Fuck this garbage. I just watched Austin have to tiptoe around Carly’s father. I’m not doing the same thing. I respect Sadie, but I’m fully dressed and there’s no reason why I can’t show myself.
I run my hand through my hair and walk out of the bedroom.
Sadie gasps and I glare at the visitor. Thank God she changed.
“Bridger,” Mark Peterson says. “What the hell is he doing here, Sadie?”
8
SADIE
I’m glad Miles insisted I change. I hate the way Mark ogles me when I’m fully dressed. Having him see me in my silky robe would have made me feel gross. Still, in my thick sweats, I cross my arms over my chest. I’m not wearing a bra and there’s no way I’m letting Mark figure that out.
“He… He just dropped by to bring me some information on the case,” I say quickly.
“Oh? You’ve got new information, Bridger?” Mark eyes Miles, who is fully dressed, thank God. “Why didn’t you call me? I’m the lead on this case, not my partner here. Besides, didn’t you swear to God and back that you and your other brother had nothing to do with anything?”
Shit. I’ve just made things worse for Miles.
And for myself.
But damn him, anyway. He could’ve stayed in the bedroom.
Miles is staring at me. I can’t look him in the eye, but I feel it—that fiery glare that’s probably a sign I’m going to get a spanking or something later. Why that appeals to me, I have no idea.
“Turned out to be nothing,” Miles says.
“I’ll be the judge of that.” Mark stalks toward Miles but stops, leaving about ten feet between them.
Good call.
Miles does not look happy.
I don’t blame him. But what did he expect me to do? I’m investigating a case, and he’s a…
Well, Mark would say he’s a suspect. I disagree with that assessment. But no matter the evidence, he’s a person of interest along with both his brothers. If Mark knows I’m sleeping with Miles, he’ll take me off the case. Or worse, have me fired.
Only Sheriff Bryant or Mayor Vance can technically fire me, but Mark’s got a lot of seniority. It would be more to use against Miles, spinning it so it looked as if Miles slept with me to mess with the case instead of what it really was. Which was… I have no idea.
Fuck! I knew I shouldn’t have accepted Miles’s dinner invitation. I knew it, but I did it anyway.
I did it because I like him.
I more than like him. He’s amazing. He had me feeling things last night that I’ve never felt. I don’t just mean ridiculously amazing orgasms either. I like him and how he makes me feel.
Miles towers over Mark, but I’ll give Mark a gold star for meeting Miles’s gaze. It’s more than I can do at the moment.
“So what is it, Bridger?” he asks.
“Like I said,” Miles says through clenched teeth, “it turned out to be nothing.”
“And like I said. I’ll be the judge.”
Time for me to intervene. “I already exercised judgment. It’s irrelevant.”
“What was it, Bridger?” Mark pushes.
“Jesus. The answer’s still the same. Nothing.” Miles brushes past Mark briskly and stands by the door.