She shook her head. “No. I want very much to keep my job, but I also know things could get difficult. You might be pressured to let me go. I don’t want to embroil the department in a public relations nightmare, nor do I want the people of this town to ever doubt the ability of their police department to keep them safe. As much as I want to keep my job, I won’t allow my personal choices to jeopardize our department or its reputation.”
The chief sat back in his chair and fiddled with the pen in his fingers. “As you well know, I try never to get involved with my officers’ private lives. I operate on the principle that if it doesn’t affect the job, it ain’t none of my business.”
She sensed an unspokenbut.
“But in this case, I feel compelled to ask if you’ve thought this through, Regina. Are you sure this is what you want and what is best for you?”
“I know it’s . . . different,” she said for lack of a better word.
“That it is,” the chief muttered. “You have obviously steeled yourself for the worst of the gossip and the possibility of losing your job, but have you thought longer term than that?”
“I just know I don’t want a life without them,” she said quietly. “I know it’ll take sacrifices. I’m not fooling myself into thinking it’ll be easy.”
The chief studied her for a moment. “I can see you’re serious about this. You’ve always fiercely defended those boys and they’ve always had a huge soft spot for you. I won’t say that I don’t think you’re making a mistake, but as your chief, it’s none of my business as long as it doesn’t interfere with your job.”
Hope rose in her chest. “Does this mean I still have a job?”
“Of course it does. I can’t afford to lose good officers. Your sex life is none of my business and it sure as hell ain’t the public’s business. Not that they won’t make it theirs, but you have to be prepared for that. I can’t guarantee you what’ll happen next week or next month, especially given the fact your father is the mayor, but as far as I’m concerned you’re a good cop and unless you fuck up on the job, you’re staying.”
“Thank you, sir,” she said around the knot in her throat. “I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t, Regina.” He glanced up at her with kind eyes. “This won’t be easy for you. You know that.”
She breathed in deep. “I know. I don’t expect it to be. And maybe the important things shouldn’t be easy.” She stood. “Thank you. I really appreciate your understanding. If you don’t mind, I’d like to get back home. I have three men pissed off because I’ve left them high and dry.”
The chief chuckled. “I have a feeling you’ll run circles around those boys. I almost feel sorry for them.”
She grinned and turned to walk out of his office. She hadn’t taken a full step when she looked up and saw her father leaning against the wall just outside the chief’s door. His face was drawn into a tight mask, his eyes dark and angry.
He straightened and stood staring at her for a long moment. “If you persist in your line of behavior, I’ll have no choice but to recommend your removal from the police department.”
She laughed. It came out dry and cracked, but it was either laugh or give in to the fury racing like a tornado through her veins. The bastard had eavesdropped on her conversation with the chief, and now he was trying to blackmail her into compliance?
There was so much she wanted to say. She wanted to blast him with both barrels, but he wasn’t worth it, and the men she loved were home waiting on her.
She walked forward, pressing close and angling her face until they were just inches apart.
“Since you quite obviously eavesdropped on my conversation you already damn well know that if I ever have to choose between them and my job, then I’ll find a new profession. Now, if we’re through, I have somewhere to be. Namely home.”
She turned to walk away but cast one last scornful look in his direction. “You don’t have the balls anyway.”
She drove home feeling lighter than she had in ages. She was through worrying about outside forces. Her father, the chief, what the town would think if they knew. Those things were completely and utterly out of her control.
As she turned into the drive, nervousness scuttled up her chest.
Seduce then speak. It had a nice ring to it. Hopefully they’d cooperate. She was much better at showing them how she felt than at spilling her guts. There would be plenty of time to talk later. They were guys. Actions spoke a lot louder than words.
CHAPTER 38
The house was quiet when she let herself in. The living room was deserted, not that she’d expected them to wait with bated breath for her return.
She dropped her keys on the coffee table and mulled over her options. Chances were, Cam was in his office and the other two were up in their rooms. Which made her plan to make them all take her a little difficult.
Would they come to her if they knew she was at home? Or were they tired of making all the moves? She couldn’t blame them if they were. She hadn’t made it easy for them.
She drifted up the stairs, not disguising the sounds of her homecoming in the least. But when she reached the top, no one walked into the hallway.
She stared at the bedroom door at the end. The room with the really big bed. She hadn’t really understood its significance until now. A common room? She nearly giggled. They all had their own rooms and then there was the room. The sex room.
