“It’s just..” Her eyes flick down to the hard outline of my pants. “I want to take care of you too, but I don’t know how.” She bites her lip, and I use my thumb to pull it back out before bringing my mouth down to hers.
“We’ll learn together. There’s no rush,” I tell her.
Just then, my phone rings, breaking the moment. Because I’m on call, I have to answer it.
“Sheriff Donovan,” I bark into the receiver.
“Sheriff, it’s Ian. I just got a call from Ms. Tizzy. She claims her granddaughter has been missing since Thursday.”
“Goddammit. Ms. Tizzy’s granddaughter, she’s blonde, right?” I hang my head, looking at the ground.
“If I’m remembering correctly, yes,” he confirms.
“Fuck.” I kick the ground and sigh. “I’ll be there shortly. Tell Ms. Tizzy to come in.”
I hang up, and Jade runs her palm up my back, easing some of the tension. “Everything okay?”
“No.” I run my hand down my face. “Ms. Tizzy’s granddaughter is missing.”
“Oh, no.” She gasps. “I’ve met Natalie a few times.”
“I’m going to have to go into the station,” I tell her.
“Yes, of course.”
“Sorry to cut our night short. I’ll drop you off at home on the way in. I better go tell Cade.”
We walk out of the barn, and I hear the soft laughter of children. As we round the corner, I see Cade getting the kids into his truck. Picking up my pace, I whistle out to get his attention.
“What the hell are you wearing?” he asks, scowling at the too-tight jeans I have on. I thought they fit a little snug. They must be Colter’s.
“Not important,” I say, coming up to him. “We need to go into the station.”
My brother looks back at the kids buckled in their seats and lets out a sigh. “Change of plans, kiddos. Daddy has to go into work. You’re going to have to stay here with Grandma and Pops for a bit longer.”
“Yay!” Maysie yells, already unclipping from her car seat.
“But Dad. You said we can start the next Wings of Fire book tonight.” My nephew pouts.
“I’m sorry, buddy. How about tomorrow we read two chapters to make up for it?”
“Okay.” Hudson sighs, unbuckling.
“I’m just going to run Jade home, and then I’ll meet you at the station.”
“Maybe stop at home and take Colter’s pants off too,” he throws out, following the kids inside.
Flipping him the finger, I walk with Jade to my truck and head to town.
“Fill me in,” I command as soon as I get to the station.
Taking Cade’s advice, I stopped at home and quickly changed into less restricting pants before dropping Jade off, so I’m a little later than I thought I’d be. Cade beat me here.
“Nice to see you in pants that don’t have the outline of your dick.”
“Not the time, Cade.”
My brother chuckles, and Ian fills in. “Ms. Tizzy called in with concerns about her granddaughter. I guess the two of them were supposed to meet for dinner this evening and she never showed. It’s unlike her, so after calling and getting no answer, Ms. Tizzy stopped by the condo Natalie is renting with a friend. The friend claims Natalie hasn’t been back since a date Thursday evening.”
