I don’t talk about my decision a lot. It’s too painful and brings up so many regrets. But for some reason, I want to tell Miles. For him to understand me.
“You’re probably expecting me to say that one of my parents was a cop or something. That’s how most people get into it. But my mom is a hairdresser and my dad owns a construction company in Billings. They’re divorced.”
God, Sadie, stop with the babbling already! He asked why you became a cop, not for your parents’ life stories.
“So it wasn’t some kind of family legacy,” he says.
“No. I went to two years of college. My grades were good, but it wasn’t my thing. I couldn’t decide what I wanted to study, and then, about three years ago, my brother disappeared.”
Miles looks my way, his jaw clenching. Those fingertips that had been brushing my leg settle on it, give a little squeeze. “My God. I’m so sorry, Sadie.”
I shrug and look out the passenger window. “We weren’t that close. He was ten years older and was estranged from my mom and me. I was a little kid when he left home and rarely saw him. Anyway, the investigation trail dried up quickly.”
He reaches and turns the radio down slightly. “Wait. Are you saying your brother was murdered?”
I sigh. “We don’t really know. They never found a body and all investigations were called off within a month of his disappearance. He was hauling freight across the Canadian border last anyone heard, so it’s possible he decided to stay in Canada, make a new life, but…whywould he do that? Staying in Canada wouldn’t be so bad, but why not reach out to us?”
“Jesus…”
I clear my throat. “Anyway, even though I didn’t really know my brother anymore, the whole thing got me interested in law enforcement, and specifically detective work. I felt like there was something more that the guys on my brother’s case weren’t seeing. So I enrolled in the police academy and somehow I ended up here in Bayfield. I originally thought I’d join the force in Billings, but there was an opening here, and I got it.”
“You’re young for a detective,” he comments.
“I’m twenty-eight. I was only in uniform for a year before they promoted me.”
“That’s pretty impressive.”
I’m not sure how to reply, so I simply keep talking. “Not that there’s a ton of detective work to do in such a small town, which is probably why the Bridger investigation is such a wet dream for Peterson. He’s itching to solve a murder case.”
“I hope he solves it,” Miles says. “Because when he does, he’ll prove that my brothers and I are innocent.”
We hit the Silverton town limits. “Rigazzi’s is just up there on your right.” I point toward the restaurant. “There are a few parking spaces in the back. It’s a weeknight, so you might get lucky.”
“Oh, I’ll get lucky.” He grins. “I always do.”
He might be a little cocky, but he’s probably not wrong.
5
MILES
When I tookthe keys for one of the ranch’s trucks, Chance didn’t ask where I was going or what I was doing. Maybe it’s because we spent all day together tracking a bunch of calves, or maybe because we’re grown fucking men. He lifted his chin at me on my way out the door and nothing more.
I had no intention of telling him that I’m taking Sadie out for dinner. He probably wouldn’t care because hell, she can give us the inside scoop on what the hell’s going on with the dead body. Feeding a detective might mean she feeds us info right back. Not that I’m going to fuck the detective for information.
Oh, I’ll fuck Sadie for sure, but not because of the case.
I might be a dick sometimes, but I’m not an asshole. And not to women.
Especially not to Sadie because there’s something about her. Something besides the hot, wet clench of her pussy around my fingers or her calm demeanor that hides her passionate—and what I figure is a little naughty—nature.
It was a painful ride home. Sitting astride a motorcycle with a raging hard on is far from fun. Once I got back I took care of things in the shower. It didn’t take long since I had the scent of her on my fingers and her panties in my pocket.
I never expected to see her again, which didn’t sit well with me. There was a connection. There had to be—she gave me her panties and let me under her skirt in the middle of a bar. Sadie isn’t the kind of woman who routinely lets a random guy finger her in a public place. Not sure how I know this, but I do.
After my initial surprise when she showed up at the house, I was happy to see her. So was my dick. I didn’t even wait two hours after she rode away with her prick of a partner before I tracked her down at the station and asked her out.
I don’t do relationships. I never wanted to. I always figured I was too fucked up. But I never found a woman who hooks me like Sadie does. I want to know everything about her, including stories like her missing brother. It affected her deeply. So deeply she chose her career because of it.