Page 40 of No Going Back
Griffin snorted. “I’m sure he did.” He wanted to ask if she’d fucked the younger, more attractive cop. The question was on the tip of his tongue. But he wasn’t here to hurt her, and that question would most definitely hurt. So he bit it back, dying a little inside at the thought of Cooper touching Dianna the way he had.
“It’s his job to check on people and make sure they’re doing okay.” Dianna stared him down, her chin tipped at a defiant angle. “They pay him to do that.”
“First of all, he hasn’t clocked in yet if he works nights, so no one’s paying him to do shit right now.” Griffin moved closer, unable to stay away. “And second of all, he doesn’t need to check on you. I’m right next door. I’m there to make sure you’re okay.”
He was the one she could call if she needed something. He was the one who could make sure she was safe. He was the one right beside her day in and day out.
Dianna’s eyes narrowed, her gaze fixed on his face. “Why are you acting like this?”
“Because he doesn’t need to come here.” Griffin barely reined himself in. “He doesn’t need to waste his time checking on someone who’s already taken care of.”
“So coming to see me was a waste of his time?” There was a slight edge to her voice. One that made it clear he was coming dangerously close to crossing the line. But at this point there were so many fucking lines he couldn’t keep track of all of them.
“I’m saying it’s a waste for him to come see you.” He moved in more, needing to remind them both of all they’d shared. “He needs to go find some other woman to visit.”
Dianna stared up at him, silent for a second. “He comes here because he wants me to go out to dinner with him.”
“Of course he does. That’s what every fucking single man in Moss Creek wants.” Griffin shook his head. “That doesn’t make him special enough to sit here on the couch with you.”
He might be new to Moss Creek, but he’d been around long enough to know Dianna was on just about every available man’s radar. Between her looks, her temperament, and her skills in the kitchen, she was exactly what most men were looking for.
But most men didn’t deserve her.
They didn’t realize how hard she worked to be strong. How difficult it was for her to stick up for herself. How she would get herself into messes because of the fearless way she tackled whatever life put in her path, whether it was asshole exes, leaking pipes, or friendly squirrels.
Only he knew all that.
Only he knew how to take care of her the way she needed.
The way she deserved.
FIFTEEN
DIANNA
THE SHOCK OF Griffin barging into her house was beginning to wear off, but only a little.
“I thought you were at Troy’s.”
He spent every Sunday from sunup to sundown out at Cross Creek with Troy. It was why she’d been outside puttering around in the flowerbeds when Cooper pulled up. She wasn’t worried about having an awkward run-in with Griffin.
“I came home early.” His eyes moved over her, like he was looking for something. “How long was Cooper here?”
She understood what was happening, but couldn’t really wrap her head around the cause of it. “Not long.” She took a steadying breath, digging down deep until she found the tiniest hint of the goddess she was working so hard to remember she was.
And goddesses didn’t take shit from anybody. Including tall, gorgeous, jealous neighbors.
“And it doesn’t matter how long he was here. This is my house. I’m allowed to have anyone I choose inside of it.”
She’d been controlled before. Allowed a man to run her life, her business, and her brain. It broke her. Shattered her into so many pieces it was taking forever to put them all back together again. There was no way she would let it happen again.
“Fuck.” Griffin raked one hand through his hair, squeezing his eyes shut as he stepped back. “I know I don’t have any right to question you like this.” His fingers gripped the silvery strands at the top of his head, pulling tight before falling away. “But—” His jaw clenched tight, lips pressing together as they sealed off whatever he was about to say.
But she wanted to know. No. Make that,neededto know.
“But, what?”
When she’d heard a vehicle slowing down while she was pulling weeds from around the mums blooming in the front bed, her heart skipped a beat and sent her straight to her feet, spinning to face the new arrival. When it was Cooper’s cruiser instead of Griffin’s pickup, the disappointment that hit her was swift and strong.
