Page 36 of First Surrender

“Why is he here,” I grumble to myself.

“The man is hot, hot.” She raises her eyebrows suggestively and I ignore her. She has no idea that I know him so… Intimately.

“Good morning, Sheriff,” she sing-songs through the window, leaning suggestively over the ledge and pushing her tits obnoxiously high. She wears nothing more than a few scraps of fabric to work, and it works for her. She’s tall, hot, and has bleach-blonde extensions that get her plenty of compliments.

Her tip jar is almost always full.

My less-than-shining personality, dark hair, and pear-shaped body do not receive the same love. It’s fine, I don’t wish to garner male attention anyway, but I want the money. So some days I lay on my customer service thick. This is not a customer I will be doing that for.

Jackson is almost rudely staring out of his front window, not looking at Brax in the slightest, almost making me laugh. He’s so uncomfortable that it’s comical.

“I’m looking for Natalie.”

“Natalie? She have a warrant or something?”

I roll my eyes from behind her.

“It’s okay, Brax. He probably just wants to talk to me about my brother’s dad.”

She nods in understanding. I’ve told her tidbits about the case but not all the details of my life. We’re not necessarily friends.

“Okay, I’ll go take my break.” She winks at Jackson as she leaves our little shed, but his eyes are focused on me now. They trace my body with intense accuracy and I wish that he didn’t know what my vagina looks like. Ugh.

“What do you want?”

“What? You can show up to my house uninvited but I can’t show up to your job?” He asks, finally tearing his eyes off mylow-cut black halter top. I don’t know why he’s looking, there is a lot less to see than on Brax.

“How did you even know that I was here?”

“I put a BOLO out on your car,” he states seriously.

“You did what?!” I screech.

“I’m kidding. The envelope you gave me came from here and I took a lucky guess that you would be working.” He looks at me like I’m dense.

“You’re such an asshole.”

“It’s an interesting uniform.”

“Shut up, I don’t need your opinion. Either order or leave.”

“Coffee, black.” Of course, he has the most boring drink order. Instead of doing what he asked, I pull out the caramel drizzle and steam some milk.

When I glance back at him to see if he’s noticed that I’m making his order wrong, his stare is glued to my ass. Men are too simple to be allowed to function in society.

I shift my apron around my waist, twisting it so the pockets hang down the back and cover my cheeky velvet shorts. His eyes snap to mine and I smirk.

“I should call in and complain,” I threaten lightly. I never would, not after jumping him in his office, but I might be tempted if he pissed me off anymore.

“Complain to who?”

“I don’t know. The Mayor. Judge Reisner.”

“They don’t care if I’m looking at your ass. They probably would too.”

I gape at him, searching his eyes for the joke. He’s absurdly serious.

“Maybe I’ll tell Roberta then. Your nice little secretary would probably scold you.” His jaw clenches because he knows I’m right. “Here.”

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