Ridin' Solo (Sisters From Hell Book 1) by Marika Ray (the two towers ebook txt) 📗

The next morning, I’d had enough. Yeah, I loved my job and didn’t want to jeopardize it, but I also couldn’t see myself pretending about my feelings for Oakley any longer. I had to tease her like a second-grade schoolboy or I’d explode.

The sun was barely peeking through the pine trees when I walked outside and got Oakley’s newspaper. The air held a chill in the mornings, but I didn’t bother putting on a shirt. I knew how much Oakley liked my muscles. I’d barely hit her doorstep when her door cracked open. Oakley opened her mouth on a yawn, her eyes screwed shut. Even half asleep, her hair remained constrained in a messy ponytail. What did a guy have to do to see that hair down around her shoulders again? I’d had to keep my hands in my pockets the entire time I’d been at that damn baby shower just to keep from reaching out and feeling the loose strands.

Oakley bumped right into my chest, pinging off and hitting the doorframe.

“Wyatt!” Her eyes shot open, and she lifted her cup of coffee in the air to keep it from spilling on her. “Wh—what?”

“Good morning, sunshine.” I made sure to flex the pecs and the abs. Give her as good a show as she’d given me last night. I tossed the paper at her and she fumbled to catch it one-handed. “Figured you’d be worn out from using my gift last night.”

Then I spun on my heel and sauntered back to my place. I could practically feel her gaze on my ass while she sputtered. The only response I got was a growl and the sound of the door slamming behind me.

She was in fine ice-queen form when we both got to work, her little nose in the air and her gaze never quite meeting mine. I smirked, deriving great pleasure from keeping her on her toes. God knew her little peep show in the window last night had left a lasting impression. One I’d be reliving for years to come. She deserved all the teasing I had planned for today and more.

“Waldo, Smith,” Sheriff Locke barked from inside his office.

We both changed course and headed in to see him. My gut churned for a second before I realized I couldn’t be in trouble for fraternizing with a coworker when it had only happened in my dreams.

“I’ve got a big case I need you two helping me with.”

“Anything, Sheriff,” Oakley responded before I could.

He kept going, the gravity in his voice making my ears perk up. “The Emerald Triangle has essentially shifted south with legalization of marijuana in the state. Only trouble is, some growers are using weed as a front to distribute illegal drugs. One county over, they’ve had some busts with kids looking to score some weed and end up walking away with the hard stuff. I need you to keep your eye out for anyone growing or storing marijuana who doesn’t have a grower’s license, and even those who do have a license. Anything suspicious, I want to know about it.” He raised a bushy eyebrow. “I won’t tolerate drugs being sold to kids in my county.”

“Yes, sir,” Oakley answered, looking more serious than I’d ever seen her, which was saying a lot.

I nodded as well, following her out the door and to our cruiser. I turned over that new information in my head. Maybe that encounter with Ben a few weeks ago had been more than a simple weed deal. Wouldn’t surprise me if he was looking to score something a little more designer. Hell, if Oakley knew what kind of shit I’d been into in my past life, she’d push me out of the cruiser and never talk to me again. I didn’t condone selling drugs to kids either, but I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t tried every drug out there at least once in my partying days.

But that was in the past. Lieutenant Wyatt Smith was all about keeping his nose clean, and if that meant I had to arrest people from my former life, so be it. Just as long as Oakley never found out about my past.

12

Wyatt

“No pressure, but we’re already behind. We could really use some points right now, Oakley.” I nudged her with my elbow as she stared out at the baseball field with a death grip on the bat. It was a good thing we weren’t alone. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to keep my hands off her otherwise. Short, cut-off jean shorts showing off her curvy legs and a long-sleeve baseball shirt were killing me.

“You’re up, Lee!” Sheriff bellowed from the dugout.

Oakley lurched forward and made her way to the batter’s box on wooden legs. She’d only made it to one practice, and she’d been awful, but I never would have taken her for the stage fright type of person. I couldn’t help but chuckle at her lackluster practice swing. She basically telegraphed to the whole opposing team that she was the weak link. Shit, I’d only meant to tease her about scoring points, not demoralize her.

“You got this, Waldo!” I shouted before the pitcher wound up his arm.

The ball flew toward her on half speed. The pitcher on the San Jose County’s sheriff’s department must have felt sorry for her. Oakley swung and her bat miraculously connected with the ball. The ball dribbled to the right of the pitcher. Oakley dropped the bat and turned to run to first base. Unfortunately, she tripped on the bat and had to catch herself with both hands in the dirt. The crowd gasped in unison. Oakley sprang back up and ran like the devil was on her heels, actually making it safe to first base before the pitcher threw the ball over.

“What the hell?” I stared at the pitcher, suddenly suspicious. Pretty sure his name was Nathan, a thirty-something asshat with an obnoxious grin on his face when