Chapter Four #2
Yes, it sounded better in my head. Coming from my mouth it sounded childish.
Everson had a job that required his undivided attention.
He wouldn’t have much time to spend with her.
She would be raised by a nanny and how would that be better than a loving family with a big yard, other kids to play with, and maybe a big, fluffy dog who chased rabbits?
The officer opened the door to the office. Shayna sat beside me, holding a soft pretzel with salt.
“We’re taking Miss Jones to the station now.”
Shayna looked up at me with pleading eyes, the kind that asked a million heartbreaking questions without a single word. I don’t think she knew what exactly was about to happen, but she sensed something. I felt her fear as much as I saw it in those eyes.
I leaned forward, my handcuffed wrists drawing my shoulders back. Then I kissed her on the forehead. “Shayna,” I whispered. “Repeat after me. ‘I’m beautiful.’”
She blinked several times but never stopped looking into my eyes.
“I’m bootiful.”
I smiled, nodding. “Say, ‘I’m loved.’”
“I’m loved.”
Another nod. “Say, ‘I’ll be happy.’”
Her eyes shifted to Everson for a brief moment then back to me. “I’ll be happy.”
After depositing one last kiss on her head, I stood.
I nodded to the officer.
“I’ll get you bailed …” Everson started.
“Don’t worry about it.” I didn’t look back as the officer led me out of the room.
A mob of press waited by the entrance. Only a few snapped photos of me. After all, who was I? I should have been humiliated, but no one knew me.
“Lake?”
I looked over my shoulder as the officer escorted me to the police cruiser.
“No.” I grimaced and whipped my head forward, chin down so my hair covered my face.
Eighteen holes spread out over many acres. How did I manage to make my criminal exit while Cage Monaghan strolled up to the tee just over the fence to my right?
He drew near. I knew it from the photographers scrambling for their cameras and vying for the best position to get photos of us! Just like that I went from no one to the handcuffed amputee attracting the attention of a famous quarterback. This was not how I wanted to capture his attention.
“Lake? Officer, can you hold up a minute?”
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, then looked up with my absolute best smile ever. “Cage! Hey, how’s it going? Ya having a good golf game today? The weather couldn’t be better for this time of year in Minnesota.”
He narrowed his eyes, like not a single word I just spoke was in English. “Are you being arrested?”
I tugged against the handcuffs. “Oh, this?” I sucked air in through my bared-teeth smile. “Yeeaah, there was a glitch of sorts with my leg.” Camera flashes closed in on us as the officer opened the door to the back of the police car. “You should go. I’m not good publicity today.”
I took one last look at the man of my dreams in his royal blue polo shirt that brought out the heavens in his eyes and accented the bronzy tones of his blond hair. The grimace on his face hid his dimples; that was unfortunate. The door closed and the car pulled away from the curb.
“Nothing embarrassing about that,” I mumbled to myself. I couldn’t say for sure, but I think the bald man in uniform behind the steering wheel smirked. Yeah, I was always good for a laugh.
“You’ve been sprung, Jones.”
That was quick. I didn’t even get my phone call.
The officer opened the holding cell.
“By whom? I didn’t call anyone.”
“Beats me. I just do as I’m told.” I followed the stocky, gray-haired officer. He returned my purse and its contents to me in a bag then nodded to the entrance. “That guy.”
I squinted. “I don’t know him.”
“You’re out. Who cares? The guy got the charges dropped before they were officially filed. You don’t have to go with him, but I’d say at least a thank-you is in order.”
My hero with perfectly-parted black hair and a suit that fit too well to not be tailored leaned against the wall next to the door, one ankle crossed over the other as he swiped his finger along the screen of his phone.
The gold watch, the confident way he held his shoulders back, and the blinding shine to his flawlessly polished shoes spelled money and power.
As I approached, he kept his head down. I expected nothing less of a man who exuded such confidence. The world waited for him.
“I’m not posing naked for you, so if you have some weird amputee fetish then you’ve sprung the wrong girl.”
A smirk pulled at his lips, but I still hadn’t earned his eye contact. “How’d you lose your leg?”
“Car accident.”
“How’d you land in jail?” He clicked off his phone and slipped it into the inside pocket of his jacket. Golden brown eyes met mine.
“A brilliant engineer had a glitch with his latest invention. Who are you?”
He stared at me for a few seconds like the answer was on its way but hadn’t arrived yet. “I’m Flint. My boy asked me to clear up this confusion and escort you home.”
“Everson sent you?” I adjusted my purse strap on my shoulder then crossed my arms over my chest.
“Are you ready?”
“What makes you think I need a ride? I have a car, you know.”
He mirrored my stance and it looked better on him. A sexy guy named Flint wanted to take me home. Best offer I’d had in weeks. Unfortunately, I still abided by the Stranger Danger rule.
“Yes, I know, and it was towed over an hour ago, but I’m working on that too. It will be returned to you by the end of the day if you give me the key.”
“Really? You think I’m just going to hand over my key so you can steal my car?”
He cocked his head to the side. “Yes. I made this whole arrested-for-assaulting-a-security-guard thing disappear just so I could steal your car.”
I shook my head but dug my fob out of my purse anyway.
“Great.” He took it from me. “I’ll drive you home now.”
Presumptuous. However, I did admire his take-charge personality.
“You’re quite handsome.” I twisted my lips, waiting for his response. Even the tough ones responded to compliments.
His smirk grew until his pearly whites peeked through his parted lips, brows raised a fraction.
Predictable. I winked at him. “But I can’t go with you. Thank you and thank Everson if you see him before I do, but I’ll catch a cab. What do I owe you?”
“Owe me?” He chuckled, shaking his head. “You don’t owe me anything. Just doing my job, keeping my boy’s reputation squeaky clean.”
I nodded. “You do his dirty work?”
He shrugged. “Something like that.”
“What about Shayna?”
Intense eyes stayed glued to mine. He had a killer poker face. I didn’t expect anything less from a sharp-suited guy named Flint. My eyes? They begged him to tell me that Everson changed his mind about giving up Shayna.
“So no ride?”
“He let her go, didn’t he?” My heart sank. It already knew the answer.
“Have a nice day, Miss Jones.” He slid on his sunglasses and pushed the front door open.
I called a cab.