Page 116 of Call it Reckless

I left out that Griff was the one who made sure I got home safely, then left me in the care of his fellow agents.

Everyone sympathized with Reid about how his friend had become so corrupt.

“It’s crazy how we can be so wrong about a person. I mean, I still can’t believe Griff was part of such a thing,” Paige said. “He seemed so nice. I really know how to pick losers, don’t I?” She cuddled the pup Griff had asked me to watch. “And what about you, little guy? You don’t know what your daddy did, do you?”

We spent more time chatting, but as the hour grew past midnight, the yawns grew longer. Everyone left, finally leaving Reid and me alone.

“I guess this is the right time for me to admit you were right and I was wrong,” Reid said as he filled the dishwasher with the mugs while I put away the leftover food.

I stopped what I was doing and turned to face him. “Reid, it’s not about being right and wrong. We both messed up that conversation. While I don’t think I’ll ever be okay with someone telling me how to do my job, I should have been more sensitive to your concerns, especially after what happened with Abby.”

After drying his hands, he pulled me into his arms. “I know we have personalities that are bound to argue. I need you to know that I love you no matter what. Idotrust you. But I can’t help who I am. You’ll have to learn to put up with someone who worries about the safety of others, and I might go a little crazy when it comes to the people I love, especially after what happened in my past. I want to protect you. But I realize that also means protecting your independence. I love your spirit. You are an incredible woman of many talents, and I love how you find ways to use them. If I promise to be calmer and work to find a solution together, can you live with that?”

“I can live with that. I love knowing you’re on my side. You and Lexi are my world—more than cars, more than my business, more than anything. I need you to know that. I won’t do anything to jeopardize that. If anything got through my stubborn head, it’s that I can’t live without you.”

We sealed the deal with a kiss, at least until a puppy yapped at us.

“Oh, you poor little guy. I bet you miss you owner, don’t you?” I picked him up and cuddled him before settling him next to Buddy on his large bed. “Speaking of what I can live with, I noticed you barged through my dooragain.”

“Nothing was going to keep me from getting to you.”

“Well,” I said, feeling unusually shy, “barring any further extraordinary circumstances, how about I give you a key, and you can come in anytime you want?”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously. And when you feel the time is right, maybe you could leave a few personal things here. You know, permanently.”

“Why Ms. Allen, are you asking me to move in with you?”

I met his brilliant blues eyes with mine. “I guess I am, Deputy. That is if you want to. If Lexi wants to. I mean, there’s a lot of room here.”

His eyes warmed even more. “Room to grow. Someday.”

“Is that what you want?”

“Yes.” His simple answer was all I needed to hear.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-EIGHT

Bristol

Griff, or whatever his real name was, Reid, and I gathered at my garage the next morning. He immediately reached for his pup that I’d kept overnight.

“I’m sorry for all the trouble last night,” he began. “That damn bird needs to keep his beak shut.” His words were terse, but the twinkle in his eye gave him away.

Sterling had been safely returned to Rich this morning. I mentally grinned, thinking of all the new phrases Sterling might try out on his owner. There was one, in particular, I was hoping Sterling would remember.

“How did Sterling pick up on that little gem?” I questioned.

Griff tossed his shoulders. “I had set up a meeting to arrange a sale of one of the fighters at Jack’s place. He got to Jack’s early, where his van died, which, unfortunately, involved you. When the call came in for a tow in that area for a van, I guessed it might be him. That’s why I volunteered to take the call. But there wasn’t time to go through with the deal because I knew you were waiting for us to get back. The next day, while everyone was on a lunch break, I had a call with Nick. Sterling probably overheard us making new arrangements for that evening. I might have called him a few names when I hung up. He was just overly enthusiastic about seeing one of the dogs fight.” He smiled wryly. “I’m used to making sure no person is listening, but damn it, I never had to be careful in front of a bird before. I had no idea he was that fast of a learner.”

He filled us in on a few small details regarding the arrests, including that Jack and Nick had been transferred to a state facility. Both would be charged with cruelty to animals, which, in our state, was a felony. No matter how long their sentence, it would never be long enough for me.

It turned out that one night at The Cowbell, another bar in town, Griff had overheard my original mechanic talking at Ferg’s that he was going to quit the next morning for a new opportunity. Griff jumped at the chance, thinking it would give him an ear to the ground for gossip and to blend in.

“I was sent here to collect evidence on Jack, but also to try to pick up any additional information on who he was dealing with.”

“And did you?” Reid questioned.

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