“What?” She laid the phone on the seat and put it on speaker while she rummaged around under the seat.
“Nothing.”
“What, Carla? Tell me or I’ll rip up the napkin when I find it.”
“Just…you’re spending a lot of time up at Watchdog lately. Every time I talk or text you, that’s where you are.”
“Chewie’s living here, so where else would I be?” She unfolded a napkin covered in Carla’s chicken scratches—just in time. “Found it.”
“That’s my Cookie. Mind reading it to me?”
“I can’t read this.”
“Fine. Take a pic and send it.”
“I’d say that’s incredibly insecure but no one could decipher this anyway.” She spread the napkin out on the seat and took a photo, then sent it. “There. Got it?”
“Yup! You’re the best. Thaaaank you.”
Sylvie balled up the napkin and stuffed it in her tote to tear up and throw away later. “Anytime, partner.”
“Have fun at the…ranch.”
“Stop it.” Sylvie straightened up and slammed the car door shut, probably harder than it needed. “We’re not talking about anything because there’s nothing to talk about.” She marched back toward the house.
“Obviously.”
“This needs to stay quiet,” she said as she opened the screen door and practically ran into Kyle and Alex.
“Hey.” Her heart skipped a beat. She hit disconnect on her phone without thinking about it.
“You sure everything’s all right?” Kyle asked. He glanced at Alex, who kept a poker face.
“Yup! Just work. Dinner ready?”
“Affirmative,” Kyle said a beat later and turned. She caught Alex’s eye and gave him a questioning look. He only raised his eyebrows with his own question for her.
She pointed at herself then him and mouthed the wordtonight?
Alex shook his head and mouthed backsorry, then jutted his chin toward Kyle.Work.
Sylvie sighed and shrugged.Stalemate. For now.
CHAPTERTWELVE
Alex’s phone went off about the time he figured Sylvie got home from the ranch and made herself comfortable in her bedroom. They’d been careful all through dinner, trying to talk to everyone else, keeping their shared looks to a minimum, but without seeming to be distant—they’d spent months together in class, after all, so of course they’d be friendly to each other. She was better at the game than he was, but that made sense. She’d had some experience working spur-of-the-moment plainclothes busts so she knew how to read a situation quickly and blend.
Watching the other couples at dinner made him think of the fantastic week he’d just spent getting to know Sylvie better outside of their classes. He was waiting to spook, considering how long he’d avoided serious relationships after his divorce. But, every date, every night spent with his face buried between her legs and then holding her after, only put him more at ease. Now, not only could he never imagine himself with someone else, but he couldn’t see his future without her in it. Seeing the love and affection between Wolf and Caroline, Kyle and Arden, and between Jake and Rachael made him want that for himself—with Sylvie.
“Hello, gorgeous,” Alex said as he settled on his bed with a couple of pillows stacked under his head.
“Wish I was there,” Sylvie purred into his ear. His cock immediately stirred as if she’d blown soft, warm air across it—a sensation he’d come to crave from her.
“So do I,” he growled. All thoughts of asking her about earlier when she’d hurried out to her cruiser evaporated into steam.
Her resulting soft laughter stirred him even more. “I can hear it in your voice. Where are you?”
“In bed. My big, cold, lonely, arctic-tundra-like bed.”
