Page 5 of Taming Her

“Aw, make an exception.” She giggled. “I promise you’ll enjoy it.”

“Good, they’re going.” The manager appeared at Rex’s side.

“Yes, and the sooner the better before we have to search their purses for illegal substances.” Rex glowered at the group of lingering girls.

“Shit.” The brunette grabbed her purse and a shawl. She reached for the bride-to-be’s hand. “Come on, we have to go now, party’s over.”

“It certainly is,” the manager said. “And I’ll be adding a cleaning bill to the credit card.” He pointed at a ruby red stain on the sofa. “And don’t tell me that was there before, I have photographic evidence.”

“Miss ya, wouldn’t want to be ya.” Ava threw a wave into the air, then walked from the club with her hot ass swaying.

She was trailed by the others. They were her devoted followers. She led the pack. It was clear she didn’t give a damn about the cleaning bill. But then again, it wouldn’t be her credit card held behind the bar and if it was, Daddy Dearest would pick up the tab. Or that’s what he’d always used to do. Pay for stuff and not much else.

“Seriously,” Rex said, plucking a long blonde hair from his dark uniform. “Do I look like a stripper?”

Griff laughed, enjoying the release of energy that had built up inside him. “You really want me to answer that?”

Rex huffed. “Yeah, well, you do, those damn muscles filling out your uniform.”

“These muscles are for the job.” Griff clasped Rex’s shoulder and tore his gaze from the doorway Ava had just disappeared through. “Come on, let’s make sure they get in cabs.”

Chapter 2

“Rex is what?” Griff frowned at Phil, the station desk sergeant.

“He’s in the hospital, appendix, will be out of action for at least six weeks.”

“Bloody hell, he was fine last night. We did the whole shift together, not one mention of pain or fever or whatever else a gammy appendix does to you.”

Phil shrugged. “It’s a bastard the way it sneaks up on you, got my sister a few years ago. Just came on out of the blue.”

Griff sighed and stared at the large black clock. It was nine p.m. and the start of his shift. “So who am I getting paired with?”

“Between you and me, I think you’re on your own. Staff shortages and all that.”

“Guess I’ll have to go and check in with the boss then.”

“Yeah, you do that. And if you speak to Rex, tell him we’re thinking of him.”

“Yeah, I will.” Griff frowned and stomped toward the staircase. He probably should do a whip-round, get Rex a fruit basket or something. Poor bugger.

* * *

An hour later, after wrapping up some paperwork, Griff pulled out of the station in his blue and white patrol car.

Alone.

He was okay with that. It was easier than getting to know a new partner. He didn’t mean to be antisocial, it had just happened over the last few years. He liked who he liked, and that was it.

His boss had told him to carry on as normal, checking out the usual city trouble spots, but had told him to stay car based. Beat cops believed in safety in numbers.

Griff listened to the control room chatter. It was a Sunday night, so not much was happening. The weekend had worn itself out.

He cruised through Redlands, keeping his eyes peeled for known troublemakers.

The streets were quiet.

He swung around the one-way system, coming to a halt when a homeless man pushed his loaded trolley into the road.

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