Page 10 of Paws and Claws

"Wow, so eating dinner is suspicious now?" She rolled her eyes, but her stomach churned. Someone was clearly setting her up. "I got takeout, went home, and painted until three AM. Like I do most nights."

Dominic's jaw clenched as he gathered the photos. "You're free to go. For now." He stood up, all six-plus feet of pure alpha male authority looming over her. "But I'll be watching you very closely, Miss Moon."

Tabitha flashed him her brightest smile even as anxiety gnawed at her insides. "You know, Sheriff, if you focused less on little old me and more on finding the actual bad guy, you might solve this case faster."

5

DOMINIC

Dominic tapped his fingers against the steering wheel of his squad car. He watched Tabitha load art supplies into her motorcycle's saddlebags outside the craft store. Two days of surveillance, and the most exciting thing she'd done was haggle over the price of paint.

"Nothing suspicious at The Hex last night either," Connor's voice crackled through the radio. "Unless you count her karaoke rendition of 'Sweet Home Alabama.'"

Her motorcycle roared to life. For once, Tabitha actually obeyed the speed limit as she wound through downtown Saltwater Grove. Dominic followed at a distance, his lion instincts bristling at playing the stalking game.

"You know," Connor said through the radio, "maybe she's innocent. We haven't had any incidents since we started watching her."

"Or maybe she knows we're watching." Dominic's jaw clenched. "Did you see how she's suddenly following traffic laws? That's not normal for her."

"Could be she's just trying to avoid another ticket. You've given her what, three this month?"

The memory of her smile made his teeth grind. "And she hasn't paid any of them yet."

Tabitha turned into the grocery store parking lot. Through his windshield, Dominic watched her purple hair catch the sunlight as she dismounted.

"Sheriff, permission to speak freely?"

"When has that ever stopped you before?"

"You're obsessing. Maybe you should ask her out instead of following her around town."

Dominic nearly choked. "That's completely inappropriate."

"Just saying, there's a thin line between surveillance and stalking. And you've been volunteering for most of these shifts yourself."

"Because I take my job seriously." Dominic watched Tabitha load groceries into her motorcycle bags. "Someone could have died in that park incident."

"And someone could die from you not getting enough sleep. Go home, I'll take the next shift."

"I'm fine."

"You growled at the coffee maker this morning."

Dominic sighed, rubbing his tired eyes. Maybe Connor had a point about the sleep deprivation. But every time he considered dropping the surveillance, he remembered the fear in those monkey shifters' eyes as live wires sparked around their playground.

"Fine. You take the evening shift. But call me if anything happens."

"You got it, boss. And hey, maybe try counting sheep instead of purple-haired witches tonight?"

Dominic clicked off the radio before Connor could hear his low growl.

The neon sign of The Hex cast purple shadows across Dominic's dashboard as he watched patrons stumble out intothe night the following evening. His lion senses picked up the scent of stale beer and cigarette smoke drifting through his cracked window. A tap on the glass made him jump.

Tabitha stood there, her purple hair catching the neon glow. She bent down, bringing her face level with his window. The scent of jasmine and rain hit his nose as he rolled down the window more. His inner lion stirred with interest before he could shut that reaction down.

"Stalking me again, Sheriff?" Her lips curved into that infuriating smile. "You know, you could just come inside like a normal person."

"I'm working." He kept his voice professional despite the way his pulse quickened at her proximity.

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