Chapter One #2
“Are you sure you want me to replace Johnston? What about Jackson?”
Hargrove took a deep breath and leveled his gaze at Colton, pinning him to the chair.
“Your loyalty is admirable. Don’t worry, Jackson isn’t being overlooked.
He’s my choice for permanent lead. He has a few more weeks of rehab before he can even be assessed to return to duty, so I need you to go in now and learn the ropes and hold things down until he gets there. ”
Colton felt the slight bit of tension in his gut lessen as the major relayed his plan. The idea of leading an entire division on his own dug up long-buried memories he’d spent a lifetime trying to forget.
“Son, I know part of the reason you’re so meticulous about following the rules is because the one time you didn’t, it got you thrown out of the army on your ass.
But Colton, I don’t blame you for that. You were put in an unbelievable situation.
Even though what you did was technically wrong, I don’t think anyone can blame you for your choices. ”
That was a lie. Colton could think of one person who blamed himself for the choices he’d made that had led to him being tossed out of the service—him.
“Colton, I want you to take on the post. When Jackson is promoted and installed as captain, he’s gonna need a second to lean on.
I’ve already spoken to him about it. He wants it to be you.
Take this assignment as interim commanding officer in Spicewood and you’ll get a bump in rank to lieutenant too. ”
Colton nodded. “I’ll think about it. Can I let you know after I come back from leave in two weeks?”
“Sure,” Hargrove replied as he walked back around to his desk chair. “You doing anything fun?”
He sure as hell hoped so. “I’m actually going back to Restoration Ranch to make sure Jackson’s doing okay.” It wasn’t a complete lie, but he knew it wasn’t the complete truth either.
“Tell that lucky son of a bitch I said hi.”
Colton stood and chuckled. “Lucky? The man is recuperating from a gunshot wound.”
“Yeah, in the arms of a beautiful woman I hear can cook like angels sing.”
“I can tell you from firsthand experience that rumor is based in complete fact. It’ll be too late to eat by the time I get there tonight. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to her buttermilk biscuits at breakfast.”
Colton extended his hand to Major Hargrove and the man grabbed it, giving it a strong shake. “The job and the promotion is yours if you want it. In the event you really want it, just keep your head down and follow the rules like you been doing and everything will be fine.”
Colton took a deep breath as he tried to ignore the warning bells going off in the back of his mind. But experience taught him his life was never that easy. “Sir, full disclosure, if this is a PR thing, you might not want me taking this on.”
Hargrove let his hand slip from Colton’s as he searched his face for answers. “I’ve already told you I’m not concerned about your past. You’ve done good work for me. That’s all that matters.”
“Maybe, maybe not. Either way, I think it’s probably important I tell you this anyway.
” He straightened his spine and pulled his shoulders back.
He needed his boss to know he wasn’t ashamed of anything he was about to say.
“I have a personal relationship with Seneca Daniels. I know how some folks in high places are. They might not approve of you promoting a law enforcement agent who has a connection with an ex-con.”
Hargrove squinted and shoved his tongue in the side of his cheek before sitting back down in his chair and leaning back as he gave Colton an exasperated look.
“Exactly when did this personal relationship begin?”
Colton swallowed hard, wondering if he was canceling his career or not.
“It was after the Restoration Ranch case was initially closed, when we thought Eli Bennett was solely responsible for the vandalism and the attack on Aja Everett. It wasn’t until nearly a month later when Seneca was poisoned with roofies that we reopened the case. ”
Hargrove tapped his pen against his metal desktop while keeping his gaze fixed on Colton. His face was hard to read, but Colton would bet by the straight line of his mouth he wasn’t too thrilled.
“Does she know who you really are?”
“Funny thing, I’m on my way to tell her now. I can’t lie to her anymore. She needs to know the truth.”
Hargrove put the pen down and blew out a long breath between pursed lips.
“So your visit to Restoration isn’t entirely about checking in on Jackson, is it?
” When Colton shook his head, the major let a slow whistle escape his lips.
“Boy, if you don’t have the damnedest luck when it comes to personal relationships and work.
” Colton couldn’t help the chuckle that slipped from his lips.
Hargrove sure as shit wasn’t lying. He’d hoped the last time his two worlds collided would in fact be the last time.
But apparently life had decided once wasn’t enough.
“Colt, you haven’t committed any infractions I can reprimand you for.
As long as Ms. Daniels remains a law-abiding citizen, and you don’t actively abet any potential crimes she may commit, who you sleep with is your business.
However, I wouldn’t go announcing that to anyone before your promotion takes place.
Like I said, keep your head down and do your job and this process should all go smoothly.
See you when you return, Colton. Hope you’ll have good news for me when you do. ”
Colton eased out of the room and closed the door. He had a lot to think about over these next two weeks and standing in the hall staring into space wasn’t going to help him with anything.
“First things first, Colton,” he mumbled as he finally walked out of the building and headed for his truck in the parking lot.
“You’d better pray you can explain things to Seneca well enough that she doesn’t slaughter you.
Otherwise, you might not live long enough to make this decision about a promotion. ”
*
Seneca hung up the phone immediately. She sank back into her couch and let her shameless thirst for Colton settle in. Her face muscles were beginning to ache from all the smiling she did whenever she talked to Colton and, quite frankly, she didn’t care.
Only a couple of weeks had passed since he’d last visited her on the ranch. But damn if it didn’t feel like an eternity. Especially after her unexpected poisoning dashed any hopes they’d had of exploring their mutual attraction.
But with all the danger behind them and the clean bill of health her doctors gave her a couple of days ago at her last checkup, Seneca could not wait to lay her eyes and hands on Colton Adams and his sexy ass.
“Are you done daydreaming about Bo yet?” Seneca’s smile slipped as she fixed her gaze on Brooklyn walking into her front door.
She gave Brooklyn the usual eye-roll reserved for that specific comparison between Colton and Beauregard “Bo” Duke from The Dukes of Hazzard .
Besides, Bo was cute, but he didn’t have shit on the brooding ranch hand who starred in all of Seneca’s naughty dreams as of late.
“You know that’s some real offensive shit on so many levels, right?”
Brooklyn shrugged in response to Seneca’s question.
Not bothering with an actual answer, she continued as if Seneca hadn’t asked anything.
“I know you don’t officially come back to work for another three days,” Brooklyn continued, “but just so you know, the welcome center is finished and ready to be furnished. I need to know when you want to come in and do your IT thing before I have interior design head in.”
Seneca sighed heavily and cut her eyes in a sharp slant at her former cellmate. “Listen dream-crusher, stop trying to make everyone in the world as miserable as you.”
Brooklyn laughed as Seneca waved her into the cabin. The lovely beauty with the smooth, deep brown skin sat down in the nearby recliner and put her heels up on the coffee table.
“I’m not miserable, just honest. Blocking bullshit just saves me grief later. But judging by that goofy-ass smile on your face, I’d say you’re all for entertaining whatever that cowboy of yours is slinging your way.”
Seneca shrugged. Why deny it? She wasn’t the least bit ashamed of it.
“Listen, if that pretty-ass man wants to break my dry spell, I am not about to stop him. You should try finding someone to do the same for you. Sexin’ is guaranteed to better your mood.
Ask Aja—she certainly was in a better mood after she started getting a little brown sugar on the regular. ”
“Whatever, chick.” Brooklyn sat up and then stood. “Just tell me when you’re going in to do your thing so I can get the welcome center finished.”
“See?” Seneca could see her gleeful voice was rubbing on the last of Brooklyn’s patience. “If you got a little lovin’ your ass wouldn’t be snapping at me about work. After I get some, I promise I’m gonna look out for you and find someone to knock the cobwebs loose for you too.”
Brooklyn rewarded her with a low growl that amused Seneca into genuine laughter. “Fine, be that way. I’ll handle it Monday. Only a few terminals are going in there—it shouldn’t take long.”
With a squint and a nod, Brooklyn got up to leave, but stopped in Seneca’s doorway.
She threw a sly smirk in Seneca’s direction.
“Even if you’re a pain in my ass, if you’re happy, so am I.
Just watch yourself around him, Sen. Anyone that beautiful and charming is hiding something.
It could be a wife or a couple of bodies.
Either way, don’t get in too deep. You’ve got a lot to lose, so keep it light. ”
Momentarily overwhelmed by the slight chink in Brooklyn’s armor, Seneca’s already good mood soared. “I knew you loved me.”