Read In Hot Water Online Free by Loni Ree

I try for nonchalant.

Sounds like fun

Unknown

Not without you there.

Now I really have no idea how to respond. Fudge. Oreo yowls for food again, interrupting my inner debate. I slip my phone in my pocket and almost trip over Alfred as I walk to fill their bowls. He gives me a look like, “you’re so pathetic,” which is rich coming from a dog who literally shits himself when the mailman rings the buzzer.

The next text comes in as I’m microwaving a heating pad for Alfred’s hip.

Unknown

I’ll be back Friday morning. I can’t wait for our date. I’ll pick you up at seven-thirty.

See you then.

The next morning sucks from the very moment I drag myself out of bed.

After a shower and the world’s fastest ponytail, I’m out the door and on patrol by seven-thirty. The day’s tasks consist of recovering a stolen, slightly chipped, garden gnome, and responding to a call about “suspicious persons” at the library, which turns out to be two teens making out behind the nonfiction stacks. Then I assisted in serving a warrant at a known meth house. Fun.

By the time I get home, I have three new texts from Dawson.

Dawson

How was your day?

I hope it was better than yesterday.

Are you avoiding me?

I’m not sure what motivated me to save his number in my phone under “Sir,” but now I can’t bring myself to change it. I pop a frozen dinner into the microwave and text him back.

It double sucked. At least the meth house bust went smoothly.

Dawson

Are you okay?

I’m fine. I can take care of myself.

Dawson

I know you can. I’m still shaking in my boots from the day you cuffed me.

I can picture him grinning as he types, cocky and knowing, and it weirdly makes me want to throttle him and kiss him at the same time. I throw my uniform in the laundry for dry cleaning, change into leggings and an old volleyball sweatshirt, and crash on the couch with Oreo curled up in my lap while I balance my phone on my leg.

I bet you are.

Dawson

You’re scary when you get all official, Deputy Merrill.

I laugh to myself, mortified at how fast my heart is pounding.

I’m glad you think so.

Dawson

I do.

We continue our text conversations every evening after work. We really talk about nothing important, but I still feel myself falling deeper and deeper under Dawson Hot’s spell.