Page 18 of Home Town Knight

“Thirsty? I have water bottles.”

“No. Stop pestering me.”

“We have thirty miles to cover, and it’s going to be a slower drive than usual.”

She huffed. “I’m invoking my right to remain silent.”

I bit back a smile.

“If I wanted to talk,” she added, “I’d be annoyingyouwith my questions about your previous investigations. But I’m too tired for that right now.”

We were quiet for the next five miles. I was hyper aware of every move she made. Her scent, which was even stronger in my nostrils than it had been last night. A subtle perfume like taking a deep breath on a summer day. I inhaled, and a pleasurable warmth took hold low in my abdomen. A tingle of arousal at the base of my spine.

If I wasn’t careful, images from last night would start playing out in my brain, and that could lead to an awkward physical reaction.

Focus, I told myself.

“I’ll interview you when we get to my office. I’ll need to record you.”

“You’ve only mentioned that five times. Also, I know how these things go.”

“Right. Because you’ve investigated public officials in the past. Including police.”

She shrugged. “I’ve known plenty of cops.”

And you drummed them out of law enforcement, I added internally. I needed that reminder. Wariness was the best strategy around her. Not picturing her topless in my lap.

“If you know how these things go,” I said, “then you’ll understand when I say you could be in danger. I have concerns about your safety. I’d like to discuss that as well.”

She scoffed. “Really? I would’ve thought you’d be happy if somebody got to me and took this bloodsucking harpy off your hands.”

That again. “I already apologized for what I said.”

“Did you? Somehow I missed that.”

“Well, I wasgoingto apologize last night before you slammed the door in my face. And a little while ago, but…” Okay, she was right. The wordsI’m sorryhadn’t technically left my mouth. “I apologize.”

“Thanks.”

Then, because I was an idiot who couldn’t leave well enough alone, I added, “It would be nice to hear an apology back.”

“For calling you a sleazy dirtbag? Fine. I apologize. Youmightbe a dirtbag, but I’ll reserve judgment until I know for sure.”

I sighed, which was something I did far too much around this woman. “Anyway, back to the interview. I’m going to have to ask you for details of your evening. What happened at the hotel. What you saw, who you spoke to.”

She barked a laugh. “Let me guess. You want me to lie?Say you were never up in my room? I have no interest in protecting your reputation, Sheriff.”

I sputtered. “No, that’s not it at all.” Though I certainly wished we could pretend it had never happened. “I just wanted to let you know so you weren’t blindsided during the interview. I would never tell you what or what not to say. I expect you to be honest.”

She muttered something too low for me to hear.

“What?”

“I said, I’m not embarrassed. If the situation in my hotel room is embarrassing to anyone, it’s probably you. You were only in there for, what, fifteen minutes? People might make certain assumptions.”

My jaw dropped open. “I see how it is. Could you do me the courtesy of letting me know before you publish the story about my poor performance? Just so I can prepare myself for public ridicule. Even dirtbags have feelings, you know.”

Why had I even tried being nice? She’d already made up her mind about me, and I had no reason to think she’d see nuance or reason.

---