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“I’m a cop. Gotta keep myself in coffee and donuts somehow.”
She shook her head as she turned away. Glancing back over her shoulder, she headed down the porch steps. “I’ll be sure to bring my wallet the next time I see you.”
“Sounds good. Text me when you get home.”
“I said I would. Damn, you still love to mother hen, don’t you? Must be what makes you such a good cop. You care about everyone.”
Especially you.
He couldn’t say that out loud, though. “I’ll try to be more of a bad cop.”
She stopped at the bottom of the steps; her expression serious. “Don’t change. Caring the way, you do is an amazing quality.”
Jared’s cheeks burned at the compliment. “I really couldn’t if I wanted to. It’s in my nature to worry.”
“It’s one of the things I lo...like about you.” Jared hadn’t missed her slip of the tongue, but didn’t dwell on it. Slipping back into old habits seemed like an easy feat for both of them. Anna Beth used to tell him all the things she loved about him. She’d caught herself now probably because she didn’t want him to get the wrong impression, but she didn’t need to worry. Being friends with her was all he wanted.
“Glad to hear you still like me.”
Anna Beth’s gaze lifted and she whispered, “I never stopped.”
The air around them charged as their gazes met and held. Anna Beth was the first one to look away, taking a step down the walkway.
“Goodnight, Jared.”
“Night.” Jared watched her head down the walkway to her car. As Anna Beth cut across the edge of the lawn, the first few snowflakes fell, like white puffs of cotton candy. Jared shook his head. His life was as unpredictable as the weather.
Anna Beth pulled out onto the road just as the door behind him opened and Savannah stepped out. “Brrr, geez, is it finally snowing? Good thing Gil is driving us home.” Savannah came up alongside him, her arm brushing his. “Where is Anna Beth?”
“She needed to get home to her aunt.”
Savannah gazed out into the night, which w
as getting whiter by the minute. “Are you sure that was it?”
“Pretty sure that’s what she said.”
“But what did you say to her before she bowed out?”
Jared glared at her. “Why do you think I said something?”
“Because I know you. You have a tendency to put your foot in your mouth with most people, I’m sure it’s worse with the woman you love.”
Jared sputtered. “I don’t love Anna Beth.”
Savannah scoffed. “Oh, yeah, okay. Sure.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
She put her hands on her hips, facing off with him. “You don’t remember, do you?”
“Remember what?”
“A few weeks after Anna Beth left town, Vance called me. The two of you were too drunk to drive, so I picked you up. After I dropped Vance off, you could barely walk so I had to help you inside. You told me everything.”
Jared grimaced. “Shit.”
Savannah dropped her hands from her hips and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “I know it broke your heart to lose her, but I hope you aren’t still butt hurt that she didn’t choose you.”
