Page 35 of Beyond the Badge: Crew

“Well, Iwillargue that.” She sighed and planted her hands on her hips. “So, what are you doing here?”

“I needed to clear my head after that whole thing, so I went for a ride.”

“And ended up here?”

He shrugged. “I figured you could use the help.”

Her eyebrows rose at that.

“You don’t believe I want to help you.”

“No, sorry, I don’t. I think you have some sort of ulterior motive for convincing Fletcher to rent me his house. You didn’t want me to get anything long-term because you hope I won’t be sticking around.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“No, but it’s obvious. And despite what you think, I’m good at my job.”

That remained to be seen.

“How did the intervention go?”

“Like expected.”

“I’m sure it was difficult.”

He shook his head. He didn’t want to talk about it. Not right now and not with her. “Did you get everything in one trip?”

“Yes, having a truck helped. Please thank Fletcher for me.” Her eyes narrowed on him. “Or didn’t he know I used it?”

“He knew.”

“And he knows I’m renting his house?”

“Damn, woman.”

“Well, you probably still haven’t told him about Murphy.”

He frowned. “Do you want to stay here or not? Your shit isn’t unloaded yet. We can easily drop it off at a motel.”

She rolled her lips inward. After a few seconds, she asked, “Are you always this cranky?”

No, he wasn’t. But after last night’s fantasy about her and then the intervention earlier with Nox, he was ready for this day to be over.

After he helped her move her shit inside.

Even though he shouldn’t be here. She could handle it on her own.

But here he was.

Christ.

Maybe she’d put in a good word with her father.

He grimaced. He didn’t need a good word. He was good at his damn job.

“Let’s go,” he barked, striding toward the back door. He would help her unload the boxes, then get the fuck out of dodge.

“You didn’t answer my question,” he heard behind him.

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