Page 24 of Fighting for Brielle
A voice over a loudspeaker announcing Franklin’s flight interrupted them. He gripped his son’s shoulders a moment, told him he loved him one more time, and hurried toward the boarding gate.
Needing to keep his mind occupied after Franklin left, Justice checked in with the dispatch officer who worked weekends, informing her that he was on duty patrolling the coastline, and changed into his beach uniform. He backed his department UTV, which he kept at the house, out of his driveway and drove down to the beach.
Clear blue skies and warm weather brought people to the beach in droves. Some surfed the waves; others tossed frisbees or played volleyball. Justice let two other cops on patrol know that he’d joined them and waved at the lifeguards. Behind his dark sunglasses he eyed pretty young women in bikinis who flirted with him, but he kept his distance. None of them appealed to him.
And then he saw her. Tiger Eyes. Running toward him on the beach. Justice sped up and turned sharply to his left, spraying sand as he brought the UTV to an abrupt stop right in her path.
She came up short and stumbled, nearly falling forward onto the UTV.
Yanking out her earbuds, she yelled, “Are you crazy? I could have been seriously hurt!”
Justice pointed at his head. “Brain injury. I’m a retired SEAL.”
“And they let you drive this thing?” Incredulity laced her voice.
He flashed a broad grin. “I make this thing look good. Name’s Justice McQuaid, Chief of Police, Laguna Beach.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right, Beach Boy.” She tucked her buds back in her ears and started to move past the UTV.
Justice leaped from the UTV and blocked her. “Not so fast. Name and ID, please.” Behind his sunglasses his eyes shone with mirth. He didn’t have the right to detain her of course; he just wanted to know her name, and he’d let her go in a minute.
She wasn’t the least bit amused by his antics. “Okay, you want to play cop? Let’s play, then. I don’t have my ID or my badge on me, but I’m Sergeant Brielle McAdams, LAPD.”
Justice ripped off his sunglasses and stared at her. In the sunlight her eyes glinted like pure gold. His heart slammed into his chest, and his stomach tightened with his attraction to her.
“Yeah, right, Beach Girl,” he drawled, mocking her. “Impersonating a cop is a federal offense. Don’t move.” Speaking into his shoulder mic, he addressed Hutch. “Hey, I’ve detained a woman without any ID who claims she’s Sergeant Brielle McAdams, LAPD.”
“On it.” Within moments Hutch whistled. “Oh, Chief, you just stepped in deep doo-doo. Sergeant Brielle McAdams, LAPD. Numerous medals and letters of commendation for bravery extraordinaire. Training to be a SWAT officer. Daughter of former U.S. Attorney Cameron McAdams and,” he chuckled, “world-renowned historical romance author Brianna Birmingham. Noteworthy brothers are Dr. Trey McAdams, FBI profiler with the BAU, and Brendan McAdams, chief staff member to Secretary of State Barbara Washburn. As I said, you’re in deep, deep doo-doo.”
“Repeat that last part, Hutch.”
“You’re in deep…”
“No, before that,” Justice interrupted.
“Brendan McAdams, who works with Madam Secretary, is Sergeant McAdams’ brother. I’m sending you a photo of her now.”
Justice’s phone pinged. As he perused her photo, he thought,Jesus Christ. Brendan McAdams is her brother. I might have known. I wonder if she’s part of what’s happening out here.
His eyes met hers. God Almighty, they mesmerized him. “Sorry, Sergeant,” he muttered. “A word of advice, though. Keep your ID and at least your badge on you from now on, if not your gun.”
“Duly noted,Chief.”
Brielle took off running down the beach. Justice watched her until she disappeared around a large rock formation.
Chapter 7
Out of his sight, Brielle slowed to a walk and caught her breath.Chief of Police? No way.She scrolled through her contacts and pressed the CALL icon for Tex.
“Hey, pretty girl, what’s up?”
“Tex, I just met a cop who claims he’s not only a retired SEAL but the new chief of police of Laguna Beach. Justice McQuaid. Will you look him up?”
“Don’t need to. He’s legit. I met him a couple of months ago at Walter Reed. Impeccable character. Superior service record.”
“What happened to him?”
“You’ll have to ask him yourself. It’s not my story to tell.”
