Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
I don’t know anything about that, so I stay quiet. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Chief were embezzling. He’s made an off-hand comment or two about deserving more compensation from the county.
A few times, he’s even tried to get me to change quantities on order forms as if we’d ordered more supplies than we had. I never did what he asked though, a fact that further enraged him. At this point, I don’t suspect I’ll ever see another promotion again. I’m guessing the man is always on my case because he’s looking for a damn good reason to fire me. Maybe I should let him. It’d sure as hell make it easy for me to claim Wynter.
“Won’t have the official report for a few weeks. But I got a real good gut feeling about what we’ll see.” The mayor blows out a breath and it hangs in the crisp morning air. “We’re gonna need somebody to step up after that.”
I’m not interested in being anyone’s scapegoat. I haven’t been a perfect man but I’m not about to take the fall for embezzling that I knew nothing about.
The mayor continues on, “What we need is an interim chief. Someone everybody in town knows and trusts. Maybe he’d even get promoted to the job full-time. With a generous raise in a few months. Course, course.”
Lincoln would be the ideal choice. I might outrank him, but he’s well-liked and respected in the town. He grew up here which means the locals trust him. I’m about to tell the mayor as much but he starts talking again. “What do you say? You think you’re up for the job?”
For a moment, I consider what he’s saying. But just as quickly, Wynter’s face flashes through my mind. I definitely couldn’t date her if I were chief. I might be her boss now but it’s only a technicality.
If I were the chief, I’d be directly responsible for whether she received promotions, pay raises, and more. No, that can’t lead to anything good. Everyone would think I was favoring her. They’d never realize she was making it on her own merit. “I’m flattered, Mayor. But I’d have to respectfully decline.”
His grin tells me that he’s not taking no for an answer. “I admire a humble man. Report will take a while to come in. Just think on it.”
With that, he claps me on the shoulder and retreats back into the warmth of the lodge. It’d be easy to say yes to the job. But promotion or not, I care about Wynter. I’ll always consider her before me when I’m making decisions.
I don’t know how long I stand there, staring out into the early morning. But eventually, I hear the soft crunch of footsteps. They’re too heavy to be Wynter’s so I don’t bother to turn. There’s no one I want to see as badly as I do her.
“What you’re doing is wrong,” a deep voice says. I recognize Lincoln’s voice and the reprimand in it. How many times have I issued the exact one to myself? How many nights have I laid in my bed rock hard while thinking about Wynter and chastising myself for it?
I don’t bother looking at him. I don’t need to. Doesn’t take a genius to know that the only thing in his gaze would be condemnation. Not that I particularly care at this point. Everyone can think what they want. I’m going after my girl.
“I need her.” It’s not a good enough reason. We both know it and that makes me an even bigger bastard. But I can’t go back to how things were yesterday. I can’t unfeel her lips against mine or forget the sounds she made when I pushed deep into her aching channel.
“What about what she needs, asshole?” Lincoln challenges. Of course, he does. She’s like a little sister to him, to all of us at the station. Yeah, she’s a colleague. She’s strong enough to look out for herself. Yet there’s something about Wynter. An innocence that we all want to protect. An innocence I took last night as she creamed all over my cock.
“I’ll take care of her,” I grit out. If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll look out for my woman. I’ll make sure she never wants for anything. She’ll always know how loved and adored she is when she’s with me.
“No, you mean you’ll ruin her career so you can take what you want.” He snorts. “I thought you were better than that.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t put your friends on pedestals.” I’ll figure a way out of this. The first thing I plan to do when I get home is scan the paperwork I signed when I agreed to work for Courage County.
As if he’s reading my mind, Lincoln says, “It’s right there in the papers. Dating a co-worker is considered a breach of contract. But you already know who’s going to get the shaft, don’t you?”