Page 67 of Just Trouble

“How much?”

I tell him. It’s nothing.

His dark brows rise. “Daph, what a shark you are,” he murmurs under his breath with a certain measure of admiration.

“I’m hoping you’re good for it,” I say.

“I don’t have any credit with you?”

I shake my head and he sobers, our gazes locking. He’s dead serious when he nods. “Understood,” he murmurs. The cop unlocks the cell and he steps out, then turns to wave to his former companion. “Be good, Ivan,” he says.

“And if I can’t be good, I’ll be careful,” Ivan agrees heartily.

We head out to settle everything up, the sergeant sticking close all the while. He’s young, younger than me, maybe even a rookie, but his size makes him intimidating. When everything is sorted and Luke is putting his personal possessions back in his pockets, I indicate our companion. “Sergeant O’Reilly was hoping for an autograph.”

The cop flushes, crimson rising from his neck to his hairline as we watch. “For my daughter,” he says.

“Of course,” Luke says smoothly. He visibly searches for a piece of paper and the sergeant pats his pockets, finally offering his notebook. “What’s her name?”

“Aurora,” the cop says and Luke signs a blank page in the notebook before handing it back. We leave the station together, and he starts to whistle the same tune he was humming to Ivan.

To be honest, it irks me that he’s not apologetic at all, much less offering an explanation. “Proud of yourself?”

“They used to know me well here.”

“It’s not something to be proud of.”

“Old times, Daph.”

“You look positively cheerful.” I stop beside the Honda, unable to explain why I’m so annoyed with him.

No. That’s a lie. I could make a list.

“I am.” Luke winks at me. “All’s right in the world, Daph, and not just because you rode to my rescue.” He stops on the passenger side of my car, watching me over the roof, so obviously waiting for me to ask that I do.

“Why is that?”

“Because the golden goose is back.” He flings out his hands. “I stink, Daph. I’m starving and I haven’t slept, but I can hear the music again, and let me tell you, that’sdivine.”

“Glad to hear there’s an upside to being a delinquent father.”

“I am in an awesome mood.” He points at me. “While you are giving me your Medusa stare.”

“Medusa stare. Why do you say things like that?”

“Because I read mythology and fairy tales, and when I see a comparative, I call it. It was a scheme to add some depth to my lyrics, but actually, I really like those stories.” He nods at me. “And that expression could definitely turn a man to stone.”

I glare a little harder then unlock the car when it makes no difference.

“Are you offering me a ride or am I on my own now?”

“What do you want to happen?”

“I would like to explain myself to you.”

I raise my hands, inviting said explanation. Luke comes around the car to confront me. “You’re mad at me. That’s inescapable and so is my disappointment that I’ve let you down. But what you might not realize is that I am more angry with myself than you could ever be.” His eyes are dark and his voice is low. “I did the one thing that I was always determined to avoid doing, and I don’t even remember. What kind of garbage individual does that make me?”

He looks away, his throat working, and my anger dissolves.

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