“I can think of something,” he murmured, his dark eyes looking me up and down and leaving me squirming in my chair.
Closing time couldn’t come fast enough.
Chapter 3
Donovan
WhenI’dfirstturnedin my resignation to the Chicago PD, my old partner had pulled me aside and asked if I needed help of the professional variety. I couldn’t entirely blame her. Burnout had me in its grips, but I didn’t let it show, even to her. I questioned the decision even as I packed my apartment and moved across the country to a town I’d never even set foot in before. My mom and my brothers supported me, of course, but even they didn’t fully understand.
The questions and doubts in my mind disappeared the first day I stepped into the Lowery’s Crossing Police Department. The entire single-story building could have fit in the reception area of the Chicago PD with room to spare. In contrast to the high-tech, modern CPD, the scratched-up desks lined up in the main workspace held ancient computers that looked old enough to vote. Faded carpet stretched across the floor, while windows that definitely weren’t energy efficient lined the walls, letting in the warm summer sunlight.
I loved it immediately.
Meeting the chief in person, meeting my new partner, all of it just feltrightin ways I couldn’t explain. Instead of spending my days delving into the darkest depths of human depravity, I now helped investigate hunting accidents and the drug problem in the mountains. I still saw things that kept me up at night, but nothing like the cases I’d seen in Chicago.
The one-year anniversary of my arrival in Lowery’s Crossing was coming up this summer and I didn’t have a single regret about leaving my old life behind and taking a chance on this tiny mountain town.
Maybe I was biased, though, because I’d met Alex three months into my time here and that certainly colored my views on my life. I know some people likely thought we were moving too fast, but what Alex and I had was the real thing.
A crumpled piece of paper hit my forehead, bouncing off to land in my empty coffee mug.
“I’m requesting a new partner,” I grumbled, fishing the paper out and tossing it in the trash can beside me.
“Good luck with that,” Will snorted. He sat across from me, his back to the door, leaning back in his chair. Blonde-haired and blue-eyed, William Dodd could have been the definition of the “All-American boy next door” if it weren’t for the sparkle of mischief in his eyes.
“Maybe Camille is interested in the job. I think I’d rather work with the good twin.”
“The town would riot if she left Buns ‘n’ Roses.”
“I’d be more scared of Raina hunting us down for stealing her girlfriend away. I guess that means I’m stuck with you.” I dug an old report out of the trash, carefully folding it. “Can I ask why you assaulted me with paper?”
“You had that look again and I needed it to go away.”
I paused in my folding and raised an eyebrow. “What look?”
“That heart-eyes look you get whenever you’re thinking about Alex,” he shrugged. “Honestly, it’s terrible and you should be embarrassed.”
“So, I should throw things at you whenever you start thinking about—”
“We’re talking about you, not me.”
“Smooth.”
“Thanks.” Will flashed his most charming grin, sighing when I ignored him and went back to folding the paper. “I do have a serious question, though.”
“I’d believe you more if you hadn’t started the conversation by throwing something at me, but fine, I’ll bite. What’s up?”
He didn’t immediately respond, which was enough to get my attention. Will was not the type of guy who hesitated much, especially not around me.
“Will?”
“I just wanted to ask how Alex is doing?” He didn’t quite meet my eyes, his gaze hovering somewhere around my shoulder.
“He’s fine,” I said slowly. “Why do you ask?”
“Just… with all the stuff with his ex a few months ago and the whole thing at the farm.” He glanced at the door to make sure no one could overhear. “I haven’t really seen much of him since then, so I just wanted to ask.”
That made a little more sense. Will had been with us when the ghost of Thomas McAvell possessed Alex. I still had nightmares of that day, seeing Alex standing there, pointing a gun at his own head.
