Page 14 of Anchor Point

“Why her place and not yours?”

Thoren shrugged. “Because it would hurt me more if something happened to her.”

Chief Hawkins listened patiently as Thoren continued the breakdown of events, making notes on her pad the whole time. I managed to stay involved and fill in missing details, even as I wanted to get my hands on those notes and find out what she kept writing down. Eventually, she wrapped up the meeting.

“Thank you. This has been a very informative meeting, and I appreciate your candor. I’ve gotten what I needed for now and won’t take up any more of your time.”

The guys thanked her and left one by one. I waited until they’d all left the room, because if she’d been anyone else, I would’ve done the same thing. And I respected the way she’d handled the meeting. To the point, direct. No bullshit.

“Thank you, Captain Collins. Your crew has been the most forthcoming of all the shifts. I feel like we’ve had some good discussion today. I can tell they respect you a great deal.” She sat back in her chair, relaxed, in control, her tone conversational.

I mirrored her position, even though I felt anything but relaxed and in control. “I have a good squad.”

There was more I wanted to say, things I wanted to ask. About that damn social media post, about the past, about so many things. I shifted and dug around in my pocket for my pack of toothpicks, jamming a new one in my mouth to keep myself quiet.

She picked up a pen, dropping it end over end. Letting it slide down through her fingers, then flipping it over and repeating the process.

She had something on her mind, but I could wait her out.

“Captain,” she started, meeting my gaze, “we’ve met before. Do you remember me?”

Mother. Trucker. We were doing this. I’d been curious, but that didn’t mean I was ready.

What was I supposed to say? “Oh, hey, Chief. Yeah, I remember that day we went skinny dipping.” Or “Do you still like those fruity drinks?” Or “Yes, I remember every minute of being balls deep in you.” Or “I’ve thought about you all the time over the years and regretted not getting your number.” None of those were a suitable reply.

I opted for a safe, affirmative grunt.

Her expression was unreadable, but I didn’t miss the slight nod she gave me before she broke the eye contact.

She glanced down at her notepad and spun the ring on her finger. Obviously, I made her nervous. “There are strict no-fraternization rules, I’ve been told. So I would appreciate your discretion.”

After her lack of initial acknowledgment, the words slammed into me and pissed me right off. How dare she assume that I’d be shouting out our business? I pushed away from the table and stood.

“Yes, ma’am. Understood. Did you need me for anything else?” I needed to get the fuck out of here. She’d made herself clear that she didn’t want anything to do with me. Held no fond memories, or if she did, they’d meant a lot more to me than to her.

“No.” Her reply was soft, relieved. “Thank you, Mac.”

Gutted.

I was absolutely gutted.

I’d spent the last forty-eight hours thinking about her, replaying those old memories in my head. Had obsessed over them. Over her. Halfway wondering if we could try again and see if we still had the same chemistry, knowing that would be a colossal mistake for many reasons, at the top of which was because she was my boss.

To make matters worse, it’d also been a long fucking time since I’d had any sort of physical reaction to a woman, and immediately upon seeing her for the first time, my body had responded. A relief and a problem at the same time.

I left her there in the conference room. Stomping down the hall and punching through the doors, needing a cigarette in the worst way, I stalked out to the yard. My momma, God rest her soul, would cuff my ear if she’d seen that.

But I needed to be as far from Chief Hawkins as possible. I didn’t need the reminder that I wasn’t good enough. Wasn’t wanted. Being stuck in a room with her and the vivid memories I’d carried was a slap in the face.

Mo was out back winding the garden hose, water droplets still shimmering on the pickup truck he’d just hosed off.

“You done?” I snapped.

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. I’m making a run.”

To his credit, he just nodded and stayed out of my way. I caught him watching from the bay as I wheeled out of the parking lot.

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