“Lynn, that’s silly. I just wanted a change.” I have serious issues with your recruit, and I have no restraint.
She then probes, “What’s going on with you and Officer Prescott?”
I catch Tristan waving at me and then at Dylan, I assume. Adjusting my escaped hair strands, I say, “He’s an old friend.”
“That’s the first I’ve heard.”
“I never talked about him before.” I glance at Dylan, seeing those sultry blue eyes trying to avoid mine, and I want to jump him. In front of an audience, no less.
“He’s Officer McGrath’s roommate.”
“I heard that.”
Dylan clears his throat. “I’m moving out, so that won’t be an issue.” He then pulls out his wallet and drops a bill onto the table. “Rumor is I need a new daycare or babysitter,” he retorts. He slides out of the booth, and I step aside. Reaching over, he picks up his sandwich and, ignoring me, says to Lynn, “I’m taking this to go. See you outside.”
Leaving, Dylan painstakingly avoids eye contact, succeeding more than me since I can’t stop staring at any part of his body, and goes outside. Through the window, I watch him stalk to one of the police cars in the parking lot, tossing his sandwich into the trash on his way there.
When he leans against the vehicle, I again can’t stop watching him. He wanted to share his body with me, regardless of my age or color. He wanted me to do the same. I can’t understand why.
“So now I own the Taj Mahal.”
I jerk my attention away from Dylan and give Lynn a flustered smile. “I’m sorry?”
“No.”
“No, what?”
“Officer McGrath. He’s not allowed to date you.”
I laugh. “Okay, but says who?”
“Says me. I don’t want you distracting him. He has great potential if he pays attention. If not, he fails and will end up peddling cell phones in a costume.”
“How on earth would I distract him?”
She frowns. “You’re a beautiful young woman, and I’ve seen him watching you. Don’t encourage his attention.”
I grip the edge of the table, humiliated and infuriated. “Lynn, I take offense to that. I don’t encourage anyone, and I don’t need a man. I’m still recovering from the last one.”
“I know that, my lovely, but you have that charmed look in your eyes. I need him to focus and finish training, ending my volatile career on an accomplished note. Look outside of Joy Springs and Sunnyville. Men will fall over themselves to date you, but it cannot be this one.”
“See you this weekend, if not later, Natalia,” Tristan says, waving to me on his way outside.
I limply wave and clear my throat, turning to either an intrigued or annoyed Lynn as she asks, “This weekend?”
“Uh, Tristan—Officer Prescott—asked me to go to the police banquet with him.”
Lynn sighs, making me frown again. Pointing her finger onto the tabletop, she says, “I don’t like him, Natalia.”
I laugh, but bitterness seeps into it. “Really? Because he lives in Joy Springs and is a police officer? I’m aware, but it’s just dinner. I might have a good time.”
“His reputation precedes him.”
“He’s nice. I went to school with Tristan,” I say, whitewashing his whitewashed dating history. From what I’ve seen, at least.
“But you’re vulnerable. I say this out of love. I don’t want to see you get hurt again—physically or emotionally. You’ve been through enough.”
“I can take care of myself, Lynn. Please.”
She finally nods. “Fine. But if Prescott gives you any trouble—”
“I’ll run to you. I promise.”
Nodding again, she scowls and reiterates, “No, McGrath. He’s my project of sorts. He’s also vulnerable and would destroy his career to have a roll in the hay with you, I’m sure.”
“Lynn, that’s an awful and untrue thing to say. I wasn’t doing anything with him.” Damn it.
“I’m don’t intend to offend you. I’m only giving you a reality check.” She shrugs, checking her phone as she tips her glasses forward to read. “I suppose he’s not in your age range, anyway. He’s a young man starting out, whereas you’re almost ready to settle down.” She cringes at the screen and then looks up at me. “But please don’t make it Prescott.”
Frowning, I glance out the window and notice Tristan and now Hayes talking to an angry Dylan. Unwittingly, I mutter, “Oh, no.”
Lynn turns to the window and says, “Well, here we go. Scrapping over you, no doubt.”
I scoff, “That’s sidesplitting.”
Ignoring the remark, Lynn squeezes my arm before leaving. Standing at the window, I watch Dylan clench his hands into fists, making his biceps strain against his shirt. His veins swell in his neck, and his jawline tenses. I want to lick through his stubble and make him moan Talia. So fucking sexy.
As Lynn interrupts the curious discord in the parking lot, I imagine my mouth closing over Dylan’s cock, tasting him as he begs for me to go faster. However, as I lick my lip, I notice Dylan watching me, now sitting in the driver’s seat, and I immediately jump away from the window. Shit.
Still, the image of his cock in my mouth settles between my legs, where he can’t be. I can’t be the older woman who prompts a young recruit to ejaculate into her predatory cunt.
Filthy.
I sigh and pick up Lynn’s plate holding her half-eaten sandwich, returning to the kitchen. It’s a problematic walk amid the pangs of guilt and sexual frustration, which spark more jolts of shame. It’s never-ending torture.
I have another long and lonely night ahead of me, in bed with my thoughts of Dylan buzzing with my vibrator.
Chapter 11
“Do you need anything?” Emerson asks as I set down my final stack of clothes, having thrown shit in my car I’ll need this week. Grant, Grayson, Grady, and I moved my things from Tristan’s apartment within an hour before he got home, for which his nuts and knees should be grateful.
“No, thanks. I’ll be out of your hair in a couple days.”
“Stop it. You’re always welcome here.” I smile at her even though I feel like breaking shit, like a printer or kneecaps. Is Talia really dating that asshole? Just because he’s the same age? What bullshit. She’s mine. Not his. Fuck.
I dig out my laptop as Emerson watches me from the doorway. “I need to look for an apartment.”
“There are nice ones up on Treehouse Lane.”
I glance up at her with disdain. “I refuse to live on a Treehouse Lane.”
“Fine. There’s a dump on Kiss My Ass Circle that might interest you.”
“Now, you’re talking.”
“You could always buy a house. You have a steady income now. Pull up a chair and stay awhile.”
I laugh. “I just bought a car. I’m not buying a house soon. There’s no need for me to have one now, anyway.”
“Okay. What about the apartments near the park? Those are nice and not near any treehouses.”
“We’ll see.”
“Dilly!”
I set aside the laptop and pick up an excited Gwen. “Gwennie Roo! I missed you, girl!”
“You back here?”
“For a bit.”
“Gwen, it’s time for bed. Tell Dilly goodnight, and you’ll see him tomorrow.”
“But, Mama!”
“No argument, little miss.”
Gwen’s frown is instant and cute as hell. “Night-night, Dilly.” She hugs me, and I squeeze her until she giggles.
Searching for apartments, I write a few, but I’m restless, thinking of Talia and Tristan. He can’t have her. I won’t let him. Looking at the clock, I notice it’s nine o’clock. Grabbing the things I need, I hit the bathroom and then pass Grant in the kitchen. “I’ll be back later.”
“You remember the garage code, don’t you?”
“Yep.”
Getting into my red Mazda CX-9, I drive to the other side of town and pull into the
parking lot. Having done my covert research, I look for her car and see the blue Ford sitting under a lamppost.
Going into the lobby, I see Talia at the counter, with her head bent as she reads something. The blonde with her—Sadie—I think, elbows her with a giggle. When Talia looks up, her eyes brighten as they roam over me, but then she frowns. “Officer McGrath.”
I frown back at her. “I need to talk to you.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.” Under her breath, Sadie mumbles, making Talia roll her eyes and add, “I have work to do. So, I can’t.”
Sadie says, “Go eat. It’s fine.” She again giggles and whispers, “Take all the time you need.”
Talia ignores her and picks up a stack of towels and a key card. I follow her up the stairs, hearing Sadie giggle more. What her deal is, I’ll never know.
When we get to the upstairs hallway, Talia spins to face me. “Go home.”
“Well, gee whiz, Talia. I’m homeless at the moment since you’re dating my roommate.”
Her mouth pops open, and she stutters, “He asked me out. I agreed to it, but we’re not dating.”
“Sure.” Talia doesn’t respond and continues walking, and I again follow.
“So, this prick’s birth year works for you?”
She stops at a door and shoves the key card into the door. “You lied to me.”
“I didn’t intentionally lie to you. I thought our age difference wasn’t a big deal.”
“It is for me.”
“Why? Because of your clock ticking?”
“What?” Talia pauses, and I want to kiss the skin below her ear.
“You never even gave me a chance.”
The door opens, and she goes in but stops at the doorway. “Officer Mc—”
“Stop fucking calling me that!” I maneuver my way into the room and shove the door closed behind me. Talia steps back, but I follow her as she sets the towels on the small table and puts her hands on her hips.
“I told you how I felt about this…gap. It makes me feel…”
“Don’t even say it,” I warn. “My mother is almost two years older than my dad. It’s a non-issue for them. They met in school. She went to college while he was still in high school. She didn’t care what people said.”
“That’s her, though! Ours is a bigger age gap, Dylan! I just…Maybe I’m weird and not like other women! It makes me feel…dirty.” Totally not expecting that.
“Dirty?”
“Dirty, like I’m an old cougar stalking a cub.”
“I’m not that much younger than you! I told you not to fucking say you’re old. But dirty? That’s kind of out there.”
“You wanted me to tell you the truth!”
“I’m in my goddamn twenties! I’ll be twenty-three in December! Are you just using that as an excuse because I’m a cop?”
“I won’t lie. It’s part of it. My past with them hasn’t been great!”
“But you’ll give Tristan a chance. He’s not a nice guy if you haven’t noticed.”
“I went to high school with him, so I knew him somewhat before he was a cop.”
“Where’s he taking you on your date?”
Talia’s gaze leaves mine. “To your police awards banquet.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? So now he’s flaunting you together in front of me? You know Taggart’s making me go. I would’ve asked you to be my date if things were different with her. So, you’ll be there with Tristan, and then afterward, you’ll...”
“I don’t want to hear your speculations about what I’ll do with Tristan.”
“He’ll fuck you so he can rub it in my face.”
“Oh, so you think because I almost fucked you, that’ll I’ll sleep with anyone?”
“Maybe. You said I was different but had no trouble jumping on him.”
“You are different, and that’s not how it happened.” She shakes her head at the floor. “You’re a rookie cop with something to prove and everything to lose, especially when you’re a Malone around here. They’re revered, Dylan. Legendary, even. I don’t fit in.”
“Why wouldn’t you? My family doesn’t dictate my life. But I’m aware my family’s reputation is on the line. It’s a ton of pressure.” Deep down, I also want to prove to Audrey I could do it. “I have everything riding on this job, and I have to prove myself beyond their low expectations, but you won’t even give me that much.”
“Dylan, stop. I can’t get past it.”
I step closer to Talia, and she backs against the wall next to the bathroom, but as if I’m a magnet, her tits push against my chest. “Do you really want him more than me?”
She swallows loudly and looks me dead in the eye, uttering, “Yes.”
“Now you’re lying. Every time I’m near you, you tremble, lose your breath, and automatically move closer to me. Like now.”
“You’re imagining things.”
“Only of us wrapped up in each other on that bed.”
“Dylan, I told you how I feel. It won’t happen. You need to go.”
“Tristan couldn’t give a shit about you. I hope you realize that. He’ll fuck you to fuck me and then fuck you over.”
Talia appears momentarily shocked by that but then scoffs, “I’m a big girl. I’ve learned from my mistakes and will decide if I sleep with him or not.” She sniffs and crosses her arms. Without looking at me, she asks, “And hold what over your head?”
“Taggart. He threatened to go to her if I’m dating you.”
Talia’s eyes fly to mine. “He wouldn’t do that to a fellow police officer.”
“You fucking want to bet? I knew he could be an asshole, but not to this degree and not to me. We were friends.”
“Were?”
“I moved out after work today. Tristan said it might be awkward for me to hear him fucking you.”
“How does he know about us?”
I shrug. “I told him I liked you. I guess I should’ve kept my mouth shut.”
Talia’s hands go to the sides of her forehead as she closes her eyes and bitterly laughs. “I’ll deal with him, but you shouldn’t be here, Dylan.”
“I’m off the clock. Taggart and Prescott can both kiss my ass.”
She clasps her hands beneath her chin. “There’s nothing left for us to talk about. Thank you for coming here to tell me about Tristan, but I need to decide for myself.”
“Why’d you switch sections, by the way? If you don’t want me, then it wouldn’t have mattered. I wouldn’t have said anything, especially in front of Taggart.”
“I…Because you…”
“Why, Talia? And then you flirted with Prescott in front of me.”
She narrows her eyes. “I wasn’t flirting.”
“Then, what were you doing?”
“Tristan and I know each other.” Talia shifts, rubbing her tits against my chest. The ache in my jeans is sharp and unrelenting. “Really. My break is over.”
“No, it isn’t.”
Talia sighs, avoiding my face when she hoarsely whispers, “We shouldn’t be alone together, Dylan.”
“Why not, if there’s nothing between us?”
She laughs and tries to move further back but can’t. “It’s not just about you.”
“What’s that mean?”
Talia rolls her watery eyes at the window. “It means I’m trying to stay away from you. That’s why I switched sections. That’s why I can’t look at you. Fuck, Dylan. You’re making this difficult.”
“Difficult and dirty. It wasn’t until you made it out to be that way.”
Her hands go to her eyes, covering them. “Please, I can’t do this.”
I lean down, closer to her face, and she drops her hands but still won’t return my gaze. “But you want to.”
“No, I don’t.”
“So, if I leave, and you don’t talk to me at work, you’ll be happy?” Her attention remains on the window. “Tell me you don’t have feelings for me, and I’ll walk away right now.”
>
“I can’t—”
“Yes or no? Nothing more.”
Sucking in a deep breath, Talia finally looks at me. “No. That’s the truth.”
“You’re lying to yourself and me,” I argue, but pain fills me as I close my eyes to ignore reality. Fuck, this isn’t how I thought it’d go. Opening my eyes, I whisper, “Jesus. This hurts.” My hand goes to my mouth, and I shake my head. “That can’t be true.” Her brown eyes are steadfast, and it punches me in the gut. Dropping my hand, I say, “Okay. I get it. Thanks for your honesty. Uh, I guess I won’t see you around.”
I start for the door, and Talia unexpectedly says, “Wait,” grabbing my arm, but when she does, she hits my left hip, and she immediately falls back and flattens against the wall. With wide eyes, she hisses, “You’re packing heat?”
“Yeah. Why? I guess carrying a firearm every day at work, I now feel powerless without one, if something would happen.”
Talia doesn’t respond, and I cautiously put my hands on her waist and pull her close. Seeing the genuine fear in her eyes, I ask, “Why are you so afraid of a gun? Did your ex threaten you with one?”
Talia stares at me until she reluctantly nods. “It was always a threat hanging over me if I left him.”
“Did he point it at you?”
Talia shakily sighs. “Often. To coax me to do things…”
I lift her chin to see her glassy eyes. “I would never do that to you. I wouldn’t point it at anyone unless they threatened my life.” My eyes travel her face. “Or yours.”
Talia noisily inhales, unsure of what to do with that statement, probably. She then says, “Sometimes, I get so caught up in you that I forget you’re a cop.”
“I like when you’re caught up in me, and at the moment, I’m not polishing my badge or parading my gun.” I roll my eyes. “Almost.” We stare at each other, with Talia’s eyes falling toward my gun and staying there. Sighing, I ask, “What else did you want to tell me? That I’m an all-around horrible person for following you in here? I got it. I’m going.”
Talia’s hands go to my wrists, and she makes no further move, but her brown eyes plead for more. Dropping her resistance, she whispers, “Dylan, don’t go.” When her eyes again fall to my gun, I remove my Glock 45 from my waistband holster. Talia watches me as I lay it on the dresser, next to the TV, and remove my belt. “There. It’s gone. You’ve told me to leave and to stay. What the hell do you want me to do?”
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