Page 21 of Stormswept Colorado

Ayla exhaled, her shoulders relaxing.

“Got it. I’m still inside the market with Ms. Maxwell. I’ll need someone to clear the way for us so I can get her out of here without causing another scene.”

“Copy that, Chief. Could also use your guidance on who to bring down to the station for booking.“

I put a hand on my hip. “Everyone involved in the fight. We can’t take this lightly.” I didn’t want to send the impression that people could show up in my town, start knocking heads together, and skate without any repercussions.

“Yes, Chief.”

I signed off just as Ayla leaped up to standing. “Wait a minute,does that really mean you’re arrestingeveryone? That doesn’t include Bryan, right?”

“Everyone means everyone.”

“Butyou can’t arrest Bryan.Please. He was only trying to help me. And defend himself. The other guy punched him first.”

“All I saw was Bryan’s fist landing in someone else’s stomach. I’ll let the Hart County district attorney sort that out.”

“But this is bullshit!” She marched up to me, which was just a couple of steps in the small room. Ayla only reached my upper chest but glared up at me like she was ready for battle.

I kept my tone level. “If I take everyone involved in that fight into custody except Ayla Maxwell’s boyfriend, how will that look?”

“I told you. He’s my driver, not my boyfriend.”

“Not like I care either way.”Liar, I told myself, but seriously, I was just trying to do my job. I wasn’t the bad guy here. “Let’s focus on one thing at a time. If you choose to bail Bryan out of jail later on, that’s your choice.”

“Bail? He didn’t do anything wrong.”

“That may be what the investigation proves in the end. But I can’t show favoritism.”

Her eyes flashed. “Then you can arrest me too.”

“What?”

“Arrest me.”

“I’m not arresting you.”

“I was involved in the fight. Seems like favoritism to me.”

“Settle down. There are no cameras in here, Ms. Maxwell. You’re being dramatic.”

Her cheeks glowed pink with fury. “And you’re being an asshole, Chief Landry.”

You want to see me being an asshole?I put my hands on my hips, willing myself to stay calm. But this was ridiculous. “Arrest you for what? You didn’t throw any punches.”

“For assault on a peaceofficer.”

“You didn’t?—”

Ayla poked her finger into my chest. It didn’t hurt. I’d had much worse from my nephew Ollie. It would’ve been downright cute if it wasn’t out of line.

I stared at her for a moment. “You think this is some kind of joke?”

“Do I look like I’m laughing?” She poked me again, harder, directly above the nipple of my left pec. “Arrest me.”

Ow.

Okay, that time, it kinda stung. And more than anything, it pissed me off. A burst of heat traveled up my center. A warning sign that I was about to lose my temper like she’d already lost hers, and no amount of yoga breathing was going to cool me down.

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