Tempting the Light: Legends and Myths Police Squad (L.A.M.P.S. Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

forever haunted by the pictures on social media.” She made sure the end phrase held a silent scolding.
    Pepper ignored it. “You were hilarious. You swore you were Cat Woman, and called Carol the Penguin.” She waddled around flapping her elbows. “She does resemble a penguin. Good times.”
    Abby ran both hands through her hair, and her fingers hung up in dried leaves and sticky goo. She pulled the clump out and tossed it over her shoulder. “Ew.”
    “You had that icky stuff on your clothes too. I think it’s from changing.” Pepper said in a tsk tsk tone. “I burned them.”
    “You burned my clothes?”
    Pepper gave her one of those what-was-I-supposed-to-do shrugs and raised her palms. “They were torn to scraps and had that “wet fur” smell.” She scrunched up her nose and pinched her lips tight.
    Abby slammed her butt into a folding chair so hard it should have collapsed.
    “Urgh. The point is, I don’t remember. What if I hurt someone?”
    Abby’s body stilled as a squad car pulled up the driveway, gravel crunching and popping under its tires. Her heart bumped and thumped louder than the bass in a dance club before it tried to climb through her throat. She sucked in some air but the oxygen didn’t expand her deflated lungs.
    The car door opened and large boots hit the ground. Abby stood as if her name had sounded in a roll call. She let out a deep breath. She was busted. Her gaze traveled up the officer’s long thick legs, to his gladiator-worthy body, then on up to turquoise blue eyes. “Sheriff Stone,” she said under her breath.
    Her lips parted. A strong urge to touch his golden blond curls waving from under his sheriff’s hat tugged at her hands.
    Pepper raised her eyebrows in an I’m-enjoying-the-view sort-of way.
    “Morning, ladies. Do you have a minute?” His deep husky voice dripped over Abby, warm and sweet like honey—before killer bees flew in for attack. He tipped his hat and smiled enough to show a glimpse of healthy, white teeth.
    “Well I’ll be darned. You’re the new sheriff?” Pepper asked.
    “Yes, Sheriff River Stone. Pleased to meet you.” He reached out and shook her hand. Pepper held on longer than she should have.
    He tugged his hand away.
    Pepper closed her mouth and licked her lips.
    Abby looked away, careful to avoid mentally peeling off his clothes, first his sheriff hat, then his pressed perfect uniform shirt, then . . . River, perfect name for someone who’s current would whoosh you away. She let out a small eep crossed with a sigh.
    “I’m Pepper. This is Abby.” Pepper elbowed Abby in the rib cage to gain her attention.
    She jumped and swatted Pepper’s arm.
    “We’ve met. Nice to see you again, Abby.” He nodded at her, but the nod was a clever decoy. She caught him scanning the area, almost as if his brain catalogued every detail of the yard, cars, and both women.
    A large lump the size and consistency of a peach formed in her throat. She swallowed hard, but the clump clung to her tonsils causing an urp noise.
    River’s attention darted toward her. “Mrs. Livingston from down the road reported that her husband went missing from a hunting trip last night.” His voice held a speak-now-or-forever-be-locked-up tone.
    “I reckon the same thing happened last year. Mr. Livingston decided he wanted to spend some time alone,” Pepper said, and tapped on her chin with her finger.
    “Maybe, but his dog returned home, bloody and limping. She’s worried Mr. Livingston is hurt, or that foul play may be involved. Have either of you ladies seen him?” His hand moved across the back of his neck and his shoulders dropped an inch.
    Abby threw up a little bit in her mouth. Crappity crap, crap, crap with a dingle berry on top. What if I hurt Mr. Livingston?
    “Nope. Haven’t seen him,” Pepper said.
    The sheriff pushed up his hat to expose more of his summer-streaked hair. “Did you notice any strange occurrences last night?”
    “Nope. Not a thing.