“You’re awake?” I squeaked.
He grinned against my hair. “Very awake.”
I squirmed against him.
“You might not want to do that first thing in the morning.”
I froze, a growing hardness between us making itself known. “Boden…”
“I can’t help it. There’s a gorgeous woman in my arms, and I just woke up.”
My thighs squeezed together without my permission. I quickly rolled off Boden and off the couch altogether, struggling to my feet. That kind of proximity was far too dangerous for my own good. “I should go.”
I looked around the room for Gizmo. Peaches spooned him on a dog bed, and the little guy had a look of bliss on his face.
Boden pushed himself to sitting. “Stay. I’ve got four kinds of cereal and plenty of fruit. Have breakfast with me.”
I stared at the man in front of me, his sun-streaked brown hair mussed from sleep, those hazel eyes half-hooded. All I wanted to do was say, “Yes.” More, I wanted to sink onto his lap and lose the day with him. To know what it was like to disappear into the magic that was Boden Cavanaugh.
“I need to go,” I said softly. The words tore at my chest—the lie scraping against muscle and bone.
His face lost a little of that adorable boyishness. “All right.” He plucked up my cell phone from the table and hit a few buttons. “I have your number.” His eyes lifted to mine. “I’ll be calling.”
It was a promise laced with a threat. Not a menacing one. A vow that he wasn’t backing down. I swallowed and nodded, hurrying to gather my things. But I had a feeling that no matter how quickly I got out of Boden’s space, he’d already embedded himself in my skin—and worse, my heart.
I balancedthe two coffees in one hand as I pulled open the door to the sheriff’s station. I didn’t recognize the woman behind the front desk, but she gave me a pleasant smile. “How can I help you?”
“Is Hayes in yet?” It was a little after nine, so I hoped the answer was yes. After a very cold shower and an attempt to put myself back together, I was still rattled. I’d slept too well curled around Boden last night. No nightmares, no waking in fits of pain. Pure, dreamless sleep.
“Let me see if he’s available. Your name?”
“Laiken.”
The woman picked up the phone and shared a few hushed words with who I assumed was Hayes. “He’ll be right out.”
“Thanks.” I let my gaze sweep over the entryway. It was stark efficiency laced with a rustic mountain vibe. Yet as I tried to focus on the details of the space, my mind kept filling with images of Boden’s face. The way my fingers itched to run through his hair. The hint of hurt as I drove away that morning.
“Laiken.”
I turned at Hayes’ voice, extending one of the two cups I held in his direction. “I brought coffee.”
His mouth curved as he took the cup. “How’d you know it was a multi-cup morning?”
“I figured sheriffs could never have enough.”
“Tell that to Ev. She’s trying to wean me down to two cups a day.” Hayes motioned me to follow him.
“That’s cruel and unusual punishment. You might have to arrest her.”
“Think a night in lockup will have her reconsidering?”
I shook my head. “She’s too tough. It’ll probably only make her double down.”
Hayes ushered me into his office. “You’re probably right. I’ll just have to swear my coworkers to secrecy and get all my caffeine here.”
I laughed. “She’ll find out somehow.”
“Dammit, I know you’re right.” He lowered himself into his desk chair. “You hanging in there?”