Page 10 of After Tonight

“You’re the one who doesn’t go back out into the ‘regular’ dating scene after one of your flings.” Kyle picked up his cup and sipped with that smug look he often got when he was right about something.

Derek didn’t really know what to say to Kyle’s revelation.

“But he does go back out into regular life in Sapphire Falls,” Scott said. “I mean, it’s not a relationship, but Derek is as Sapphire Falls as it gets. All the odd jobs around town, running the main social hub, involved in everything, knows everyone.” Scott regarded Derek with a thoughtful look. “Yeah, maybe those ‘Vegas trips’ are for you as much as they are for the women. It’s a way to let loose and get out of the regular grind around here and then, Monday morning, you’re back to being committed to your longest-term, most serious relationship.” He nodded as if figuring it all out. “You can’t be serious about a woman because you’re already in a committed relationship. With this town.”

Derek felt his eyes narrow. But he didn’t hear himself arguing.

Was he avoiding commitment in a relationship because he was already over-committed to…everything else in his life?

“I think I just really like the hot sex with beautiful, willing partners who think I’m amazing,” he finally said.

Scott shrugged. “Or maybe it’s just that.”

“Yeah, that makes sense too,” Kyle said, picking up his cup again.

Derek rolled his eyes. Yeah, these guys were a ton of help.

“Officer, I’m here to report a crime.”

Peyton Wells, Scott’s girlfriend, slid between Scott and Kyle, her body rubbing against Scott’s. The big cop grinned down at her. “Yeah, what happened?”

“You’re going to have to cuff me and frisk me before I talk,” she told him.

“That can be arranged.” Scott pivoted on the stool and settled his hands possessively on her hips. “Though I don’t know where you’d be hiding any weapons in this outfit.”

Peyton was, as usual, dressed in short shorts and a tank that fit her body like a glove. She was Scott’s, completely and without a doubt, but as a red-blooded straight man, Derek had to admit that Peyton was damned nice to look at.

“Oh, I think I might have a thing or two that I can use against you,” she told Scott with a smile that said very clearly to everyone looking on what she meant.

Scott gave a low growl and said, “I’m not going to get any work done on that paperwork tonight, am I?”

“Oh!” Peyton leaned back slightly. “I forgot about that! You are definitely going to get work done on that.”

Scott pulled her close again. “I don’t want to work on it.”

“I’ll reward you afterward.” Peyton batted her eyes at him and licked her bottom lip.

Scott started to lean in to kiss her, but she pulled back at the last second.

“After.”

“Dammit, Trouble,” Scott grumbled.

“You have to get that in by next Friday,” she said. “Seriously.” She looked over at Derek and Kyle. “Tell him that he has to go do this presentation. He’ll be so good at it.”

“What presentation?” Derek asked.

“He didn’t tell you?” She frowned up at Scott, then looked back to Derek. “He was asked to present at a multistate convention of law enforcement working on sex trafficking issues.” She put a hand on Scott’s cheek. “I know you want to do it. I’ll help you with the paperwork. We’ll get it done super-fast, and then you can…” She trailed off. “Whatever you want.”

Derek actually felt the heat spiking between them. And he decided that, yes, that would be a very interesting thing to try—being with someone who knew his talents and dreams and encouraged them, even while tempting him with hot, handcuff-me-to-the-bed sex.

Then again, what talents and dreams did he have? Pizza ovens in the Come Again kitchen and maybe adding a couple of local microbrewery beers to the drink menu. And both of those things were going to be done in the next couple of months.

Huh. Maybe he didn’t need a serious girlfriend because he didn’t need any help being a better man.

And Riley floated through his mind again.

She would probably disagree.

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