Cubby snorted.
“How’s the case going?”
“Brady, Tank, and Rick are leaning toward Elijah Willis being our man, that guy I told you about from the case Brady worked on. Seems he was spotted not too far away.”
“But you’re not sure it’s him?”
“My gut’s not comfortable with pinning it on him yet.” Cubby nuzzled her neck, pressing a kiss on the soft skin.
“I was quite good at seeing things in LA, things others couldn’t. Patterns or discrepancies in cases. So if you need me to look over anything, just holler.”
“Holler.”
“Want to come round for a meal after work, and we’ll run through it away from the Lair, where it’s quiet?”
“Yes,” he said without hesitation. “I’ll be there about seven, and you can get all sexy detective on me.” Cubby ignored the voices in his head and went with his gut. “You need me to bring anything?”
“No, I got it.” She turned in his arms. Her hands were cool on his face as she touched his cheeks. “You look tired.”
“Someone kept me awake all night.”
“Bitch. Tell me who she is and I’ll go deal with her.”
He smiled. “She’s a badass cop from LA. I don’t want you messing with her.”
“I can handle her.”
“I have to go, baby, and do some sheriffing, but I’ll see you later.”
He let her wrap a hand around his neck and tug his head lower for a kiss. Their lips clung and he wanted to stay there with Katie, feeling her body close, breathing in her scent. She made him calmer, steadier, and the hell of it was he knew he had no right to feel anything for this woman.
He pulled away. “See you later.”
“You betcha, and Sheriff?” she said as he reached the doorway.
“I’m listening.”
“Macy just got in a new line of underwear. I thought you’d like to know I purchased a set.”
His eyes crossed as she licked her lips. “What color,” he managed to get out.
“Black.”
Cubby shook his head. “Hell, Katie, people are mourning out there and you’ve got me all hot.”
“Just thought it would be good for you to think about something else for a while.”
He saw the sexy smile before she turned back to the dishes.
He managed to get himself under control before heading back out to spend time with the mourners, and then went back to the Lair to deal with the Finlay brothers. Pushing visions of Katie dressed in black satin from his head again, he entered the reception area.
“They’ve been raising hell,” Rona said when he entered.
“Figures. You go on now and get to the Hoot; I’ve got this until you and the others get back.”
She didn’t hesitate, grabbed her bag and left. Cubby made a coffee and drank it slowly. He then filled four cups, loaded them on a tray, took off his hat, and made his way to the cells.
He’d put the Finlays in one cell, because he didn’t give a damn if they spent a sleepless night. It was no more than they had done to their neighbors and him often enough. He figured with the state they were in last night, their heads must hurt like hell today.
