Hot Cop Next Door: A Second Chance Romance

by Brooke Noelle

  “It’s my pleasure,” she replied.

  “All right, I’m going to leave you three to get settled. I suggest you all go to bed early tonight. You two are looking a little rough around the edges. I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” she said, giving each of us a kiss on the cheek.

  I walked her out and was lectured again about not appearing enthusiastic enough. When I went back inside, I headed to the bedroom where I knew I would find Lily and Savannah. They were sitting on the fluffy pink rug on the floor of the room, reading a book together.

  Savannah looked up. “Did you want to shower?”

  I nodded. “That sounds like an excellent idea.”

  “I’ll be right back, Lily.” She stood and walked out the door, heading for the master suite. “There’s a few things for you, and before you say I shouldn’t have, it isn’t much. Just a couple outfits to hold you over.”

  I walked toward her, wrapped my arms around her, and kissed her. “Thank you. I don’t mean to be a dick. You’ve gone out of your way, and I really appreciate it. All of it—especially what you did for Lily. This means the world to her and me.”

  “You’re very welcome. Here, take this and I’ll see you in a bit,” she said, handing me several bags.

  I peered inside and laughed when I found socks, underwear, my favorite shaving cream, and a pack of razors.

  “You’re very observant. You could have a job as a detective,” I teased.

  She shrugged. “I pay attention to things.”

  I held up the bag. “This proves it. The fact you knew what clothes Lily had—well, it’s impressive.”

  She grinned. “I try. Now, go shower. Wash the soot out of your hair.”

  I hadn’t bothered trying to rid myself of the smell that was clinging to my uniform. I had worn my work pants and the once-white T-shirt I had worn under my uniform when I went to pick Lily up. I should have known Savannah was up to something when I found her gone and my pants and T-shirt hanging on the back of a dining room chair when I awoke from my nap earlier.

  After a long, hot shower, I felt a bit more human. I followed the sound of Lily’s chattering to the kitchen, where she was helping Savannah set the table.

  “Sit down, Daddy. Me and Savannah are making dinner,” she said proudly.

  “Oh, you are?”

  Savannah came out of the kitchen and placed my mom’s casserole on the table. “Well, Grandma made dinner. We’re serving it.”

  “Are we going to stay with Savannah, Daddy?” Lily asked.

  “For tonight, yes.”

  “I want to stay again,” she stated.

  “You guys are welcome to stay for as long as you like. I’ve got plenty of room and wouldn’t mind the company,” Savannah said.

  “I don’t want to intrude,” I told her. “You’re a young, single woman. You don’t need us cramping your style.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Yes, because my busy social life would definitely be hurt. I’m serious. I want to help.”

  “Come on, Daddy. I already have a room and everything,” Lily said.

  “You already have a room at Grandma’s house too,” I reminded her.

  “But it’s not like this room.”

  I felt like they were ganging up on me. “I’ll think about it.”

  Lily smiled and seemed satisfied. Savannah must have read my hesitation and didn’t seem quite as pleased with my answer.

  We finished dinner, and Lily watched TV while I helped Savannah clean up.

  “What happened to your couch?” Lily asked Savannah.

  The blanket she had thrown over the back had slipped, revealing some of the slash marks. I looked at Savannah, warning her not to tell the truth.

  “It’s old, and when I moved here, it got cut. I’m going to get a new one someday. Maybe you can help me pick one out,” she said.

  Her answer placated Lily.

  “Let’s get you ready for bed. Daddy is beat and needs some sleep, and so does Savannah,” I said, looking at the exhaustion on her face.

  “Where are you going to sleep, Daddy?”

  Savannah and I looked at each other. She threw up her hands and walked out of the room.

  “I’m going to sleep on the couch,” I told Lily, hating that I was lying but not quite ready to admit to sharing a bed with Savannah.

  My gaze drifted over to the couch where Savannah had repositioned the blanket. That had been one show of violence from her ex. I wondered exactly what he was capable of. After getting Lily tucked in, I headed into Savannah’s bedroom. It felt weird to be sleeping in her bed.

  I wanted to ask her about Asher but held off. I didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but it was definitely in the back of my mind.

  “Good night,” Savannah said, kissing me on the lips before laying her head on my bare chest.

  I wrapped my arm around her and stared up at the ceiling, thinking about the fire and wondering who I had pissed off that badly. Only one name came to mind.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Savannah

  It was a little strange to get ready for my first day at my new job while sharing the bathroom with Cameron. The whole house felt like a little beehive of activity. Lily was buzzing in and out, asking advice about which of her new dresses she should wear to school.

  “I’m leaving early,” Cameron said, coming into the kitchen to rinse his coffee cup. “I want to talk to Lily’s teacher and give her the story before Lily gets a chance to share it. I don’t want it turning into some wild rescue story.”

  He gave me a quick kiss and bolted out the door. I finished getting ready for work before heading out myself. I was nervous and excited at the same time for my new job.

  “Good morning. I’m Savannah Griffith,” I announced to the woman sitting at the front.

  She smiled. “I know who you are. It’s good to meet you. I’m Tanya. I’ll show you around, and then you can get started.”

  Tanya gave me the grand tour before leading me back to Cesar’s office. I was feeling good about my job. Everyone was super friendly and welcoming. The studio was small and only employed about fifteen people, which I liked. I knew I would have more opportunities to practice my craft in a place like this rather than one of the bigger studios with a full staff of high-paid producers.

  “How do you like it so far?” Cesar asked, gesturing for me to sit down.

  “Everyone is great. I’m excited to get started.”

  “Good. Do you have any musicians you’ve worked with?”

  I shook my head, feeling a little embarrassed about my lack of real experience. “Not really. In college I did some producing, but nothing big.”

  “Have you had a chance to enjoy the nightlife in Nashville? I think there’s live music on every street corner,” Cesar joked. “Everyone is looking for their chance to break into the industry.”

  I shrugged. “I did hear a band at a local bar last week. They were awesome. A little rock, a little country, and very fun.”

  “Did you get the name of the band?”

  “No, I didn’t.”

  “Is that your preference in music?” he asked.

  “I like most kinds of music, but I do tend to lean toward the country anthems and Southern rock style,” I said, hoping I wasn’t killing my chance at a future with the studio.

  Cesar smiled. “Great! How about you track down that band and see if they’re signed. If not, let’s get them in here and cut a demo with you as the producer. That’ll give me an idea about what you can do, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll discover your first big thing.”

  My eyes widened. “Seriously?”

  He chuckled. “Absolutely. I want to see what you have to offer. Let’s be honest: If you don’t have what I’m looking for and you don’t like it here, why waste time?”

  I nodded. “I won’t waste your time. I promise.”

  “That’s what I like to hear. You can sit in with our other producer and get a feel for the controls and how things work.”

 
I nodded and jumped up, eager to get inside the booth.

  The day flew by, and before I knew it, I was being sent to lunch. I called Cameron, eager to tell him my good news. The moment he answered the phone in a short, monotone voice, I knew things weren’t going well for him. I decided to keep my news to myself for the time being.

  “What’s up?” I asked. “Did your insurance agent come out?”

  “No. I’m at the station.”

  “Oh,” I said, wondering if he’d decided to go to work after all.

  “Yeah. The fire investigator said it was definitely arson. They found a gas can in the backyard with a rag shoved inside. Whoever started the fire likely assumed the can would be engulfed in the flames. It wasn’t. They got some fingerprints and are going to swab for DNA,” he said in a curt voice.

  “Oh, well, that’s good. Hopefully they’ll catch who did it.”

  He was silent. It was a heavy silence, and I knew he was angry with me, but I didn’t know why.

  “Savannah, would Asher do this?” he said in a huff.

  “I don’t know. Do you think it was him?” I asked, my blood running cold and my knees suddenly feeling weak.

  “I don’t know. I guess we’ll find out soon enough,” he grumbled.

  I waited for him to say something else. The awkward silence was killing me.

  “Okay, well, I better get back to work. My break’s over,” I lied. “I’ll see you tonight.”

  “Yep. Bye,” he said and hung up the phone.

  I wanted to say Asher couldn’t do anything like that, but that wasn’t true. Asher was erratic. He’d been in town a couple days ago. Deep down, I knew there was a good chance Asher had started the fire in an effort to get revenge. This was exactly why Cameron hadn’t wanted me in his life. Had I just made his biggest fear happen?

  I pasted on a fake smile and headed back to work. I would deal with the Asher situation later. By the time I got home, I had worked myself into a serious mood. If Asher had started the fire that had destroyed Cameron’s home, I was convinced he was capable of physical harm toward me or Cameron or Lily. Worse, I had to wonder if he was capable of murder. Even thinking the word made my stomach churn.

  Lily and Cameron arrived about twenty minutes after I did. I could see the anger and frustration in Cameron as he moved around, his jaw set in a firm line.

  “Hi,” I said in a soft voice.

  “We need to talk. Lily, sit tight. I’ll be right back,” he said before heading out the front door.

  I followed him, worried he was going to tell me they had the proof they needed to hold Asher responsible.

  “What’s up?” I asked, nerves still churning in my belly.

  “Thank you for everything you’ve done. I mean it. I will pay you back. I don’t want your charity.”

  “It’s not charity. I like helping out. I’m in a position to do so.”

  “I’m going to my mom’s house. Lily and I will be staying there.”

  I blinked. “What? Why?”

  “I don’t think it’s safe here. Being with you has put my daughter in danger,” he said matter-of-factly, as if he had a mountain of evidence to back up that statement.

  “I understand you think it was Asher, but you don’t know that for sure. Burning your house down and not mine is way out of character for him. I know he has said and done some pretty drastic things, but I don’t think he would commit a felony,” I reasoned.

  “I’m sorry, but I do believe this is connected to Asher’s recent appearance in town. He was served with that restraining order on Saturday and was none too pleased according the deputy I talked with. The TRO likely pushed him over the edge and he retaliated—against me. What if I had home, Savannah? What if Lily had been there?”

  “You weren’t, and neither was Lily, thankfully. Even if it was Asher, I don’t think he would intentionally hurt a child,” I argued.

  I could see his mind was made up. His tense shoulders and the way his jaw was set told me he held me responsible. It hurt. It also really pissed me off.

  “Savannah, I can’t stay here. I took the risk once, and look what it cost me.” His eyes moved over the front yard and to the pile of charcoal where his house had once stood.

  “You can’t blame me for that!” I said, louder than I’d intended. “Even if it was Asher, why punish me?”

  “I’m not punishing you. I’m protecting my daughter.”

  “Cameron, please—”

  “Stop. You wouldn’t understand. You’re not a mother and don’t know what it’s like to love a child. I would quite literally lay down my life for my daughter. I cannot put her in danger. I just can’t. I’m sorry. Really, I am. I’m not mad at you, and I am certainly not taking this out on you. I need to put some distance between us. I’ll be in touch.” He turned and went back into the house.

  Tears burned in my eyes. I didn’t know why I was so upset about them leaving. It wasn’t like they had moved in, and it wasn’t like we were a family. They had crashed for one night. No big deal.

  Then why did it feel like he was ripping my heart out?

  I took a few deep breaths, composed myself, and went back inside.

  “Let Lily take some of her clothes,” I insisted.

  “She’s got stuff at my mom’s,” Cameron replied without looking at me.

  “Well, it isn’t like I’m going to wear them,” I snapped.

  His blue eyes met mine. “Fine. She’ll take a couple.”

  I grabbed a bag and helped Lily pick out three dresses. I packed up a few of her favorite books as well while Cameron grabbed the clothes I had bought him.

  He was standing in the hallway when Lily and I emerged. “There’s a check on the bed. It should cover the cost of the clothes. I’ll pay you for the bedroom stuff later,” he said, not looking at me once again.

  I rolled my eyes. I was going to tear the check to pieces. “Fine.”

  I dropped low and gave Lily a big hug.

  “I’m sorry we have to leave,” she said in a pouty voice. “I really liked it here.”

  “I know, sweetie. It’s okay. You’ll have fun at Grandma and Grandpa’s house,” I assured her.

  “Let’s go, kid,” Cameron said and walked out the front door. I watched from the front stoop as they loaded up. Cameron gave me one last look before he backed out and drove away.

  I was alone once again. I looked over at the spot where Cameron’s house should have been and felt a cold shiver of fear race down my spine. Maybe it had been Asher and his plan all along had been to get Cameron away. Cameron was a police officer and my protector. Asher had removed him from the equation.

  I looked up and down the street, suddenly feeling very alone. I went back inside, shut the door, and locked it tight before drawing all the blinds closed. I felt as if Asher was out there, watching and waiting for the right time. The right time for what, I didn’t know.

  Cameron believed Asher was capable of arson. What if he was? What did that mean for my own safety? I quickly checked the three smoke detectors in my house. I could be next. I wanted every second possible to escape should I wake up to flames.

  “Relax, Savannah. You’re just as bad as Cameron, jumping to conclusions.”

  I had hoped to reassure myself with the words. It didn’t work.

  Chapter Thirty

  Cameron

  “Want to talk about it?” my mom asked, sitting at the dining table with her morning cup of coffee.

  “About?” I asked, pouring myself a cup with jerky movements.

  She raised an eyebrow. “You stomped around last night when you got here. You’ve said about ten words total. Clearly, you’re mad. I’m assuming since you’re here and not at Savannah’s house, it has something to do with her. So, I ask again: Would you like to talk about it?”

  I looked around the house. Dad was out in his shop and Lily was still in bed. I flopped down in a chair across from her and let out a long sigh. It felt as though I were releasing the demon that had be
en twisted inside me all night.

  “I don’t know what I’m doing.”

  She smiled. “Oh, hon, we all feel that way most of our lives. Every day is new. It’s a new day to figure out what it is we want and to do it right.”

  I ran my hand through my hair. “I think I screwed up. Again.”

  “With Savannah?” she asked softly.

  I nodded. “Yes. I mean, I like her, I really do. We get along so well, and I know she cares about Lily, but she isn’t a mother. She isn’t a parent. She doesn’t understand how precious a child’s life is,” I said, knowing I wasn’t making a lot of sense.

  “No one is a parent until they are. You figure it out as you go. Are you saying you don’t want to be with Lily because she doesn’t have her own children and wouldn’t know how to be a mother to Lily?” Her voice was filled with frustration.

  “No. I mean yes, kind of.” I groaned. “It’s so complicated.”

  She scoffed. “I think you’re being ridiculous. You weren’t a parent until Lily was born. I wasn’t a parent until I had you, and look, you’re still alive. We all learn as we go. Savannah is a smart girl—I think she can figure out how to feed the child and keep her alive. It isn’t total rocket science. There is a little something called instinct.”

  I rubbed a hand over my face. “Being with Savannah puts Lily in danger.”

  “Oh, Savannah is a criminal? Member of the mob?” Mom asked, full of sarcasm.

  “No,” I said, deciding to come clean about the whole thing. I felt like I was betraying Savannah in a way, but my mom needed to understand the whole story. “She has an ex who is violent and unstable. That’s why she moved here. She was running away from him, but he found her.”

  “Oh,” she said, her face filled with concern. “How terrible. Is Lily in danger?”

  I took a deep breath. “He’s seen me with Savannah. We had a brief run-in at a bar. She had him served with a restraining order the day my house was burned to the ground.”

  My mom’s face went ashen. “You think he burned your house down?”

  I nodded. “I do.”

  “Oh my,” she said, nervously smoothing her hair with one hand. “What about Savannah? Is she safe?”