He yanked off his snapback and put it on forward again. “IfI’d recognized you, there’s not a chance in hell I would’ve sat next to you. I wouldn’t have spoken to you. And there’s nowayI would’ve come up to your room for sex. Like I’d ever want to get naked with some lying, bloodsucking harpyreporter.”
My jaw sagged open. “Get out of my room,” I seethed.
“Happy to. Couldn’t pay me to stay here.”
“Doubt that. But I don’t pay off elected officials.”
“You’re wrong about me.” He shoved his feet into his boots, piling his clothes haphazardly into his arms.
I opened the door and pushed him by the shoulder into the hall. Crap, he’d left his wallet with his badge and ID on the bed. I went to grab it and threw it on top of the pile of his clothes. “If you forgot anything else, that’s on you. Maybe I’m abloodsucking harpywho tried to trick you into bed, in your opinion, but I’m no thief.”
He stared at me beneath the harsh hallway lights, wearing nothing but his briefs, boots, and hat, the rest of his belongings in a messy tangle. And he had the nerve to look apologetic.
“Gen—” he started.
I slammed the door shut.
I stood there, fists clenching, until I heard his footfalls moving away. Then I collapsed into a heap there on the rug. Nausea churned in my stomach. Seized my throat.
How had that just happened?
And how was I supposed to face Sheriff Owen Douglas in his office tomorrow morning?
Four a.m. And I still hadn’t been able to sleep.
After Owen had left, I’d spent the first solid hour pacing my small room, running through everything that happenedtonight. Everything Owen had said in the bar. Every clue that I’d missed.
It was suddenly so glaring in hindsight that he was law enforcement. Like the way he’d mentioned the drunk tank and how he’d deftly handled those brawlers. His pride when he’d talked about Hart County. Even Dean’s joking reference to “wildlife management.” That made a whole lot more sense now.
He really did handle local wildlife. But the joke was on me.
My initial burst of anger had faded into shades of humiliation and dismay. Tex had seemed like such a sweet guy. Sexy too. Nothing like the corrupt sleaze ball I’d pictured Sheriff Douglas to be.
My instincts were usually spot on, and yet I hadn’t had the faintest clue that he was the target I’d come here to investigate. Was he just that good of a liar? Or was I completely wrong about this situation?
Which would mean thatIwas the asshole.
I crawled into bed and covered my head with a pillow.
I could admit that he hadn’t outright lied to me. Just omitted things. Exactly whatIhad done. We’d both agreed not to discuss serious topics like our careers. If I’d wanted to know every detail of his background before inviting him up to my room, I could’ve asked him. That was on me.
So…I begrudgingly concluded that Owen hadn’t recognized me in the bar. This was an awkward coincidence on both sides.
But that didn’t absolve him of calling me a bloodsucking harpy as soon as he’d learned I was a reporter.
Only after you called him a shady dirtbag, I reminded myself. I told that voice to shut up.
No. Sheriff Douglas wasn’t the victim here. Maybe he could be a nice guy one on one. But plenty of criminalshelped little old ladies across the street. He was hiding things. How much, I didn’t know yet. But I had evidence of corruption here, and my money was on the sheriff. That was what I’d come to Hart County to figure out.
Tonight changed nothing. I had a job to do. A meeting at the sheriff’s office tomorrow.
Unfortunately, it was four in the morning and I was still tossing and turning and buzzing with adrenaline. Owen’s scent lingered in the room, a mix of woodsy cologne and soap. Every time I thought it was gone, I’d get a whiff again.
I needed fresh air. This room was suffocating me.
With a groan of frustration, I sat up and kicked away the covers. I threw on my jeans and puffy coat, shoving my feet into my boots.
The hotel was completely silent when I stepped into the hall. Making sure I had my keycard and phone in my pocket, I pulled the door closed. Then made my way to the lobby.
