Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
“We’re off-duty. Call me Katie.”
"I'm always on duty," I tell her, making that clear. I have no plans to buddy up with the new deputy. I actually got her paperwork this morning and only finished reading all of it an hour ago.
I had time to kill while Kindred was eating and I was waiting for her to sneak out. I learned that Beckett here is on a probationary period. I can always send her back and request a new deputy if it isn't a fit. I don't give a flying fuck if she fits with me at the station. It’s the town that she needs to fit with.
"Right, I was actually—" I don't know if Beckett trails off or I miss what she says because a ball of energy launches herself at me. I wrap my arms around Kindred and catch her easily. She does the same, locking her arms together around my neck, her tits pressing into me.
"Higher," she orders, bouncing her body. I lift her more, bringing her eye level with me.
"You—" Kindred presses her mouth to mine, and whatever I was going to say is lost.
Her lips are even softer than I ever could’ve imagined. The taste of lemon and alcohol lingers on them. I kiss her back the best I can. I have no clue what I’m doing, but from the soft moans escaping her, I’d say I’m on the right track.
I swipe my tongue across her lips, needing to taste more of her. She parts her lips, letting me in as she presses her body more into mine. Kindred feels like the first ray of sunshine after a long, cold, gray winter. I could almost feel the sun like it was touching my skin.
Fuck. I jerk my head up when someone bumps me from behind, having forgotten where I am, enjoying the warmth and glow that is all Kindred. Warming parts of me I thought died long ago when I was only a boy.
Her big blue eyes shine up at me with such joy. “Took you long enough to get here.” She wiggles around in my arms.
“You’ve been waiting for me?”
She gives an extra dramatic eye roll. “I think I’m always waiting for you.”
“Cupcake, you—”
“Shots! Shots! Shots!” the Knotty Knitters start chanting.
“They’re gonna peer pressure me. Hide!” She buries her face in my neck. I stifle a groan as her lips brush against my skin, and then she playfully nibbles me. My dick is harder than it has ever been in my life; my balls are starting to ache.
I lock eyes with Hollis across the bar and nod down to Kindred and then to the back door. He gives me a nod back. Before she can protest, I swing her up into my arms. “Ope!” she laughs. I have never seen Kindred drunk before. A little tipsy after a few glasses of wine, sure. It’s safe to say she’s a happy drunk.
I carry her out to my cruiser, depositing her into the passenger seat. “Can we turn the lights on?”
“You stay put. I’ll get your coat.”
“Oh, good call!” She points her finger at me. “This is why you’re sheriff.”
“Be good,” I tell her before shutting the door and hitting the lock on my key fob while jogging back inside to get her things.
“You’re back.” Katie pops up on me. I fucking forgot about her.
“Grabbing a few things.” People step out of my way as I move through them to reach the bar. I don’t have to ask Travis; he’s already reaching under the bar and grabbing Kindred’s things to hand them to me.
“So you’re leaving?” Katie steps in front of me.
“Yeah.” Her eyes drop to the coat and purse in her hand.
“You’re taking her home.” Imagine the audacity of Katie thinking I owe her some sort of explanation.
“Is there a point you’re getting at here or something you need to ask me?” I want to cut to the fucking point.
“I thought we might hang out.”
“We hung out all day.” I motion for her to move. Her lips purse, further irritating me, but she moves.
I can’t help but think of when Kindred purses her lips and how I want to press mine to them every damn time. Things that annoy the shit out of me with others I find endearing with her.
“Hey, aren’t you the sheriff?” Two girls block my path in the back hallway where the bathrooms are, a blonde and a redhead. I saw them around town today. After the new year, the tourists will slow down. I look forward to that.
“Yes. Is there a problem?” Please fucking say no. Wait, Katie is here. She can deal with them. They both giggle, the sound reminding me of a bunch of hyenas and transferring me back to that three weeks of hell I did in the Sahara Desert when I was still in the Army.