Page 29 of Chief's Addiction

Morpheus was the most skilled tracker, this side of the Mississippi. He’d stepped away from the job years ago, but I guess for Spike he was making an exception. “Do your thing, brother.”

Without another word, Morph stood, turned on his booted feet and walked right out of my office.

Spike’s days were officially numbered.

Chapter 6

Cora

“Cora, I’m starting to worry about you. Every time I’ve called you this week, you’re watching this movie.”

I stuffed another handful of popcorn in my mouth as my Aunt Connie’s sweet voice came through my phone speaker.

“It’s a classic,” I defended, watching Kevin Bacon jump up and down on the wheel well of the blue pickup as he holleredSTAMPEDE. I giggled when Val fell ass over tea kettle out of the bed of the truck, looking scared for his life.

“Those disgusting worm things are not a classic.”

“They’re called Graboids,” I corrected, knowing I sounded like the world’s biggest nerd.

“Honey,” Connie sighed. “You need a life. Or at least a date. Getting laid is good for you.” The last part she said slightly under her breath. It was also nothing new. I hadn’t been on a date in years and my aunt was always giving me grief about it.

“Dating is overrated.” And B.O.B., my battery operated boyfriend, handled my orgasms just fine.

“So is watching the same movie a thousand times,” she countered. “When’s the last time you let someone take you to dinner?”

My mind immediately flashed to Chief showing up out of the blue at the Burger Shack. Was the universe conspiring against me or something? I’d gotten over him and there he was popping up out of nowhere. A voice in my head called bullshit, but I was purposely choosing to ignore it.

“I’m too busy for dating,” I lied, pushing thoughts of men out of my head. “Between work, my kiddos, and focusing on the surf shop, there’s no time.”

Connie made that little humming noise that meant she was calling bullshit. “There’s always time for orgasms, sweetie.”

“Aunt Connie!” I groaned, but couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled up. My aunt had always been refreshingly blunt about everything, especially sex. While my parents had been alive, she’d been the cool aunt who slipped me banned books and took me to PG-13 movies behind their backs. After they died, she’d become so much more.

“What? I’m old, not dead.”

I rolled my eyes even though she couldn’t see me. “I’m hanging up now. Love you.”

“Love you more, starfish,” she replied, using the nickname she’d given me when I was five. “Don’t forget to lock your doors. There was a story on the news about?—”

“—Already locked,” I assured her. I’d double-checked a few times since Chief had brought me home. The last thing I wanted was him showing up again and being able to walk right in.

“All right. Goodnight, kiddo.”

Warmth spread through my belly. She was always looking out for me. “Goodnight.”

After ending the call, I scooched deeper into the nest of blankets and pillows perfectly arranged on my couch. Dressed in my worn oversized Myrtle Beach t-shirt and short cotton shorts, I was in full-on bum mode.

“I don’t need a date,” I huffed, securing my still-damp hair into a messy bun on top of my head.

I looked around the room. It was just me, my popcorn, and the underground monsters on the screen that were much less complicated than the ones in the real world.

See. Perfect.

And that’s when the pounding on my door started, making me damn near jump out of my skin.

“Son of a—” I hissed when the popcorn I’d been happily devouring went flying all over the place. Annoyed, I paused the movie and set aside my now sadly half empty bowl. Someone was going to get it for banging on my door like they were the freaking cops.

As I glanced up at the clock on the wall, seeing that it was ten after nine, the second round of knocking started. “I’m coming! Hold your dang horses. Sheesh.”

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