Page 13 of Saved By the Officers

A slow, relieved breath brushed over my dry lips. If Max trusted them with knowing why I was here, then the two men must be trustworthy.

Relaxing back against the wooden chair, I studied his handsome face, searching his hazel eyes as I debated how to answer his odd question. What did I need? The last few weeks had taught me there wasn’t a lot that I needed, except one thing.

One thing that had been a gaping vacant hole in my life for far too long.

“A friend,” I admitted. As soon as I said it, a list of other things popped into my mind. “And a job, for my hopefully soon-to-be ex to sign the divorce papers, my daughter to not hate me, to live somewhere for longer than a few nights.” Groaning, I closed my eyes and shook my head. “Normalcy. Though I’m sure that’s a long way off.”

His hummed agreement had me peeling my lids open to stare across the table. He studied me, tracing over my face as if searching for something.

“Well, let’s start with that first one. A friend. That I can help with.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” I muttered under my breath.

“And why is that?”

Because I was insanely attracted to him and his partner. The last thing I wanted was to cause a rift between them. The other one, Shade, seemed like the broody, jealous type. Even if Trap wasn’t attracted to me like I was him, Shade might take offense.

“I don’t want to come between you two.” Honesty was the best policy in this situation. Hell, it always had been for me. Which was why Barrett’s deceit cut so deep. I prided myself on the truth. Lies were for the weak.

His brown eyes twinkled. “You won’t. Don’t worry about that, Georgia. We can be friends for now.” That last part confused me, but I shook it off. “How long are you here for?”

I shrugged, turning my attention to the kitten as it wandered along the table. “This seems to be more long-term than the last few places, but I still don’t know.” I chewed on the corner of my lip. “My ex is being difficult.” I rolled my eyes. “Typical, really. He’s no doubt doing whatever he can to save his own ass.” My blunt nails dug into my palms as I curled both hands into tight fists. “And now we—my daughter and I—are in limbo, waiting to see how it all plays out.”

“That must be difficult for both of you.” Sincerity bled through his tone.

“She hates me,” I whispered. “But I can’t bring myself to shatter the image she has of her father. It’s dumb.”What the fuck am I doing admitting all this?“Sorry, I’m talking too much. It must be the lack of sleep and all the stress that is making me spill my guts to a stranger.”

“Not a stranger. Trap, though my real name is Trapper Carl Cain. Though ‘Trapper’ and ‘stranger’ sound similar. Easily confused by anyone.”

I smirked, loving the simple conversation between us. “Right, how could I forget? Trap, my one friend.”

“Two. Me and Shade are a package deal with friendships. If you’re my friend, you’re automatically his too.”

“I’d like that,” I said. A yawn crept up, and I covered my gaping mouth with the back of my hand. “It’s late.” I winced. “Or early. I need to get home, be there when Gracie wakes up.” I stood and started to pull off the super-warm sweatshirt, but his hand wrapped around mine, freezing all movement.

“Keep it. When will be a good time for us to take this little guy to my veterinarian friend?”

I blinked. “I don’t know….”

“Come on. We’re in this together. Co-parenting—it’s a thing.”

“It is a thing,” I said, cheeks now burning from how long I’d held my wide smile. “And considering I don’t have a job or anything else going on, I’m basically free. Except Gracie….” Thinking about her, I shifted to look out the kitchen window that faced our house. “I can’t leave her. She’s a flight risk at the moment.”

“Broody teenager meetsThe Fugitive?”

“Exactly.” I loved that movie. For a long time during college, I just knew I would have an older man fetish from how many times I watched it, obsessed with Dr. Richard Kimble. “Harrison Ford was so hot in the movie. Something about a good-looking, smart man. And that beard. You know I’m right.”

“Um, sure.” Trap’s smile had disappeared, now replaced with a deep frown as he rubbed his hand along his scruff-covered jaw. “Beards, huh?”

“Well, yeah. On him. Anyway, so I guess I’m not really free to go with you. But let me know how it turns out at the vet.”

The kitten bobbed its head beneath my goodbye scratches, leaning its tiny body weight into my fingers. With a goodbye-for-now smile, I started down the hall, the thick socks he’d slipped on my feet making my steps silent. Before I could wrap my hand around the doorknob, Trap grabbed it and tugged the door open for me.

Hot. Kind. Funny. A Southern gentleman.

And gay.

Fuck, I keep forgetting that part.

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