Page 7 of Fall Back
“Carson,” he sighs, the sound full of suffering as if I’m the problem, “I’m responding to a call. Me being here is official police business and I would appreciate your cooperation.”
The glare I send his way should have him igniting into flames, but he remains standing. I take the opportunity to take him in, something I didn’t really allow myself to do at the wedding for my own fucking sanity. Jared has filled out over the years, and I think he got a little taller since he graduated and joined up.
He’s still on the lankier side instead of overly buff, but there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s strong and fit. The way he fills out his police uniform tells me everything I need to know. His dark hair is pulled back in a man bun, and I wonder if the style is regulation. He always had shoulder length hair when he was in high school, but it had to go when he was in the military. For a man who was never one to buck the rules, I can imagine it’s the one rebellion he allows himself.
There’s something about him that takes me right back to the past and the kids we used to be. A feeling of safety I always experienced when he was around. I didn’t get to spend much time around him, but when I did, I soaked up that feeling. Now itwashes over me, and it has my nipples pebbling against the soft fabric of my shirt.
Hopefully, my shirt is oversized enough that he won’t notice. When his gaze shoots down and then back up to meet mine while one side of his mouth tips up, I know he did.
Fuck me.
I’m not going to be able to get out of telling him what is going on.
“I’m not breaking in,” I admit reluctantly.
“Then what are you doing skulking around this house?”
I roll my eyes, annoyed as hell with this whole situation. While part of me is glad someone was diligent enough to call it in, I’m also annoyed at this whole thing. It could be worse; it could have been someone else who answered the call. Or would that have been better? Who knows at this point?
“I live here,” I tell him honestly.
Jared opens his mouth like he’s about to ask another question but then snaps it closed before holstering his gun. He looks between me and the house a few times like he’s trying to piece together what he knows to be true and the information I just gave him.
I keep quiet the whole time, partially mesmerized by the way his jaw clenches and unwilling to give out information he hasn’t asked for.
“Okay?” He holds out the question like he’s expecting me to just fill him in on all the details.
His hands find his hips and for a moment he’s all masculine authority, which isn’t really fair. It’s already been a while sinceI’ve been with anyone which isn’t helping. Add in how he’s in front of me in a uniform and looking at me like he’s waiting for me to submit to him, and I’m done. I almost snort out a laugh at the thought of submitting to him.
Like that will happen. Well, it probably won’t. Possibly won’t. Maybe. Hopefully not?
Fuck.
“Carson,” he pinches the bridge of his nose and blows out a breath, “just give it to me straight. Tell me what is going on and why you’re here. No beating around the bush or giving me half answers. The whole truth with all the details.” He adds on, like he’s just remembered he was taught manners, “Please.”
“Fine,” I groan and run a hand over my face feeling more naked than I’m comfortable with this early in the morning. The hot guy standing in front of me who didn’t just climb out of my bed is just a strange bonus to this whole situation. “If you must know,” he shoots me a look like I need to get on with it, “I’ve moved back. I’m renting this place and this morning I went out on the back porch to have a cup of coffee. I didn’t realize I had locked the doorknob when I went through, and it locked behind me. I don’t have the keys on me since I thought I was just going to enjoy a cup of coffee on the porch. Someone must have noticed me walking around to see if any of the windows were unlocked. This one was,” I motion behind me, “and I was about to climb back inside when you stopped me. I think that basically brings us up to speed.”
“You think that basically brings us up to speed?” His voice is full of incredulity, but what else does he need to know? I think I summed things up pretty nicely if I do say so myself. “What do you mean you’ve moved back?”
“How many ways can those very English words be interpreted? I moved back,” I sass him, unable to help myself.
“Noel hasn’t mentioned anything,” he points out, slightly dumbfounded.
“No,” I agree, “he wouldn’t. He doesn’t know. None of my brothers know.”
The shock on Jared’s face would be comical if it didn’t feel like the secrecy and quiet I came home seeking wasn’t about to be blown up.
“Look,” I start before he can ask me any more questions I don’t really want to answer, “I’ll tell them I’m home. I just wanted a few days to get settled without my overprotective brothers up my ass with the expectations of me heading out to Limitless and family dinners and whatever else they would guilt me into. I’m not ready to answer all their questions quite yet. I won’t, and can’t, hide forever, I just wanted a little time.” I motion between us, “Can we keep this between us?”
Jared’s head tilts to the side slightly as he studies me. “Go out with me,” he blurts the words, and I swear the tips of his ears turn red right after he does, almost as if he didn’t mean for them to come out.
“Go out with you?” My eyebrows pull together in confusion. “Like to catch up?”
“No,” he steps closer to me, not close enough to touch, but enough for me to feel it, to feel him. “Not a catch up. A date,” he tosses between us like it’s not a grenade without the pin.
I blink up at him, my breathing turning a little shallow. His blue eyes bore into mine, nothing but sincerity and interest shining back at me. The younger version of me, the one whostill lives in the recesses of my brain, is dancing and jumping up and down in happiness while giving me double thumbs up. She desperately wants me to say yes.
But I’m just not sure. A date? With Jared? My brother’s best friend? It sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.
