Page 10 of Her Wild Coast Promise

I huff a hard sigh. “He’s not scared enough to take my offer.”

“Maybe a few more days in jail will change his mind.”

“About that,” I say, and wipe my face with my hand. “Guess who showed up just in time to save his ass?”

Hunter’s eyes widen when I explain my run in with Peyton Reece and her misplaced goal to screw me over.

“That’s the last thing we need,” Hunter says. “She’s ruthless when she wants something.”

Like me. I was stupid to think someone like Peyton could keep things casual and not hold a grudge when she wanted more than I’d promised.

My gut hollows. Hunter knows that I broke things off with Peyton, but not why. He thinks Cora is just my best friend Noah’s little sister, and I’m not sure how to explain the way my feelings changed for her over that weekend. It’s crazy—Cora and I only talked and danced together. How could I feel like she already knows me?

Maybe I’m only drawn to her because she’s off limits. She doesn’t date cops and I don’t date at all.

Could she be another example of a fucked -up pattern I need to break?

Peyton certainly fits this category—she not only craves the spotlight while I prefer to work under the radar, but we’re also opposites in ways that make us completely incompatible. She has two evil cats who hate me, she spends money like it’s water then whines that she’s broke, and she insists that watching professional sports is a waste of time. And when I broke things off, she overshared the details of our sex life with her friends in a way that made me look like some kind of brute.

I’m a forgiving guy but this was too damn far.

Hunter pulls into the chief’s driveway and we walk up the stone path. Kayla opens the door and ushers us inside. She’s dressed in a turtleneck paired with a long cardigan sweater, jeans, and loafers.

“He’s in the living room,” Kayla says. “I’ll bring in a snack in just a minute. Would you like something to drink?”

Hunter and I are off duty, but I get the sense this isn’t going to be a celebratory visit. “Water would be great.”

Hunter echoes my reply, and she continues into the kitchen.

Chief Kauffman is tall and fit, with pale blue eyes and a head of nearly-white hair. He switches off the TV and rises when we enter the tidy living room. He shakes our hands, but his grip feels weak.

With dread, I choose an end of the couch while Hunter settles into the other side.

“Thanks for coming, boys,” he says with a rueful smile. “I wanted to share this news in person.”

Shit.

“There’s something wrong with my heart, and my doctor is suggesting major surgery.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, sir,” I say, clasping my hands in my lap.

He nods. “The good news is I’m going to be okay, but…” His eyes catch mine, then Hunter’s. “I’m going to need to retire to keep it that way.”

I fight my reactions—this isn’t about me right now.

“I had hoped to put this off for another year, but that’s not possible.” He shakes his head, his mouth tight in a grimace.

“Your health is more important than this job,” I say.

“Exactly,” Hunter echoes. “You’ve sacrificed enough.”

“I don’t like stepping down from the department when we’re in the middle of a crisis,” the chief says. “But I know I’m leaving it in capable hands.”

“We won’t let you down,” I say, as Kayla enters the room carrying a tray of snacks and our waters. Her soft brown eyes glisten with emotion. She likely knows how hard this is for her husband, but she is also likely relieved to be getting him back.

The chief shoots me a weary smile. “I know you won’t.”

I swallow the lump in my throat.

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