Nothing ever happens in Molasses Falls, West Virginia. 

Well, aside from love life gossip regarding a man nicknamed Hot Grumpy Cop. The locals say that time moves as slow as molasses here. So, naturally, the body was buried just outside of city limits.

~*~

Asher Langdon is trying like hell to be a disciplined man. Being an officer in the Holler County Police Department means that he’s a rule abider. A justice seeker. A man who tells himself that he won’t allow distractions to waltz their way into his life and wriggle their way under his skin.

Marisol Diaz is a distraction. When not living her purposefully quiet life at home with her teenage daughter, she is dressed in blues to serve her county just like Asher. While at work, though, she can’t help but taunt. Tease. Regularly revel in the flutters in her chest that occur when a particular officer gripes or grumbles. 

Marisol claims that it’s all innocent, of course. And Asher regularly tells himself that her distractive chaos can be professionally ignored until he is safely behind closed doors.

That’s all true. Until the budget cuts hit, and the precinct deems the two of them partners.

Partners who share a single car.

Partners who share lingering glances and scorching, taboo touches.

If the sergeant knew, they would instantly be stripped of their badges…but there’s more to worry about when they respond to a call for unearthed bones just outside of their hometown, Molasses Falls.

Pulses are flying for more reasons than one. A murder case is on their heels. A killer is on the loose. But they still have the need to share something forbidden, and pretend that it’ll only be just once.