Page 17 of Badges
“It must have been one heck of a sob story.” Her voice doesn’t have an ounce of sympathy. “All I know is, he’s acting funny since you came along.” Her knuckles show when she wraps the steel bars and leans against them. “Seducing him won’t help. He’s taken.”
“You’re wearing a wedding band, but he isn’t.” I turn back to the pages, feigning interest in the story. “So maybe he isn’t as serious as you are.” I can’t resist the chance to goad her.
There’s nothing logical about jabbing back. This woman could make my life a living hell.
Fuck it, it can’t get any worse.
She flicks her palm, almost like she’s reminding herself of the binding jewelry on her finger. “I ain’t married to him.”
That makes me close the book and place it on my cot.
Meeting her glare squarely with my own, I recognize jealousy when I see it.
Slowly, I move the blanket and stand, strutting as provocatively as I can towards her.
My skin brushes hers when I wrap my hand around the steel making her jerk her arm away.
“Maybe,” I croon seductively. “You shouldn’t worry about who he is, or isn’t fucking then? Keep your nose in your own bowl, bitch.”
Flipping around on the heel of my slippers, I can feel her eye darts digging into my shoulder blades.
“I’m going to make sure you get locked up for a very long time.” Her teeth flash in a leering smile.
“Won’t stop me from fucking your boyfriend and ruining him from ever wanting you again,” I snap. “I bet your husband doesn’t want you either. Probably because you made ‘cunt’ your entire personality.”
Calmly, I pick up the corner of the blanket and the book, pretending to nonchalantly read again.
Inside, my heart is racing and my stomach is in knots, hoping she doesn’t fling the door open and come inside.
I’d never win. Even if I could fend her off, the fact that she’s a cop and I’m under arrest…I’d automatically lose.
There might be something to the idea though.
It’s not like Wade isn’t attractive. He’s actually kinda hot in a good-ol’-boy kinda way.
In a “I’ll take care of you like a daddy” kinda way.
That turns the nerves jittering through me a little warmer. I bet he’s the pedestal kind of guy, where he’d do anything I wanted if I asked, if the situation was different.
But why he’d want to tangle with that pitbull, I have no idea.
With a clatter, she drags the metal tray of food out before I can have any. “Guess you can just survive on attitude then,” she sneers.
Her boots squeak against the industrial tiles when she leaves.
Jerk. I don’t like that slop anyways.
My belly has been grumbling for a while, and I’m on my second read through of this mediocre western when I hear more footsteps coming down the hall.
These are heavier. Either the guard, or the—
“So has sitting here all day changed your mind about telling me who’s behind all this horseshit?” Wade grabs the chair near the wall and sets it so the back is near the bars, then straddles it, folding his arms across the top.
“It’s like a spa. Apparently it includes the diet plan.” My hunger pangs fuel the sarcasm. “I’m liking it here. A few more weeks and it’ll be a race to see if I die of starvation or from your girlfriend.” I don’t look at him, but I catch the movement of his hat tipping down out of the corner of my eye.
“I don’t have a girlfriend,” he grunts. “What do you mean by ‘starve’?”
I toss the book aside. I’ve practically memorized it anyway.
