Page 141 of Love Me Dangerous

I break into a grin. How can I not? I’m going to be the first cadet in the history of swearing-in ceremonies to get kicked out of City Hall for noise and disorderly conduct thanks to Sawyer’s giant sign and the noisemakers Evan brought, like this is a parade.

Sheriff Olson gives the small crowd going wild a sideways glance. “Quite the fan club,” he mutters as I shake his hand.

“Way to go, Zach!” Evan calls out between bouts of enthusiastic clapping. “Woooo!”

Sheriff Olson smiles, and I laugh.

The deputy director continues, “Zach is being pinned today by his fiancée, Sofie, and his brother, William.”

William and Sofie walk toward me, both dressed for the occasion. William in a navy-blue suit and tie, Sofie in a pale blue dress and sandals.I force in a steadying breath. The two most important people in the world are here with me. Supporting me. Celebrating this milestone with me.

It’s everything.

William looks so grown up, his shoulders getting broader by the day, his hair cut short. It makes me ache a little for the boy I left behind, but I admire the way he’s stepping into his future like a man.

I catch Sofie’s eye as William removes the fasteners in the back of my pin. She smiles, her expression so full of awe and love that it’s like being hit by a freight train. I try to hold onto it, let it fill me to the brink as she snaps the pin into place.

I reach for her hand and she gives my palm a gentle squeeze, then dabs at her eye and shakes her head, like this is big for her too.

William lifts the Finn River Sheriff pin to my lapel, his fingers steady but his lips pressed firmly together, like he’s nervous. I told him he didn’t have to stand up here in front of all these people, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s okay,” I say to reassure him. “It’s a lot.”

William finishes with the pin, then smooths the lapel. His gaze snaps to mine. “It’s just… you’ve done so much—” He stops to swallow hard. “For me.”

“For us,” I correct.

“I’m so proud of you, big brother,” he says, his face twisting with emotion.

“Proud of you, too.” I pull him into a firm hug, and he grips me tight.

The audience goes crazy, hooting and cheering, their noisemakers cranking and Sawyer waving his GOOD JOB ZACH MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU sign.

William releases me, wiping his eyes, and I scoop Sofie into a tight embrace. She wraps her arms around my neck and drapes her body against mine. “Congratulations, Zach,” she whispers in my ear. “You’ve worked so hard.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you.” I inhale her soft, summer scent and draw her warmth all the way into my heart.

I set her down, and the three of us pose for the camera. After severalblinding flashes, my tribe of crazy family rush the stage to embrace me and slap me on the back, calling out, “Deputy Hayes in the house!” and hugging each other.

In the melee, Rowdy grabs me in a hard, fierce hug. I give it right back. Then Linnea, who squeezes me like a boa constrictor, followed by Jesse and shy Neve, their hugs brief but no less meaningful. The two of them moved in together a few months ago, and we’re all rooting for them.

Stu Valentine comes at me next, his thick chest like a brick wall. “Not too late to come to work for me instead, you know.”

Then it’s Henry’s turn, slapping me on the back, and finally, Barb, who laughs through her tears. “And to think I still have a wedding to look forward to, plus Sofie’s graduation and William’s football games.” She sniffles, then presses a kiss to my cheek. “You’ve made us all so happy, Zach.”

We celebrate with a banquet dinner at the Bitterroot Saloon, then the party spills out to the back deck. I tell stories about the academy, get my ass kicked in foosball, am hugged and high-fived, and soak it all in.

Sawyer settles next to me at the railing while the party rolls on around us. “We still going riding tomorrow?”

I clink my glass of icy lemonade with his. “Of course.”

“Your old boss gave us a day pass for the ranch,” he says, arching an eyebrow.

I catch Stu’s eye across the deck. He gives me a slight lift of his chin, and I grin back because I have a feeling I know his plan. “Is that so?”

“I told him I’d never seen a chair lift before, let alone ridden on one with a freaking mountain bike.”

“The trails up there are sweet.” I set my glass down on the railing.

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