Page 43 of Need You
His number hadn’t been called yet. “Why don’t I wait until my turn?”
“If you say so. I only figured that your time would be better spent keeping our streets safe. But I certainly enjoy your company.” She smiled at him. “How’s life treating you?”
“Not bad. You?”
“Good. We’re planning to compete this year in the End-of-Summer kayak races and to kick Garner Adventure’s butt.”
Colt scrutinized the three kids working behind the counter. One he’d known since grade school: the boy had more piercings than brains. Another looked as if she hadn’t seen sunlight in three years, and the third was having trouble operating the espresso machine. “I wouldn’t get too cocky.”
“Don’t underestimate us,” she warned good-heartedly.
“I would never do that, Rachel.” He grinned back at her, hoping that if he flirted ... tried hard enough ... he might feel the same pull of attraction he did with Delaney. But nothing. Not so much as a twitch south of his belt.
When it got to his turn, he ordered a ham and cheese croissant and two coffees to go. “See you, Rachel.”
Back at the office, he ate his sandwich and fielded calls. There was a domestic up on McClatchy Ridge. Those could get hairy, so he sent two of his most seasoned officers. Then TJ called to see if he could teach a beginning rock-climbing class on Sunday.
“Come on. I thought you were looking for more people to hire.”
“I’m working on it. But with school starting . . .” A lot of their guides were college kids who moved to Glory Junction just for the summer. Some literally camped at the state park for three months and used the showers at GA.
“I’ll look at my schedule,” he told TJ. “In the meantime, see if you can find someone else.”
“I’ll do my best, but no one teaches that class better than you.”
Colt groaned. “Nice try, but flattery will get you nowhere.” He hung up.
It turned out to be a peaceful day, despite his late start. Colt was even thinking of taking off on time for once when his private line lit up. Usually Carrie Jo intercepted those calls but she’d already gone for the day.
He picked up. “Garner.”
“Please stay on the line for Mayor Pond,” said his honor’s secretary, who then whispered, “Sorry, Colt, he makes me say that.”
Jesus Christ, you would think the guy was the POTUS. “No problem, Josephine.” Colt waited, listening to the god-awful Muzak in the background.
“Colt”—the mayor’s voice finally came over the line—“I wanted to talk to you about the End-of-Summer kayak races.”
“What about them?”
“I want you to head up Glory Junction PD’s team.”
“We don’t have a team.” In the past, the city had always represented all its municipal offices in the races and Colt had been on the Garner Adventure team. “We don’t even have kayaks.”
“I have one on order for you.”
The city had voted against new Kevlar vests for the department, but it could afford a kayak? Pretty shitty prioritizing if you asked Colt. But no one was.
“All right,” Colt said with reluctance. He had nothing against representing the police department. It was his department after all. It’s just that he’d always kayaked for GA and he got the distinct feeling that Pond Scum wanted to cause division between Colt and his family. A little payback, perhaps, for the Garner show of solidarity at the city council meeting.
“I expect a victory, Colt.” And with that the mayor hung up.
Colt couldn’t be sure if the mayor had just made a veiled threat: win or else. The guy was enough of a dick that Colt wouldn’t be surprised.
He packed up and headed out before the mayor called to bother him again. On his way home, Colt contemplated dinner. He didn’t have anything in his fridge. His brothers had eaten the last of his chips and bean dip. After changing out of his uniform maybe he’d go to the Indian place for some tandoori. If Delaney happened to be available, maybe they could go together.
Ah, Jesus, he was so screwed.
When he pulled onto their easement road there was a car in the coveted space. A Mercedes Roadster, not Delaney’s Tesla. His stomach sank. She probably had a date. At the top of his driveway, Colt took the time to turn the cruiser around in case he got called out, then walked down the steep grade.
