Page 67 of Ridin' Solo
Another cruiser came into the lot and parked. The other deputy team hauled a guy out of the car and to his feet. In a flash, he reared back and headbutted the deputy behind him. I was out of the car in the next breath, running over to help. Between the three of us, we got him down on the ground. Clearly, the guy was on something to have that kind of strength even while handcuffed.
The deputy who’d gotten headbutted shouted, “On three we tase.”
We all knew what that meant, jumping up and clear of the guy when he got to three so the deputy could tase him. The guy went rigid for a few seconds and then relaxed enough the guys could drag him inside to booking.
Oakley scrambled out of the doorway as they passed, looking at the dirt all over me. “What happened?”
I shook my head. “Don’t ask.”
We both climbed in the car and spent the rest of the afternoon not doing much at all. That was simply how the job went. Long stretches of nothing interrupted by situations that turned your hair prematurely gray.
As we pulled into the parking lot of the station at the end of our shift, Oakley glanced over at me. “Well, this is it. Our last ride.”
I gave her a smarmy smile I knew would get her all riled up. “Oh no, it’s not. I plan to ride you tonight, in fact.”
“Wyatt!” She tried to hush me, putting the car in park and rushing to get out.
I burst out laughing, realizing I’d never had so much fun with anyone, ever. I didn’t need a flashy life or drugs and alcohol to have a good time. I just needed Oakley.
The rest of the crew, including Sheriff, Betty, and even the maintenance guy, walked outside the station to watch us. I frowned as I got out of the car and walked closer to Oakley. Shit. I’d just been teasing her. I hadn’t actually meant to get us in trouble. “What’s going on?”
Oakley spun, lightning fast. Two little darts flew at my chest and the next thing I knew, I was facedown on the pavement, a pillow under my face.
“What the fuck?” I roared, blinking rapidly and trying to get my muscles to function.
Charles stood next to Oakley, laughing his damn head off. Oakley tried to hold back a smile even as she looked down at me in sympathy. In her hand, she held her Taser, minus the two loaded electrodes. I realized two strings went from her unit to my leg.
She’d fucking tased me.
I stood, swaying on my feet for a second before I pounced, hauling Oakley over my shoulder. She screamed and pounded on my back, but I was having too much fun thinking of payback to care.
“We put a pillow down for God’s sake!” Oakley yelled, like that made up for the fact she’d tased me in front of the whole department. I hadn’t felt that jolt since we had to tase each other in the academy for practice.
Sheriff Locke stopped me, a beefy hand on my chest. He shrugged. “It’s a tradition. We tase everyone who leaves our unit. Now put my deputy down.”
I let Oakley slide down my body until her feet hit the ground. She looked up at me with those big blue eyes and I couldn’t be mad at her.
“Is this to get me back for letting you get shot last time we rode together?” I asked her, pretending to have my feelings hurt.
“It only seemed fair,” she answered, all sass and innocence.
I’d be smacking that ass tonight. Hard.
“Oh, and you might want to put a sweater around your waist,” Oakley added, smiling prettily.
I frowned. “Why?”
She gestured to my pants. “You peed yourself, Lieutenant.”
I looked down and saw a tiny dark spot on the front of my pants. “Mother f…I didn’t pee myself!”
Oakley spun and walked inside while the deputies behind me roared with laughter. I ignored them all and followed Oakley, arguing with the back of her head. “I swear! The parking lot was wet. That’s not pee, Oakley.”
“Whatever you say…” she sang, swinging her hips as she walked away.
Arms crossed over my chest, I grinned evilly, thinking of all the things I’d do to her tonight as payback. This insufferable woman had become the best thing to ever happen to me.
Epilogue
