Colton (Cerberus MC #14) - Marie James Page 0,4
in leggings and a sports bra, so I’ve kept on the blouse and jacket of my suit, and only replaced my skirt and heels with black leggings and sneakers. I blame police procedural dramas on television for making me think I could do police work in a damn suit and heels.
Haden is on his phone when I exit the locker room, but I follow him when he starts walking. Once we‘re back in the main office area, he points his finger across the room to a row of four chairs. He gives me a quick wave before disappearing.
My fingers drum on the top of my thighs as I wait for Detective Matthews to exit his office. He can stay in there all day as far as I’m concerned. I figure the longer he’s talking to that woman, the better the chance of him not sending me away the second he’s done.
“Have you been helped?” I look up to find a handsome man in uniform grinning down at me.
“Hi,” I squeak.
“Did you need some help?”
My mouth opens to ask him if he could help with the Detective Matthews situation, but I close it with the ridiculous thought.
“I’m Officer Dillon Ramshaw.”
I take his warm hand when he offers it. “Sophia Anderson.”
“If you haven’t checked in at the front desk, no one will know that you’re here.” His smile is sweet, his eyes a little more roving than they’d need to be if he only approached me with the purpose of helping.
“I’m waiting for Detective Matthews.”
His face falls immediately. “I’m sorry.”
I give him a grin of my own at the sincerity in his voice. “Is he a jerk or something?”
His head tilts slightly to the left, confusion apparent on his handsome face. “Are you here about a death?”
“Internship,” I answer, barely restraining a mumble about it being over before it even began.
“Ah.” His smile returns. “Glad it’s not because you’ve lost someone. He’s not a jerk. He’s actually a great guy. A little too serious most days, but he works his ass off.”
“That’s good to know.”
“Fuck off, Ramshaw.”
Dillon doesn’t cringe at Detective Matthews command, and I guess that speaks to the truth he claimed a minute ago about him being a great guy.
“It was nice to meet you, Sophia Anderson.”
“You, too, Dillon.”
Officer Ramshaw nods at Matthews before strutting away, his hands resting on his utility belt like I’ve seen many police officers do in the movies.
“Need a napkin for the drool on your chin?”
I narrow my eyes as I stand, trying to get on even ground with Matthews, but I’m now in sneakers, making me even shorter than I was when we first met.
“Jealous?” My throat works on a rough swallow as regret swarms like angry bees in my gut. My mouth—Dad has warned me for years–will be the thing that gets me into trouble every time.
“No reason to be jealous over a boy wanting to—”
“Do the same things to me you wanted to do earlier?” I interrupt, my inability to keep my damn mouth shut continuing.
He crowds my space but somehow still manages not to touch me. I have to crane my head up to keep my eyes locked on his.
“We’ll both forget that conversation took place.”
Yeah, is that even possible?
“That is if you want to still do this internship.”
“It is,” I confirm, because the next couple of months are all that stands between me and the rest of my adult life.
“Good. Now let’s go. We were expected at a scene ten minutes ago.”
Chapter 3
Colton
I’m contemplating my life choices as we leave the police station.
But deep down, I know why I didn’t send her away once I realized who she was. Flirting with her, although wildly inappropriate now that it’s clear she isn’t a college professor, was fun.
Denying that she’s sexy as hell, despite knowing she can’t be a day over twenty-two, would be useless. Every man in the vicinity is trying to catch her eye, including Ramshaw. He’s a decent guy, but sniffing around Dominic Anderson’s daughter isn’t a very smart thing to do.
Everyone in town knows any female connected to the Cerberus MC is off-limits. We don’t even have to be warned. We just all somehow know.
I’ve always had my concerns about the motorcycle club on the outskirts of town. They’re mostly private, only offering bits and pieces of information. Of course, they’re extremely active in the community. They help with fundraisers, and I know Monahan could call them for help and they’d show up at any time of day