Page 41 of Wine and Research
“S-stupid spot,” he mumbled again.
“How about I take you to the hospital, Ed? They can help you there,” he suggested, leading him toward the squad car, hoping the guy would finally take him up on it.
Ed yanked his arm free and shook his head, which made him sway again. “N-no! I’m fine. J-just n-need to sleep it off in my cell.”
The fact that the guy called it “his cell” had Jeremy’s stomach bunching. He didn’t know what had transpired between Ed and his wife to make her leave, but Jeremy knew he’d never allow a woman to reduce him to this state.
“You takin’ me there…or sh-should I d-drive?” Ed asked, stumbling against the car.
Jeremy sighed and opened the back door, helping Ed get in without hurting himself before he shut the door and turned to take Nico’s statement. When he finished, he put his notepad away.
“Jenna okay?” he asked, knowing his sister hung out there a lot with Faith and Evie.
His buddy nodded. “Yeah. Scott caught her before she fell.”
He blew out a breath and nodded. “I’ll have to thank him.”
A wicked gleam entered Nico’s eyes. “You sure about that? He was looking quite happy holding your sister close.”
The guy would never make a move on his sister any more than he’d make a move on Evie, although she was married now.But growing up, they’d had an unspoken rule of not messing with their sisters, and even though Scott was an only child, he’d readily agreed. Although, admittedly, Jeremy wasn’t opposed to Scott dating Jenna. Scott was an upstanding guy. His sister could do worse, and she’d been crushing on his friend for years.
“Well, since he helped her, I’ll let it slide,” he said, still feeling a bit too relaxed from last night to stop a smile from tugging his lips.
Nico’s head lifted and eyes narrowed as he stared at him a beat. “Son-of-a-bitch. You dog, you.” The guy grinned and slapped Jeremy’s arm. “You and Elle finally went up in smoke.”
Now Jeremy’s head snapped back.
How the hell had his buddy figured that out?
“Don’t look so shocked.” Nico laughed. “A guy doesn’t smile like you’re smiling unless he’d had one hell of a good night with a hot woman.”
Since there wasn’t anything about that statement he could disagree with, he didn’t.
“Ah, man, can’t wait for the gym tonight.” Nico continued to grin. “You’re going to be easier than usual to pin.”
“My ass,” he muttered, walking around to the driver’s side of his vehicle.
The guy rarely pinned him, and he knew it.
“Yeah, your ass, too, although, I might need to ask Elle permission.”
His gaze snapped to the idiot. “What for?”
She wouldn’t care if he sparred or who he sparred with.
“Ask her if I can beat your ass since it belongs to her now.”
The only reason he didn’t flip his buddy off was because of his uniform and the fact he was on duty. Instead, he shook his head and got in the car, ending the stupid conversation.
But as he drove away from the grinning idiot, Jeremy couldn’t help but wonder if his buddy was right. And if so, was it good or bad?
Chapter Thirteen
Elle caught herself smiling most of yesterday, as well as today. Her time with Jeremy the other night had been world-rocking, leaving her satisfied and content. The memory of the incredible man and the things they’d done, both in the cabin and outside in the hot tub, sent heat washing through her body.
And just like that, her smile returned. But he had also sparked her imagination, motivation, and inspiration. So much so, that she’d gotten a ton of writing done last night after helping at Gabe’s. She’d written into the wee hours of the morning, catching a few hours of sleep before she met Faith for Saturday morning yoga at the Wyne Resort, with Jenna joining them.
Although she’d hoped to catch a glimpse of Jeremy jogging around the lake this week, there was no sign of the handsome guy. At least she was able to give her full concentration to her positions today.
