Page 77 of Wild Card

“I know this is kinda the goal, or whatever, and it’s really fast, but I think I’m falling in love with you.” He blurts it out so fast that a silly smile crosses my face.

“Have you not said that before?” I ask, patting his stomach.

“To a woman?” His stubble scratches my cheek as his head shakes. “No.”

“Aww, Rush, I love you too.” I take control, capturing his mouth in a tender kiss. Pouring reassurance into the bond, I wrap my arms around his back to give him a solid squeeze.

He’s every bit as important to me as Bear or Thorne.

Thinking of them reminds me how weird it seemed when he corralled me in here just as we were closing up.

I pull back from the kiss, settling flat on my feet as I try to feel him out in the bond.

I’m starting to think there really is something going on out in the bar.

“We should check on Bear and Thorne…” I give his chest a gentle shove. “Maybe see if we can do anything to help close up.”

Rush frowns, stepping back. “They’re totally fine.”

Shera jumps up from her dog bed.

I don’t know if it’s exactly legal to have her in the bar, but she sticks to Bear’s office…mostly.

“Even Shera wants to check.” I sidestep Rush and walk to the door. The second I pull the handle enough for me to slip out, Shera barrels out around my legs. Holding out my hand, I wait for Rush to take it and drag him along.

We stride down the hallway while Rush grumbles under his breath. “They gave me one job, and I failed it.”

I give him a goofy smile over my shoulder and refocus on where I’m going, so I don’t smack into the wall.

Making it to the end of the hallway, I stop dead in my tracks.

The two guys Bear stopped me from going home with that first night I came to Dry Dock sit across from each other at a table in the middle of the room.

Bear stands a few feet away, talking to an older man with a police badge clipped to his waist.

Thorne leans in, speaking with a cop in a uniform. He gestures at one of the two guys.

I stomp in their direction with Rush in tow.

He absolutely distracted me while something important happened.

Thorne spots me getting closer and grimaces. “The guns are on the bar. They were both loaded.” He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out two magazines. “You’ll probably need these. My prints are in the database, so they’ll inevitably pop when you run them, but you’ll also be able to see my credentials.”

Wow.

Those guys really held a grudge from when Thorne beat the crap out of them.

“You know, I’ve been looking for a replacement. I’d like to retire before I die,” the older man next to Bear says, stretching out his belt with his hands. “I haven’t been able to, because I haven’t found anyone right for the job.”

My eyes widen. This might actually be a good thing. I’ve been worrying about what happens when Thorne gets bored of his early retirement. Taking a job with the local police force could keep him from losing his mind once the novelty wears off.

Bear’s long, blondish-brown hair sways as he shakes his head. “No way. You’re not stealing Thorne. After tonight, I’m employing him full-time.”

Rush releases my hand to slide up behind me. He pulls me back into his chest and bends down close to my ear. “See, I told you they were fine.”

I snort, shaking my head.

If the offseason is supposed to be lazy and boring… I can’t wait to see what life is like during tourist season.

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