I stare, open-mouthed at the female officer, and the man in front of her takes his eyes off me to land a confused look at her as well.
"Is there some reason she's not free to go on her own?"
The woman shrugs, shuffling papers on the counter and moving a mouse to wake up the computer beside her.
"Chief said we had to hold her unless someone picks her up... in case she needs supervision."
The man who suddenly seems to be my only way out of here tonight signs a paper that the officer sets in front of him, sliding it back with an exasperated sigh that says I'm not the only one holding my tongue so I don't say what I'm really thinking.
"Arizona Harper, you're free to accompany Mr. Avis off the premises."
And just like that, I'm walking out of the Paradise Point police station with the hottest man I've ever seen-- without a clue who he is, why he's here, or if he believes me.
CHAPTER TWO
TALON
She's not just pretty,she's fucking gorgeous. And pissed.
Based on the attitude I'm getting from the local PD, I don't blame her.
The woman that comes around the corner from the hallway leading off the back of the main lobby of the local police station has been shouting for the officers to get off their asses and start looking for her friend, but when she finds us in conversation out front, she goes quiet.
The way she stands proud and assesses the room in front of her gets my attention even before the dark pony tail and the feminine curves do.
There's not a damn thing about her that indicates she's on anything.
It's Sunday and I was informed that the local chief of police isn't available today. The officers on duty made it pretty clear they weren't taking Arizona's statement seriously, and now I find myself taking responsibility for the twenty-five year old hiker because somewhere in the course of the day, someone got it in their head that her story is that Bigfoot kidnapped her friend from a campsite in the local mountains.
Hell of a first day on the job.
"Talon Avis." I hold out my hand to shake hers, figuring somebody ought to introduce us.
"Arizona Harper, your prisoner."
She shakes my hand, making direct eye contact with me from a pair of emerald irises.
The quirk of her full lips tells me she's taking our unexpected relationship with humor, but the hardened points straining against her t-shirt tell me she doesn't mind.
I do my best not to get distracted by that, but it's damn hard. Just like my dick is threatening to be if I don't get my eyes off of her and my mind onto the fact that, Bigfoot or not, there's very likely a missing woman in these mountains and if Arizona's story holds any truth at all-- there's a good chance finding her could lead to the reason I'm here.
"Arizona." I repeat her name, deciding how I feel about it and coming to the conclusion that I like it.
"Just Zona works better. Can we get out of here?"
Her eyes slide to the officers who've gone back to the coffee machine at the back of the office, sharing a video playing on one of their phones and entirely unconcerned about us or Zona's missing friend.
"You got everything you came in with?"
Zona pats her pockets and nods.
As I reach to open the door for us, the police scanners crackle to life. Zona's out the door and ready to be done with this place but I hesitate as I hear the man's voice on the speaker.
"Come in? Guys might want to head up here. We found a couple of bodies. Looks like they were attacked by something."
Our two officers look toward the speaker, then up to lock eyes with me and then my companion.
I don't say shit, just let the heavy wooden door of the old building swing shut while they decide whether or not they're going to do their job.
