CHAPTER TEN

HAZEL

I slept surprisingly well on that stiff, uncomfortable cot. 

Liam’s clicking on the keyboard became calming white noise that helped lull me away to sleep. Come to think of it, I immediately felt calmer the moment he held me against him and told me I was safe.

When I woke with a start, I temporarily forgot where I was. The last thing I remembered was Johnny’s hard grip on my arm as he dragged me along the street. My brain, my throat, and shoulder all felt incredibly sore. Instinctively, my body moved to get away. 

“Hey, hey! It’s okay! You’re okay.” 

Strong but gentle fingers touched my shoulders and I looked into blue, stormy eyes once again. Liam’s eyes. 

He no longer had on his blue police uniform but looked no less strong and powerful in jeans and a heather gray T-shirt. Crouching on the floor next to my cot, his handsome face searched mine.

“How are you feeling, Hazel?”

“Um, hungover. A bit beat up.” My voice crackled like sandpaper and Liam handed me the water bottle next to my cot which I accepted gratefully. 

“How long have I been out?” 

“About six hours. It’s almost five in the morning.” Liam’s lips pressed into a thin, tense line and I tried not to think about kissing him again. “Hazel, what do you remember about last night?” 

“Um, my ex-fiance took me to a weird night club place. He kept making me drink even though I didn’t want to. I just took small sips but still ended up way drunker than I thought. We got into an argument and it’s all hazy from there. He dragged me out and I couldn’t walk. I was so scared.”

“Hazel.” Liam’s hands fell to mine as he said my name and looked at me gravely. I felt I should’ve yanked them out of his grip but I didn’t. I couldn’t deny how secure and comforting they felt despite wishing I could hate him.

“I think your ex may have drugged you. I strongly suggest you go to a diagnostics lab to get tested as soon as possible.” 

My whole body felt like it turned to ice. 

“No. There’s no way.”

You thought there was no way he could cheat either but look where we are.

“If you test positive, I could arrest him,” Liam said. “If he tried doing that to you, he could do it to someone else.” 

“No,” I said again, louder. “There’s. No. Way.” 

“So what would have happened if I hadn’t been there?” Liam asked with a hint of anger. “Would he have taken you home? Made sure you were safe? He didn’t seem too concerned about that.” 

“With all due respect, Officer,” I said, refusing to say his first name like it would cross some invisible line. “Thank you for being there and doing your job, but this is between my ex and me.”

“Hazel,” Liam pleaded, squeezing my hand a little. “He thinks he got away with something. If we let him--” 

“Thank you, Officer,” I repeated robotically. “If there’s no reason to keep me here, I would like to go home now.” 

Liam sighed defeatedly and slumped his shoulders as he released my hands. Part of me didn’t want him to let go, despite telling myself I needed to get away from him as soon as possible. 

“I just need your full name and address to finish my report,” he said tiredly as he stood and returned to the computer desk. “Your driver’s license is fine. And then you can go home.”

I pulled my ID from my wallet and handed it over to him without a word. His fingers brushed against mine and I once again felt that warm, magnetic connection that drew me to him that first night. 

But I was weak that night. It was time to be strong. 

“Where are you staying in town?” Liam asked as he typed my information. 

“With my brother and sister-in-law,” I answered. 

His fingers paused on the keyboard as he raised an eyebrow at me. “Is your brother Asher Forsyth?” 

“Yes.” Everybody in town knew my brother, especially the cops with his very publicized bullshit trial a few years back. I knew some of the older cops still hated him, believing he was guilty. Some people’s minds could never change even when the evidence stared them in the face. 

But Liam didn’t bat an eye. 

“Didn’t know you were a local girl,” he mused as he returned my license to me. 

“I’ve lived in the city for the past few years. Just staying here temporarily.”

He smiled and I felt myself growing warm at how handsome he looked. Goddamn, that was a smile that could melt panties for miles away. 

“That’s funny. I grew up in the city and moved out here a few years back. It’s like we’re from exact opposite worlds that collided.”

“That’s nice. Am I free to go?” 

His smile fell and I hated sounding like such a bitch. But I knew if I stayed here, I’d never want to stop small-talking and flirting. Then that would lead to kissing and my night with him taught me there was no going back once that line was crossed.

Nevertheless, he persisted. 

“Yes, Hazel. If you’d like, I’d be happy to take you home.”

That made me feel even worse. He was being a perfect gentleman, probably going above and beyond what any other cop would do to make sure I was okay, and I was shutting him down left and right. 

“No, thank you.”

He shrugged, clearly giving up. 

“Suit yourself.” 

I awkwardly stood, straightening out my clothes that got dirty and twisted around in my scuffle with Johnny. Liam’s attention returned to the computer screen, his fingertips clicking on the keyboard. Slowly moving toward the door as I watched, his eyes never flickered over to me once. 

“There is something I’d like to ask you,” I said, my heart fluttering nervously. 

He paused and looked over to me. “Yes?”

“Who’s Katie?” 

His eyes narrowed threateningly at me and his whole body tensed up. For a moment, I felt scared. Perhaps confronting him about that was a bad idea.

“Where’d you hear that name?” he demanded, his voice low and menacing. “How do you know about her?” 

“You said it in your sleep the other night,” I answered almost too quietly to hear. “When I stayed over.” 

The anger left his eyes and he sat back, relaxing his posture. 

“So I did,” he stated. His dark blue eyes flickered back to me, looking gentler than a second ago. “She’s… an ex.” The words seemed to come out of him uncomfortably. 

I nodded with my hand on the doorknob. 

“And you want her back. That’s what you said, anyway.” 

He sighed deeply and placed his forehead in his hand for a moment before standing and walking toward me. His expression was pained, uncomfortable and sad. 

“In some ways, yes. But it’s not what you think, Hazel.” 

“No, don’t worry. I get it.” I pulled the door open with so much force it nearly hit the wall, but I was desperate to get out of there. “Thanks for letting me know.”

I walked as quickly as I could down the hall, my legs still a little shaky but at least they worked. All I wanted to do was spend the rest of the day under the covers, away from the second biggest mistake of my life.