tawny eyed her.
“Not to mention, rumor has it that he has a ladies-first policy,” Amy added. “And he gets regular checkups. Because of HIPPA, I can’t tell you anything, but let me just say, I’d do him.”
“Sounds like the perfect guy.” Perfection isn’t real.
Her skin tingled, prickling with awareness. She glanced up and Bently’s ice-blue eyes locked with hers. He smirked and her pulse quickened. She may have been angry at the male species, with good reason, but she was still a woman. Her body reacted to his six-foot-something frame, with his white shirt stretched taut against those bulky muscles. The man was pure lust, and she wanted none of it. He was just like all the rest, looking for another notch on his bedpost. Hell would freeze over before she became one.
Belle focused on her drink, draining it quickly.
The woman tending the bar approached them and switched out their drinks with a round of Sex on The Beach. “From an admirer.”
“Come on, Charli, put us out of our misery and tell us it was from Prince Charming,” Amy begged.
Charli rolled her eyes. “From the flirt himself.”
“Seems like someone’s piqued his fancy.” Katy eyed Belle suspiciously as Charli walked away.
Belle didn’t give him the satisfaction of looking up for the rest of the night. Katy’s round was next, and she chose something fruity and potent. They all laughed together about antics from work.
“That’s nothing. Once I had a patient come in because she didn’t think she had to remove a tampon before putting another one in.” Katy shook her head.
“Where did she think they would go?” Tina asked.
“She thought they just dissolved!” Katy laughed.
Belle cringed.
“Bently keeps staring over here,” Tawny said.
“Maybe he wants round two after all with you,” Belle suggested.
Amy shook her head. “Bently hasn’t dipped his pen in Shattered Cove ink in years, to many single ladies’ dismay.”
“And some married ones.” Tawny giggled.
“Ever since he became sheriff,” Katy clarified.
“All we get is his grade-A flirting. I heard he goes to the city for company now.” Tina sighed.
I wonder why.
No. Belle had no business giving that man any precious real estate in her mind.
“I gotta get home to my husband and boys. I’ll see you ladies at work next week.” Tawny stood.
“Do you mind if I catch a ride with you?” Tina asked.
“Sure thing. Good night, ladies.”
“Good night.”
“I’m gonna go say hello to that fine-looking man over by the stage. Don’t wait up for me,” Sue said, pushing her breasts a little higher.
“Just us left?” Katy motioned to Amy and Belle.
“Looks like it. I’ll run to the bathroom and grab another round,” Belle said, sliding off her stool. The room swirled around her as she reached out her hand and steadied herself on the table. It had been a while since she’d had a few drinks, and three of them had her tipsy. Guess I’ll be hailing a cab tonight.
It didn’t matter, because for the first time in a long time, she was relaxed and happy.
Belle went to the bathroom and washed her hands. She smacked her lips together, happy her lip stain hadn’t budged in hours. Heading out the door, her foot caught and she stumbled. Two strong arms caught her before she could face-plant and embarrass herself. Electricity tore through her. Her body hummed with heat. She gasped.
“Thank you.” She looked up at her savior and her breath hitched. Whoa. He’s even hotter up close.
“No problem, beautiful,” Bently said, the smirk on his mouth reaching pantie-melting territory. Pantie-melting? What the hell is wrong with me?
“Oh, fuck.”
He chuckled.
Shit, I said that aloud.
“I like that idea.” His hungry gaze raked across her skin like hot coals, blistering her with need.
No! This man is a man. A tragic flirt. And he’s a cop. And he’s a White-man-cop. Her brain worked overtime to reason with her drunk self.
She jerked out of his grasp, quickly righting herself. The pulsing energy fizzled to a simmer between them, giving her at least some clarity.
“I hear there isn’t much you don’t like,” she said, but kept her tone as even as she could, without the heat of the anger that lurked deep within her. Men like him in power have very big egos that are highly fragile.
“I think we got off on the wrong foot. However, I’d like to help you wake up on the right side of the bed.” He chuckled and his grin widened.
Anger rose, quickly morphing into fury. How dare he think she was just some easy one-night ride that he could use up and turn back onto the street? He had a whole queue of willing participants, so why target her? Bently was just like all the other men of her past.
“Does that line actually work on women?” she snapped.
His smile faltered.
“Look, buddy.”
