Page 4 of Tucker

“Don’t be modest, Sheriff. There’s no wiping away the mud.”

“It’s fine.”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s not like I’ve never seen a shirtless man before.” She tipped her head, her tone whisper-soft. “I’d offer you pants, too, but I don’t have any more.” She gestured at the loose athletic pants she wore. “I had to do my own wardrobe change.”

“With Cleets?”

“No one has accused me of being shy.”

It was the oddest thing, but heat crawled up his neck and behind his eyes, feeling a lot like anger.

Or jealousy.

Mouth tight, he took a step toward her before he could even think about what he was doing. “You changed in front of him?”

Her lips twitched, then she actually laughed. “If I had, Cleets would still be blushing. He’s shy, you know. And very much a gentleman. Plus he has a sweetheart, and he would never be disloyal to her by ogling another woman.”

Feeling like a fool, Tucker listened as the storm raged outside the van, and in his heart.

“Yup,” she whispered, again reading his thoughts. “I think we’re stuck together, at least until it lets up a little.”

“Probably.” He started on the buttons of his shirt. It was ridiculous the way her eyes flared a little, how she settled back as if expecting a show. Living on a big vacation lake meant she saw men in nothing more than trunks all summer long.

He pulled the tails free of his pants and shrugged the sodden, muddy fabric from his shoulders.

When he reached for the black T-shirt, she held it out of reach. “You’re tanned.”

Did her voice sound huskier? “Yeah, so?” The way her rapt gaze moved over him, he almost felt naked. “I’m not always in uniform, you know.”

She ignored that to say, “You’re hairier than I expected.”

He looked down at his own chest, which, far as he could tell, was about average in the hair department. He wasn’t an ape, but neither was he fifteen and baby-butt smooth.

Scoffing, he asked, “Expected me to manscape, did you?”

“Not really, no.” She deeply inhaled and slowly handed him the shirt. Her eyes locked on his. “I like it.”

Great. Something he didn’t need to know. He took the shirt, but only held it at his side. “Kady...”

“Hmm?”

The way she positioned herself on the cabinet, hands braced beside her hips, arms straight, one leg bent and breasts thrust forward, was enough to distract any man. “I know it’s like a habit to you, but you really shouldn’t flirt with me.”

That got her attention off his body. “A habit?”

“You do it with everyone.”

“I’mniceto everyone.” Brows coming together, she straightened away from the cabinet. “That’s different from flirting.” She threw up her hands. “God save me from obtuse men.”

“Obtuse?”

Her eyes narrowed. “If you can’t see what’s right in front of you, then yes, you’re obtuse.”

Somehow he was closer to her again. “I doubt the town would elect a stupid sheriff.”

Tipping her head back, she stared up at him in blatant challenge. “Oh, you do fine as a sheriff. But as a man...?” She shrugged.

A wash of heat burned his skin and made his nostrils flare. He leaned down, crowding her space. “I’ll have you know...”What?“I do fine as a man.” God, that was so lame.

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