CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Garret

Well it’s official.

I, Garret Walker, have officially lost my mind. And it’s that tiny brunette who has me wrapped around her finger. The concert last week was kick-ass, and I’m so glad she surprised me with tickets. She knows I’m a sucker for a country music concert, and she used it to her advantage.

Nacole is easily the kindest person I have ever met, and every day she blows me away. I took her out to dinner a couple nights after the concert, and after we paid, she noticed a couple across from us with a newborn baby crying. Clearly they were embarrassed and wanted to get out of there, so on our way out, she grabbed the waiter and paid for their meal.

I have no idea how I got lucky enough to meet her, but I did, and I’m sure as hell not letting go any time soon. The time we spend together has become some of the most incredible moments of my life so far. I’m falling for her, and I just hope to God she is too. I convinced her to come spend a couple days at my place with me, and now I’m only one work shift away from forty-eight hours with my girl. I’m going to romance her ass off.

Yes, I’m charming her. I fucking need her. I won’t push her though, and I’ll be more than happy to just watch movies and eat takeout and listen to her laugh. But if I have any say in it, I’ll finally be claiming her as mine. No more screwing around.

The driver door opening breaks my thoughts, and Jace climbs inside the squad car, offering me a coffee. I accept it gratefully and take a swig, a sickly sweet taste hitting my taste buds.

“Dude,” I groan, my mouth turning down at the nasty shit he just gave me. “The fuck is this?”

“That is a pumpkin spice latte, and it tastes like Christmas in a cup.”

“Okay, three things,” I say, setting the cup in the cup holder. “Christmas doesn’t taste like anything, because it’s not fucking food. Second, it’s August, Jace. Stop it. And third, don’t make me drink the satanic piss of a pumpkin ever again. I’ll fucking handcuff you to the trunk of the squad car and throw pumpkin ass lattes at your head.”

“Kinky, man.”

“Fuck off. I’ll be right back, and that monstrosity better be gone.”

Climbing out of the car, I head into Starbucks myself, cursing the existence of my best friend. How in the hell he can drink that shit, I’ll never know.

Swinging the door open, I step inside and head over to the counter.

“What can I get you today?” the young woman asks.

“The opposite of the crap my partner just brought out to me,” I grumble, tossing a five onto the counter. “I’ll take a black, tall.”

It takes her hardly any time to hand it over, and I grab it, telling her to keep the change. Walking back out to the squad care, I climb inside and take a sip of my drink.

“Happy, sunshine?” he retorts, making a scene of drinking both coffees.

“No thanks to your pumpkin-loving ass,” I joke, smacking him in the back of the head.

He goes to give me shit back when the radio crackles to life with a call.

“Squad twenty-three on it,” I respond, and we pull into the flow of traffic, sirens and lights blaring.

The call we arrive to five minutes later is the usual he-said/she-said bullshit of neighbors who don’t like each other. After telling them to go back inside or we’d drag their asses to the station, they shut the hell up and went their separate ways.

The first half of the shift is much of the same, and I soon find myself staring at the clock on the dash, praying time would go faster. At this point, it’s not even because of Nacole, it’s because the shift sucks.

Not soon enough, it’s time to head back to the station to do paperwork, and I couldn’t be happier. As we make our way back, my phone buzzes with a text.

Nacole: Do you need me to bring anything tonight?

Garret: Just you.

Nacole: Okay then. But be prepared, I’m not all that exciting on my own.

Garret: Trust me, you are.

Nacole: Do you have condoms?

Choking, I spray water everywhere and cough loudly, trying to get a hold of myself. Jace looks over my shoulder and sees the text mid-cough, and he laughs at me.

Garret: We’re covered, don’t worry.

Nacole: I figured, just keeping you on your toes. Have a good rest of your shift.

Garret: See you tonight.

Shoving my phone back in my pocket, I look up to see a shit-eating grin on Jace's face. Scoffing, I don’t even bother asking him what it’s for.

“Damn, love looks good on you, man. Not gonna lie.”

“What are you going on about?” I ask, turning to look at him as he parks the cruiser.

“Makes you way less cranky, unless you haven’t had your pumpkin spice latte.” Climbing from the car, he slams the door shut and I hurry out after him.

“Don’t you insult me by talking about that swill,” I groan, and he laughs harder.

“Dude, chill. But for real, I’m happy for you, brother.”

“Thanks. I think.”

Jace jogs inside and I stroll in after him, shaking my head at my dumbass partner. I head toward my desk, but I’m stopped when someone grabs my arm.

“Officer Walker?”

Turning around, I find a young woman with zero makeup, her hair up in a ponytail, and a small smile on her face.

Holy crap.

“Alison?” I ask, and she nods at me.

“Yeah. I was hoping you were here.”

“Just got back. Everything okay?”

“Was wondering if you had a minute?”

I gesture toward the bullpen and walk her over to my desk. She sits in the chair in front of it and I sit across from her, leaning my forearms on my desk and holding her stare.

“I just wanted to thank you,” she says, and I raise an eyebrow.

“For what?”

“Being so kind that day Lance was arrested. I wasn’t in a good place, and you and your partner saved my life.”

“Just doing my job,” I state, leaning back in my chair.

“No, you guys saved my life. I don’t think he was gonna stop that day, and it’s because of you guys giving me a chance at a better life that I decided to legally press charges. He’s still being held on a hefty bond he can’t pay.”

“Coward deserves it.”

“I moved back in with my parents. My dad flipped his lid, but they’re supportive. I joined a support group, and I’m doing okay.”

I smile at her, taking in just how different she is from only a few weeks ago. Alison looks happy and healthy, and the only evidence of that day is a very faint bruise near her jaw. It makes me incredibly happy.

“I’m so happy for you, Alison.”

“Thank you, Officer.”

“Garret, please.”

“Garret. Is your partner around too? I wanted to thank him as well.”

“Yeah, Jace should be here somewhere. Let’s go find him.” I stand to get him when she hugs me again, and this time I hug her back. Not every call ends with a happy tone, and I’m glad to see this one did. When Jace and I went to visit her in the hospital, she told us she was twenty and had only been dating the guy about six months, so I’m glad she got out of that situation. She’s way too young to have that much pain in her life.

Jace is over near the vending machines. When he turns around, his reaction is much like mine—shock and happiness. Jace being the kind of guy he is, he leans down and sweeps her into a bear hug, her feet dangling a few inches from the ground. When she leaves the station ten minutes later, her step looks bouncy and we both stand there watching her go.

“Damn,” Jace mutters, and I nod. He looks at me with a huge grin and holds up his hand. Bumping my fist against his, I grab him in a half hug. Any shit call today just morphed away. Nothing could bring us down now.

That right there is why I chose this job.

§

Making sure the pot won’t boil over, I place the lid on it and check the time. Five o'clock. Nacole should be here soon.

Rushing to the bathroom, I hop in the shower and wash up as fast as I can, stepping out only a few minutes later. Wrapping a towel around my waist, I wipe the steam from the mirror and grab my electric razor, taking my facial hair down to a normal scruff. Giving my hair a quick towel dry, I brush it back off my face and stride into my bedroom to get dressed.

Settling on a pair of worn jeans and a T-shirt, I’m tossing the towel into my hamper when the doorbell rings. Hitting the light switch, I rush downstairs and over to my front door. Yanking it open, I find the most beautiful sight: Nacole standing in front of me, a bag over her shoulder.

“Hi,” she greets, and I step out onto my porch to give her a kiss, one of her arms coming around my waist. Pulling away, I usher her inside and take her bag from her, tossing it onto the couch and then turning to look at my girl.

“I am so glad you’re here.”

“Me too. How was work?”

Taking her by the hand, I lead her over to the couch and sit down, pulling her down next to me. I recount the events with Alison, emotion crossing her face while I’m telling her.

“That’s amazing, Garret. I can’t imagine how good that must've felt for you and Jace to see her again. You should be so proud.”

“Yeah, not many cases like that end so well. She’s so damn young, you know? She deserves to have a great life, not deal with a druggie piece of shit who hurts her like that.”

“Well, it’s over now.” Nacole stands from the couch and walks into the kitchen, her long hair swaying behind her. And damn right I watch that ass as she goes. Fuck. She’s perfection.

“What’s for dinner?” she yells, and I head into the kitchen, finding her at the stove about to lift the lid on the pot.

Stepping up behind her, I place my hands on her waist and rest my chin on her shoulder, kissing her cheek. “My homemade chili.”

“It smells delicious.”

“You smell better,” I groan, and she laughs, turning in my arms to lace hers around my neck.

Taking advantage, I kiss her and back us up until we’re next to the wall, her back flat against it. I take advantage and deepen the kiss, the urge to take her against the wall growing stronger when her tongue teases against mine.

I have to force myself to break away, my dick straining against the tight confines of my jeans at her flushed cheeks. She smirks at me, and I have to bite the corner of my cheek. That look on her face is downright sinful.

“How about I give you a tour while dinner is finishing up?” I suggest, and Nacole takes the hint.

I hold out my hand and she takes it, following me throughout the house for the next ten minutes. When we get to my bedroom, she strolls across the room to my bureau, where framed photos sit. She picks up the one of my graduation from the police academy, my parents and Brody standing with me.

“They look so proud of you, Garret.”

“Yeah, they are. I’ve done everything I can to make them too.”

Setting the photo down, she picks up another of Brody and me at his wedding. We’re both in suits with sunglasses on, and beers in our hands. We took the photo an hour before he got married. I was his best man—greatest privilege I’ve ever had.

“Garret?”

“What’s on your mind, sweetheart?”

She turns to me and lets out a deep breath. “At some point this weekend, I need to talk to you about something really important, okay?”

“Of course.”

“I just hope it doesn’t make you hate me.”

My brow furrows. “Why would you ever think I could hate you?”

“I need you to promise me, okay?”

I sit on my bed and pull her between my legs, her hands resting on my shoulders. “Nacole, nothing you ever tell me would make me hate you. And I’ve told you a million times, I’m not going anywhere, okay? You’re important to me. So important.”

“Okay.”

Resting her forehead on mine, she sighs and I pull her even closer to me. Lifting her head, she takes my lips with hers and her small hands cup my jaw, that wicked tongue running along my bottom lip.

Sliding my hands down her back, I groan against her mouth when I finally get my first feel of that ass I love so much. I squeeze and pull her closer to me, and she takes the hint, climbing onto my lap.

Breaking our connection, she looks down at me, panting from the kiss.

“You want to slow down?” I ask, brushing her hair off her face. “We’ve done things your way from the beginning, and I want you to know we can stop right now, before anything starts.”

“I need you, and I’m tired of running from everything. I want to face it head on. And before we do, I really need you to make love to me, Garret. I need you to show me what that really means.”

And just like that, my original plans fly out the window.