Page 41 of Paws and Claws

His eyes fixed on hers. "You dance in thunderstorms?"

"Sometimes." She shrugged, trying to ignore how his gaze made her pulse quicken. "When my wild magic gets restless."

He moved to another painting, this one featuring a phoenix rising from abstract flames. "These are good, Tabitha. Really good."

"They used to sell better." The words slipped out. "When Sarah and I had our gallery."

"Sarah?"

"My former business partner." Tabitha's wild magic crackled softly around her fingers. "We had this amazing little gallery downtown. But then we fought about... well, everything. My temper got the best of me, things got broken between us, and that was that."

"What happened?"

"What always happens." She let out a bitter laugh. "I lost control. Scared her off. Story of my life, really - I'm basically my own worst enemy."

Dominic turned to face her, his broad shoulders blocking out the morning light from her windows. "You shouldn't give up on this."

"Easy for you to say, Mr. Perfect Record."

"I mean it." He stepped closer, close enough that the smell of his cologne made her head spin. "You've got real talent. The way you capture emotion in these pieces... it's raw. Honest."

Tabitha's heart stuttered. She tried to play it cool, but his words touched something deep inside her. "Thanks," she managed, her voice coming out soft. "That's... that actually means a lot to me."

His green eyes held hers, intense and unwavering. "I'd buy one."

"You would not," she scoffed, but pleasure bloomed in her chest.

"Try me." His lips curved into that rare, genuine smile. "Name your price."

Tabitha felt a rush of warmth inside her. "Maybe I'll give you one for free," she said, tucking her hair behind her ear. "You know, as a thank you for not completely giving up on me after the bar fight."

"I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions like that," Dominic said softly, touching her arm gently. "I didn't realize you were just trying to defend me."

"Yeah, well." She looked away, trying to hide how his proximity affected her. "Maybe we both need to work on our tempers. And actually talk things out instead of assuming the worst?"

"Agreed." His eyes found hers with that intense focus that made her wild magic hum. "Partners should be honest with each other."

"Partners?" Her stomach did a small flip at the word.

"Professionally speaking that is." He moved to examine her newest painting, the one with the storm clouds. "And speaking of being honest, I've been thinking more about those magical incidents."

Tabitha perched on the arm of her couch, watching him study her work. "What about them?"

"The Hunters are known for their advanced tech." He turned to face her, all business now. "What if they used their equipment to simulate magical attacks? Make it look like someone with wild magic was responsible?"

"And then pin it on me." The pieces clicked into place. "That's why the woman in the photos looked like me - they planned this to make it look like a paranormal did it."

"Exactly." He stepped closer, his presence commanding. "We need to find their lab. Whatever they're using to create these false magical signatures, it has to be nearby."

"And probably well-hidden." Her wild magic sparked with excitement at the challenge. "Between your detective skills and my magic, we might actually have a shot at this."

Dominic's phone rang, cutting through their conversation about the Hunters. His shoulders tensed as he checked the screen, and Tabitha could practically see him shifting back into sheriff mode.

"Blackmane," he answered, his voice dropping into that commanding tone that caused her wild magic to tingle. "I'll be right there."

He hung up and turned to her, his eyes intense. "There's a situation at the station I need to handle."

"Duty calls?" Tabitha leaned against her paint-splattered worktable, trying to ignore how attractive he looked when he was all business.

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