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“Not really hiding, Junie. You know where to find me anytime you need me.”
“You talk a good game, but then you let a girl walk away a little too easy, don’t you? Maybe that’s because she’s not therightgirl,” she says and damn…she’s pissed.
“You going to rake my balls over the coals for being radio silent a few days, Baby?” I ask, watching her face.
“I’m just stating the simple truth, Sheriff,” she says, but something in her eyes flutters proving to me that she’s not entirely sure of herself.
“I can appreciate that. How about I give you some hard truths back?” When she doesn’t respond, just looks at me, I keep going. “A man texts a woman and gets radio silence for a day, he starts rethinking things. Maybe he’s not wanted. Maybe he was just used to get off. After that silence goes on two more days, maybe that man wises up and realizes he misread the woman’s reactions. Maybe that itch his woman wants scratched, could be scratched by anyone and not just him.”
After I’m finished, her face goes blank as she considers my words. I watch as understanding dawns and her features tighten.
“You really are an asshole, Sheriff.”
“Maybe I’m too old to play games, Juniper,” I tell her, using her full name, and I can tell she doesn’t like that either. I can tell by the way she stomps off, leaving me sitting at the table. I watch her leave. She walks past the restrooms, to the small hall that leads back to where Elaine’s office used to be—and what I’m sure is hers now.
I debate with myself, but maybe because I’m a glutton for punishment, I get off my ass and follow her. When I get back there, she’s inside the threshold and holding the door open.
“Get in,” she growls.
I bite down, my teeth actually grinding against each other. I go in and turn to look at her once she slams the door. I cross my arms at my chest and stare at her.
“I’m not your damn lap dog that you can order around and demand shit from, Juniper. That’s not who I am and not what you can treat me like,” I warn her.
“You damn asshole. Do you really think that I’m playing games?”
“You’re pissed at me because I quit texting you and you didn’t even bother to return the ones I did send. I absolutely call that playing games, Junie.”
“So, instead of asking me about it, you just walk away? Is that your M.O., Sheriff? When the going gets tough, Ben walks away, right? Maybe that’s the reason you lost Luna,. You didn’t fight,” she says, her harsh words cutting me to the bone.
She stands there, looking at me, while her eyes are shooting fire and her face is flushed with raw anger. She’s scored enough points that she’s succeeding in pissing me off.
“My M.O., as you put it, seems to be falling for women who are settling for me, instead of choosing me.”
“What in the hell are you talking about now?”
“Luna was in love with Gavin. She just didn’t think she could have him. She thought he was in her past, so she saw me and bam.Hey, Ben’s not bad. Let’s give him a shot.”
“Oh my God. Are you seriously standing there, coming at me with your bruised ego over your ex? Which is the reason—”
“The reason what?” I growl when she doesn’t finish.
“The reason I don’t trust you in the first damn place!”
“Speaking of trust, why didn’t you tell me your rat of an ex was a big-time man in Nashville?”
“I…What?”
“You heard me, Junie.”
“Have you been checking into my past, Ben?” she gasps, going pale and taking a step away from me.
“I’ve had you in my bed and my fingers deep inside of you. Is there a problem with me knowing your past, Junie?”
“There’s no problem if I give you the information. If you check up on me and search my past, that’s a problem,” she says, still backing away, andthatpushes me over the edge.
I stride over to her and pick her up. She cries out, her fingers biting into my shoulders, her legs wrapping around me. I push her against the wall, holding her secure, while gazing into her stormy blue eyes.
“You don’t get to pull that shit, Junie. Even if we fight, I’m still the same person I’ve always been, and I’d rather cut off my fucking arm than hurt you. So, you don’t get to be afraid of me.”
