Her mind instantly switched into work mode. She stepped toward Gabe. “What’s up?”
“Accident out on the highway heading west,” he replied. “There was a dog in the car that got injured too. I’m about to put a call into your dispatch.”
She nodded, moving toward her car again. “Tell them I’m aware and on my way in.”
No need to go home and change, she always left an extra uniform in her locker at work.
Holden frowned. “Isn’t there a shift on duty now?”
“Sort of.” She shrugged. “There are two part-time and three full-time officers trying to fill all the shifts. We have a few new hires, but the candidates must finish training and become certified. Even though today is Saturday, it’s actually my Friday. The nights are currently on-call. We take turns, and this week, it’s me.”
“I see,” he said, opening her door wider for her. “Then you stay safe out there, Officer Harrison.”
Returning his smile, she brushed past him to get into her car. “Will do.”
She wanted to say more, but what else could she add?
Her body had a few suggestions, but she shot them down.
Bad timing.
As Emily drove closer to Animal Control and farther from Holden Jones, she realized something important. In fact, she was beginning to detect a pattern. Her temperature and pulse elevated whenever Holden was nearby.
It was crazy, how several times this week, Emily had told her friends she wasn’t interested in the guy, but that had been before their incredible kiss.
Still…she frowned. Did she really have time for a social life?
Chapter Eight
The following morning, Holden stood next to Sinjin, Hunter, and Mac, taking stock of the array of security and surveillance equipment and gadgets Carter was spreading out on a folding table in the ESI garage.
After Emily had driven away last night, Holden returned to the pub to bring the guys up to speed on the latest feelings of being watched, and that she’d apparently felt it inside, too.
Lyndsey and the other women had confirmed Emily mentioned the feeling of being watched on the dance floor and that they’d suggested it had been him—because they’d caught him admiring her…assets. He had, they had, and now everyone was in agreement that the dance floor and parking lot voyeur was most likely Perez.
So, at Lyndsey’s urging, they moved up the timetable of installing the equipment at her property from Tuesday—their day in the office—to today, their day off. Relief rippled through him and quieted his unsteady pulse.
He appreciated everyone giving up their Sunday to make it happen. Even the girls were involved, having already arrived at Emily’s under the guise of helping her paint the living room. Apparently, she’d only recently moved in, and the girls knew painting had already been on their friend’s to-do list.
According to Lyndsey, helping Emily paint would keep her friend from hovering and observing and asking too many questions as they set up her security system. It was possible she would recognize some of the equipment and its intended uses before being installed, but for the most part, once the devices were hooked up, people usually overlooked the stuff, which was exactly how Carter had designed it.
Still, Emily was as beautiful as she was astute, and it was only a matter of time before she realized the reason for the “extra” security equipment. He hated keeping her in the dark, but he knew what Perez was capable of and wasn’t about to let anything happen to Emily.
His concern for her had increased last night. Not just because someone had been watching her, but because their lips had met, and he’d gotten a taste of the sweet woman and her passion.
Kissing Emily had been even better than he’d imagined. Her lips had been eager to please and hungry for more. Her taste might’ve been similar to sweet tea, but her response to him had been far from sweet. Hot and demanding and full of need, an amazing combination, and he definitely needed more.
God, he couldn’t get enough. And the way she sighed and melted against him? Yeah, that had been his favorite part. Their chemistry had been off the charts, and in the space of that kiss, the woman had rocked his world.
Emily’s reaction was unlike anything he’d ever experienced before. It had been primal, natural, and honest.
And he rewarded that honesty by secretly spying on her.
Holden clenched his teeth and blew out a breath. He hated dishonest people and now he was becoming one to a woman he really liked.
Mac turned to him and narrowed his gaze. “Everything okay?”
“He kissed Emily,” Sinjin stated.
