“I dunno, man. She’s a lightweight and wanted to party hard. I think she’s on some bipolar meds or something that shouldn’t be mixed with alcohol, too. I actually don’t drink much, I just wanted to look out for her.”
Lies. All lies. I could see it written as clear as day across his face. But I couldn’t prove it.
“Is she a friend? Girlfriend?” I asked. An invisible fist squeezed around my heart as if bracing for an answer I didn’t want to hear.
“Ex-girlfriend,” Johnny sneered. “She was begging to get back together and I almost went for it but not after this crazy stunt.” He tried to glance at her in my backseat but I stood squarely in front of the window, blocking his view. “You might want to cuff her. She’s legitimately crazy and unpredictable.”
“She’s not a threat to me,” I said, a warning tone in my voice. “Don’t worry about her. She’s out of your hair now.”
“Yeah, thanks to you, man.” His stance relaxed and a lighthearted smile spread across his face. This shady prick thought he was getting off scot-free. “So glad we have vigilant cops around, doing their jobs well.”
“Right, listen,” I said, pulling a small notepad from my chest pocket. “Let me get your license so I can take down your information. If she wakes up with a different story, we might be in touch again.”
The smile wiped off his face and his nerves returned as he fumbled for his wallet.
“Okay, no problem. I’m not from around here though, just visiting for the day. And uh, just so you know, she’s a master liar and manipulator. I wouldn’t believe anything that comes out of her mouth.”
“Good thing it’s a crime to lie to the police.” I smiled as I took his driver’s license, enjoying watching the blood drain from his face. “Stay put. I’ll be right back.”
I walked around the front of the car and slid into the driver’s seat. A quick glance at Hazel in my rearview mirror showed she was breathing normally but still not awake.
Keeping one eye on Johnny, I ran my fingers over the surface of the stiff plastic card he gave me, then slid it into the UV light reader in my dashboard.
Well, it’s a real ID. Or the most convincing fake I’ve ever seen.
Only then did I enter his information into the computer, only to come up with a blank screen.
Damn. No warrants or previous arrests. I knew he was up to something nefarious with Hazel but as far as the system was concerned, he was clean as a whistle. I couldn’t detain or arrest him for any legal reason.
Reluctantly, I exited my car and returned his ID to him.
“Am I free to go, officer?” he asked, his smile returning.
“Yes,” I replied curtly, eager to get this asshole out of my sight. “Have a safe night.”
He practically skipped off into the night while I stood next to my passenger side door and struggled to gather my thoughts.
What were the odds of running into her again? Sure, it was a small town but not that small. And right when she needed me, when she was still fresh on my mind. After I got off work, I planned on swinging by Harry’s on the off chance she was there again. And if she wasn’t, I’d picture her tight, curvaceous body while I pumped my cock with my fist.
Stop it, Barnes. She’s a goddamned victim.
I looked over at her still sprawled in my backseat but slowly moving, feeling around with her hands. She was waking up.
With a deep sigh, I opened the rear door and slid into the seat next to her, completely unsure of what either of us would say.
CHAPTER NINE
LIAM
I eased slowly into the seat next to Hazel as she gingerly sat herself up. Careful not to make any sudden movements, I reached for a bottle of water from the center console.
“Hazel, my name is Officer Liam Barnes,” I said steadily, evenly. “You’re sitting in a police car. You’re safe. You’re not in trouble. Nothing is going to hurt you.”
“Liam…” she groaned and one of her hands slid across the seat toward me, whether to reach for me or steady herself I couldn’t be sure. I wanted nothing more than to pull her tightly against me but I was still on duty. The cameras were still rolling. I had to be professional.
“Hazel, I have to bring you to the police station where you can rest and sober up. When you feel better, we can talk and file a report, alright?”
“Okay…”
I had no idea if she could hear or understand me. But I said and did what was needed to keep my superiors off my back. Once I was off duty, I would handle the rest of this in my own way.
“I’m going to drive nice and slow,” I said, nudging the water bottle into her hand. “We’ll be there soon and then this will all be over.”
Leaving her side killed me. All I wanted to do was stay with her, let her lean against me and stroke her hair until she felt better.
But I got back behind the wheel and continued to do the damn job.
By the time we got to the station, she was sitting up on her own and managed to take a few small sips of water. When I parked and opened her door, I already decided this wasn’t going to be by the book.
“Hey,” I said lightly, holding my hand out to her. “Think you can walk for me?”
She nodded, her eyes looking clearer and more alert, and placed a small, tentative hand in mine. Her legs still wobbled like a newborn calf so I gently led her through the front door with my arm at her lower back and my other hand supporting her shoulder.
“Stubbs!” I called for my sergeant on duty. “I need an office with a cot.”
His head, framed by thinning white hair, wheeled around in his office chair. The joke between us officers was that he had more hair between his mustache and eyebrows than his head.
“Take your pick, Barnes.” His mustache wiggled and his eyebrows raised animatedly. “Who’s this? Your radio call from earlier?”
I nodded. “It’s a 10-51, possibly 50. She needs rest and possibly medical attention. I’ll write my full report right away.”
Stubbs nodded gravely. He knew what I was getting at and was thankfully one of the more sympathetic sergeants. I used police codes to not scare Hazel but she would figure out eventually that I suspected her of being roofied. There was no way in hell I would throw her in the drunk tank with whatever belligerent assholes we picked up that night.
“This way.” I guided her gently down the hallway and opened one of the office doors. A cot with a few pillows and neatly folded blankets was shoved in the corner across from the computer desk and disorganized bookshelf of police manuals and law books. At least half of our offices contained makeshift places to sleep for when we occasionally had to work 16 or 20-hour shifts then work another shift four hours later.
“You can sleep here for as long as you need,” I told her. “Or try to, at least. I know it’s not very comfortable.”
“Can’t I just go home?” she asked. It was the first coherent sentence I heard her say all night.
Yes, with me, I wanted to say.
“No, I’m sorry,” I replied. “You were under the influence in a public place. If you refuse to stay here, I’ll have to transfer you to a holding cell until you’re sober.”
She stared at me angrily, defiantly. Like how she stared down that guy who harassed her at Harry’s and it was sexy as hell. Good thing she couldn’t see my cock rising under all my gear.
Finally, she sat down on the edge of the cot.
“Where will you be?” she asked.
“Right here,” I said, pointing to the computer. “Writing my report. I won’t bother you but I need to keep eyes on you at all times. It’s just procedure.”
Her sexy green eyes remained on me as she slowly lowered to lie on her back.
“Something tells me you don’t always follow procedure, Liam.”
With that, she flipped onto her side, facing the wall away from me.
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.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
LIAM
Damn.
God fucking damn, I was pissed.
Everyone at the gym could tell too. Trainers usually said hello and small-talked with me about my weight routine. Women usually tried to catch my eye and smile, but not today.
The moment I stalked in with a vice grip on my gym bag, my hood up and my headphones in, everyone steered clear.
Throughout my routine, I kept adding weight and pushed myself to my limits. It was better than hitting walls or a person for that matter.
I couldn't even articulate why I was so angry. Hazel made me out to be some kind of womanizer, which was absolutely false but I couldn't blame her for thinking that. What else would you expect by saying another woman's name in your sleep?
I hated that I couldn't tell her the full truth. That I made myself sound pathetic and like I was making excuses. I pretty much blew my
chances of seeing her again. If I explained that Katie passed away, maybe Hazel wouldn't have been in such a hurry to leave my office.
Or maybe it wouldn't have made any difference because to her it would look like you're still in love with a dead girl.
After my final, shaky set of overhead presses, I set the bar on the rack and nearly collapsed to the floor but thankfully made it to the bench.
As I sucked in deep mouthfuls of air and wiped the sweat from my eyes, I tried to picture Katie's face in my mind but it kept morphing into Hazel's face.
"She would have wanted you to find someone again," everyone who knew us always told me. "She wanted you to be happy."
Every day my memories of her seemed to grow more and more distant. Sometimes I even felt like she never died at all, but rather we broke up like any other ended relationship and she was just another person in my distant past that I never talked to anymore.
My heartbeat slowed and my breathing returned to normal so I headed to the showers on shaky legs feeling like I just survived a massive battle. I'd definitely be feeling sore all over tomorrow.
I had the night off so after the gym and running all my usual errands, I sat restlessly at home wondering what else I should do with myself.
"Don't forget to enjoy the sunshine," Dad often told me. "And spend time among the living."
Finally, I said fuck it and went for a walk downtown. It was early afternoon and the local schools were just letting out. High school kids gathered in the bakery for after-school donuts while parents crossed the streets while holding the hands of their elementary-aged children.
An odd twinge in my chest squeezed as I listened to their excited babbles while the parents listened and asked questions about what they learned.
I always wanted kids and a family of my own but Katie never seemed too enthused. After I proposed and tried to talk about the future, she always changed the subject when I brought up how many kids we would have. Before she died, it became a sore point that made me wonder if our marriage would have worked out.
Love and War: A Bad Boy Romance (Small Town Bad Boys Book 2) Page 5