Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 62782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Cy scowls at me and then to the sheriff says, “He can’t speak. He says that’d be lovely, Jax.”
Jax.
Sexy sheriff has a name.
Loud, angry warning signals come down the bond from Cy, but I pretend not to notice.
Tell him I’m not your son, I sign to Cy. Now.
So you can keep sending him the “fuck me” eyes? Hell no. At least if he thinks you’re my son he won’t flirt with you. His gaze is hard. Run along and play with the dog.
If I want him to fuck me, is that a problem?
Before Cy can respond to my smartass question, Jax speaks. “Is everything okay?”
“Go upstairs,” Cy demands, pointing a finger up. “Now.”
No wonder Jax thinks he’s my dad. He’s an overbearing asshole like one. I let that flood through our bond so he’ll know exactly how I feel.
Turning my back, I start for the stairs. I’m up a few steps when I hear it in my head.
I knew this was a bad idea bringing him in public.
The disdain dripping from his words has me staggering and nearly missing a step. My throat aches, but I swallow it down, managing to make it up the rest of the way. When I reach the top, I hear a guy fussing at someone.
“Kiki Bear,” he whines. “You’re difficult. How am I supposed to scrub your tush if you bite me every time—ow!”
I stifle a grin as the cute guy wrestles with the tiny dog, splashing water everywhere. He must be Cato. Cato sees me and his eyes light up.
“Oh! An assistant! You’ll do!” He nods me over. “Distract him with a treat while I scrub his dirty bottom.”
I walk over to the table with a cannister of dog treats. Kiki Bear yaps in excitement. I fish out a bone and bring it over to him. With my eyes narrowed, I implore the dog to behave so he can get cleaned, and he’ll receive a treat for a reward. His ears turn down, and he whines but ceases his wriggling. Cato shoots me an incredulous look but quickly finishes washing him. Once he has the dog out of the bath and wrapped in a towel, I smile at the dog and hand him his treat.
“I’m Cato and you are?” He beams at me.
I sign my name. Remy.
His brows scrunch. “Deaf?”
I sign the words, No, I’m mute.
He must understand what I mean because he shrugs. “Don’t worry. I talk enough for the both of us.”
Cyrus
This is why I don’t like dealing with new people.
I’m used to my routine and the people I deal with through work. Coming to town was a mistake. Bringing Remy was even worse.
What the hell is wrong with him?
I could practically feel his lust burning through the bond, a needy, heady sensation that damn near gave me an erection on his behalf. Clearly, I forgot what it felt like to be eighteen. I’m sometimes overrun by Finnick’s overt sexuality, but over the years, I’ve learned to tune him out.
This thing with Remy is new.
Powerful and intense. I can’t ignore it. At least not yet.
All I can do is protect him from the likes of others who might want to exploit that.
Jax studies me with the scrutiny of a typical cop. He tries to unpeel my layers with a penetrative stare. Uncomfortable silence fills the air. I’m about to grab Remy and leave when the door opens behind me. A man walks in, dressed in a fancy suit. He’s well put together and handsome. When he takes in the tension of the room, his features tighten, and his gaze darts over to the sheriff. Like that of a mountain lion, he stalks around me, eyes never leaving me as he passes and then sidles up beside Jax. The protectiveness rolling from him is so thick I can nearly taste it. It’s when he casually slings an arm over the sheriff’s shoulders and presses a kiss to his temple, still while never losing eye contact with me, I realize they must be partners.
All fury and unease deflates out of me. Both men must realize my quickly calming demeanor because they both relax too.
“Cyrus Hames, meet Dante Kincaid,” Jax says. “Cyrus is head forest ranger for the Beacon Island National Forest.” Then he turns his head to accept a kiss from the suited man. “Dante is owner of the Red Hake Bed & Breakfast.”
“And fiancé,” Dante adds, smirking at me. “Nice to meet you.”
Neither of us move to shake hands.
Jax clears his throat. “Right then. Can we take a raincheck on breakfast? Cyrus and I need to put our heads together on an investigation.”
Dante nods, stealing another kiss from his fiancé. “Call me whenever this is over.”
This time, when he passes, we don’t eyeball each other. I relax and take the seat across from Jax. He follows my lead, shoving a file toward me before also sitting.