She just had to last sixty days with him. Forty working days. Three hundred and twenty goddamn hours. She glanced down at her black utility watch. Three hundred and nineteen hours and fifteen minutes.
Yep. And then once she was cut loose to patrol on her own, he wouldn’t be bothered with her again.
Unless she needed backup.
Or he did.
Shit. The joys of working for a small department. You weren’t escaping anyone. For that reason, you better all get along. Or, at least, pretend to.
The corporal gassed the patrol car, chirping the tires, whipping Leah’s head back as he headed toward the parking lot exit. Without warning, he slammed on the brakes, thrashing her head forward. Even though the seat belt tightened from the sudden stop, her hand instinctively jammed against the dashboard. She sure hoped he didn’t drive like this on a regular basis, otherwise she wouldn’t be wearing her bullet-proof vest awkwardly around her neck, but instead a neck collar from the whiplash she’d have.
He stared at a lime green Chevy Spark parked in one of the spots, his mouth gaping. “What the fuck is that? That’s the smallest car I’ve ever seen!” His head spun and he pinned her with his crystal blue eyes. “For fuck sakes, don’t tell me that’s yours.”
Leah bit her bottom lip. Great. Something else for him to rag on.
“Can that even get out of its own way?”
She lifted one shoulder in a half shrug, but she doubted he could see it under the ill-fitting vest. “It’s good on gas.”
“I don’t care if it can make you buttermilk biscuits. How is it in snow?”
“It’s front wheel drive.”
The corporal snorted. “So, it’ll be fine in about an inch. When we get a couple feet dumped in a few hours’ time, then what? You don’t have a choice about coming to work for your shift. You are essential, Rookie.”
“Don’t they plow the roads, Corporal?”
Marc laughed. “You realize where you’re at, right? In a town surrounded by mountains. How fast do you think they open the roads?”
Okay, maybe it wasn’t the most practical car for northern Pennsylvania. Most people around here probably drove pickup trucks, or at least all-wheel drive SUVs. But she couldn’t do much about it at this point. She needed to find her own place first. Which required paychecks. Like on a regular basis.
“I’ll figure something out,” she assured him.
No way, no how was she going to show him that she couldn’t do things or think for herself. She was quite capable of figuring out messes on her own. If she had to buy a hundred dollar rusted shell of a four-wheel drive hoopty she would. Whatever she had to do to show him—as well as the rest of the department—that she could do the job and planned to stick around.
With a last shake of his head, the corporal chirped the tires out of the parking lot.
She shouldn’t. No, she really shouldn’t, but… “Aren’t the patrol vehicles rear-wheel drive, Corporal?”
His sudden death grip on the steering wheel made her turn her head to watch the passing scenery through the passenger side window. She pressed her lips flat, fighting a smile.
“In the winter, we use snow tires, studded tires, and chains, if necessary. Your chief has a four-wheel drive SUV and there is another one for patrol during storms.” He cleared his throat. “Now, I’m going to give you a tour of the zones, so pay attention.”
“Yes, Corporal Bryson.”
She heard his sigh, but wouldn’t look at him. Within moments, he pulled into the parking lot of Coffee and Cream, located at the one end of Manning Grove’s quaint main street.
He slapped the shifter into park and let his seat belt fly. “Stay here. Keep an ear on the radio.” He climbed out of the car, hiking his pants and duty belt up before taking long strides into the coffee shop.
As Leah watched the man and his broad shoulders retreat, she released a sigh of relief. She glanced at her watch. Twenty minutes in. How was she going to get through this day? Hell, the next sixty days? She groaned at the thought.
And minutes later when he exited the shop, she groaned again. This time for a completely different reason. This was the first chance she got to really study the man heading toward the car. He was almost a carbon copy of the chief.
His short, dark hair reminded her of someone in the military. He was tall and leggy, his body built solid. His face held a serious expression, his eyebrows furrowed as if in thought.
But, when he got back in the car, it was his crystal-blue eyes that stopped her breath. They pinned hers causing a shiver to run up her spine. It was almost as if he could peer into her soul. She shook herself mentally.
He shoved the cardboard coffee cup holder toward her and indicated she should take one of the large cups.
Oh jeez. She hoped it wasn’t black. She hated black coffee. She preferred Chai tea but now was not the time to mention it.
“Lesson number one: this place is a required stop at the beginning of each shift. They make the best coffee. Next time, I’ll take you inside to meet the owners.”
Nodding her head, she made sure the cup lip was on securely. “Thanks, Corporal.” She scrunched her face as she anticipated the dreaded first sip, knowing it was going to taste like toxic sludge. She sipped hot liquid carefully. Then drank again, closing her eyes in relief. Whatever it was, it was good. Creamy with just the right sweetness. Oh, did it hit the spot.
With brows raised, she looked over at him.
He was watching her. “It’s one of their best sellers. A Caramel Mocha Latte.”
“Did you get the same thing, Corporal?”
He snorted. “Fuck no. I drink it black.” Leah heard the unsaid part…like a real man. “I got you what I thought a girl would like.”
A girl. She was hardly a girl. But again, her first day was not the right time to correct him.
“Well, thank you, Corporal. I appreciate the gesture.”
He blinked. “Lesson number two: Stop calling me Corporal. Especially at the end of every sentence.”
“Yes, Sir,” she said, emphasizing the sir.
He bounced the heel of his palm off of his forehead. “No. No. No. Just stop.”
She raised her eyebrows in feigned innocence.
He twisted in his seat to give her his full attention. “Listen, we’re going to be in tight quarters for the next couple of months. You can call me Marc, or even Corp, if you have to, but no more Sirs and no more Corporals. Actually, you don’t need to call me anything when you’re talking to me. Just talk to me like I’m your friend.”
Friend. Yeah, that wouldn’t be happening any time soon.
Chapter 3
Fuck. He just told the rookie to call him Marc. Talk to him like they’re friends. Not even an hour into her first day. What was he thinking? But he was losing his mind every time she addressed him as Sir or Corporal. He’d had enough of that formal shit in both the Marines and the academy.
He eased out of the parking lot—driving carefully now due to the hot coffee—and headed down Main Street. Uncomfortable silence filled the vehicle. When they came to the only red light in town, which was at the square, they both stared out of their respective side windows.
The rookie cleared her throat. “All the small shops really make this town.”
She was right on that point. He was lucky to have grown up in a town without a lot of commercialism. Lots of small town charm. And no one was a stranger for the most part. That’s why he’d stayed after high school and his time in the Marines. He couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Visit elsewhere, yes. Live, no.
“It’s got personality, that’s for sure. If you haven’t seen them yet, we have a Sears and a Wal-Mart. Oh, and a Tractor Supply. They’re just outside of town.” Outside of town where those big box stores belonged.
Surely, coming from a metropolitan area, she was impressed by their vast shopping choices. Right. The light turned green and the car rolled forward slowly.
“Where’s the nearest l
arge shopping center?”
Of course. What woman doesn’t like to shop?
“Oh, about an hour or so south of here. Or if you want a better variety, head to Harrisburg.” His voice drifted off when he eyeballed a man standing on the sidewalk, waving him down.
Shit.
Did he say that out loud? He must have. Her golden green eyes were turned towards him. They were just eyeballs, he reminded himself. He needed to stop being mesmerized by them.
He pulled over to the curb in front of Manes on Main, and sighed as he put the marked patrol car in park. “You might as well get out too. We could be here a while.”
As they were climbing out of the car, the shop’s owner rushed over to them. Teddy bounced on his toes and clapped his hands. “Hey, you sexy thing. It’s been a while since you stopped to see me.”
Marc moved around the car to the sidewalk and leaned his ass against the front fender, crossing his arms and ankles. “What’s up, Teddy?”
Teddy was like family, but sometimes he was over the top. And today Marc didn’t have the patience for it.
“Nothing. But I wish there was!” The hairdresser released a dramatic sigh. “Just opening up so I can work on blue hairs today.”
Marc waved a hand toward Grant. “This is our new recruit. This is Rookie Grant. Rookie, this is Teddy.”
Teddy scrunched his nose at Marc. “Don’t be a gorilla. I’m sure she has a name.”
Grant stepped up and offered her hand. “Leah Grant. Otherwise, known as Rookie.”
Teddy gave her a wide smile and grabbed her hand, kissing it. “Look at you! You’re the best looking cop on the force now.” He gave Marc a look. “Ooo. She’s giving you and Max a run for your money.”
Sure she was.
“You better watch this one. He’s a charmer. Since Max is off the market now, all the single women around here follow Bryson Buck Number Two around drooling.” Teddy leaned toward her, cupping his hand next to his mouth to fake whisper, “And some of the single guys too.” He pointed to himself and laughed. “Are you single?” he asked her.
Marc’s eyebrows shot to his hairline. Typical Teddy, get right to the point. No filter. At all. But he held his breath, waiting for the answer. If she was married, then it would make things somewhat easier on him. Less temptation? Maybe.
“Yes. Single and loving it.”
The air escaped his lungs. Disappointed? No. But he told himself he should be.
“Look at all that luscious dark brown hair you have. I can’t wait to see it down. I’ll tell you what, when you need a trim, stop in and the first one will be on the house. When Amanda—that’s who stole Max out from underneath us all—rolled into town we quickly became besties. You know, her being a big city girl and all. Maybe we can be a threesome. This town could use some hip, young blood.”
Unfortunately, the word threesome conjured up some dirty thoughts in Marc’s head. Picturing Grant with all that “luscious dark brown hair” loose and having a threesome with another woman made him fight back a groan.
Teddy clicked his tongue and scolded him. “Get your mind out of the gutter, gorilla.”
Busted. As the heat rushed up his throat into his face, he turned away quickly, causing the portable radio on his hip to smack him hard. Pretending like it didn’t hurt, he said, “Okay, we need to go. I’m showing her the lay of the land. And it looks like your first blue hair is on her way. Mrs. Inman is heading this direction.”
While he climbed back into the driver’s seat, Marc heard Teddy say, “And it begins.”
Marc rolled down the passenger side window so he could watch Teddy and the rookie make small talk. Her back was to the car and he couldn’t resist skimming his gaze over the curves of her ass. She might be built slim, but there was a bit of junk in that trunk, enough curves to make any man drool.
Fuck. He was such a lech. Why, oh, why did the new recruit not only have to be a woman, but an attractive one? Attractive? Hell, hot and downright sexy. He needed to find a distraction every time he caught himself ogling a part of her that he shouldn’t be gawking at…since he was her supervisor and trainer. He had to picture a car crash or something ugly. Like, yes! Like the big, fat, pink pig that was painted onto the storefront window of Banyon’s BBQ, which was right next door to Teddy’s place. He’d conjure up a hog in his mind whenever he was tempted to glue his eyeballs to an inappropriate area of the rookie’s body.
Like her ass.
Pork butt.
He opened the glove box and pulled out a pocket-sized field incident notebook. And when she got back into the car, he shoved it her direction. “Here, keep this in your back pocket, you’re going to need it. I’m surprised Dunn didn’t give you one.”
“He did. It’s in my patrol bag.”
Of course it was. That’s where his was. But he wanted—no, needed—her to keep it in her back pocket, not because she should have it with her at all times, but because he wanted it to distort the view of her glorious rear-end. Something, anything to help him keep his gaze from being drawn to it.
Pickled pig’s feet.
Shit.
He started the car and turned into a tour guide.
“We get a lot of calls to this house. She’s one of the regulars. She has dementia and her family struggles to take care of her. You’ll get to know her well.”
His deep voice affected Leah like no other’s. She had been around men her whole life, of course, why did this one’s vocal tones make her want to melt? Especially since he didn’t seem to respect her—or any woman—being a cop.
He turned a corner and slowed down in front of the local school. “The middle school and high school are combined. Our sergeant doubles as the School Resource Officer.”
The school sat on their left, which gave her the perfect opportunity to study the corporal’s profile as he explained this and that. She reminded herself she needed to pay attention. She wouldn’t be surprised if he pulled a pop quiz at the end of the shift. Anything to jam her up, to prove women shouldn’t be in law enforcement.
“I’ll pick a day and give you a tour of this school and the elementary school. It’ll be good to know where to respond if you get an incident here. I’ll introduce you to the superintendent and the principal.”
His jaw was chiseled, his chin strong, his nose straight and almost perfectly shaped. His cheekbones, well…indescribable. And those eyes… She couldn’t see them at the moment, but they haunted her. In real life, as opposed to work life, he would be the kind of man she’d be attracted to. Unfortunately, work and pleasure never tended to mix well.
“I assume you went to school here?” she asked him, since he was staring wistfully at the sprawling brick building.
“Yeah, that’s my alma mater.”
Though she could guess the answer, she asked anyway, “Did you play sports?”
“Football, wrestling, baseball, track.” She swore his chest puffed out a little.
Of course. A typical high school jock who grew up thinking women were only good for certain things. Like being receptacles for their “strong” semen and bearers of their children. Clean the house, cook the meals, and raise the offspring. Nothing Leah had any interest in.
Instead she wanted to be independent, have a sense of self-worth, and follow her father’s path in law enforcement. Whether the corporal believed it or not, women had an important role in police work. And, if she had to, she was damn well going to prove it to him.
His icy blue eyes cut through her as he turned his head to study her. “You?”
You what? Oh, sports. “I played volleyball, but I preferred to exercise my brain. Spanish club, Debate, National Honors Society, Key club, and I was class president, as well as Valedictorian.”
She didn’t miss the widening of his eyes before he schooled his facial expression. Maybe he was impressed. Maybe not. She could care less. Her grades and her extracurricular activities had looked good on her college apps.
“Let me guess, you went to an
Ivy League school.”
She leaned back into the passenger seat. “No. I couldn’t afford to go. I was accepted to Cornell, but couldn’t afford the tuition. Nor did I get enough scholarships to even remotely cover the expenses. I ended up doing an accelerated Bachelor’s degree program online.”
“In what?”
“Criminal Justice, of course.”
He gave her a quick look and she figured he was surprised someone accepted to Cornell would end up with Criminal Justice as her major. But she had her reasons. Busting her ass, she earned her B.S. in a little over two years. Not only did she work full-time to support herself, she went to school full-time all year round. She had never asked for or accepted a hand-out and never planned to. By scrimping and saving enough money on her own, she put herself through the municipal police academy with the hope she’d get a job offer after graduation.
Even with a 4.0 grade average in both high school and college, no one had fought to hire her. The male cadets got snapped up easily. And as for the females in her class… Her only opportunity came from the Manning Grove P.D. And she would’ve been a fool to say no. She had school loans to pay off. Any money coming in was better than no money.
Coming from the greater Philadelphia area to this Podunk town was going to be quite a change, but at least life was more affordable in this area. Besides that, she couldn’t imagine that Manning Grove P.D. received even a fraction of the calls that Philly P.D. dealt with daily. And she wanted to concentrate on community policing, not just writing citations, or arresting people. She hoped she could use her discretion more here than she could at a larger department. When the chief interviewed her, he’d said they do some community outreach, but wanted to expand upon it.
The corporal stepped on the gas, leaving his high school memories behind and continued to show her the patrol zones and the department’s area of coverage. Their area was actually larger than she thought it would be. Not only did it include the town limits of Manning Grove, it covered a lot of rural and wooded townships that butted the town. More like a regional police department. Beyond that was all state police coverage.
Brothers in Blue: Marc Page 2