Heaven With You (19 page)

“Jesus, you’re freezing. Are you okay?”

“Not really. You could get into a lot of trouble, and it’s not worth it. It was selfish of me to call you. You’ve every right to be pissed.”

“I’d have been pissed at you if you hadn’t called me, Izzy.”

“When you said to call if I needed anything, I’m guessing this isn’t exactly what you meant.”

Chucking me gently beneath the chin, he looked into my eyes. “It’s not what I imagined happening, but you did the right thing. You’re in a lot of trouble.”

“I know,” I whispered, unable to keep the fear from my voice.

“Have you been drinking?” he asked quietly.

I glanced at him in surprise and I realized he smelled the liquor on me. “No. Amber spilled some shots on me. I promise I wouldn’t lie to you. I don’t know why they think I have drugs. I’ve never done them, I swear.”

“Alright, I believe you. What about the car?”

“I bought it from my ex-boyfriend.”

“Do you have a title?”

I had to be the stupidest person alive. “He was going to send it to me, but after we broke up he wanted more money.”

Hunter frowned. “Do you have any proof that you paid him for the car?”

“Yes, I have the cancelled checks.”

“That’s good.” He nodded, rubbing my back.

I wanted to hang on to him and never let go. “I’m going to jail, aren’t I?”

“No.” The conviction in his voice was both reassuring and unnerving.

“Promise me something,” I said, taking his hand. “Whatever happens, I don’t want you to get into trouble for me, and I don’t want Reed to know about this.”

“I can’t promise you that.”

“Hunter.” I desperately grabbed his arm, needing him to understand that he couldn’t sacrifice his career for me. “Promise me, please.”

He leaned forward until I felt his minty breath on my lips. I waited for his kiss but it never came. His gaze burned into mine. “I promise you this, Izzy. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure that you’re safe.”

“If I have to be—strip searched. I want you to do it.”

“I’ve already told you that’s not happening. Stop worrying about it.”

“But if it did, please. I want it to be you.”

“Baby that’s not how it works. Men don’t strip search female prisoners. Even if it was done that way, there’s no way I’d do that to you. And I won’t let anyone else either. Trust me.”

I did trust Hunter, more than I’d ever trusted anyone and it frightened me how easily I believed in him.

“Hey, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

His phone buzzed, and he pushed the speaker. “Captain, the Chief wants to see you in his office ASAP.”

“I’ll be right there.”

“This is about me.”

“Probably.” His eyes narrowed intently on mine. “I won’t let you down, Izzy.”

And then he kissed me. His mouth brushed lightly over mine and I leaned into him. “We’ve got to go.”

“To see the Chief?”

Pain flashed in his eyes, and I knew what was going to happen even before he spoke the words.

“Izzy—“

I placed my fingertips on his lips. “I understand. You’re taking me to jail.”

“No, it’s just a holding cell. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” His knuckles brushed my face. “I’ll fix this. You don’t need to worry.”

“Don’t get yourself in trouble for me,” I said with a smile.

“Too late. I’m already in trouble where you’re concerned.”

I don’t know who moved first, but our mouths met in an achingly tender kiss that brought tears to my eyes. I blinked them away quickly, knowing Hunter wouldn’t do what he needed to if I showed any sign of falling apart. He was amazing like that, protective and more of a hero than any man I’d ever known.

The kiss ended and I heard the cling of handcuffs, saw the regret flash in his eyes. “Just do it,” I whispered, holding his steady gaze bravely. I put my hands behind my back and started to turn, but he caught me, placing my hands in front of me.

Seconds later the cold metal bracelets snapped on my wrists and I flinched before I could stop myself.

He swore. His eyes fastened intently on mine. “I’m sorry. I’ve broken enough rules tonight, and I need to follow procedure if I’m going to convince the Chief to listen to what I have to say.”

 “Don’t apologize. I understand,” I told him, and that only seemed to make him feel worse.

Tearing his gaze from mine, he grabbed his sports-jacket off the back of his chair and led me from his office. I kept my eyes down, not looking at any of the people we passed, but I felt them watching. Occasionally, someone would speak to Hunter and he’d reply briefly but never stopped to chat.

“Captain, what’re you doing down here?”

Hunter said something to the officer that had spoken to him, and even though I didn’t make eye contact I knew the officer’s gaze was on me. A moment later, Hunter took me down a long hallway lined with several ominous looking doors with a small window, and I began to shake.

Unlocking the heavy door and guiding me inside, I looked around the stark, lifeless room with tall somber walls and cot. Steeling myself against the fear that was churning inside of me, I met Hunter’s troubled, uncertain blue eyes. In all the time I’d known him, I’d never seen him look afraid but he did now, and it was all because of me.

I forced a smile. “No TV?” I joked.

“You’re shaking.”

“So are you,” I said, watching his trembling hand lift to my cheek.

Taking a deep breath, he took off the handcuffs and I was almost sad to see them go because it meant that Hunter was about to leave as well. “I’ll be okay,” I assured him.

“I’ll be back soon. I promise.” He pulled his jacket around my shoulders, kissed me on the forehead and quickly turned to go, as if he had to do it before he changed his mind.

The heavy door closed with a menacing thunder.

My chest tightened as I glanced around the room, and it was difficult to breathe. Even when I was little I couldn’t stand to be closed in small places. If I didn’t calm down, I was going to have a panic attack. Taking slow, deep breaths I laid down on the cot, closed my eyes, and pulled Hunter’s jacket tightly around me.

Chapter Sixteen

My body shook violently, and I curled up into a ball, clasping my knees to my chest and trying to stop the tremors. I kept my eyes closed and thought about Hunter, imagined that we were somewhere warm with lots of open space. The beach. I pictured blue skies, the sun soaking into our skin as we lay on a sandy-white beach with clear water.

Our limbs were tangled together and Hunter couldn’t stop kissing me, and I didn’t want him to. I tried to think of what our swimsuits looked like, and decided that since it was all a dream I might as well have some fun. I imagined us naked. Hunter, with his hard, sculpted muscles and smooth, tanned skin made my body weep just looking at him. His hands brushed over my body, my neck, back, breasts, and between my thighs. I moaned beneath his touch.

The creaking door intruded on my dream. “The Captain wants to see you.”

I shot up on the cot, embarrassed even though she couldn’t read my mind.

“You alright?” O’Leary asked me, her gaze raking over me, seeming to note that I was wearing Hunter’s jacket.

“I’m sure there are worse places to spend the night.”

“Hmm.” She didn’t sound too sure. “Since you’re such good
friends
with Captain McAllister, you might not have to spend the night.”

My gaze flew to Officer O’Leary and I was surprised to see a flash of anger in her eyes. “I don’t think that’ll help me.”

“Don’t you?” she clipped dubiously.

“I can’t post bond until tomorrow.”

“I just hope the Captain knows what he’s doing. He’s always played by the book, but he isn’t thinking clearly around you.”

“You don’t like me.”

“I don’t know you. I do know Captain McAllister and he’s a good man. I’d hate to see him ruin his career just because he couldn’t keep his pants zipped around you.”

“What?” I asked, shocked. Then I recalled the look of disgust on O’Leary’s face just before Hunter took me to his office. She thought that we… I shook my head. “No, you’ve got it wrong. We’ve never had sex. I really am Ellie’s friend.”

She shook her head, dismissing the conversation. “Turn around.”

I did and she snapped on the handcuffs a little too tightly.

As she led me out of the cell and toward Hunter’s office I tried, desperately, to think of something to convince O’Leary that she was wrong about Hunter and I.

“Nothing happened between us in his office.”

“I hope you can remember that story,” she replied bitterly, as she pushed me into Hunter’s office.

My gaze landed on Ellie and I felt my throat close with emotion. She wrapped her arms around me. “I’m so sorry Ellie,” I whispered. I felt Hunter behind me and suddenly my hands were free and I hugged Ellie back.

“It’ll be okay,” Ellie told me.

I have no idea how long we held each other before I felt someone come up beside us, and turned to see Reed. Catching the knowing look in his eyes, I smiled, trying to reassure him that I was fine, and then I hugged him.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Hunter watching us and I wanted nothing more than to have him hold me, but I couldn’t do that now. Instead, I turned to Ellie and Reed.

“I’m sorry. I don’t want you two worrying about me. It’s just until the morning and then I’ll get this straightened out.”

I saw Ellie’s eyes snap to her dad.

“You’re being released into my custody,” Hunter told me, his steady gaze on mine. “They’re not going to worry because you’ll be spending the night in Ellie’s old room.”

The look in his eyes produced a warmth inside of me that made me want to launch myself in his arms and never let go. Somehow, he’d accomplished the impossible. I was not going to spend the night in jail.

I could feel Reed’s eyes on me and knew he’d seen the look that had passed between Hunter and I. Ellie seemed aware of it as well, and before I could wonder about what she thought, she smiled at me.

“It’s been a long night,” Hunter said. “I think everyone should go home. Isabelle has to be in court early tomorrow morning.”

Reed turned to Hunter and shook his hand. “Thank you again, for everything.”

Hunter nodded.

“I’ll take Ellie home, Sir.” Reed looked suddenly uncomfortable. “I mean I’ll make sure she gets home.”

I saw Hunter’s jaw tighten, but he nodded. “You do that.”

It was then I noticed that Ellie was wearing one of Reed’s shirts tied tightly at her waist and she wasn’t wearing any make-up. Given the late hour, it was obvious that Reed had been with Ellie when Hunter had called to tell her about me.

We left the police station and Hunter was silent for most of the ride to his house. I felt the tension in him and tried to think of something to say to ease it, but I was still processing all that had happened.

By the time I realized that Hunter was probably unhappy with where his daughter would be spending the night, we were already inside his house. Jack greeted both of us, his tail wagging with excitement and then he licked my leg. Smiling, I reached down and rubbed him between the ears.

I followed Hunter into his bedroom and stood awkwardly in the center of the room while he lit the fireplace. “I know you’re upset about Ellie and Reed. He’s in love with her you know.”

He unbent, turned and I caught his expression of surprise. “Reed told me. I’m not upset with your brother, Izzy.”

“Oh.” My stomach twisted. “I know that ‘I’m sorry’ isn’t enough. If there’s anything I can do to repay you, to make you forgive me, I’ll do it.” He tensed, and I inhaled a ragged breath.

The raw pain reflected in his eyes surely mirrored my own. He closed the distance between us, but made no move to touch me. My heart thundered wildly.

“I have no idea what to do to make up for this, so you’ll have to help me out,” I told him with a wobbly smile. 

“Baby, it’s not you that has something to make up for.” The words seemed torn from him. “I’m not mad at you.” He raked a hand through his hair. “Reed said you’re claustrophobic.”

I swallowed hard. “I don’t know why he told you that.”

“You should have told me.”

“I’m okay.”

“You’re white as snow. You’re still shaking, and O’Leary said you got sick in the holding cell.” He lifted a hand but brought it back down, almost as if he was afraid to touch me.

“Mentioning that would only have made it harder for you to do your job.” I stared at him in disbelief, astonished to realize that he was feeling guilty for locking me in the holding cell. “If it wasn’t for you, I’d still be locked up. I just pretended we were somewhere else.”

“Where were we?”

“The beach. Naked.”

He cocked a brow at that. “I’m sorry, Izzy.”

“I’m not. You looked amazing naked.”

The corners of his mouth lifted. “You know I meant locking you in the holding cell.”

“I know. I’ll forgive you on one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“Tell me the truth. Are you going to get in trouble for taking me home?”

“No. I told the Chief you’re Ellie’s friend.” He sighed. “That’s why I didn’t touch you at the station. If he’d known how I felt about you, he’d never have let you leave with me.”

My heart skipped a beat, and I wanted to ask how he felt about me. Instead, I said, “I was worried. Officer O’Leary thinks that we had sex in your office.”

“She told you that?”

I nodded. “You’re lucky to have such loyal friends. She was only looking out for you.”

He looked thoughtful, but didn’t reply, and I wondered what he was thinking. I didn’t want him to suffer because of me. “If things don’t go well for me tomorrow, I want you to know that I appreciate everything you’ve done.” Just the thought of going back to jail terrified me, but I held my chin up for his sake and forced myself to smile.

“Izzy.” My name was a deep velvety rumble that made chill bumps pop on my skin. “You said you trusted me.” His hands touched my face and I shivered. “You’re not going back to jail. I won’t let that happen.”

“It doesn’t look good. I can’t believe I was stupid enough to think he’d ever give me the title to the car.”