Page 67 of Jackson
She straightened and lifted her chin.
A muscle in Tolbert’s jaw ticked, and he gave her a once-over, clearly not approving of what he was seeing.
The weight of his scrutiny burned, but she could handle scorn. She was used to it. It helped that she knew Will was only looking out for Jackson because he cared.
His partner was lying unconscious in a hospital bed, and she could practically hear the thoughts running through Will’s mind. Who the hell was she to be here?
He didn’t trust her.
Didn’t believe she belonged.
“You’re not wearing a ring.Fiancée, my ass!”
Paula clenched her fists, the old instinct to go ice cold and emotionless kicking in. She barely had time to process before a nurse—Molly, from earlier—stepped in, eyes blazing.
“I told you gentlemen to wait because the patient already had a visitor,” Molly snapped, hands on her hips.
Will squared his shoulders, arms crossing over his chest. “You told us his fiancée was with him.” His tone was clipped,like he was trying to force himself to stay professional. “As his partner, I know Jackson isn’t engaged. And it’s even less likely he’d be involved withher.”
The last word landed like a slap.
Paula curled her fingers until her short nails dug into her palms.
The prick of physical pain had nothing on the ache in her chest.
She didn’t know Tolbert. He didn’t know her. But that didn’t make it easier to accept the immediate dismissal, the sheer certainty that she was unworthy of Jackson’s time. Paula struggled to breathe through her emotions and couldn’t speak.
Molly clearly didn’t have the same problem. “I wouldn’t know about his personal life, but in here,myrules are what count.” She put extra emphasis on ‘my’, and damn if it didn’t make Paula like her even more. “You need to check the attitude.”
Tolbert’s jaw tightened. “Yes, ma’am,” he muttered, but Paula caught the hint of amusement in his voice, as if he couldn’t help but appreciate Molly’s fire.
Captain Lacey cleared his throat, cutting through the tension. “Excuse us, ma’am. We were anxious to know how Detective Cagney is doing, and we had no idea he”—he glanced at Paula—“had someone with him.”
The implication was clear.
She wasn’t supposed to be here.
“I’ve been trying to reach his brother, but I’ve only gotten voicemail,” Lacey continued. “Seems Detective Cagney never updated his emergency contacts.” He looked between her and Tolbert, his gaze assessing. “He didn’t have you listed, either.”
Tolbert’s mouth pressed into a thin line.
Paula held her breath.
That should have mattered. The fact that she wasn’t listed. That, technically, she had no official place in Jackson’s life.
But she was here.
And that had to count for something.
She lifted her chin, meeting Lacey’s gaze head on. “Regardless of what’s on paper,” she said evenly, “I care about him. We’re engaged, and I’m not leaving.”
If Tolbert had a problem with that, he’d simply have to deal with it.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Paula’s usual MO for stressful situations was to immerse herself in a difficult case or do tedious paperwork, but now she didn’t want to leave Jackson. He’d been mostly unconscious for more than twenty-four hours, and the medical staff was clearly getting worried.
She barely slept on the pull-out couch the hospital provided for a family member to stay over. The day before had been beyond stressful with the explosion, her rush to the hospital, and the confrontation with Jackson’s team members.
