Page 42 of Flirting With Fire
Dex nodded. “I did. Alejandra took yours because I had to call the ranch and explain what happened, and Alice wanted to speak to me. Can we get out of here?”
“I need to talk to the chief.”
“Right behind you,” Brannigan rumbled.
I turned to see him standing next to Chief Wally. Goodness, in the ten years since I last saw him, the police chief had gotten smaller and more wrinkled than ever. Now he resembled a prune.
“Chief Brannigan and I will handle the press,” Wally said. “You two go home. I’ll want statements from both of you, but that can wait until tomorrow.”
“Is the mine going to be closed off?” I asked.
“It is now. It’s too unstable. You were lucky.” His wrinkled face scowled at me.
We were, I knew that. The whole thing could have come down on top of us. My blood went cold at the thought of it collapsing on little Wildie.
“Get out of here,” Brannigan said. “You’re done for today. Jones, see you in the morning. Don’t be late.”
My cheeks burned. Did he have to have that leer while he said that in front of my mom? “No, sir.”
I don’t know how Brannigan managed it, but we drove away without being chased by the media. I leaned back in the seat and closed my eyes.
“Hey, no falling asleep, Jones,” Dex grumbled. “You and I have unfinished business, remember?”
I kept my eyes shut. “Short nap. It’s been a long day.”
“I bet I got up before you.”
“You’re a rancher. You wake up before everybody.”
“True, true. It’s nice of the chief to give you the rest of the shift off.”
“What’s left of it. My shift was almost over.”
Dex groaned. “You’re right. It’s been a long day. Lunch was a long time ago.”
My stomach rumbled just the memory. “Is there any food at the cottage?”
“I have food in my kitchen,” Dex pointed out. “But Alejandra packed us a takeout bag. No pies. I said you were allergic.”
“That’s nice of her. We’ll need the food…later.”
I think I must have dozed off because the next thing I remembered was Dex shaking my arm.
“You can stay here if you want, Meyer.”
I grumbled something incoherent and sat up, rubbing my eyes, not surprised to see we were parked outside Dex’s house. “Sorry, sorry. I really didn’t mean to crash out despite what I said about a nap.”
He grinned at me. “It’s okay. Old men need their naps.”
I scowled at him, and he laughed even harder.
“You’ll be old one day.”
“And you’ll be even older.”
I let it go with a huff, too tired to argue with that logic. I mean, Dex was right, damn him.
“Come on,” Dex said. “We had plans…before you get too old to enjoy me.
