A hand wraps around my wrist, tugging me back.
The sudden movement makes me lose my balance, and I stumble over something. I suck in a sharp breath, my lips parting. Matthew’s determined eyes meet mine, his arms gripping me around my waist to stop me from falling, when a blast of icy water slams into us.
“Holy shit.”
My heart is racing inside my chest as Matthew pulls me to him. I blink a few times, my drenched body shaking as I look up at Matthew, who’s equally as surprised as I am.
We just stare at one another, both of us trying to catch our breath, when he bursts into laughter.
I swat my hand across his chest. “It’s not funny!”
Still, I feel the corner of my mouth tip upward.
“It is so funny. If I had tried to plan it, it wouldn’t have turned out this way.”
“Oh my God, you’re such an ass!”
I try to shove him away, but he only tightens his hold on me.
“I saidifI tried! Woman, chill out.”
His hand slides to my ass, holding me in place, and suddenly I become aware of how close we’re standing. One of his legs isbetween mine, and my nipples are hard from the cold, pressing against his firm chest.
His gaze falls to my lips, and I can feel soft tingles rising to the surface.
“Williams!”
We jump apart at the sound of the sheriff’s loud voice. He’s standing at the door of the police station and glaring at us, his arms crossed over his chest.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing? There’s a line of cars waiting to be washed, which I’ll remind you wasyouridea. Get your ass to work.” His sharp eyes turn to me. “Your friend could help too, since you’re both wet as it is.”
I glance at Matthew, expecting that familiar tension that always accompanies him around Sheriff, but he just wiggles his brows. “What do you say, Trouble? Ready to get down and dirty with me?”
Screwed.
I’m completely and utterly screwed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
MATTHEW
“To Matthew.” Nico lifts his bottle in the air, smiling widely at me from across the table as the rest of the group echoes the same.
I shift in my seat, feeling self-conscious under all of their praise. “Well, I’m hardly the only one responsible for this success. We couldn’t have done it without everybody sitting at this table and then some.”
It’s the truth. Yes, the idea was mine, but so many people contributed to it. Becky with her refreshment table idea and paw cookies. Mae and Chase, who brought Duke so people could meet him. All the officers who posted flyers around town and worked their asses off today.
“Maybe, but we wouldn’t be here without you.” Mary winks at me. “I think even Jenkins was impressed.”
I rub the back of my neck. “Yeah, right.”
“Aww…” Nico mocks jokingly, not missing my discomfort. “Look at him. The Rookie is blushing.”
Everybody chuckles at that, making me shake my head. “Shut up, Rivera. I don’t blush.”
“Your face begs to differ, Williams.” Mae points her beer bottle at me, her statement accompanied by hoots of agreement.
I’m seriously outnumbered.
