Chapter 22
Chapter twenty-two
Levi
Chief Fitzwilliam hadn’t had a chance to put his coffee on his desk before I knocked on his open door. “Got a minute, Chief?”
“Sure,” he said, settling into his desk chair and switching on his computer screen. He looked up when he heard me close his door, and his expression blanked.
I took a seat across from him and tried to slow my breathing. I’d been surprisingly calm during the first hours of my shift until the chief walked past my desk.
“Shit,” Chief said, rubbing his forehead. “You found a management job somewhere, didn’t you?”
“I’m dating Everly Hendricks,” I said before his mind deviated too far from the topic.
He laughed. “Damn, Stafford, way to give a guy a heart attack first thing Monday morning. You didn’t need to close the door for that.”
“I figured since it’s personal—”
“Everyone will know in less than a week,” he said. “Welcome to Peace Falls. Do you know how many people told me about your little meeting in Centennial Park last weekend?”
“You knew why I asked to be taken off the Wythers case,” I said.
“Of course I knew. Figured you might wait a couple weeks before telling me officially. See how things progressed. Guess your date to the falls went well.”
I gaped at him.
“One of the guys on patrol saw both your cars at the trailhead and texted me over the weekend. If you ever become a police chief in a small town, prepare yourself to know everyone’s business whether you want to or not. I appreciate you telling me before the gossip mill got out of control.”
“So, you don’t have an issue with me dating a defense attorney?”
He shook his head. “I’ll likely pull you from any cases she’s on, but you knew that. Is Everly willing to pass on any new clients you arrest?”
I nodded.
“That makes things a lot easier. I still want you leading the investigation on campus. I have a feeling the Wythers kid is just a low-level dealer.”
“That’s what my gut’s telling me too.” It was also telling me that continuing the investigation that led to Everly’s client’s arrest wasn't ideal. In a larger precinct like Richmond, I’d have asked to be reassigned, knowing another detective with just as much, if not more, experience would take my place, and there’d be another investigation that needed me.
But this wasn’t Richmond. The only replacement was Gunterson.
The influx of drugs was the biggest threat to the community, and I was the most qualified to find the source.
Too much was at stake for me to even consider stepping back.
“I don’t see any issue as long as you treat Everly well,” Chief said. “Evie loves her job, and if she’s willing to have a conversation like this one with the assholes she works for, it isn’t just a fling for her.”
“It’s not for me either,” I said.
He nodded. “Good to hear. I’d hate to put you on my shit list. Now, how is the Springboard event coming together?”
“Well,” I said, relaxing back into my chair. “So far, we’ve gotten a couple more businesses to participate and others to help sponsor the event. Professor Exton agreed it would be a good volunteer opportunity for his students.”
Chief nodded. “Maybe if it goes well, we could consider setting up some kind of internship program with the Criminal Justice Department.”
“I could mention it to Professor Exton,” I said.
“Why don’t you. Speaking of campus, let Tristan know you’re off the Wythers case, and tell him to come to me if he needs help with it. Now get out of here, Stafford, before the entire bullpen starts wondering why the door’s shut.”
“Thanks, Chief,” I said, already heading out.
Tris was chewing on a pen when I got to my desk.
“Everything OK?” he asked.
Everyone would know about Everly and me by this afternoon, and I didn’t want my partner hearing about it at Karma instead of from me. “I just let Chief know that Everly and I are seeing each other.”
He stared at me. I’m not sure what I expected, but silence wasn’t it.
“You good, man?” I asked when he didn’t speak after a while.
“Do you have any idea how many guys here have asked her out and been shot down because she thought it was a conflict of interest?” he said in a low voice. “Heck, if she hadn’t been my babysitter once upon a time, I probably would have asked her out too.”
“I’d apologize, but I’m not sorry.”
Tristan shook his head. “Not looking for an apology, just, wow. You intimidate everyone already.”
“I do?”
“Not me,” Tristan said. “You actually talk to me. Everyone else thinks you’re this mysterious bad ass who can’t be bothered with small talk.
Add in snagging Everly Hendricks, and, fuck, the questions I’m going to get.
Maybe you should grab donuts or something, so the rest of the guys aren’t afraid to talk to you when they find out. ”
“What?”
“You know, soften the blow to their egos.”
“With donuts?”
“You’re right. You should go bigger. Get a carton of Karma coffee and a couple dozen pastries.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
He leveled a glare at me. “When have I ever steered you wrong?”
“Shit,” I said, glancing at my watch. We had about twenty minutes before we’d planned to head over to the campus.
“Go,” Tristan said. “I’ll call if we need you back here. I like cinnamon rolls, by the way.”
If I went to Karma, I might as well check if Everly wanted anything. At the very least, I could see if she’d talked to her bosses.
Heading to Karma. Want anything?
As soon as I sent the text, I realized how dumb it sounded. If she hadn’t told her bosses about us, I couldn’t stroll into her office with a latte. Even if she had, throwing our relationship in their faces the first day wasn’t ideal.
I’ll meet you in front of the courthouse.
I wasn’t sure if meeting me was a good sign or not, but the lack of detail in her text had me thinking the worst and reaching for my uniform jacket. “While I’m gone, can you update Chief that Wythers was in a blind spot on the security footage?” I said. “I’m off the case now.”
Tristan paled. “The Wythers case or the whole campus operation?”
“Just the Wythers case,” I said, tugging on my jacket.
“OK,” Tris said, looking slightly terrified.
“You got this,” I said, knocking his shoulder. “Chief can help if you need him, but you’re ready.”
“Guess I have to be since you’re dating Wythers’s attorney,” he said, shaking his head. He blew out a breath and sat straighter. “Wish me luck.”
“You don’t need it,” I said.
“Just hurry back with my cinnamon rolls,” he said, trying and failing to look pissed.
The police station was on one side of the courthouse, and Everly’s office building was on the other. It certainly made things convenient, and it meant I couldn’t read too much into her text before I saw her walking toward me in her four-inch heels.
“Can I kiss you?” I asked as she came closer.
The answer would tell me a lot. Had she spoken with her bosses? Had she decided I wasn’t worth the risk to her career? Was she as eager to kiss me as I was to kiss her?
“Keep it PG, officer,” she said as we met at the bottom of the steps.
I pulled her close and brushed my lips against hers, then pulled her into a hug. Even if I agreed making out on the courthouse steps was a bad idea, I wasn’t missing an opportunity to hold her.
I was so screwed. One weekend with this woman, and I couldn’t be near her without wanting to wrap myself around her like a barnacle.
She sighed and rested her head on my chest. “Why didn’t you tell me you were up for a detective position?”
The question surprised me, and I took a step back to study her face. I’d been so eager to kiss her, to touch her, I hadn’t noticed how wrecked she looked.
“What happened?” I asked, dread pooling in my stomach. Hers was not the face of a woman excited to start a new relationship.
“You didn’t answer my question,” she said, running her hands down my chest. The simple touch eased some of the panic. If she wanted nothing to do with me, she’d have stepped away.
“I didn’t think it mattered,” I said, rubbing my thumb across her cheek. I hated the idea that I had anything to do with the dark smudges beneath her eyes.
“It would likely increase the number of cases where there’s a conflict.
I doubt anyone cares if you and I are together if I’m trying to argue someone down from a moving violation with points on their license to a ticket.
Detectives work more serious cases, and those are the types that help my career the most.”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” I said with a frown. “I’d only considered if being with you would hurt my chances of making detective.”
“Will it?” she asked.
“Based on the conversation I just had with Chief Fitzwilliam, probably not. Assuming you’re still OK turning down new clients when I’m involved with the case. Did you have time to talk with your bosses?”
She nodded. “They think being with you will hurt my client potential.”
“We knew it would,” I said, doing my best to sound calm.
“I didn’t know you were up for a promotion to detective.”
“Would it have changed your mind?”
She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I knew that’s the path you were on. I just didn’t think we’d be facing it so soon. It’s not ideal while I’m trying to make junior partner.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.” I moved closer and took her face in my hands. “I promise it wasn’t meant to hurt you or your career. If anything, I didn’t want you to worry it’d hurt mine and not give me a shot out of some altruistic delusion that I’d be happier as a detective than with you.”
Her eyes widened. “I probably would have done that.”
“Let’s get one thing clear. My job would never make me happier than having you in my life. You’re an incredible woman, Everly. No job in the world is worth giving up a chance with you.”
“OK,” she said, blushing.
“Now, would you like to go with me to Karma? Apparently, I have to buy consolation pastries for all the men you shot down in the bullpen.”
She winced. “Yeah, there were a few.”
“Well, we better hurry then before our kiss on the courthouse steps makes the local social media pages.”
She laughed softly. “We’ll be news for a minute or two. Then something more interesting will come along.”
On the walk to Karma, more than one person froze and gaped at our joined hands. I held open the door to the coffee shop for Everly, but she stopped just inside the entry.
“Once we tell Lauren, all my friends will know about us. And my family,” she said. “Just promise me you won’t get freaked out and dump me when people start calling to threaten you.”
“Chief Fitzwilliam already did,” I said, kissing her forehead.
She rolled her eyes. “His wife, Brandi, is best friends with Aiden’s older sister. I’m afraid he won’t be the last to warn you what will happen if you hurt me.”
“I’m not worried. I have no intention of hurting you. And I’ll take whatever threats come my way. Trust me, you’re worth it.”
But was I? Once news of our relationship spread through town, there’d be no stopping the impact it had on her career.
She’d lose client opportunities that would no doubt hurt her chances of making partner.
How many would it take for her to decide that a relationship with me was more trouble than it was worth?