Another mistake on my end. Something I was in charge of figuring out yet didn’t.
And then there’s Lennox and the whole Hutton family, who have to deal with the aftermath of the Tennison Strangler infiltrating our little slice of Texas. Hell, I still have to deal with the aftermath. I’m sure the paperwork is going to be never-ending, and the Fugitive Task Force won’t just let things go so easily. Not with everything that happened.
Maybe I needed this night with Rina as much as she did. A moment to just forget about everything that happened. A moment to release all the built-up tension and be able to think again.
My phone rings on my bedside table, and I blow out a breath. Of course, my phone rings right now. Can’t possibly lie here in my misery without interruption.
“Sheriff Arlo,” I grunt out.
“Sheriff, I’m so glad you answered. I have a concern about the cabin in the park where … everything happened. Are we condemning it? We couldn’t possibly keep it standing, correct?” Alice’s voice grates on every single frayed nerve I have.
“It’s” —I pull my phone away and check the time— “four in the morning, and you thought it urgent enough to call me? You couldn’t just stop by in the morning, Alice?”
I’m not known for my coddling when it comes to the nosy residents of Bluebell Falls.
“My word, Sheriff. I am concerned, and I felt it was important to ask.”
“At four a.m.,” I droll.
“Well, I am an early riser. I just assumed you would be as well since you are the sheriff, after all.” Her hurt tone does nothing to lessen my annoyance.
“Well, I enjoy sleeping. I don’t have an answer for you at the moment, but when I do, I’ll be sure to call you.”Preferably when you are sleeping, to piss you off.
“Well, I suppose that works. Thank you, Sheriff.” The click of her hanging up hits my ear, and I throw my phone onto the bed.
What a clusterfuck.
Scrubbing my hand over my face, I relegate myself to another night of no sleep. Might as well get up and head into the office to get a jump start on more paperwork. It’s not like I have a life outside of my job anyway.
At least it will take my mind off of Rina for a while.
Chapter 5
Rina
Last night was a mistake.
I knew it the second I came down from my orgasm and watched Arlo walk out the door.
Did it help relieve everything I was hoping it would? Sure, but it also made me remember, and that’s the last thing I want to do.
Remembering means thinking about the good times and not about every minute after he broke my heart. It means thinking about how good we were together instead of thinking about how easily he threw us away when I needed him the most. And I can’t afford to remember. My heart can’t handle remembering.
So, I did what any woman avoiding the man who gave her two spectacular orgasms would do: buried myself in work.
For me, that means working on this fucking custom order that’s testing every ounce of my skill and capability.
I’m sweaty, annoyed, and stressed—a dangerous combination for my current state. When my phone pings as I’m mapping out a daybed, I take it as a sign to take a break.
Ledger:
Anyone heard from Lennox yet today?
Me:
No, and I doubt we will.
Willow:
