Page 47 of Holding On To Good

So why couldn’t he walk away?

“It’s okay,” Verity said to Reed. She laid her hand on Reed’s forearm, her fingers cool on his wet skin. “Miles isn’t going to hurt me.”

“I might,” Jennings said, his mouth barely moving. “I could wring your neck.”

She gave Reed’s arm a squeeze, like they shared a secret.

Like they were in this together.

“He’s kidding,” she told Reed in a side whisper. “He adores me. Plus, as much as I hate to admit it, he has every right to yell at me.”

That seemed to take Jennings aback, but only for a moment. “Damn straight.”

“Even if it is a huge violation of my privacy, and basic rights as a citizen of the United States, to install a GPS tracking unit on my car.”

Jennings stabbed a hand through his damp hair. “I didn’t put a tracking device on your car.”

“Well, I know I shut off the one on my phone. So how did you know where I was?”

“Someone called into the station. Said they saw a disabled car on the side of the road with no one around. Luckily, they’d taken a picture of your license plate.”

“Yes,” she said flatly. “That is lucky.”

Jennings set his hands on his hips in a typical cop pose—legs spread, feet braced. “What happened?”

“I had a little accident. A deer ran out in front of me and I swerved—” She held up her hand when Jennings opened his mouth. “I know, I know. Never swerve but I did. It was reflex and I slid off the road and got stuck in the mud.”

If possible, Jennings’s expression got even tighter. “What are you even doing here? You were supposed to go directly home after work.” The cop’s eyes narrowed. “Hold on… don’t Jeremy’s grandparents live out this way?”

“Do they?” she asked with an innocent look so fake she might as well be holding a giant, blinking LIAR! sign above her head. “Huh. I guess they do. That’s a funny coincidence, don’t you think?”

“Hilarious,” the cop deadpanned. He turned his glare on Reed. Stepped closer to him. “Did you have something to do with her being here?”

“What is with you thinking guys ply and lure me?” Verity asked Jennings. “God.” She shoved her way between them. “I’m here of my own volition.”

Jennings obviously didn’t buy it.

Probably because Verity sidled closer to Reed and patted his bicep like they were two old buddies just palling around in the rain for shits and giggles. “Reed had no idea I’d be out this way, but when he found out what happened, he was kind enough to come out in the rain and help me.”

Reed glanced at her. She was a better liar than he realized.

“Great,” Jennings said, taking her by the elbow and leading her to her car. “I’ll make sure he gets a medal.” He opened the driver’s side door. “Go directly home. Do not pass Go, take any detours or make any stops.”

She dug her heels in. “What did Urban say about trying to run my life?”

“Go home. Now. But first, give me that coat.”

“Fine,” Verity grumbled, taking Reed’s jacket off. “But this is exactly why no one likes you. You’re too bossy.”

“I’m not bossy,” he told her, taking the coat. “I’m your boss.”

“Please. You’re just one of my many, many bosses, so don’t act like you’re special.”

Head held high, she got into the car. A moment later she pulled ahead, did a slow, careful, by-the-book, three-point turn and took off down the road.

Reed crossed to his truck and opened the door.

“Hey,” Jennings said and Reed turned. Caught the jacket Jennings threw at him. “Just in case you were thinking you could use getting it back as an excuse to see her again.”

---