‘So I can pull over.’
‘What for?’
‘To continue this conversation.’
‘So you can shred it into a story that would entertain this town for a month.’
He slammed on the brakes, the ute sliding to a stop in the dirt.‘Where the hell did that come from?When I’m the one doingyoua favour, helping you take your drunken boss home—’
‘Finn is not normally like this.’
‘I know.Obviously, something’s triggered him recently.Got any ideas what?’
Amara slumped back into her seat.‘I wish I knew, so I could help him.’
‘You don’t have to babysit your boss, Montrose.Finn’s big enough and ugly enough to look after himself.’
‘And we can all see how Finn’s doing a stellar job at that at the moment.’
‘I’m not judging the bloke.I’m just concerned that’s all.’He then pointed at her.‘Because you’re the one picking up the pieces for him.And if I know Finn, he wouldn’t like it—which makes me think he doesn’t realise it.’
‘Again, you’re right.’
Deadset!It was enough to raise both eyebrows at her.
‘Where’s the smart-arse comeback?’She narrowed her eyes at him.‘Aren’t you going to shove a phone in my face and ask me to repeat that so you can record it?’
‘I’m not Stone.And you should tell him to lay off.’He put the car into gear, again the gravel crunched under the tyres.
‘It’s not your battle.’
‘It’s not yours either.’But she was sure as hell taking it out on him.
What was this?Pick on Porter Day?
‘Look, you’re part of a small team, yeah—but that doesn’t mean you should have to cop it.You deserve to be treated with respect in the workplace.Especially out here.’It’s what Porter’s boss had taught him.And as an outback cop, with limited resources, teamwork played a big part of their job.
Her jaw dropped just for a second.Before she slammed it shut, as her spine straightened, tugging on her seatbelt as if preparing for battle.Amara was always on duty, with her dark hair pulled back in a tight bun.
The only thing she wasn’t able to disguise or button up were those plump pillow lips.Deadset, no woman should be allowed to have a set of lips like Constable Montrose.It was downright illegal.
‘I can’t believe you’re repeating the HR speech.Or that you remembered it.’Her picky eyes glanced over his crumpled shirt, making it clear she thought he’d fail a uniform inspection.
‘You mean that lecture where I learned the art of sleeping with my eyes open?’He gave a lazy shoulder shrug as he steered them back towards town.
‘But to answer your question, I know of a room to rent.Clean.Cheap.Comes with a no-dickheads-allowed policy, in a totally judgement-free zone.’He side-glanced at Little Miss Judgey, who Stone called Duchess.‘Although I doubt it’d pass your level of judginess.’
‘That’s not a word.And I’m not judgemental.’
He chuckled.
‘I’m not.’
‘You’re picky.Snooty.Toffee-nosed—’
‘I am none of those things.’She raised her chin like a Duchess looking down at some squatters.Him.The blue-collared peasant in the driver’s seat.
‘I just have high standards.’
