Stupid heart.
“Hey,” I answered, out of breath, even though it wasn’t physical exertion that made my lungs malfunction.
Three months. We’d been working together off and on, me the Police Chief him our only Reserve Officer, for three months. I’d done my best not to be anywhere near him.
My sisters had wanted to kick him off the force completely, but we needed the manpower. Since they couldn’t kick him out, they’d resorted to giving him the crap jobs, scheduling him opposite me, and occasionally making him ride along with them and their silent disapproval.
“Are you naked?” His voice was low, warm, teasing. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he’d been drinking.
Whoa. Not what I’d expected. I pulled the phone away from my ear to glance at the screen, then pulled it back so I could talk.
“Are you drunk? This is Delaney,” I said. “Police Chief Delaney.”
“I know.”
Nothing but the soft sound of his breathing and a background noise I couldn’t quite place. Cars? Voices?
“I’m at work,” I said, happy that the words came out steady. “I don’t know where you are, or what you think you’re doing, but don’t call me like this, Ryder.”
“Wait. Delaney.” His phone moved and a whoosh of wind gurgled down the line. “I thought you’d be in bed...”
A horn honked, and then another. A bus or something bigger...subway maybe, clogged up the background.
Where ever he was, it wasn’t Ordinary. And from the slight softening at the end of his words, I’d say he was either exhausted or under the influence.
“Are you all right?” It was the best I could give him. Just because he broke my heart didn’t mean I shouldn’t worry about his well-being.
That was sort of the job description of being police chief. I’d be just as concerned for anyone else’s well-being in Ordinary.
Liar,my heart whispered.
“Hell, I didn’t think. What time is it?” he said. “I’m sorry.”
“Ryder? You need back up?”
He chuckled a little at that, then the sound behind him grew louder, like maybe a lot of cars had all roared to life inside a parking garage.
“No, thanks. I’m good. I just. I wasn’t thinking. Sorry about that, Chief. Should have listened and had the extra orange and cookie. Dizzy. What time is it? Oh. Morning.”
“Ryder?” That slightly defeated tone in his voice kicked spikes through my heart. He sounded like he was saying good-bye. Like he was making a last call before being shipped off into something dangerous.
But Ryder was an architect. He didn’t lead a dangerous life.
“I’m good. And Delaney? It’s really nice to hear your voice. Sorry I...just sorry.”
He hung up.
He hung up on me.
My heart rattled back into place like a dropped dinner dish, swirling, swirling to a ragged clatter.
Why had he called me? Why had I heard fear in his voice, or if not fear, worry, tension?
Why had he sounded like a man who’d been given his last phone call and had decided to waste it on a woman he’d dumped?
Why was I still staring at the disconnected screen on my phone?
I was dimly aware of Odin dragging his arm away, the door shutting, the room quieting. I looked up.
