“Collecting my date.” I plant my hands on my hips, ignoring the way my pulse is racing. “You’ve been avoiding me for three days.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“You’ve been hiding.”
His jaw tightens. “I haven’t?—”
“You read my texts and didn’t respond. You knew I was trying to reach you and you ignored me.” I take a step toward him. His scent gets stronger, and my body leans toward him without permission, even as my brain screams that he’s being an ass. “That’s hiding, Nate. And I’m done letting you do it.”
“Cara—”
“Three hundred and fifty dollars.” Another step. We’re close now. Close enough that I can see the tension in his shoulders, the way his hands have curled into fists at his sides. “That’s what I paid for a date with you. I won you fair and square at that auction, and you don’t get to just disappear because you have feelings about it.”
“You don’t understand?—”
“Then explain it to me!” My voice echoes through the small station. “That’s all I’ve wanted this whole time. For you to talk to me. To tell me what’s going on in that head of yours instead of shutting me out.”
Silence. Nate stares at me, and for a second, I see it—pain, raw and unguarded, flickering behind those gray eyes before he locks it down again.
Seth has reappeared in the hallway, watching with wide eyes. Liam hasn’t moved from his spot by the door.
“She has a point,” Seth offers quietly. “You have been kind of... avoidant.”
Nate shoots him a look that could curdle milk. Seth doesn’t flinch. In fact, he crosses his arms and lifts his chin slightly, like he’s decided this is a hill worth dying on.
“I mean...” Seth shifts his weight. “You have been kind of... not yourself? Lately? Snapping at people, working all those extra shifts. Yesterday I asked if you wanted to grab lunch and you looked at me like I’d suggested we—” He trails off, shrugging. “Sorry. I’m just... saying.”
“I was busy.”
“You were hiding in the file room reorganizing folders that were already organized.” Seth’s voice is gentle but firm. “That’s not busy. That’s avoidance.”
“Since when did you become a therapist?”
“Since Bea started making me read self-help books.” Seth shrugs. “She says avoidance is a trauma response. She also says the only way out is through.”
His mouth quirks. "Sound familiar? Pretty sure you told me the same thing when I was spiraling about Bea."
Nate looks like he’s considering the merits of early retirement.
“He’s right,” Liam says. “You owe her a date, Nate. You agreed to be in that auction, and she paid for your time.” He pushes off the doorframe, all trace of amusement gone from his face. “Consider yourself on date duty for the rest of the day. I’ll cover your shift.”
“Liam—”
“That’s an order, Deputy.” Liam’s voice brooks no argument. “Take the lady out. Show her a good time. And for God’s sake, try to act like a human being instead of a brick wall.”
“I second that,” Seth adds helpfully.
“Nobody asked you,” Nate growls.
“Too bad.” Seth grins—actually grins—and I decide I like him very much. “Go on, Nate. We’ve got things covered here.”
“The most exciting thing that’ll happen today is Mrs. Henderson’s cat stuck in a tree again,” Liam adds. “We’ll survive without you.”
Nate’s jaw works. I can see him fighting it—the urge to argue, to refuse, to do anything except what he’s being told. But Liam is his commanding officer as well as his brother, and apparently even Nate Thorn has limits.
“Fine,” he grits out. “One date.”
“One date,” I agree. “That’s all I’m asking.”
