Page 21 of Baring All
“Sure. No problem.”
I follow Eloise and her partner to the front door.
“If anything else happens or anyone remembers anything, give us a call. Have a good evening, sir,” the man – Hunter, if I recall – says, before walking away.
“Take care,” Eloise says and begins to follow her partner.
Something in me rebels at the thought of letting her walk away without saying talking to her. “Eloise – Officer Mason, a word please.”
Her posture stiffens at my words, but she stops. “I’ll be right there, Hunter,” she calls to her partner.
She stands still, doesn’t turn around, but makes no attempt to evade me either. Looks like I’ll have to go to her. When I stop beside her, I touch her arm. “Hey.” She doesn’t respond, just stands looking down. Bracing, I continue. “I’m sorry.”
At that, she lifts her head and looks at me, still saying nothing. But her eyes tell a story – a story of hurt. That, more than any words she could have spoken, has my heart clenching. Fuck. How the hell did I get here? Me – the man who’s sworn off anything that hints at intimate or long term. And yet, suddenly, I yearn for something more.
Something more with this woman.
“I’m sorry I never called. We went out of town on a mission, and we’ve only just returned a few days ago. But I should have called, or even just texted.”
Finally, she lifts her gaze to mine. “Yeah, you should have. Even if it was just to say you weren’t interested. Instead of just leaving me hanging. It’s not like I intended rushing down the aisle first chance I got.”
The snark in her words hints at her anger, her hurt. And I don’t blame her. I behaved like an ass. My mama would be so disappointed in me.
“Let me make it up to you.” Eloise quirks a brow but, once again, says nothing. She definitely isn’t making this easy, and I guess I don’t blame her. “I have a few days off since we’ve just come back from a mission. Can I buy you lunch or dinner sometime?”
Her eyes widen in surprise. I don’t think those were the words she was expecting.
“Mason, you coming?” Her partner calls from beside the vehicle. He’s standing with one foot resting on the door sill, his posture relaxed. Anyone foolish to believe that though, they’d deserve whatever they got. The man is on full alert for any danger I present to his colleague.
“Yeah, I’ll be there in a second,” she responds before turning back to me. “I guess I could. When did you have in mind?”
“When’s your next day off?” I counter.
“Day after next I have a couple days off.”
“How about lunch on your first day off?” Doubt crawls all over her face, like she’s sure I’m yanking her chain, but humoring me for the moment. “Please? I’d really like to make it up to you – for my shitty behavior and poor manners.”
“Let’s roll, Mason. Got a break-in over on Main.” Dude’s clearly chafing at the bit.
“Coming.” I don’t hear a sound, but I see her chest lift in a sigh. “Fine. You have my number.” And with that, she’s clearly done.
I watch as she strides toward the car, those sumptuous hips swaying, making my mouth water. The door opens behind me, and Lucky calls out. “Hey bud, everything okay out here?”
“Yep. I was just chatting with the police officers,” I reply without turning around, my eyes not leaving Eloise.
“Police officers or officer, singular?” He nudges me. Training has him beside me before I even know he’s moved.
Flipping him the bird, I watch as the patrol vehicle pulls out of Knight’s driveway and takes off in the direction of Main Street. Laughter rolls off his tongue at my antics. He opens his mouth, and I cut him off.
“Don’t. You’re one of the few people I actually like. Don’t make me punch you in the mouth.” My words have Lucky doubling over with mirth. “Yeah, laugh it up, SEAL boy.” To which his reply is to simply laugh harder. “Fuck you, asshole,” I grump, half annoyed, half amused by him.
When he can catch his breath again, he slaps me on the shoulder. “I know you don’t want to hear it, but I say go for it. Yeah, yeah. You don’t want a relationship; you don’t want to turn out like your old man. I’ve heard it all before. And I’m telling you, again, you are nothing like him from what you’ve told me. You deserve happiness, brother. And she” — he nods toward where the patrol vehicle was parked — “looks like she’d be good for you. Just saying.”
With that, he puts a hand on my shoulder and walks me back to the front door. As he reaches for the handle, I stop him. “Thanks, Lucky. For everything. Always. You’re a good friend. I appreciate you.”
It’s not often Lucky’s lost for words, but it seems I’ve managed it. Clapping him on the back, good humor restored, I grin at him as I let myself back into the house, leaving the door open behind me.
Hittingthe delete button for what feels like the millionth time, I blow out a frustrated breath. I’ve been trying to word a text to Eloise for the last twenty minutes. No matter what I write it all sounds like such garbage when I read it back.
