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CHAPTER4
Jim
Iadded two sugars to the dark roast in my favorite mug, then strolled back to my desk. Today would be my first day of training our newest recruits with a special introduction to all things Sweet Water and how our department operated, and while I was excited for the new gig, I had those first-day-of-school jitters…God help me if anyone realized it.
Taking a good sip of coffee helped soothe away the nerves I knew were unnecessary. I was a good cop, and that’s why my superior selected me for this task. The newest hires had already completed their required academy training, and this would act as a transition course into our department. I’d miss patrolling and answering calls, but it was only six weeks. I could handle anything for six weeks.
“How’s your morning, Harlowe?” Tanner asked as he got settled at his desk.
“Going good,” I said before glancing at my watch. “Would be even better if my volunteer showed up.”
Volunteers were hard to come by, and this one was already five minutes late—if they didn’t show up I’d be handling the full brunt of the program which was built to be ran by two. We couldn’t afford to pull another officer from our small department to help me, so we had to depend on free help.
“I’m sure they’ll show up soon,” Tanner encouraged me by raising his mug in the air and we did an air cheers before I headed to the back of the station where we’d set up our designated training area.
The first four weeks of would focus on Sweet Water politics, laws, and special interests, which meant we’d be spending all our time in the conference room going over tons of paperwork, histories, and the like. The last two weeks I’d assign each new hire to a partner for patrolling, giving us all a break from the school-like situation. But until that time came, I really needed help gathering all the course materials and then inputting responses and grades for the tests. Could I do it all on my own? Absolutely. Did I want to? Not really.
“This is where you’ll be working.” Tanner’s voice sounded just outside the door to the conference room, and I turned just in time to seeAnnewalk through the door after him.
Fucking hell, she looked divine in a pair of black pants that hugged her long legs, tapering off at the ankles right above a pair of black stilettos that clicked against the tile as she walked inside. She wore a royal blue blouse that climbed up her delicate neck, making her blue eyes practically glow. Her long golden hair hung over her shoulders in waves, and those full, luscious lips turned up in the most adorable little surprised smile.
I had to focus extremely hard on not falling to my knees, she wasthatbreathtaking.
“Officer Harlowe is heading up the program,” Tanner continued. “He’ll let you know what you need to do.” Tanner tilted his head at me. “Harlowe?” he asked. “You good?”
I cleared my throat, blinking out of the stupor Anne’s sudden appearance put me in. “Yes,” I said. He nodded and headed out, leaving us alone in the room.
Was it hot in here? I tugged at my uniform shirt, desperately needing some air.
“Sorry I’m late,” she said, striding over to the small desk in the back corner of the room. She set down her bag, then turned to lean against the desk. “I couldn’t decide what to wear.”
My lips parted, a response totally tangled in my throat.
Fuck man, speak.
“I mean, what does one wear to a forced volunteer program?” her voice was all tease, and I cocked an eyebrow at her. She shrugged. “I highly doubt my father knew I’d be working directly under you when he pulled strings to get me in here.”
The mention of her father shifted everything inside me, transforming me into the pissed off teenager that wanted nothing more than to run away with the girl I’d been forbidden to see. I took a step closer to her, unable to keep the distance between us.
“From what I recall,” I said, my voice low. “You never minded working beneath me before.”
Her lips parted, a small gasp rushing from them. I tracked the reaction, satisfaction rolling through me right before reality slapped me across the face.
I was at work and that comment was incredibly inappropriate. I opened my mouth to apologize, but she smiled up at me, her eyes shining with something close to joy.
“I missed that mouth of yours,” she fired right back, never one to miss a beat.
Fuck, this woman could hit all of my buttons with just a handful of words. Hell, she didn’t need words, she could bring me to my knees with a simple look. It didn’t matter that ten years had passed since we’d been together, it didn’t matter that we’d never gone all the way in our relationship—one look at her and she still felt likemine.
But she wasn’t.
She wasn’t anything more than my volunteer.
“You’ll be working over here,” I said, clearing my throat like it would help clear my head. I needed to get a fucking grip. I wasn’t a love-starved teenager anymore, I was a grown ass man.
“Cute,” she said as I motioned to the desk behind her. She walked around it and took a seat. “What exactly do you need me to do, James?”
The way she said my name had lightning streaking through my veins. She only ever called me that when she wanted to get a rise out of me. I was Jim through and through and would never be the formalJamesher family wanted me to be. Not that any of that mattered anymore.
