Page 102 of Echoes of You

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NASH

My footsteps slowed,but I kept hold of Maddie’s hand. We came to a stop a few feet from The Brew. The sun shone brightly, making the lake sparkle in the morning light. You never would’ve known that such darkness had surrounded those depths only hours before.

I wrapped my arms around Maddie as if that alone could keep her safe. “You sure you’re up for working today?”

She laid a hand over my heart. “I’m sure. I’ve got a little bit of a headache, that’s it.”

There was a little bruising near Maddie’s hairline, but that was the only sign she’d been attacked. Her dark locks disguised the worst of the lump. But that didn’t mean she should be on her feet so quickly.

Maddie leaned forward, brushing her lips against mine. “I’ll text you if I’m feeling out of sorts. I promise.”

My gaze narrowed on her. “I’ll know if you’re lying.”

She chuckled. “Normal is good right now. I need it.”

I understood that. Maddie had fought hard to get back to this slice of normal, and it had become her respite amid all the craziness happening around her. I gently pressed my lips to her temple, just shy of her injury. “Call me if anything seems out of the ordinary. And don’t go anywhere—”

“Alone,” she finished for me. “I won’t. Believe me, I’ve learned my lesson there.”

A heaviness settled in my gut at those words. I hated that it was something Maddie had to think about at all. “I’m sorry,” I whispered against her skin.

Maddie’s hand pressed against my chest. “Youhave nothing to be sorry about. This is on whoever hit me, no one else.”

My mouth curved. “I like it when you get all bossy.”

She snorted it. “Good, because I’m about to do it again.” She stepped out of my hold. “Go to work. Write some speeding tickets. Scare the bejeesus out of some shoplifters.”

I didn’t miss how she left the more serious cases off her list. But I’d let her have that. “Don’t forget the most important duty.”

“And what’s that?”

I grinned. “Eating donuts.”

Maddie shook her head. “Such a cliché.”

I chuckled. “Sometimes, things are a cliché for a reason. And donuts are damn good.”

“Well, they aren’t going to eat themselves, so get to it.”

I dipped my head to meet her gaze. “After you’re inside.”

She huffed out a breath. “Yes, Officer Overprotective.”

Maddie turned and headed inside the café. I didn’t walk away until I saw her talking with Aspen. She was safe. She’d have people around her all day long, and Aspen would have her back.

I still waited a few more beats. Turning to walk away felt wrong on every level, but I did it anyway. I headed back toward the station. Main Street wasn’t crowded this morning, but it wasn’t empty either. A handful of people were out and about, a mixture of tourists and locals.

My gaze caught on a single familiar figure headed in my direction. I fought the groan that wanted to surface.

A smirk played on Dan’s mouth as he approached. “Hey, Hartley. Heard you ran into a little trouble with the mayor.”

Don’t rise to the bait.I said it over and over in my head. Lawson would kill me if I got into it with this joker. “Not sure what you’re talking about.”

Dan’s smirk faltered, then he forced it back. “I guess they don’t tell cops when they’re under investigation.”

I shrugged like it was no big thing and not potentially career-ending. “Or there’s nothing there that anyone would ever be concerned about.”

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