“There you are.”
I turned my head to Keith’s voice behind me just as I was about to sit down at my desk.
“Here I am, Chief. Everything okay?”
“I figured you were having your usual Wednesday afternoon meeting. You have a visitor.”
My gaze landed on Claudia behind him. The bashful smile on her lips made me lose my train of thought for a moment.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been to a real police station before. Uncle Keith gave me a tour when you were in your sergeant meeting. This is pretty cool.”
She adjusted her purse on her shoulder. She wore a snug black dress that looked like a long T-shirt, one of her short sleeves dipping low as the leather strap of her purse pulled it down, revealing a red bra strap underneath. One of the rookies approached my desk and stopped short at the sight of her, his tongue almost hanging out of his mouth.
“Is that the report I asked for, Stanton?”
“Um, yeah. I had it done before the meeting but didn’t have a chance to give it to you. Sorry, Sergeant.” He handed me the folder, his gaze still lingering on Claudia.
“Aren’t you adorable? I’m Claudia. Nice to meet you. I’m a friend of Sergeant,” she said, giving me a quick side-eye and holding out her hand.
“I’m Ken. I mean Officer Stanton. Um…” he stammered, chuckling to himself as he took Claudia’s hand. “I mean it’s nice to meet you, Claudia.”
He winced as he turned to me, offering an apologetic shrug. I had to stifle a smile at the contrite pull in his features.
“Let me know if there are any questions with that. I’ll get back to work.”
“You do that,” I said, clearing my throat when I picked up on the growl in my tone. “Thanks.”
After my identical reaction to Claudia, even now, I couldn’t blame the kid for being flustered. She was beautiful enough to make men collapse at her feet, and I doubted that would ever change. I wondered how many young guys in Kelly Lakes would decide to go to the old bar in town just to see the gorgeous new owner.
That would be something I’d have to get used to because as good a shape as I was in, I didn’t have the time or energy to threaten every man in town—despite the powerful inclination.
“I explained to Claudia that it’s mostly boring around here. Although that just now was the most amusement I’ve had in a while.”
Keith nodded toward Stanton’s departure.
“Why don’t you take a long lunch since you never take one at all? Give Claudia a tour of the deli.”
“We could do that, if you have the time.” Claudia beamed at me, her chocolate eyes dancing when they met mine as she bounced back and forth on her feet. “I have some good news that I couldn’t wait to tell you, and I came straight here.” Her face fell as she came closer. “I should have called first. You could have been out upholding the peace with the Kelly Lakes outlaws or something.”
“No outlaws today. So what’s up that you had to come here right away?”
“I got the loan,” she blurted out, her hands clasped under her chin. “I need to transfer some funds and sign some papers, but you’re looking at a brand-new bar owner and permanent resident of the fine town you’ve sworn to protect.”
Before I knew what I was doing, I grabbed her by the waist and lifted her up, a wide grin splitting my face when she squealed.
“That is fantastic fucking news,” I whispered in her ear as she held me tighter. “Congratulations,” I said, setting her down in front of me but keeping her in my arms.
“I still don’t have a clue what the hell I’m doing,” she said, clutching on to my shoulders.
“You’ll be great,” I said, letting my hands slide down her back before I noticed three cops staring at us. Keith’s chuckle from behind me brought me back to the present and how I was doing the opposite of setting a good example by twirling a woman around while the entire station gawked at us.
“Lunch sounds good if you’re up for it.” I stepped back, wishing I didn’t have to let go, but with all the eyes piercing my back, I didn’t have a choice.
“I am very up for it.” She traced the collar of my shirt and drifted her hands down my torso, dropping them before she got to my badge. Goose bumps from her touch and proximity weren’t appropriate for work either, but there wasn’t much I could control around Claudia.
And now, she was here to stay. I almost didn’t care about the questions and looks I’d get for the rest of my shift. Let them all think that she was mine and off-limits, even if that was an unspoken conversation between us.
Besides being the most gorgeous woman I’d ever met, Claudia was genuine and kind, confident without being full of herself, and not afraid to be vulnerable—at least with me—and that was what drew me in the most.
