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Fucking Chandler.
Who woke someone up this early on a Sunday morning? And especially after a wedding.
Jerkface.
At least she might make it there and back before checkout. So that meant she could meet Butch back here.
Grabbing her phone, she wrote him a quick text, wincing as she saw how low her battery life was.
Lara:
Hey, I’ve just woken up and realized I have to go back to my mom’s place to grab something. I’ll be gone for probably an hour. Will you be coming back to the hotel? Meet you here? Or I can meet you at the ranch to grab my stuff if you give me the address? My phone will die soon.
Shit. Did that sound like she was stalking him? But she couldn’t remember how to get to the ranch and all her stuff was there.
Biting her lip, she hit send.
Right as her phone died. A scream of frustration tore from her lips.
Argh! So annoying!
Had it gone through? She had no way of knowing. Fuck. What was she going to do now?
Right. Calm. It will be okay.
Stupid phone.
That was the first thing she was buying after she got this money.
Maybe she could ask down at reception if anyone had a phone charger that would work with her phone. She chewed her lip. She didn’t have time to charge it now, though.
Okay, think.
Everything will be okay.
Deep breaths. Don’t panic.
She quickly wrote a note to Butch, letting him know where she was and when she’d be back. And that her phone was dead. Then she slipped on her shoes.
Time to go face the devil.
Hopefully, for the last time.
Butch dragged Tanner out of his truck.
“Butchie, you’re the b-best,” he sang.
Butchie. Seriously. He rolled his eyes, even as a small smile escaped. Now he wouldn’t be able to hear someone call him that without thinking of Lara.
“Just get inside. You need to drink some water, take some painkillers, and get some sleep. What were you thinking getting this drunk? I can’t believe you took a bath in the fountain in Haven’s park. You’re fucking lucky that Jake wasn’t on shift because you’d still be sitting in that jail cell.”
“Linc likes me.”
Butch shook his head. Because, for some reason, the deputy sheriff did like Tanner. But he was still shocked that he let him go so easily. A few more hours in a jail cell wouldn’t have hurt him.
He’d had that thought as he’d lain in bed with Lara snoring quietly beside him . . . that he could just stay there a few more hours and collect Tanner later.
But then guilt had gotten to him. Tanner would come pick up his drunk ass if he asked. Besides, he’d thought he could go grab him, get him home, then be back before she got up.
He’d had to shake her awake to tell her where he was going. The girl could really sleep.
However, it had taken longer than he’d thought to get Tanner out and now it was just after seven.
She’d still be asleep, though. She’d seemed exhausted.
Maybe you had a bit to do with that, huh?
Satisfaction filled him as he recalled the night they’d spent together. She was perfect. Gorgeous. Caring. Smart.
And he didn’t want her to leave.
Shit.
He got Tanner into bed. He was snoring before Butch even got out of the room.
Lara snored, too. But when she did it, he found it cute as heck.
Tanner’s snoring was not cute. It practically rattled the entire building. Where the hell was Raid? He moved to his door and knocked. Loudly.
“What?” Raid opened the door wearing just his boxers and a scowl.
“Why the fuck didn’t you answer your phone?” he demanded.
“I lost it last night. Why?”
“Tanner got arrested.”
Raid’s eyes widened. Then he groaned. “What the fuck did he do? Start a riot? Go streaking through Freestown? Get into a fight?”
“He got stinking drunk and attempted to take a bath in the fountain in Main Park in Haven.”
Raid grimaced. “Shit. And they won’t set bail until tomorrow. Alec is gonna fucking murder him.”
Alec had been more of a father to Tanner than their own dad had ever been. Actually, to all of them, really. And Tanner was still wilder than the rest of them.
“Luckily, Linc was on duty. And Tanner hadn’t stripped off completely, so he didn’t arrest him for public nudity. He just took him to the cells to sober up. Tanner begged him to call you first, but you didn’t answer. So, he tried me. Tanner’s just lucky he didn’t call Alec first.”
Raid grimaced, then he eyed him. “Sorry. Don’t know where my phone went. So, how did last night go? Good, I’m guessing by the fact that you’re wearing the same clothes you left in. Where’s the lovely Lara? I didn’t hear anything coming from your room when I got home.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“Last night is none of your business. I just woke you up to tell you to watch the idiot. I’m out of here.”
