“Fine, you win.” She checked her watch. “I need to get back. I’m meeting with my people this afternoon.”
He stood and pulled her up, then he put his hand behind her neck and brought her to him. “My mouth wants yours,” he said as he lowered his head.
Her mouth was good with that. She was learning that Tristan liked to touch her and kiss her. Another thing she was learning...she liked his touches and kisses a lot. He rocked against her, letting her feel what she did to him, then he let go and stepped away. She reached for him, intending to pull him back, and he chuckled.
“You better go before we make my desk fantasy come true.” He went to a filing cabinet and picked up a leash. “Fuzz, come.” He clipped the retractable leash on Fuzz’s collar. “I doubt he’ll leave your side, but better to be safe and keep this on him.”
“Hey, Fuzz, you want to go for a ride?” she asked. He snatched up his toy and headed for the door. “I guess he does.”
“Keep your eyes open, and if Johnny’s not available when you need to go somewhere, call me.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
He grinned as he gave her a little slap on her butt. “Go before I decide to lock the door and never let you leave.”
“Promises, promises.”
“Why is Fuzz here?” one of her deputies asked.
“The reason is why I called this meeting.” She’d debated how much to tell them and had concluded that there was no way around it. She had to tell them everything. If she left them to wonder why a drug dealer, his enforcer, and possibly her ex might turn up in town, the speculation would probably be worse than the facts. They also needed to understand how dangerous Grant and Drake were. “Fuzz here is on loan for a few days doing duty as my guard dog.”
She passed out Thomas Grant’s photo first, then explained who he was. Next was Drake, and then Danny. That was the hardest part, telling them how Danny had started the rumor that she’d pocketed money and drugs.
“I know you’re now asking yourself if I did that. I did not. There was an investigation, and I was cleared.” She was thankful Mason was gone. He’d take all this and run with it, hoping she’d lose her job over it. He’d no doubt hear about it, but at least he wasn’t around to start trouble. As for the ones in the room, other than a few wide eyes when she’d told them of the rumor, she couldn’t read them. Did they believe her? “Drake has been spotted in the area, but Danny hasn’t been seen recently, and Grant not at all. Doesn’t mean they’re not around. Keep your eyes open, and if you see one of these people, consider them armed and dangerous. I can’t stress this strong enough. Call for backup. Johnny, got a minute?”
“You bet.” He and Fuzz followed her to her office.
“A couple of things,” she said after they were seated and Fuzz was settled on the floor at her feet. “As you know, the police department is heading up the investigation on my apartment fire, which appears to relate back to Thomas Grant and his missing money.”
“It seemed that your apartment was searched before the fire. I guess they were looking for the money or evidence that you had it.”
“Probably. Because Thomas Grant and Homer Drake are very dangerous men, the chief and I agreed that I shouldn’t go anywhere alone until they’re caught. So, you’ve been elected to be my shadow if I have to leave the building.” She glanced down at Tristan’s dog. “Well, you and Fuzz.”
“Absolutely. I’ve not been on the patrol roster since I’ve been spending time with Randal, learning my new job, so I’m around whenever you need to go anywhere.”
“Thanks.” She glanced out the window, wishing she didn’t need to ask her next question. Damn Danny and the problems he’d brought to her new home. She sighed as she turned her gaze back to Johnny. “I’m not asking you to spy on your coworkers, nor do I want you to pass on things they might be saying about me and this mess.”
“Okay,” he said with wariness.
“I just...” She blew out a breath. “Do you think they believe I didn’t take a major drug dealer’s money?”
“I think so. As I see it, doing something like that is really stupid, and you’re not stupid, Sheriff. Besides, if you did, why aren’t you sitting on a beach in Bora Bora sipping rum cocktails and eating...do they have lobster in Bora Bora?” He grinned. “Instead of taking the sheriff’s job in our little county?”
“You do have a good point there.”
“If I hear anyone even hinting it might be true, I’ll set them straight.”
“Thank you.” She’d really had chosen right when she’d picked him to be her new chief deputy sheriff.
Her phone chimed, Dustin’s name appearing on the screen. “Hey. I wasn’t expecting to hear from you this soon.”
“It’s not good news. Danny’s in the wind. Yesterday he put in for immediate emergency family leave.”
Her stomach took a sickening roll. “And no one knows where he is?”
“Unfortunately, no. I talked to Keenan. He’s going to take a close look at Danny. His finances and his phone records.”
“What about Grant and Drake? Does anyone have eyes on them?”