Page 55 of Shephard

CHAPTER 15

Denise

“What is wrong with me, Pepper?” I asked, which I’d done now three or four times.

My dog had the same whining response. She had no better clue than I did. I’d asked a man I couldn’t stand over for dinner. A private dinner. Okay, maybe he just got under my skin and it wasn’t that I couldn’t stand him. I certainly enjoyed his body.

“This isn’t a date. Right? I caught him in a lie.” Which wasn’t exactly the truth either. He’d simply not been forthcoming about who he was. Why should he be since we were like oil and water?

Pepper woofed once.

“You’re right. It’s a damn date.” Enough of one I’d dug out one of three dresses I owned. Why? I couldn’t answer that question, but I’d put on more makeup than my typical mascara and blush and allowed my hair to remain ponytail free. If it wasn’t a date, then I didn’t know what I was doing.

Which was apparent anyway.

Maybe I’d just needed to grill someone since I’d been tossed off the case. The correct term was that the FBI had taken over. While the sheriff and his team were working point with them, it was felt the talents of the park ranger system were best utilized elsewhere.

It was a nice way of putting that we weren’t wanted, and the case was classified.

I’d kept some information to myself, including my thoughts on the poison Shephard had mentioned. I planned on grilling him about his knowledge. He knew exactly what he was talking about.

If the case wasn’t classified, at a minimum it was something they didn’t want the public to learn about. That I couldn’t blame them for. The valley had had a shitty winter with little snow the year before. Hysteria no one needed. However, that didn’t mean I was going to let the case go so easily. Nope. I’d spent an hour or so on my laptop, adding to my whiteboard while trying to piece things together.

I hadn’t seen any prison escapes on the news or any bank heists. I was still trying to work on the case even though I’d been forbidden to do so.

I’d gotten my ass into trouble for doing that many times before.

After adjusting the wineglasses until they were just so on the table, I shook my head. This was getting ridiculous.

“Oh,” I hissed and glared at the pot on the stove. The vodka sauce was simmering, the penne pasta ready to go into water; the salad was already made and the bread was ready to pop intothe oven. In addition, I had two bottles of wine cracked and even made dessert.

And I hadn’t made dessert in years.

Okay, so the truth was I’d picked up a key lime pie from the local store, but still. I was going all out for a man I didn’t like. I’d even been caught doing so by one of the gossip girls. After the stunt pulled at the resort, I had a feeling Shephard and I were linked together by every soul in town.

I checked my watch and rolled my eyes for a second time. It was a few minutes before seven. Would the guy even show up? That was debatable. He would if he thought he could win some battle. Why was it that I kept thinking he wanted to know what I’d learned about the case? I’d seen it in his eyes.

Working together in the background?

I debated it and laughed. We’d kill each other.

With my thoughts all over the place and still angry from our usual confrontations, I knew I needed a drink. I’d already poured myself a whiskey just to try to calm down.

I’d even made certain the fire was just so. There was a nice chill to the air, a light breeze that accentuated the scent of pine outside. A perfect setting. Fascinating.

And troubling.

I leaned against the counter, counting off the minutes. Maybe I was a little excited after all. He was a powerful dude who challenged me every step of the way.

As I sipped on my drink, I was dumb enough to allow my thoughts to drift to my ex. I didn’t even like to think his name.The event had been humiliating at best, a nightmare at worst. And it had taken me months to get over it to the point of functioning.

Both physically and emotionally.

He wasn’t going to win again. A happy wedding and the girl would only learn after it was too late what a scum bucket he was.

I must have allowed myself to think about the man for longer than I’d thought. Pepper’s sudden series of barks startled me enough I almost dropped the glass. My guest had arrived.

Opening the door was harder than I’d thought it would be. I was way out of practice, rusty at being a woman let alone remembering how to date.