Page 68 of Wine and Research
Jeremy moved away and shook his head. “I’m not delirious. I just want to see my sister happy, and I’d much rather see her date you than some of the yahoos around here who have their eyes on her.”
Scott’s brows crashed together. “Which yahoos?”
Nico laughed and once again, cupped their friend’s shoulder. “Aw, man. Stop fighting it. Just give in. You’re already hooked.”
Jeremy understood that state. Elle had hooked him the very first time she’d stepped into the precinct with her beautiful auburn hair falling past her shoulders in waves, her green eyes full of warmth and intelligence, and her gorgeous curves filling out her sweater and jeans.
The knot in his stomach tightened, and pain in his chest increased.
He’d wasted so much time keeping her at bay, and now, ironically, he was trying to get past her walls.
Did wasting time really matter if she was seeing someone else on the side?his conscience reminded.
“All right, spill it,” Scott muttered, folding his arms across his chest. “What’s going on between you and Elle?”
“Yeah, you don’t really think she’s seeing that guy, do you?” Nico asked, surprising him by not urging him to dump her. “Elle isn’t Naomi.”
Scott nodded. “What’s eating you? Is it Owen?”
Jeremy shook his head.
“Then what?”
After blowing out a breath, he told them about Elle’s brother and marriage and the fact she’d never mentioned either. He hated secrets.
Was that guy yesterday another of Elle’s secrets?
Scott unfolded his arms and set a hand on his shoulder. “I don’t think that’s what’s bothering you. It is that guy,” Scott said quietly and astutely. Never could get anything past him. “Talk to her.”
Nico nodded. “Yeah, jumping to conclusions is dangerous. You know that.”
Yes, he did. Jeremy was a cop. He lived by a hard and fast rule of never making a hasty assumption. Always collect the facts.
So why the hell was he doing it with Elle?
He blew out another breath and grabbed his pack. “I’m done jogging.”
“Going to look for Elle?” Scott asked.
Jeremy nodded. He needed to quit being an ass and give her the benefit of the doubt.
Nico pointed up the hill. “Then you don’t have to go too far because she’s right up there.”
He glanced to where his friend motioned and spotted her. She had her back to them, just beyond the trees, and he could tell she was talking to someone, but couldn’t make out who it was.
Probably one of the girls.
That yoga stuff usually took place soon, although, Elle wasn’t dressed in her heart rate inducing yoga outfit. She was in jeans and a T-shirt today.
His heart strummed rapidly in his chest anyway.
“Good luck,” Scott said.
“Yeah.” Nico slapped his back. “We’re going to do another round.”
Jeremy nodded at them before he made his way up the nearest wooded trail to the top of the hill, where he spotted Elle walking away from that damn guy, down another trail.
His first instinct was to keep walking. To head for the parking lot and leave her behind.
