Page 38 of Triggered By Love
“You’re on.” She sniffled but managed a smile.
He let her get a head start and loped along at her heels, allowing her to run off the grief and the pain.
“Want to stop by The Big Bean and check on Saul?” he asked once they were outside of the park boundary.
“Thanks for reminding me.” She removed her sweatband and finger fluffed her hair. “You coming with me?”
“Only if you treat.” He winked. “You owe me for the shoulder you cried on.”
“You are so not a hero.” She slapped him with the sweatband and unzipped the one on her wrist, extracting her credit card. “Okay, my treat.”
“You are always my treat.” He reached for her, lips pursed to land a kiss on her, but she ducked underneath his arm.
Giggling, she powerwalked toward the coffee shop without looking back.
What choice did he have but to follow like a lost and pathetic puppy? He was so not perfect for her. But being wrong was never the right reason for giving up.
Chapter Thirteen
Avery wasn’tsure what hit her on the sidewalk outside of The Big Bean. One minute, she was walking away from Jason, smiling at the thought of him ogling her from behind, and the next, she was bent backwards with a big, firm mouth pressed over hers.
How was this possible?
She clamped her teeth against the onslaught of the sloppy, wet kiss. An abbreviated sneeze expelled the chemical odor of strong cologne, as shouts and shoving and pushing threw her against a wall of muscle.
“You’re under arrest.” Jason’s voice barked over the hoots and hollers of the bystanders.
“You have no authority to arrest me,” Avery’s kisser protested.
“I’m a cop, and you have the right to remain silent,” Jason shouted, while struggling with the larger man.
Avery swept her hair from her face and stared in horror at Matt and Jason wrestling on the sidewalk.
She was about to intervene when Alida stabbed a finger at her. “Why aren’t you dressed up? You’re a mess. Did you know you’re late?”
“I forgot.” The realization dawned on Avery that she was supposed to meet Matt at The Big Bean for a publicity stunt.
She elbowed her way past Alida and jumped on Jason’s back. “You can’t arrest him. He’s my date.”
“What do you mean date?” Jason’s head jerked her direction. At the same time, Matt landed a punch on Jason’s jaw.
“Matt, stop it,” Alida screamed. “You’re ruining the date scene I set up for you.”
No doubt, the gathered film crew kept the tape rolling, not wanting to miss a single punch. In addition, every cell phone camera was pointed at them, with exclamations of, “Check this out. It’s Matt Swanson.”
“I’m sorry,” Matt straightened his casual blue chambray shirt which had a ripped pocket. “Avery, you okay?”
Avery turned her back on the football star. She dabbed at Jason’s swelling eye “Oh, Jason, it looks like he nailed your eye.”
“He assaulted you.” Jason’s good eye darted all over Avery, examining her. “Are you okay?”
“Other than biting my lip, I think I’ll survive.” She mustered a smile. “You better get ice on that eye.”
“Now that I know you’re okay, I’m arresting this stalker.” Jason whipped out his badge from the jacket that covered his holstered gun. “Put your hands up against the wall.”
“Look, Officer, I didn’t know you’re a cop,” Matt said. “You attacked me. What was I supposed to do?”
“Jason, let him go,” Avery said. “It’s Matt Swanson. He was supposed to meet up with me for coffee. How’s it going to look with you arresting him when Alida set this up?”
