In Good Hands (Protect and Serve Book 2)

by Nadine Hudson

  Whether he was avoiding me or not, I didn’t care. I needed to focus on other things.

  My mind wandered to Friday night and meeting Brant. A smile immediately stretched the corners of my mouth. His dazzling eyes surfaced in my mind, and the way he had looked at me all night had my cheeks heating with a blush. Even though he had left the city early Saturday morning on a business trip, we messaged each other all weekend.

  Since we already had a history, talking to him was easy. There was no pressure to hold back or try to keep a great first impression going. I was definitely rusty at dating, and chatting with someone I knew made things so much easier.

  I glanced at the clock on my desk. Only twenty minutes remaining until the end of my shift. My cell phone buzzed and I quickly grabbed it off the desk to stop the loud, drumming sound.

  I cleared my throat before answering when I saw the caller ID. “Hey, you.”

  “Hey gorgeous,” Brant answered on the other line. “How’s it going being tied to a desk?”

  “Torture, so I’m going to need you to break me out.”

  He chuckled. “I have a better idea. How about dinner tonight?”

  “You’re back already?”

  “Mm hmm,” he hummed as I got up to start packing my things to leave. “It was just a short trip. So how about it, dinner at eight? My treat, of course, and you can tell me how exciting your day’s been.”

  “Um…” I looked up as the precinct’s door swung open, and Finn walked in.

  Finn’s brows were pulled tightly together as he gazed down at the phone in his hand. He paused at the door, his thumb swiping across the device’s screen. He suddenly looked up, and our eyes met.

  My heart skipped a beat, and I clenched my jaw. He looked pissed, and I held his stare as he slipped his phone into his pocket. My heart was racing a mile a minute as his features began to smooth out.

  Why was he so angry when he came in, I wondered.

  I shook my head as Brant’s voice came through the phone. “Hello? V, are you there?”

  “I’m here. Sorry about that.” An officer walked up to Finn, and his eyes finally moved away. I looked down at the clock on my desk. “I’ll see you at eight.”

  “Are you okay?” Brant questioned, and I nodded as if he could see me.

  “I’m okay, just getting ready to leave work. I’ll see you in a few, okay?”

  “Okay gorgeous, see you later.”

  I ended the call, rearranged my desk, and put everything back in place before throwing a final glance Finn’s way. He and the female officer, one I wasn’t very familiar with, had moved off to the side. She was smiling up at him with evident interest, her blue eyes squinting as she laughed. She was talking animatedly, and I frowned at the pang of irritation as Finn smiled at her.

  I walked away and headed to the locker room. I wasn’t bothered about him smiling at another officer. Why would I be? He could smile at cars driving by, for all I cared. After getting my handbag, I slammed my locker closed. As if seeing him was a trigger, our kiss moved to the front of my mind.

  I closed my eyes for a moment, reliving the moment we had shared in this very spot.

  Swallowing hard, I opened my eyes when the door to the locker room opened. I nodded to the officer who walked in and quickly left. The moment I stepped through the door, I came face to face with Finn.

  I tried to keep my expression neutral, unbothered by his presence, but my heart was beating a mile a minute.

  “Hey, partner.”

  “Hey,” I answered dryly as I stepped around him.

  “What? No Teacher taunting today?”

  Oh, great, small talk.

  His forced smile was so obviously fake, but I gave him the same look. I stared at the light scruff of hair on his upper lip, jaw, and chin where he’s usually clean-shaven. His hair was a tad longer, too. Now he had a slight roguish look that suited him, but I preferred him being clean shaven. I still liked seeing the small scar on his cupid’s bow but of course, staring at his lip sent me sailing towards forbidden thoughts. I quickly looked away.

  “I figured I’d stop teasing you, just in case you report me to the Captain. Or I don’t know, say I’m sexually harassing you.”

  He shrugged. “I’m used to it now.”

  “So,” I drawled as I adjusted my bag on my shoulder. “How’s life in the streets without me to protect you?”

  “I’m barely surviving.” The way his lips lifted into a smirk teased my stomach into knots.

  I shifted my weight from one leg to the next. “Well, I have to get going so, see you tomorrow, okay?”

  He nodded. “Okay.”

  When I turned to walk away, his fingers wrapped around my elbow, and my body tensed. I turned to him slowly as he stepped closer, and I gripped my bag tightly. His cologne was a subtle musky but sweet smell that immediately crawled up my nostrils.

  “We’re good, right?”

  I stared up at him for a moment and sighed.

  You kissed me, it felt amazing, and now I want more. No, we’re not good, you dick!

  “Yeah, of course, we’re good. Why wouldn’t we be?”

  His brows creased, and he released my arm. He didn’t look pleased with my response, although I’d told him yes. Maybe it was because I was pretending I didn’t know the reason behind his question.

  “Later,” I beamed and walked away.

  ***

  Finn

  I stepped out of the shower and combed my fingers through my wet hair. The bathroom was cloudy with steam, and I grabbed a towel to quickly dry off. After wiping a hand over the mirror, I came face to face with a tired man.

  “And a fool,” I grumbled.

  I placed my hands on the edges of the sink and leaned forward, inspecting my face before grabbing my beard trimmer. It’s been an exhausting two days without Veronica by my side. I had grown used to her company and bubbly personality, and without her, the car had been unnervingly quiet.

  I shouldn’t have kissed her, but I hadn’t been able to stop myself. That kiss had started something between us that no amount of pretending would stop, for me at least.

  Now, more than ever, I wanted her.

  The irrational side of me wanted to say to hell with her being Henry’s daughter and to hell with us being partners and the gossip a relationship would cause. The rest of me would rather stay away from the drama and avoid her father’s wrath. He wouldn’t understand that when I look at Veronica, I see a strong, beautiful woman. To Henry, I’m an old bachelor. I haven’t been serious about dating anyone in a long time. I was also a lot older than her.

  I didn’t care about the age difference, and I had a strong feeling she felt the same. And no matter what she’d said today, I knew we weren’t okay. The tension between us was thick, and our conversations were now short and forced. I’d expected our little talk in the parking lot to go worse than it did, but it hadn’t been great either.

  Veronica had agreed that our kiss was a mistake but she’d clearly been upset and hurt. It couldn’t be helped, though, I had to put a stop to things before this went any further. I knew that I wouldn’t stop myself from doing more if we ever kissed again. Her lips had felt so soft, so supple, and she just fit so perfectly in my arms.

  I turned my razor off and ran my fingers across my smooth cheeks.

  Today, she’d pretended everything was great between us, as if she’d wiped away the memory of what had happened. It was a punch in the gut.

  But wasn’t that what I wanted? For her to forget the kiss ever happened? So why was I so perplexed now that she was doing as I asked?

  I haven’t been able to get Veronica off my mind. Hell, I’d already been thinking about her more than I should before our kiss. There was just something about her, her determination and courage, that pulled me in without me noticing.

  Removing my towel, I left the bathroom and headed to my closet. My phone began to ring as I pulled sweat pants on and growled with irritation. I wasn’t in the mood to t
alk to anyone. When I saw the caller ID that it was Henry, my jaws clenched.

  “Hey Henry, what’s up?” I answered as I went into the kitchen.

  “We need to talk,” he replied, and I stiffened, the image of Veronica’s eyes fluttering closed as I kissed her surfacing in my mind.

  “Sure, about what?”

  “It’s about Veronica.”

  Relax, this isn’t about the kiss. There’s no way he could have found out.

  I opened my fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. “What about V? She’s on desk duty and staying out of trouble.” He didn’t answer right away, and I grew tense. “Henry?”

  “Maybe I made a mistake letting her join the force.”

  I sighed with relief. “She’s always been stubborn, do you really think you could have stopped her from becoming a cop?”

  “She’s like her mom in that sense. Whenever she sets her mind to something, nothing sways her. I just need her to slow down. I thought having her close where I could keep an eye on her would be less stressful.”

  I laughed. “You miscalculated there, for sure. All you’re doing now is worry, which is fine, but she went through training and she passed because she’s capable. Trust her. She’s just trying to prove herself.”

  Henry made a sound. “With you by her side, she’ll be safe, I know that. I just worry about when you’re apart.”

  You’d be more worried if you knew what went on when we’re together.

  A pang of shame hit me. I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. Henry and I have been friends for years. We had joined the force together and quickly became two of the best. I never wanted to become Captain, while he worked hard for the role. I’d lose my mind sitting behind a desk.

  “When you come in tomorrow, Whittaker needs you to take a look at the murder case she’s working on. Okay?”

  I bobbed my head. “Sure. I’ll take a look.”

  “I think she has a thing for you. I’ve seen you two talking.”

  I immediately found myself comparing Whittaker to Veronica. Whittaker was stunning with a pleasant smile and warm blue eyes, but she simply wasn’t Veronica.

  “Whoa, I’ll take a look at the case, but that’s it. You’ve seen us talking, that never involved flirting. Don’t go starting any rumors.”

  “You’re not getting younger, you know,” he reminded me. “Don’t wake up one day all alone and realize you blew your chance at happiness.”

  I was fully aware of my age and didn’t need a reminder. But if I had yet to find someone I cared about, I had no other choice but to be alone. I groaned with annoyance and changed the subject.

  “While we’re giving out dating advice, have you told Veronica about Jennifer?” Henry paused, and I started laughing. “She’s not going to care, you know, you’re worried for nothing. I’m sure she’ll be happy you’re seeing someone.”

  “And you need to find a woman, Finn. Stop walking around the place looking so serious, get laid, and smile a little. I’m going to go do that right now, in fact, so goodbye.”

  I laughed as I shook my head. Veronica might have gotten her stubbornness from her mother, but her lack of a filter definitely came from her father.

  I ended the call, but my phone rang again instantly.

  “Hello?”

  A soft chuckle came through over line. “Stop pretending to be decent.”

  The corner of my lips curved up immediately. “Lindy, you know I’m the most decent man you’ve ever known.”

  She chuckled softly. “Mm, that’s debatable. So what are you doing? I’m in town for tonight.”

  My smile withered. I had no intention of going out tonight. “I actually took some files home for a case I’m working on.”

  “I know when you’re lying. Stop being a house rat for one night, and let’s go out. It’s just dinner.” There was a pause as neither of us spoke. “Come on, Finn. I’m only here for one night and you’re the only ex that I don’t want to strangle.”

  I laughed. “Good to know I left a good mark. I really was the best, wasn’t I?”

  “Okay, Mr. Cocky, I’ll text you the address. I’ll see you in a bit, okay?”

  “Okay.” I ended the call and remained sitting on the bed for a moment.

  Lindy was the only ex I had that I was still friends with. I gazed down at the floor as I thought of her sweet smile and charisma. I got up and started getting ready. Maybe going for dinner would be better than staying home and thinking about Veronica. After getting dressed in a black button-down shirt and dark jeans, I checked my phone for the restaurant’s address.

  My relationships never lasted more than a few months, but I was tired of temporary flings and the exhausting process of getting to know one person after the next. It was better that I stopped dating, and I haven’t been interested in anyone—until now.

  I got to the restaurant and found Linda waiting. Her back was to the entrance, but I spotted her instantly. Her golden curls were hard to miss. She wore a loose pastel pink dress that fell to her ankle and a simple diamond necklace. At 5’9, her head didn’t rest against my chest when we hugged hello the way Veronica’s did.

  “You look amazing,” I told her, and she smiled, flashing perfect teeth.

  She returned to her seat, and I sat down as well. “Thanks, you don’t look too bad yourself.”

  She waved over the waiter who took our order, and then left. She placed her elbows on the table and narrowed her eyes. “I’ve been calling you for a week now to let you know I’d be coming.”

  “No, I haven’t been ignoring you.”

  She smirked and leaned back in her chair. “I never said you were. You must have seen my calls though, what’s going on with you?”

  I poured myself some water and took a sip. “I’ve just got a lot going on. I have a new partner.”

  She grew serious. “Are you okay with that?”

  “Yeah, she doesn’t know what happened to my last partner yet. If another cop tells her, then fine, but it’s not something I want to talk about.”

  Linda nodded. “I understand. So it’s a she, huh?”

  “Don’t start, and don’t try to set me up with anyone. It’s weird.”

  She held her hands wide as she hunched her shoulders. “How is it weird? Sure we dated, but we’re like best friends now.”

  Behind her, bright red hair caught my eyes, and the world around me stopped. Veronica entered the restaurant wearing a red dress to her mid-thigh, her hair down in wavy curls. Her hazel eyes wandered around the restaurant until a huge smile lit up her face. She stepped forward, her dress hugging her every curve.

  I watched her until she crossed the restaurant, several eyes on her, and she was pulled into a man’s arms.

  My brows knitted as I watched him kiss her cheek, her date’s eyes rolling up and down her body. I could easily see her blush from where I sat, and a switch inside me flipped on.

  Jealousy, red and hot, began coursing through my veins, and I looked away.

  No. No. I have no reason to be jealous. No reason at all. She’s my partner, and that’s all.

  “Finn?” Linda called softly, and I looked her way. “Oh my god, that’s her, isn’t it?”

  I downed my glass of water. “Yeah,” I drawled as I clenched my fists under the table. “That’s her.”

  Chapter Three

  Veronica

  I took the final bite of my salmon and washed it down with my tea. Across from me, Brant ate slowly, his eyes drifting to me from time to time. We couldn’t stop staring at each other, stealing silent glances. We talked occasionally but focused on finishing up our meals first.

  My stomach clenched each time he looked my way.

  He looked great, dressed in a deep blue and perfectly ironed dress shirt. A dazzling watch sat on his wrist, and the first two buttons on his shirt were unbuttoned, teasing his smooth hairless chest.

  I made the right choice coming here. I needed this. Sitting here and enjoying a nice meal with someone th
at was making his feelings for me clear was refreshing. I had missed out on dating and doing things like this for so long. So what if Finn didn’t want me? That’s fine. It didn’t mean no one else would.

  I was only his partner only. His words, not mine. And he’d made it clear that I’d never be anything else. I shouldn’t waste my time wanting someone who doesn’t want me. Talking to him today had been awkward for us both, I’m sure. I just hoped by the time I was off desk duty, we’d be past it all.

  Brant’s phone began to vibrate, and he quickly picked it up and swiped his thumb across the screen. He placed it back on the table and gazed at me again.

  “You look amazing, Veronica.” He shook his head, bewildered. “Truly, you’ve always been beautiful.”

  “Thank you,” I said as I blushed. “You clean up pretty nice too. So, how was your business trip?”

  He shrugged as he sat back in his chair. “It was good, uneventful, but I’ll be here for another two weeks.”

  “I guess I’ll be seeing more of you for a while then?”

  “You won’t be getting rid of me any time soon.” He held his glass out to mine, and I tapped it with my drink.

  Around us, the restaurant was alive with soft chatter. I placed my glass on the table and eyed Brant as his phone began to vibrate yet again. It was the fifth call since I’d arrived.

  He made a face as he picked it up, swiped at the screen yet again, and then placed it back down. He looked nervous but the expression was gone as quickly as it appeared. I grew tense as I had a stray thought: does he have a girlfriend?

  Surely not, but I couldn’t stop myself from asking him if everything was okay.

  “Is something wrong?”

  “Oh no,” he answered as he itched at his brow. “Sorry about that. It’s work. I rarely have time for myself. Tonight you have my undivided attention, though.”

  The spark of doubt at the back of my mind didn’t vanish, but I nodded. “Okay.”

  The sound of a piano playing caught both of our attention and that of the other diners as well. Brant reached across the table and his warm hand came down on mine. The corner of his mouth curved up, and I rolled my eyes playfully.