Page 26 of When It Snows

Honk! Honk!

I wrench my lips from hers. Her lips are swollen from my kisses. Why did I stop?

Honk! Honk!

Oh, right. Someone’s here.

I set her on her feet. She wobbles for a moment and I steady her with a hand on her hip. Once she’s stable, I march to the window to find out who dared to interrupt us.

“It’s the tow truck.” I head toward the door. “I better get out there and help.”

I get all my gear on before heading outside to help the tow truck. I frown when Scarlett follows me. “It’s cold. You should stay inside.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Because I’m a woman and delicate?”

“No. Because I want you safe and warm.”

“Thanks, but I’m good.”

I open my mouth to tell her to get the hell inside but the tow truck driver yells for me before I get the chance.

“Officer Milton!”

I walk over to the tow truck. “Hey, Charlie. The tow truck’s back from the mainland?”

“It’s a good thing, too. I’ve got a list of cars that need to be dug out. You’re first on the list since I’ll need you to ride with me to take accident reports.”

Crap. Today’s supposed to be my day off. But I can’t complain now since I was supposed to work yesterday and the day before but I got stranded and then sick.

“Can I help?” Scarlett asks and I remember she’s standing outside in the cold while I feel sorry for myself.

“Charlie and I can handle this.” It won’t be the first time I help him get a car out of the ditch.

Within five minutes, my squad car is back on the driveway and Charlie’s waiting in the tow truck on the road into town.

I approach Scarlett before pulling her into my arms. “I’m sorry, precious. But I need to get to work.”

“Of course. You need to help those people who are stranded. I hope no one got hurt.”

I frown. She’s not going to bitch and moan about me deserting her?

“I don’t know when I’ll be finished. It could be a long day.”

She pats my cheek. “Go help those people.”

I kiss her quick. “Get back inside and stay warm.”

“I love how you think you can order me around. So naïve.”

I chuckle as I climb into my patrol car. I motion for her to get inside. She huffs before marching to the door. She waves at me from the patio as I drive away.

In my experience, women can’t handle dating a cop. They love the uniform and power being with a police officer givesthem, but when it comes to the nitty gritty – rushing off at a moment’s notice, working on the holidays – they bitch and moan and complain.

I decided long ago dating is not worth the hassle.

Maybe I was wrong.

Or, maybe, I was dating the wrong woman.

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