CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Finally, Liam and I have a morning together. All week he’s been distracted with some case. I don’t ask a lot of questions, but I can see the toll it’s taking on him. That’s why I don’t want to dwell on last night.
I’m also embarrassed as hell.
“Are you okay?” he asks me first thing.
“I’m fine. Really happy you’re still here this morning.”
He presses a soft, slow kiss against my lips. “Me too.”
Kimber’s waiting by the back door with an eager expression.
“I think she’s happy to see you too,” I say as I clip on Kimber’s leash.
Liam takes my hand and leads us outside. “She was glued to the bedroom door last night when I came home.”
The backyard is small, but rests against a strip of woods that belong to the town, giving it a larger feeling. Knowing Kimber can’t walk far but still needs to stretch her legs, we take it easy. “Do you…can you tell me about the case you’ve been working on?”
“I have a few at the moment.”
“The one that’s keeping you up at night.”
His expression turns distant. “It’s a child abuse case.”
My hand flies to my mouth. “Oh.”
“It’s bad. We arrested the parents yesterday, but the whole thing’s a mess.”
“Boy or girl?”
“A little girl.”
“Where’d she go? I mean, if the parents were arrested.”
“Her grandmother’s.”
“That’s so sad. But at least she’s with someone she knows.”
He nods once. “True. The woman boards horses at her farm and I guess the little girl is pretty horse-crazy.”
“I think most little girls are. But that sounds promising.”
He lifts his shoulders and I figure there’s more to the story he can’t share with me.
“Chad’s brother hasn’t bothered you anymore, has he?”
“Well, uh.” I hesitate because I know Liam will be upset that I didn’t tell him this sooner.
“Bree?” He stops and faces me.
“I ran into him at the mall yesterday.”
“You what?” To Liam’s credit, he doesn’t yell, but he’s clearly frustrated. “Why didn’t you tell me right away?”
“He said it was an accident and I believed him. He was trying to hide from me when I caught up to him.” Who am I trying to convince? Liam or myself?
“Yeah, right,” he mutters, running his hands through his hair.
“He told me about the restraining order.”
He stops and stares me in the eye. “I told you I was going to do it.”
“I know. I’m not mad. He apologized, but it was pretty insincere.”
Liam snorts. “What else?”
“Nothing.” My lips curve as I remember how empowered I felt facing Chris head-on. “I think it shocked the hell out of him that I confronted him instead of cowering or running away. Heck, I surprised myself. Must have been left over adrenaline from Sully’s class.”
One corner of his mouth lifts, but I don’t think he’s ready to let me off the hook yet.
“Okay.” He hesitates. “I don’t want to encourage you to handle things alone, but I’m proud of you.”
“I was in a public place.”
His lips settle into a grim line. “That doesn’t always matter. If you run into him again you have to tell me. Even if you think it’s a coincidence.”
“I will. Honestly, I had fun with Aubrey and her sister afterwards, so I ended up forgetting about it.”
The tension in his face eases and his shoulders drop. “I’m glad you had a good time.” He tucks my hair behind my ear. “I like this a lot.”
“Thank you.”
As we’re walking back inside, he casually asks about the carnations in the trash. “They were on my windshield last night when I went outside to take the selfie.”
“What?!” This time he raises his voice.
“Kimber pulled her Cujo thing. If it were Chris, he would’ve been crazy to stick around. I’m sure he didn’t expect me to have a dog, so I doubt he’ll be back.”
He stares at me for a long time, studying my face. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing.”
“I’ll decide if it’s nothing. Spill.”
I let out a sigh and fiddle with Kimber’s leash that’s still in my hands. “Chad used to give me pink carnations on our anniversary.”
He grits his teeth. “When was your anniversary?” His jaw’s so tight he can barely spit out the question.
“September.”
That seems to relieve him. “That fucker’s still in jail. I called down there yesterday to be sure. Obviously he needs his visits and phone calls monitored better,” he mutters as he grabs stuff out of the refrigerator to start breakfast.
“Wait? You called the jail?”
“God damn right I did. They’re supposed to give me the heads up if he makes bail.”
I blink a few times, not sure how to process that. “Thank you.”
Some of his irritation seems to drain out of him. “Can you think of anyone else who would’ve left the flowers?”
I consider his question, but come up blank. “No.”
He crosses his arms over his chest and leans against the counter. “I’ll look into it. If anything else shows up, you have to tell me immediately.”
“After our four-pawed menace made her presence known, he’d be stupid to come back.” I scratch behind Kimber’s ears and she lifts he head as if she agrees.
Uncertainty and exasperation still surround Liam. Maybe it’s better if I offer up the full truth. “Liam, I didn’t say anything, because we…you and I just…I don’t want to keep bringing up my ex all the time.”
“Hey,” he says, pushing off the counter and joining me at the table. “This isn’t a matter of not talking about our exes so we don’t hurt each other’s feelings. I’m secure enough to know how you feel about me.” He takes my hand, forcing me to look in his eyes. “This is about keeping you safe.” One corner of his mouth lifts. “If it makes it easier, why don’t you inform Deputy Hollister about anything pertaining to your case. That way you only talk about the fun stuff with your boyfriend.”
The distinction pulls a chuckle out of me, but in a way it also makes it easier for me to separate the multiple aspects of our relationship.
“Well, in that case, Deputy, I took some pictures.” I pull up the pictures on my cell phone to show him.
“Good job. Send those to me.”
At least I finally did something right.
“Are we good?” he asks, leaning over to place a kiss on my forehead.
“Yes.”
While we’re finishing breakfast, my phone buzzes, and I pull it out of my pocket.
I glance down at the text. “It’s Emily. She wants me to go out with her tonight.”
He focuses his penetrating gaze on me. “No.”
“Excuse me?”
He sighs and runs his hands through his hair. “I have to work tonight. I can’t go with you.”
“Who said you were invited, Officer Buzzkill?” I tease.
He huffs out a laugh. “This the one who wanted to go to the Lantern?”
“Yes.”
“Christ, that place is a shithole. We get complaints from there every weekend.”
“Liam,” I say softly. “I’m not asking your permission to go out with my friends. I’m sorry. But I’m done doing that.”
He reels back, staring at me for a few seconds before speaking. “Bree, it’s not because I’m trying to control you. I want you to go out and have fun with your friends. I don’t want you to get hurt. There’s a difference.”
I turn his words over in my head. He’s sincere. His concern comes from a good place. “I didn’t mean…I lived that way once. I won’t do it again. That’s all.”
“I understand that,” he says, using obvious restraint in his choice of words. “I don’t like that you ran into Chris, and this shit with the flowers. It’s creepy. I want you to be careful.”
“Right. You’re right.” I peek up at him. “So, maybe it’s better that I’m out with a group of friends instead of here like a sitting duck?”
Boy, I’m really pushing Liam’s buttons this morning.
“Okay,” he says slowly in a way that means it’s not okay at all. “Can I say something without you getting mad?”
“Maybe.” I cross my arms over my chest and nod at him to continue.
He sighs. “Remember what Sully said about not putting yourself in danger? I don’t want you taking unnecessary risks because you want to prove how independent you are.”
“It’s just a nightclub.”
“In a rough area of town.”
“I’ll be with a group of girls.”
His stares at the ceiling, probably asking the universe to send him extra patience. “Promise you’ll stick together?”
He really is only worried about my safety and I regret acting so prickly. I need to work on recognizing the difference between unhealthy control and acceptable concern. “Maybe you can meet us there when you’re done tonight?” I try to hide the pitiful hopefulness in my voice, but it creeps in anyway.
His hard cop face relaxes into a semi-smile. “Yeah, baby girl. I can do that.”
By mid-afternoon, I’ve persuaded Aubrey into joining us too. Liam chuckles when I call to tell him I’ll have one more girl with me who knows how to kick ass.
Emily arrives in my driveway before sunset and I hurry out to meet her, careful not to trip in my high-heeled sandals. She climbs out of the car to hug me and wolf-whistles when she steps back. “It’s unfair that you have such killer legs,” she says, eying my gold short-shorts with envy.
“I’m not sure I should show them off when I’m this pale, though.” I fiddle with the white, sparkly tank top. “Do you think this is too much?”
She runs her hands over her own short, red dress. “Nope.”
“Damn, I thought this place was casual?” I nod at the dress. “You look hot.”
Her lips curl into a satisfied smile and she gestures for me to climb into the car. A few of her friends are with her and she introduces us as I cram myself into the back seat and try not to flash my butt to the entire neighborhood.
“I need to look for my friend, Aubrey, when we get there,” I remind Emily.
“No problem.”
Liam wasn’t kidding about the neighborhood. It’s outside the town limits, so I probably haven’t been here since high school and even back then it wasn’t the safest area. The club itself isn’t much better and I cast a suspicious look at Emily as the doorman waves us inside.
Even though she’s a tiny, doll-eyed pixie, I manage to spot Aubrey right away. She runs over and hugs me like we haven’t seen each other in months instead of days. “Holy hell, I’m glad I have pepper spray in my purse,” she shouts into my ear.
I introduce her to Emily and even though they’re exact opposites, they seem to hit it off. While the location is questionable, it’s nice to be out, socializing with other women my age like a normal human being for a change.
“So, tall, dark, and deadly let you out of the house?” Emily asks after the other girls head off to the dance floor. “Do you have a curfew?”
“No, smartass, he’s meeting me later.”
Her eyes widen. “I was joking. Wow, you seem to be moving fast with him.”
Emily had heard plenty of details about my relationship with Chad during our group therapy sessions. She’d also heard the counselors caution us about getting into another relationship right away. Part of me wonders if I can trust her not to rat me out at our next session.
“We’ve known each other since we were kids,” I explain, wanting her to understand what Liam and I have isn’t a rebound or a mistake.
“Oh, this is the one who was running hot and cold.” She nods knowingly. “If that was still going on, I was going to suggest you bring a guy home tonight to make him jealous.”
I blink and stare at her. Even if Liam and I hadn’t…gotten together, that’d be a level of childishness I’d never stoop to.
“Well, I’m going to sample the goods.”
I raise an eyebrow. She’d heard the same advice I had during group. “Not all of us have a knight in shining armor waiting for us at home,” she explains.
“Be careful.”
Emily assures me she’ll be fine and pushes her way into the crowd.
I scan the room, seeking a familiar face. Aubrey’s in the corner involved in what appears to be an intense discussion with an older guy whose features I can’t quite make out in the low lighting. A steady stream of people comes in through the front door, filling the place to capacity.
Emily’s in the center of the room now. I nudge and squeeze my way through a sea of grinding couples to reach her and her friends.
It’s fun to let loose, even if I can’t get quite as loose as Emily. Her enthusiasm for everything makes me happy we met, even if it was under crappy circumstances.
After a few songs, she drags a tall, lanky blond guy over to me. “This is my friend, Shane,” she shouts over the music.
We end up dancing in a large group, but eventually the others leave to grab drinks. Shane and I keep dancing. The guy has panty-melter written all over his face, but he keeps a respectful distance.
“Do you have a boyfriend?” he shouts over the music.
“I do.”
He nods even though I’m not sure he heard me. I’m wracking my brain trying to think of something else to say to keep the conversation moving, but his gaze is fixed on something over my shoulder.
Leaning down, he shouts, “There’s a guy watching us who looks like he wants to rip my arms off.”
Terror that Chad somehow wormed his way out of jail, grips me. Whipping my head around, my frantic gaze searches the bar. Through the throng of writhing bodies, no one stands out.
Cold ice knots in my stomach, even if I can’t see Chad. I don’t want to put Emily’s friend in danger. Chad always swore he’d kill any man who touched me.
It was one of his favorite threats.
A familiar scent envelopes me right before a rough voice intrudes. “Excuse us.”
My heart jumps and a relieved breath bursts out of me as I turn around. “Liam.”
Shane taps my shoulder. “You all right with this guy?”
The corners of my mouth twitch. Liam’s busy glowering at Shane. “Yes. Liam, this is Emily’s friend, Shane. Shane this is my boyfriend, Liam.”
They go through the firm-grip, male handshake process and Liam acts civil enough, but as soon as Shane leaves, Liam’s intense gaze shifts my way. There’s no anger though. Only heat and a glimmering possessiveness.
“You’re here.” My breathy voice barely carries above the music.
He clamps his hands over my hips and pulls me against him. “I’m here.”
In the heels, it’s easier to loop my arms around his neck and give him a quick kiss. “I’ve been thinking about you all night.”
He responds by holding me even tighter.
There’s no denying that the way he places his hands on me is his way of informing everyone I’m taken.
After a long day, I stopped by my apartment for something dressier than what I had stashed at Vince’s house.
I enjoy dancing about as much as a good, swift punch to the balls, but I find for Brianna, I’ll do just about anything.
Instant, primitive possessiveness flowed through me the second I spotted my girl on the dance floor.
With another guy.
And more guys checking her out that she seems oblivious to. Of course she attracts a lot of attention, she’s the most beautiful girl in the room.
The way Shane stared at Bree made me want to punch the smug smile right off his face. Somehow, I hung on to the urge by sheer will.
No matter how much I don’t enjoy random guys panting after her, I’m not about to act like a jealous dick after the stuff Bree confided in me about her ex. I trust her and that’s all that matters.
“I’ve been thinking about you too,” I admit. Wrapping my arms around her, I pull her close and we start moving to the music together. “Missed you.”
“Missed you too.”
“So, Emily’s friend?” I work hard to keep my tone neutral.
A slight smirk turns the corners of her mouth up and she arches a brow. “Yes?”
“So much for girls’ night out.”
She rolls her eyes and pokes me in the chest. “For a guy who hates to dance, you’re awfully good at it,” she teases, ignoring my comment.
“Anything to keep that smile on your face.”
She responds by pulling me closer and kissing me softly. “Will you take me home, Liam?” she asks against my lips.
Fuck, yes. I’m ready to toss her over my shoulder and storm out of the bar with her. “I’ll take you anywhere you want.”
She ducks her head and peeks at me through her lashes. “I want to be alone with you.” The husky tone of her voice is a jolt of arousal straight to my groin.
My brain-to-mouth function has trouble forming an intelligent response. “Sounds good.”
She gives me another sweet smile and a kiss on my cheek. “Let me say goodbye to Emily and Aubrey.”
I examine the crowd again. People haven’t stopped coming in the front door since I arrived. I’m off the clock, but can’t help noticing the place is probably over capacity. I doubt the fire marshal’s going to bother coming down here, though. “Do either of them need a ride?” I ask.
“Yes, but not the kind you’re offering.”
“What?”
“Nothing,” she shouts, snaking through the crowd to the bar.
I don’t want to lose sight of her. Her sparkling white tank top and gold shorts stand out, but I still follow.
When she realizes I’m behind her, she slips her hand into mine. The way she smiles up at me ties me up in knots. Why did I ever try to deny my feelings for this woman?
Vince. Fuck. I really need to call him.
Bree’s elbow pokes me in the side and I realize she’s trying to introduce me to Emily. “Do you need a ride home?” I ask the energetic redhead.
“Nope. My posse’s here with me. Figured this one would ditch out as soon as you showed up,” she laments, nodding at Bree.
So, Bree’s telling her friends about us too? I like that. A lot.
Restless and eager to have Bree all to myself, I grip her hand and lead her to the door. She stays tucked behind me while I push our way through the crowd.
“Did you have a good time?” I ask when we step out of the stifling club.
“I did.” She pulls her hair into a pile on top of her head and fans herself with her hand. The movement arches her back, pressing her breasts against her flimsy, sparkling top. The erection I was sporting in the club comes back with a vengeance.
Her head tilts. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re hot.”
“I know. It was gross in there. I have sweat running down places I don’t want to think about.”
I groan at the visual that gives me, and her eyes widen. “Sorry, too much?”
She doesn’t get it.
I take her hand and hustle her into the shadows by my truck. Using my body, I press her against the side. “All I can think about is getting sweaty with you now.” Her hand’s still in mine, and I guide it to the bulge in my pants.
Her mouth falls open, but before she says anything, I take a long, possessive kiss. My hands sweep her hair off her shoulders and I bend down to kiss her neck.
Under my passionate attack, she melts into me. Low, husky moans fall from her lips.
My hands drop to her legs, tracing my fingers against her smooth skin, to the edge of her shorts. I grip her ass and deepen our kiss. Her hold shifts from my shoulders to my belt and, fuck, do I want to strip her down and bury my cock in her right this second.
I’ve never wanted anyone so much I was willing to risk a public lewdness charge before.
She draws back and our eyes lock. “Let’s go home before we get arrested, Deputy Hollister. I don’t want you getting in trouble.” She gives me a flirty wink.
“It’d be worth it.”
Once we’re in the truck—with the air conditioning on full-blast—I ask Bree about her night.
“It was fun. But you’re right about that place. Can’t say I want to go back any time soon. I like Emily a lot. Aubrey too. She’s the one I met in Sully’s class. I think she has a crush on him. Although, I saw her talking to some older guy tonight and it looked intense.”
Warm contentment fills my chest as I listen to her describe her evening. What the hell am I going to do without her when she goes back to school at the end of the summer?
“Should I let Sully know he has an admirer?” I ask.
“Don’t you dare.”
She’s quiet for a minute. “Were you mad at me?”
“Bree, I came damn close to fucking you in the parking lot. How can you ask that?”
A soft huff of laughter eases out of her. “You looked angry when I was dancing with Shane.”
My hands tighten on the steering wheel, and I sigh.
“I didn’t like it. But no, I wasn’t mad at you,” I answer after slipping the truck into park and shutting the engine off. The headlights stay on so I can search the front yard for any movement. After a few seconds, I shut the lights off and turn to face her.
She leans across the seat and feathers a kiss over my cheek. “Thank you.”
“Stay there.” I round the truck, open her door and lift her up.
“You can’t carry me all the way into the house.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” I squeeze her ass. She hitches her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck. “I don’t want your heels sinking into the grass and getting dirty,” I explain.
“You’re so sweet.”
“Not really. I want you to leave them on when I fuck you,” I murmur against her ear.
She gasps and throws her head back. Her laughter echoes through the still night. At the bottom of the front porch steps, I set her down and she hurries up the steps.
“Why’re you running, baby girl?” I growl, grabbing her around the waist and bear-hugging her.
“You know why,” she rasps, leaning her head back so I can kiss her again.
I take the key out of her hand and stare at her for a minute. A slight summer breeze picks up strands of her hair, moving them around her shoulders and across her face. I reach out and tuck a few loose pieces behind her ear. “You’re beautiful.”
“You don’t think it’s too short?” She shakes her head back and forth, letting the ends brush over her bare shoulders.
“Not at all.” I lean in closer. “It’s sexy as hell.”
“Mmm, let’s go inside,” she says, taking my hand. “I have plans for you.”
Inside the house, Liam turns and places his hands on my cheeks, tilting my head back so he can kiss me. I fall back against the door and he follows.
My fingers tug and pull at his crisp white shirt, revealing his tight, flat stomach with the trail of dark hair disappearing into the waistband of his gray dress pants.
“How is it that you’re sexier every time I look at you?”
He presses more kisses to my cheek and down to my neck. “Thank you.”
“Did you dress up for me?” I ask as I undo the buttons of his shirt.
“Yes.” His answer ends in a groan as I lean in and place a kiss on his chest. The frantic beating of his heart beneath my lips says he wants me too.
Being so close, absorbing his woodsy, spicy scent, stirs my hormones. Tipping my head back, I meet his dark gaze.
“Brianna.” The aching whisper speaks volumes.
Kimber nudges us with her cold, wet nose, reminding us of her presence. “Sorry, girl. You need to go out?” Liam asks.
Something about my big, hard sheriff speaking so gently to a dog is so sweet, I press my hand to my chest.
A loud thump against the front door startles me into Liam’s arms. “What the hell was that?”
His face turns to stone and he pulls a small pistol from his waistband.
“You were carrying that all night?” I ask.
“Yes.” His voice comes out clipped and harsh. “Stay here.”
I step to the side, ready to hide in the closet. My legs shake as I hold the door open for Liam.
“What the hell?” he mutters, stepping onto the porch.
Kimber snarls and lets out a thunderous bark. “Holy shit. Calm down, girl.”
Ignoring me, she squeezes out the front door. “Kimber, no!” I call, running after her.
“Kimber, come!” Liam shouts, but she keeps moving, leaping off the porch and landing in the front yard.
“Fuck!” Liam runs down the front steps.
Even though she’s limping, Kimber rounds the house, running into the dark, pursuing hell only knows what.
I take a step forward and my shoe lands on something squishy. I glance down. “Eww.” My stomach lurches when I realize what the thump against the front door must have been.
A dead bird.