Page 46 of Seized by the Lawman

“What? Jealous? Why?”

“I thought you were smart. If you can’t figure it out, then I should draw you a map.” He blew out a long breath. Damn, he’d said too much, but he couldn’t hold his tongue.

“Why are you being so abrasive? Are you going to accuse me of having daddy issues again?”

He squinted. “I’m sorry about that. I went a bit too far. I know you have reason to be hurt—”

“Don’t do that!” She rubbed her forehead.

“Don’t do what?”

“Think that you know me. A few romps in the sack and a baby in the oven doesn’t make you my psychologist,” she snapped.

His anger reared its head again and his jaw was so tight he thought he might break a few teeth. “You don’t need a psychologist. What you need is someone to kiss that spoiled brat right out of you.”

“Hey, you two. You’re getting some looks,” Jamison said as he returned to his stool. “You might want to call a truce or take it outside. I don’t want to get kicked out before I’ve had my steak.”

“You’re right, Jamison.” Melly didn’t take her gaze from Nix. “Looks like my dinner companion is back so I’ll join him. You two have a lovely meal. Don’t choke on it.” She turned and sashayed her way back across the room and Nix enjoyed the view of her tight bottom even when he wanted to swat it.

“What. The. Fuck. Are you doing, my friend? I’m sure you were there when we got the invisible rules in the academy. No tampering with evidence and no screwing around with the boss’s daughter. Once can be forgiven, but you jumping in might be the one that pisses Carson off. Don’t you think you’re in enough heat from what happened with the informant?”

“It’s a long story. One I’d rather not retell now.” He chugged his beer and slammed it down to the table. His buddy was right. He’d crossed lines, but he’d done the right thing by confessing everything to Carson. So, why hadn’t he admitted everything to Melly? About the set up? The cancer? Carson shouldn’t be stalling.

Jamison shrugged. “Fine by me. The less I know the better I am.”

“Well, well, if it isn’t Nix Cade.”

At the sound of the sweet, soft voice, Nix turned and narrowed his gaze on the voluptuous blonde in the tight red dress that landed high on her thighs. She wore a smile that promised naughty things. “Hi, Hope. Long time no see.”

“Not since I spent the night.” Her large teardrop earrings dangled around her cheeks.

Nix could have sworn he heard Jamison gasp. Hope was sexy, enticing, but she wasn’t Melly. Didn’t even come close.

She pursed her red lips and looked him down from hat to tips of dusty boots as if he were an open buffet. “You here alone, handsome? I figured you’d be hitched by now after the way I saw you sprint for that squirrely redhead who showed up at the door.”

There went that gasp from his buddy again. Nix didn’t even look. The story was too long and he wasn’t about to say too much, not when that pretty little redhead sat across the room nailing him with her angry blue eyes.

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