Wild Thing

Copyright © Mia Watts 2010
All Rights Reserved, Total-E-Ntwined Limited, T/A Total-E-Bound.

Excerpt From: Wild Thing

“Nothing?” DNR Officer Jack Allen asked, his gaze sweeping over Ryan Walsh’s enigmatic expression.

Any excuse to look at Ryan was a good one. Especially at eight in the morning when Ryan was sipping hot coffee on the front porch of his log cabin.

Ryan shook his head, a slight move to the left and back. The mug pressed against his full lower lip, distracting Jack from his line of questioning.

“Is that all, officer?” Amusement coloured his husky tones.

Jack lifted his gaze and found the same twinkle in the depths of Ryan’s chocolate brown eyes. Jack’s partner nudged him. He blinked and felt the distinct rise of a blush touch his cheeks with heat. “Uh, no. If you see anything suspicious, give me a call?” Jack unsnapped his breast pocket, intending to give him a business card.

“I have your number,” Ryan murmured.

“You do?”

Ryan’s smile widened further. “You gave me a card the last time you were out here tagging red foxes. I keep it beside my phone.” His eyes flicked to Jack’s partner, Clancy. “I can call you the minute something comes up.”

He lowered his mug, the pale white porcelain gleamed in the bright sunshine as it broke the shade of the covered porch. Jack didn’t think he had Attention Deficit Disorder, but Ryan Walsh had a way of twisting small moments into sharp detail.

He wondered briefly if Ryan thought Jack had the mental acuity of a goldfish. Distracted by shiny things, goggle-eyed whenever Ryan spoke, lame words coming out of Jack’s mouth—God, he must seem like such a moron.

“Beginning to think you come out here just to check on me,” Ryan remarked casually.