Page 29 of Rules

"Ruth, stop." His hand catches my arm, turning me to face him.

"No, Tobias, you stop." I pull my arm free. "Stop pretending this is just about your job. Stop giving me orders like you have some special right to control what I do. And just stop—"

His mouth crushes against mine, cutting off my words. One moment we're arguing, the next his hands are in my hair, his body pressing mine back against the worktable. I should push him away. I should be outraged.

Instead, my arms wrap around his neck, pulling him closer as I return the kiss with equal fervor. There's anger in it, frustration, but also something desperate and needy that makes my heart race.

When we finally break apart, breathing hard, I stare up at him in confusion.

"That," I say breathlessly, "doesn't count as a proper explanation."

A ghost of a smile touches his lips before disappearing. "No, it doesn't."

"Then give me one, Tobias. A real one, the truth."

His hands slide to my shoulders, then drop away entirely as he steps back. The loss of contact leaves me aching.

"I can't," he says, and the defeat in his voice is worse than his earlier commands. "I just can't." He takes another, bigger step backwards.

Something in me deflates. "Then we have nothing more to talk about. I appreciate the warning about the break-ins. I'll be careful. But I can take care of myself, thank you."

His expression hardens again. "Fine. But at least promise me you'll look into better security."

"Sure," I concede, needing this conversation to end before I do something foolish like cry. Or kiss him again. Or even worse, both.

He nods once, all business now. "I'll have someone stop by later to get your statement about what happened with Martha this morning."

"I wasn't here when it happened."

"Standard procedure. We're talking to all nearby businesses." He straightens his uniform shirt, smooths back his hair. "I should get back to the crime scene."

"Of course," I say, my own professional mask slipping into place. "Duty calls."

He pauses at the door to the front shop, looking back at me with an expression I can't quite read. For a moment, I think he might say something more, might finally explain what's really going on with him and between us.

Instead, he simply nods and walks out, leaving me alone with the lingering taste of him on my lips and questions no one seems willing to answer.

Chapter 12

Tobias

Even after cooling down on the drive back to the station, I'm still frustrated with myself. I shouldn't have kissed Ruth. Again. I definitely shouldn't have walked into her shop and started barking orders like some dictator. But seeing Martha's broken body, knowing how close the violence had come to Ruth's door...and the thought of it being Ruth just ignited a primal need to keep her safe.

I sigh heavily, pulling into my reserved spot at the station. Brooklyn and Mark can handle processing the boutique scene. I need to check in with my other deputies who've been canvassing businesses about security measures. Not to mention an emergency meeting with the Mayor about the break-ins. I fought the urge to roll my eyes. While I like the Mayor, he and I don't always see eye to eye on what constitutes a priority. Mine revolve around the law and safety, his around voters.

Holly meets me at the door, looking unusually agitated.

"Why do you carry a cell phone if you're not going to answer it?" She leads me toward my office. "I tried calling you."

"Sorry, I was dealing with the boutique break-in, then talking to other business owners." I deliberately omit mentioning Ruth. "What's up?"

"The Mayor's assistant has been calling all morning. They want to move the meeting up an hour.”

We both stopped in the hall and looked at each other.

"What kind of bullshit policy is that?" I asked.

"You got me. She kept saying the Mayor requires voice authorization."

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