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Jared finished his list of unusual package deliveries to investigate and began gathering up the items he needed to take with hihtened andher back when she headed for it, too

"I’ve been perfectly safe for three years now," she reet it

Finding Jim Ralston on her doorstep with a six-pack of beer in his hands made Jared immediately irritable He’d never been the possessive type, certainly had never cared who his lovers had fucked before he’d co But the animalistic drive to claim Darcy as exclusively and irrevocably his extended beyond the bedrooreeted the man

"Deputy," Ralston returned, his eyes lit with amusement He was dressed casually in black jeans and a button-up shirt that was rolled up at the sleeves and open at the throat His civilian clothesof what ht’ve prompted Darcy to have a friends-with-benefits relationship with thesifts Deputy Caotsome You up for that?"

Ralston stepped into the house, the stor closed behind hiot a date with the insurance adjustor who’s looking over Nadine’s shop She called after I’d already left the house to say she was running late, so instead of driving all the way back and waiting around, I figured I’d htened "Yeah, a hot date tru to the coffee table, Jared grabbed what he needed along with the keys to the BMW "I’ll be no more than a few hours I’ll call if I’ll be back later than that"

Darcy ca just as hot in stretchy pants and a V-neck T-shirt as she had in the red dress she’d worn to lunch "You knohere to find inally better knowing the ht "I’d like to see you tos with you"

"Absolutely" Ralston gave a curt nod "Buzz me and we’ll work out a time"

When they reached Darcy’s car, Jared dropped his stuff in the back through the open roof, then turned toward her to catch her close He brushed his lips across hers and murmured, "When Ralston leaves, lock up the house"

She looked prepared to argue, then seemed to think better of it "Okay"

"Thank you" He kissed the tip of her nose "For everything"

"It’s been my pleasure, Deputy"

"I’ll be back quick as I can" He smacked her ass cheeks with both hands and squeezed playfully, lifting her to her toes against him "Set out some lube on the bedside table Bottled water, too"

"You’re akiss-swollen lips, she looked like a wo and well It suited her If he had his way, she’d be looking just like that every day frohts "Lucky for you, I can take it"

He pressed his te her safe and happy and close He needed the time and space to explore the connection between the away, Jared admitted that his emotions were still raw from their interlude in the shower She was deep under his skin already "Yeah, lucky me"

WAVING, DARCY WATCHED Jared drive away in the car that was her last real piece of her for to it for that reason and because she loved it Thankfully, her parents owned the house outright and she didn’t have to pay rent Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to afford to keep the car hat the town paid her

"Things areout of the front door with an open beer in each hand

She accepted the one he handed her and sether they walked back up to her porch and sat on the swinging bench With one leg tucked beneath her and the other on the ground, she rocked the smacked upside the head," she said "I have to say, I did feel like I’d been sucker-punched when I first saw hi about hiathered he’s considered very attractive"

"That helps But it’s not everything"

"That’s true" He tipped his bottle back and took a long drink, thewith each s

She looked away The sky was deepening into shades of pink, purple, and navy blue The breeze grew in strength, cooling slightly and carrying a tinge of salt from the nearby ocean "We’re due for another fire, aren’t we?"

"Yeah," he said "And we’re just sitting here Makes odda we can do about it"

"Deputy Cameron thinks Dani’s reen eyes going wide "What? Why?"

"He can explain it better than I can, which is why he wants to hook up with you tomorrow, I’m sure"

"Wow" He shook his head "I’m speechless Not a conclusion I would’ve juht?" Darcy took a pull on her beer "Fucking insane All of it"

Reaching over, he set his hand on her bent knee "I’h for you"

She looked at the spot where her car had been and thought about Jared Knowing he orking on Dani’s case was keeping her grounded and, for the first ti her hand over his, she squeezed "I’ time since I was able to say that and mean it"

Her smile faded as the sheriff’s vehicle pulled up in front of her house She watched as Chris got out and put his hat on his head, his gaze holding hers as he shut the door of his cruiser and rounded the front end "Hey, Darcy Ji, but she waited until Chris joined the heavily over the wooden planks and his leather holster creaking

"What brings you out this way?" she asked