“Nothing.” He shook his head. “We sleep pretty heavy, especially after... well, we’ve been busy with wedding planning and everything.”
“When did you get up this morning?”
“We were both out of here by maybe six or seven at the latest? Ranch life starts early.”
I made a mental note of the timeline, my mind already working through the logistics. The thief would have had to enter the house sometime between ten PM and when Beau woke up this morning. That was a fairly narrow window, especially in a house that presumably had multiple people staying in it. But if Beau and Lucas were really heavy sleepers, they never would’ve noticed.
“How many guests are staying here right now?” I asked, pulling out my notebook.
“Let’s see...” Beau counted on his fingers. “My Aunt Corinne and Uncle Pete are in the guest room downstairs. Three of Lucas’s coworkers are staying in the cabins. Mabel and Frank have their own house, but they come and go whenever. We’ve got the ranch hands out in the bunkhouses and there’s a handful of regular guests in the cabins as well. Oh, and Xavier has our suite cabin closest to the house.”
I wrote it all down, though my gut told me Mabel and Frank weren’t the culprits. They’d worked for the Turner family for decades and had access to far more valuable items if they’d wanted to steal. And Xavier was wildly successful, so why would he steal? No, this felt like someone new. Someone who didn’t understand the real value of what they were taking, or someone who was specifically targeting items that could be fenced without too much trouble.
“I’m going to need to talk to everyone who’s staying here,” I said. “And I’ll want to check the outside of the house for any signs of entry. Footprints, disturbed ground, that sort of thing.”
“Whatever you need,” Beau agreed. “I just want this sorted before the wedding. Lucas is already stressed enough without worrying about someone stealing from us.”
We headed back downstairs, and I spent the next hour chatting with everyone on the property. Aunt Corinne and Uncle Pete were a sweet older couple from Dallas who seemed genuinely shocked that anyone would steal from their nephew. Lucas’s coworkers—three guys in their late twenties who had worked in marketing with Lucas—all had alibis for each other and the cabin next door was able to corroborate their story.
I made my way through the rest of the guests, documenting alibis and taking notes. The regular guests in the other cabins all checked out. Most of them were families with young kids who’d come to experience a few days of cushy ranch life in Texas. Hardto imagine any of them sneaking into the main house in the middle of the night to steal a pocket watch.
That left Xavier.
My stomach did that annoying flip thing again at the thought of questioning him. After last night, after what we’d done in my office, the idea of approaching this professionally felt almost impossible. But I had a job to do, and personal feelings couldn’t get in the way of that.
I found him sitting on the porch of his cabin, a laptop balanced on his knees and a cup of coffee steaming on the small table beside him. He was wearing another one of those impossibly tight white T-shirts and jeans that looked painted on, his dark hair perfectly styled. When he saw me approaching, his face lit up with a smile that made my chest feel tight.
“Sheriff,” he called out, closing his laptop. “To what do I owe the pleasure? Come to arrest me for being too handsome in a small town?”
I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips, even though I was supposed to be working. “Actually, I need to ask you some questions. Official business.”
His expression shifted, concern replacing the playfulness. “Is everything okay?”
“There’s been some thefts at the ranch,” I said, pulling out my notebook. “I’m talking to everyone who’s staying here, getting alibis and information.”
“Thefts? Again?” He stood up, setting the laptop aside. “What was taken?”
“A pocket watch and a belt buckle from the main house. Both valuable items.” I clicked my pen, trying to keep my tone professional even though all I could think about was how those lips had felt wrapped around my cock less than twenty-four hours ago. “Where were you last night between ten PM and seven this morning?”
Xavier’s eyebrows rose. “You’re asking me for an alibi?”
“I’m asking everyone,” I clarified. “Standard procedure.”
He studied me for a moment, and I saw something flicker in his eyes—hurt, maybe, or disappointment. But it was gone quickly, replaced by that familiar sass. “I was here. In my cabin. Alone.” He paused, a smirk playing at his lips. “Well, mostly alone. I did have some very vivid memories keeping me company as I rode my favorite dildo in the shower.”
Heat crept up my neck, my pants immediately tightened, and I had to clear my throat. “Can anyone verify that?”
“Unfortunately, no. I was by myself all night.” He crossed his arms, leaning against the porch railing. “Though I did text Lucas around eleven to confirm some vendor details for the wedding. Would that help?”
I made a note of that. “I’ll need to verify the timestamp on that message.”
“Of course.” He pulled out his phone, tapping at the screen before handing it to me. “There. Eleven-oh-seven PM. And I’m sure Lucas will remember responding to me about the floral arrangements.”
I looked at the phone, noting the time stamp. It didn’t rule him out entirely. The main house was only a short walk from his cabin. But it did give him some documentation of where he’d been. I handed the phone back, our fingers brushing briefly, and I felt that familiar jolt of electricity.
“Thanks,” I said, scribbling down the information. “Did you notice anything unusual last night? Any sounds, people moving around?”
Xavier shook his head. “Nothing. I went to bed around midnight and slept like a baby. Well, after I took care of some...personalbusiness.” He gave me a meaningful look that made my face heat up again. “You want to come in and see?”
