Cop-Off (Love Burns #2)

CHAPTER ONE

“You cannot write that!” Libby gasped, handing Cat back her phone.

“Why not?”

“Because you’re going to attract the wrong kind of man!”

Why her friend seemed so horrified, Cat had no idea. All she’d done was show her the profile she’d set up on a local dating app. It had been Libby’s idea to get back out there in the first place. That was exactly what she was doing.

“Look, Lib, I love you, but you drag me all the way out here to the middle of nowhere to, what, sit around all day? If I’m gonna be surrounded by nothing but cows, I might as well find myself a cowboy to shag.”

And she was in the middle of nowhere. Woodvalley Pines, Wyoming was a long way from her home in Brighton, England. This hadn’t exactly been what she imagined when she’d thought about moving back to America. The last time she was here, she’d been living in San Francisco, where she’d first met Libby. And she had to admit she missed the city. The hustle and bustle. Nights out. Takeout whenever you wanted it. The most exciting thing that had happened since moving to Woodvalley was the day Mrs Tucker lost her cat. For an hour.

“A dating profile full of innuendos is not gonna find you a cowboy. It’s gonna find you a horny psychopath.” Libby obviously wasn’t done yet.

“You’re being dramatic.”

“Cat, at one point you wrote: Before I take a long ride, I like to make sure my stud has had a good twenty minute warm up. ” Her best friend’s eyebrow was raised, causing her to look all accusatory.

“What?” Cat not-so-innocently lifted her bare shoulder in a shrug. “That’s just good horsemanship, Lib. You don’t want him to be too stiff.” She added a wink specifically to get a laugh out of her. And it worked.

Cat shifted on the box she’d sat her butt down on. They’d been sitting in Libby’s front yard for at least half an hour now, surrounded by stuff. Cat’s stuff, to be exact. They were waiting on Libby’s boyfriend, Zach, who was moving in today. At the same time, Cat was moving into his old apartment. Sort of like a swap.

The move was bittersweet. Since Cat had arrived almost two weeks ago, she’d been staying with Libby, and she was going to miss her friend. But at the same time, she was looking forward to having her own space. Zach was over a lot. As in every night. And being around a happy couple twenty-four seven was starting to get a little depressing. Being a third wheel was never fun.

Libby’s rather loud hooting pulled her from her musings. Peering up, she caught sight of the van they’d been waiting for, and her stomach dropped.

“Oh, for the love of God.” She sighed and threw her head back. “Did your man seriously bring him ? Whyyy?” she whined.

Fucking Cody McBride. The bane of her existence.

“Uh, maybe ‘cause he’s his best friend.” Libby shot Cat her most incredulous look. “Come on, Cat, don’t you think it’s time you two put your differences aside? This is a small town and you’re gonna be running into each other a lot.”

“Well lucky for me, I know how to walk the other way.”

Some would say she was being petty. Well, fuck those people.

“Kitten!” the devil himself exclaimed as he slammed the van door behind him. “Looking sexy as always. You get those claws of yours filed down?”

And so, it begins.

“Why don’t you come a bit closer and find out for yourself?”

“Now, now, children,” Zach chastised as he made a beeline for Libby, wasting no time laying a sloppy kiss on her.

“I’ll come as close as you like, kitten. Just say the word.” Cody lowered his aviators to give her a caramel-colored wink.

Dick.

At least he wasn’t wearing his cop uniform. Every time he did, it was like the navy polyester fumes went straight to his head and made him even more unlikeable and self-entitled. If that was possible.

It was safe to say, they didn’t get on. Never had, never would. She knew he was a dick when she’d come to visit Libby three months ago after he’d almost run her off the road, and he was still a dick now. The worst thing about all of this though, was that their best friends were in love. Now they both had to suffer each other’s company on the regular. Although, she could swear he enjoyed riling her up.

Rising from the boxes, her hands automatically shot to her hips. Battle stance activated. “What are you even doing here, McBride? Do you seriously have nothing better to do today than annoy me?”

He actually had the nerve to tut. “Now, is that any way to talk to the man who’s going to be helping you move?”

She turned to look at her best friend. Cat prayed to all that was holy that he was joking. Surely Libby and Zach wouldn’t actually leave them alone together? That would be madness. Potentially dangerous.

Her friend’s guilty expression said it all.

Seriously? What the hell did I do to deserve this?

“We thought while we unpacked Zach’s stuff, you and Cody could drop your things off at the apartment.” Libby bit down on her lip, guilty green eyes trying their best to avoid Cat. “And maybe you two could use the time to ... work out your differences?”

Cat’s scowl went from Libby to Zach to Cody. Satan, of course, was loving every minute. A smug grin resting on his stupid bearded face.

“What do you say, kitten, wanna learn to play nice with me?”

What she really wanted wasn’t safe to repeat. Deciding no one deserved a response, she stomped toward the back of the van, not-so-accidentally shoving Cody’s shoulder as she passed him. The movement just enough to make him stumble.

Yes, it was childish. But he never failed to bring out the brat in her.

Being the bigger person was overrated anyway. Cody wasn’t exactly making her want to try, either, as he strode up beside her, chuckling.

“What’s wrong, kitten?” Taking the box out of her hands, he flashed her that pearly white smile again.

God, she hated it when he called her that. Which was exactly why he did it.

He was on the receiving end of her meanest glare. “Are you seriously asking me that?”

He just laughed. Dick. This was a classic example as to why nothing was ever going to change between them. And there was no point trying.

“Yo, Cat, Libby said you’re on some dating app? Why didn’t you come to me? I already told you, I’ve got loads of friends I can set you up with.” Zach began pulling boxes from the van and setting them on the grass.

“A dating app?” Cody finally took off his shades. All so he could give her a rather judgmental frown.

“Don’t,” she warned, before he had a chance to make one of his lame jokes. To her surprise, it worked. He was quiet. For once. Passing Zach over another box, she tried her best to be polite. “No offence, but no thanks.”

“There’s a lot of weirdos on those apps, darlin’,” Zach continued. “Wouldn’t you rather go on a date with someone who’s already been vetted?”

“Zach, don’t get me wrong, you’re a nice guy and everything, but going by the one friend of yours I’ve already met” – her eyes were back on the demon – “it’s a hard pass.”

She rolled her eyes as Cody’s big hand covered his chest, pretending to be hurt, as if he had a heart. She knew better.

“You’re breaking my heart here, kitten. I thought we had something? I even went out and bought some extra string for you to chase. Now would I do that if I didn’t care?”

Lord give me strength.

Ignoring the Prince of Darkness, she looked back at Zach, who was fighting a smile. She didn’t say anything. She didn’t need to. One eyebrow raise was enough for him to nod and say, “Okay. Point made.”

***

The drive over to the apartment was no less tense. Not that she had thought it would be. However, for once it wasn’t the tension radiating off her setting the tone. Turns out, Cody could dish it out just fine, but when the tables were turned, he didn’t like it.

Since their first meeting had technically been when he cut her off and almost ran her off the road, she decided traveling together would be the perfect time to critique his driving technique. Let’s just say, her comments were not well received. The man was actually pouting as he unloaded her belongings.

Once they’d finally got everything inside, she thought the nightmare would be over and he’d leave.

She was wrong.

“Sorry, kitten, my instructions were clear. Help you settle in and get unpacked.” His bulky arms crossed over his chest, stretching his already too tight flannel shirt.

Was he being serious? She’d be much more ‘settled’ if the devil wasn’t dishing out digs in her new living room.

She moved toward him, getting closer than necessary, but he didn’t even flinch. Just stood there all stoic like. Staring her down as if she were one of his suspects. When she was one step away from invading his personal space, she raised her chin until they were eye to eye.

“It’s just you and me here, Cody. We don’t have to pretend to like each other. I know you don’t wanna be here. The same way I don’t want you here. So just for today, how about we stop pretending?”

“This is you pretending?” There was no full-blown smile this time, but there was definitely a lip twitch.

The man was so frigging infuriating. And not just because everything that came out of his mouth annoyed her. Up close, he infuriated her in a whole new way. That boyish messy brown hair that stuck up at the front. Perfectly trimmed beard that was just the right length, not too long and not too short. Freaking honey hue eyes. And let’s not forget the clean, crisp scent of bergamot wafting up her nostrils. Apparently evil came wrapped in a nice package.

What a waste.

“This is me not throat punching you, McBride.”

He was the one who took a step forward this time. Personal space officially invaded. His manly musk made it hard for her to swallow. At least she hoped it was his cologne. “Is that all you want to do to me, kitten?”

Was the man seriously flirting with her?

She got her answer when his head dipped and all she could see was molten heat darkening his gaze. Maybe this was his sick idea of foreplay. Had he been flirting the whole time?

She stood frozen, racking her brain as minty breath hit her lips. Okay, now she was confused. Why couldn’t she stop thinking about whether he was going to kiss her? And why did a part of her want him to do it?

That’s it. First thing on Monday, you’re looking for a therapist.

All she could hear was their breathing. All she could see was the black in his eyes.

Just when his mouth did the unthinkable and grazed her lips, the sound of heavy footsteps hit them both like a lightning bolt. She jerked back, still in a state of confusion when, all of a sudden, things got a lot more complicated.

“Dad! Dad!” A young boy hurtled across her new wooden floors and collided with Cody’s legs. Cat watched in fascination as the boy began curling his little arms around him and throwing his head back in order to get a better view of his father. He was actually looking at Cody with adoration.

Should I call child services?

“Mrs Molly said that if I’m good you’ll let me have ice cream tonight.” The little boy grinned. “And I was good all day! You can ask Mrs Molly! So, can we have ice cream tonight? I want cookies and cream. Can I have cookies and cream?”

“We’ll see.” Cody squeezed him tight before turning the boy to face her. “Dylan, this is Cat. Cat, this is my son, Dylan.”

She hadn’t ever seen him look like this. It was almost as if he was nervous. Maybe he thought she really was going to call child services. Or worse, call him a dick in front of his kid.

Surely not?

“Hi, Cat. I like your name. I want a cat but Dad’s allergic.” Damn this kid was cute. Even if he was the spitting image of his dad.

“Thanks, I like your name too.” She softened her tone and tried her best to offer up her warmest smile. It was hard with Cody so nearby. “You like cats, huh? Have you met Mrs Tucker’s cat? He’s awesome, I met him the other day. I bet Mrs Tucker wouldn’t mind if you wanted to visit and play with him. Since your dad is allergic and all.”

Dylan’s head snapped back up to Cody. “Can I, Dad? Can I?”

“Sure you can, little man.” He was eyeing her curiously now. And she didn’t like it. It made her want to run away. Which was silly because he was the one standing in the middle of her front room. If anyone was going to leave, it should be him.

“When? When can we go? Can we go today? Before we get ice cream? Dad. Dad. Dad.”

Watching the interaction between the two of them was mesmerising. She couldn’t look away. Suddenly she saw him in a whole new light. He was a dad. Apparently a good one. Who knew?

Her brain was having trouble processing it all. None of it made sense. Why was he such a dick to her? Especially when this version of Cody had been lurking beneath the surface all along. She’d much prefer to hang out with this guy.

Minutes later, as if her life had become some sort of sitcom, another person appeared in her home. An older woman. Mrs Molly, she assumed.

How are these people getting in? Do I need to change the locks or something?

“Sorry, Cody.” She huffed. “We were just at the store and he wanted to stop by and say hello.”

“It’s no problem, Molly.” Cody once again looked at her with an unreadable expression and then quickly back to the older woman. “I don’t know if you guys have met yet, but this is Cat. She’s new in town. She’s a friend of Libby’s.”

And you’re standing in her apartment.

Maybe her life was a sitcom. It would explain the constant laughing track.

“Nice to meet you.” More warm smiles were exchanged. She was getting good at this.

As Dylan excitedly told Molly about Mrs Tucker’s cat, Cody’s gaze was back on her. He gave her a look so hot, she had to pat down her arms to make sure they hadn’t set alight.

Right. That was it. She couldn’t take much more of this—it was too weird. And it was freaking her out. Clearly, there was no way on earth it was a good idea for them to be alone. Which meant she had to get him to leave. Luckily for her, she’d literally just been handed probably the one person with enough power to convince him to do just that.

“Hey, Dylan,” she crouched down until they were eye level, “your dad’s all finished up here for the day. I bet if you ask him nicely, he’ll take you over to see Mrs Tucker’s cat now.”

It was a low move. Judging by the scoff, Cody thought so too. But she had no other choice. There would be no dancing with the devil tonight.