He held his hand out to her and for a minute he didn’t think the woman was going to take it, but then her fingers grasped his, and just like that, some of his anger dissipated under the warm rush of their connection. 

She seemed to have lost her edginess, too, because her gaze was less confrontational and more grateful than it had been a few seconds ago. “Thanks,” she said, her voice a little breathless, reminding him of another time she’d sounded that way.

Giving himself a mental slap in the face, he stared at her. “Are you okay?”

That was not what he’d planned to ask, but since it got him a smile, he went with it.

“Yes. Just a scrape on the elbow and a sore knee,” she replied, pointing to both with her free hand.

Free hand…

Shit.

He was still holding her hand. It was weird how he suddenly didn’t want to release her, but since his deputy was looking at them kind of weird, Gabe let go of her hand and shoved his in his pocket. “We need to talk.”

There. He sounded serious but not aggressive, and she responded better.

“Agreed.” She glanced from him to Fletcher. “Let’s go inside.”

He fell into step with his deputy as they follow the limping woman into her house. Threepio and Wink greet them at the door, and after a minute of watching her give the duo attention, she led them into her office and sat at her desk.

“All right, what’s going on?” he asked, unable to keep quiet any longer. “What’s this about you going to Adkins’ place today?”

Her chin lifted and defiance lit her gaze. “I went looking for signs of Buster.”

He blew out a breath. God, that was stupid. “Why?”

Her head jerked back. “What do you mean, why? Because I’m worried about the dog. He might not be human and on your radar, but he’s on mine. Adkins did something with him, and I intend to find out what.”

“We’ve canvased all the neighbors and the area,” Fletcher said, his voice and demeanor much more relaxed than Gabe’s. “They’re keeping an eye out for Shi…the dog.”

Lyndsey sighed. “Thank you. I know you have your hands full and your own investigations to worry about, that’s why I went there.”

Aggravation got the better of him and he muttered a curse. “That was careless and stupid, Lyndsey. You’ve already got a bullseye on your back where that guy is concerned. Do you think today’s incident was an accident?”

 She lifted her chin. “No. And I prefer to think I’m determined and smart.” She picked her phone up off the desk and held it up as if it were a prize. “While I was snooping behind the shed, Adkins returned home, but he wasn’t alone.”

“Who was with him?” he asked, anger momentarily forgotten.

She snorted. “Not sure. I was too busy hiding to ask Adkins for an introduction.”

Fletcher chuckled.

Gabe glanced sideways at his deputy. “Don’t encourage her.”

His deputy nodded but that idiot was still smiling.

“I got them on video,” she said, waving her phone.

“That’s great,” Fletcher said.

And smart, but no way was Gabe telling the woman that or next, she’d no doubt sneak into Adkins’ house to bug the damn place.

She’d look great in a catsuit, though…

Shit. He mentally shook himself again.

“They spent a bit of time in the shed,” she said. “They put something in there. I didn’t see it, nor could I hear everything they were saying, but Adkins was grumbling about not liking taking orders. Kind of reminded me of a control freak I know.”

Yeah, he knew one too.