Page 47 of The Fate of Us

“But since in a few short months she has become a girlfriend then I can only assume it won’t be long until you tie her down.”

My eyes bulge at that and not at the thought of Noah putting a ring on my finger. It’s at the knowing look Noah shoots me as she says it and I know he is thinking about when he tied me down with handcuffs.

“Dottie, no one gets engaged that quickly anymore,” Carson cuts in. I can’t help but notice the look Tiffany shoots him as he says it. Maybe that’s part of the troubles Mason was talking about.

“Well if Noah is as studly in the bedroom as he is in real life, then a couple romps in the sack and Anna might get knocked up and then a wedding,” Dottie fires back as she pretends to hold an imaginary shotgun, firing it off.

My cheeks are bright red and I chug half my wine. Asher is cracking up next to me and Noah punches him in the arm.

“Alright, no one is getting engaged soon.” Marlene ends the conversation. “How about we all go sit out on the balcony and celebrate my oldest son’s promotion while the sun is still shining.”

Everyone agrees and heads to the stunning deck that overlooks the western view of the mountains. If we sit out here long enough, we will be able to see the sky turn orange to pink to red as the sun sets.

Noah grabs my ass as we all file out the door and I swat him away. “Do you think I should tell Dottie how I really like to tie you down?” he whispers in my ear.

I turn around and bring him to a halt before we make it outside with the others. “You better not say one word about that to anyone. Especially your brothers.”

Noah leans down, pressing a kiss to my neck, trailing kisses up to my ear. “You are too easy to rile up, Mayberry.”

I push him away. “You know when the right time to rile me up is and it’s not here.”

He grins at me and I flip him off as I turn around and take a seat outside with the rest of the family.

16

Noah

I search the internet,page after page of police reports, social media sites, and newspaper articles looking for anyone that matches the description the two victims gave us on the case I’m working on. My new partner and I have spent the last week collecting as much information as we can on the case. I’m trying not to struggle with it since it hits so close to home but I am making do.

Luckily my new partner is not a dick. He’s been on the force for about eight years longer than me and has been a detective the last seven years. He is full of knowledge and can read people better than I have ever seen. He also consistently teaches me. He never gets pissed when I don’t know something or the textbook procedure I know isn’t quite on par with how they do things. I feel lucky I got assigned with such a great guy and he doesn’t seem too pissed with me either. Unlike when Niko first became my partner and I was pissed with him half the time for his immature attitude.

“Yo rookie, it’s after seven. Shut it down. We will get back on the case tomorrow.” Detective Marcus Rodriguez tells me as he turns off his desk lamp.

I look over at my partner and nod. Both of us put in a ton of effort, both willing to work late but he always makes sure we don’t spend all night here. I also have to get used to the fact I’m considered a rookie again.

“Yeah okay,” I answer and file the papers on my desk.

“A couple of the guys want to meet at Jimmy’s for a drink, you want to come?”

I grab my gun out of my drawer and put it in my chest holster. “Sure. Could use a drink after looking at that screen all day.”

We both head out of the office and walk across the street to Jimmy’s. Normally I would want to go home but since it’s a Wednesday night I know Anna is working and after the day I had I want nothing more than to see her.

A few of the other detectives are sitting at a round table in the back corner. They have two pitchers of beer and are cracking jokes. Marcus and I take a seat in the empty chairs. There are extra glasses on the table so I pour both of us one.

“Hey rookie, so glad you could join us. Surprised they don’t have you on toilet duty tonight,” Jon says, one of the younger detectives.

Stew hits him upside the head. “You were the only rookie we gave toilet duty to because you made a mess in the bathroom.”

“He is just glad he isn’t the rookie anymore. Although he is still a dick,” Marcus jokes. “Glad he isn’t my partner.”

“Fuck off, Marcus. You got to deal with a rookie now.”

Andrew, one of the older detectives, cuts in. “Noah is far from a rookie. He is one of the best cops APD had. He also passed his exam with higher numbers than all of you, so cut him some slack. I am sure within a year or two he will be better at his job than half of you combined.”

Marcus slaps me on the shoulder. I’m stunned Sergeant Willows told him that.

“Damn, here comes that hot waitress. I would like to take her for a spin. You think she wants to come to this gun show?” Jon asks as he flexes his not impressive biceps through his dress shirt.

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