Page 35 of Before We Fell

I could admit to having a minor crush on the guy. I mean, his job was to protect and serve and those were the qualities every woman wanted in a guy. He’d lived in Carlton his whole life, only leaving to go to the police academy. And more than once, I’d had some self-induced orgasms based on fantasies of him pulling me over and suggesting ways I could get out of a ticket.

My cheeks burned as those memories entered my mind and I frowned at my drink. Goodness. Last night I was fantasizing about Noah and tonight of all nights Shawn stood next to me, acting like we knew each other well.

And yet, unlike this summer when I wanted to lean in close to him, give him the sign I was willing to accept anything he offered, it was Noah’s face flashing in my mind’s eye.

Hrmph. Sucked when you wanted something you couldn’t have.

“School’s good. This time of year is always tiring, but in a good way. And you?”

“Busy, and unfortunately for my job, that’s not always a good thing.” He tilted his head toward Tinley and Andrew at the dartboard. “You’re not playing?”

“Ha. No, thankfully Andrew saved me from further embarrassing myself.”

“Can’t be that bad.” He smiled, showing perfectly straight, white teeth. His lips were full and his dark blue eyes danced with amusement. “Come on. Show me.”

Tempting. Then I caught sight of the holes I left in the wall earlier and pointed to them. “See those? That’s how good my aim is.”

“Aw. I can help with that. Agree to dinner with me next week and I’ll teach you how to aim like a pro.”

A warmth slid across my cheeks and I ducked my head to hide it. He was asking me out? This gorgeous man?

“She’ll do it,” Brooke said, shamelessly and popping up out of nowhere. “She’d love to.”

I would. Or I would have earlier this summer. Or I still did. God, I was a confused mess and it was Noah’s fault and that was stupid. He was off-limits, anyway.

“I think she can answer for herself, Brooke.”

Shawn’s tone was light, almost laughing, and then he was in front of me, hand at the table by my drink, leaning closer. “What do you say, Lauren?”

My teeth dug into my bottom lip and I dragged my gaze up his chest, to his shoulders, the muscles on his body that sent a flash of heat to my lower stomach. What did I have to lose?

I lifted my head. “Sure, Shawn. Brooke’s right. I’d love to.”

“Good.” He held out his hand, palm up. “Now let’s teach you how to throw a dart so I don’t get called in some night on an assault charge due to your bad aim.”

Laughing, I slid my hand into his and let him pull me off my stool. “Sounds like you’re looking out for the safety of citizens.”

“Always.” He winked and that gesture made my belly flip.

He tried to teach me. He was even a good, patient teacher. In the end, it didn’t matter. We laughed so hard our stomachs hurt because despite his repeated, calm attempts to teach me, we decided I was a menace to society.

At the end of the night, Tinley and I walked to my car. I was driving us and stopped drinking hours ago after only two drinks.

Shawn walked us out, opened my door after I beeped the key fob to unlock them, and before I slid in, leaned in and brushed his lips over my cheek. “I’ll call you soon. Okay?”

“Looking forward to it,” I replied.

It took me several attempts to slide my key into the ignition and next to me, Tinley giggled. “Wow, Lauren. Way to score with the hot cop. I like this, the two of you.”

“Yeah, me too,” I agreed.

I drove her home and dropped her off at the apartment building where she lived, waiting until she texted me that she got inside safely and drove home, smiling the entire time.

But when I went to my bedroom, washed my face, and got ready for bed, my excitement diminished when I looked out my window.

Through the trees, Noah and Riley were there, and I couldn’t help but wonder what they were doing.

Oh, knock it off.

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