Page 33 of Paws and Claws

Tabitha dabbed her brush against the canvas in her living room. Her wild magic tingled at her fingertips as she tried to focus on the sunset she was painting. The colors kept bleeding together though, refusing to cooperate. Just like her thoughts about a certain sheriff.

Her phone buzzed on the paint-splattered table beside her. When she saw Dominic's name, her heart did an annoying little skip.

"Good morning. Hope you're staying out of trouble."

A smile tugged at her lips as she typed back: "Me? Trouble? Never. Unless you count mixing cerulean with crimson a crime."

His response came quickly: "Knowing you, even that's probably illegal somehow."

"Ha! Finally, a sense of humor. Who knew you had it in you, Sheriff?"

Tabitha set her phone down and tried to return to her painting, but memories of last night kept intruding. The way his hand had felt in hers, warm and strong. How his deep laugh had sent shivers through her entire body when they'd escaped the Hunters on her motorcycle.

"This is ridiculous," she muttered. "So what if he knows how to ride a motorcycle? And drives that sexy red Mustang? And has those intense green eyes that make me feel like—" She stopped herself. "No. Nope. Not going there right now."

Her phone buzzed again. "Meet tomorrow to discuss leads?"

Tabitha bit her lip, remembering how he'd stepped in front of her protectively at the bar. The same man who'd lectured her countless times about speeding had risked his own safety to shield her.

"You're just attracted to the badge," she told herself firmly. "And those shoulders. And that whole alpha male thing he does when he's being all commanding and—dammit!"

She grabbed her phone. "Sure thing, Sheriff Stick-in-the-Mud. Try not to miss me too much."

His reply made her smile: "I can't make any promises. And I prefer 'Sheriff Law-and-Order.'"

"God help me," Tabitha sighed aloud, looking at her ruined painting.

The neon sign of The Hex cast a purple glow across Tabitha's face as she opened the heavy wooden door. The familiar scent of sage and whiskey wrapped around her, but even that couldn't quite shake the sheriff from her thoughts.

Luna waved from their usual corner booth, her silver bangles catching the light. "Over here! We ordered your usual!"

"You're a lifesaver." Tabitha slid into the booth, immediately reaching for the waiting glass of whiskey. "I needed this today."

Mira leaned forward, her dark eyes sparkling. "Spill. What's got you looking so distracted?"

"Nothing." Tabitha took a long sip. "Just artist's block."

"Bull," Luna said. "You've got that look."

"What look?"

"The same one you get when you're planning something reckless." Mira twirled her martini glass. "Or someone."

Tabitha's wild magic surged, making the lights above them flicker. "Can we just play darts?"

At the dart board, Tabitha tried to focus on the game, but her thoughts kept drifting to green eyes. She threw a dart, her magic making it curve perfectly into the bullseye.

"Show off," Luna laughed.

"Speaking of showing off," Mira said, "I heard you were seen with a certain sheriff at The Underground last night."

Tabitha missed her next throw completely. "It's not what you think."

"Oh?" Luna's eyebrows shot up. "Because I think you're totally into him."

"He's insufferable." Tabitha grabbed another dart. "Always lecturing about rules and proper conduct and?—"

"And?" Mira prompted.

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