Page 11 of Paws and Claws

"You're always working." She propped her elbows on his window frame. "When was the last time you actually had fun?"

"I have plenty of fun."

"Really? Name one thing you do for fun that doesn't involve a badge or paperwork."

Dominic opened his mouth, then closed it. Sleep. He enjoyed sleep. That counted, right?

"That's what I thought." She laughed, the sound warming the cool night air. "Come on, big bad sheriff. One drink won't kill you. Maybe you'll even learn what fun feels like."

"Your kind of fun usually involves breaking laws."

"Only the boring ones." Her blue eyes sparkled with mischief. "But hey, if you want to sit out here all night watching other people live their lives, be my guest."

She straightened up, and Dominic caught himself leaning forward to follow her movement before forcing himself back against his seat.

"Such a waste," she said over her shoulder as she sauntered away. "All that alpha male energy spent on surveillance duty."

Dominic watched her disappear around the corner, his hands tight on the steering wheel. He knew how to have fun. He went running sometimes.

The memory of Tabitha's laugh echoed in his head. He growled softly, annoyed at how her words had gotten under his skin. He was a responsible adult with important duties. He didn't need to prove anything to anyone, especially not to a troublemaking witch who thought speed limits were optional.

Still, as he sat there in the quiet of his squad car, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that maybe - just maybe - she had a point.

The bell above the Cauldron & Cup's door chimed as Dominic pushed inside, his lion's pride still smarting from Tabitha's jabs. The familiar scent of coffee and magic wrapped around him, somehow both soothing and energizing at once.

Nina orchestrated a symphony of floating mugs behind the counter, her constellation-speckled apron twinkling in the warm lantern light. "Sheriff Blackmane, you look like you need something stronger than coffee."

"Just answers today, Nina." He settled onto a stool at the counter. "What can you tell me about Tabitha Moon's magic?"

"Ah." Nina's hands paused mid-conductor. "That's a loaded question coming from you."

"I need to know if she's capable of causing serious magical incidents."

Nina's cloth swept across the counter, absorbing a coffee ring before it could stain. "I taught her, you know. When she was young. Wild magic isn't easy to control - it's like trying to harness a hurricane with dental floss."

"But she can control it now?"

"Better than most." Nina's fingers sparked purple as she gestured, sending a fresh cup of coffee floating Dominic's way."She worked hard at it. Probably the only thing she ever approached with discipline."

The coffee smelled like midnight and possibilities. Dominic took a sip, letting the warmth chase away some of his exhaustion. "There have been incidents recently. Dangerous ones."

"And you think Tabitha's responsible?" Nina's eyebrows rose.

"She's not exactly a model citizen."

"No, but there's a difference between speeding tickets and causing pile-ups." Nina leaned forward, her dark eyes serious. "What's really on her rap sheet, Sheriff?"

Dominic ran through the list in his head. "Speeding - lots of speeding. Noise complaints. That time she painted the town fountain..."

"Which brightened up the square considerably."

"It was still vandalism."

"Mm-hmm." Nina's knowing smile made his inner lion bristle. "And how many people got hurt during any of these terrible crimes?"

"That's not the point-"

"Actually, Sheriff, I think that's exactly the point." Nina's cloth snapped against the counter for emphasis. "Tabitha's wild, yes. Reckless, absolutely. But malicious? Never seen it."

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