Page 3 of Gunner

“Now’s not the time, Willow. Go now.”

“Fine. You know how to find me later.” She took a couple of steps toward the door and halted when the knob turned. The door opened, and a large man with broad shoulders and brown hair stood in the doorway. My throat constricted, and my breathing turned shallow. Every time I saw him, I drank in the sight of him like he was a cold pitcher of beer. Neither I could live without.

“Officer James, what’s your purpose here?” Mason snapped.

“I-I—”

I groaned. She was lucky she was so damn cute and eager to please in the sack.

“That’s the third officer you’ve all sent to inform me someone will take me to make my phone call, Officer Dehaney. Why am I still waiting?”

Mason frowned. “There’s no need for a phone call. Leave us alone.”

“Yes, sir.”

Head bowed, Willow darted out of the room. Mason quietly closed the door behind her, took the chair across from me and linked his fingers on the wooden surface of the desk.

“Whatever you have going on with that officer ends now,” Mason said.

Just like that, the infatuation I’d felt for this man turned to resentment. We were on opposite sides of the law now. Could I ever forgive him for leaving? For choosing this life over what we could have had?

If he could just admit he regretted it. But I knew Mason Dehaney better than anyone. He would never apologize.

“It’s been years, Mason. Don’t tell me you’re still jealous of someone else riding my dick.”

He inhaled sharply, and his nostrils flared. “That’s not what this is about. She’s a brilliant young officer whose future you’ll ruin if you keep this up. You and I both know damn well you don’t care about her.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because.” But he didn’t say it.

“Because I’m still hung up over you?”

Mason held my gaze, and we stared into each other’s souls. The longing inside me I’d tried to keep dormant slowly bubbled to the surface. It reminded me of our youth, of our stolen moments together. Of the way he would trail his fingers over my abs and promise me things he would never fulfill.

Fuck him.

“Am I free to go or what?” I asked.

“Yes.” He climbed to his feet. “But…stay out of trouble.”

“This is disappointing.” I stood as well. “Where’s your partner, Officer Witter, to send me off? He was so arrogant before. I can’t wait to see his face again.”

Mason froze. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“He interfered with my business. You know how we roll, Mason. Gotta take him out.”

In two strides, Mason was on me, grabbing my cut in both hands. I blinked. I’d expected him to protest. He knew the copafter all, but him crossing the line to touch me was over the top for a man who was usually so reserved.

“Listen to me, Gunner. You won’t touch him.”

“No?” I cocked my head to the side. “Who’s going to stop me? You’ve turned a blind eye before, haven’t you?”

He tightened his grip on my cut. “Ben’s off-limits.”

My heart squeezed painfully. What the fuck? It’d been years. I still didn’t expect we would wind up together after everything that had gone down between us.

“What makes him off-limits?”

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