Page 40 of Cop-Off

“That’s what you took from that statement?” Cat sighed into her coffee cup. “I mean, Daisy is a young, sweet, shy country girl who grew up on an actual farm. The last thing she needs is some douchecanoe city boy with commitment issues trying it on with her.”

Jack’s knife and fork clattered against his plate. “Uh, rude much, sis? I am not adouchecanoe, whatever that is. And since when do I have commitment issues?”

Who knew her brother could be offended by anything she said? “Oh yeah, when was your last relationship?”

“When was yours? Before Cody.”

There was no point answering that. Her brother knew exactly when her last relationship was and exactly who it was with. “Just leave Daisy alone.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.” Cat went back to sipping the hot liquid and Jack went back to eating his pancakes.

She was touchier than usual today. And they both knew why. Jack was flying back tomorrow, and he still wanted her to join him. That wasn’t happening and she’d told him as much lastnight. While he promised he understood her reason why, he hadn’t been able to conceal his disappointment. And the last thing she wanted was to disappoint her brother.

Coffee finally finished, she leaned back into the red, cushioned booth, ignoring the squeak it made when she did. Looking around the diner, she internally smiled. This was her home now. This tiny town in the middle of nowhere with a town center that consisted only of antique shops, one bakery and a diner. Even the grocery store and the one and only bar were a drive away. And she loved it.

She once thought living somewhere so small would make her feel lonely. Isolated, even. But she couldn’t have been more wrong. If anything, it was the opposite. In the cities she’d lived in, everyone was faceless. But here, here you were part of something bigger. A community.

“Did you make that coffee Irish without offering me some?” Jack’s comment pulled her from her musings.

Cat’s head quickly flicked back to her brother. “What?”

“You’re looking around the room like some doughy-eyed drunk.”

“Charming.”

“So? Which is it? You got a flask tucked into your jean pocket or you care to share what that goofy smile was about?”

So goddamn nosy. “If you must know, I was thinking about how much I love it here.” Jack was frowning now but she carried on. “I feel at peace. For the first time in years, I feel like everything is going to be okay.”

Her brother’s hand snaked across the table, his big hand covering hers. “It will be, sis. It will be.”

Here’s hoping.

***

Cat was on a mission. Laundry. Shower. Then back to work. After Jack had left, she’d fallen back into her routine of spending every night at Cody’s. She’d even been working from there during the day. But today and tonight she was back at the apartment, and she was going to try and sort her life out.

The lease on the apartment was coming up for renewal and she had to make a decision. Did she want to sign a year lease or take Cody up on his offer and move in with him? She was well aware what a big step that was, and how early on in their relationship she was having to make that kind of decision. But for once she needed to trust herself. Trust her gut.

Laundry loaded, she stripped off her clothes and reacquainted herself with her very own shower and all the pretty-smelling products she didn’t get to use at Cody’s. But truth be told, she’d take morning showers with her man over a fruity exfoliator any day.

Once she’d scrubbed herself silly and was satisfied she’d used every lotion and potion she owned, she returned to her bedroom to throw on some clean clothes. Thankfully, she still had some. She forwent drying her hair though, and opted for letting it do its thing and dry naturally. She didn’t want to waste time when she had a brand-new romance in her inbox, begging to be read.

Soda poured, laptop open and her butt on the sofa, she got to work.

Damn, this is some steamy shit.

She knew there was a reason she loved this author. Only one chapter in and she was practically fanning herself.

Sadly, she was pulled out of fantasy land when her phone started ringing beside her, forcing her to pull her eyes away from the screen. As soon as she saw Jack’s name flash up, her stomach dropped. It had been three weeks since he’d returned back home and since then, his daily texts had stopped. She hadn’t receivedany updates on her dad or even so much as a missed call. She should have known it wouldn’t last.

Swiping to answer, she greeted him with a cautious, “Hello.”

“Hi, sis.” Her brother’s voice was cracked. She could tell right away something was up.

“What’s going on?”

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