Page 125 of Hot Cops

He tilted his head. “Doing what, Sunshine?”

“Stop calling me that!” Her words came out much louder than she’d intended. She was practically shouting at him. “My name is Sunday. And…” She sucked in a deep, pained breath. It made a noise, one that made her feel weak.

Landon’s eyes softened, his smile fading, replaced by a concerned look that made her feel worse than weak. It made her feel stupid, vulnerable.

“And I’m going to be late to work. I have to leave.”

“Sunnie. Please. Wait.”

She shook her head. She needed to get away from him, needed air, needed to cry her fucking eyes out.

In love?

There’s no way that’s what this feeling was.

Was there?

She rushed out, deftly dodging Landon as he reached out, attempted to grab her, hold her. She had the advantage because she was fully dressed, shoes and all.

She darted through the living room, grabbing her purse and keys, even as she heard Landon calling out her name. He was no doubt struggling to pull on his jeans.

“Sunnie?” Finn was coming down the stairs.

She held up her hand and he stopped mid-step. “Not one word, Finn. I can’t…deal with you right now.”

“What are you talk…” His words faded away as she continued down the stairs.

Sunnie took a deep breath when she reached the foot of the stairs, then tried to slow her pace as she walked into the pub. Shit, she was still moving too fast, but there was only forty feet between her and the exit. If she could make it, she’d hide at work until…

Maybe she could just live at work indefinitely. It had already been a hell of a morning, and she’d only been awake an hour. There were still too many family members to escape, and she wasn’t sure she could handle a bunch of questions about Landon right now.

“Hey, Sunnie,” Yvonne called out from Sunday’s Side.

“Can’t talk,” Sunnie said, barely glancing back. “Late to work.”

She was grateful her cousin didn’t persist. Once she hit the sidewalk, Sunnie practically ran to her car, afraid Landon would catch up to her.

If he did…she didn’t know how she’d react. Her panic was growing with each step. She shouldn’t have run out like that, but goddammit…what else could she do?

Stay here.

Act like an adult.

She shoved those insane thoughts away as she climbed into her car, started it, and pulled onto the street.

By the time she made it to the hospital, she realized her hands were shaking. And she was crying.

Landon didn’t botherto throw on more than his jeans and tennis shoes before he darted out into the living room.

Finn stood at the head of the stairs that led down to the pub, looking perplexed until he turned and saw Landon there—shirtless.

“Shit,” Finn muttered.

“You can punch me later,” Landon said. “Right now…” He gestured toward the stairs.

“She’s long gone, man. And believe me, chasing her would be your worst move.”

There wasn’t much Finn could have said that would’ve made him give up his pursuit of Sunnie at the moment…except that.

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