5
It Could Be Any Cop
A s they got ready to go out for dinner, Quinn felt a peace in her heart that she hadn't in a long time. Life hadn't always been easy, but here she was, on the precipice of new beginnings. The need for change in her life was almost choking her, so she finally just decided she was going to go for it. Once the decision was made to move to the mountains, she wondered what she had been waiting for. It seemed that people were always dreaming of one day doing “something,” but when was that one day? What moment in time would propel them to go after their dreams and do that “something?”
In the summer, her best friends had talked about meeting up in the mountains for a little pre-Christmas girl’s trip. It was the perfect opportunity. Quinn always dreamed of living in a small town. She'd head to the mountains, meet up with the girls, and then stay for a while. Try it on for size and see if it was the right fit. Maybe it was her thirtieth birthday looming on the horizon that helped propel her to just go for it, but somehow, it seemed the perfect time for a change, the perfect time to get on with the rest of her life. The perfect time to finally write her novel.
After her girls left, Quinn intended to stay at the inn for a week or two in a smaller room until she found a place to rent. She would continue to do her freelance writing, and if she had to pick up some work in one of the local bookstores or cafes, she could do that. But at least here in Calen, she would make writing her novel a priority, and she would get a chance to live a different life.
All freshened up and makeup on, the ladies headed out for dinner. They wandered through the town, taking in all the sights and sounds. Cute boutique shops, cafes, and artisan restaurants lined the main street. Each was decked out in boughs of greenery and twinkling Christmas lights. Holiday tunes played from outdoor speakers, and even the air smelled of the season with some outdoor vendors selling spiced cider and mulled wine.
Of the many restaurants lining the main street, each looked to have its unique appeal, but Belle had researched the one in particular that the girls were headed to. It was known across the country for its hearty home-cooked flavour and cozy aesthetic. As they strolled through the town, Quinn’s stomach growled. She hadn’t eaten anything much aside from cereal in the morning and candy canes on the drive.
“Are we close yet?” she asked.
Belle smiled. “Right here.” She nodded towards the charcoal black framed windows through which soft candlelight created a warm glow against the backdrop of richly coloured walls.
“Perfect.” Quinn grinned pulling open the door to the mouth-watering scent of the food.
“Good call, Belle. This may have been the most satisfying meal I’ve eaten in my entire life,” Meg leaned back in her chair patting her belly as if she were Santa post Christmas Eve cookies.
“Scrumptious,” Quinn concurred. “Oh my God, I’m full though.”
After paying their bill, they headed back out to the main street. The temperature had dropped a bit, but after all the food they’d eaten, they agreed to wander about the town before heading back to the inn.
Quinn felt on a high as she and her friends strolled the decked out town taking in all the Christmas festivities. It was so good to spend time with her girls. She always felt more herself around her best friends. They never lacked conversation, and they were always laughing about something. Quinn was sure she could be stuck in jail with her girls and still have an incredible time. But being in Calen with them felt extra special. The town had so much natural beauty, and with all the Christmas charm everywhere, it was like a dream. She was giddy to go on some hikes and discover all this mountain town had to offer. Quinn loved to write, but she equally adored being in nature. This place could be the perfect fit for her. It could be home. A wave of excitement washed through her.
As they rounded the corner of one of the town streets, Quinn spotted a parked police truck and her heart skipped a beat immediately thinking of Hot Cop. Mean Cop, she corrected in her mind.
Seeming to notice the change in her friend, Belle asked “Are you okay, Quinn?”
“What?” she asked distracted. “Oh yeah, fine.” She smiled, trying to tamp down her ridiculous reaction to seeing a stupid police truck.
“Oooh, a cop truck. You think it’s your cop?” Meg asked with way too much enthusiasm.
“Who cares?” Quinn sniffed. “And he’s not my cop,” she added with a scowl.
“Oh please, you’re not fooling anyone missy,” Meg retorted with a chuckle.
Quinn couldn’t help but smile at her friend calling her out. Her girls knew her too well. She couldn’t keep any secrets. As they got closer to the truck, Quinn felt her pulse quicken, and it annoyed her. Was she worried about seeing him? Well, she had told him she hoped never to run into him again.
“Aww, look there’s a dog inside!” Belle said as they were approaching.
“It’s definitely not the cop who pulled me over then. That guy isn’t nice enough to have a dog,” she scoffed. “Come on, girls. Let’s just go.”
Even though she doubted it was his police truck, Quinn still felt a growing anxiety about possibly crossing paths again. A perverse part of her wanted to see if he was as handsome as she recalled, but the wiser part knew better. It didn’t matter. He was a jerk, and she didn’t need him ruining her lovely evening with her friends.
Belle and Meg ignored Quinn and made their way to the truck window to get a closer look. The moment they did the dog began to bark ferociously.
Belle jumped back and stumbled into Meg. “Holy shit.”
The door to the cafe opened and the cop, Mean Cop…Hot Cop…strode out with a coffee in hand. God help her, he was tall, dark, and stupidly handsome, and for a moment, her heart stopped before it stuttered and started again.
He glanced up, seeing the women at his truck, and his incredible blue eyes caught hers for the briefest of moments. Long enough to send a little shiver down her spine. Why’d he have to look so good?
He strode past the women to his barking dog in the truck and put his arm up in a precise well-practiced move. “Enough,” he commanded, and the dog instantly calmed turning from a feral beast to a docile pup. It was like watching the transformation of a Marvel film character.
All three women stared in awe and fascination. The cop turned to them, with an apologetic look on his too-handsome face. “I hope Bear didnae scare ye. He takes his job very seriously when he is on duty,” he explained in his deeply accented voice.
Much like his owner, Quinn thought.
“’Tis fine now if ye’d like to see him closer. He willna hurt ye.”
To her chagrin, her friends had also transformed, but into tittering girls. They were all flirty smiles as they stared up cow-eyed at the cop. Unbelievable. Her best friends were charmed by the brute.
“He’s so cute,” Belle cooed, moving closer to the window again.
“Och, Lass, you’ll hurt his ego with words like that. He’s a trained killing machine,” the cop teased with a grin that could break hearts.
Quinn’s mouth almost hit the ground. Who the heck was this guy? Mean Cop actually had a sense of humour? Mean Cop could actually be nice? It was like a total 180 from what she’d experienced with him. And that smile! She’d known it would be good, but God, her legs felt boneless even as her mind was irritated by the whole scenario playing out in front of her.
This switch in him frustrated her. Why had he been such a royal ass to her earlier? It grated, and she felt the need to say something bubbling up inside her. Without thinking she blurted, “By the way, that ticket you gave me is defunct.”
The words flew out of her mouth like she was a prize fighter taunting a challenger to a match. His cool gaze fell on her, and she instantly regretted saying anything at all.
Like his police dog, his demeanour changed in an instant. Suddenly, he seemed taller and broader if that was even possible. And intimidating, God, he was intimidating. Quinn stepped back, feeling a wave of tingly nerves, but as she stepped back, he stepped towards her, closing the distance between them. His hulking muscular form all dressed in black with his eyes glowering on her. Quinn’s pulse beat furiously as fear infused her veins.
“Say it again, I dinnae think I quite heard ye.” Mean Hot Cop looked down upon her with danger emanating off him. Their bodies were only inches apart.
Quinn swallowed feeling her body tremble. “You forgot to put a date. On the ticket. So it doesn’t count,” she said with more bravado than she felt.
A slow menacing smile curved his lips. “Aye, but I can easily arrange a replacement fer ye, Ms. West.” His stormy blue eyes were icy cold on her as they glared at each other in a stand-off. Quinn was about to retort when she felt her best friend’s arm wrap through hers and yank her away. Quinn almost stumbled as Belle practically dragged her down the cobbled street.
“What the heck Belle?” Quinn grunted.
“No need to write any more tickets, Officer. We’ll keep her out of trouble. Have a nice evening,” Meg called back to him as she looped her arm around Quinn’s on the other side.
The two girls hauled their friend away not wanting her to get herself in any more trouble. Fortunately, Quinn had the good sense to go with her friends and not open her mouth again. But she wanted to. She wanted to turn right back around and give him a piece of her mind.
Even as her friends led her away, she glanced back over her shoulder, and he stood, watching them leave with a cool arrogance about him.
“What a total ass!” Quinn huffed as they rounded the corner. “Like, who does he think he is?” She was infuriated as adrenaline coursed through her. Obviously, he was trying to intimidate her. Well, she wasn’t going to let him. If she saw him again she would tell him exactly what she thought. “Seriously, girls, just because he’s a cop, doesn’t give him the right to be such a jerk!” Her girls had dropped arms with her now and were suspiciously quiet.
Quinn stopped walking and looked at Meg and Belle. “Okay, what’s going on?” They looked at her as if neither wanted to speak. “What?” She looked back and forth between the two.
“Honestly, Quinn, I think he was actually really nice,” Belle said quietly.
“ What? ” Quinn was incredulous. “Didn’t you hear him threaten me with another ticket? And all that bravado, he was trying to intimidate me!”
“If he’d wanted to give you a ticket, he totally could have. And you asked for that, Quinn. He was being completely lovely, and it was you who brought up the ticket.” Meg shrugged.
“Pfft.” Quinn blew out an exasperated breath. “He’s not lovely.” She sniffed in conclusion.
“Oh yes, he is.” Belle smiled dreamily. “Did you see that smile?”
“The one that could make a nun stray?” Meg grinned, completely ignoring Quinn’s exacerbation.
“Right?” Belle quipped.
“He is a beautiful, beautiful man,” Meg announced as if she’d never encountered a more perfect specimen.
Belle was nodding heartily in agreement.
“Ugh! Girls, you are supposed to be on my side!” What was wrong with them? Sure, he was good-looking, but seriously, he wasn’t a flipping god.
Belle laughed. “We are on your side, silly!”
“I think he likes you,” Meg added with a sly smile.
Quinn scoffed. “You are insane. He can’t stand me!” It grated that he didn’t seem to like her at all. She got along with practically everyone, but for some reason, it was like she was a thorn in his side. Well, the feeling was mutual.
“I don’t like him, and he doesn’t like me. Not that it matters anyway. I doubt we will be running into him again.”
“Uh-huh,” Meg said appeasingly, but Quinn could sense she disagreed.
Quinn stopped walking and turned to her. “Why would you think that he likes me?” she asked, feeling completely floored at her friend’s ridiculous assertion. “It’s obvious I tick him off, and he definitely ticks me off.” She huffed, crossing her arms.
“Sparks were flying, Quinn. There is some kind of electricity crackling between the two of you,” Meg said, and Belle nodded in agreement.
“Whatever. I’m done talking about that jerk cop.” Quinn huffed, choosing to ignore such a ridiculous notion.
“Hot cop,” Meg corrected breathily.
Quinn rolled her eyes.