Page 8 of Call it Reckless

Zane stiffened, too. “I see that,” he answered. “I assume you have a permit for that?” His eyes tipped toward her hand.

“For this?” Bristol laughed. She pointed it at a random spot on the porch and fingered the trigger. Zane and I both put our hands on our holsters.

But there was nobang.Instead, there was just a soft click, and a flame appeared at the end of the barrel.

“Last time I checked, gentlemen, you don’t need a permit for a lighter. It was a gag gift given to my grandfather a long time ago.”

Zane’s and my mouth dropped. Then my friend began to laugh heartily.

But I was pissed. “You pointed alighterat me? What were you thinking? Did you actually think you could protect yourself with that? What if I’d been a burglar or drug dealer? You should have called the police. I could have been anyone and could have hurt you. I could have—”

She got up in my face. “First off, you’re the one”—she poked meagain—“who came into my house unannounced, which is a good way to get shot, especially in these parts. Second, I can take care of myself. Third, Idoown a gun, and I’m an excellent marksman.” She glanced at Zane. “And yes, I have a permit, and yes, my actual pistol is locked away in my safe in my bedroom.”

“It was still stupid,” I said.

Her nostrils flared as she crossed her arms. Her eyes narrowed on me.

Oops. Maybe that was the wrong choice of words.

I should have been sorry or pissed or worried instead of feeling the sudden surge of attraction that raced through me. There was a fire in Bristol Allen, and it lit something inside of me I’d thought was long burned out.

“Officer…” Bristol said, swinging her glance toward Zane.

“Zane Wallace at your service.” His fingers reached up to tip his hat. His mouth was still quirked in a smile as his eyes raked over her scantily clad form. For some reason, that ticked me off. He was married, and I knew he was faithful to his wife. But still.

She beamed at him. “I remember you! You were in my brother Chase’s class. Call me Bristol.” She jerked her head toward me. “Deputy Wallace, this man trespassed on my property. Can you arrest him?” She shrugged and batted her eyelashes, going from badass to demure before I could blink.

My mouth dropped.What the hell?

Zane’s eyes widened. Then he snorted. Given the devilish look he was giving me, the bastard was actually thinking about doing it. I glared at him, hoping he’d choke on his laughter.

Finally, he shook his head. “Sorry, he was just doing his job.” He nodded his head at her. “I’ll just head home, then. Welcome back to Sterling Mill, Bristol. I’m glad to see someone in this house again. Your grandparents were wonderful people and are still missed. And I’m mighty sorry about your father, too.”

“Thank you, Zane.”

I wondered if he heard the hitch in her voice or noticed how her posture slumped ever so slightly. I noticed it because I was having a hard time keeping my eyes off her.

She kept the door open as he walked down the sidewalk to his cruiser. I could hear him still laughing.

“You can go now, too.” She gestured toward the door.

I stepped onto the porch and lifted an eyebrow. “No thanks for me?”

She crossed her arms and leaned against the door frame. “For breaking into my house and then calling me stupid? I don’t think so.”

“I didn’t break in, and what you did was—”

“Call me stupid again, Reid. I dare you.”

I threw my hands in the air. “I don’t think you’re stupid. Reckless, maybe.”

“Sometimes it’s best to just quit while you’re ahead, Deputy.”

The door slammed in my face.

I stood there for a minute. After not hearing any movement on her side of the door, I knocked. She opened it immediately, and I handed her my flashlight. “Welcome back, Bristol. I’m sure we’ll run into each other again, being such a small town and all. Hopefully, next time won’t be someddlesome.”

She slammed the door shut again—but not before she snatched the light from my hand.

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