Bear This Heat (A BBW Shifter Romance) (Last of the Shapeshifters) by A.E. Grace

else?”
    “No. I’m not really a socializer.”
    “Who would have thought?”
    “I make people… uncomfortable,” he explained with exaggerated intonation.
    Sasha sighed. This guy was going to keep dodging her questions forever. He was just one of those types. Cocky and full of swagger.
    She could take him in, but her mind quickly told her that a lawyer would have a field day. Even though he matched a description, it was the description of a known drunk. Known to her since the boss had told her. She’d have to testify to that.
    No, she was going to need something better.
    “Were you around Lester Street this morning?”
    “Ah, a real question! I’m afraid I don’t know where that is, though.” Dylan rubbed his hands together, and then ran his fingers through his tussled jet black hair.
    “You sure about that?”
    He looked her up and down, and she was more than a little annoyed that his eyes settled on her breasts.
    “This is a funny way to treat newcomers. Here I am, new in town, and you guys pull police up on me. I haven’t done anything wrong. Do you just have a problem with new folks in general?”
    “We get a lot of new people around here, not all of ’em good.”
    “So I’ve heard, actually. Well, let me tell you, I’m very, very good. Now, detective, if you don’t mind, I’m going to go unless you arrest me.”
    “Why would I do that?”
    “I don’t know.” He paused, put on a mocking expression. “I know! Why don’t you just tell me what’s going on, and I’ll tell you the honest truth if I was involved in anyway. Just so you know, the answer is ‘no’.”
    “It was nice to meet you, Dylan.” Sasha stuck out her hand. There was a small spark when he took it, something that jolted in her chest, but she cast the silly feeling aside. He held her hand firmly, swallowing it up completely. It made her feel as though she was tiny.
    “You too, Detective Monroe.”
    “Call me Sasha,” she said with sarcastic emphasis. “ Please .”
    He nodded at her clothing. “Must be hot as hell in that.”
    “Stick around town for a while, Dylan. I may need to ask you some more questions.” She let go of his hand.
    “It’s okay, boys,” she said to the two uniforms. “You can go now.”
    As she was climbing into her car, the cool conditioned air a refreshing respite from the baking heat outside, Dylan walked around the bonnet and tapped on her driver’s side window, casting a shadow over her. She wound it down.
    “Your car needs work,” he said. “You can hear it.”
    “Thanks,” she murmured, winding the window up.
    “Oh, and tell your boys to stay off the caffeine, yeah? They’re jittery as hell.”
    “Is that right? Anything else you’d like to comment on?”
    He smiled at her, and shook his head. When he had walked half way up the block, she picked up her radio. “Five-Charlie?”
    The sound of the officer’s voice came through all crackly. “This is five-Charlie.”
    “Follow him until I say to stop.”
    “Got it, Detective.”
    “Try to keep some distance, okay?”
    “Not my first time, Detective.”
    “Thanks.”
    She sat in her car, thinking about it for a moment. Hopefully, this Dylan guy was not as smart as he thought he was.
     
    *
     
    Interviewer: So when you asked ‘cat got your-’ [Interrupted by Dylan]
    Dylan: [Interrupts. Laughs.] No, I had no idea about that. [Looks at Sasha.] Quite a coincidence, right?
    Interviewer: Did you know why you were stopped by police?
    Dylan: No idea. She had her boys almost shoot me.
    Sasha: They didn’t almost shoot you, you big drama queen. Anyway, you matched the description of a murder suspect.
    Dylan: I was obviously unarmed.
    Sasha: They were young. Quick to the draw. Anyway, you didn’t see what happened to Charlie Kinnear. They did. So I’m not surprised they were a bit jumpy.
    Dylan: Poor old man.
    Sasha: Yeah.
    Interviewer: And so what happened? This was the first time you two met, right?
    Dylan: Yeah.
    Sasha. Yes. I