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Blue lights instantly flashed in my rearview mirror.
Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
11
Declan
Another night, another callout to Matt’s bar because of the cast and crew of that damned movie.
I almost allowed the responding deputy to deal with it on his own. Almost. But then the dispatcher had described an occupancy hazard in the private function area, and I’d decided to make sure the crowd was dispersed without incident, a task that would work much better with more than one of us.
But as soon as I’d pulled into the bar’s parking lot and seen the flash of that blue sports car peeling out into the night, I’d turned right around and followed it as if the McLaren itself held a leash attached to my own neck.
I would simply make sure he got home okay. That was all.
It definitely wasn’t because I’d been missing the man since I’d walked out of his chalet the night before. Or that I’d been obsessing about him messing around with that stupid sidekick of his. Or that every time I’d closed my eyes the night before, I’d replayed the hurt expression that had flashed over his beautiful face before he’d locked his emotions down, and hated myself for becoming another person he had to put on a front for.
After radioing the other responding officer to let him know he was on his own, I settled in to follow the sports car up into the hills toward Rockley Lodge.
My plan went out the window the minute I saw his car almost drive off the road. Was he driving drunk? On these roads? Did he have a death wish?
I immediately turned on my lights and pulled him over. Once he was parked in a pullout that normally boasted a picturesque vista, I got out and approached the driver’s door.
“Step out of the vehicle.”
He turned to me, defiant and angry. “Are you fucking kidding me right now?”
“Don’t make me repeat myself.”
Our eyes locked for a few beats before he huffed and opened the door. As soon as he stepped out of the car, I wanted to pull him in my arms and thank every god in existence that his car hadn’t careened over the edge and tumbled into the valley. Instead, I began interrogating him.
“How much have you had to drink tonight?”
Finn’s eyes narrowed. “None of your damned business.”
“You were driving recklessly. Answer the question.”
He crossed his arms in front of his chest, those arms whose ink had tasted warm and sweet against my tongue just last night.
“Fine. I had four drinks.”
Was he insane? He was too slender to handle that much alcohol and think he could still drive. “F-four drinks? What the fuck were you drinking?”
He leaned forward and hissed at me. “Ginger ale, asshole.”
The words caught me by surprise, so I couldn’t help but parrot them back at him. “Ginger ale?”
“Yes, but since you seem to think I’m a liar, I’m sure you don’t believe me.”
“I…” I didn’t know what to say. I’m sorry seemed too pathetic.
Finn threw up his hands. “Go ahead and field test me. Again. Just like the other night in the parking lot. Go on. I dare you.”
I wanted to drop to my knees and beg his forgiveness. “You swerved.”
He let out a breath and suddenly looked tired. “My phone fell on the floor by my feet. It surprised me.”
“I thought…”
He gritted his teeth. “I know what you thought.”
“No. No. I thought you were going to run off the road, off the side of the fucking mountain, Finn. My heart…” My heart almost died in my chest. I pressed a hand over my name tag. “My heart skipped a beat. I…” My breath came faster just thinking about it. The mangled metal would have been completely inadequate to protect his fragile humanity.
Finn’s face softened. “I’m okay.”
“I’m sorry.”
Now his face widened into a smirk. “Woah. It’s a miracle, ladies and gentlemen.”
“I was wrong. I’m…” I wanted to say more, to keep him there on the side of the mountain talking to me. Where I could touch him and feel the warm breath from his lips, smell the coffee and woodsmoke scent of him. But it wasn’t my right. “You’re free to go.”
Finn’s eyes flashed back and forth between mine like he was studying me. Possibility sparked in the air between us. Finally, he seemed to deflate. “Fine. Good night, Sheriff.”
He turned to go, but it felt like maybe my solar plexus was tied to his because I followed right after him. “Wait.”
He flicked a hand in the air over his shoulder. “It’s fine. You already apologized. Go home, Sheriff.”
“Stop calling me that,” I ground out. I hated him thinking of me as my office and not as a man. Of all people to reduce me to my job, he was the one who stung the most.
Finn spun around. “Why? That’s what you are. That’s all you apparently want to be to me, right? You made it perfectly clear last night. I’m nothing to you. And you’re a big fat liar. You called me beautiful, Declan. ‘Inside and out,’ remember? And then you fucking left me naked and alone like a goddamned whore. But it’s fine. I’m used to being used. It’s the story of my fucking life. Just so we’re clear, Sheriff, I don’t need you. I never did.”
