The clock on the Sheriff’s office wall struck eleven as Gavin finished reading the emailed reports from his sentries. After the incident with the rose two nights before, he’d patrolled the property until dawn, never straying too far from the cabin, but he’d seen no sign of Paul Gibson.
The next morning, he’d assigned his six best sentries to search for the asshole, but they’d lost his trail in the river. Gavin had set up a rotating schedule for the sentries so no fewer than two guarded Rachel’s cabin at any given time.
Gavin knew he should feel relieved the night watch’s reports were a snoozefest, but he was frustrated just the same. He simply couldn’t wait to bury his claws and fangs into the son of a bitch’s flesh.
To keep from going insane, he buried himself in old case files from the Fields pack, scouring the Burrman newspaper’s online archives, searching every database at the county’s disposal, and putting out feelers to nearby packs. It came as no surprise that the guy hadn’t left much of a footprint. As a beta, he was probably the kind of wolf who gave orders, so his hands wouldn’t get dirty.
What still had Gavin scratching his head was why Paul would risk his own freedom—not to mention his life—to stalk Rachel. According to her, they’d never had much contact, and certainly no special connection. Mystery or not, Gavin wouldn’t stop until he tracked him down and—
His thought was interrupted before he could get to the good part by an incoming email notification. It was from Dane Flynn, the National Ruling Circle Enforcer, no doubt in response to Gavin’s email from the previous day, ripping the NRC a new asshole for dropping the ball when it came to Brian’s ex-beta. The note was short and to the point.
We’re handling the situation.
Sure they were. Just like they did the first time around. Stabbing the delete key as if it were the eyeball of his enemy left him less than satisfied. He needed to do something.
Unfortunately, he also had county business to deal with, so he flipped open a deputy’s report on an overnight attempted burglary of a firing range on the outskirts of Ashwood. Little did the perps know the owner lived on site. When he came out with both barrels blazing, the dumb shits scattered like cockroaches. Thankfully the owner had a state-of-the-art security system, and they’d already IDed the would-be burglars.
At least justice would be served in that case.
As he skimmed the names of the suspects, needle-like claws dug into his leg. With a gasp of pain, he looked down into evil green eyes. Turning back to the report, he winced and cringed as the beast traveled up his body, to his back and onto the top of his head. With each piercing shot of pain, he reminded himself not to acknowledge its existence. Maybe Charlie Tipton had it right—if you can’t see it, it doesn’t exist. No matter what the tiny claws drawing blood from his scalp had to say about the matter.
But if the fluffy orange kitten did exist, what the hell was one of Ghost Kitty’s devil spawn doing in the Sheriff’s station in the first place? The little monster mewled, almost as if in response.
The outer door to the station opened and Eric’s cheerful voice called his name, which meant Rachel was there too. Despite the discomfort from the invisible cat, Gavin broke into a wide grin. But he didn’t dare move for fear of even more blood-letting, so he called out them.
“In my office!”
Little footsteps sprinted in his direction, followed by Rachel’s motherly warning. “I said no running. You’re in a public place.”
Heedless, Eric burst in like a hurricane and then skidded to a stop when he caught sight of Gavin’s predicament. Rachel was a few steps behind and did her best to not laugh. Eric had no such qualms. He doubled over, holding his stomach as the giggles gripped him.
“Hey, Gavin,” Rachel said, her lips squirming as she tried to control herself, “nice hat.”
He shot her a wry look as Eric chimed in. “That’s not a hat, Rachel. It’s a cat!”
“Oh, is it? I couldn’t tell.”
Sighing heavily, Gavin acknowledged his defeat and scooped the animal from the top of his head and set it on the desk.
“It’s a police cat,” he explained to Eric, who looked skeptical.
“Is not.”
“Is so.” Gavin and his brothers had played that game ad nauseam when they were kids. Eric barely had six years of practice. Gavin was a master. “You know how firefighters have Dalmatians in the firehouse. Well, we’re a police station with a cat. Apparently,” he mumbled the last word.
“Oh,” Eric said, reaching out to scratch the kitten behind the ears. “What’s his name?”
Gavin swallowed his sigh. Why had he let little Charlie name the kitten again? “Ronald.”
Eric scrunched his nose. “Ronald.”
“Ronald Fleasley.” Gavin tried to smile, but he suspected it looked more like a wince. Charlie named the kitten and handed him to Gavin, but he’d be damned if he kept a police cat. His brothers might have been suckered into keeping some of Ghost Kitty’s furballs around their houses, but Gavin would stand firm.
“You know, she really is pretty cute,” Rachel moved in to stroke the downy fur. “Maybe she should be a police cat. I bet she’s good luck.”
Rachel gave him a heart-melting smile he couldn’t resist. Damn her. He really didn’t want a pet.
Eric, who’d moved on to play with a toy police car on Gavin’s desk, looked up at her. “How do you know it’s a girl?”
“How do you know it’s a boy?” she countered gently.
“Can girl kitties be police cats?”
“Can you think of any reason they shouldn’t?”
Eric pursed his lips and looked thoughtful. “I guess not.”
“Then it’s settled,” Rachel said, even though Gavin didn’t have a clue exactly what had been settled. Dr. Drew, the town vet and pack healer, had warned them it wouldn’t be easy to tell the kittens’ genders until they were a little older.
“Eric!”
A little boy’s voice echoed through the station, followed by pounding of little feet. Charlie Tipton slid around the corner as if he’d done it a hundred times.
“There he is!” Charlie shouted and then headed straight for the startled kitten.
“He’s a girl,” Eric corrected.
Charlie stopped in his tracks, stunned into rare, if temporary, silence. “He is?”
Rachel stepped in to clarify. “We’re not sure yet, but it’s just as likely to be a girl as a boy.”
“Huh,” Charlie said, glancing between Rachel, Eric and the new police cat. Then he squatted down next to Eric and launched into his trademark prattling.
“Do you know how to take care of kittens? I do! My mom taught me. You have to brush their fur and stuff, but don’t try giving them baths. I tried to wash Kade’s kitties and they didn’t like it at all.”
Rachel chuckled. “I bet they didn’t.”
“So, what do you want to do today, Eric? I got a new car racing game we could play. Or we could play on my swing set. My grandparents bought it for me for my birthday. Ooh, I have some new Nerf guns too. Or maybe…”
The boy rattled off a mile-long list of possible activities he and his new buddy might enjoy, and pretty soon they’d worked out a plan for world domination, starting with a game of Connect Four. Gavin couldn’t help admiring Charlie’s spirit. He’d been through some major trauma recently, but with the help of Dr. Drew and Mathilda, he seemed his normal, rambunctious self.
“Can we invite my friend Joey?” Eric asked.
“Sure!”
All the shouting and noise agitated the kitten to the point she jumped on Gavin’s lap and tried to hide in his crotch. The moment her talons dug into his thigh, he’d had enough.
“Anders! Come get this mangy beast so we can get out of here.”
Anders appeared in the doorframe in a matter of seconds and scooped up the kitten, snuggling it under his chin.
“She knows you’re tense. That’s why she has her claws out,” he told Gavin as he left the room.
“I’m not tense,” Gavin called after him, muttering the rest. “I’m just not a cat person.”
“Where are you going?” Eric asked in a small voice. He stood clutching the little police car to his chest, his worried gaze bouncing between Gavin and Rachel. “Are… are you coming back?”
Gavin wanted to rush to him, swing him up into his arms and hug the daylights out of him, but Rachel beat him to it. Kneeling in front of Eric, she laid one hand on his shoulder, the other on his cheek.
“Of course, we’re coming back, little man. You’re my always and forever. You know that.”
He smiled weakly, and then his nervous gaze darted toward Gavin before locking onto the little car in his hands. Gavin didn’t waste another second rounding his desk, and he pulled them both into a fierce bear hug. Nothing felt better than holding on to his family like that. Absolutely nothing.
“You’re both my always and forever,” he murmured to them. “I will love and protect you with everything I have and everything I am.”
Reluctantly releasing them, he took Eric’s chin in his fingers and kissed his forehead. “Rachel and I are going on a date today. That’s all. You’re going to hang out with Charlie and we’ll pick you up after dinner, okay?”
The pup picked at a spot on the toy car with his fingernail instead of meeting Gavin’s gaze. “Promise?”
“Slug poop and all, sport. Slug poop and all.”
“Ew!” Charlie cried, falling into a fit of giggles.
Eric nearly threw Gavin off balance—physically and emotionally—when he flung his little body into his arms and whispered, “I believe you.”
Damn. The kid had captured his heart the minute they’d met, and Gavin fell more and more in love with him every single day. Giving him a quick hug, Gavin pulled little arms from around his neck and turned him toward Rachel. He didn’t want the boy to see him tearing up.
“Charlie!” a man’s voice called from the outer office.
“Daddy!” Charlie cried, leaping into Robert Tipton’s arms as he entered Gavin’s office.
Robert hugged his son and set him down again before turning his attention on Gavin, a sly smile playing on his lips.
“Hey there, Sheriff. I was hoping you might know of two big, strong men who might be free to help me in the garden today.”
Gavin frowned, puzzled by the strange request, but he suspected Robert had an end-game in mind. “Uh…”
“Before you answer, you should know I can only pay them in cookies and ice cream.”
The boys looked at each other with wide eyes, but before they could say “boo,” Gavin raised his hand. Rachel laughed and swatted it down, and he used her momentum to pull her body against his, right where it should always be.
Eric and Charlie didn’t waste any time rushing to Robert, jumping up and down with both hands raised and bleating about how strong they were. Robert scooped one boy into each arm and threw them over his broad shoulders.
“Sorry, Gavin. I got a better offer.”
Gavin gave him a faux death glare and then pointed toward where Anders was cuddling the little orange kitten right outside the door. “I know that was your doing, Robert. I’m going to get you back for that.”
Robert shrugged, drawing giggles from the boys he jostled. “Take it up with the alpha.”
With a wide smile, he bounced out of the room, two laughing boys flailing around on his shoulders as he went. Anders poked his head back in the office, the orange kitten now draped over the back of his neck like a scarf.
“So…this cat…”
Gavin held up a hand. “I’m not talking about the damned cat. I have a beautiful afternoon and evening planned, and if I hear another word out of your mouth about that cat, I may have to beat you to a pulp. Which, for the record, I don’t want to do.”
“Okay…” Anders said, wincing and retreating. Then he reappeared. “On a completely unrelated topic, there’s an animal hanging around the station that definitely isn’t a cat, but it might need a few cat-like supplies from the pet store. Is there any room in the budget to purchase a few non-cat pet supplies? You know, for the non-cat animal that now calls the station home?”
Rachel snickered, but one mock glare from Gavin and she slapped a hand over her mouth. Still, her eyes danced with merriment. Gavin sighed and dug his wallet out of his back pocket.
“I need a receipt,” he said as he tossed a credit card at Anders. “And don’t even think about calling me unless there’s an emergency. Got it? When I say ‘emergency,’ I mean Armageddon. Or else I really will beat you to a pulp, and I’ll enjoy every second.”