“No.” He shook his head. He proffered his coffee cup. I sighed and filled it, ignoring how serving him made my pussy clench.
“Oh, why not?” I pouted as I finished pouring.
“Conflict of interest,” he grunted. “People think we’re living together. I can’t pull strings to hire you.”
“As if there isn’t enough nepotism going on around here.” I grouched. “I’d be so good, too.” I put a hand to my ear pretending it was a phone. “Welcome to Licking Bottom, how can I help you?”
Cole spat coffee into his newspaper. I watched in delight as he sputtered. “Regina, what the hell?”
I made sure I was out of arm’s reach but couldn’t stop my grin.
“Very funny,” Cole said through clenched teeth, dabbing a napkin at his wet suit. He rose and went off to change. As he passed me, he smacked my ass so hard I jumped.
“You love it!” I called after him.
I was on hands and knees, wiping the mess off the floor when two polished shoes stopped in front of me.
“I’m off to the meeting,” he said, and hesitated.
“What?” I rose up to tall knees. He looked so handsome in his uniform. The last sheriff had opted to wear a suit most of the time, emphasizing the time he spent in meetings versus patrolling like a regular cop. No matter how busy he got, Cole took a shift on the regular beat every week. Just his way of keeping his finger on the pulse of the community, he told me. The night he’d caught me he’d been on patrol.
“I’ll be back pretty late. I may not have time to get you to your mom’s.”
His truck sat in the driveway and the keys were hanging by the door, but I didn’t mention that. He probably wasn’t ready to trust me driving his vehicle. Smart man.
“Do you think you can wait until tomorrow morning to see your mom?”
I checked in with my gut, and the biggest feeling was relief. “I think so.”
Cole studied me. I had the feeling he’d known I’d be glad to skip a visit.
“You’re a good daughter,” he said.
I scrambled to my feet, mumbling something about getting the laundry. Cole caught my arm, halting me mid-escape.
“I mean it. You’ve done the best you can. No mother could ask for more.”
I sucked in a breath, praying my tears wouldn’t fall. Turning my back to Cole, I said, “I don’t know about that. I could make a bunch of money and buy her a house. Or at least send her on a cruise.”
Cole wrapped his arms around me. I fixed my eyes forward. If I looked back at him, I’d burst into tears.
“All’s I need is a few grand,” I added.
“Oh yeah? How are you going to earn that?
“I once dated a guy whose dad owned a chop shop. I bet I could get some money off parts of your truck.”
He spun me around. “Are you seriously joking about that?”
I giggled.
“Young lady, you’re gonna regret that.”
I grinned at his furious expression. “You’re going to be late.”
Glancing at the clock, he bit back a curse.
“Wait here.”
