Callie whimpered. “Great! So, that’ll cost… Hold on, I can do the math. That’s around sixteen hundred dollars before the dates! Do they charge extra for just the concrete slab? Of course, they do. I’ll never be able to afford that.”
Cole grabbed her and lifted her like she weighed no more than a jug of milk, the strong sonofabitch. “Imagine if you had to pay for every word you spoke.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Callie wrapped her arms around his head and held on tight. “Thanks for saving me. Ollie’s been slinging duck shit facts at me for the last fifteen minutes and I was starting to worry my will would give out before my legs.”
“Woman, you’re going to squeeze my eyes out of my head. Loosen up a bit.” Cole stumbled up the small embankment and fell to his knees on the grass next to the kids. Despite him lowering his voice, we all still heard what he said next. “I need my eyes to appreciate this little outfit you’ve got on. I might’ve swooned if you didn’t stink to high heaven.”
She slapped his shoulder and pried herself free from him. “Not nice. Now I think I’ll gather what little dignity I have left and go home to a nice, hot shower.”
“Not so fast, ma’am.”
We all turned to look at the man who’d joined us. He wore a game warden uniform and held a notebook in his meaty fist while scowling at Callie. She froze, so focused on the newcomer that she didn’t see both Luke and Cole moving to flank her, as protective as I’d ever seen them over a woman.
Callie cleared her throat and forced a smile. “I’m sorry, sir? Is there something-”
“Can I see your fishing license? I spotted you littering from across the lake, ma’am, and that’s not going to fly with me.” Upon closer inspection, the man was barely twenty-five. He still had acne and a baby face that his scowl couldn’t hide.
“Littering? Unless you mean to say that I littered my own body, I don’t know what you mean. And as you can see, I’ve been removed from the duck poop you call a lake so there has been no littering.” Taking a deep breath and blowing it out slowly, Callie’s smile turned genuine. She looked like an angel with a halo of strawberry blonde curls escaping her buns. “I’m so sorry. I don’t mean to be snippy. I just thought I was going to die in that lake so I’m not at my best.”
“Save it. I saw you throw a fit and toss your pole into the water. You didn’t retrieve it, did you? I’ll be writing you a citation for littering and for fishing without a license if you can’t provide one.” The guy gripped his belt and hoisted his pants up higher. “License, ma’am. Now.”
All my humor died out. I stepped closer to him, eyes narrowed. “Is there a reason you’re speaking to her like that?”
Callie hurried forward and put herself solidly in front of me. “I didn’t know I needed a fishing license. I’m sorry. Is there any kind of lenience for ignorance? And I would really love to getthat pole back. I need to take it back to the store and tell them they sold me a lemon of a pole because it never worked. Not even once.”
“Do you have any ID on you, ma’am?”
“Can you stop calling me ma’am? You’re making me feel old. I’m turning thirty in a month and I’ve already started building a healthy foundation for an age panic.” Callie reached into her right pocket and then her left before looking around on the ground. “You’re going to find this funny… I don’t think I have my ID, either. I mean, I have one! Not like the fishing license. I have a driver’s license. Of course, I do. Although now it sounds like I don’t. I swear I do! I’m a legal driver. Just not a legal fisher. Not that anyone would call what I just did fishing. Sir, can you just take pity on me this one time? Look at me. I’ve got duck shit up to my knees and I’m dressed like I’m trying to trick someone into painting a fence for me. Have mercy.”
“If you don’t provide ID I’ll be forced to detain you, ma’am.” The smug little prick put his hand on his taser and glared at all of us. “If I suspect you’re intentionally avoiding being identified, I will transport you to a nearby jail for identification.”
None of us moved faster than Oliver to protect Callie. He stood slightly in front of Callie and pulled a small wallet out of his pocket. “Children are not required to have a fishing license, sir. My mom was not fishing. She did litter, however, but she didn’t mean to. Here’s her license.”
Noah, seeing a chance to join his friend in being brave for Callie, ran up to stand beside Oliver. “Why are you being mean to Miss Morgan?”
Beth stomped over with her hands on her hips with Emma at her side. “Be nice to Miss Morgan!”
Callie knelt between the kids and wrapped her arms around them as much as she could. “Thank you guys for helping but I made a mistake so I have to face the consequences. This officer isprobably just upset because he cares about the lake and keeping it clean. That’s a good thing. In a few weeks we’re going to be talking about the earth and how to take care of it in class. If we ask nicely, I bet we could get this officer to come in and talk about his job and how he helps the planet.”
The fucking guy blushed. All his pissed off asshole energy vanished and he was left looking just as eager as Noah to have Callie’s attention. One compliment from the sweet, sexy Miss Morgan and the dickhead was swooning all over himself.
“Fucking ridiculous.” Cole muttered under his breath and cut a look at both me and Luke. “You seeing this?”
Luke crossed his arms and grunted. “Seeing it. Not really liking it.”
14
Callie
“You’re a teacher? That’s really cool. Um, teachers don’t get tickets. That’s my personal motto.” The man had switched his tune so fast that my head nearly spun. “I’m Officer Randy. I’ll come and visit you at school, ma’am. Anytime. Just give me your number and we can set it up.”
Oof. I was trying to think of a way to get out of giving a stranger who’d threatened to arrest me for not having my ID my number but I didn’t need to worry. Cole cleared his throat and stepped forward. He gripped me under my arms and lifted me to my feet so fast I swayed backwards and I only managed to not fall over because he was at my back, bracing me.
“I’ll give you my number and you can set it up through me. I’m her secretary.” Cole’s rumbling voice rattled from his chest straight through my back and sent a warm wave straight to my core.
Then his words registered. My knees nearly buckled as I let out the biggest laugh I’d ever laughed. I slumped against himas I cackled at the idea of him being my secretary. After binge watchingMad Menwith Tessa I couldn’t help picturing him in a tight pencil skirt and a sleek bun.
“Actually,I’lltakeyournumber, Officer Randy.” Luke gripped the top of Emma and Noah’s heads and steered them out of the way. “I’m Callie’s classroom aid so I’m much more useful. As soon as we have something on the books, I’ll call you.”
