Page 55 of Before We Fell

“Every day since I was sixteen. Thank you.” He took the cup from my hands and stepped back, holding out his arm and gestured for me to enter. I slid in past him and clasped my hands together. His small office was nondescript, lacking any personal items or framed pictures. On the walls were old photographs detailing the history of Carlton, from the days before cars to most recently, ten years ago when this new police station was built. I turned at the sound of the door closing behind me, and Shawn was still there, back to the door, eyes on me while he took a sip of his coffee.

“I got it black,” I said, suddenly feeling out of place. Shawn was a detective and he’d already warned me. His job was to get to the truth. His gaze was doing more than admiring or seeking, he was investigating me. Probably had a hundred questions of why I was showing up at the station looking like I did. “I didn’t know if you took cream or sugar, so I figured—”

“One cream, one sugar,” he said and stepped toward me. “But my coffee order isn’t why you’re here, so what’s up?”

I reached up to run a hand through my hair before realizing it was still in a ponytail, dropping my hand to my side, I huffed. “Well, I came to talk to you.”

“But not just to say hi and bring me coffee.” He shook the cup gently in his hands and wore a hint of a grin. “Is this a pity drink to ease the sting that you can’t go on another date with me?”

“Well, no.” But dang he was a really smart man. But at least he’d started it. Screw my nerves. We’d been sort of friends for at least a year, and one date and me meeting someone else shouldn’t ruin that. Sighing, I said, “There was no pity involved when I bought the coffee.”

He laughed lightly and closed the space between us in two easy strides. “But it does mean you don’t want another date. Care to at least tell me why?”

“It’s complicated.” I shuffled on my feet. The last thing I wanted to tell him was about Noah. Yet, with his super-detective powers, it was like he read my mind.

“Noah,” he stated. He nodded and set down his coffee, crossing his arms over his chest. “Am I right?”

I cringed. “I hadn’t been out with him or anything, but yeah, there was an attraction there.”

“I see.”

“And I thought it was a bad idea with him being Riley’s uncle and everything, and I’m not really sure if it’s still the right decision.”

“So you’re ending things between us before seeing if they can go anywhere because someone else is there, who might be a bad decision.” He was teasing me. Not his fault I was rambling like an idiot.

Also not his fault I took the date even when I knew my feelings for Noah were complicated.

“I should go,” I said. The way he said it made me feel stupid and foolish. It might not have been his intent, but the feelings lingered.

“I was just teasing, Lauren.” He flung out his arm, stopping me from passing him. “I’m bummed, all right. I’ve liked you for awhile, and took too long, but that’s on me. But from the little I know of Noah I know he’s a good guy.”

“He is.”

“Then don’t worry about me. It was a great dinner with a friend, okay? Give me a night or two to lick my wounds and we’ll be back to throwing darts at unsuspecting Tavern patrons in no time.”

Perhaps I’m making this more complicated than it needed to be. A small laugh fell from my lips. “It’ll only take a night or two to lick your wounds over me?”

“What can I say?” He shrugged and flashed me one of his wickedly handsome smirks. “Maybe I just wasn’t that into you, either.”

I took the joke this time in the manner it was intended, and shook my head, laughing at him. “Of course you weren’t.”

“Come on.” He stepped toward the door and opened it. “I’ll walk you back out through the maze.”

I readjusted my purse strap on my shoulder. “Oh, that’s okay. I can find my way.”

“Then I’ll walk you back out because if you don’t work here and don’t have clearance, you can’t be unattended in the station, I was just trying to be polite about it.”

A heat hit my cheeks. Of course. “Right. Well, then, thank you.”

He walked me through the security door to the front steps outside. I squinted from the bright sun, the heat immediately pummeling down onto my shoulders.

“I really am sorry, Shawn.”

“No worries, Lauren. I’ll see you soon, yeah?” He leaned in, brushed his lips to my cheek and stepped back. “Drive safe.”

“Yes sir, Detective.”

Eighteen

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