Her cheeks brighten into a deep red. “Well, you can’t. My boss has been ah… out on assignment. We haven’t been in contact for a couple of days.”
“Is that normal?” It’s my turn to stare. Mine is way scarier.
While she averts her gaze, the furball jumps off my lap. Tail in the air, he saunters to his bowl, paws it twice, then turns toward me.
“Mrumph?”
The poor guy’s thirsty.What kind of pet mommy is she?
After I fill the container and set it down, his pink tongue slurps greedily.
Mimicking my scowl, she points at the cat. “I filled his damn bucket this morning.”
“What? Did I say anything?” At my scoff, her frown deepens.
“No, but you might as well have. The little shit tips it over every five minutes. After, he expects me to drop everything to refill it.”
“Meeeow?” Monstro hops on the countertop, knocks over a package of coffee stirrers, then zooms under the desk.
“See what I mean?” She kneels to pick up the mess and feeling a bit guilty, I help.
Sharing this small act lessens the tension, so I use it to my advantage. “Back to your chief, Dante—I called twice last week to confirm our meeting. He assured me he would be here.”
“Like I said before, he’s not, plus I don’t expect him back anytime soon. I’m his acting deputy. Why not tell me what you need?”
Ah, sweetheart. There’s a whole lot you could help me with, but none of it work-related.
Chapter 2
Kelly O’Malley
“The chief didn’t mention you coming.” Tossing the stirrers into the trash, I glare at the attractive yet bull-headed giant.
His ID may say US Department of the Interior, but I’m betting he works from a home office near Burlington or Boston. Any fool would know better than to wear a wool coat in the North Country. The moment wet snow falls, he’ll be soaked to the skin. No sweater, no thermal underwear, he won’t last a minute in our frigid weather.
When the suited Adonis stretches, he takes up all the free space. Staring defiantly, he sits back down and crosses his ankles.
Fine, ignore me, Mr. Not-From-Around-Here. You’ll find out the truth soon enough. I haven’t seen Dante in five days, but I’m not about to tattle to the hot city slicker. Hell, if Robert wants to go ice fishing, he’s earned it. A few months away from retirement, who am I to stop him?
“Well, are you going to just sit there? How about you explain why you’ve graced my border station with your blessed presence.”
Is that how we treat people, Kelly O’Malley?As my gram scolds me from heaven, Jack Gurion raises a brow, piercing me with those deep blue eyes.
He’s not my type. Sure, he’s built, but he probably attends a fancy gym where they play pickleball and guzzle protein shakes.
Whatever. Being handsome does not give him the right to judge me. My cat has tipped over every bowl or dish known to man. He can lap water from the toilet, for all I care. Come to think of it, he prefers it.
Despite the fact I feed him, buy him toys, talk to him, and take him to the vet, the damn animal hates me. Of course, sensing a kindred alpha, he becomes instant besties with Mr. Fishy.
Oh shit.Caught day-dreaming, my face heats. “Come again?”
Mr. Wildlife’s jaw ticks. “I asked, ‘Can you help me?’”
The embarrassment spreads to my chest and ears. “Sorry, help you what?”
Hissing between his teeth, he rolls his eyes. “My department teamed up with the University of Vermont. We have a significant grant to determine the environmental damage caused by illegal crossings. My first step is to report to your chief. He agreed to show me the most affected areas.”
What man needs lashes so damn long?Images of naked flesh slapping…
