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Dalton stepped up then. “I’m sure that won’t be necessary, Officer Blount.” He smiled at Hannah, and Blake tensed when he thought the other man’s eyes did a quick once-over. He must have liked what he saw, because he took off his hat and stepped closer to Hannah. “Ma’am, I appreciate your concern for Sergeant Kline, but rest assured, he’s a friend of mine, and we’ll get this sorted out quick.”
Hannah’s hands fell from her hips, and her voice turned pleading. “I’m sorry for being disrespectful, but this man is a hero. He saved my life, and it just doesn’t . . . doesn’t seem right . . . ”
Hannah’s lips trembled, and fat tears threatened to spill over her lower lids. Blake found himself taking a step toward her, his first instinct to comfort her, only to be jerked back by Officer Blount, who cleared his throat. Even without seeing his face, Blake could tell he was uncomfortable.
“Ma’am, please, just go back inside, all right? Someone will be in to take your statement, and until then, the sergeant is just going to cool his heels in the back of one of our squad cars. Once we do that, you can rain all the gratitude you want on him.”
The snide way the officer said it made Blake want to swing his head back and break his nose, but then Dalton might really arrest him.
Dalton shot his partner a dark glower, which Blake appreciated, and turned his attention back to Hannah. “Why don’t I escort you back in? I’ll go ahead and take your statement now, Miss . . . ”
“York. Hannah York.” Hannah backed away reluctantly, casting one more look his way before going back inside. He saw Dalton’s hand rest on the small of her back, a gentlemanly move, but Blake didn’t like it.
Blake’s jaw turned to granite, and he gritted his teeth painfully as Officer Blount opened the back door of the police cruiser and helped him in. “You just sit tight, hero.”
He closed the door, and Blake cursed. He hadn’t done anything that any man with his training wouldn’t have. It didn’t make him a hero.
He glanced toward Dale’s and saw Hannah standing by the window, watching him earnestly. Between all the terror and fighting to save her life, he hadn’t had a chance to dwell on his reaction to her earlier and the knowledge that he had drunk dialed her and probably said a host of things he shouldn’t have. It didn’t take a genius to realize he was attracted to Hannah, but she was more than just a pretty woman. She brightened his day, was the one thing he looked forward to.
But he couldn’t make a move on her. Not with how completely fucked up he was. He’d had a few beers, and after one conversation with her he couldn’t even remember, his subconscious had triggered a violent, gut-churning nightmare. If that wasn’t the universe telling him he needed more time to work out his shit, he didn’t know what was.
Now, he just needed to find a way to ease away from Hannah without hurting her.
Chapter Five
HANNAH SAT WITH Officer Dalton, recounting everything that had happened after the gunman had approached her outside. She was right next to the window and kept glancing outside, concerned about Blake.
She was still in awe of him. She’d never seen anyone move that fast, and the sheer strength with which he’d twisted and laid out the other man was beautiful. He was like a lion taking down a gazelle. He was a hero, and they were treating him like a criminal; even the officer who knew him was allowing it.
“Officer Dalton, when are you going to take the cuffs off Blake?” she asked.
The young officer’s dark eyes twinkled. He was really good-looking, resembling Will Smith a bit, especially with the little mustache. She hadn’t been oblivious to his friendly overtures, but she wasn’t interested in anyone but Blake.
“You don’t have to worry about Sergeant Kline. I’ll tell Officer Blount to release him just as soon as I get an awkward pic of him to show the rest of the guys at Alpha Dog.”
Hannah shook her head. “He saved my life. He should be getting medals and awards, not sitting in the back of a police car with his hands behind his back. I can’t imagine that’s comfortable—”
He interrupted her with his hands in the air, as if he was surrendering to her. “All right, Miss York, I’ll go give the word that Kline is in the clear. You just sit tight.”
He got up from the table and went outside, walking down to the cop car where Blake was sitting. He really did pull out his phone and take a picture, but then he took the cuffs off him. Hannah had no idea what the two men were saying, but when Blake glanced up toward the window, she smiled and gave a little wave.
He looked away without acknowledging her.
Hannah’s stomach sunk like a rock. Did he blame her? Think that all this was somehow her fault?
Blake spoke to the officers a moment or two longer and then got into his car and drove away.
“Hannah?”
Kenny’s voice made her jump, and she realized her eyes were blurry with tears. Wiping at them shakily, she sniffled, “Hey, Kenny, sorry, I was—”
“No need to apologize, sweetie, I was just going to see if you needed a ride home. Dale’s on his way, and I thought you might be shaken up.”
Hannah hadn’t been surprised by the round of hugs or that their boss was rushing in to check on them. The employees at Dale’s were more of a family unit than just coworkers.
“Thanks, but I think I’ll be okay. I have an interview this afternoon that I can’t miss, so I think I’ll just go home and unwind for a while.”
“All right,
