Page 15 of Taming Her

“Am I now?” He huffed.

“Yes, what would we do without the boys in blue?”

He didn’t respond, neither did he look at her again in the mirror.

She frowned and stared out of the window. The police station, lit up in white, whizzed past.

What the hell?

He spoke into the radio attached to the dash. “Control, this in nine-one-two clocking off.”

“Everything alright?”

“Dicky tummy.”

“I’ll log you out. Take care.”

“Over and out.”

“What’s going on?” She leaned forward.

“I have a feeling it’s going to take all of my time and attention to sort out this mess.”

“What mess?”

“You, Ava, you’re the damn mess.”

Chapter 4

“And, for the hundredth time, I amnota mess.” Ava glared at Griff when he opened the patrol car door.

He reached for her arms, cupped her elbows, and hauled her up.

Her heels sank into a deep gravel driveway as she gripped his hard forearms. “Where the hell am I?”

“Just outside Failand. I have no desire to live in the city I police.”

“You’ve brought me to your house?” She stared up at him.

“I can always take you to the station for this… conversation if you’d prefer.”

She pouted. “No.”

“That’s what I thought.”

She stared up at the sky. It was alive with stars and a crescent moon hung above the outline of a thatched roof and chimney pot. “It’s so fucking dark.”

“It’s called the countryside.” He slammed the door.

An owl hooted.

“It’s dead around here.”

He didn’t answer. Instead he led her toward a shadowy front door. She tottered beside him, her hands trapped, and her head a little light from standing so fast.

When he stopped to fiddle with keys, she glanced about, taking in her surroundings. Could she slip off her shoes and make a run for it? The driveway had been long and tree-lined but beyond that was a road that would surely lead to a village. Failand. Once there she could bang on a door, say she’d been kidnapped and ask for help.

“In you go.”

---