Page 68 of Wanted

I give her a slow once-over. The dark wash jeans she wears cling nicely to her thighs and over her hips. The lilac-colored long-sleeved shirt stretches tight across her chest and hangs slightly around her stomach. Despite the opportunity to drink in her curves, I think she looks better in nothing but my baggy tee shirt.

“Hey, Silas,” I greet when we walk into the station twenty minutes later. Frankie took her time petting the puppies as we sequestered them to the lower level. The dogs stay there when I’m gone so the employees can use the staff entrance and not have access to my entire house.

“Thanks for coming by.”

Silas opens a door to the right and gestures us through.

“This will just take a second.”

“What kind of items did you find?” Frankie asks. Her hand brushes mine with every step, and I beat back the impulse to take her fingers in my hold.

Not here. Not where so many questions can be asked. I don’t have any answers to provide.

“Just some personal effects.” He steps back so we can enter a small office, and he takes a seat at a silver, metal desk. “This familiar?”

“That’s my purse.” She picks up the small brown bag.

“Where’d you lose them?” Silas asks.

I watch him carefully. This appears to be friendly questioning more than an interrogation of some kind.

“I forgot it in a gas station bathroom a couple of weeks ago. By the time I went back, it was gone. I can’t believe someone found it.”

“You’re lucky someone turned it in. You should check that everything’s in order.”

Frankie digs through the small zippered pouch. She pulls out a clunky, ancient looking phone. “My cash is gone. So is my card, but I already canceled it. It looks like my ID, social security card, and my birth certificate are all here.”

“That’s a lot of important documents in one place. Your identity could have been stolen.” Silas leans forward casually and rests his elbow on his desk.

“I was making a move across the country. Things got held up when my purse went missing.”

Silas hums. “And now? Still going to make that move?” His eyes flick to mine. Meddling bastard. He’ll be gossiping at the diner by breakfast.

“I don’t think so. I kind of like it here.”

“I’m glad it all worked out. That’s all I need from you.”

“Thank you so much.” Frankie stands and shakes his hand.

“Jude.” Silas holds his hand out to me, and I grab hold. “Always good to see you.”

“You too.”

“Hope to see you around again, Frankie. Don’t let this guy keep you from having a little fun.”

Frankie pauses at the door and turns over her shoulder to meet Silas’s eyes. “Don’t worry. Jude and I are having plenty of fun.”

While Silas and I pick our jaws off the floor, she skips from view.

“Are you sleeping with her?” he murmurs.

“No, I’m not sleeping with her,” I rumble.

“Mind if I ask her out?”

An uncomfortable heat sears my chest. “I’ve never spent a night in jail, but if you touch her, know I’d do it with a goddamned smile.”

Silas chuckles. “You just made it all the more tempting.”

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