Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Emmanuel
“N eed a spot over there?” Cara asks as I lay down on the bench press.
Henry snickers. He’s sitting on the leg press, looking at his phone as usual. “Emmanuel never needs a spotter.”
“This is my warm-up weight,” I say as I grip the cool iron bar.
Cara lets out a low whistle as she watches me lift the bar up and down easily. I have two plates on each side for a grand total of two hundred and twenty-five pounds. I was able to lift this much weight when I was sixteen years old. I’m twenty-seven now and can go well past three hundred pounds.
She watches as I do my reps and then drop the bar back onto the frame with a clatter.
It’s a tradition in our precinct to all weight train together on Monday mornings. We have a pretty decent weight room in the back of the station considering what a small town we have. The previous Sheriff came from a rich family and he bought all of this stuff himself. We were all thrilled that he left it here when he retired.
We all make good use of it, except for maybe Henry who would rather lift a donut box than a dumbbell. He’s forty-eight, married, and two years away from retirement which he constantly reminds us of.
It’s a small station, but this town doesn’t need much. The only action we get is when the boys at The Cracked Barrel Saloon start causing trouble.
We have more than enough with me, Henry, Sheriff Ryland Gray, Cara—our rookie who went full-on traitor when she started dating the chief of the firehouse, and Santino, who mostly keeps to himself.
It’s a pretty easy gig. That’s why I’m considering leaving.
“I heard there was a brawl at the Saloon on Saturday night,” Ryland says as he walks in, stretching his arms.
“There’s always a brawl at the Saloon on Saturday night,” Henry says with a chuckle.
“It was a small one,” I say with a sigh as I get up and add some weight to the bar. “They fled when we rolled up.”
Cara grins at me as she does some bicep curls with the barbells. “They took one look at Emmanuel storming out of the truck and noped the fuck out.”
“Seems you’re getting a reputation,” Ryland says with a laugh. “As long as it keeps the peace.”
I slap a twenty-five pound plate on each side of the bar. I was working with Cara as my partner and was excited for some action, but as soon as we arrived, those pussies hopped on their bikes and took off. Talk about disappointment.
Santino is doing squats on the rack with his big noise-cancelling headphones on. Once he finishes his set, Ryland throws his towel at him.
“What?” Santino says, lifting his headphones.
“We’re supposed to be training together ,” Ryland says. “It’s tradition.”
“I’m here,” he says, shrugging his big sweaty shoulders. “What’s the problem?”
“The problem is we’re supposed to be team-building,” Ryland says with a sigh. “You’re ignoring us.”
“I’m not.”
Ryland scoffs. “What were we just talking about?”
Santino grins at Henry. “How Henry hasn’t lifted a weight in the past fifteen minutes.”
Henry throws his towel at him as we all laugh. Santino puts his headphones back on and continues his squats.
“I have a bad knee,” Henry mutters, rubbing it.
“Last week it was a bad elbow,” Cara says, smirking at him. “And the week before that it was a bad back.”
“When you get to my age,” Henry says, shaking his head. “Everything goes bad on you.”
“Oh, please,” she says. “The Sheriff is older than you, and look at him.”
I glance at Ryland as he works out his massive triceps. The guy is a beast. He’s definitely not your average fifty-two-year-old. Ryland is tall and jacked with tattoos running up his muscular arms. The women around town think he’s a total silver fox, although he doesn’t seem to have eyes for any of them.
“You can’t compare me to him ,” Henry says, waving his phone around. I can see Candy Crush open on his screen. “He’s a freak. An outlier. Men my age can’t live up to those kind of standards.”
“You have standards?” I say, chuckling.
“Shut up,” Henry says, sticking his tongue out at me. “You’ll see when you get to my age.”
Cara laughs and he turns his ire onto her. “What are you laughing about? You’re a traitor to the force.”
She shakes her head as she puts her dumbells onto the rack and grabs a heavier pair. “Oh please, explain that.”
“Consorting with the enemy,” Henry says, shaking his head. “You’re dating the fire chief of all people.”
Henry is a master at changing the subject and getting the heat off him. Ryland comes over as Cara and Henry start bickering. He stands behind me as I start another set.
“Any news?” he asks between my grunts. “Did you get an offer yet?”
“No,” I lie.
He looks relieved as he lets out his breath. “It will come.”
It has come. I’ve been offered a job with the FBI.
The sinking feeling returns in my stomach as I raise the bar with a grunt. I’m so conflicted. On paper, it’s everything I want. More action, more responsibility, bigger impact. But I don’t know… It just doesn’t feel right .
I’ll have to move—I don’t know to where—but there’s something deep in my gut that’s telling me I’m exactly where I need to be.
I’ve never been away from these mountains for long and I don’t know if I can live without them. The beauty feeds my soul. It’s a part of me. It’s hard to put into words, but any mountain man would understand. These mountains are like another limb. I don’t know if I can survive in a concrete jungle.
But I do need something … My life doesn’t feel complete. It doesn’t feel whole. I just don’t know what that something is.
“They’d be crazy not to take someone like you,” Ryland whispers.
My arms start trembling as I push those last few reps. I go until I can’t lift another inch, and then Ryland grabs the bar and pulls it up with me.
“How come you never left?” I ask as I sit up, wiping my face with my towel. “Did you ever dream of something bigger?”
He takes a deep breath as he thinks about it. “Maybe once or twice,” he says, nodding. “But these mountains have their hooks in me and this town is my home. I don’t think I could live anywhere else. It would be like taking a lion and dropping him into the Arctic. It wouldn’t fit.”
I know exactly what he means. I grew up in these mountains. I camped in the forests, swam in the rivers, and fished in the lakes. I have a million good memories. Memories filled with a feeling of peace and tranquility. It’s just lately, that feeling of peace has been replaced by a restlessness that I can’t quite shake.
I’m thinking that maybe a career change and a change of scenery might help, but I’m not sure. I’m worried it’s just going to make it worse.
“Let me have a turn,” Ryland says as he rolls his shoulders.
I get up and walk around to spot him. My mind is racing as usual.
The FBI needs an answer by the end of the week. I have five days to make the biggest decision of my life.
Ryland grunts as he starts lifting. I will miss this if I leave. Training with my friends. The clang of metal. The grunts of men lifting iron. The scent of sweat and testosterone. I doubt the massive FBI has a sense of family like a small town police station does.
The bell over the door rings when Ryland is in the middle of his set.
“Henry, go check who it is,” Ryland grunts as his flexed arms move up and down.
“If you can take a break from Candy Crush,” Cara says with a laugh.
Henry sticks his tongue out at her and then disappears into the front.
“I gave you a glowing review,” Ryland says as he works his arms and chest. “I don’t know what’s taking them so long.”
I don’t want to talk about this. Not right now. I was up all night stressing about it and I just want to do my workout in peace.
“Hey, Cara,” I say, calling her over. “Come spot for the Sheriff, will ya? I want to work on my triceps.”
Cara takes over and I head to the pull-down machine near the door. I slide the pin into the bottom weight and start blasting my triceps, pulling the heavy weight up and down.
“Wait, whose dog is it?” I hear Henry ask the person in the front as I do my set.
“It’s a long story,” the woman says. Her voice makes goosebumps ripple along my skin. “But they’re trying to steal the dog back.”
“But it’s your dog, right?”
“Not exactly,” she says. “I kind of borrowed him.”
“I’m confused,” Henry says. “You stole a dog and now the rightful owners are trying to steal him back?”
“Steal is such a harsh word,” the woman says. “I prefer rescued.”
My curiosity is peaked. I have to see this crazy lady.
I drop the weight with a clang and then peek into the front. My heart nearly stops when I see her in front of the desk. She’s… She’s… Magnificent .
It’s like a thunderbolt has slammed into my chest, shaking me to my core as I stare at her in awe.
She’s stunning. I can’t take my eyes off her.
She’s got this messy bun piled on top of her head like she doesn’t even realize how sexy it is—strands of honey-blonde hair spilling out like she just rolled out of bed. Her oversized hoodie is drowning her tiny frame, but it doesn’t hide those long, toned legs in her cutoff jean shorts. Bare legs. Sun-kissed, smooth, and entirely too tempting. My mouth waters as I drag my hungry eyes up and down them.
My jaw clenches as I take a step closer.
What the hell is happening to me?
I’ve never had a reaction like this before. My whole body has come alive, buzzing and yearning and needing and thirsty . Thirsty for her .
I swallow hard, knowing this is new territory for me. I’ve never been so captivated with just one look. I’ve never been intrigued like this.
I squeeze my hands into fists to keep them from trembling as I lower my heated eyes down her body.
She’s wearing flip flops and I’ve never had a foot fetish before, but I could definitely get on board with one over those adorable toes.
I make an involuntary groaning sound and those big brown eyes—full of life and fire—land on me.
The second our eyes meet, I’m done for.
My whole body reacts. My pulse spikes. My heart pounds.
And one word races through my mind on repeat.
Mine .
The word is loud and clear in my head. It’s not a whisper. It’s a demand.
Mine . That girl is mine .
I don’t know what I have to do to get her, but I’ll do anything.
I don’t know her name, her story, or why she’s here confessing about stealing a dog—but I know one thing: no man is getting near her again.
Not on my watch.
Not ever.
She blinks and then swallows. I know she feels it too. This unstoppable connection. This crackle of energy.
Her lips part slightly. My gaze drops to them. Pink. Soft. Kissable.
So fucking kissable.
The groan I make this time is loud enough for Henry to turn around.
He raises his eyebrows and smirks, giving me a look like he’s saying, ‘Can you believe this girl?’
No, Henry. I can’t believe it. This doesn’t feel like real life.
“I’m taking over,” I say as I run a hand through my hair on the way to the reception desk.
I’m ready to fight Henry to the death over this, but he looks relieved as he steps back, glad to be rid of her and her wild story.
“Good luck with this chick,” he whispers on his way back to the weight room.
“Thanks,” I mutter. I need all the luck I can get to make this angel mine.
I place my hands on the desk and stare at her. She’s even more stunning up close.
Her gorgeous brown eyes widen as she glances at my arms and shoulders. I’m wearing a tank top and my muscles are jacked from the workout. I hope I don’t look like a monster to her. I know I can be intimidating to men and women.
“Yeah, so…” she says, squeezing her eyes shut and shaking her head like she’s trying to reset her thoughts. “I was trying to explain to your colleague that some men are after me.”
I grit my teeth so hard my jaw aches.
Stay cool. Stay calm.
I’m fighting the urge to slam a pen and paper in front of her while demanding their names and addresses.
I’ll make sure they’ll never threaten her again. I’ll make sure they never breathe again.
“And… um… why are they after you?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.
My heart is pounding so hard as she tells me everything…