By the time they landed in Elsie Creek, she was exhausted, fried, and sweating through clothes that used to be clean.Just to stare at a door markedBatcave.
She pushed the door open.
Inside the long rectangular room, whiteboards lined the walls on the right, crowded with photos, scribbled notes, and red string, that looked more like a murder board than a mission plan.Large maps were spread across a table big enough for a family reunion.On the left were assorted desks.One desk held a graveyard of drone parts.Another, a V8 engine manual.A third sported cowboy spurs, a whip, and—naturally—dust.
And there he was.
Finn Wilde.
Or so she assumed, as he was the only one in the office.
Yet the man filled the room.With shirtsleeves rolled up, his tattooed forearms flexed as he adjusted something metallic on a workbench, while half-reading a file that seemed small in his heavily inked hands.Yet he seemed quiet.Intent.
She opened her mouth—
And immediately wished she’d rehearsed this bit.
He didn’t look up as his muscular neck corded with tension, while working calmly, like the rest of the world didn’t exist.Another sliver of ink peeked from beneath his collar, no doubt curling down his shoulder where there had to be more bad-arse tattoos.Effectively giving him the presence of someone who didn’t need to announce authority—it just rolled off him in waves.Quiet.Controlled.Coiled.That if danger walked in, it’d regret it quick smart and look for the nearest exit.
‘You the Fed?’His deep voice was rough as gravel and not at all surprised.
Taryn straightened her shoulders.Come on, she’d dealt with worse.‘Yes.I’m Taryn Hayes.I’m here to—’
‘Audit.Assess.And tear us down.’He dropped the folder he’d been reading.‘Yeah, we got the memo.’
She stepped forward, holding out a hand.
He didn’t take it.Just gave her a once-over.‘You look hot.’
‘Excuse me?’
‘It’s thirty-nine degrees in the shade today.Why are you wearing a woollen blazer?’
Taryn straightened her shoulders, ignoring the heat rushing to her cheeks.‘I’m here in an official capacity, Sergeant.I’d prefer to keep this professional.’
‘So would I.’He walked past her to the filing cabinet that looked like it had survived a flood.‘You’ll find we don’t pander much to Canberra types around here.’
‘I’m not a type.I’m a federal investigator operating under ministerial directive with full review authority—’
‘Good for you.’Finn didn’t even look up as he rummaged through the files.
Her jaw tightened.‘What is that supposed to mean?’
Finn finally turned to face her, his dark eyes cold and unreadable.‘It means I’ve got cattle going missing, a tracker in the scrub, and half my team spread across two hundred k’s of dust.So if you’re here to flex a badge, do it quick.I’ve got better things to do with my time.’
At the filing cabinet, he grabbed a manila folder and dropped it on the empty desk.‘There are your review requests.The interviews have been pencilled in for the days squad members are around.We run mobile, so don’t expect everyone in the same room.And try not to get in the way when we are.Be nice to the Territory cops, as we share this station’s space as their guests.And whatever you do, don’t tick off Tanisha at the front counter, or she’ll make your life a living hell.’
Taryn nodded, even if most of that had flown straight past her.Because Finn Wilde had crossed the room.And with every step, her brain had lost its signal to apply any logic.
Finn moved like a man used to handling trouble, one who didn’t need backup.Tattoos shifted over tanned skin and hard muscle, disappearing into sleeves rolled just high enough to be distracting.With a lazy flick, he popped open the small fridge and grabbed a water bottle, making the veins and muscles shift under his inked skin like a living warning label.
He waseverythingher mother had warned her about.
Tall.Brooding.Built like a threat.Probably smelled like the fuel from lots of bad choices—along with a double load of female-attracting pheromones.
‘Where are you going?’Honestly, she wasn’t sure if she wanted the answer.
He paused in the doorway.‘Back to work.You want to audit us?Start with your list of requests.Constable Montrose put it together, talk to her if you want more.She’s our paperwork queen.’
