Except everything about it was complicated.
I rubbed my eyes with the heels of my hands, trying to push away the mental image of Xavier kneeling in front of me, those light brown eyes looking up at me with that knowing smirk. The way his fingers had felt against my skin when he’d taken those measurements. The way my body had responded to him without my permission, like it had a mind of its own.
Three more weeks. That’s all he’d be here. Then he’d go back to New York, and his high-rise apartment, and his fancy coffee shops…and I’d still be here in Sagebrush, wearing my daddy’s badge and pretending to be someone I wasn’t.
Maybe that was the appeal. The expiration date. No risk of things getting messy or feelings getting involved because we both knew from the start that it was temporary. A distraction, like he’d said.
My phone buzzed on the desk, and I grabbed it without thinking, my stomach doing that annoying flip when I saw Xavier’s name on the screen.
Xavier: I got your suit fitted up. I’ll need you to try it on again.
I stared at the message for a long moment, my thumb hovering over the keyboard. The suit was a convenient excuse, we both knew that. But I could ignore the message. Pretend I hadn’t seen it. Go home, have a beer, watch some mindless TV, and wake up tomorrow having made the sensible, responsible choice.
But when had I ever gotten to make the choice I actually wanted?
Before I could talk myself out of it, I typed back.
Me: I’m still at the office. You can bring it by if you like.
The three dots appeared immediately, indicating he was typing. My heart rate kicked up.
Xavier: I’m already in town. I’ll be there in a couple minutes.
I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. This was it. The moment where I either shut this down completely or jumped off the cliff and hoped there was something to catch me on the way down.
I stood up and walked to the small bathroom attached to my office, checking my reflection in the mirror. My hair was a mess from running my hands through it all day, and I had that perpetual five o’clock shadow that made me look more rugged than I felt. I splashed some water on my face, trying to calm the nervous energy thrumming through my veins.
What the hell was I doing?
I dried my face with a paper towel and took a deep breath. This was just a suit fitting. That’s all. Xavier was bringing the suit, I’d try it on, he’d make whatever adjustments needed to be made, and then he’d leave. Nothing had to happen.
Except I knew that was a lie. And so did he.
I heard the front door of the station open, and my pulse jumped. I walked back into my office, trying to look casual, like I wasn’t about to crawl out of my skin with anticipation and anxiety.
Xavier appeared in my doorway a moment later, garment bag draped over one arm and that familiar smirk playing at his lips. Today he was wearing black jeans that should’ve been illegal and a tight purple tank top that left little to the imagination. His dark hair was perfectly styled, and he looked like he’d just stepped out of some fashion magazine instead of a rental SUV in rural Texas.
“Sheriff,” he said, his voice carrying that teasing lilt that made my stomach clench. “Working late?”
“Just finishing up some paperwork,” I lied, gesturing to my desk where exactly zero paperwork was visible. “You got here fast.”
“I was at Dolly’s having dinner when you texted.” He stepped into my office, closing the door behind him with a soft click that seemed to echo in the quiet space. “Figured I’d save us both some time and come straight over.”
The door closing felt significant somehow. Like we’d just crossed some invisible line.
“Right,” I said, my voice coming out rougher than I intended. “The suit.”
“The suit,” he agreed, but his eyes were locked on mine in a way that made it clear we were talking about something else entirely. “Should I hang it up somewhere, or do you want to try it on right now?”
I glanced around my office. It wasn’t exactly the most private place, but it would have to do. I walked over to the window, pulling the shades down. Then I went and turned the lock on the entrance door before flipping the sign to‘CLOSED’.
“Don’t want anyone to walk in on us while I’m in my underwear,” I said hastily, trying to sound like I wasn’t doing all of this with ulterior motives.
I watched Xavier’s eyes darken as he tracked my movements around the office, his tongue darting out to wet his lips. He knew exactly what I was doing, and we both knew it had nothing to do with modesty.
“Of course,” Xavier said, his voice dropping lower. “Very practical.”
He hung the garment bag on the coat rack by the door, then turned to face me, leaning back against the wall with his arms crossed. The position made his biceps flex, and I had to force myself not to stare.
