Page 34 of Recklessly Yours

“Oh yeah, I forgot about that.” Michael nudged Paul, and they both snickered. “Did your cop boyfriend send you more flowers yet?”

The regulars around here really needed to get their own lives. How they sat here every day for hours and drank was beyond me. I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, Dylan stepped up beside me and placed his arm around my waist.

“Nah. I opted to make dinner for her at my place yesterday instead.”

I held my breath and peered up at him. What the hell was he doing? That statement definitely implied something that wasn’t anywhere near the truth.

“You ready?” he murmured, bringing his head closer to mine. “Better get going if we’re going to make it to the bank before they close.”

Crap. Right. And I hadn’t driven today. Dylan had insisted on dropping me off on his way to work.

“Need to get my bag.”

“Okay.” He released me, then lifted his chin, turning toward Paul and Josh. “You guys are fairly new to town, right?”

Paul nodded and launched into a monologue about how much he loved it here and planned to stay indefinitely.

I remained where I was for a minute, noticing that although Dylan’s questions were casual, he was actually subtly diggingfor information. None of them batted an eye as they spilled all kinds of details about themselves. Of all the people to grill, he’d chosen the three drunks? Did he really think they were capable of anything but drinking and being obnoxious? He better not scare them off. Rhett would lose it. We stocked some of our best beer each week just for these guys.

After a moment, I excused myself and headed toward my offices, and when I came back out, he was still talking with them.

“So you guys are working on the construction of the new hospital wing?” Dylan leaned his forearm on the bar, appearing genuinely interested.

“Yeah, we finished framing it all in last week.” Paul turned slightly to look at me as I approached.

“I’m ready.”

“Okay, babe. Let’s go.” Dylan smiled.

Babe? What in the ever-loving fruitcake had gotten into him?

With a hand on the small of my back, he turned me slightly, then addressed the men again. “Have a good night.”

Once we were sitting side by side in his car, I pinned him with a look.

“Want to fill me in?”

He frowned like he had no clue what I was talking about. That didn’t work on me. I had four siblings who’d all tried to play stupid at one point or another.

“Why did you imply we’re dating?”

“Oh.” He chuckled. “It wouldn’t hurt to let people around here think you’re dating a cop. I would rather the stalker think that than know that we’re together all the time because I’m only protecting you.”

Right. I guess that made sense. “Okay, but why were you pestering them with questions?”

“It’s my job.” He glanced over at me as he pulled out of the parking lot. “Have you dated any of those guys?”

“What? Ew, no.” I cringed. Michael was probably twenty years older than me, and although some people would love that idea, I didn’t. Plus he spent every day at the bar drinking. I definitely wouldn’t categorize him as a catch. “I’ve known Michael since I was ten.”

“How about the other two?”

I found the idea of dating any of them just as disgusting for all the same reasons. “No. Gross.”

He cocked a brow. “You didn’t seem to be picky with the guys you met online.”

Anger flared in my chest. “Don’t judge. You have to cast a wide net to catch a fish.”

“And all the guys from the dating sites?”

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